Chapter 23
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Hungry Slayer 23
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*Dong-dong-dong-dong!*
The drumbeats rapidly heightened the tension. The hunters of Leighton Village swiftly assumed defensive positions.
It didn't take long for them to reach their posts. These were well-honed movements. They looked more like castle guards than hunters.
Exhaustion etched their faces, and hunger was plain to see, but their resolve to defend the stone wall seemed utterly genuine.
"Make way."
Sandbill approached Dane, who stood firmly in the center of the stone wall, and spoke. Dane stepped aside without a word, peering down below.
An assault, sure—but not much of a threat.
To Dane, it just looked like monsters with empty bellies were passing through the ravine in search of food.
They ranged from small to medium-sized. He took a moment to survey them.
Looking over the monsters at a glance felt just like browsing cuts of meat at the market. Couldn't be more comfortable.
'No unknowns here.' All familiar faces. These were the very beasts he'd endlessly butchered and eaten while descending the Tike Mountains.
'They called this the first assault, so maybe something new next time.'
Anticipating the next wave, Dane descended from the stone wall for now.
'Opinions are divided. Better to assess the situation properly first.' Solving the request could wait.
With Defense Captain Sandbill and the young hunters clustered thickly atop the wall, the only ones he could approach were the elders.
Dane spoke politely to Dirk.
"Elder, it seems your views differ. Might I ask exactly what's going on? I feel uneasy being treated like intruders."
River and Bankers eyed him curiously at his courteous demeanor.
Had Dane ever been this polite? They wondered what he was up to.
'To reach Harac Bar, we have to cross that wall. Request or no, without the village's cooperation, the wagons won't get through.' That was Dane's thinking.
These folks already eyed visitors with suspicion. No need to rile them further.
"Ahem. This place was originally founded long ago by true hunters—not ones like you who kowtow to elves."
Dirk stroked his beard lightly as he spoke. He was displeased, but given his position, he couldn't outright ignore the respectful inquiry.
Dane waited silently for the story to continue.
"Monsters never used to come near this wall. The rootlings extended all the way to the ravine's end. But for some reason, now they trample right over them and approach the wall. As you saw."
"I've heard the rootlings' power is weakening. Could that be the cause?"
"I don't know the details. But with monsters pushing down like this, we can't hunt beasts near the ravine anymore. Still, if we hold out long enough, a solution will come."
He spoke of holding out, but it seemed they had no real plan.
That was why the young hunters, at odds with the elders, had requested aid from Foldtown.
"From what you said earlier, your food situation sounds dire... Do you have anything to eat?"
"Potatoes and vegetables in the Yadus storehouse are enough for Leighton Village to endure."
A tantalizing phrase hid in the proud old man's words. River and Bankers seemed to catch it too. Their gazes quickly met Dane's.
"Could we... perhaps tour that food storehouse?"
Dane asked.
Dirk unwittingly clicked his tongue. What kind of insane request was this?
The first assault had passed without much trouble, but monsters had still invaded. Even without knowing it might continue till morning, this was beyond improper.
"Bring it in!!!"
"Push it!!!"
From the wall, they were rolling massive boulders down, smashing monster skulls.
Dirk subtly gestured back with his hand and countered.
"Can't you see that? You want to stuff your faces in this situation? Didn't you come for the monster extermination request?"
"We're not talking about eating. It's something that might help the village. We just want to check."
"...I have no idea what you're on about."
The more he heard, the less sense it made.
"Just show us once. You won't regret it."
Riddles from this guy. Unable to decide, Dirk glanced at his companions.
They all had the same look. Earnestly desirous. Unable to contain their curiosity. Urging him to show them.
"What's this about..."
If they were this sincere, maybe there really was something.
"Huh. Heh heh."
Dirk turned with a troubled expression.
"Follow me."
The Lucas Hunting Party trailed behind Dirk.
*Dong-dong-dong-dong!*
"Fire!!!"
Desperate defense raged atop the wall.
* * *
Dirk led the Lucas Hunting Party into a cave carved into the village's sheer rock face.
At the tunnel's end, an odd blue glow seeped out, tickling their eyes.
"Haha..."
"Wow..."
The moment they entered the storehouse, Bankers and River let out exclamations. Dane ran his hand over the glowing blue wall.
'As expected...'
A space surrounded on all sides by massive metal plates made of Yadus ore.
Outside was bitterly cold—leaving ingredients out would freeze them solid. But inside, it was unaffected by external temperatures.
Hot or cold, the climate outside didn't matter; a steady, perfect chill was maintained. The storehouse was essentially a giant refrigerator preserving freshness.
Their admiration ended there.
As worrying as the village's plight was, the massive storehouse held scant provisions. All that was visible were a few boxes of potatoes and what looked like dried greens.
Could they hold out on this? Impossible.
Even a rough count of villagers on the way in suggested over a hundred. A day or two would be risky.
'What a waste of space.'
What if they filled it with monster meat? At least hunger wouldn't be an issue.
'And outside... monsters are overflowing.' A heaven-sent opportunity, perhaps.
"Does Yadus ore come from around here too?"
Dane suddenly asked Dirk.
"You have to go deep past the ravine. We got this from passing dwarves."
Worth the trip so far. He'd seen firsthand how others used the ore similarly, and confirmed they had to cross the wall to obtain it.
Dane pondered, and a clear answer emerged. Now he just needed bait to sway their hearts.
He inspected the ingredients again.
Lacking as staples, but perfect as sides for other dishes.
He picked up some dried greens and examined them.
'Like dried radish greens.'
A faint smile formed. Craving hot soup earlier had sparked an idea.
River and Bankers watched Dane intently. Dried greens weren't the sort to inspire smiles.
"What's with that?"
River asked.
"Among what we brought from Horhe... we had perilla powder, right?"
"Yeah."
Dane whispered to River and Bankers about the dish's look and taste. His listening companions nodded.
"Suits the cold weather. Let's give it a shot."
"We'll go with that. I'll fetch meat quick."
"Everyone's starving, so make plenty."
"Like in Horhe—set up big in the square."
"Yeah. We'll prep the base."
Dirk couldn't follow the Lucas Hunting Party's talk. Or their excitement.
Dane gazed at Dirk with serious eyes and continued calmly.
"Then, Elder. Could you help us light a fire in the square's center? We'll need a big cauldron too."
Another baffling request furrowed Dirk's brow.
"Then I'll tell you how to protect the village from monsters—and ensure no one starves again."
From absurd actions to absurd requests, now absurd promises.
"How can I trust that?"
"We're coming from slaying two Krekators in Horhe Village. You can verify after, but it'll delay things quite a bit."
Unbelievable even if seen—how to take it? Dirk shook his head and asked again.
"Krekators... caught by you three?"
"Even if you don't believe it, you know you have no better options right now, Elder."
Dane met Dirk's eyes steadily, as if peering into his soul.
In Dane's oddly red-tinged gaze, Dirk felt his heart settle as if by magic.
Pressured by other elders and onlookers to stay firm, he knew this was the worst yet. Truth was... he'd just been stubborn.
"If that's true..."
He replied in a deflated tone.
"Then we'll use these potatoes and dried greens too."
Dane pressed his advantage.
"No, that's our last food!"
"If I fail, you can have all six horses."
"!"
Before objections could land, Bankers scooped up the ingredients in his arms.
*Dong-dong-dong-dong!*
The great drum sounded outside the cave once more.
Signaling the end of the first assault.
* * *
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Sandbill's first words upon descending the wall, weary as he was.
While everyone else fought desperately against monsters, the village square bustled like some festival. Bankers had a massive fire roaring, topped with a huge cauldron boiling water.
Beside it, River chopped Bekelztor fat from a catch on the way to size, prepped potatoes, and soaked dried greens at a spread-out prep station.
Villagers murmured, staring silently.
A bizarre scene.
His father, who'd raged earlier about requesting Foldtown aid, now watched their antics quietly.
Then the hunters returned after the first assault.
Having gone beyond the wall to recover usable arrows from monster corpses, they paused in the square to catch their breath—only to react like Sandbill. Stunned. Then disappointed.
With so few from Foldtown, maybe they'd brought food in the wagons.
"More potatoes and dried greens..."
After tense exertion, their stomachs clung to their backbones. And this was all in sight?
"Hey. What exactly are you doing?"
As Sandbill stepped forward with a shout, Dirk blocked him and relayed Dane's proposal verbatim.
Sandbill's expression shifted through colors.
"We'll watch for now. See if your judgment was right."
Dirk added, glancing up at the wall.
Sandbill followed his gaze. Atop the wall stood that man again, like déjà vu.
"Crazy bastard..."
Sandbill groaned. Nothing else to say.
The proposal, the square antics, standing there in just underwear—none of it normal. And yet...
He hadn't realized the guy was that crazy.
"Ugh!!"
Dirk and Sandbill cried out simultaneously.
The man had leaped off the wall's outer side.