Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Caravan Escort
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The bustle woke me up. From the looks of it, it was about time to get up. My throat was parched from how goddamn cold it had gotten overnight—I thought my jaw would lock up and I'd keel over dead. But since everyone else was still alive, it seemed like there hadn't been any attacks.
While I was up, I figured I'd warm up my body, but the campfire had long since gone out, leaving only charred branches behind. My temper flared in an instant.
My whole body felt like a corpse, cold enough to topple over, and they expected me to believe there was no fire? Stress hit me the second I opened my eyes.
"What the fuck. No fire?"
It felt too late to start one up now, so I just did some simple stretches and exercises to loosen up. Right on cue, people came around announcing it was time to depart. One by one, folks got up, and soon the lead wagon started moving.
The adventurers who'd pulled night watch looked exhausted. But they'd get a solid night's sleep tonight. The one I was worried about was me—I had watch duty today.
The fatigue of dozing off, standing guard, then crashing again was a special kind of hell known only to those who'd endured it. I was already dreading it until watch ended.
Crunch crunch.
I trudged endlessly along the road. We were still about a day out from the city, so the path was in decent shape.
But the road was flanked by countless trees and thick grass. Monsters hiding in there could leap out anytime without it being weird at all. It was nerve-wracking in its own way, but I was too tired to care.
Whether they jumped out or not, it was someone else's problem right now.
Just getting to the city beside me was this much of a slog—honestly, it was no different from deep wilderness exploration. My hopeful heart from the start of the trip had long since sunk into the mud.
Jailro, stationed on the opposite side of the wagon, kept glancing my way. I'd hooked a real bad one this time. He was probably waiting for a chance to talk, but the only conversation I had left was fists with fists.
And so the boring caravan march continued without incident.
Even going down to the countryside for Lunar New Year took nearly a day, but five days? First time in my life. I vowed never to do long-distance travel again. Proved right then how great cars were.
Swish.
That was when it happened.
For some reason, up ahead—something green by the roadside trees or bushes tilted forward with a swish.
What the hell?
My sleepy eyes saw it as just a tree or vine toppling over. That illusion lasted three seconds.
"Hey, fuck. That thing..."
My words cut off.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
A scream like a man being torn apart echoed out. The martial artist who'd volunteered for watch last night was hoisted high above the wagon.
"Damn it! Battle stations!"
"Giant Mantis!"
The attacker was a massive praying mantis bigger than a wagon! It didn't look exactly like one from Earth, but those scythe-like front legs and overall shape were spot on.
It roared while gripping the martial artist in its front legs.
Queeeek!!
Holy shit, first monster like that in my isekai life! If I had a monster codex, it'd register with a NEW!! tag right now! What a freakish bastard! Utterly inhuman!
The huge green mantis had burst from the underbrush and snatched the martial artist.
"Save meee!!!"
The martial artist wailed pitifully, clutching his waist.
I knew we were screwed.
If that guy died here, we'd be down one for night watch. I absolutely couldn't forgive that. No matter what, I had to rescue him. Realizing that lit a fire in my fighting spirit.
The Giant Mantis strode into the middle of the road, still holding the martial artist aloft. All he could do was scream like a frog frothing at the mouth.
Queek! Queek!
"Uwaaaahhh!!!"
What a dumbass.
We had over ten people here who could fight, but maybe because it was an insect, its brain was a bit slow. With any sense, it'd have snatched the guy and bolted back into the forest.
"Everyone! Surround the monster!"
At the middle-aged man's order in the green hat, the caravan guards charged first. The adventurers hesitated, spooked by the huge monster.
"What are you waiting for? Breach of contract means no pay!"
That lit a fire under the adventurers at the mention of money. They rushed in. I sprinted full tilt too, claiming prime position behind the Giant Mantis.
Positioning was key for landing good hits.
"Groooarrrgh!"
Visually, it looked like it'd have ripped the martial artist in half ages ago, but it was casually trying to munch him, mouth on his uniform. Seemed like the fabric was blocking a proper bite.
Were insect monsters generally like this?
"All units, commence attack!"
The guards stabbed spears into the mantis's body. Squish! Green, nasty fluids sprayed. Adventurers grabbed their tools and hammered its legs and torso. Realizing the heat was on its heels, the Giant Mantis tossed the martial artist and swung its front legs like an angry mantis. Sharp as the reaper's scythe, but accuracy sucked. Everyone dodged easily enough.
It was a straight-up raid on a large monster.
Adventurers rolled to evade, swarmed chaotically, and landed solid hits amid the frenzy. Green blood sprayed as damage piled up.
Its unexpectedly sluggish movements fired me up. I closed in on what looked like a skinny hind leg. Insect legs always seemed frail and thin.
"Die, you fucker!"
I slashed at the Giant Mantis's hind leg like I was sawing wood.
"You shitty prick! I'll carve your legs off!"
Queeeek!
It convulsed in pain, twisting its body. The blade tore into the joint—effective. I clung on desperately and severed one leg clean off.
More satisfying than Heungbu sawing the pumpkin.
Queek!
With one leg gone, the Giant Mantis let out a grotesque screech like a runner crippled in an accident. Losing that leg tanked its turning ability.
"Nice one!"
Someone shouted that.
Seeing me lop off a leg must've inspired them—they all swarmed the mantis's legs like copycats, ripping them away.
Like a mantis getting mobbed by ants. No matter how big or fierce the predator, it couldn't handle a swarm.
Queeet!
In seconds, minus the front legs, it lost everything else and crashed to the ground with a thud! Its massive body writhed, oozing green goo—enough to turn my stomach. Without legs, the abdomen looked like a giant maggot.
"Kill it!"
Everyone gleefully hacked at the helpless Giant Mantis.
It'd just get them dirty and buff their muscles, but for stress from endless marching, violence was prime entertainment. They whooped joyfully, turning the fallen beast into rags.
"All size, no substance—just a total pushover bitch."
That was my take on the sprawled, dying Giant Mantis.
For its wagon-sized bulk, it was way too easy. Maybe our numbers, but I'd rate it two stars: [Giant Mantis ★★]. Lesson learned: strength doesn't scale with size.
"You fucking bastard!"
The martial artist, who'd been whimpering moments ago, snapped out of it and unleashed furious blows.
Bloodstains on his uniform, but no major wounds. Each Dempsey Roll and soccer kick rang out like pounding a heavy bag. Good to see him healthy.
Denied a proper corpse manner, the Giant Mantis ended up shredded and limp.
I slung the hind leg I'd severed over my shoulder and asked a nearby adventurer to satisfy my curiosity.
"Hey, buddy. Anything valuable on this mantis prick?"
"Nothing much besides the head and front legs. That hind leg you're carrying won't fetch much."
Didn't want to hear that. Fuck.
Killing monsters for cash was always kinda iffy.
Too much effort for the payout—only usable parts paid off. Organs good for tools or whatever.
Skins, shells, bones mainly.
Made sense this mantis had no moneymakers. Armor? Weapons? Maybe trinkets. It'd sliced easy under my sword, so durability was meh.
Rushed in first 'cause it looked profitable, but now I was deflated. Betrayal hit hard—my limbs shook. What a goddamn useless fucker.
"Goddamn it."
Sure enough, merchants only took the front legs and head onto the wagon roof, ditching the rest. Including my hind legs. No one claimed them, so I dropped mine too.
Heartbreaking. Successful raid, and all we got were shit drops. Who'd wanna hunt like this?
"Resume travel!"
With a bitter aftertaste, we left the scene. Leaving a monster corpse would block the road, but scavengers would sniff it out and clean up soon enough.
I grabbed big leaves to clean my sword. Green goo caked on—if sheathed like this, it'd ruin the blade. Stuck at a crucial moment? Bad. Rust meant paying to fix it.
Carefully wiped it down with leaves. Killed time till rest break, and wouldn't you know, Jailro approached again. The androgynous blond dude predictably chatted me up while I chewed rations.
"Our Celestial Path Society has many from minority groups. Surely you'd fit right in, Katt..."
In my eyes, this Celestial Path Society was a shady cult sweet-talking persecuted minorities to suck them dry.
This Jailro was obviously the broker, pocketing commissions per head.
"Fuck off."
"Didn't you say you'd hear us out in exchange for volunteering for watch last night?"
"And I'm doing it today, aren't I? If you don't wanna die, just leave."
Seen plenty of weirdos in life.
Back as a homeless guy and F-rank adventurer, approaches like this were common. Built up resistance.
That time they lured bums (me half-forced) to a "shelter" for brutal forced labor—nearly died, smashed the overseer's head with a brick and bolted.
Wasn't a shelter at all, barely fed you for the work.
What a chaotic life. Constant struggle. To me, these cult leeches were laughable.
Bad memories boiled my blood; I glared at Jailro like I wanted to deck him. He got the vibe and slunk back to his spot.