Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Cockatrice Hunt
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The road to the western gate where the carriage waited was hell itself. Winia started nagging me right from the beginning of the trip. This crazy sadist bitch seemed to find the joy of her life in tormenting those weaker than her. I felt like I was going insane.
"Hey, darkie, been doing well?"
"Yeah, doing great."
I've been doing just fine without you around.
"Missed me while I was gone?"
"Sure did."
I've been lonely ever since I came to this world.
"Not feeling lonely?"
"Totally lonely."
I prayed this would pass like water as I answered. No matter how unhinged she was, she wouldn't do anything to me in broad daylight with all these people around.
Winia kept pressing.
"Not happy to see me?"
"Fucking thrilled."
"Then why do you look so unhappy?"
"..."
Silence.
The words [Personal Bully] flashed through my mind.
"Darkie, you're really asking for it."
"Ah, no. Why? What did I do wrong?"
Winia narrowed her eyes and grabbed my collar. Before I could resist, my body was yanked forward in an instant. My voice, utterly terrified, shrank to a squeak.
"Your answers just seem insincere."
"I'm a barbarian, so I'm not good at talking..."
"Our little darkie really needs a beating."
—Zap! A faint flow of mana swept through my body with a burst of lightning magic. She casually manipulated her magic with just a finger to zap me. Aaaaaah!
"Gyaaah!"
I let out an embarrassing scream, writhing in pain before collapsing...! Tears streamed from my eyes from the horrific agony! That lightning was a true madman's spell—pure pain without any physical damage!
—Again!
"Gaaack!"
This bitch calls me darkie one minute and then flips out when I say I'm a barbarian! Aaaaaah!
"William! Go on ahead! I need to chat with my friend real quick!"
"...Hope you're not too late."
William and Kobson left me collapsed on the ground and sauntered off coolly. Damn it... Shit! Why me? Why do I have to suffer like this? Who the hell said getting beaten by a beauty is an industry reward? It's just bullshit!
It hurts so much I'm dying! Please, just let me live!
"Darkie. Now that you're E-rank, you think you're not scared of me anymore?"
Winia crouched down next to me as I groveled like a dog and poked my swollen cheek with her finger.
She wore a smile on the outside, but inside, she was clearly furious. I had no idea why she was mad... Why the hell was this psycho pissed again...? I answered her questions sincerely...
"Ugh... Ack!"
Fuck, that lightning hurt so bad tears are coming out!
"Aww, crying? Are you crying right now? Is our darkie crying?"
"I'm not..."
"Darkie... You're not a kid anymore. You can't cry over something like that. Got it?"
As I wiped my tears, her mood seemed to brighten again. A kind of madness radiated from her. She was a literal psycho who genuinely enjoyed watching me cry in pain.
"Alright, darkie. Up you go. Time to head out."
Winia grinned widely, grabbed my arm, and hauled me up. Her strength was no joke; my nearly 180cm frame stood right up. She didn't care about the stares from passersby as she grabbed my face.
"Come on, smile! Darkie, smile! Or I'll kill you!"
—Flinch.
This woman had more than enough in her to actually kill me.
Terror of instant death froze my face.
"Kyahaha! Just kidding, kidding! Let's go, the others are waiting!"
Winia, thrilled on her own, dragged me by the hand. If there'd been a leash, she would've collared me for sure. The thought gave me chills.
I might look pathetic. But that's only if you don't know my situation. Winia could crush a nobody like me in three seconds flat. Unlike me with no backing, she had solid connections. She was a mage; I was your run-of-the-mill E-rank adventurer.
Who would I report an assault to? It's a matter of status. Either way, I had to endure or play along with Winia's whims.
Even if I got lucky and beat her to a pulp, it wouldn't benefit me. Mages stick together; they'd never forgive me.
Within two days, I'd end up as an unidentified corpse in the sewers.
Someday, I'll get revenge, you bitch.
I swallowed my hatred and vowed it.
Thus, dragged by the hand to the western gate. My palm was sweating buckets. A carriage was already waiting. Kobson waved.
"Over here, barbarian!"
Winia hopped on immediately, and Kobson whispered to me.
"Man, barbarian, you're whipped. Enjoy the date?"
"Oh yeah, it was a fucking thrill ride."
"So what's the deal? Why'd she suddenly beat on you? Cheating or something?"
"Sigh, hell if I know, damn it..."
Kobson, convincing himself she was an ex, boarded. How long was the ride? I'd never taken this route. I yelled at the coachman, who was petting his horse and replied energetically.
"Hey, coachman! How long to the destination?"
"About half a day!"
Not too bad. I steadied myself and climbed in. Inside were William, Winia, Kobson, and luggage. They'd prepped the carriage and gear—befitting a D+ Quest. The guild had hooked them up nicely.
"Darkie, sit here!"
Winia patted the seat next to her. I wanted to catch up with Kobson after so long... Ask what he'd been up to in the mud vine pit, but no dice from the start. Give up.
I absolutely didn't want to, but I sat as ordered.
Anyway, sitting next to Winia, William cleared his throat after glancing around.
"Ahem. Everyone's here, so brief rundown."
William's explanation flowed smoothly. True to a C-rank adventurer. I'd never seen one fight, but with his sharp features, a truckload of guys like me couldn't take him.
E-rank: Barely pulls your weight. D-rank: Seasoned vet. C-rank: Actually skilled, recognized as such.
"Cockatrices appeared in the granary district, causing massive damage. Well, not true cockatrices, but a subspecies, so no big issue. Me and Winia can handle the main one. You two assist—basically porters. But they drag their chicks, so handle those."
"Got it."
"Of course."
[Cockatrice Subspecies Chicks] were something even I could hunt. Kobson wasn't great in a fight by any stretch, but his skill was about my level. Reliable enough. That'd suffice.
My guess: William tanks the cockatrice solo, Winia bursts it down.
Kobson and I just guard Winia. But guarding her? Fuck, that sounds tough.
Why not let me fight instead? Staying by Winia might be worse than facing the cockatrice myself.
"Of course, I'll give direct orders if variables arise, so follow them."
No further plans, William lay back and slept. Sleeping anywhere, any posture—valuable skill. Instant stamina recovery is huge. But not me. Sitting on pins and needles, no sleep, no nothing.
Winia rested my head on her thigh, stroking my hair nonstop. Humming tunelessly, fiddling away. Any second, she'd poke my eyes or stuff sand in my ear—my heart pounded.
Kobson met my eyes awkwardly and looked away.
"Darkie, you friends with him?"
After stroking my hair forever, Winia pointed at Kobson. Kobson and I were kinda friends. But by Winia's logic—where she and I were "friends"—Kobson and I must be besties for life.
In her eyes, everyone might be a friend.
"Yeah. My friend."
"Then, closer to me or him?"
Her nail scraped my ear. Chilling sensation.
By closeness, Kobson edges it out.
"Obviously you."
"Whoa, this barbarian's slick. What happened to our bromance? We ranked up together. Harsh, man."
Kobson, who'd been quiet, yelled. You... felt that way too...? Deeply moved, I replied.
"Dude, Kobson... I've known Winia longer..."
"Damn it."
No reaction from Winia—probably safe. But I wondered what if I'd picked Kobson.
"Hm, would've ripped your ear off,"
she whispered. Close call.
Thus passed the agony-filled time, and we arrived at the granary district.
"Oh! Sirs! You've come!"
Greeting us emotionally was the estate manager, a white-haired old man brimming with vigor despite his looks.
"That fearless mad bird treats our farm like its living room, devouring every crop in sight! Please save us! It's driving us mad!"
William stopped the old man from kneeling in tears.
"First, show us the raided fields."
"Right away!"
The fields were a mess—trampled everywhere, damage immense. The cockatrice had gorged itself; farmers slumped in despair, motivation gone.
"It gorges and flees immediately! Returns when hungry! We can't catch it! Please, slay that mad bird and save our farm, adventurers!"
"Understood. Calm down."
The old man had a grudge mountain against that cockatrice. Motor mouth between sparse teeth spewed hatred.
"That creepy cry still echoes in my ears... Those wings, that beak!"
We followed William, leaving the old man on the verge of hysteria. What cosmic horror is this?
Sharp eyes indeed—William quickly spotted tracks. Huge prints deep amid toppled crops.
Lots of small prints too—plenty of chicks.
"Tracks lead that way."
Direction: toward the forest.
"Winia. Track it or wait for attack? Your call."
"Hmm, tracking's better, right? Bet there's a nest."
"Concerned the farm gets hit while we track. Okay?"
"Once is fine! No choice if we're tracking. Nest over that anyway!"
Decision made. Track and hunt the cockatrice.