Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: 5. Orphan Awakening System Open
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I'd already spoken to Count Richard. In exchange for giving Laila time, I'd hold back the Snow King's forces.
Of course, Count Richard's face had paled completely, and he'd called it too dangerous. I wasn't going alone, of course—I'd be traveling with that bastard Ulfrik—but even then, he looked at me like I was insane.
It was a perfectly natural and sensible reaction. It must have seemed absurd that some orphanage director and a single adventurer would try to stop forces that even the margrave's knight order couldn't handle.
'Ulfrik seems to know what kind of guy he is, though.'
Ulfrik was pretty strong. His talent was around 3-star level, but he maximized it through personal experience and know-how. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was in the top ten adventurers I'd ever seen.
Of course, that didn't mean Ulfrik was stronger than the Beril Count Family's knights or the Snow King's forces. The only thing I'd ever seen that could hold them off single-handedly was a 5-star talent I'd witnessed exactly once.
So how were the two of us supposed to stop an army when our only real fighting force was Ulfrik alone?
"Senior, it's been ages since we've synced up like this. Your skills haven't rusted away completely, have they?"
"I'm fine. Even if they have, you'll be the one getting hurt."
"Haha! If that happens, I'll claw my way back alive somehow and return to you, Senior. Not that it'll come to that."
As Ulfrik and I exited the mansion's front gate, I could feel the eyes of Count Richard, the knights, the mages, and the servants on us. There were some looks that screamed "are you crazy?" but most were filled with worry.
They probably misunderstood, thinking Ulfrik and I were sacrificing ourselves to hold back the army. Even with that misconception, some knights stepped forward with determined gazes, offering to help. They were good people.
But I turned them all down. The reason was simple.
"Rookies can't sync up with you, Senior."
"Why are they rookies? They're all grizzled veterans."
"Being used to combat and fighting alongside you are two different things. Don't you remember how I talked shit to you at first? I even shoved a greatsword in your face and yelled that you were crazy."
"If I hadn't stopped you back then, that old fart would've beaten you to death."
"You think I don't know that? It's all fond memories now, which is why I can laugh about it. Speaking of old farts, what about your old party members, including him...?"
"Cut the pointless chatter and get ready. They're almost here."
"Yes, sir."
Tch, did I change the subject too obviously? But it wasn't something I particularly wanted to discuss with Ulfrik. He hadn't been a party member, but he'd still know about it.
Anyway, now wasn't the time to dwell on irrelevant memories. If we didn't want to die, we had to focus on the army right in front of us.
I pulled out the telescope enchanted with far-sight magic—the gear Ulfrik had brought from his younger days—and climbed a tree with practiced ease, setting up our temporary base. I activated communication magic tools, escape magic tools, various enhancement potions, scrolls loaded with disruption spells, and even shattered mana stones to cast camouflage magic, finishing all preparations.
Once Ulfrik confirmed I was ready, he grinned and drew a dagger, spinning it in his hand.
"Who should we start with?"
"That one with the twisted horn."
"Got it!"
Among the horde of monsters and beasts surging toward the snowy mountains, I pointed out a specific one, and Ulfrik moved.
He dashed across the snow without leaving a single footprint, hiding his muscular frame in the shadows and blind spots.
"Kieaak!?"
Slash.
He slit the throat of one in the vanguard of the avalanche-like horde—a monster with a twisted horn. It was a speed and stealth that belied his over-2-meter muscular build.
It was an excellent ambush, but in itself, it wasn't a big deal. There were thousands of monsters and beasts charging in at a glance, and Ulfrik had only killed one.
It even looked far more likely that he'd get swarmed and killed in retaliation.
"Gruk, grrrk!!"
"Awoooo!!!"
"Kieee!!"
But the monsters and beasts didn't attack Ulfrik or press forward. Instead, they froze in confusion. When the vanguard halted abruptly, the ones behind crashed into them, sparking instant chaos within their ranks.
It wasn't Ulfrik's ability or any magic.
Strictly speaking, it was mine.
"Next, that one with four wings over there."
"Yes, sir!"
"Kiooo!?"
Slash!
Every time I gave an order, Ulfrik moved, and the heads of select monsters and beasts among the horde fell.
Even though fewer than ten had died out of hundreds or thousands. Even though far more had been slain fighting the Beril Count Family's knights.
"Kieee!!!"
The monsters and beasts—the Snow King's horde—was shaken. They fell into disarray, milling about and halting their advance.
It was possible because I'd picked out the 'talented' ones to kill.
'My ability isn't limited to seeing human talent.'
From my experiences so far, my power let me see a target's aptitudes and talents as light.
And that applied not just to people, but to monsters, beasts, spirits, and all other beings as well.
'Even if they're not very intelligent, since they're following the Snow King's orders, there have to be commander types among them.'
That's why these mere monster and beast packs could move like an army and push back the Beril Count Family's knights.
Like with a human army, targeting and killing just the commanders could dismantle the horde.
No matter how much it was called a 'king,' a beast could only control through its commander-level underlings—it couldn't micromanage every single monster and beast. Damn, that was hard-earned experience.
"Ulfrik, next is that beast covered in spines."
"Leave it to me, Senior!"
Using the telescope magic tool, I overlooked the entire battlefield from the tree and used my ability to spot monsters and beasts with strong talents. Then I directed Ulfrik via the communication tool.
They were advancing for battle—in other words, in the act of 'combat.' My eyes saw all sorts of lights shining.
There wasn't a single 4-star; most were 1-star, with only a few standouts at 2-star or 3-star. So I just pointed those out. The Snow King's commanders would naturally be powerful individuals with high talents.
Of course, I didn't hit every time. What I saw was talent, not current strength. I assumed high talent meant strength and thus commander status, but not all high-talent ones were commanders.
'But on the flip side.'
In the monster world, where strength was everything, having talent for strength meant they'd manifested it somehow. So while not all, most of the ones I pointed out were indeed commanders.
Designating and informing on enemies. A simple task, but one only I could do.
"Burst your mana, Ulfrik."
"Yes, sir!"
Vmmm!
As Ulfrik wove through the confused horde and released his mana, a few monsters and beasts reacted, lifting their heads.
Okay, you just reacted to mana with that 'action,' didn't you?
Right after the monsters and beasts acted, I could see their mana and magic talents as light. Sure enough, magic-capable ones were hidden throughout.
They couldn't strut out declaring themselves commanders or the knights would shred them, so they'd disguised themselves as normal monsters—
"Kill them all."
"Understood, Senior!"
Once exposed, it was over. That was a scout's role. It had been my main job as an adventurer too.
But even if I spotted them, actually taking them down was another matter.
No wonder they fell into chaos when I explained it this way, but to others, venturing into a monster horde alone to kill a few wouldn't change much—they'd question or argue it.
Especially since I'd kept my ability secret.
'I didn't want to go around blabbing about it either.'
For months after my eyes nearly failed at first, I'd been neurotic even in my sleep. And I had no desire for rumors to spread about my ability, drawing eyes to them. I lacked the power to protect myself.
That's why even when I took on this role, hardly anyone followed my lead.
...Ulfrik was one of the few.
'And you need the strength to kill beasts and monsters alone too.'
He trusted only my word and threw himself into the midst of monsters and beasts alone. Even though a single mistake on my part could mean instant death from their counterattack, he followed without hesitation.
And I knew Ulfrik's strength well. An adventurer with 3-star talent in dagger arts, stealth, and tracking. 3-star might sound dim compared to Karen, but what I saw was potential, not current power. Right now, Ulfrik could easily handle dozens of Karens or mes. He was one of the top adventurers in his own right.
It was funny that a guy like that used to swing a greatsword around like a cheap mercenary back in the day, but whatever.
More importantly, 3-star was no weak talent. With the Orphan Gacha being ridiculously rare now? Back as adventurers, even wandering everywhere, it was hard to find anyone above 2-star outside our damn party.
'The Beril knights would just doubt me or call it crazy anyway.'
He trusted only my word and threw himself into the midst of monsters and beasts alone. Even though a single mistake on my part could mean instant death from their counterattack, he followed without hesitation.
Of course, it took a lot to build this trust, but whatever.
"That's enough. Time to head back."
"Got it, Senior. Your eye for talent is as sharp as ever. No wonder they called you the Golden Eye."
"I told you not to call me that."
Golden Eye, my ass. If I got a nickname like that and assholes started eyeing my eyes again, what then?
If you lacked the power to protect yourself, it was best to hide your identity and presence as much as possible. I'd gotten a lot of "what's with that guy?" looks when with the party, but I had no interest in pointless fame.
Anyway, the important thing was—
Crunch!
"S-Senior?"
"Don't let your guard down till the end, Ulfrik. It's your bad habit."
"Whoa, did you just save me, Senior? Haven't seen that spear in ages."
"I don't like using camp tools for fighting. You took my advice and switched from greatsword to dagger—why not this too...? Tch tch."
"Go easy on me, Senior Yujin. Bruisers like me are hopeless by nature."
"We've bought plenty of time anyway, so let's go back. Their command structure's shaken—they'll either retreat to the Snow King or scatter."
"Understood, Senior. Mind if I ask one thing?"
"No."
"After I left the party."
"You weren't even an official member to begin with. Just a cheap mercenary."
"That was back when I stubbornly stuck to greatswords. Not anymore. Anyway, Hella, that old spirit summoner, the crazy noble girl, or the others... what the hell happened with them that made you retire?"
"I'm not strong like those bastards. I can barely handle one of those monsters out there. Every commission was life-or-death—why keep doing it? I planned to save up and quit from the start."
"But Senior, during the Mountain King subjugation..."
Tch.
"If you're about to spout some pointless old tale, let's head back quick. Laila's waiting."
"...Yes, sir."
Ulfrik calling me Senior, his affability—it made him more likable than the other party members... which was exactly why I didn't want to meet him.
Meeting Ulfrik inevitably brought up 'that incident,' forcing me to remember.
Thinking back on that incident.
──It’s okay, Yujin…… It’s not…… your fault………
"........."
Was truly the most revolting thing imaginable.
...I wanted to see Laila soon.