Stranger

Hector took each breath with difficulty after setting foot on the shore. However, he hadn't fully regained his strength, so he needed a moment of light relaxation.

A few seconds later.

Hector slowly glanced around, searching for any trace of the monster. He quickly noticed a small drop of blood on the ground nearby. Although it was tiny enough for most people to miss, for him, it wasn't a big challenge to spot.

"Hmm... It won't get far." Hector sighed tightly as he began to move his tired feet.

About 30 minutes later, he had still moved slowly, searching for the monster past these traces of blood. Meanwhile, his strength had been recovering, and it made him confident, which enabled him to handle anything in case the monster was still alive. 

Before long, Hector noticed several large, viscous bloodstains scattered randomly by the edge of the oasis.

As expected, the monster finally gradually emerged in his vision, but its condition was poor this time, which was fortunate for him.

Now, the monster left behind lifeless eyes. Surrounding it was rank blood seeping into the ground. Certainly, all these things caused by Hector's knife piercing its right eye made it lose blood and die.

Hector only smiled slightly, amused, as he approached the monster.

''Well, it's so ugly.''

After a couple of moments of staring at the monster, something caught his attention.

Hector slowly scratched his chin, sinking deep in his thoughts.

"Your horn, I'll take it." 

The monster had one short horn on its forehead, but it didn't do enough damage to anyone significantly because of its length. Yet, there was poison in the peak of the horn.

He had unwillingly tested this poison himself when the monster attacked him, which was why he knew just how terrible it was.

It would be a trump card for him in the challenge that he had to face shortly.

And most importantly, he would cook this monster right now. Although he wasn't hungry due to the effect of the Keith grass, he understood that it was only a fake feeling it carried.

This body was growing, so it needed to eat.

Anyway, he also wanted to check the food of this world, since that lunatic patient's book wrote that all kinds of meals in this world were very delicious.

Just like that, the monster turned into a delicious barbecue under Hector's hands. However, he lacked some necessary tools for cooking or firewood burning. But, it didn't matter to him, as he could manage with his own knowledge.

At this moment, Hector was sitting close to a small fire, looking at the meat in his hand. He opened his mouth wide, chewing the meat deliciously with happiness.

"It's really delicious!" 

Afterward, he again continued using the knife to partially cut off the meat from the monster hanging on the wooden, makeshift cooking rack over the small fire.

As time passed, Hector had almost eaten all the monster's meat, and his thoughts about this world underwent a huge change.

Fucking! This is like the most expensive kind of meat in my old world

"I'll get addicted."

Hector smiled awkwardly while looking at the meat in his hand. Yet, his emotions were still not settled, and something made him take notice.

He glanced around, focusing his eyes and ears.

"Sound?"

A few seconds later, the sound Hector heard grew louder. This made him realize the source of the sound.

"Probably the young girl?"

"Who is she calling?"

 "My baby?" Maybe she's calling her pet."

Hector scratched his head and thought.

His first thought was to leave here. Yet, he quickly dropped it.

"I haven't yet found the place where the challenge will happen, so I need a partner. Besides, I'm sure she's a kind young girl. Her voice sounds very sad. A young girl who loves animals can't possibly be a bad person."

Hector turned his head toward the campfire and nodded firmly.

"The fire is big enough to attract her. If I call her, she won't come here. After all, only an idiot would do that."

"I'll set up a big piece of meat for her."

Just like that, each second passed, and the sound of the young girl grew louder.

''My baby! Where are you?''

''My baby!''

 …

Rustle

Rustle

Rustle

From within the large, dark, and dirty thickets, constant rustling sounds had echoed until a shadowy human figure emerged into Hector's view, and it completely surprised him.

Indeed, based on what he believed, this person truly appeared to be a young girl around 11 or 12 years old.

Yet, what made him confused was the overwhelming level of cuteness and beauty she got, it was almost unbelievable.

She wore dark leather pants and a silver armor jacket, intricately carved with mysterious, complex runes. 

Moreover, on the front left side of her silver armor, there was a small snowflake-shaped emblem that he once saw, but he couldn't remember it exactly.

''Her breasts seem unusually large for someone her age,'' Hector thought, gulping as he looked at her breasts. He immediately shook his head.

''What am I thinking? I didn't want to go to prison. She's just a tween.''

While Hector was lost in thought, the young girl stepped closer to the campfire. She glanced at Hector with suspicion and said.

''Hey! Fool! Have you seen a dog nearby?''

Instantly, Hector's expression turned idiotic as he completely froze, processing what he had just heard.

He looked at her with a hint of doubt on his face, unable to believe that such a cute, beautiful young girl could say something like that to him.

She had again slowly stepped nearer, and her face also became clearer significantly.

The young girl had a flawless, snow-white complexion. Her beauty was simply perfect.

Her black hair flowed down to her slender shoulders, partially covering her right eye in the front, while her left eye, red as blood, remained visible.

As time passed, her eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at him with a hint of annoyance.

'Hey! Uncle! Are you deaf?

Immediately, Hector's face twisted with anger.

It was impossible to believe that this young girl could be so rude, and she had clearly touched Hector's nerve.

Although he was still quite young in this world, he was already 25 years old.

He hated anyone who called him old, even if it was a cute, beautiful, young girl.

Hector took a deep breath to regain his composure, then slowly, coldly glanced at the young girl.

"Why do I have to answer? Kid!" he said sarcastically, taking a big piece of meat into his mouth and chewing it with satisfaction.

The young girl heard that, and her face gradually turned as red as a tomato. She was angry and shouted loudly.

"I'm not a kid!"

Afterward, she tightly clenched her teeth and glared at him with animosity, while Hector seemed delighted by her response.

A few seconds passed, and the young girl remained silent, only glaring at Hector with anger, as if it was the first time she had experienced this feeling and needed some time to process it.

Until her stomach started growling from hunger. 

The young girl's face turned red again, but this time it wasn't from anger.

Hector looked at the young girl, who was embarrassed, slowly shaking his head.

The young girl was probably in a situation similar to his, having not eaten anything for a while. Besides, when he looked at her, he really doubted that she could survive in a place like this.

Yet, the young girl was very special. It was her identity.

He had realized that a few seconds ago, based on her outfit. There was a snowflake-shaped carving on her armor, which was a symbol of the Pauley Clan, one of the three most powerful clans in the world.

Certainly, she would have her partners go with her or have some items to help her escape from this desert.

Regrettably, he hadn't realized this sooner, before he had gotten into some bad behavior with her.

But it was not too late to start over now.

Hector gave a slight smile, took the meat in front of him, and said in a kind voice,

"You want to eat, don't you?"