Chapter 60: The Blood-Stained Beauty

Original: Chapter 60: The Blood-Stained Beauty

I walked slowly along the path back to the Plaza.

I walked down a Trail, emerged into a wide Area, walked along another Trail for a while, and then entered another wide Area.

“It’s fun seeing all the different Flower Fields.”

Every time I entered a wide Area, colorful Flower Fields welcomed me. Feeling a bit like a child again, I walked while admiring the cute flowers.

Along the way, there were also several Fluffbloom Flower Fields.

Maybe it wasn’t such a difficult plant to find after all; I was just bad at spotting them.

“Ah, a Monster.”

There was something that looked like a giant ant. Maybe because it was far away, it showed no interest in me whatsoever. It seemed to be diligently carrying the corpse of another Monster.

I had always wondered what happened to defeated Monsters afterwards. Maybe the Monsters inside the Dungeon clean them up like that.

If I had the Dismantle Skill, I could clean them up myself. I really want the Dismantle Skill. If I had it, my income would increase. Depending on the Materials obtained from Dismantling, the Dungeonfolk might even cook them for me.

“But it requires a lot of Skill Points, so getting it on my own seems a bit impossible.”

If I want the Dismantle Skill, I think the only way is to form a Party with someone who already has it.

“Ahaha, forming a Party is absolutely, completely impossible for me~”

For someone like me who can’t even make friends at school, the idea of forming a Party in a Dungeon is absolutely unthinkable. I even have interpersonal trauma from inside the Dungeon; forming a Party is just too troublesome and impossible.

“Solo really is the best.”

It suits a loner like me perfectly.

Thinking such thoughts, I passed by several more Flower Fields.

The Red Zone should end in about ten more minutes.

I feel a little reluctant to leave. I might have wanted to immerse myself in the tense atmosphere of the Red Zone a bit longer.

But well, I can come back anytime, so today I should just head straight back.

Today’s main objective was getting Fluffblooms. For the sake of Miss Marta, who’s been so kind to me, I need to prioritize and properly complete that job.

“…Hm? Do I smell blood?”

Sniff sniff. Sniff sniff. No mistake. It’s the smell of blood.

“I don’t think it’s Monster blood. This is the smell of human blood. Wait, why have I become able to distinguish that?”

Was it because I’ve smelled my own blood and Monster blood so many times? Monster blood has a feeling of disgust or a raw, fishy smell. Human blood makes me feel a bit worried.

This smell of blood makes me incredibly worried, and it has a rather sweet scent to it.

This sweetness is probably Pheromones or something. So, maybe it’s a woman’s blood?

“Which means, someone might be seriously injured around here?”

That could be bad. It’s a smell of blood strong enough for even me to notice. Monsters would definitely notice.

I have to find them before the Monsters do. Who knows what would happen to that person otherwise.

I checked my surroundings.

This is a red Flower Field. It’s a vibrant color like roses, a place that would make a beautiful picture.

Further in, a few trees were growing.

…I had a feeling. Probably, someone is over there.

Once I realized someone might be there, I suddenly became scared. Are they alive or dead? If alive, what condition are they in…?

Getting hurt myself just makes my Fighting Instinct surge, so that’s fine, but if another person is in a really terrible state, I might start crying. I was always a bit of a crybaby to begin with.

I walked forward cautiously.

Along the way, there was a spot with a lot of blood spilled on the ground. Did they reach their limit here? They probably staggered, hid their body behind a tree trunk, and then became unable to move… Something like that.

My heart was pounding. A scared kind of pounding.

I walked around the tree trunk.

No matter what state they were in, if I could save them, I absolutely would. If, unfortunately, they were dead, I’d muster my courage, work hard, and carry them back on my shoulders. I wouldn’t abandon them. I decided that.

Gently, I checked the person behind the tree trunk.

There they were—. Just as I thought—.

That person was lying on their back at the base of the tree trunk.

It was a girl wearing the same School Uniform as me—.

But the uniform was in tatters. It was torn in a rather… alluring way.

The marks of Attacks were vividly left on her body. She was bleeding all over. There was a particularly large wound under her left arm.

There were cuts, bruises, and some marks that looked like burns. Had she fought various Monsters?

It felt like she was barely breathing with the last of her Life Force.

“She’s beautiful—”

I know it’s inappropriate, but I couldn’t help murmuring my impression.

A woman covered in blood and in tatters… you might call it a kind of art. The fact that her face remained beautiful made her seem even more beautiful to me.

Is this person that senior said to be the most beautiful at school? I never imagined our first meeting would be like this.