I'm Not an Earthworm, I'm an Earth Dragon

“They feed on minerals. No matter how you look at it, it’s an intriguing trait. If only we could, we’d like to find out the principle behind it. If we could transfer such traits to our terminals, we might gain an advantage in the fight against those wretched dwarves.”

A week had passed since they started traveling with the elves. They were still marveling at the characteristics of Altera, while also making terrifying remarks without hesitation.

For example, they wanted to spread her traits widely among their kin, or they were seriously discussing how to use her characteristics for their benefit.

There was almost some trouble in the middle, but they were able to barely prevent it by confirming with Altera that they didn’t have any malicious intentions.

“I thought I told you not to look at me like that.”

“We apologize. But the dwarves have been like a chronic disease to us, so we are intrigued by you, who are like the end of the dwarves. Would you like to connect with the Consensus? The loneliness from solitude and the anxiety of being forgotten will disappear.”

“Get lost.”

In the meantime, Altera, who had focused solely on learning the language because she had nothing else to do, now seemed to understand to some extent, baring her teeth at the elves and sending them hatred and contempt.

Just like when they were teaching her about feminine and masculine nouns.

“Hmm. We thought it was worth considering at least once. What a shame. Then let’s have a meal here for now.”

The elf in charge of communication said it was time to eat, so they should eat and go. Then, the carriages in front and behind all stopped at once, and a meal atmosphere was quickly created.

“Let’s do that. Oh, we will provide the meal this time as well. Please, do not give us food.”

“Is that so? We hope you will try it at least once. Since you are our benefactors, we will not mix seedlings into the meal. Unless you wish for it yourselves. The disconnected sister over there, won’t you become one? The Consensus might know clues about the person you are looking for.”

“…I will find them with my own power. I would appreciate it if you didn’t make such suggestions again.”

“If that is your wish. We will inform the other individuals through the Consensus. We will eat first and wait, so please take your time hunting and eating.”

Akash was still acting nonchalant, leaning on his arm and meticulously writing something in his notebook. When asked what he was doing, he said, “Would you even understand if I told you?” so I gave up asking.

“Myungho. Is it really okay to be traveling with these guys?”

“We’ve come too far to go back now, and even if we tried to go on our own from here, it would be difficult to pass through the elves’ forest without guides.”

Altera got off the carriage and asked if this was the right thing to do. I was starting to have doubts too, but I told her we had to just go because there was nothing we could do about it.

“…I see.”

“We have no choice. Akash said the paths change almost every hour here. If we were to break a tree, all the elves and trees around would come rushing in anger, so you can’t make a path either.”

The reason it was called the elves’ forest was not only because many elves lived there, but also because it was practically their exclusive domain.

If an elf asked a tree, it would instantly bend to become a house, or tree roots would rise to create a path and even provide sap.

…Conversely, if a non-elf entered the forest, a path that existed yesterday might disappear, or trees might intertwine in real-time to block the way.

What we call the World Tree. What they call the Consensus. If connected to it, it was a paradise where everything happened as you wished, but if not, it was a harsh green hell.

Therefore, entering the elves’ forest without an elf or a friendly parasitic plant infection was suicidal… according to Akash.

“…Seriously. What is this? Let’s hurry up and go hunting. We need to get away from these guys as soon as possible…”

Altera seemed particularly displeased with the elves. It was understandable, but she seemed to have a strong sense of hatred towards them, even considering that.

“Sigh. It’s definitely a dream I’ve been chasing all my life… but as it gets closer, I become more and more anxious. What if… no. I shouldn’t think dark thoughts already.”

Yuna was worried that the World Tree might not know about her parents’ whereabouts or… that it might tell her they were not alive. Marie, even if she had emotions, was a doll, so she always maintained her composure.

“Let’s eat first. We don’t want to eat what those people give us, right? Altera, Yuna. I’m counting on you.”

Naturally, I helped Akash and Marie, who were preparing to cook, and asked the two strongest members of the party to hunt.

“…You come too. Or I won’t go.”

However, Altera, not pleased with something, seemed a bit sulky and told me to join the hunt as well. I wouldn’t be of much help even if I went.

Still, I couldn’t just send Yuna alone. I agreed with Altera and joined the hunting team.

– – –

It was understandable for Akash and Marie, who would be easily devoured if they faced beasts, but I was displeased with Myungho, who could fight but was distancing himself from the battle. So, I called him to join the hunt.

Asking a woman wasn’t that displeasing. However, his attitude of trying to naturally slip away was something I couldn’t tolerate.

“…Altera? Myungho won’t be of any help.”

“I know. I just don’t like it.”

I understood Yuna’s words and answered with the words Myungho had clumsily taught me. Yuna was excited that I could now understand everything she said, but because she used difficult words, I couldn’t understand the exact meaning.

“…I didn’t understand that last part. I understand if you use easy words. Don’t use difficult words.”

Yuna agreed and replied with simple, basic vocabulary. No, that wasn’t what I meant by using words suitable for a child.

Myungho was just watching that scene with a faint smile, as if he was amused. What’s he smiling about, that guy? I called him to hunt, but he’s just standing there smiling.

“…Myungho. Don’t just smile, try to look for something.”

Strangely, there were no signs of beasts around here. The only things were small animals like mice, rabbits, and sparrows, which were far too small to be used for a meal.

Even those were difficult to find because the tree roots were abnormally dense in the ground, hindering any attempts to sense vibrations.

This is driving me crazy. Do I really have to eat that green slime that the elves eat? That unappetizing stuff that could potentially infect me with some strange parasitic plant the moment I eat it…?

I refuse. If I can’t catch any prey, I’d rather starve. Of course, catching something is the best option. I pressed my upper body close to the ground, trying my best to feel any vibrations.

“…Over there, beyond the eastern hill… I think there’s one! Yuna, Myungho! Follow me!”

Originally, the plan was to make Myungho work a bit while hunting, but there was no time to fuss over that now. The priority was to find something to eat, anything at all.

I hurried up the hill and saw a plump pig, all alone, casually snuffling around on the ground.

Yuna nocked an arrow, ready to shoot, but I stopped her with a wave of my hand, knowing that such an arrow would ruin the meat.

“If you shoot it with that, the meat will be ruined! I’ll make a wall. Myungho, go and stab it in the neck to kill it.”

Actually, it would be cleaner if Yuna just smashed its head, but I wanted to make Myungho work somehow, so I came up with this plan.

Yuna looked doubtful, but when I put my hand on the ground, already preparing to make a wall, she reluctantly lowered her bow.

“…You want me to catch it? Hmm. That looks… easy enough. Okay, leave it to me. I’m going!”

Myungho, seeing the prey, said it was a piece of cake and ran towards it. The pig, happily eating fallen tree fruits, was startled by Myungho’s approach and tried to run away.

However, the pig was quickly blocked by rock walls in front and on the sides. It squealed and, as if resigned, charged at Myungho instead.

Myungho narrowly dodged the pig’s charge and, in one swift motion, plunged his knife right into the center of the pig’s neck.

I was about to get up, giving a slight praise for his clean work, when I felt something in my stomach.

…It’s been a month and a week or so, so it’s not strange for it to happen again. But why does it feel like it took so long? It felt strange.

When I was in the back of Mount Goldsmett, it felt like I was laying eggs again right after giving birth, but now it felt like laying eggs was a distant memory.

“…Ah, I found one too. Altera. I’ll take care of this one.”

While I was feeling strange and hesitant, Yuna suddenly announced that she had found something, then pulled her bow and fired with a loud bang.

Before I could say anything, I looked at where Yuna had shot and saw an animal, its head completely shattered, dead, with red and white fragments scattered everywhere.

“You, you did well.”

“Thank you.”

Yuna smiled brightly and left to take the beast.

I, on my part, easily lifted the beast that Myungho had struggled to carry.

While I was relieved about the food situation, another worry arose. Carefully avoiding getting blood on my white clothes, I returned to where Marie and Akash were.

…Thinking if Myungho could be of any help in laying the egg.