20
Chapter 20
My whole body ached.
The aftereffects of the fierce battle with the thieves a few days ago didn't fade easily.
As soon as I arrived at the shabby Inn room in Delhar Village, I threw myself onto the creaky bed.
I untied my armor and threw off my sweat-drenched clothes.
I roughly wiped my sticky face with my shirt, but the deep fatigue didn't easily go away.
'I'm dying.......'
I looked up at the blurry ceiling.
Under the dim lighting, the small, simple room felt unfamiliar and uneasy.
The tension that had lasted for days and the memories of the fierce fights floated in my mind like afterimages.
Especially the final moment, the desperate scene of the Water Barrier shattering vividly came back to me.
'To think I'd lack mana that much.'
Suddenly, the foolishness of choosing a staff as a system reward yesterday washed over me with regret.
I should have chosen something that would help with my mana even a little.
The black staff placed on the table next to the bed caught my eye.
I hadn't used it yet so I didn't know its performance, but right now it was nothing more than a prop for a Magician cosplay.
...Since it's a rare grade, it should be useful.
Faint voices of my companions could be heard from the next room.
They were probably having a meal.
However, I didn't feel any motivation or even appetite inside me.
Only a strong desire to escape this terrible fatigue and fall asleep forever wrapped around my whole body.
My eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
'Tomorrow... what should I do.'
Trying hard to shake off the anxious thoughts that kept popping up, I sank into the abyss of a deep sleep.
***
An old cabin on the outskirts of the village.
Inside, a man with messy hair and anxious eyes was pacing nervously.
He was originally an ordinary Hunter of this small village.
But a few days ago, his life was completely twisted by a piece he accidentally picked up in the forest.
That piece was a black stone about the size of a palm.
The moment he grabbed it, a bizarre sensation like an electric current flowing through his whole body spread, and strange things began to happen from then on.
At first, he thought it was a simple dream.
The feeling of blurry figures whispering and something staring at him in the dark.
But it wasn't a dream.
As days went by, the illusions became clearer, and the whispers were no longer nonsense.
"Hide it... Don't show it to anyone... The power... will soon awaken...."
He eventually hid the piece deep inside an old wooden box, but his anxiety didn't easily fade.
The feeling that someone, no, something was watching him never left.
Tonight, that anxiety reached its peak.
In his dream, a group of strangers appeared at the village entrance.
Those holding sharp weapons. They didn't look like Travelers.
Could they also know of the piece's existence?
The Hunter Carl held his breath and looked outside through the gap in the small cabin window.
A shadow faintly moving under the moonlight.
His heart began to beat wildly.
'No... I can't let it be taken....'
His gaze turned to the Hunting Dagger on the table.
His hands trembled.
He couldn't know what that piece was or why it chose him.
But his instinct spoke.
That it wasn't a simple stone.
That he must protect it from those aiming for its power.
At that moment, a heavy thud knocking on the cabin door broke the silence.
"Carl! Are you there?"
His whole body froze.
Has the inevitable finally arrived?
The moment Carl's hand gripped the Dagger, the inside of the cabin became suffocatingly silent.
***
I blinked slowly.
As my stiff eyelids barely opened, faint light poured in.
A narrow and unfamiliar ceiling came into view.
Ah, it was the Inn room in Delhar Village.
I tried to get up, but the aftermath of the fierce battle with the Thieves a few days ago remained.
The pain in my arm and shoulder that had supported the shattered Water Barrier was especially severe.
"Ugh...."
Groaning, I barely raised my upper body.
I sat on the edge of the creaky wooden bed and stared blankly out the window.
It was a peaceful morning scene with pale sunlight pouring through the leaves.
A rooster's crow could be heard in the distance, and the bustling movements of people could occasionally be felt.
It was an ordinary scene, completely different from the tense atmosphere of yesterday evening.
'This is what true peace is like.'
That thought suddenly occurred to me.
Having been constantly swept up in battles and incidents since coming to this other world, I realized anew how precious such an ordinary morning was.
On the table next to the bed sat a simple breakfast that Barret seemed to have left behind.
A few slices of hard bread, some cheese, and a bottle of water.
It was modest, but to me right now, it was a meal I couldn't be more thankful for.
Chewing the bread slowly, I looked at the black staff Barret had handed me yesterday.
What should I do with that troublesome thing.
'...I'll put it away for now.'
I shoved the staff under the bed and finished eating the rest of the bread.
My body was still heavy, but it felt a little better than yesterday.
I washed my face simply and changed my clothes.
I didn't know who did it, but the clothes I had taken off were neatly washed.
Did Mr. Barret do it?
Putting on the clean Padded Armor instead of the armor stained with sweat and dust for days made me feel much fresher.
The stiff texture was still awkward, but it seemed my body was quite used to it now, so moving wasn't too uncomfortable.
While fastening the armor, a long slash mark across the abdomen caught my eye.
It was a mark made from the battle with the Thieves yesterday.
'Ah, I need to get this repaired too.'
The spot cut by the sharp blade was torn hideously.
It wouldn't be a problem right away, but it would definitely wear out if left as is.
I should find out if there's a repair shop in the village later.
The Dagger Barret had prepared for me hung at my waist.
The heavy weight gave me a sense of stability.
Even though I wasn't used to using a bladed weapon, it was much better than not having one.
I left the room and went downstairs in the Inn.
The dining area was crowded with people having breakfast.
Familiar faces also stood out.
The Mercenaries who had fought together yesterday were scattered here and there, eating breakfast.
I gave them a light nod and took a seat at an empty table by the window.
"Oh, the Magician is awake."
A booming voice struck my ears.
Looking back, it was the fierce-looking giant who swung a Club at the very front yesterday, Tral.
...Why is he suddenly pretending to know me?
After giving a rough greeting, I turned my gaze into the dining area.
Next to him sat the tall Geminic, holding a sharp spear and chewing bread.
The Mercenary Commander Barret was conversing with the other guys over there.
Noticing my gaze, Barret slightly turned his head and asked.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling a bit better, thanks to you."
I answered with an awkward smile.
"Yesterday was quite a sight! Seeing you hold up a Shield alone against all those Thieves, you were exactly like a massive wave!"
Tral waved his arms around and made a big fuss.
My face burned from the cringeworthy praise.
Why the hell is he overreacting like that?
I'd rather he pick a fight like before.
"Besides, thanks to the magic you cast in between, we were able to fight quite comfortably."
Geminic added in a calm voice from the side.
Unlike Tral, his praise felt sincere.
Which made it even more burdensome....
"Especially the tactic of pushing the Thieves away with that Shield was very effective. Thanks to that, we were able to easily take care of the enemies."
Barret spoke briefly as he approached.
His expression was calm as usual, but a hint of satisfaction could be seen.
"Do you have any special plans for today?"
Barret asked with eyes full of curiosity.
His excessive interest actually felt uncomfortable.
"Nothing is decided yet. I think I need to recover my physical condition a bit more first."
"I see. Please don't overdo it. You really poured out a tremendous amount of energy yesterday."
Barret said with a worried expression.
"If you happen to need any help, please let us know anytime. We are also free."
Barret added.
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
I smiled awkwardly and bowed my head.
The guys from Barret's Mercenary Group were friendly enough as it was, but Tral was honestly completely unpredictable.
He suddenly changed his attitude, and now he was dropping honorifics and pretending to be close as if we were old companions.
'Maybe this is a scheme to get me to join this Mercenary Group.'
That thought suddenly crossed my mind.
As I couldn't hide my discomfort, Barret slightly leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"That guy Tral is originally a bit... uneducated, so that's why. I apologize on his behalf."
Barret's sudden explanation made me even more confused.
Ah, he was just doing that because he's stupid?
I wasn't quite convinced, but I nodded for now.
Well, he certainly does look stupid.
Trying hard to shake off the complicated thoughts, I focused on the warm soup the Inn Owner had brought.
I tore off pieces of bread, soaked them in the soup, and brought them to my mouth.
I felt as if strange gazes were on me, but I tried to ignore them and focused on my breakfast.
After finishing the meal, I decided to slowly look around the village.
It was a small village, but a lively atmosphere could be felt.
Farmers working in the fields, Merchants selling goods in the shops, children running around... It was an ordinary daily life, but the vitality of life could be felt in it.
As the fact that I helped defeat the Thieves yesterday became known, the villagers' wariness seemed to have softened a lot.
Some even approached me first to express their gratitude.
It was quite a distance from the village, so I wondered if it was something to be this thankful for, but....
Thinking about it carefully, I understood.
With a group of Thieves of that size, they could have easily targeted a single village like this one.
Considering that, wiping out the Thieves wasn't just someone else's fight to them, but an act of removing a threat that could strike at any time.
While walking near the village Square, I noticed several residents gathered and talking with worried expressions.
Piqued by curiosity, I quietly approached and listened in.
"To think he hasn't returned for days already...."
"Carl is such a skilled Hunter, so what could have happened?"
"I heard he went deep into the forest...."
A Hunter?
I carefully approached them and struck up a conversation.
"Excuse me... could you tell me more about the Hunter who hasn't returned?"
The residents seemed momentarily flustered by my sudden question, but soon nodded with worried expressions.
"Ah, Mr. Mercenary... I heard you helped our village yesterday. Carl is someone who has been a Hunter in our village for a long time, but... since he went out to hunt in the forest a few days ago, he still hasn't returned."
"Does he usually go out hunting for several days?"
"No. No matter how deep into the forest he goes, he always returned within a day or two. This is the first time there's been no news for so long...."
Anxiety was clearly written on the residents' faces.
Then, one resident cautiously spoke up.
"There have been rumors of a strange black light being seen deep in the forest for the past few days. Could it... have something to do with Carl?"
The disappearance of the Hunter named Carl, and the black light in the forest.
It felt strangely connected to be considered a simple coincidence.
Just then, an old man with a worried face approached the Square.
He spotted me and hurriedly walked over.
"Excuse me... are you perhaps Riv?"
I nodded.
"Yes, I am."
"Ah, thank you so much! I am the Village Chief of this village, Orban."
"Ah, yes. I am Riv."
The Village Chief bowed deeply and greeted me politely.
"I would like to express my gratitude to you once again, Riv. Thanks to you, the village was kept safe."
"...Don't mention it."
"No, I heard your performance was incredible. Actually... I wonder if I could ask a favor of you."
The Village Chief's expression remained dark.
"What kind of favor?"
The Village Chief let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"Carl, our village's Hunter, hasn't been seen for a few days. I was worried, so I sent a young man to look for him yesterday, but he still hasn't returned either."
I thought only one person went missing, but I guess not.
He chose his words for a moment before carefully opening his mouth again.
"Carl is an indispensable and important figure in our village. Not only is he an outstanding Hunter, but he also has vast knowledge of the forest and has always been of great help to the village. But since there's been no news for days...."
"The residents were talking about seeing a black light in the forest."
At my words, the Village Chief's expression darkened even further.
"Yes... I've heard that story too. At first, I thought it was just a baseless rumor... but it strangely overlaps with the time Carl disappeared, so I'm anxious. Could you... perhaps go into the forest and look for Carl? Of course, I will give you a proper reward."
"Hmm... But why are you asking me? There should be plenty of other people."
"Actually, I asked the Mercenary Group yesterday evening, but they said they all had other schedules starting tomorrow."
...Other schedules?
Did they make a special consideration for me because I was sick?
"To be honest, people like us who only stay within the village don't have the confidence to handle such matters. But if it's you, Riv... I thought you might be able to find him...."
A mix of slight expectation and anxiety could be seen in his eyes.
I fell deep into thought for a moment.
My physical condition wasn't perfect yet.
It would take a few more days for the aftermath of the fierce battle to completely fade.
But if it was just an errand of that level, wasn't it worth a try?
It might be a decent commission compared to spending a few days doing nothing.
Of course, that black light element was a bit bothersome.
"Understood, Village Chief."
A look of relief washed over the Village Chief's face.
"However, I don't know anything about the forest at all. It would be good if there was someone among the villagers who could guide me."
The Village Chief's face brightened even more at my words.
"Ah, of course! There is a young man who knows the forest well. He will gladly guide you. Let's have you meet him at the village entrance early tomorrow morning."
The Village Chief answered in an energetic voice, bowing his head repeatedly.
His expression was full of relief and expectation instead of worry.
"Thank you so much, Riv. Please be careful on your way."
After parting with the Village Chief, I returned to the Inn and grabbed the Droplet Staff.
Perhaps there was something more involved in this than a simple missing person case.
The black light in the forest, and the missing Hunter. There was no way these two things were a simple coincidence.
'If I think it's dangerous, I should run away immediately.'
I repeated it over and over in my head.
The most important thing in this world was to survive.
It wasn't a request worth risking my life for by being swayed by a sense of justice or sympathy.
It was wise to help moderately and pull out if the situation became serious.
I started preparing to head to the forest.