I suppose it’s about time I stop sleeping outdoors.
It was the morning of my tenth day in this Isekai.
I had just finished my daily Poison Skill training when it happened.
Perhaps it was the influence of my Pharmacist Skill.
Sleeping outside had been so strangely comfortable that I’d been camping out all this time.
But the growth of my Skill Experience Points had slowed down bit by bit—maybe because my Poison Hand Skill had evolved.
At this point, it might be time to find a proper base to improve my living conditions.
”Woof!! Kyuun!”
Ah, right. Tabo’s fluffy fur being so warm was another reason.
Seriously, no need for blankets—he’s just too cute.
”Kyuun! Kyuun! Wan wan! Wuf!!”
Hmm… but still, maybe it’s time?
My Skill training has progressed quite far.
I’ve also been steadily stockpiling Recovery Potions, and now I have a decent number…
”It might be time to start moving to secure some Taste Medicine…”
Actually, around the sixth day, something changed with my Enemy Detection Skill.
When I open the recipe book, I can faintly see visions of where the torn pages are.
If I use the Enemy Detection Skill while in that state, I can gauge the strength of whoever’s there…
～～～
Enemy Detection, activated.
Combat assessment against World Tree Forest・Insect King’s Campsite:
”You’ll need resolve, but it should be a fair fight.”
～～～
—The assessment had changed since the second day.
Back then, it was something like ”You’d need three lives to take them down.” A hopeless message.
”…Am I getting stronger?”
The sixth day was definitely a turning point for my Poison Hand Skill.
That dream in the Botanical Garden…
There, I finally grasped the foundation of the technique that suspicious person who called themselves family had taught me.
”Armament.”
A technique to control and solidify the poison overflowing from my Poison Hand at will.
By coating my arms in poison, simple punches with the Poison Hand undergo a dramatic change.
Even my tree-punching training became far more efficient.
Increased striking power.
Protection for my fists.
And poison-based attacks.
Truly, a technique meant for those who wield the Poison Hand to fight.
A skill you can’t obtain through the Skill Tree.
…Just how did Elma know about something like this?
”Kyuun… wuf wuf.”
”Hm? What’s up, Tabo?”
Tabo licks my hand and lets out little kyun kyun whines.
You want pets, huh?
Alright then—I reach out to stroke the soft, plump fur around his neck.
”Wan wan! Kyuun! Tabo—WOOOOOOOOON…”
”Whoa.”
Tabo suddenly lifts his head to the sky and lets out a full-blown howl.
Wait, what? You—you never howl! You’re usually just a half-tanuki-looking dog that goes kyun kyun and fuga fuga!
”—Wuf…”
Tabo stops mid-howl, looking startled.
He shivers, burururu, then crouches low, burying his face in his front paws.
Peeking at me through the gaps between them.
Like he’s bracing himself to be scolded for howling—
”NO WAYYYYY, THAT WAS SO COOL!! Tabo, you—you can HOWL NOWWWWW?!”
”Wuf!? —Wan!! Wan!”
I hug Tabo tight.
Sure, it was a bit surprising, but it’s not like there’s anyone around to complain.
…Back with those bastard dog abusers, I can only imagine what happened when Tabo howled.
It’s not hard to guess.
Those guys… I really wish I could’ve dealt with them myself.
”Wan wan! Fuga, OOOOON!”
”Hahaha, yeah, howl away. A dog’s gotta howl—huh?”
As I pet Tabo, I notice something.
He’s been staring at the sky this whole time.
I follow his gaze—
”Huh?”
Whoosh. A shadow falls over me.
The blue sky.
Wings spread wide, blotting out the sun. Crimson scales, a long tail.
A legendary creature no fantasy world should be without.
”GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!”
A Dragon.
Bipedal, with massive wings in place of arms.
Legs like thick eagle talons…
The ruler of the skies, a Dragon, soaring through the air—
”A person…”
Looking closer, there’s someone riding on its back.
…And they seem… unsteady…
”Wan!!”
”Huh?”
THOOM!!!!
That’s when it happens.
The forest’s trees rustle violently, swaying as if caught in a typhoon.
Like palm trees along Okinawa’s coast during a storm.
Wind?! No, that’s not it—
”A Shockwave…?!”
A shockwave, fired from somewhere in the forest—and then.
”Ooooh…”
”Ah…”
Before I know it, a massive stake-like object is embedded in the Dragon’s chest.
Still flapping its wings, even as blood spills.
But it’s losing altitude fast—
And in the blink of an eye, it crashes somewhere deep in the forest…
”Wh-what…”
My brain can’t keep up with everything that just happened.
But one thing’s clear—there was a person on that Dragon.
This is another choice, isn’t it?
A crashed Dragon. Staying uninvolved would be the safer option.
And whatever shot it down might still be nearby.
Clearly dangerous.
Before securing Taste Medicine, diving headfirst into unnecessary danger… is unthinkable.
…Wait. Hold on.
Pretty sure I wrote the setting for this region, the World Tree Forest…
And the Wood Elf race.
…And I definitely remember writing about a dragon-hunting culture.
Wood Elves constantly compete in archery, and bringing down a Dragon is considered the highest honor for their kind…
Which means… could it be…
”Wait, is this my fault?”
”Wan.”
This is bad. People might die because of the setting I wrote at 2 AM!!
This isn’t a joke!
”Killing people with a pen” isn’t supposed to be literal!
”Please, don’t die on me!!”
For the sake of my conscience!!
Becoming a murderer over something like this—no way in hell!!
”Wan!!”
”—You’re coming with me, Tabo?”
”—Wan wan wan!!”
DAMN IT!! How did it come to this?!
All I did was indulge my tastes—thinking, ”Wouldn’t it be cool if there were Elves who became a minority after being exiled from civilization for being too warlike?”
But now that it’s happened—
”We’ve got no choice…!”