I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 108

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

[108] Water Sage’s Refuge #4
Back at the lodging, I spent a long time gripping my head in self-recrimination.
When I thought about it, it was inevitable.
If I tried to remove the seed through herbs, Lenar, who disapproved of such methods, would surely interfere.
It required only a moment’s thought to realize the herb gatherers would be in danger.
They were injured because of me, in essence.
What made my despair even more acute was that not a single villager blamed me for it.
Some even patted my shoulder, saying it wasn’t my fault since Lenar was naturally temperamental.
I would have felt far better if someone had simply cursed me out.
As I clenched my fists in anguish, Radi quietly sat beside me, offering silent companionship.
After sitting in that silence for a while, a knock sounded, followed by a low voice.
“…Human. The Village Chief wishes to see you.”
“Understood.”
“Do not be so hard on yourself… I shall take my leave.”
“….”
Radi and I left the room and made our way to the Elder’s Residence.
Elder Fernando sat exactly as he had when we first met, yet the atmosphere was entirely different.
After a heavy silence fell, he slowly opened his mouth.
“As you understand… it has come to pass. With the herb gatherers attacked, it is now impossible to remove the seed implanted in you within the deadline.”
“….”
“And I am sorry to say this, but I must ask you to leave this place.”
In the Elder’s expression as he spoke, both apology and resolute determination were intertwined.
‘As I feared, it has come to this.’
So long as I remained in this village, more people would continue to suffer at Lenar’s hands.
And for myself, with no cure for the parasitic seed, remaining here would only mean a slow, inevitable death as it consumed me.
“…I understand. I am grateful for providing me shelter during this time.”
“I am truly grateful for the dedication you have shown. I hope you understand that this decision was made out of necessity, not malice.”
“I understand completely.”
I bowed respectfully and left the room.
Returning to the lodging and beginning to pack my belongings, Radi asked carefully.
“Are you… alright?”
“…Yes.”
Of course, it was a lie.
Ever since I saw the injured beastkin, something had been churning in the depths of my stomach.
The malice directed at me had splattered onto innocent people instead.
Onto the very benefactors who had offered warm food and shelter to Radi and me when we lay grievously wounded on death’s door.
As I clenched my fists, suppressing the rage that burned toward the Flower Queen, the door suddenly burst open.
Nia strode across the room with a fierce expression, her teeth grinding audibly.
“…That woman.”
“….”
“That woman has crossed the line. She’s been irritating before, but never like this.”
Nia suddenly lifted her head and looked up at me.
“You met with the Elder, didn’t you? What did he say?”
“Nothing in particular.”
I answered while averting my gaze.
But Nia noticed the backpack I’d hidden behind my back, and her eyes sharpened.
“Don’t tell me… you’ve been cast out?”
“….”
“Wait a moment! I’ll go confront the Village Chief right now!”
“Please stop, Nia! I’m fine!”
As Nia huffed and kicked toward the door, I grabbed her.
“The Elder simply made the best judgment he could under the circumstances.”
“Are you really satisfied with this?”
“No.”
“…?”
“Of course I need to find another way.”
Naturally, I had no intention of giving up like this.
My plan to eliminate the parasitic seeds through medicinal herbs had failed.
By now, Lenar had surely trampled and burned the entire Herb Garden.
That left me with only one option.
And that was—.
“I’m going to kill the Flower Queen directly.”
The parasitic seeds germinate in response to the mana signal connected to the caster, so if I defeat Lenar, the seeds will naturally perish as well.
Nia’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re going to capture the Flower Queen? That powerful spirit?”
“I know it’s a dangerous gamble. I can’t guarantee my life either.”
But to survive, there was no choice.
Of course, the odds of me confronting Lenar alone and returning alive were extremely slim….
“Of course I’m coming with you, Doran.”
As I steeled my resolve, Radi spoke firmly.
I furrowed my brow and turned to face her.
“What? It’s too dangerous. Don’t do that—you should stay here….”
“When was it ever not dangerous? You’ve always used me without hesitation anyway.”
“….”
“As long as we’re in the same Party, we’re bound by common fate. If I let you go like this, it’s obvious you’re just going to die alone.”
Watching Radi speak so bluntly, I let out a sigh.
Ever since I began to feel a bond with my companions, I didn’t want to drag them into dangerous situations, but I had no good reason to refuse.
Besides, with Malton and Karen gone, I desperately needed Radi’s help.
Her keen sense of smell, her long-range marksmanship, her ability to create variables through poison—none of these were things I could afford to overlook.
“…All right.”
But at that moment, an unexpected person joined the fray.
“I’m coming too.”
“What? Nia, why would you…?”
“That woman laid hands on one of our villagers! As a warrior of this town, I absolutely cannot forgive that!”
“It’s far too dangerous…! Please, think this through more carefully before deciding….”
I tried to dissuade her, but upon hearing what Nia said next, I found myself unable to speak.
“Do you even know where the Queen’s hideout is?”
“That is….”
“Can you find your way through the Primordial Forest?”
“….”
“Even if you do reach her, can you really win with just the two of you? Are you going to let Radi die?”
Her words struck home.
In truth, if Nia helped us, our chances of success would increase exponentially.
It wasn’t merely a matter of added combat strength—having lived in this forest for so long, she would know Lenar’s magic and behavioral patterns better than anyone.
“…I humbly ask for your aid.”
“Of course! Just trust me!”
Nia answered cheerfully.
* * *
We departed from the village in the dead of night.
The moment we crossed the village’s boundary one by one, the darkness of the Primordial Forest descended upon us with crushing weight.
As Nia slipped through the barrier last, she whispered in a hushed voice.
“Oh, oh no…? Sneaking out at night for the first time has me a little excited….”
“You mustn’t let your guard down. Nocturnal monsters make these woods far more dangerous after dark.”
“I know that…!”
Nia grumbled softly, yet grinned mischievously.
“That’s why I prepared everything as we discussed beforehand.”
She unfurled her bundle and laid out its contents.
｢[Evening Primrose Elixir]: A potion condensed from the pistils of flowers that bloom only at night, allowing one to see as clearly as in broad daylight even in darkness.｣
｢[Great Water Desert Special Pellet]: A spiritual medicine crafted by hardening tree sap that grows only in the Great Water Desert, dramatically accelerating wound recovery!｣
｢[Pollen Detoxification Needle]: A needle prepared using a recipe passed down among the beast-folk of the Water Sage’s Refuge. It alleviates the toxins contained within pollen.｣
Beyond these, there were various other elixirs and emergency rations.
Radi asked carefully.
“Where did all of this come from? Some of it looks incredibly rare….”
“I stole it from the Elder’s warehouse!”
“Is that… acceptable?”
“No!”
“…Thank you, Nia.”
We were in no position to be choosy now.
Once we all drank the Evening Primrose Elixir, the dark Primordial Forest brightened to a pale, luminous haze.
“Which direction is Lenar’s dwelling?”
“It’s deep within this forest. You’ll need to walk for a really, really long time.”
If Nia said so, it must be quite far indeed.
In that case, it would be better to transform into a spider and carry them on my back.
I exchanged a glance with Radi before speaking with solemn gravity.
“Nia, you cannot tell anyone what you’re about to see.”
“Huh? Got it!”
“Can you truly promise that?”
“What’s with you? What are you—whoa, whoa, wait!!”
｢Your party member Nia is flustered and covers her eyes!｣
｢Due to the [Chaos] skill, your Agility temporarily increases by 5!｣
Nia suddenly shrieked and collapsed to the ground.
Radi and I exchanged bewildered glances.
‘I haven’t even transformed into a spider yet—why is she like this?’
‘That’s strange… did an insect bite her?’
Nia cried out.
“Why are you suddenly taking off your clothes?! Radi, why are you acting so calm about this?!”
“”Ah.””
I’d grown far too accustomed to using my disguise skill in front of my companions.
I left the self-reproaching Radi behind and hid behind a tree to complete my transformation.
｢You have transformed into a Primitive Tarantula!｣
｢A terrifying predator of the Primordial Forest! With eight legs, you can traverse treacherous terrain swiftly and stealthily!｣
“A, a monster?! There wasn’t even a sign of it—where did it come from?!”
As Nia immediately took a defensive stance, Radi hastily explained.
“W, wow! So this spider is really Doran transformed?!”
Click—!
I shook my body and took off at full speed with the marveling Nia and Radi on my back.
I swiftly crossed between ancient trees, kicked off moss-covered rocks, and pushed through tangles of vines.
By staying flat against the ground and moving stealthily, there was no risk of being detected by other monsters.
A few predators noticed me along the way, but each time I shot webs to immobilize them and pressed onward.
After repeating cycles of rest and travel, putting considerable distance between us and the village, a swampland with water-logged ground appeared—but it posed no problem.
Click! I signaled by vibrating my chelicerae beside my mouthparts, and Radi cried out.
“Nia, it would be good to hold on tight!”
“Hold on tight? Like this?”
“Yes, usually when Doran gives this signal, he’s planning something—kyaaaaaaah!!”
“Uaaaaah—!”
As I sprayed web from my rear and launched into the air, both of them screamed simultaneously.
I swung nimbly between trees along the silk strands, racing through the air at tremendous speed.
The very same method the Primitive Tarantula had used when pursuing me.
Radi, who suffered from acrophobia, gripped my fur so tightly she caused partial hair loss, while Nia shrieked with a mixture of terror and delight.
Within seconds, I burst through the swampland and set both of them down on solid ground, whereupon Nia’s eyes gleamed as she cried out.
“This is absolutely insane—!! So thrilling! Can we do it again?!”
Having returned to my human form, I began donning my equipment once more as I spoke.
“If the opportunity arises next time, I’ll be happy to carry you again.”
I wished I could continue traversing in spider form, but from this point forward, I needed to proceed with utmost caution.
The Primordial Forest, which had been nothing but endless verdant monotony until now, gave way to a landscape utterly transformed.
｢You have entered the domain of Lenar, Queen of Flowers!｣
｢A garden teeming with deadly poisonous flora and blossoms! Few humans have ever invaded her territory and lived to tell the tale.｣
The entire world before my eyes was awash in a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————