It's been days since I've begun walking, tripping and crawling towards wherever a slightly loud noise - like a falling rock or a vulture flapping its wings.

The latter of which, I'm enthusiastically chasing after at the moment.

*Flap* *flap* *flap*

The vulture was frantically flapping its membrane wings.

It's long, reptilian-like tail was swinging back and forth - acting as a rudder as it half-glided.

Occasionally, it would also roar. No... hmm?... didn't that last one sound more like a whimper?

Why would an eight-meter long vulture be whimpering?

Wait a second... is there even such a thing as an eight-meter long vulture?

...Hmmm...

Well, either way. I want to bite on something. Something warm.

And, you're the only one in the vicinity.

So... I stopped, lowered my hips then... jumped!

The back end of the reptilian vulture was getting closer and closer.

Almost there... almost there...

"Graaaah...!!!" I caught and took a mouthful off of its swinging tail.

*Akraayaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!*

Feeling the sharp pain on its sensitive tail, it howled... no, screamed in pain. Immediately, it began to do barrel rolls, trying to shake me off. If my grip on its tail was any weaker, I would've been flung away.

Its warm blood was spraying all over me and, it felt strangely satisfying.

I took another bite, savoring the chewy and hard, dark meat. Then another bite. And another. It didn't take long, for the vulture-like creature to crash land, trying to scrape me off.

"Graaaaaaahhhh!!!!" Of course, it didn't work, and I took another bite out of it.

Then, I noticed that it was swiveling its head... it was trying to bite me back this time!

*Graayaaaaahhh!!!*

It's gigantic, elongated jaw would consume my entire body in two bites. But, I quickly jumped back, escaping unscathed... not.

It seems that he managed to take half my left arm, from the elbow down.

But, he'll soon regret doing such a dumb thing.

Yes, immediately after swallowing my arm; it began spasming. It started off light, but then it got worse and worse. Within seconds, it was lying limply, twitching and foaming at the mouth.

Normally, I'd go back to finish the tail. The part where blood is already flowing... but, once again, I was compelled by *that* instinct. Instead of going back for the tail I was headed for its chest/ breast area.

And, I began chomping and chewing. It took quite some time, almost an hour I think, before I reached what I think my instincts were trying to guide me to.

It was a gem, a gem of crystallized mana, right in the middle of it's still faintly beating heart. It was glowing a dull violet light, that seeped through the tissues of its heart and other membranes.

Well, even that last sign of life, would disappear into my stomach soon enough.

My instincts were yelling at me to scarf it down. And, I was never one to deny my instincts.

*Chomp* *chew* *chew* *bite* *crack* *shatter* *shatter*

Despite being a stone, it was surprisingly brittle. Eating its heart also seemed to have had some effect on my body, since all the green, rotten areas on my skin began to disappear.

Was it perhaps, a purifying agent of some kind? Well, whatever, I'll go back to rotting, soon enough.

But still, I held hope, maybe, just maybe... I'll be able to... ...no, don't be stupid.

All I have to do is follow my instincts, there's no need for thinking. And, right now, my instincts are telling me to eat only it's internal organs, including the brain, as well as the eyes.

I don't really get why, I wasn't supposed to eat the meat, but like I said before, I am faithful to my instincts.

.

.

.

.

It took half a day, but I was finally finished with its chest and abdominal cavities.

Apparently, I don't gain weight. Even though I just downed an entire feast, I'm already hungry. Not only that, but my stomach hasn't ballooned. Not in the slightest. It's like I didn't even eat anything.

Also, this vulture was actually a female. Since, in my hands right now, is an ovary - that part where the egg embryos are stored.

It was a mighty tasty treat, lucky for me, there were two of them, so I can keep one for the road.

But now, comes the tricky part.

The eyes were easy to collect - but now, I need to eat the brain, without damaging its body too much.

Should I... just pull it out, through the eye sockets?

Well, it was a big creature, so I was able to thrust my arm into its cranial cavity - through the eye sockets. I had to widen it a bit though.

I'll just say it now, but it had a pretty small brain, for a creature so big. It was only, around the size of my head.

Well, time to eat.

*chomp* *chew* *chew*

It... doesn't really taste anything.

What a let-down.

Dismayed, I began walking, resuming my dead man walking routine.

More days passed. Maybe even weeks. But, I don't really know anymore.

What I do know, is that the surroundings are getting greener and that there's a constant noise that's been getting louder as I continue towards it. It started off as echoes in the distance, but now it's like they're within a stone's throw away.

Or maybe it's just that loud.

Either way, I should almost be there. All I need to do is cross this small forest.

Sudddenly, *rustle* *rustle* I found it. Another a different - but exceedingly familiar source of warmth.

Walking down a well-used animal trail was a girl, a lively girl in farm clothes clothes. "Hm?" She wore faded blue overalls and a beige shirt. Beads of sweat were glistening down her white porcelain skin, her bountiful chest was heaving up and down and leaning of her shoulder was a hoe. Her shoes and glove covered hands were muddy, but they only served to add to her charm as a hard worker. She was probably just about down for the day. The light from the setting sun that's peeking through the canopy above made the sight of her, even more appetizing.

Yes, appetizing. It was such a shame, but I needed to... ...

"Are you okay!? You're badly hurt!" She's kind. Very kind. Surely, a lot of people care deeply about her. She approached, no, she ran closer. She even dropped her hoe, which was her only weapon.

"Your left arm! We-we need to get you to a doctor now! You've lost a lot of blood already! We really must hurry!" Even though, she only reaches my shoulders, she's still trying to support me. She slings my remaining right arm over her shoulder where the hoe was, and began helping me down the road.

"You're going to be okay now! Don't worry, I know a great healing magic user! She a friend of mine! She's shrewd, so she might push you to do some errands for her afterwards, but she's good at heart. I promise!"

Ahh... if only this was the kind of warmth that I was 'seeking'.

I closed my eyes. I didn't... I didn't need to defile such a kind girl.

"No! No! Don't sleep! You need to stay awake! Come on, were almost there! Were almost there!" That's a lie, we've barely moved from where we were, earlier. But, it was a kind lie. "Once we reach the town, someone will surely help, then we'll reach Seria-chan faster! Ah! How about we talk! I'll tell you all about myself!"

I don't need to... Yes, I never needed to.

"My name is Cow Girl! Yeah, I understand, it's a weird name. But it's my grandmother's name! She's really sweet! She's also kind and helpful! When my parents, my previous village was attack from a goblin army, she was the only one who took me in. Grandmother is poor, so life is hard. But it's honest good work and I can't thank her enough for giving me that chance." Of course, you probably inherited your kindness from her.

"And, and, I, I really hate the goblins... I just wish they would all just die off somewhere... no, why am I talking about this!?"

Ah, so even you, have something you hate... no, that much is normal, I suppose.

"Hey, hey. What do you think about becoming an adventurer? It's weird, yeah, but grandmother also met someone like that by a road. He was a strange, stoic person. But he's also pretty nice once you get to know him! How about it, hmm? You seem to be well built, so you'll be able to get a living as an adventurer! I don't know what happened before today, but you'll be able to live a decent life here at the frontiers."

Yeah. That is a pretty wierd offer. The second half of it was more relateable though. But, ahhh... To only meet such a kind and gentle girl, after I have already been killed...

It seems the gods hate me. Even more than how destiny shuns that idiotic, overly-ambitious half-sister of mine.

I then turned my head and gazed at her silky, deep auburn hair that's tied in a bun, her forced, yet encouraging smile that doesn't seem to be aimed at anyone, and her steeled, resolute gaze, despite having tears in her eyes.

I will be the last one to witness this sight. The last person, who will ever witness this beautiful, hard-working and kind girl's face. No, I want to be the last person. So, I will do it!

"Ah! You're still awake! That's gre-!?" I lunged at her. "KyaaaaAAAAAaaaaaHHHHHHHhHHHHh!!!!!!!????"

Then I chewed on her slightly malnourished cheek. Dying myself in her steaming hot blood.

While still chewing, I pushed her down and straddled her. With my right hand I kept her lying on the ground.

If the scene was just from a different story, this would seem like romantic scene, in a bed somewhere... or something... but it wasn't.

Then, I went back to eating. This time, it was her sexy nape.

"YaaaaaAAAAAHHHh!!! Yame! Yame! Help! Help! Help me!" She screamed. But there was no one nearby. I was sure of that. Rivers of tears mixed with her blood, dirtying her.

"Help! Help! HEEEEELLLLLLLPPPP!!!" She begged. Even though no one will hear her.

"Help... help... help me... ... help... ..."

She continued to beg. Reaching her arm out, probably to the direction of a town, or her grandmother... I don't know.

"... ... help..."

Her already faint pleading became fainter...

"... ... ... me..."

Became slower...

"... ... ... ... ... ... ... please..."

And, she breathed her last.

Her eyes, until the end, they never looked at me with hatred. But rather, it was pity.

Even in the face of death, she never lost her kindness...

Why...

Why didn't I meet her before?