Chapter 273 - Pesky Interlopers! (3)
“This commission's pretty unique, huh.”
“Yeah. Asking us to take down the Hero Eater before the Divine Beast does...”
“The guy's usually just sending people, but he came in person to beg. What the hell happened between him and the Divine Beast anyway?”
“Something went down at the Guild Management Office, I heard... Guild Master, you haven't heard anything?”
The adventurers, weapons at the ready and faces lit with excitement, chattered away as they pushed through the underbrush.
The guild Blue Wolf, which had been supplying monster materials to Evid Viscount. They'd received this awkward commission to track and eliminate the Hero Eater faster than the Divine Beast could, but not a single one of them looked displeased.
“I didn't get the full story, but looks like the Divine Beast bruised the viscount's ego pretty good.”
“Why pick a fight with a noble? What's in it for him?”
“Who knows? But hey, works out great for us.”
A hefty advance, plus an enormous completion bonus for slaying the Hero Eater. Add in the rewards from the Management Office, and it equaled years of guild income. With that kind of payout on the line, it was no wonder they were grinning ear to ear while hunting for a Hero Eater whose location was anyone's guess.
The Divine Beast's blunder in crossing the viscount had handed them this golden opportunity on a platter.
“But apparently it showed up out of nowhere and vanished. Think we can find it?”
“Pray to the goddess for that. The advance is fat enough to justify a month of searching.”
“If we bag it, we're talking jackpot. Our guild could end up as Radia's top-tier outfit.”
“What'll you do with your cut? Ahh, can't wait~”
“Hey, we haven't even caught sight of it yet.”
The dozen or so adventurers buzzed with anticipation, their mood electric. To cool things down, the middle-aged hero who led Blue Wolf reined in his guildmates.
“The viscount said he's commissioning a few other guilds too. If you want that completion bonus, keep your eyes peeled, everyone.”
““Got it, Guild Master~!””
His longtime comrades flashed smiles and scanned the surroundings. The guild master smiled back, then took point again.
He'd calmed them, but he was just as eager for that massive payout. The Hero Eater hunt had barely begun—they hadn't strayed far from Radia yet. The Blue Wolf guild pressed on through the brush without much hope...
“...! Shh...!!”
“...!!”
About two hours into their quiet search? This was supposed to be a quick sweep of the woods, but their unimaginable target blocked their path.
Beyond the underbrush loomed a massive silhouette, black smoke billowing from it. The instant they spotted what screamed Hero Eater, tension and glee washed over the Blue Wolf faces.
“...Looks like the goddess heard our prayers?”
“Hah, hah... How much is that worth... Heh heh.”
“Whew... Thank you, Goddess... Alright, everyone. Weapons ready?”
Jackpot in sight, the Blue Wolf crew beamed with joy. The guild master checked his armed guildmates, nodded with a grin.
“...Let's go! Jackpot!”
With excited shouts, the hero and his guild charged the Hero Eater.
But blinded by greed, they failed to notice what the Hero Eater—its back to them—had just been devouring. Or that others had arrived here first and fled the scene.
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“Whoa...! Cecilia! You okay!?”
“Yeah! I'm good, Oppa!”
Ugh, riding with four of us is nerve-wracking—way too unstable!
That pig bastard better not have slipped away again! No way! I want all the annoyances cleared out before I turn Lianna into my bitch!
Stay put and be a good little sacrifice to delay the apocalypse, you swine!
—Boom!
Kaboom!
...What the? The vibe's getting weirder the closer we get. What's with these explosions? And that dust cloud... Trees are flying through the air in it?
Uh... The ground's shaking too?
“...Seems it's devoured quite a bit in the meantime.”
“Yeah? Can the Master handle it, Klea?”
“Judging by the energy alone... it might be a bit tough...”
Huh? What'd you say? Too much for me to handle?
I don't know what it ate, but did it power up in the interim? Are those flying trees from that pig thrashing around?
Tricky... It was already a handful solo last time. If it's even stronger now...
...Huh? Those guys...
“Kyahaaaaack!!”
“Ngh, hngh...!!”
Those ones charging this way... They look like human adventurers from their gear. Fleeing from the Hero Eater maybe?
Hmm... Decent equipment. If they're running scared or hurt...
...Should we bail too?
“Hah, huff...!? Wh-what!? The Divine Beast!?”
“Why're you here!? Don't tell me because of the Hero Eater...!?”
Hmm? Not sure why, but they're freaking out at the sight of me. Why? Radia adventurers should be used to my look by now. Why the jump-scare?
Matching tattoos on their hands—same guild, huh... Whatever. Ladies are among them, so even if I can't carry 'em, we'll escape together.
“Hey, you folks! Everyone alri—”
“Hey! Divine Beast! We claimed that thing first, got it!? You ain't getting it...!”
“H-hey! Amy! Now's not the time for that!?”
...What? What'd this bitch just say?
“If the guild master can't hold it, we're all screwed! We gotta get farther away...!”
“We've made enough already! No way a hero like that uncle can't handle it!?”
“Right! We're out of the woods now—let's wait here for the guild master!”
What the hell? Not fleeing? Getting ready to fight now...?
Looking closer, these four are all rear-line mages and archers. Probably fighting inside the woods, but why pull back here?
“Don't interfere—move!”
“Mr. Divine Beast. If you're thinking of butting in, we'll file a complaint with the Management Office.”
Whoa... These punks. Listen to 'em talk? What, they reserved the spot or something? Cocky little shits, getting their asses handed to them, and they wanna hog the Hero Eater solo? Does it shit gold or what? Last time it just poofed into dust!
—KABOOOM!!
“It's out! Get ready!!”
Gasp...? What the hell. Why's that pig so big now?
Trailer-truck sized at that speed—explains the flying trees!
...Wait. That pig's covered in wounds? And that blue smoke dangling from its head... don't tell me...
“Ngh...!! Everyone! Fire!!”
The man spewing blue energy bellowed, and magic circles and red auras flared from his comrades.
Aiming for a big one-shot in open ground, huh... Too bad. Looks like me and my yinshuu won't even need to step in.
That hero-looking guy's already half-killed it. One good hit from his crew and...
—Fwoom!
Bang!
KABOOOM!!
Magic from the circles and skill-infused arrows detonated on the Hero Eater's body.
Nice... No finesse, but damn, that's some boom. High-level bunch, huh? Fine, whatever—who bags it doesn't matter. As long as it delays the end times.
Still, that rude mage bitch Amy? Memorized her face. Time for some attitude adjustment later...
“...Won't be that easy.”
“...Huh? Klea, no way...”
“Decent damage, but not fatal.”
“Perfect! Then we can claim it!”
“...!? Wait, what the hell are you—”
Hearing Cecilia, that Amy mage glared daggers our way. She opened her mouth to yell, but a comrade's scream cut her off first.
“Kyaaak! Guild Master!”
“!? U-Uncle!?”
Hoook... What the fuck...
Blue energy—definitely a hero... Ugh, his leg's in that pig's mouth... Kyaaak! It's chewing!
You pig bastard!
“St-stop!!!”
Faces drained white, the adventurers unleashed skills to save their hero.
The Hero Eater, wounds smoking black, shrugged off the barrage without flinching.
With an irritated head-shake, the hero's leg tore free, flinging him into the woods.
“Guild Maaaaster!!!”
“Kyaaaa! Uncleee!!”
Screaming, they ditched their gear and bolted into the forest.
Hooo... Holy shit... What a horror show. Even if that hero survives, he's done for.
Were Hero Eaters always this brutal? Talk about gore...
“...Master. How do you feel?”
“Puhuhu. I was just thinking the same.”
The seat-squatters bailed, so that half-dead Hero Eater's fair game for me, right? Almost finished already—feels wasteful to let it slip.
Unknown hero and guildmates. Thanks. We'll take the Hero Eater subjugation reward.
Bonus: Delaying the apocalypse too.
“Liz, Klea, Seres—hang back. Cecilia. I'll tank it; hit the openings from the side.”
I dropped off my yinshuu and shifted to human form. Lizbet draped my armor over me as she clung on.
Klea handed over the horse bit, then blessed me and Cecilia.
Prepped, we charged the Hero Eater turning back toward the woods.