Only I know that this world will end – 034 | Sousaku – 創作

A difference in status

“Ohh……Hmm……”

　After opening several skill detail windows, Akira groaned.

　Looking at the skill details for Weapon Production, Armor Production, and Compounding, the dismantling skill would be the one that would be needed to efficiently gather the monster materials for them, as described in those details.

　Not knowing the extent of what could be made with weapon and armor production, there was no doubt that it would be better than a kitchen knife.

“I’m not sure what it means by materials…… In games and such, it could be skin or scales…… That’s what it says here, right? “

　That somehow seemed right, and yet wrong.

　For the time being, if there was anything that looked like it, he would strip it off when he defeated a monster.

　Deciding to do so, he turned his attention again to the array of skills.

“If I had to take one of these, I’d probably start with Crisis Detection and Enemy Search.”

　Now that monsters have appeared in the world, the prospect of death had become more familiar than ever.

　In order to fulfill the purpose of Akira’s vow to this world, which was to absolutely survive, he should acquire skills such as Crisis Detection and Enemy Search to stay alive. If the details of the skills on the screen were correct, acquiring these two skills would greatly reduce the likelihood of encountering an unreasonable threat of death.

　However, acquiring those two skills here would put him a long way away from increasing his skill level in physical strengthening. The ability to detect the danger of death in advance was of course necessary, but the increase in status, which could be called the ability to survive against monsters, was also necessary in this world.

　Avoid contact with monsters and survive?

　Or survive while making contact with monsters?

“Uhmmm…………”

　Akira furrowed his brow with a groan.

　Then, distressed, Akira turned off the screen for acquiring skills.

“Yeah, I’ve come this far. Let’s get the physical strengthening skills first, then take these two skills.”

　With the original intention in mind, he said to himself.

　Then, he stretched out to relieve his tired body and exhaled deeply.

(Now that the quest is over, I can finally do some serious leveling. Uhh…… after the goblins, what I was planning to go against was……the Man-eating Plant, right?　This will be the first time I’m fighting them, so I’d better get some rest.)

　No recklessness, but firmness and certainty.

　Akira decided to return to the office for a break at this point.

　Hiding from the occasional non-goblin monster, he sometimes ran away, and if he encountered a goblin, he would swing his stone axe to add to his level.

　And then, just a few minutes away from the company’s office, his base of operations.

“…………What is this? “

　Akira suddenly noticed a strange feeling around him.

　Before long, all of the gunfire that had been ringing out had disappeared.

　No, to begin with, the sound of gunfire echoing through the city was less frequent than at night, but the sound of shots fired by the Self-Defense Forces guarding the shelters still echoed out intermittently. Now, not even the sound of those gunshots could be heard.

　That wasn’t the only thing that bothered him.

　Just like Akira, some people were confronting the monsters that appeared, the monsters that were walking around the city as if they owned the place, and the Self-Defense Forces and police who were scouring the city looking for those who were unharmed but were unable to escape, had all disappeared.

　The only sounds echoing through the city were the sirens announcing the street voices that repeatedly alerted the public to the impending crisis in Japan.

　It was as if he was the only one left in the world.

　It was an obvious anomaly, clearly evident even in this extraordinary situation.

“………………”

　Akira looked around with growing concern.

　And then―――― Finally, he realized.

　Standing at the end of a narrow alley, that presence.

“――――――Min……otaur.”

　Akira muttered in dismay.

　His head went blank in an instant, and his survival instincts rang alarm bells that informed him clearly, even without any skill.

　Now that his level had increased and his stats were higher than they had been back then, he could clearly see the impending death that loomed over him.

(――――This is bad. This is bad, this is bad, this is badthisisbadthisisbadthisisbadthisisbadthisisbad!!)

　With a gasp, Akira immediately turned around.

“…!! “

　Then, as if exploding with all the status he had gained so far, Akira did his best to get away from the scene.

“Damn, why, why!?　Why is that guy here!? “

　Would I not encounter the Minotaur if I did not go to that place at that time!?

　……No, how much time do I think has passed since then? How could I be so sure that this guy wouldn’t move from that spot?

　This guy was a monster, too. Surely, they must have the will too.

　If their staple food was humans, it was only natural that they would move in on that prey.

(How can a gunshot that I can hear not be heard only by this monster? That means that if this guy turned his feet in the direction of the sound――――)

　The reason why the gunfire echoing through the city had ceased. Moreover, why did even the gunfire guarding the shelter had disappeared?

　These two reasons made clear sense to Akira.

(Besides, even I know how strong this guy is!　But that’s only me――That’s the thing, there’s no way that someone else, unless they are a monster like this guy, knows how strong it is!!)

　Same reason as to why the monsters have vanished from the surroundings at this very moment.

　Because this monster came here, the other monsters, the weak ones, were afraid of this guy and disappeared.

“Shit!　Shitshitshitshit!!　If only I had noticed it sooner, much sooner!!)

　Akira gritted his back teeth in intense regret and self-disappointment, but it was too late for anything else.

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! “

　Behind the fleeing Akira, a roar thundered that shook the air.

　Then, a violent sound, as if something was breaking, rang out from behind Akira.

“Wh――――!? “

　Startled by the sound, Akira looked behind him.

　The first thing he saw was the concrete ground that had cracked and even caved in due to the tremendous force applied to it.

　Next, a shadow was seen leaping up into the sky.

“――――――.”

　Reflexively, Akira leaped back from the spot and to the side.

　That was the gut feeling he felt because he had faced it twice before. It was a sense of crisis that came from past experience, not from a skill, that if he stayed where he was, he would surely die.

　The next moment Akira escaped as he rolled.

　And a shadow fell toward where Akira had been just before.

“Tch.”

　――A roar. Followed by an impact.

　Among the flying stone fragments and the gleam of the blade that broke the ground, Akira saw the minotaur’s hideous grin.

　The flying stone fragments knocked Akira down beside him, and the impact that struck him blew him away.

“Ggh, ah…………”

　Akira let out a cry of agony as intense pain shot through his entire body.

　As a warm liquid dripped from his forehead, Akira realized that he had cut his forehead with a flying piece of stone.

(This is bad…… This is seriously bad. I have to go. I have to get out of here……)

　Akira’s limbs trembled and he was unable to stand up properly, despite his best efforts to do so.

(Shit!　SHIIIIT!!)

　Akira cried out in his mind and bit his lip hard.

　――At least. At least, if I’m going to die like this, I’ll at least bring something more, for the next… unsure if he could or not, but he wanted to bring back some information at least.

“――――Analysis.”

　Akira let out a hoarse voice amidst his blood-stained vision.

　――――――――――――――――――

　Minotaur　Lv４５

　Stamina：１１２

　Strength：１９０

　Endurance：７８

　Speed：１１０

　Magical power：４０

　Luck：４４

　――――――――――――――――――

　Individual information: Cannot be displayed due to insufficient level.