Butcher Demon - Chapter 290

With extended claws, I cut down the trees surrounding me.

After clearing the space, I put together a well-built structure with the logs and gathered thin branches that were lying around, stacking them inside.

When the structure was half filled, I took out magic water that I had transferred into a pet bottle. Tilting the bottle and pouring it. The trick is to do it softly and gently.

“Um, what is that…?”

“This is what we call Scout Water.”

“?”

After finishing pouring the Scout Water, I stacked more branches on top and pressed them down, then waited for a while.

Amateurs would rush and start a fire here, causing a disaster. However, professionals know to wait. Considering how strong the wind is, waiting for about five minutes should be enough.

“If you’re going to start a fire, wouldn’t it be better to create more airflow? It seems a bit too packed…”

Haruka interjected. It seems she has experience with making fires.

Meanwhile, Yakumo appeared unaffected by the cold, he remained silent even with Haruka’s breasts resting on his shoulders. But things aren’t always what they seemHe’s wearing thin clothing, so it’s definitely cold. In fact, Haruka’s lips are turning blue.

――This boy, his physical condition doesn’t show on his face, and he doesn’t voice any complaints, so I can’t tell how he’s feeling. It’s worrisome. I’m afraid he might suddenly collapse at some point…

“Yeah, you’re right. If the wood was dry, I’d do that. But unfortunately, all we have is greenwood.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s a common misconception. When burning greenwood, the lack of heat is the main problem, not oxygen.”

“Heat, you say…”

“Greenwood got loads of moisture trapped in it, and that moisture evaporates before the wood ignites. This evaporation process takes away the fire’s heat and makes it stop burning. That’s why, when burning wood, it’s better to stack the pieces close together so they can share heat with each other. Otherwise, you’ll end up with smoke but no flames.”

“I see, I understand now.”

“Yeah, and when the temperature and weather are like this, it’s tough to get greenwood burning, even with a regular fire starter. And even if it does catch, it takes quite some time.”

“…”

When I mentioned my difficulties in starting a campfire, Haruka seemed a bit uneasy. The hail kept falling, making a rattling sound.

To reassure her, I showed off the pet bottle I had used earlier. I felt like a skilled store clerk showing off their products.

“But with this, we’ll be fine.”

“That…?”

She looked at me, eyebrows furrowed, getting more anxious by the second.

“Is that…..gasoline?”

“Exactly.”

I struck a match and threw it onto the pile of branches.

Upon seeing that, Haruka closed her eyes and shielded Yakumo.

Then, “BANG!” The pile of branches burst into flames.

The arranged log served as a chimney, and the flames rose high, easily visible from the top. It was perfect.

“Haa…”

As the sudden burst and intense heat engulfed her, Haruka cautiously opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

“Did you think it would explode?”

When I asked, she timidly nodded, “…Um.” She was aware that gasoline is an explosive hazard.

“I’ve seen videos of accidents where people lit campfires with gasoline before and…”

“Oh, I know. New recruits do that a lot. That’s why the military doesn’t allow using gasoline for campfires. Because of that, old-timers like us, secretly call it Scout Water as a code word.”

Actually, I also used gasoline when I created the Goblin Fire, but Haruka was in a daze at that time, so she probably didn’t noticed.

Using gasoline for a campfire is tricky and needs some know-how.

Gasoline can explode if its vaporized gas catches fire. So, it’s crucial to soak the gasoline into the wood as much as possible, let the vapor dissipate with the wind, and then ignite it. This way, the fire can be controlled safely without causing dangerous explosions.

Gasoline is just super flammable oil. But if you understand its vaporization, it’s a convenient burning agent even in blizzards. But not everyone can handle it properly. That’s why the military prohibits its use altogether, and those of us who can handle it do so secretly, not to get caught. That’s how it goes.

Maybe that’s why I was constantly being glared at by those nagging people…

But, you know, when there’s flammable oil right there, wouldn’t it be strange not to use it? I just use whatever I can. By the way, they mostly use diesel on the front lines as the main fuel, which is much easier to handle. Diesel = kerosene, you know.

With the help of gasoline, the campfire blazed up nicely, producing lots of glowing embers once it settled down.

Once you have a substantial amount of hot embers, you can continue the campfire even with greenwood.

――That’s how it was supposed to work, at least.

Since I knew I’d be stuck here for a while, I got ready for the outdoor stay by setting up a tarp to protect us from the hail. However, the campfire I had painstakingly made somehow ended up emitting smoke instead of flames. It didn’t go as planned.

“Hmm… I guess the hail is just too strong…”

Campfires can be easily made with snow, but hail, solid ice, poses harsher conditions than snow or rain. What should I do?

――Oh, right. Haruka might have one.

Having helped me with setting up the camp and putting Yakumo into the sleeping bag, I asked her.

“Hey, Haruka.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have a condom?”

…

Her face tensed up at the sudden question.

“Can I have one?”

…

Even though she looked suspicious, she reluctantly took out a small wallet from her back pocket and handed me a condom that she had taken out from inside.

“Sorry to ask, but could you help me? Just open it and blow it up a little to unfold. Oh, and make sure to keep the opening open.”

Haruka looked back at me with a wary expression but followed my instructions.

“Like this?”

“Yeah, just like that.”

She pushed the gasoline into the opening with her finger. Drip, drip, the gasoline poured in.

I pushed my fingers into the hole that Haruka was pushing open with her fingers. And pouring Gasoline into the container.

“Tie it up.”

Following my instructions, Haruka tied the condom.

With her slender fingers, she stretched and pulled the rubber…. snap. Her skilled movements were a bit lewd. She had no hesitation in handling the condom, which was also a bit arousing. It was also kind of erotic how she stare at the amount of liquid after tying it up.

Following my instruction to inflate it, it revealed her preferred size. Surprisingly, it’s on the larger side. Looking closely, it’s an L-size condom. It seems she prefers them long and thick.

“Just to be sure, could you tell me how many more you have left?”

“I have two more.”

I see. She’s planning for three rounds tonight. Half of me was relieved that it was a healthy number, while the other half felt a bit disappointed.

After enjoying this legal harassment, I stacked more branches on the smoldering embers that were about to be extinguished.

I call out to Haruka.

“Go ahead and do it.”

“Are you sure about this…?”

Urged by me, Haruka cautiously threw the gasoline-filled condom into the fire.

With a “thud.” the flames spread vigorously.

The campfire came to life again. We did it. This is the moment when the condom Molotov cocktail was born. With this, even during the burning process, I could safely add more gasoline. It was burning steadily and roaring with excitement. This is the Butcher’s style camp. Hahaha! Burn, burn!

Afterward, I quickly set up a makeshift shelter using the tarp I brought and let the two of them warm up inside.

Tarp is essential when we’re on the front lines. It’s so versatile. It can serve as shelter from rain, protection from the wind, a simple sleeping bag, and even a hammock. Having a clean and safe covering is important for comfort. However, I don’t believe in obsessing over it too much. Based on my experience, men who worry about the presence or absence of bedding can’t find happiness.

――The weather just got worse and worse, and we couldn’t continue our journey that day.

Under the tarp, the two of them held each other to endure the cold. I maintained the campfire and patiently passed the time. As the forest was gradually enveloped in darkness, the wind shifted, and the temperature rose rapidly. The hail turned into rain.

“The weather is going nuts.”

I called out to Haruka, who was dozing off in her sleeping bag, hugging Yakumo.

“――…did I fall asleep?”

“You barely slept last night. It’s best to rest when you can.”

Yesterday must have been an eventful day for her. If she managed to get a good night’s sleep, then she was a big girl now. Compare to that, Yakumo is a giant.

Comparing them like this, Abigail was tough too, you know. Even when we were in a life-or-death situation inside the cave, she slept soundly in Butcher’s arms. She’s also quite something. Come to think of it, I used to have this special ability to sleep anytime, anywhere, but I seem to have forgotten how to do that now.

“Here, take this.”

I handed her the last nutrition bar.

“Before you sleep, give some to Yakumo.”

“Okay.”

“This is the last one. Tomorrow, we’ll have to keep moving and hunt for food. Be prepared to eat anything, even koalas.”

“I understand…”

Her discomfort was still visible, but she didn’t complain.

I’ve always been the kind of person who can eat anything, but food can be quite a challenging barrier to overcome. Among the new recruits, there were occasional cheeky ones who absolutely refused to eat bugs and complained about it, even when I cooked it for them. In such cases, I’d force them to eat it by hitting them, but some of them would still stubbornly refuse to eat. Haruka, though, seems to be more patient and understanding than most.

“Well, we won’t be able to move until morning anyway. So, for now, just sleep well without overthinking things. You’ll have plenty of time to think later.”

“What about Gevaudan…?”

“Hmm, what is it?”

While feeding Yakumo the nutrition bar, Haruka looked up at me and asked.

“Don’t you sleep?”

“Don’t worry, I don’t need sleep. I can handle any nearby beasts, so go ahead and get some rest. More importantly, take care of Yakumo.”

“…”

The sound of rain washed away the clutter of thoughts.

After making sure Haruka was sound asleep, I went out to gather firewood, which also doubled as patrolling the area.

The hail had made a real mess of the ground, turning it all muddy. I just hoped that the goblin footprints were still visible.

【Author’s Note】

Never, ever use gasoline for a campfire. It can be lethal. Gevaudan can handle it, but for others, keep gasoline far away from any flames, not just at campfires.

To the readers who have made it this far, I believe the concerns are mostly unfounded, but it’s better to be safe, just in case.