【The Rise of the Ugly Monster】 Breakfast Time and His Continuing Trials

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The faint clattering of dishes.

And, the sound of the TV.

A silent space.

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That was the typical breakfast scene... of his previous life.

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His father, his mother, and his older brother.

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As long as these three surrounded the dining table, there was cheerful conversation.

But the moment he came out of his room, it would suddenly become quiet.

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To him, breakfast was a trial.

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His father, who wouldn't meet his eyes.

His mother, who was timid.

His older brother, with a furrowed brow.

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At some point, his family became like this.

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Why did it become like this?

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He didn't even want to think about it.

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He was just... sick of it.

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◇ ◇ ◇

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"N'eh...!?"

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He snapped awake from a short dream.

At the same time, the fangs of that terrifying giant velvet worm crossed his mind, and he hurriedly sat up.

And looking around restlessly... there was the figure of the velvet worm.

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Lying with its long body curled up, not moving a muscle, the figure of the dead velvet worm.

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"N-N'eeeee...!?"

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He was confused and couldn't understand what was happening, and just let out a foolish cry.

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Then, at that moment, his surroundings, which had been illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the trees, were suddenly covered in shadow.

At the same time, a *sutan* sound of landing echoed.

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"You're awake."

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...Emi, who had been climbing a tree, had come down.

In her hand was a slightly small, delicious-looking fruit that resembled a peach.

His gaze was fixed on that fruit.

With a *gokuri*, he swallowed saliva mixed with poisonous liquid.

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"You defeated it well. A counterattack with poisonous liquid after it lets its guard down. A splendid way to fight."

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Not paying any mind to his state, Emi said so, crouched down, and stroked his head.

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(...I was praised?)

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He had no recollection of fighting at all, and furthermore, he had been convinced that Emi had abandoned him, so he was dumbfounded while listening to those words...

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Gradually, he understood.

In short, the poison had worked.

The poisonous liquid he had spewed out in a panic at the end.

It had landed on the giant velvet worm, and the velvet worm... had died.

That must be what happened.

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Thinking so, that velvet worm that was trying to eat him had no future left but to die anyway, which was pitiful, but... for now, filled with relief at having survived, he had no room to be concerned about his adversary.

He let out a breath of relief.

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(By the way, my poison... it even works on a monster that big...)

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He thought, as if it were someone else's problem, that his own secreted poisonous liquid was a terrifying thing.

Come to think of it, this girl in front of him named Emi... has been nonchalantly touching the poisonous liquid that can kill even giant monsters since yesterday... why is she okay?

If monsters die, humans should die too, right?

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...Emi is all alone in the depths of such a deserted forest, has abnormally high physical abilities, is immune to poison, and also, sometimes extends tentacles.

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In other words, this person, just because she's humanoid, isn't actually human...?

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He shivered, *bururi*, having become slightly frightened by the unknown true nature of his "pet owner" girl.

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"But there's no need to go out of your way to get attacked. I saved the sticky stuff."

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On the other hand, Emi continued to give him a simple warning.

Although she was only saying things that even a child could say, it was an extremely sound piece of combat advice.

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(Well, no one can move their body right away after being suddenly told to fight...)

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He muttered that inwardly while looking down, and ignored the warning.

He didn't even feel gratitude for having the sticky liquid taken care of.

That was his nature, carried over from his previous life.

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"...Then, a reward for your hard work."

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However, Emi paid no mind to his sullen attitude, and after a breath after the warning, she stood up saying so.

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(A reward!?)

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He stared at the peach-like fruit in Emi's hand, his eyes shining!

A delicious, sweet scent that wasn't overwhelmed by the foul smell of his poison had been wafting for a while!

His human sensibilities were demanding it!

That must be something delicious!

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"It's breakfast."

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Emi, with a blank expression... but in a gentle tone, said so and picked him up.

His light body floated up.

The peach-like fruit approached rapidly!

A faint, mottled pink color, with fuzzy skin.

No matter how you look at it, a peach!

The fruit, its deliciousness confirmed by its appearance, filled his vision, and he extended his beak to peck at it...

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And missed.

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His extended beak cut through the air.

His body, which had been lifted for a moment, was slowly and gently... lowered onto the soft, damp soil again.

The peach-like fruit moved away from him in an instant.

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Emi, in other words, had lifted him up and walked a few steps.

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And she placed him.

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...in front of "breakfast."

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"Eat your fill."

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It was... the corpse... of the giant velvet worm... that had died from his poison!

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(I don't want it!)

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"Eat a lot... and get strong!"

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Emi said that forcefully... and took a big bite out of the peach-like fruit in her hand!

Her cheeks... puffed out like a squirrel's!

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"N'EEEEEEH!!"

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...His trials had only just begun