NOVEL WEB 3. Singing and Frog Hunting
My feet are steadier this morning. I can travel at a light trot, and I feel adventurous.
Although I'm cautious, I approach a bit closer to the edge of the village. It's too dangerous to go out and hunt, but if a bird or something landed…
And then, I hear it.
“Ribbit~”
Frog. There is a frog sitting in the shade. Technically, is it a toad? It doesn't matter. My mission is to use my club to squish it dead.
Quiet, steady, unassuming steps. Do not stare directly at the prey, lest it feel my eyes. Erase all signs of bloodlust. Become tranquil…
I am within striking distance.
I must not become excited. It's the same as approaching wildlife in my old world. Become a part of the surroundings. The final attack phase was never realized in my old world, but I rehearsed this kind of thing in secret.
… I was kind of an idiot.
But now that experience comes in handy!
Now, not a drop of bloodlust until the moment of impact… Use your full speed, hold nothing back. The enemy is only faster if I slow myself with hesitance! Now!
My eyes dilate as my club swings downward with full force. The frog tries to flee at the last moment, but I catch it's back leg under my weapon.
Ah, it looks painful. Quickly crush the head.
I want to bring it back to show momma, but it might be poisonous to touch. I wrap it in a leaf, just in case, and carry it to where the women work.
“Momma, look! First kill~”
Momma sees what I caught and looks surprised.
“You hunt frog? My child so fast! Oolga proud!”
Momma embraces me in a hug, and I giggle like the child I am.
“I sneak up behind, and frog can't find me~ Then squish! Can I eat it?”
“Baby no eat. Poison. Taste bad.”
Whoa whoa! That sounds dangerous! Let's set this little guy down on a rock. I'll see if I can make a pile.
“I go hunt now.”
“No leaving village, okay?”
“Mm!”
***
I'm patrolling around the edge of the village, swinging my club leisurely. I've got my eyes scanning the ground for frogs. I don't believe there will only be the one.
After a few minutes and a lap around the place, my wish is fulfilled.
Frog!
Okay, now calm… Just like we practiced. This time, though, don't let it notice at all.
Creeping… quietly… I'm just another part of the scenery. Approaching from behind…
Go!
… I got it. It's a frog cake now. Phew, I feel tired, but the technique to erase my presence was a success.
[[Conditions met. Skill
… Eh? I got a skill from that?
… How does it work?
No, come to think of it, didn't I get something called “Trill” at the very beginning? It slipped my mind until now.
Well, let's bring this guy to show momma, and then we'll ask her about it.
***
“Momma, look! Frog~”
“Eh? Good child! You grow up to be big hunter, huh?”
“Mm! But, momma, what are skills? Teach me~?”
“Eh~? Where you hear that so soon? Mm… Skills, you practice, spirits reward. Voice from sky calls down like that.”
Her face looks confused as she attempts to explain it to me. Likewise, I tilt my head to show that it didn't get through.
“Oolga, just show child how it looks.”
“Too much to explain it~?”
Some of the women threw in their opinions, and momma nodded.
“Good idea. Baby watch closely, I show skill.”
Momma lifts up her knife for dressing prey and looks focused. Suddenly, the knife moves quickly, and the animal is properly separated into all of its separate components. It happened way too fast to be natural, and momma looks a little tired afterwards.
“I butcher lots of animals, so spirits give me
Oooh~ It's cool! I nod my head quickly to show that I understand.
“How do you use skills?!” I really want to start practicing my skills!
“Hm? Just do like you did when you get skill? I try to butcher animal, skill turns on. Practice lots and now I can do it fast~”
Hm? Well, that answers half of my question, but what about
“What if you born with skill? Then how do you use it?”
“Hm? … Baby, was you born with a skill?”
Oops! Should I have kept it a secret? Well, I had to ask to get an answer. Anyway, she’s my mom, so it's fine if she knows about it.
“Yeah~? I know the name, but I don't know what it for. How can I use it then?”
“Mmm… Dunno? Practice, maybe? Baby smart, you figure it out.”
Uu~ darn it.
Well, that's how it is, then. Let's go back to the edge of the village and see if we can figure something out.
What was I hoping for when this skill was created…? Something strong enough to shake the world… Something that suits me…
A trill is a vibrating sound, right? Do I have to sing to activate it?
No harm in trying it, right? Let's test what my range is like in this life.
Okay, middle C! Now higher… higher… The F above high C: my previous limit.
Hm? It feels like I can go higher? Alright then.
… It's strange. I can still feel something like sound, but my voice can't be heard anymore? I'm beyond the range of my vocal chords, singing with… something else.
Let's step back down, but keep doing it with this not-quite-a-voice.
It really feels strange, but so far nothing has happened. Let's keep going lower.
The vibrations are getting really far apart. Not even a baritone would be able to sing this low. My head is starting to feel heavy…
*crrrk!*
!! What was that sound?
Since it was surprising, I stopped “singing.”
The seed of a thought has formed in my mind. So I think, let's assign a target.
I pick up a rock and activate Trill, aiming for a very slow, strong vibration. My head starts to hurt, and I feel tired, but suddenly!
*crack!*
A crack forms in the stone!
Trill! It's power is to manipulate vibrations!
Is there a limit?? If I make it fast enough, can I get into the visible light spectrum? Can I make sound blasts?! Uwaah~!
I like it! I like it a lot! Thank you spirits!
I know I can make it stronger, but it's too tiring right now. Is it because I'm a baby, or does it consume something like magic power?
Well, for now, it's my nap time. Rest is important if you want to experience growth. Let's go home.