First Rapport (2)
The oxcart rattled along unsteadily, but thankfully, we reached our destination before sunset.
Bloodstains and the wreckage of a carriage. Scattered everywhere were signs of battle.
The knights' bodies seemed to have been recovered, but about a dozen goblin and orc corpses lay strewn along the roadside.
Traces of a large group moving through the underbrush led toward the Prosek Mountains. There were no signs of humans or horses.
As I poked around inspecting things, Ssu stretched her stiff body and grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"What the hell were the Darania knights doing? They should've chased after them right away and rescued the noble. Isn't saving fancy nobles the knights' job?"
"The knights of Darania are rotten beyond even the power of light to disinfect. They need to be melted down in a blast furnace and reforged."
"Eh!? Even though they're the kingdom's elite knight order?"
"They never even thought to dismount and push through that underbrush. People like that aren't fit for a Light's Sword that cuts through darkness—they're scrap metal that needs to be hammered out in the heat of a forge."
Every word dripped with the scorching fury of the sun. Ashushikara must have some deep grudge against the Darania knights.
We finished our rough investigation and set out again before full darkness fell. Once night blocked our vision, we immediately made camp.
I wanted to push through the night with a forced march, but tracking traces in the dark would be impossible. Better to avoid wandering aimlessly and start fresh at dawn.
Awoooooooo~
Once again, wolf howls echoed from the distance. Rada and Ssu didn't even flinch this time.
We gathered around the campfire and finished briefing the incomplete plan.
"When we spot the enemy, Ssu and Rada, you two head back immediately. The lord's rescue squad should've set out by now. Link up with them and bring them our way."
"What about you, Kirgil? What'll you do in the meantime?"
"Lirisa, Ashushikara, and I will use magic to slow the enemy's advance as much as possible."
Of course, if I get the chance, I'll use my ability to slip in alone and rescue them. With about two minutes of uptime, it'd be a hardcore stealth op.
"I wanna stay with Kirgil Daddy too. Rada's gotten so boring. Look at him now—he's always swinging that axe around and barely says a word. When I ask if he isn't bored, he says he throws it sometimes. Awooo, seriously no fun."
That's what a guy who's pulled himself together looks like. Sigh, I guess even I have to acknowledge it. Anyway, the reason I'm sending those two ahead first is their stamina and speed.
Ashushikara seems tougher and stronger than she looks, but healers need to be positioned where they're least likely to get hurt.
Everyone else has a Status Window that lets me gauge their rough abilities, but not Ashushikara. I figured as much when she gave me the ring and talked about using me. She probably sees herself as my equal—or someone who gives orders and makes requests.
Still, I have to trust her. In game terms, the healer is nobility. The precious saintess has come to help us out.
Ashushikara had been hugging Lirisa like a teddy bear since earlier. She must really like her. Lirisa had resisted at first, trying to come to me, but now she just looked exhausted and zoned out in resignation.
"Ashushikara, you said you can fight with weapons besides healing, right? Can you hold the front line?"
"Of course. This mace isn't for self-defense—it's for smiting."
From the way she talks, she'll dazzle the eyes of any uppity foes with blinding sunlight. Are all the priests in this world this tough? Is it okay to roll a precious saintess around in the dirt like this?
"I can't tell you everything, but before the sunlight reached me, I had to wander dark and heavy places to grow strong. To me, Kirgil, you are showing the light."
"Please don't refuse that act."
Ashushikara's words are full of metaphors anyway, making them hard to parse, but this one's the toughest yet. She's hiding something on purpose, it seems.
Still, I've confirmed her rough abilities, so time to sleep. First watch goes to Rada—he's got energy to spare. He brought a bunch of hand axes; if he's gonna use them right, I should advise him to sharpen them meticulously while on guard.
This wasn't a march—it was a pursuit. We cut sleep short, ate breakfast before dawn, and set out the moment the sun rose.
Morning mist shrouded everything, but the enemy's path was crystal clear: masses of footprints, trampled grass, drag marks from something heavy.
My guess is the knights escorting the carriage were stripped naked after they died. Every piece of gear they wore would've been valuable loot.
We kept tracking until Ssu suddenly bolted ahead. As rude as it is to say, in a forced march like this, going out front silently means taking a leak. Can't stop the whole group for one person's business, so she went ahead to scout a spot. Gotta pick your position wisely.
Damn, Ssu's going pretty far out. Hmm, taking her time? ...Hard to ask.
A while later, it wasn't a leak. Ssu had her ear to the ground!?
"Kirgil, something's there. It's been coming closer since a bit ago. Dead certain—it's heading straight this way!!"
What!? We're not the hunters—we're the hunted?
I drew my weapon and prepped to ditch my pack. Everyone else tensed up, weapons ready. No abandoning the trail, so we advanced cautiously toward the tracks.
We moved in silence, eyes scanning everywhere, but the morning fog limited visibility.
About thirty minutes later...
The sun climbed higher, burning off the mist. And there it was—the thing chasing us—revealed in full.
"Oh my~ See? I told you the Darania knights are completely rotten."
"I truly lacked faith."
The top brass is corrupt, so they must've schemed behind closed doors. Now I'm face-to-face with living proof of the Darania knights' lies.
"Daddy, run that way? Or..."
"Master..."
"...Mr. Kirgil over there?"
Everyone awaited my orders. We'd locked eyes with the gray giant in the distance. Five meters? No, six? About three stories tall.
Long, monkey-like arms covered in scars from stabs and slashes. Definitely the troll the Darania knights claimed to have slain.
You bastards! That report was fake!!
"Follow me!!"
We ran first. If it's tough prey, we can abandon it.
"GRROOOOAAAR!!"
But the troll had no intention of letting go. It charged straight at us, faster than expected!
Monsters mimicking humans can feel this creepy. You could see the grudge and hunger from its fight with those 'human' knights. Saliva dripping, face twisted in rage as it barreled toward us!
No choice now—fight. Time to use my childish nickname's power and take down the troll.
I led us to an open clearing suitable for battle and ditched my loaded pack. The others got it and dropped theirs, grabbing only weapons.
"I'm up front! Ssu and Rada, cover Lirisa and Ashushikara from behind! Lirisa and Ashushikara, don't do anything flashy until I say!!"
I've fought big, tough bastards before.
The troll thundered closer, shaking the ground. To draw its attention, I drew my sword and charged.
GRROOOOAAAR!!
The moment it lunged, it swung its arm. Simple attack.
Dodge these easily: stop time briefly, read the trajectory, sidestep. The rough wind from its arm, the ground-shaking stomp, the sudden body slam—all whiffed past with my minimal movements.
To others, it'd look like insane dynamic vision. But one mistake means death, so stay focused. My armor's still just flexible leather.
GRRAAAHHH!!
Shut up—I can tell you're pissed from your ugly mug.
The initial dodges were probing. Check for special moves, attack windows, weak points. Yeah, nothing special. Just a slightly unique wild beast monster.
I've seen its patterns. My turn to attack. Can't one-shot due to size, so I'll carve it up like peeling an apple.
"First, the arm!"
I swung my sword to meet the troll's arm. With a mental shout of Slash!.
The mana-infused blade that once severed Katona's arm sliced effortlessly into the troll's massive fist...!?
"Huh!?"
The blade's edge dulled just as it nearly severed the fist's corner!? My vision blurred suddenly.
THUD!!
"Gah!!"
I came to with my back slammed into a tree trunk.
In the distance, the troll—missing one fist—screamed, flailing its arms wildly in rage.
"...Ugh."
What the hell? What just happened?