Published: July 5, 2025
This is the second night of three consecutive postings.
"Right now, the villagers are on edge. I apologize for that."
The village chief bows his head.
"On edge?"
In negotiations like this, Abel takes the lead.
"Tomorrow, all the men in the village are planning to go hunting."
"Hunting? Is the target troublesome?"
"Yes. After all, the opponent is a salamander."
"A salamander!"
Both Abel and Ryo exclaim in unison.
Abel is astonished.
Ryo is filled with delight.
Of course, Ryo doesn’t know much about the monster known as a salamander.
It wasn't even listed in the 'Monsters Encyclopedia: Beginner's Edition' that Michael (alias) prepared.
However, according to fantasy knowledge from Earth, salamanders breathe fire and reside in magma.
They are very famous fantasy creatures.
And if we talk about 'Fai,' it is likely a fire attribute monster.
Until now, Ryo had never seen a fire attribute monster.
No, come to think of it, he might have seen a red bear in the Western Nations.
However, that was probably a mutation or a special individual.
But a salamander should be a monster of the fire attribute as a species.
There’s no way he wouldn’t be thrilled to hear about such a monster!
After that, the village chief was called by the villagers and stepped away.
Naturally, it became a time for the two of them to discuss.
"Abel, it's a salamander! A salamander!"
Ryo is excited.
"Do you know about the salamander, Ryo?"
"Of course! It's a fire attribute monster, right?"
"That's true, but… where have you seen one? They are not found in the Central Nations."
"Eh? Is that so? Ah, that’s why I’ve never seen one until now."
"How can you claim to know something you’ve never seen…?"
Ryo asserted that he knew.
Abel had no idea why.
"Then, do you know about the salamander, Abel?"
"I don't. I know nothing but the name."
Abel firmly declares his ignorance.
His stance is refreshingly honest.
"You claimed to be a former A rank adventurer, but did you buy that A rank with money?"
"Of course not!"
Ryo looks at Abel with a dubious expression, and Abel retorts with a small but sharp voice.
"After all, you don’t know the famous salamander, do you?"
"Famous? I think most adventurers from the Central Nations only know the name."
"Just because you don't know…"
"Then how much do you know about the salamander, Ryo?"
Abel asks.
"Thank you for asking. The salamander is a fire attribute monster that should live near lava and such."
"…should?"
"In appearance, it looks like a wyvern or a large newt or salamander."
"…looks like?"
"It uses super high-temperature fire attribute magic. That’s for sure."
"Is that the only thing that’s certain?"
"What’s with that tone! I provided more detailed information than you, Abel!"
"That’s all speculation, right?"
"Grrr…"
Abel shrugs his shoulders, and Ryo grimaces.
In conclusion, neither Ryo nor Abel had reliable information about the salamander.
While they were having that conversation, the village chief returned.
Ryo decided to show off his difference from Abel.
"I have a question for the village chief."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Are the villagers planning to hunt the salamander because the village has been attacked by it?"
"W-why do you think that…?"
The village chief is surprised by Ryo's question.
In response, Ryo looks at Abel with a smug smile.
"…why are you looking at me?"
"I was showing off the difference between us and Abel."
Saying something like that, Ryo is a straightforward guy.
"Actually, a few days ago, a salamander came… and the southern field burned down."
"Oh dear…"
"The southern field had just been planted, so the damage was minimal. However, the crops in the northern field will be ready for harvest in a month. If it comes again before then and burns everything… the village will be finished."
The village chief explains the situation grimly.
"Are there no other villages or towns in the vicinity?"
"No. The nearest town… Kokori Town to the west takes about three days by carriage. A long time ago, there was a conflict in the town… and we, the defeated ones, moved here thirty years ago."