Show of Force Reconnaissance (3)
I let Lirisa rest after her tension finally broke and she collapsed from exhaustion.
Then I went to check on Suu.
"What the hell are you doing?"
She was rummaging around the still-twitching goblins, picking up jewelry and weapons.
"We fought hard for this. Gotta grab our share. Don't worry, I'll split some with you later, old man."
"Save that for after. Do this first."
I drove my dagger into the chest of a goblin on the brink of death, fully cutting off its breath.
"Euuugh... Does that really have to be done?"
"......"
I pulled out the bloodied blade and looked at Suu.
"...Okay, got it. Geez, old man, you're scary as hell right now."
If this were a game, I'd be looting too.
But knowing these things had friends and family made their loot feel like personal effects—I couldn't bring myself to touch it easily.
That said, I wouldn't stop Suu either. She had her reasons, just like most adventurers did.
So at least, before grabbing the spoils, I wanted to end their suffering.
Once I confirmed the goblins' breaths had fully stopped, Kerry finished her cleanup and joined us.
Suu and I checked the goblins' tents and gear for signs of other comrades or intel.
Meanwhile, Suu gathered and sorted the loot, while Rada sat there dazed, soul seemingly sucked out of him.
"Haa, I wanna drag these rookies back and drill some discipline into 'em."
Only then did Lirisa, who'd been resting farther away, come scampering over.
"Little miss!! We survived today thanks to you."
The moment Kerry saw Lirisa, she scooped her up like giving her daughter an airplane ride.
"Eeeek, nooo! M-M-Master protected us. Aaaah, h-he told us e-everything right!"
After a few toss-and-catch rounds, Lirisa's legs gave out again. She staggered over and clung to me.
"Hahaha! Clinging like that, she really looks like your daughter, Kirgil."
"Not the time. Kerry, let's move out."
The fight here being over didn't mean we were done. Show of force reconnaissance assumes more enemies and hits accordingly.
Other orcs or goblins could show up any second, so we needed to get away fast.
After scouting the area, we moved to a hill where we could watch from afar—to spot if anyone came looking for the bodies or investigating.
If more orcs or goblins approached, we'd gauge their numbers and bolt as fast as possible. They wouldn't expect much from greenhorns like us or a small group anyway. Just reporting if more enemies were around or not would suffice.
"No fires tonight. It'll be cold, so huddle close, stay quiet, and don't wander off alone. No traces either—bury your business deep in the dirt. Rookies, I'm dead serious: bury it deep. Deep enough to rub your own face in it."
With that, Kerry quietly headed to the watch post alone. She'd switch with me later.
"Ugh, this is insane. Feels tougher than back-alley scraps. Hey, Rada, why you staring at the stars? Huh? Lirisa's glued to Kirgil now. What happened between you two?"
"Yeah!"
"Ehh, Lirisa, you weren't this sparkly before. What'd this creepy old man do to you? Think I'll get hit next if I stick around? Heh, kinda looking forward to it. Show me your tricks, old man."
"Suu."
Suu shut her mouth the second she saw my face.
We were on stealth watch now. No telling if enemies would pass, but caution was key.
"Ugh, f-fine. You two spill later. Promise..."
Suu was always provocative and chatty, but this was extra rowdy for a stakeout. I knew why already—her hands were shaking.
Even the tough-looking Ferio had shown weakness after her first real fight. Same deal here.
We were all under one blanket—or cloak, really. I pulled Suu, who was nearby, close by the shoulder.
Back then, sharing body heat had calmed Ferio's nerves. Should work the same now.
"Annoying. You stink, old man."
Suu grumbled but didn't resist, leaning her whole body against me.
A while later, both Lirisa and Suu were breathing steadily in sleep.
March and battle fatigue had beaten their anxiety and excitement—or they'd finally relaxed. One or the other.
Rada, though... no clue what to do with him. Was he asleep or stargazing? Still zoned out.
First time seeing someone like this, so I just watched.
Harsh truth: I had zero interest in hugging a grown man.
Sorry, Rada.
It's biological. You'd get it if you're a guy too.
Kerry and I took turns on watch, but nothing unusual showed.
Just wild animals sniffing around the corpses.
As the sun rose and we ate breakfast before heading to the next point...
"Please teach me how to use a weapon."
The stargazing youth Rada suddenly asked Kerry.
"Hah, rookie's finally snapping out of it. Learn from Kirgil over me. He looks casual, but he's no joke."
"Please, Kirgil."
"Rada! Master's my master! Back off!"
What the—jealous much?
Not in the mood for this first thing in the morning. Movement came first; save the master talk for later.
Four days out from the castle now. Long marches like this usually left people too drained to talk.
"...Thought having a weapon meant I could do anything. I was an idiot. A clueless dumbass."
Youth recovered fast, huh? Rada didn't seem tired at all. Spilling his dark backstory since breakfast.
Thanks to that, Rada's Status Window info was filling up pointlessly. Who knew it updated like this?
He'd started with thug vibes, got chewed out by Kerry a few times, jumped into real combat once, and now knew his place—super polite to me and Kerry.
"Ugh, blabberblabberblabber! Walking's hard enough without this yapping. Who asked? And Rada, since when are you such a whiner? Kirgil's gone dad-mode, Kerry's singing profanities, Lirisa's all sparkly, and you're nonstop mopey. Everyone's gone weird."
"Hey, rookies. You haven't known each other that long, right?"
"We've bumped faces a few times, but all-day talk, eat, sleep? First time. I'd have ditched 'em if I knew."
"Adventurers are like that. Looks like your true colors are showing now. All that front you put up? Peeled away."
Kerry's words reminded me of something Shtai had said: 'Adventurers hit a wall at seven days.'
Getting close to that now, and yeah—everyone was way different from first impressions.
Rada was the naive kid who'd snagged a sword and thought he could conquer the world.
Lirisa... well... uh... cute disciple now.
At this rate, Suu had something brewing too.
"Lirisa, check this out. Kirgil's giving me weird looks. Yo, old man—not getting ideas from one blanket last night, right?"
Does last night even count as "one blanket"?
"Suu! Master wouldn't!"
"Nah, he's totally eyeing me weird."
"...M-Master?"
Lirisa's sparkly eyes turned teary. Kinda fun.
"Eww, gross. Keep it up and I'll charge you."
Suu shoved her face in mine like a school bully shaking me down.
Honestly, I should be charging her.
"Suu, you've been sticking right by me all morning. If my looks creep you out, walk behind."
Oh, even brown skin can blush that red. Fun.
"W-Well... ugh! No! Your pace is too slow! Or fast... aaah!! Whatever! Shut up!"
Suu clutched her head and fell back. Then, moments later, she darted ahead.
Unpredictable kid.
One more change in the three besides Kerry: they were all relying on me.
How'd I know? Now I could check everyone'sStatus Window here.
Finally figured out what this power was.
It showed info on people who'd follow my lead.
No need to overthink. Just game logic.
In some RTS, move a marine and it goes, 'Who're you to order me around?' or 'Command refused!'—weird for the player, right?
When I give commands—er, orders—like yesterday, only those who obey get a Status Window.
Lirisa's popped when she pledged to follow me.
Rada's when he asked for training.
Suu's the exception—hers showed the second she joined up.
All that lip, but deep down she leans on others? Or just weak to authority?
Whatever—personalities vary; we'll see.
More importantly, Agnes, Ferio, Reshi's windows came to mind.
They weren't adventuring buddies, but theirs showed too. Meant they'd trust and follow me no matter what.
Sudden urge to call them.
Now I get why couples yap on the phone all night.
That's me right now.
"Huh?? Master, what's a phone?"
Whoops. Slipped out after ages.
I'm beat too, huh.
We'd said less, but Kerry and I moved way more than the kids.
"Phone? Phonena? What's that?"
Lirisa—ancient words flew from my mouth.
No need to correct her, but nail phone right. Don't want another die fiasco.
"A magic device for talking to faraway people. Friends, family, lovers—even miles apart, sync signals through your phones and it's like chatting face-to-face."
A lifeline back home; only now did it hit me here.
"...Just a concept I imagined. Not real."
"Whoa! Amazing! Like talking letters? Never heard of it! Master!! We gotta record it! Preserve it!"
Lirisa carries her ancient-language notebook like an artist with a sketchpad.
Even leaves her pack with Rada, but that book's strapped to her waist like a warrior's sword. My fireball chant's in there too.
Come to think of it, so phone-obsessed I forgot letters entirely. Didn't even cross my mind.
After this job, back at Prosek Castle—time for letters.
Hear Agnes's warm voice and pinch her cheeks.
Hear Reshi's playful tone and hug her tight.
Hear Ferio's stern voice and tease her.
Just... hear their voices.
Wonder if this world's got ASMR?