Chapter 220

220 – Manticore

I prepare myself to fight the monster.

If I provoke it, it might bite down and kill the child. As soon as I move, it will also move. I’ll take this opportunity to check its status.

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Species: Manticore

Status: Normal

Lv: 73/80

HP: 453/453

MP: 142/142

Attack: 413

Defense: 228

Magic: 194

Speed: 534

Rank: B

Characteristic Skills:

[Nekomata: Lv -] [Onmitsu: Lv 4] [Presence Sense: Lv 6] [Grisha Language: Lv 1]

Resistance Skills:

[Physical Resistance: Lv 4] [Magical Resistance: Lv 5] [Fire-attribute Resistance: Lv 3] [Poison Resistance: Lv 2] [Paralysis Resistance: Lv 4]

Normal Skills:

[Paralysis Claw: Lv 7] [Paralysis Bite: Lv 8] [Humanisation Technique: Lv 8] [Sandstorm: Lv 6] [Needle Body: Lv 9]

Title Skills:

[Cunning: Lv 6] [Obsession: Lv 6] [Chaser: Lv 9] [Cat’s Pride: Lv 3] [Wind Runner: Lv 7] [Final Evolution: Lv -]

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So it’s a manticore. This might be the most monster-like monster I’ve seen. They’re human-headed lions after all.

It seems to be a physical-specialist. It’s a lower rank than me, and although my stats are overall higher, it’s faster than me. A difference in speed can have a large impact on a fight.

The first monster I meet here is as strong as the giant centipede; this area might be even more dangerous than I’d anticipated. I suppose this is the outlook I get from moving around so much. It’s like I’m a salaryman who has to keep moving around for his job.

…hmm? Thi-this bastard… it’s got [Humanisation Technique]. At a higher level then me as well. Damn I’m jealous. There’s no way you need that.

…W-well, I suppose it doesn’t really matter. It’s not like it’s at all useful in battle.

Parter. For the time being, I’m counting on you to heal up that kid in its mouth. At this rate they’ll die.

When I call out in my heart, my partner nods her head.

“Gaaah!”

The light of [High Rest] envelopes the manticore’s mouth. The child’s arm twitches. They’re alive. We’ve managed to pull them back from the brink.

“Gebagebagebaah!”

The manticore’s mouth closes and pierces the child’s back with a fang. One more movement and the child will die. I need to save them now.

Taking the [High Rest] as a provocation, the manticore suddenly leaps forwards. In every stat other than speed, I am superior.

While defending I’ll look for an opening then strike with all my strength. With those stats, two hits should be enough to bring it down. Unlike most high-ranked monsters, it doesn’t have a single recovery skill. As long as I can land my hit, this’ll be fine.

“Gabahaah!”

The manticore appeared in front of me and raised its foreleg high in the air. A claw attack I suppose.

I wrap my wings around my body to block the attack. The manticore digs its claw into my wing and flings itself over me. It scratches my back and sharp pain runs up my spine.

I swing my tail at where I thought the manticore is, but miss.

Shit. Rather than doing a halfhearted defense I should face its attacks head on. I’ve got plenty of HP to burn, anyway.

“Gebahahahaah!”

Pleased with its successful attack, the manticore charges at me again. Oh, so you’re approaching me. This time I’ll strike you with everything I’ve got.

It approaches with such confidence that it doesn’t look like it has any thought for caution at all. I release three [Wind Slashes] towards the charging manticore.

“Gebagebagebaah!”

The manticore dodges to the left and right, evading. ‘As if that attack would hit’, it lets out a cry as if to say.

Thankfully, it seems to be becoming negligent. Please, get as carried away as you want.

The manticore kicks the ground and leaps into the air. It’s using the exact same posture as before. It’s completely full of openings.

If it attacks like this, then… No, let’s not make any unnecessary attacks. Safety first, safety first. If I attack badly, it might move unexpectedly like before. I’ll accept its attack head on and then strike. This way I can definitely hit it.

I take a half step back and lower my head. The manticore drives its claw into my shoulder. At the same time, I bite into the manticore’s belly.

“Gabaah!?”

I use the [Poison Fang] skill, pouring plenty of poison into the wound. I then kick the manticore with my foreleg, sending it flying. The manticore’s body tumbles through the trees.

The manticore collapses belly-up in the dirt. Blood pours from its bite wound.

It sure went down fast for how carried away it got. Well, that’s how it is. It didn’t have all that much HP or defense after all, nor did it even have any recovery skills.

It wasn’t tough enough, not at all. For a life of survival, you really need to focus on survivability like me. I fire off a [Wind Slash] towards the manticore’s half-open mouth.

“Gabaa…”

The human-like head turns to the side as it is hit. The bloodsoaked child falls from its mouth. Alright, with this the first objective is cleared. All that’s left is to turn this manticore into my dinner without letting it turn its attention to the kid.

With shaky breaths, the manticore stands up.

Just one more attack should be enough to win. Come at me! Will you attack me with a leap like before? Hmm?

Slow down, me, I mustn’t become careless. They say when a wild beast is cornered it is its most dangerous. Though saying that, it didn’t look like it had any particularly dangerous skills… As long as I can counter whatever it does, I should be fine, right? I’d better be ready to react to anything it might do.

“…geba”

The manticore turns its back on me and flees as fast as its legs can carry it.

Oi, are you running away? W-well, now that I think about it, anyone would do that. Its attack had little effect, and when hit, it got super hurt. If I were in its position, I would have fled too.

I lose to it in terms of speed, so when it runs away as fast as it can, there’s not much I can do about it. I could chase after it using [Roll], but I suppose that’s not necessary. Unlike a normal hunt, right now the injured kid is what’s important.

Besides, it was poisoned and bleeding heavily, and didn’t have much HP remaining. If I take a look around later, I might be able to find its dead body. It should supply me with enough meat to last a few days.

However the manticore’s face was creepily human-like… If I eat it I feel like I might cross a line that I’ve been avoiding.