Chapter 368
Chapter 368
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 368
Chapter Title: The Troll's Song
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The one who entered was a short young man gripped by terror.
He had the look of an innocent-looking killer, perhaps from the shock of facing the troll. He kept glancing left and right, shoulders trembling, constantly biting his palms.
This guy's completely lost it.
Was encountering the troll that traumatic?
He glanced at us, then lowered his head.
"This is Jake, the sole survivor and only eyewitness... As you can see, he's not in great shape, so he might not be much help. He used to be a solid young man, but after losing his only family—his little brother—to the troll, he snapped completely. The sixth victim was his brother."
"I see."
Hearing the village chief's words, I retracted my initial thought that he looked like a murderer. After going through something like that, it's no wonder he ended up this way.
He was just small and pathetic.
Cloudy, who'd been watching him, spoke up.
"Hey, you saw the troll, right? Mind describing what it looked like?"
"Uh, y-yeah... th-that's..."
"Come on."
Urged by Cloudy, he grabbed his head with his saliva-soaked hands—like he'd been chewing his palm like dried squid—and spoke in a despairing tone.
"Gr-green... a h-huge monster... ears and nose l-long, arms long too... dragging on the ground... with those l-long hands, it grabbed my brother Jacob!!!! And then!!!!!!!!!!!"
—KRAaaaaAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Suddenly seizing up, he let out a piercing wail like the demon of Hamelin tricked by the villagers. I was so scared I could only hug Cloudy's waist and hide behind her.
"It ate him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Head and all in one bite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crunching away, and I ran!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My brother!!!!!!!!!!! I have to save him!!!!!!!"
Th-this crazy bastard!
He's out of his mind!
"Uwaaaah!!! Honey! Calm Jake down!"
"You do it! I can't!"
"Anyway, adventurers! I'll guide you personally, so let's head out for now!"
Leaving the still-roaring Jake behind, we fled outside like our lives depended on it. The screams of a true madman—what if they haunt my dreams?
"Katt, he seems totally insane. That scream was no joke."
"Yeah... terrifying! He's a lunatic!"
"Says the blackie."
"What about it."
Even outside, the gloomy howls kept coming endlessly. It felt like a demon was sealed in the chief's house.
Personally, I find crazy people the scariest.
Can't control them, can't talk to them, no telling what they'll do. And those types usually fight like demons. No fear, numb to their own pain, they charge in like maniacs.
"Well, try to understand. He's mad, after all... Anyway, I'll guide you from here."
"Please do."
The chief wiped the cold sweat from his arms and led the way. As we walked, he kindly explained various things.
"That house over there—you can stay in it. There's a well and outhouse in the back. It's empty, so use it freely. If you didn't bring food, eat at the meeting hall in the village center. It's 1 copper. Pretty tasty, so come by at mealtimes."
Following those instructions, we headed to the crime scenes.
Beyond the village's wooden palisade stretched fields, and farther still, forest and mountains. The troll must be hiding out there.
"This is where Jake's brother Jacob died."
We arrived at a path leading to the fields.
Bloodstains splattered the nearby grass.
"What about the others?"
There were seven victims total. With that many clues, tracking the troll shouldn't take long.
The chief answered my question.
"Six more spots, all nearby. We figure the troll's nested in that forest ahead."
Winia scanned the surroundings upon hearing that. Cloudy crouched, examining the blood-dried plants.
Then, spotting something, Winia told the chief.
"Troll footprints lead that way. Tell the villagers to avoid this path."
"Ah, understood. But... the fields are this way, so it's unavoidable."
"Still, until we take down the troll, stay cautious. A threatened troll might even invade the village."
"We'll do our best."
"On to the next site."
Since we were here, we needed to check all attack points.
Guided by the chief, we inspected places where mangled bodies were found, where a child was snatched, spots with trailing blood, and more.
Farmers we passed midway begged us to save them. The village atmosphere was that bleak.
"That fucking troll bastard. Absolutely gruesome. Treats human lives like a quick snack?"
After searching around with the chief for a while, I noticed someone watching us from afar.
—Glance.
"Who's that creep? Chief, what's with him?"
"Where..."
"Over there."
A man with a bizarre appearance.
Even from a distance, he looked off, staring at us. Winia and Cloudy noticed him too.
A ragged, eerie man.
"Ah, that's Pasper the hunchback. Poor guy born with a congenital disability. He handles the village's dirty work. Bit simple-minded, so he might be curious about outsiders like you. Ignore him."
Handles the dirty work... Looked more like he's forced into it.
Whatever, none of my business. Born disabled, so he has no choice to survive in the village.
Winia, watching him, quipped like tossing a stone that hits a frog dead.
"Back's so hunched he looks like a troll himself."
"Don't say it like that..."
His back was indeed severely hunched. Is that what a troll looks like? Anyway, I turned back to the scene.
Still, that gaze felt ominous... Already met two weirdos. The whole village has bad vibes.
Want to wrap this up quick and head back to the lodging.
"This is the last site. Hope you catch that troll soon. The villagers are beside themselves with worry."
"Heh heh heh, don't worry, Chief. Good news soon."
"I'll trust you. Nothing else to ask, so I'll head back."
"Yeah, go on. If something comes up, we'll visit."
The chief glanced around and hurried off. Time to properly search.
All seven sites mapped.
From the stories, the troll shows up late afternoon or night. Only Jake saw it clearly, but many heard screams, cries, and thudding footsteps.
"Hmm, yeah, all attack sites clustered similarly. Gotta be in that forest."
Cloudy said, confirming the footprints.
"Seems so. Five sites have tracks leading into those woods. Not the smartest monster, so safe bet."
Winia paused, touching her lips thoughtfully.
"But it's a bit odd."
"What?"
"Trolls rarely settle near villages and serially eat people like this. Dumb, but they have survival instincts—hit and run after attacking humans."
True.
Monsters know to fear humans. Villages are human turf; their domain is the mountains.
Bigger ones respect that boundary. Full village raids are rare.
"Maybe it has some goal?"
Cloudy said.
"Goal... Could be a deranged one. Village is full of weirdos. Troll might've gone nuts from the influence."
"Blackie, wanna keep spouting nonsense?"
"Sorry."
Anyway, we thoroughly investigated the sites that way. Splattered blood told of the brutality.
Winia was convinced the troll was in those woods. But with time late, forest scouting too risky. Suggested calling it and heading back.
Sunset was falling.
"Back to the lodging the chief mentioned."
"Ugh, wonder if we can wash. Blackie, you pack clothes?"
"Who you take me for? Well's there— you two go first. I'll keep watch."
Chief said there's a well, so washing's fine. Lodging's secluded, no peekers.
"Hee hee, safe if Katt's guarding."
"Trust only me."
Finishing the survey to head back, there was that hunchback from earlier, sitting hugging a sack.
Does the dirty work but has free time?
"..."
Our eyes met as I looked.
Since he's working, better warn him.
"Hey! You! Don't wanna be troll bait? Stay inside!"
"..."
"Or end up as instant raw beef bibimbap! I warned ya!"
Bad if a villager dies while he's out. I did warn him.
"Katt, that guy's kinda weird too."
"Yeah, I see it. Village vibe's off."
"Seven dead—whaddya expect, blackie."
Getting darker. Soon reached our lodging—a small shack.
Opening the door, a ton of dust greeted us.
"Cough cough. Fuckin' dust bunnies. Winia, wind magic?"
"Nope."
Why not.
"Katt, let's tidy up first?"
"Yeah."
Lit the lantern, basic cleanup, spread our blankets. Good we came by cart—can pack lots.
"Hm... well's outdoors though. No cover... Blackie, you better watch good? Sucks if anyone but you sees me naked."
Winia said, stripping her top to wash.
Obviously, Winia's body is mine alone to see.
"Yeah, unpleasant. Katt, you got this?"
Cloudy's body is mine too.
"I'll guard proper. Spot a peeker, kill and bury."
"Hee hee hee, Katt's reliable."
Cloudy pecked my cheek and stripped with Winia. Spare clothes and towels packed. Outdoors bugs me a bit, but well's there.
Not a proper bath—just splash water.
Out we went naked.
Thankfully, no witnesses.
"Hee hee, out naked? Kinda embarrassing."
"Damn, no wall by the well. Annoying."
I shielded their nudity with my body, escorting to the well. Blushing and grumbling, they stuck close.
Thought of lantern but ditched—too exposing. At the well, they drew water and poured over themselves.
Full dark now, couldn't see details—just black silhouettes.
I watched, slowly stroking my erection.
"Ah, sis...! Don't stick! Just splash water. Hurry inside—who knows who might see!"
"But only Katt's watching, right?"
"Don't care, hands off!"
In the dark, gazing at their silhouettes, I passed towels. Sent them in first, stripped, and splashed myself.
Cold wind outside plus water—chilly.
Troll, huh. Quiet night? Scout forest at dawn tomorrow. Better catch it before more victims.
Washed enough, went in.
Early start tomorrow—just ten rounds.