That Time a Shut-in for 300 Years Continued to Make Antiques , but All of It Turned out to Be Cheat-Level Magic Tools

Side: Hazan

After hearing the news, I grabbed my favorite greatsword, Zeetsunge, and chased after Edson toward Mount Binel.

Despite the urgency and not having time to gather my comrades, I harbored some concerns. As a B-rank adventurer, I’m fairly confident, but this time of year, it’s highly likely that monsters, which usually appear higher up, descend to lower altitudes. Handling two or three of them is manageable, but any more becomes troublesome.

However, this isn’t the time to be pessimistic. I owe Edson a debt, and I must hurry to the summit to repay him.

Yet, this season is notorious for the appearance of Shokuyoku, making it doubtful whether one can reach the summit under normal circumstances. The monsters are likely on edge without their usual prey.

With these thoughts, I entered Mount Binel. The mountain barely has what you could call a path, mainly because the periodic appearances of the Shokuyoku make the monsters particularly violent, making it difficult to clear a way through.

But what’s this?

Suddenly, I noticed a strange pair of tracks at my feet. Are these wheel tracks? No, but they seem unusual, almost like grooves…

Honestly, I couldn’t tell what they were. Perhaps a special carriage? Or maybe a new type of monster? Hmm, it’s unclear. Perhaps it’s safer to avoid it. Yet, the tracks seem to head toward the summit.

Then I remembered a story I heard from a gate guard once about a boy with a strange iron beast and a maid.

Thinking back, it definitely seems to describe those two. Could these be the tracks of that beast?

Though I’m not certain, now that I’m intrigued, I have no choice but to follow the tracks up the mountain.

“Oh, come on! What is this!”

Halfway up, I couldn’t help but exclaim. It was a shocking scene. Following those tracks, I came upon a pile of monster carcasses.

Among them were Mountain Wolves and Big Horn Boars. A Mountain Wolf isn’t too tough to handle alone, but in packs, they are considered a D-rank threat.

However, what’s more surprising is the Big Horn Boar. Normally a D-rank creature to subdue, their combativeness increases during the Shokuyoku season, making them a C-rank threat. And facing them alone, even for someone like me, would be challenging.

Yet, here they were, all dead in heaps. The number was so great it felt silly even to count.

Despite this, no materials were harvested from the corpses. Normally, adventurers would collect these quickly as the bodies decompose over time if not processed—a technique exclusively known by the Adventurer’s Guild to prevent this.

It feels like a waste, but I’m more concerned about Edson and that busty maid.

And to think, not only Mountain Wolves but there are also Belfwolves among the dead!

Belfwolves might look similar to Mountain Wolves, but they are slightly bigger, with sharper claws and fangs, and can use earth magic… but this seems totally unrelated…

Who did this? Following these tracks, I find nothing but carcasses… Could Edson have?

It’s possible. After all, he did defeat me with a single blow.

But still, it’s dangerous! If he’s getting cocky from defeating these creatures, he’ll surely be overcome by the Shokuyoku!

A Shokuyoku is a formidable opponent even for a B-rank, and honestly, I’m not confident I could defeat it alone. If I see one, I plan to focus solely on escaping.

He’s that kind of opponent. So please, hang in there!

“Wait for me, Edson! Aaaaarghhhh!”

◇◆◇

Side: Edson-dono

“What in the world is this?!”

A suddenly arrived, sweltering man was astounded at the sight of a defeated Shokuyoku’s corpse. What an unexpected visit.

“Hey, Edson! What is all this about?”

“Before that, who are you?”

“What?! No, no, no, it’s Hazan!”

“Bankrupt? Just a debtor, huh?”

“It must have been tough, huh?”

“Shall I lend you a handkerchief?”

“It’s not bankrupt! It’s Hazan!”

“I don’t know you!”

After I stated it clearly, he slumped to his knees, both hands and knees on the ground, head hanging low. What’s with this guy?

“No, no, that’s not it, brother!”

“Who’s your brother!”

“Have you forgotten that fiery day we shared, brother?!”

“What?!”

“…When did we ever have such a relationship?”

“Wait, wait! Don’t mess around! Don’t spout nonsense!”

“What! You really forgot? We fought, you and I!”

“By the way, Master. This man once fought you, manipulated by some thug he got involved with.”

Ah, I remember now, such a muscle-brain existed.

“Finally remembered me, huh…”

“Why would you spend a fiery night with him, I’m curious!”

“That’s a lie!”

“Lord Alecto, he, I mean Hazan, only said it was one day. He must have mistaken ‘joining bodies’ for ‘joining fists.’ How misleading, he should be flung to the ends of the earth.”

“Harsh, aren’t you! You just called him ‘this guy,’ didn’t you!?”

It does feel sufficient to call him ‘this guy.’

“So, what does this muscle-brain want? Coming uninvited and causing such a racket is beyond annoying.”

“You’re a kid, can’t you speak a little more cutely?”

I’m older than you, you know.

“I’m here because I heard you were coming to this mountain to gather Esuihhi and came to help.”

“Do we look like we need help?”

“No, not really… But what’s all this? Did these monsters start fighting amongst themselves?”

“I defeated them all.”

“Hah, no way.”

“It’s true.”

“Indeed, it’s all Master’s doing.”