Chapter 370
Chapter 370
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 370
Chapter Title: The Troll's Song
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"You didn't find the troll?"
The quest deadline had been extended a bit, so I needed to report back to the client, the village chief. I gave him a rundown of what we'd done today and the results of our tracking, and he let out a sigh of regret.
"Hmm, that's truly a shame. And worrisome... If it raids again tonight, that'll be really frightening."
"It'd actually be better if it does come raiding. That'd make things simpler. Oh, by the way, there's that hunchback guy in the village, right?"
"You mean Pasper? What happened?"
I informed the chief that the hunchback had wandered into the forest. It was a request to keep him under village supervision until we took down the troll—nothing too dangerous, but better safe than sorry.
If someone died, it'd be a headache for everyone.
"That bastard—no, that guy was playing around in the woods. If he gets himself killed, it'll be trouble for us too, so tell him to stay out of the forest. The idiot wouldn't listen."
"That punk skipping out...! Got it. I'll warn him."
For a split second, the chief's face twisted like a demon's, but I ignored it. As I was about to leave, Winia asked him a question.
"Chief, has there ever been another troll raid like this before?"
Winia had explained that trolls rarely settled in one spot and kept hitting the same village repeatedly. She must've been probing for that reason.
"A troll raid? Not that I recall."
"Any other incidents?"
"These days are full of trouble, so incidents are a dime a dozen... Ah, come to think of it, around this time last year, one of our young villagers went missing while working alone."
"Missing?"
"Yes. But we never found the body. Could've just left the village, but without proof of death, we let it slide. Personally, I think a monster snatched him—maybe an awl bear or something common around here."
It wasn't anything noteworthy.
People vanishing without a trace happened pretty often. Could be monsters, or maybe just fed up with rural life.
"Hmm. Alright."
Winia nodded.
With that, we headed outside.
Now we'd have to spend the night on watch outside the village, guarding against the troll. No way a string of raids over several days would just stop overnight.
It was a guild quest, so we had to see it through responsibly.
But seriously, where the hell was this troll hiding?
Did it catch our scent and back off?
"Winia, are trolls good at smelling?"
"No, they're not particularly scent-focused monsters. Why?"
"Wondering if it smelled outsiders like us and bolted."
"Doubt a troll could tell villagers from us."
"Yeah."
Anyway, we borrowed a shovel and materials from a farmhouse, then set up a spot facing the forest to spend the night.
Thud!
I jammed the shovel straight into the ground.
"Whoa, Blackie digs like a pro."
Back in the army, I'd dug enough dirt to last a lifetime. Building a trench was child's play—even blindfolded. It was dark already, but Winia lit a lantern, so no issues.
"Katt, need a hand?"
"Nah, I'll be quick."
Time to put those old skills to use.
With a shovel, nothing could stop me. Hell, my stamina and strength were way better now, plus I had mana as a new power source.
"Ahh, this here's a proper trench."
Before long, I'd whipped up a solid setup.
Using scavenged branches and borrowed straw for walls and roof, it looked cozy enough for the night.
"Fucking comfy."
Not bad for an on-the-spot build.
"Alright, let's head in."
I'd laid straw on the floor too. I went first and sat down; Winia and Claudy followed one after another.
"Not bad at all. Didn't know you had skills like this, Blackie."
"Katt, that's cool."
"Best spot for crashing overnight."
If I carried a shovel everywhere, I'd do this all the time—but I didn't, so no chances to show off.
Good thing we borrowed an iron one; let me go full throttle.
"We'll take shifts sleeping and watching, then."
And so we did—rotating rest and guard duty inside the trench. If the troll hopped the village palisade at night, it'd be bad news. A bit chilly, but with the lantern and bedding, it wasn't rough.
Surprisingly, our efforts went to waste—no raid all night.
"Fuck."
The night passed peacefully as hell.
Should've just crashed at the inn if I'd known. Fuck.
"Ah, fuck. Blackie, I'm wiped."
"Same here, fuck."
Winia grumbled as soon as she opened her eyes and stepped out. I was beat too, but no time to slack.
No rest till we bagged that troll.
"Head to the village first? Wanna wash up and grab something hot to eat."
"Good call, sis. Let's go, Blackie."
Rubbing our eyes, we trudged back.
Kyyyaaaaaaaah!!!!!
Just as we entered the village, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air. We bolted toward it. The troll?
Kyyyaaaaaaaah!!!
"No, that fucking idiot."
It was Jake, convulsing on the ground in the village center, eyes rolled back, body twisting in a fit.
"Ah, adventurers! No big deal. Jake just had a seizure..."
"...Whatever."
Got my hopes up for nothing, damn it.
We headed straight to the meeting hall the chief had pointed out yesterday, shelled out 3 coppers for stew. Taste was meh, but fresh and hot—good enough.
"Blackie, gonna wash up quick. Come with, sis."
"Yeah. Katt, you good here?"
"Yep. Go ahead."
Quick break in the village, then back to searching. We each took an hour off. Winia and Claudy hit the inn; I chilled at the hall.
"Fucking troll bastard."
Show up already, damn it.
Seven victims before we arrived, and now not a peep. Cockatrice hunt wrapped quick back then—shit.
I dozed off briefly; they returned, and we headed for the forest again.
"Blackie, crossing the stream for today's search."
"Gotta."
"Mmm, hope we find it today."
We skimmed the forest edge—already checked yesterday. No troll hideouts.
Just past the entrance.
"Damn, told that fucker to stay out, and here he is again."
The hunchback was squatting ahead, playing in the dirt. I dashed over and yanked him up by the collar.
I'd personally schooled him yesterday to avoid getting eaten, and he's back for more.
"U-ugh! It hurts!"
"Listen, you fuck! Stay out of the woods! Told you trolls'll eat your ass—wait, what?"
His face was a swollen mess, eyes puffed black like he'd taken a brutal beating.
I'd only hammered his back yesterday, untouched his face—so weird. Then I remembered asking the chief to pass the word last night.
Looks like the chief laid into him good.
Thought this was a nice village, but nah—standard isekai shit.
"Ow! Let go!"
"I'll let go if you fuck off to the village! Stay here and you're troll chow, dumbass!"
No reason to baby him. If he dies here, who's taking the blame? Guild quest goes south, my pay gets docked—unacceptable.
"Get home, kid! Come back and you're dead!"
"Guh!"
A swift kick to the ass sent him squealing like a pig, grabbing his sack, and scampering off.
"What the hell's his deal?"
Winia voiced the question after watching.
"Just a moron. Told him no, but he sneaks back in. Gotta be here since dawn if he beat us—lucky he ain't dead."
Even with rough persuasion to save his skin, if he insists on dying, nothing more I can do. Words don't stick; I've done plenty.
"He survived, so maybe the troll's already fled?"
Claudy's words hit the mark.
"Hm."
Maybe the troll gorged on human flesh, snapped to, and ran. That'd fuck us over big time.
Wasted days, quest failed.
No time worrying about that idiot.
"Can't be. Blackie! Sis! Run!"
We raced to the stream. No foot traffic here, so troll tracks lingered.
Whoosh...
Stream was wide; crossing meant soaked pants.
No dry way across.
"Shall we cross?"
Claudy stepped forward.
"Hold up."
"Huh?"
"Can't let my girls get wet. Winia, hop on my back. Claudy, into my arms."
Transporting both at once.
Current me could handle it.
"Oh, Katt."
"Our Blackie's full of sweet talk?"
They beamed and clung right on, no hesitation. I handed my pack to Winia, braced at the water's edge.
"Hop on!"
"Kyaa!"
"Kyaa!"
Winia on my back, Claudy in arms. Fucking heavy. Over 100kg combined—brutal.
"Katt, you okay? Can you manage?"
"Of course."
Legs shook, but doable. I summoned every ounce of strength—even from my balls—and waded in.
Splash.
Water to my knees.
"Hee hee, good boy, Blackie!"
Crossed the damn thing. Heavy as hell, them squeezing tight didn't help, but we made it.
I summoned a final burst to set them down.
"Hngh!"
"Good job, Katt. Thanks?"
"Blackie did great!"
Tough, but their cheers made it worth it. I'm Kim Katt, after all.
Winia's tits got pros and cons.
"Whew, shit. Brutal. Anyway, let's move."
Winia in front again, we pressed on.
"Hmm, tracks here too. Troll was definitely around—probably moved yesterday."
After scouting a bit, Winia stated confidently.
Mage perks: pieces together the truth fast. I couldn't tell; Claudy seemed clueless about forests from her desert days.
Winia led; we marched.
Soon, obvious tracks appeared.
"Goblin corpses? Total massacre."
Blood splattered everywhere, goblin remains brutally torn. Winia inspected and concluded.
"Troll ate 'em. Goblin nest nearby, probably. Lucky, and it might be napping in there."
"Talk of eating's got me hungry."
We chewed jerky while hunting the nest. Per Winia, troll might've claimed it for siesta.
"That it?"
Adventurer instincts scanned; spotted a cave on the ridge.
"Blood smell... definite."
Claudy drew her curved sword, sniffing.
I unsheathed too; Winia raised her staff. We crept toward it.
Entrance about 1.6m tall, smeared red with blood, bits of bone and green flesh scattered around.
Goblins massacred by the troll.
Winia cast light magic; Claudy and I led with blades, entering slow.
No troll, of course.
"Bust."
Just goblin family wreckage inside—utter carnage. Thick stench of blood and rot.
This troll had nasty eating habits.
Splatters showed how savagely they'd been devoured.
"Troll was busy with goblins yesterday, skipped the village?"
"Seems so, sis."
Gruesome, but no one lingered on details. Nothing worth looting, so out quick. Short break, then resumed tracking.
Troll still nearby—proven.
Didn't flee far. Good.
Searched hours more, but zilch again today. Carried them back across the stream to village.
"Ugh, frustrating! What troll hides this fucking well!"
Winia vented. Claudy hugged to calm her—backfired, just pissed her more.
"Blackie, inn and crash tonight. Too beat."
"Yeah. We can bolt if shit hits the fan."
Decided that; reported to chief, back to inn. Already night. Exhausted.
"Katt, washing up. Guard?"
"You bet."
Unloaded gear at inn; sky pitch black. Winia and Claudy stripped naturally, headed to well.
Admiring the view as they washed.
Kyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!
The troll's hereeeee!!!!!!
Uwaaaaaah!!!!!!
No fucking way.
"Ack! Katt!"
"Blackie!"
I drew my sword and sprinted toward the screams.
"Get dressed! I'll go ahead!"
"Got it!"
Nowhere when we hunted like mad, but shows when we try to relax!
Won't stand for this luck-of-the-draw bullshit.
We valued time—better hunt proactive than wait—so this screwing us over...!
"I won't forgive the shitposter who rips out my heart!!!"