It Seems My Job Aptitude Didn't Come with Human Rights

Barely Alive

Have you ever imagined being targeted and chased by a dragon?

When you're actually in that situation, you can't think of anything. If only we had the ability to fight, it would be okay, but right now, we were utterly powerless.

「Run!」

Someone shouted. The dragon was already right in front of us. Mercenaries were trying to distract the dragon in the distance with arrows and throwing knives, but it had little effect on the excited dragon. Its scales were too hard to even get a scratch.

「We have no choice but to escape by carriage!」

We didn't have enough time. I jumped to the driver's seat and pulled out the stick that was wedged in as a wheel stop. Just as I thought we could move, the horses, frightened by the sight of the dragon approaching, began to run with the impact of the wheel stop being removed. The two horses neighed and surged forward, and the force was so great that I almost got thrown off the driver's seat.

However, thanks to that, we managed to avoid the dragon's charge. But the direction we were headed in was the worst possible one. Ahead of the carriage lay massive mountains and dense forests. Since the dragon had appeared from the forest's direction, everyone else was retreating back along the path we came.

「M-Master Lars!?」

「I can't! The horses won't listen to me!」

I responded, my voice almost cracking as Irinya called my name in a near scream. I wanted to control the horses and somehow meet up with the others, but the two excited horses were running towards the forest with such force that it would surprise even a wild stallion. The road was unpaved, and if I didn't cling onto something, I feared I would be thrown from the carriage due to the violent shaking.

「Master Lars!」

「Hey!?」

「Lead the dragon away!」

Voices gradually faded away. Amidst the dragon's roars and the intense sounds of battle, the carriage plunged into the outskirts of the forest, away from the main road. Massive trees passed by on either side as I tried to control the direction the horses were headed by pulling on the reins, but I quickly reached my limit.

As we continued through the forest, the carriage jumped as it went over a large rock or ridge, and started to roll down a steep hill. The horses stumbled with the momentum, causing the carriage to tilt dangerously.

A sensation of floating, as if in zero gravity. My perspective shifted, and just as I thought the trees were sideways, the ground rushed toward my face. As I realized the carriage was tipping over, time, which had seemed slow, suddenly snapped back to normal.

And the moment my shoulder hit the ground, a violent shock and shifting scenery caused my consciousness to fade.

Luckily, the ground wasn't rocky, but in my blurred vision, I noticed the carriage was heavily damaged. The force of the impact must have severed the ropes of the horses, as they both ran off into the forest. I also noticed Irinya's hand dangling out of the carriage window, and though it worried me, her fingers twitched slightly, indicating she was alive.

Just as I processed this, my vision darkened, and I completely lost consciousness.

====

A strange aroma filled the air.

It was warm and humid. I felt the soft sensation of a back against me. There was a slightly coarse touch to my hand, like the tip of fur. Fur... Yes, it seemed mixed with a beastly scent amidst the herbal aroma.

When I opened my eyes, there was a wall made of wooden boards and branches. No, since I was lying down, that was probably the ceiling. I turned my head and looked sideways, seeing walls made of logs. It looked like a log house, but had a fairly wild appearance. The logs seemed to have just been stripped of their leaves and branches.

It appeared that I was lying in a bedding-like place made of fur. Part of the walls had an opening that seemed to be a window, though it was too high up to offer me a view outside. That was likely due to my low vantage point at the time.

I pushed my hands onto the fur, raising my upper body to lift my perspective. Sunlight from the window hit my face, briefly blinding me. As I squinted and slowly adjusted my eyes, I began to get a clearer view of the scenery outside the window.

But since I had only sat up, all I could see was the blue sky and white clouds. Faintly, I could also make out the branches of trees.

Where was I? Looking around the room again, I realized it was quite a narrow space. There was no furniture. Only the fur where I had been lying. Straw-like grass seemed to have been spread beneath it, providing some thickness like a mattress.

「... Irinya, what happened to her?」

My voice was so hoarse, it felt as if it wasn't my own.

I gathered strength in my legs and stood up, pressing my slightly trembling knee with my right hand and raising my face. My viewpoint rose further, allowing me to look through the window.

What I saw was unexpected. There were several houses made of logs, along with what seemed to be a well. But what was more surprising was that it was surrounded by large trees. A deep forest lay before me, with enormous mountains majestically displayed in the distance.

Was this inside a forest? Could it be that people were trying to clear the forest here before the count's family began their pioneering work?

-------------= Author's Notes -------------=

If you found yourself curious about 'what happens next,' it would make me happy if you could press the ☆ button at the bottom of the page!

It motivates the author!・:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
They got their ass saved.
【ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】
But seriously, who threw the pot?
【(⩌‸⩌ )】