The female lead of the adult game had defeated the troll
The female lead of the adult game had defeated the troll, but the cost of carelessly stepping into its territory was horrific.
"Kyaaahhh!"
A scream echoed through the forest. The troll's massive hand gripped Daryl's waist, hoisting her into the air. Compared to the troll's brute strength, the human woman's body was nothing more than a plaything.
Dangling in midair, Daryl kicked and thrashed wildly. "L-Let me go! Put me down right now! Let go!"
The troll let out a grotesque chuckle. With its free hand, it tore into Daryl's uniform.
Riiip!
The tough fabric ripped away like paper.
"Th-This can't be happening! It can't! I-I'm... I'm not going to lose to some lowly troll...!"
Daryl had treated troll hunting like child's play. She'd assumed that with proper gear, a B-rank monster would just stand there and take it. Up to B-rank, beginners could take them down with good preparation—that was Darko's plan too. But reality was different.
Trolls were creatures that schemed and learned to survive. Guessing what countermeasures humans might bring, it had ambushed the moment it sensed their approach. Daryl's party, who hadn't even bothered hiding their presence upon entering the forest, fell right into the trap.
The troll squeezed Daryl's waist just a bit harder as she struggled. She gasped, unable to breathe, her insides feeling like they might burst.
"Guhk...! P-Please...!"
Her face turned deathly pale. That's when she realized why the troll wasn't killing her. It was something she'd always seen happen to others, never imagining it for herself.
"N-No... I don't want this... Someone... Where is everyone...? Where are you all?!"
Tears of terror welled up as she searched for her party members. But the rest of her clan adventurers had been shredded by the troll's vine whips, their bodies scattered beyond recognition. She, the sole female adventurer, was the only survivor.
Hic.
In that instant, the woman who had strutted around as clan party leader was reduced to breeding stock for the troll.
There were witnesses to the scene. Four figures crouched behind the bushes: Elena and her party.
Hans clamped both hands over her mouth, face drained of color. Duke trembled, gripping her weapon, averting her eyes. But Elena was different. She stared straight at Daryl's plight, hand resting on her sword hilt, waiting for the moment.
It was a gruesome sight too horrific to watch, but as adventurers, they'd see plenty more like it. They'd already witnessed it with the orcs. Mira, seeming unfazed, nocked an arrow and awaited orders.
Trolls with their superior regeneration could shake off even a successful ambush quickly. To take one down, they had to finish it decisively.
Elena gave the signal. Mira drew her bowstring taut. Hans and Duke lowered themselves, muscles tensed, ready to follow Elena.
The moment the troll was distracted by Daryl.
"Hyaahhh!!"
Daryl's scream rang out. In sync, Elena burst from the bushes.
Shunk!
Elena's sword plunged into the troll's nape.
"Grraaarrgh!"
Troll blood sprayed like a fountain, splattering Elena's cheek. The writhing beast hurled Daryl to the ground. As its arms flailed to grab the "bug" at its neck, Elena yanked her sword free and kicked off its shoulder.
The recoil sent her leaping back, creating distance.
"Now!"
The instant her feet hit the ground, Elena shouted. Her party sprang into action from the bushes.
Duke charged first. Though her body had shrunk into a woman's after the transformation, she thrust her heavy shield forward, smashing the troll's face to draw its aggro.
"Over here, you monster bastard!"
"Grraaak!!"
Clang!
The troll's fist slammed into the shield. Duke's small frame skidded back across the dirt but held firm without falling. Her tanker training remained unchanged despite her new body.
Hans darted in from the side, not missing the opening. Her weighty slash targeted the troll's knee joint precisely. The leg buckled. The massive body staggered, dropping to one knee.
"Mira!"
On Elena's cue, a sharp whistle cut through the forest. Mira's arrow struck the troll's forehead dead-on. Its head jerked back. A small glass vial filled with oil hung from the shaft.
Crash!
The vial shattered, drenching the troll's torso in sticky oil. The second arrow followed immediately, flames flickering along its length. It ignited the oil, engulfing the troll in fierce blaze.
"Kweeeek!"
The troll thrashed on the ground, rolling to extinguish the flames amid the agony. A foul stench filled the air. Wounds from Elena's earlier slashes, half-healed, twisted grotesquely in the fire. Tendons in its elbows, thighs, and sides burned while severed.
'Just like Uncle said—it can't move at all.'
Elena regripped her sword, recalling his advice. Trolls with strong regeneration charge in overconfident, leaving themselves exposed. Target limbs over vitals to subdue. Wait for a one-shot kill opportunity to finish.
"Gurrk! Grraaak!"
Green powder-like energy spread from the troll's hand. Grass surged from the ground in an instant, smothering the flames on its body. As the fire died, the burn marks across its body swelled then shrank, regenerating.
Its eyes flashed blood-red. Sensing a threat to its survival, the troll kicked at Duke, who was taunting it up close. Duke raised her shield to block the frontal assault.
Thudrumble!
But the ground shook violently. Vines erupted like snakes from beneath Duke's feet, coiling around her calves. Green Magic.
The troll unleashed its magic through its foot. Duke flew back, shield and all, from the powerful kick. Residual green magic lingered on the troll's foot. The ground at its base bubbled. Vines shot from underground, targeting the party's ankles.
"Fall back!"
Elena leaped away shouting. A vine grazed her calf but the anti-magic properties of her Ogre Leather Armor nullified the Green Magic's power. It wilted, unable to bind her.
Elena didn't flee. She charged instead. A bluish aura flowed along her sword.
'One big technique to end it!'
Her eyes sharpened. She gripped the sword two-handed. The troll, unsteady from burn pain, sensed the condensing mana but reacted too late. Its belated swing was clumsy. Ducking under, Elena drove her mana-charged blade into its chest.
Mana rippled out from its back.
"Grrk... Gguk..."
The troll's eyes lost focus and rolled back. Its massive body crashed to the ground with a thud.
Elena shook troll blood from her blade, breathing heavily.
Hans yelled, "W-We did it... We really did it!"
"It's over—!"
Duke lowered her shield, exhaling roughly.
"Elena basically did it solo, though."
Mira coolly assessed the hunt, a bit deflated, but still pleased.
"Who cares! As long as we helped a little, it's our win!"
"Hans is right. Without pulling its attention, that final blow would've dragged on forever."
"If the party leader says so."
With Elena chiming in, Mira awkwardly nodded.
"Everyone okay? No injuries?"
Elena checked her party. No one was hurt. Duke, who'd been kicked flying, was sturdy enough.
But a rustling came from the bushes.
"Hic... Sniff..."
Daryl, barely escaped from the troll, hadn't gotten far. She probably couldn't return alone anyway. Clutching her torn uniform, she stared at Elena with terrified eyes. Curled up and shivering pathetically.
The arrogant party leader who'd mocked Elena's group just moments ago was gone. Only a defeated loser crawling in fear remained.
Her other party members... were nowhere. All dead. The troll's Green Magic had spared not a single man.
Elena extended a hand to Daryl. She flinched, scrambling backward on the dirt.
"D-Don't come closer... Stay awayyy!"
Silently, Elena removed her short cloak and draped it over Daryl's shoulders. She pitied her, but Uncle had said it: Adventurers were responsible for themselves. Daryl's party had been overconfident in troll territory, and that was their downfall. It helped Elena understand self-responsibility better. If you don't take it, you die.
So she felt no pity. She looked down at Daryl impassively.
"I can help you get back to the city. How much you got?"
"...Huh?"
Elena haggled calmly. Daryl just worked her lips, speechless.
"One gold coin, done deal."
"Th-That's too much."
"Then go alone. Hope you don't run into monsters on the way. We're short-handed and undergeared, so we can't save you from goblins or orcs, but we'll at least tell your clan."
"...."
Daryl's legs gave out. The troll attack had sapped her strength, and urine soaked the dirt between her thighs. No time for shame.
"I-I'll pay."
"Deal. Yeah, we'll get you back to the city."
Elena and her party gathered the loot: troll hide, bones, organs, blood. They packed it into their material storage bags. They also scavenged the clan adventurers' gear thriftily.
The haul from this hunt was visibly massive. A faint smile tugged at Elena's lips.