Trapped in the Depths of the Forest

"Oi, Horse… get there later, I'll jump. Can you just keep going forward and lure this lowly creature to follow you?"

As if it understood what I was saying, this horse made a "mbreem" sound.

"Oh, you understand. Alright, let's get started."

Standing on this horse with a full balance, looking at the distance from the tree trunk, then preparing to jump when I was sure, I took a stance and jumped up.

"Yosh..."

After successfully stepping on this tree trunk, I waited until the monster arrived under this tree trunk.

The horse continued to run without anyone riding it, while this monster did not realize that I was here, continuing to run on all four legs to chase the horse.

"Looking at it, it looks like a Deinonychus just chasing Trex. I think ancient creatures like that shouldn't exist."

When the massive body was down here, I jumped and landed on the monster's body.

As I suspected, only the ankles moved, the body didn't move, straight and still as if maintaining the balance of the body. It helps me when I'm on top of that body, keeps me from wobbling, and can maintain my balance.

Is this being aware of my presence? I thought this creature was stupid, so there was no way it would notice my presence.

I can't fully stand here, because there are many short tree trunks, so I can bump into them at any time. Therefore, I can only stand with a slight bow.

I saw the horse running in front of this monster's mouth, indicating that the horse had been tired of running long ago.

"I have to hurry before the horse falls."

I walked slowly towards this monster's mouth, trying my best to avoid the tree trunks that could knock me down at any moment, and trying to keep this creature from noticing my presence.

Up close to the monster's face, with a knife that wasn't sharp, I swung this knife at the monster's right eye.

"Aaarrrgggg!!!"

This monster is in pain, even the right eye is bleeding quite a lot.

But before that, I pushed my knife aside with all my might, instantly making a scratch between the side of this monster's right eye and nose.

I pulled out this knife, then moved this knife to my left hand, and stabbed the monster's left eye quickly before the monster moved this body.

Pulling this knife from the monster's left eye, looking at the tree beside me, I swung my knife at the knife and made me hang there immediately, held back by the knife stuck.

"I think that's enough to traumatize that lowly being to me."

After saying that, I whistled to summon the horse.

Waiting for the horse to arrive here, I saw the monster keep destroying the surroundings because the two eyes couldn't see.

The horse arrived under me, I pulled out this knife and landed right on this horse.

"Let's go, Pal!"

Covering my head with this black cloak, taking the ball out of my trouser pocket, I left at standard speed and wary of behind me.

Since the monster is still alive, I'm still in danger if I'm here.

So that bad things don't happen, also so that this horse can rest, I have to find a place to rest to give this horse a drink.

I love animals so much. If I didn't love animals, I would have left this horse long ago and let this horse become a victim of the monster's food.

Pretty weird, right? Considering that I am so cruel to humans, even to the point of killing without mercy, I love animals so much. No matter how many times I tried to stay out of contact with the animals, I kept approaching the animals and giving them food.

What a strange trait I have.

By the way, those creatures don't fall into the animal category for me. Therefore, I have no sense of concern for them.

***

Hearing the sound of water, I approached the source of the sound.

Arriving there, I saw a swamp so big there, full of moss that looks disgusting.

"That must be the lair of that lowly creature."

Because the source of the swamp water is dirty, this horse will not be able to drink the water. There is only one way for this horse to drink, which is to find clean water.

Searching for clean water around this place, I did not find anything. As far as my eyes can see, this place is so dirty, filled with green moss, and worse, the trees around this place are already moldy.

"This place is not for you, Pal. Let's find another resting place!"

Like a knight on horseback, I left this place.

Halfway through, I remembered something, it made me think for a moment and daydream.

Come to think of it, doesn't this place have a lot of lowly creatures? She said that this forest is filled with scary monsters, and that makes this forest even scarier for anyone to visit. Is it possible that the monsters fused with those lowly creatures, becoming a huge monster in the shape of a crocodile? That's possible, isn't it?

Stuff like this bothers me.

Until now, I haven't seen any monsters other than those lizards and crocodiles. Were their words just a lie? No, that's not possible. At least, I believe that every saying must be true too. Because this is not just from a single talk that spoke, but from various conversations that I got while in that city.

Therefore, I must not lose focus on this place. If I was careless and took this world for granted, I might end up making this horse die here.

When this horse suddenly stopped, I was confused as to what this horse was doing.

"What are you doing, Pal?"

Watching the horse sniff the water under its mouth, I came to know that this horse found clean water for it.

"Oh, you've found clean water. Good. Drink it!"

The horse drank the water, and I let it go while looking left and right.

"What time is it now? This place is so dark, I can't tell the time."

Because the trees were so close together that they were so close together that no sunlight could enter, I didn't know what time it was.

I've been here long enough. I'm curious about the conditions outside this place, whether the sun is still rising or the red moon is back again. This place doesn't seem to want to show me the time out there. It's like being trapped but still able to get out, that's how I feel in this place.

Because no matter how strong I am, I am still an ordinary human being, not a perfect being.

After this horse finished drinking, I continued my journey to get out of this place.

I've lost track of what I've marked on the trees. I couldn't find my way in before. I also can't see the sun from here, which will help me know which is east, north, south, and west. All I can do right now is just ride this horse straight.

It's the first time in my life to be in a place like this. This left me a little confused, almost to the point that I would never find my way out of this place. In this state, it was best to just keep trying and be wary of the surroundings of this place.

"You know, I brought a compass. By the way, how is the magnetic field in this world? Could it be different from my world? North is behind, south is in front, south is on the right, and west is on the left?"

Good luck filling the boredom, I talk to myself and try to keep myself busy.

This way, I can at least keep myself busy and forget for a moment about what I'm doing here.

"Wait! Maybe the compass in this world has a good design. It is possible that the north does not have the same name as the world alone. Umm, maybe the name is Northan. No, that's too ugly. Maybe the name is Notnot. I think the joke is not funny anymore. No, wait! What am I doing? Why have I been talking to myself earlier? And why am I thinking about things I shouldn't be thinking about?"

***

I've been riding this horse for almost 1 hour, and can't find a way out and the monsters are roaming around. And even, I was surprised by the condition of the crocodile monster, whether the monster had given up or was looking for me.

There was no rumbling sound in this place, indicating that the crocodile monster was walking. In this place so quiet, as if life is just me and this horse. In this serenity, I continue to ride this horse, and it bores me.

"Oi Pal, do you have a joke?"

The horse was silent, that's obvious because it didn't understand what I was saying.

"I don't think you have a joke. Ummm, well then, let me make a joke for you. It relates to your family, Pal. Guess what a horse looks like when it flies?"

"..."

"Looks like a lie. How can horses fly?"

"..."

"I don't think it's funny to you. All right, next. Guess what, if I throw a bomb at 50 people in front of me, will they all die?"

"..."

"The answer… they are not all dead. Why? Because I threw smoke bombs at them."

"..."

"Ummm, that doesn't seem funny to you either, Pal."

"..."

"Like Hinata said, my imouto, I'm not cut out to be a comedian. I shouldn't have done that to you, Pal. Alright, I'll stop making jokes anymore."

After I stopped doing that, this place was completely silent.

It's so troublesome. Why is a place like this so quiet? I'd rather have a monster face me than just ride this horse. Come on, keep me busy. Anyone, please keep me busy in this place! I am bored.

"Grrrrrr..."

Hearing that voice and feeling the changing air, I was happy.

"Well, finally—eh?"

Seeing the monster running in front of me, I was surprised to see some of the crocodile-like monsters there.

"Did that lowly creature bring its children against me? I thought the lowly creature was male, but it turned out to be a female."

Pulling the reins of this horse and this horse immediately turned around, I ran away from them quickly.

"Well, even so, that lowly creature turns out to be female, at least I'm not bored in this place anymore. Yosh, let's traumatize them with me."