Cyclops.
A one-eyed giant race from the Upper Plane, said to be descendants of the 'Titans', the primordial giant race that reigned as rulers even before the Olympian gods. However, they had degenerated and devolved over generations, eventually becoming lower-class Magical Beasts.
Their single, comical eye might make one underestimate them, but in reality, they were not easy opponents.
…No, to be honest, they were not opponents that a mere Hero candidate, who had just come up from below, could take on just because they felt a little powerful.
[The Constellation, 'Dog-headed Judge', scoffs at your arrogant statement and sponsors 3 coins… +3C]
[The Constellation, 'An Immortal More Human Than Anyone', doubts the basis of your statement and sponsors 2 coins… +2C]
Of course, in terms of faction power, the Cyclops race, led by Argus, belonged to the lowest tier of the Demon King's army.
At this point, they were likely not just ‘in’ that tier, but literally the smallest faction in the entire Demon King's army.
Due to Argus's origins, he had many ways to be disliked within the Demon King's army camp, and the Cyclops race's power had been on the decline due to a long absence of a leader.
Besides, the Cyclops race had never been a numerous species to begin with.
However, 'faction power' is calculated as a product of 'individual strength' and 'headcount'.
A weak faction did not necessarily mean its individuals were weak.
No matter how diluted their bloodline, the Cyclops were descendants of the 'giant race', Magical Beasts with at least a minuscule amount of that blood flowing in their veins.
In terms of the power of a single individual, the Cyclops was by no means a Magical Beast that belonged in the lowest tier.
…That's why I, too, had to be fully prepared.
[Checking sponsorship history.]
<Sponsorship List>
-[Dog-headed Judge]: 3 Coins
-[An Immortal More Human Than Anyone]: 2 Coins
-[Boy with White Ivory]: 5 Coins
-[Olympus's Hooligan]: 50 Coins
-[Enemy of the Eight Serpents]: 7 Coins
.
.
.
[Total Sponsorships: 223 Coins]
The real reason I hadn't turned on the sponsorship function earlier was, as Ares had mentioned, to get some sleep.
…To be more precise, it was to get a 'deep sleep'.
While it was possible to ignore the Constellations chattering amongst themselves, it was impossible to ignore things like new interest registrations or sponsorships, as they tickled my senses like a vibrating phone.
Although Eliya had used a Memorize Paper containing a Healing spell, there was no way my body could have fully recovered with only about 30 minutes of sleep, so I needed additional rest.
…And it was impossible to hunt the Cyclops during the day anyway.
‘It's almost all there.’
The 300-coin goal wasn't set based on any particular standard.
It was just that I needed about 500 coins to get what I wanted in the Third Gateway, so I just called out a number based on the 190 coins I currently had.
Seeing the amount was largely filled, I spurred the Constellations on one more time.
“Now… the sponsorship speed seems to be slowing down… If the goal isn't met, I won't even pretend to try. And of course, no refunds. Let's spend freely, everyone.”
[The Constellation, 'Dog-headed Judge', shakes its head at your greed.]
[The Constellation, 'An Immortal More Human Than Anyone', doubts the possibility of a Cyclops hunt.]
In fact, thinking rationally, this was a sponsorship the Constellations had no need to make.
There were roughly two reasons for this.
First, I had previously stated that all these sponsorships would not be reflected when signing an 'Exclusive Contract'.
However, the fundamental reason the Constellations meddled in the Gateway Zone instead of focusing on the busy battlefields of the War against Demons was, above all, to 'secure a contractor first'.
There might be secondary factors depending on their preference for observation or their hobbies, but those couldn't be called 'reasons'.
Therefore, no sponsorship that occurred here could be considered apart from the fundamental reason of 'securing a contractor first'.
As such, this sponsorship drive, which did not help in 'securing a contractor', offered them no benefit.
And second, most Constellations likely thought that the 'Cyclops hunt' I had pledged as a sponsorship promise was realistically impossible.
As mentioned before, the Cyclops was not a Magical Beast placed here to be hunted, but rather a being closer to a rule that constituted this 'Second Gateway'.
Yes.
To put it simply, the Cyclops was closer to a rock in a rock-dodging game than a boss in an RPG.
Naturally, the Plane Transcendents who had passed through here before would have never even considered attempting to hunt the Cyclops, let alone actually doing it.
It was, in a word, an 'unprecedented' event.
So, from the perspective of the Constellations who had personally witnessed the talents of numerous Plane Transcendent-turned-Heroes currently active in the War against Demons, it would probably be difficult for them to think that I was significantly superior to them.
In conclusion.
It was right not to make this sponsorship.
That is to say…….
[The Constellation, 'An Immortal More Human Than Anyone', doubts your sincerity and sponsors 2 coins… +2C]
[The Constellation, 'Olympus's Hooligan', saying he'll call and double down even if he loses, sponsors 50 coins… +50C]
[The Constellation, 'Dog-headed Judge', …….]
[The Constellation, 'Boy with White Ivory', …….]
…that was only if one 'thought rationally'.
…[Total Sponsorships: 321 Coins]
Grin—
“Okay. Received and confirmed.”
Consumption was originally an irrational act.
Especially when the amount was not that large.
Looking at it as a single event, spending 300 coins in the Gateway Zone on something other than an Exclusive Contract was clearly absurd.
But there were ninety-eight Constellations who had added me to their list and were watching.
If each of them sponsored just 1 coin, that would be a whopping 98 coins.
They were Constellations, after all; they were folks who could afford to sponsor that much pocket change as if they were throwing it away.
Besides.
Humans were animals who would inflate their imaginations at will, even with the slightest possibility.
…Constellations were not so different.
The unrivaled performance I had shown in the First Gate had probably planted a 'what if…' thought in their minds.
What if, just what if, he could really hunt it.
That was the thought.
And that thought would have stimulated their desire to sponsor, leading to the inner thought of 'Well, it would at least be taken into consideration for a contract.'
Well, I had no intention of signing an Exclusive Contract with any Constellation in the first place.
“Hup—.”
…Of course, that didn't mean I had scammed the Constellations.
I was going to hunt the Cyclops.
The coin sponsorship was a secondary issue for me anyway…….
[Bucket List #3]
『Attract the attention of all Constellations observing the Gateway Zone.』
This was the main point.
To attract the attention of the three Constellations who had not yet registered their interest, I had to hunt the Cyclops.
There was likely no event that could happen in the Second Gateway that would have a greater impact than that.
As I got up from my spot, Kim Sia carefully began to speak.
“So… really……”
Her words trailed off without finishing, but it seemed she wanted to ask if I could really hunt it.
My answer to that was simple.
“I don't know either. It's my first time.”
“……”
That was the truth.
Even before my Regression, no one had ever hunted a Cyclops in the Gateway Zone.
The Cyclops was definitely a difficult opponent.
I had prepared to some extent, but a certain amount of luck was also needed.
“But……”
However, there was one thing I could be sure of.
“It'll probably be over before the sun rises.”
Whether my bucket list was fulfilled, or I died without achieving it.
That conclusion would be reached before daybreak.
***
Grrr, keong—!
The first-generation French Hunter, Van Pierre.
He thought he was unlucky.
He thought he had hidden himself well, but less than an hour after nightfall, he had been discovered by the Cyclops's hound.
“Dammit!!!”
Tatatak-!
He had been discovered, but when he first felt a presence in the bushes, Van Pierre had been thinking of hunting the hound.
He had felt that the monsters in the Gateway Zone were strong while hunting Orcs, but unlike in the First Gate where he had been defenseless, he now had a weapon.
[Iron Shortsword]
The Iron Shortsword, purchased with coins through an Acolyte Priest, had no special abilities, but it was perfectly adequate for use as a 'sword'.
For Van Pierre, who had wielded a sword for a long time as a first-generation Hunter, the presence or absence of a sword made a huge difference.
That's why.
Van Pierre thought he could somehow manage to take down at least one hound.
That is.
“How in the world is that a 'hound'!”
Kuaaak!
…That was only until he had personally witnessed the 'hound'.
The moment he saw the hound emerge from the bushes, Van Pierre couldn't help but lose his will to fight.
Red glowing eyes.
A black mane.
A massive head that looked like it could easily chew up and swallow a whole person.
And, the red blood and sticky flesh already smeared around its mouth.
He knew instinctively.
This monster, which was merely a 'hound', was much stronger than the Orc he had barely managed to hunt in the First Gate.
“……!!”
As he was running for his life, at some point, a chilling sensation crept up the back of his neck, and Van Pierre immediately ducked and rolled on the ground.
At the same time, a ‘kwadeuk—’ sound came from the empty air behind him.
Tadak-!
Regaining his balance and turning around, he saw the hound chewing on a tree branch with what looked like a sinister grin.
“……”
Around that time, he realized.
This hound was not desperately chasing him, but was simply enjoying the situation.
The fact that it was literally playing a 'hunting game'.
*Chiiing-!*
Sensing that running away any further would not change the outcome, Van Pierre drew the sword from his waist.
‘…One chance.’
And he slowly raised the mana in his body.
Van Pierre's Innate Ability was [Re-leap].
It was an ability that allowed him to push off the air one more time while airborne to change direction.
It was easy to counter if one knew about it, but until then, it was a variable-creating Innate Ability that no one could predict.
As an ability he had been with for a long time, Van Pierre knew its limits and utility best.
There was only one chance.
Against a monster of that level, once it figured him out, Van Pierre would have no more chances.
‘Dodge the incoming attack upwards, then kick off the air again to gain rebound force. I don't know its exact weakness, but… given the characteristics of mammals, the part where a single attack can inflict the most damage is probably the cervical spine.’
Huu—
After quickly forming a plan, he took a deep breath and immediately turned his body, pretending to run away.
Sure enough.
At that moment, he felt the chilling sensation on the back of his neck again.
Taat-!
This time, instead of rolling, he arched his back like a bow and leaped into the air.
Grr?
Confirming the red eyes that looked up in surprise, Van Pierre kicked the air once more with a mana-infused foot.
[Using <Innate Ability: Re-leap>.]
Paat-!
Leaping from top to bottom at a physically impossible angle, Van Pierre plunged his shortsword towards the hound's neck.
“Die!!!”
With gravity, he poured in the maximum strength he could muster.
Umpuk—
His sword successfully penetrated.
His shortsword dug in deep, so much so that not only the blade but also part of the hilt was buried.
But.
Grrr…….
“……?”
The hound, which should have collapsed with a metallic clang, was making a sound, perfectly fine.
The only thing that had changed was that it was a low growl, distinctly different from the cry it made when enjoying the hunt.
It was a sound laced with clear hostility and enmity.
And so.
Just as Van Pierre sensed something was wrong from the enemy-filled sound, which was enough to freeze his entire body just by hearing it—
“I’m screw—.”
It was then.
KWWAAAAAAAAAK!!!
“……!!!”
A thunderous sound suddenly erupted from somewhere.
A giant scream, as if it would bring down the sky at any moment, stopped the world.
The sound, echoing with a ‘urrrreung—’, shook the forest.
Following that, the sound of trees rustling, ‘saaaa—’, was heard, and a brief silence fell.
And after about two seconds had passed.
Pababat-!
“…Huh?”
Van Pierre suddenly felt all the blood rush to the back of his head and realized that his body was tilting backward.
Kkeudeudeuk-!
Coming to his senses late, he tilted the shortsword embedded in the hound's body further inward and pulled his body forward again.
‘What the—.’
The reason Pierre's body had been thrown back was simple.
The hound, reacting to the sound, had immediately started moving.
As if unaware of the blood gushing up from its throat, the hound ran desperately, completely distracted.
He instinctively knew that the roar that had just shaken the world belonged to the owner of this grape farm, the 'Cyclops', but it was difficult for him to immediately understand the current situation.
Cyclops by day.
Hounds by night.
That was the principle ingrained in his head.
The Cyclops being active at night was far outside his range of expectations.
And so.
Riding on the hound's back, helplessly moving towards an unknown destination for about a minute.
Suddenly, a red mass flew into Van Pierre's sight.
Vooom—
“…Huh?”
It was definitely at a very high speed, but because that moment replayed in his mind like slow motion.
Van Pierre was able to realize one strange fact just before the mass collided with the hound's head.
That is—
“That was definitely a person—.”
That the red mass that flew at such a tremendous speed had the shape of a person.
Kwadeudeudeuk-!
With that murmur, the red mass collided with the hound's head.
Tumbling to the ground with the rare experience of the world turning upside down, Van Pierre saw a blood-soaked man rising from the dust.
“Ah… that hurts like hell.”
What Van Pierre had just seen, the 'shape of a person', had not been a lie.
He immediately got up, dusted himself off, and turned his head towards Van Pierre.
“Uh… what should I call you. Hey, blond pretty-boy mister?”
“…Y-yes?”
“This… were you hunting this?”
Van Pierre hesitated for a moment at the baffling question, asked while the man pointed behind him with his thumb, and gave a vague answer.
“No… it wasn't really a hunt… I was just in a situation where I had to kill it out of the blue……”
Shrug—
“Well, that's that… It looks like you were aiming for the cervical spine. Is that right?”
“Ah, yes. I suppose so.”
“Hmm……”
“……?”
At Van Pierre's answer that he had aimed for the cervical spine, the man shook his head and approached the sprawled-out hound.
“…These guys have eaten so much Black Olive Fruit that their brains have all melted, so the cerebellum-medulla part that should be in the cervical spine is much further forward.”
“……”
“Their brains have also become much smaller, so it's hard to aim properly. So—.”
And then.
Puk—
He plunged his hand into the hound's chest and gave a bright smile.
*Gush-!*
“It's easiest to kill them like this by aiming for the heart through the space below the 6th rib. Okay?”
“Heok… o-okay……”
Van Pierre, who had unknowingly gasped and nodded his head, and the mysterious man, who looked at him with a satisfied expression.
“So— I needed to kill this one to get my 5-stack, so I just killed it. I'll apologize for stealing your kill. Sorry.”
“No, I wasn't hunting either, I was just trying to live—.”
“After I'm done, I'll bring you a bigger one.”
“It's fine……”
“Don't worry and wait.”
“No, I mean, it's really fine—.”
Grin—
“Well then, I'm off.”
Paaat-!
Did he even hear Van Pierre's declining words?
The man, who had been staring in a certain direction and speaking only his own words, left with an incredibly eerie(?) smile.
…At the same speed at which he had arrived.
After he left, Van Pierre was able to realize two things.
One was that he had already escaped death for the second time today.
And the other was.
“So… white skin, black hair. And monstrous speed……”
The mysterious man he had just seen was none other than the monster the Russian Hunter had talked about at the end of the First Gate.
“…Rapid Albino Orc?”