50
Chapter 50
"Eight silver coins?"
Eileen asked back, her voice tinged with doubt.
"Yeah."
"Is it really okay to just take that much? Ah, I'm not saying this because I want some of it... It just seems like you didn't get enough compared to everything you did."
Her tone was cautious, but she wasn't wrong.
She was absolutely right.
Even though I didn't know the average market price in this world, it was definitely a small amount for a job where I had to struggle and risk my life.
"What can you do? The village is small to begin with, and it was a job that started with an advance of two silver coins."
"Ah... That's true."
When I first accepted the request, the two silver coins that the village ladies had painstakingly gathered were all I had.
Since I started knowing that, it was hard to expect a huge reward in the first place.
"Still, it's pretty good that I managed to get these greaves."
I casually looked down at the equipment fastened to my legs.
It definitely wasn't an ordinary item.
It was lightweight yet offered excellent protection, and it didn't hinder my movement when walking.
If there was a downside, it was that it looked a little bit creepy?
"Yeah. It looks good on you. ...Even if it looks a bit scary."
I let out a small chuckle.
Anyway, I could only comfort myself with the thought that getting a piece of equipment I could use for a long time was better than just mere money.
And on the other hand, I felt a bit bitter remembering how I had recklessly taken on such a request.
Rather than acting recklessly, it was more like... a complacent mindset of thinking everything would somehow work out.
This battle taught me a lot, going far beyond a simple victory or defeat.
'To survive... I ultimately have to fight.'
This world was a much more dangerous place than I had thought.
Kobolds, goblins, monster spiders, thieves, and demonic humans.
A world teeming with all sorts of alien beings.
On top of that, a war was on the verge of breaking out.
It seemed like a ridiculous development, but looking at the atmosphere, it really felt like it would happen.
In such an era of chaos, what I could do was obvious.
A means of self-defense.
Just to live, I needed something to protect myself.
The only weapon I had was this strange system.
To get stronger using that system, I eventually had to fight.
It meant I had to risk my life and step forward, one pace at a time.
It was ironic.
A structure where I had to risk my life just to survive.
What a truly garbage world this is.
***
"Why haven't you killed her yet!!"
A woman's sharp shout echoed through the spacious reception room.
Her wavy hair, tinged with red, shook along with her angry gestures.
The silver-lined fan in her hand slammed against the table with a loud smack.
An elderly man stood before her, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
He was half-bald, and his hands were trembling.
"N-No, madam. I definitely found her. But that child immediately left for another village..."
"Exactly! If you found her, you should have taken care of her right away! Why did you fail at that!!"
The madam's voice sharpened once again.
The middle-aged man bowed his head deeper, his lips stammering.
"We lacked the proper manpower. Most of the subordinates we originally planned to use have been out of commission since the last incident-"
"Enough with the excuses. How many people do you need just to catch one child?"
Madam Catalina threw her fan down.
The silver fan clattered against the cold marble floor.
"What have you been doing, unable to even get rid of a single illegitimate child? I told you that as long as that bitch is alive, my position is always threatened."
She lifted her chin, practically stomping her foot.
A cold command flowed from between her red lips.
"Don't make a mistake this time. Next time, I'll handle it myself."
The man's face turned pale.
"Madam, that's too dangerous. The House of Nobles is also acting sensitive right now, so if we're not careful-"
"Enough."
Catalina cut him off and slowly stood up.
The hem of her neatly arranged tunic brushed against the floor.
"That child needs to disappear before anyone notices."
Her red, wavy hair flowed over her shoulders.
Her gaze was directed past the window, toward the cloudy sky.
"Use whatever you need. Whether you send people or unleash a demonic beast. But this time, you must see it through to the end."
"...I shall follow your orders."
With his head bowed deeply, the man quietly left the reception room.
The moment the door closed, Catalina raised her fan again and unfolded it with her fingertips.
Frowning slightly, she muttered to herself.
"You said she would be here soon. Good. I won't make a mistake this time."
Her eyes were as cold and clear as a shining ruby.
***
"...This tastes awful."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, I was just talking to myself."
I roughly settled my breakfast with the rye bread the village residents had provided.
Having eaten nothing but bread for months now, I was at the point where I didn't even want to put it in my mouth.
The hard, dry texture, along with the sour smell.
It was somewhat edible at first, but now I was completely sick of it.
Even so, circumstances didn't allow for me to eat any other dishes.
Ingredients themselves were uncommon, and the recipes were often questionable.
Like boiling meat just as it is, or stuffing it full of strange herbs instead of salt.
In the end, the choices were obvious.
Eat even if I'm sick of it, or starve.
I crammed a piece of soggy bread into my mouth and muttered quietly.
'Still... it's probably better than starving.'
Eileen slightly turned her head to look at me at those words, but thankfully, she didn't say anything.
It was a real relief. Whining over something like this felt a bit childish even to myself.
Seeing complaints start bubbling up just as life was getting a little easier, humans really are cunning creatures.
"Anyway, it's quiet."
"The village? Maybe it's because of what happened yesterday..."
"No, the people chasing you. They should have come at least once more by now, but there's been no news at all. I don't know whether to call it a relief or a source of anxiety."
We had stayed in this village for a few days.
Our tracks couldn't have been completely hidden during that time. It was about time our location got pinpointed, but it was strangely quiet.
"Are they more incompetent than I thought, or did they just give up...."
"Well, isn't it better if they don't come?"
"That's true."
I said that, but the uneasy feeling didn't easily fade away.
This world was more tangled and complicated than any story I knew.
Getting stabbed in the back after letting your guard down was all too common.
"I think I'm starting to feel better too, so let's depart right away tomorrow."
"Mhm, okay. You don't have to rush."
I soaked the last remaining piece of bread in the soup and popped it into my mouth, muttering quietly.
I didn't know how long things would stay this quiet, but I should probably enjoy this peace for now.
"I'm going to take a quick walk around the village."
"Okay, have a nice walk."
I stepped out of the inn.
Under my feet was a soft dirt road, and a green field spread out on both sides.
Young sprouts were growing evenly in the wide-open farmland, and the familiar scent of dirt drifted along with the wind.
"Sss- Phew...."
The earthy scent brushing past my nose felt strangely comforting.
Just breathing and walking like this made me feel healthier.
Unlike the acrid smoke of the city, the air here was relaxed and leisurely.
I couldn't help but gradually slow my pace.
'...It's so peaceful here.'
It was hard to believe that this place had been drenched in sorrow just yesterday.
Perhaps the people of this world had grown accustomed to loss.
In days where survival was the top priority, being able to catch my breath like this was a luxury and an opportunity.
I slowly took my steps, taking in the unadorned scenery that flowed like any ordinary rural village.
This time wouldn't last long, but I wanted to enjoy a day where nothing happened, even if just for a moment.
Crunch, crunch.
Amidst the sound of my footsteps walking along the field, another set of footsteps overlapped from behind.
It was an unfamiliar rhythm, but it didn't feel hostile.
"The weather is really nice."
Turning my head at the voice, a familiar face came into view.
"Ah, Village Chief."
It was the village chief. Still dressed humbly, a quiet smile lingered on his face as always.
"Are you leaving tomorrow?"
"Pardon? How did you-"
The village chief slowly nodded and smiled.
"I heard Eileen has recovered, and Riv... you're walking with the distinct aura of someone about to leave."
Is there really such an aura?
I smiled awkwardly and scratched my head.
"Yes. I think it's about time we started moving."
"I see. It's a shame... but I hope you can stop by again someday."
The village chief silently looked at the field for a long time.
The crops raising their heads under the sunlight and swaying in the wind looked exceptionally peaceful.
"Your time here was short, but to me at least, you were a memorable guest."
"...Thank you."
It was a sincere farewell.
My words unwittingly became a little heavy.
It was a brief connection, but it was just as warm.
"I hope you have a safe journey. And...."
The village chief slowly concluded his words.
"I hope you always stay healthy on the road ahead."
"Yes, I wish you good health as well, Village Chief."
After exchanging those greetings, I slowly started walking again.
The footprints of the two people left on the village's dirt road were gradually fading in the wind.
***
The next day.
We packed our bags and headed to the outskirts of the village before the sun even rose.
After finishing our short goodbyes, Eileen's eyes widened as we approached the carriage.
"What is that?"
"Ah, this?"
The coachman's carriage looked much cleaner than before.
The axle that had been creaking until last time gleamed as if replaced with a new part, and the rattling wheels were well-lubricated.
Even the horses had their coats neatly groomed, and vitality swirled in their eyes.
"The village chief took care of it. He said you did something amazing?"
"Ah...."
I gave a vague answer.
It wasn't that I did anything incredible; I just lent a hand when I could.
But for them to go out of their way like this meant that this village was truly a place where warm-hearted people lived.
"The village carpenter came and fixed it up himself."
The coachman smiled and nodded.
His face looked much more relaxed than the day before.
I guess he did pretty well with his business in the village.
I stood next to the carriage and looked back at the village one more time.
Under the red-tinged sky, the small farmhouses were stretching awake.
Smoke rose from the chimneys, and the shadows of people moving early were cast between the fields.
It was a short but memorable time.
Now, it was time to stand on the road again.
"We are departing!"
As the coachman grabbed the reins and shouted, the carriage gently swayed and moved forward.
.
.
.
The peace didn't even last a single day.
"Mister! This way- Oh, fuck!!"
"Kyaaak!!"
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground beneath our feet trembled. It sounded like the entire earth was holding its breath.
Something, no, a being that could only be described as 'something' was chasing us from behind.
Legs as thick as a tree crushed the ground, and a stench like rotting, fishy water spread through the air.
"What... is this!"
The carriage running along the forest path was instantly smashed to pieces.
The deeply bent wheels bounced off, and the horses scattered in all directions, screaming in terror.
"Eileen, hold on!"
I grabbed her wrist and threw myself toward the forest.
I heard a loud Thud! as something slammed down behind us.
The monster's arm had smashed into the exact spot where we had just been.
"Aaargh!!"
The coachman, stumbling and running away in the hazy dust, was swept up and sent flying.
Blood splattered with a terrifying crunching sound, and the trees were broken and snapped.
"Mister!!"
Barely catching my breath at the gruesome sight, I looked back.
"Kuwooooh-!"
It was larger than an elephant, and its limbs drooping like stems and a body tangled like roots made it look almost like a living tree.
However, at its center was a giant mouth. A disgusting mouth made up of red flesh and teeth.
"It wasn't a tree, you crazy...!"
It had been lurking in the forest, targeting us from the start.
It probably ambushed and devoured beasts or people passing through this path.
"We need to keep going! That way!"
Eileen pulled me up to my feet.
The forest path was completely tangled, and after running frantically, we had somehow entered deep inside the bush.
"Haa... Haa..."
Only after running for a while did the sound of pursuit stop.
But we couldn't let our guard down.
There was a high chance it would follow our scent.
I held my breath and looked around.
At that moment.
"Hey! Are you okay?"
A voice suddenly rang out from beyond the bush.
I reflexively lowered my body, raised my hand, and prepared to use magic.
Beyond the shadows, someone slowly approached.
He was a man wearing a long coat.
He held something resembling a long staff in his hand, and there was a bit of blood and dirt on his face.
"What happened here- Uh, excuse me... you're a magician?"
"...Who are you?"
"I am... a passing ascetic. You were chased by that monster, the 'Monster Tree', right?"
In a hellish situation, we ended up meeting someone like that.