Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Trigger for the World Changing is Surprisingly Trivial. (5)
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The trigger for the world to change is surprisingly trivial.
The request the Black Axe Party received came from a village near Hassler.
It was about a pack of Silver Wolves that had started raiding the village every night, and they wanted it dealt with.
There had always been occasional thefts of crops by goblins or wild boars, but it was the first time a D-rank monster like Silver Wolves had appeared.
The damage to the village was no small matter.
The reason the Silver Wolves were suddenly attacking the village was obvious.
It had to be because of the trolls whose numbers had grown so much they could no longer stay confined to the Ode Swamp.
As those creatures ventured out of the swamp, the other monsters that had originally lived outside it were driven away.
That was what had caused the Silver Wolves to come down to the village.
Still, with C-rank and higher adventurers, along with the territory's soldiers, launching a troll extermination operation, things might settle down temporarily.
...Well, there was talk of postponing the three-day activity suspension for C-rank adventurers because of this.
But even B-rank, and even A-rank adventurers, were turning their attention to trolls for their generous extermination rewards relative to the effort. And Hassler's lord had even unleashed his knight order captain to hunt them down.
Judging that the C-rank adventurers' brief absence wouldn't cause issues, Branch Chief Terry went ahead and imposed the suspension anyway.
Because of that, the C-rank adventurers who missed out on troll rewards even filed complaints.
They must have thought their activity suspension would be postponed due to the troll anomaly too.
Anyway.
The Black Axe Party was a D-rank party, but they were heading out to resolve a request indirectly caused by the troll anomaly.
"This and this, please. And..."
"How much hemostatic do you have?"
One thing I felt while following the Black Axe Party was that they were definitely well-prepared.
They didn't forget to check their weapons before departure, and they made sure to prepare specifically for Silver Wolves.
Silver Wolves' teeth and claws are coated with an anticoagulant that prevents blood from clotting.
That's why hemostatics are essential when facing them.
"Just in case, we might need some antidote herbs too."
"Let's get some sticky goo. Silver Wolves are fast-moving."
They didn't stop at hemostatics—they stocked up thoroughly on antidote herbs and wound-recovery salves too.
And even sticky goo potions, alchemical items that could slow enemy movements.
Without a support mage, they seemed even more meticulous in their preparations.
Back with the Silver Sword Party, Sonya and Reina handled everything while Kogel just lounged around like a deadbeat thug until he strutted ahead claiming to be the leader.
Here, though, every party member discussed and prepared together.
No need for me to chime in with advice?
You could really feel the vibe honed by real combat experience.
But something felt a bit lacking.
"Oil bottles would be good too."
"...Pardon?"
The party members, who had been chatting among themselves treating me like I wasn't there, all whipped their heads around to stare at me.
That's too much, really.
I'm your VIP protectee, after all.
Anyway.
Since I'm here for educational purposes, I add my two cents even if it feels like meddling.
"Oil is cheap, but it can pin down Silver Wolves' feet just as well as sticky goo potions. Surprisingly, when it gets on them, their bodies slip around, actually slowing them down, and the oil smell confuses Silver Wolves who have keen noses..."
"Hey, Instructor."
At that moment, Black Axe's leader Karl shoved his face right up to mine.
He wasn't as massive as Jerome from Scarlett's party or Dayrun, but the menacing bulk of this rough-looking man closing in was still intimidating.
And aware of his own intimidation, he growled low in a threatening tone.
"Have you ever hunted Silver Wolves before?"
"...No, I haven't."
Forget Silver Wolves—I'd probably lose to a regular wolf.
Of course, he wasn't asking to confirm my weakness.
The point of the question was...
"Then shut up and stay out of it."
Yeah, that.
If you haven't hunted them, don't talk.
...Well, I have nothing to say to that.
I do know oil is highly effective against monsters with good noses and agility, and it can amplify damage if you follow up with fire magic or open flames.
But I haven't tested it personally.
Still, it was a method Jenny and the marquis's soldiers had seen great success with in real combat.
Proven effective in the field.
But no way to prove it here right now.
It worked on the B-rank 'Saber Tiger' Jenny fought and the human bandits taken down by the marquis's knights and soldiers, but whether it'd work on 'Silver Wolves' was unknown.
"......"
In the end, they skipped the oil I mentioned and left the general store.
I watched them go, then quietly bought an empty glass bottle and a sack of oil, stashing them in my bag.
Fine then. I'll just show them in the field.
"Hey, what're you doing? Hurry up."
While I packed the oil and bottle, the now-distant Black Axe Party called out to me.
I hurried over.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The village wasn't far from Hassler.
About 4-5 hours at a normal person's walking pace?
For adventurers with superior physiques, it was a 3-hour trip.
Of course, assuming no interruptions along the way.
There were wide fields and scattered small woods in between.
And attacks from wild animals, goblins, kobolds, and the like.
But the Black Axe Party handled them with practiced ease, pressing forward quickly.
Every time I saw that, I wondered how the Silver Sword Party achieved such a high request success rate.
Kogel seemed like he'd troll and ruin everything every time.
They must have been lucky, or Sonya and Reina's skills and quick thinking were that impressive?
Honestly, with a bit more experience, those two could smoothly reach B-rank.
"Hah... huff..."
After a few hours like that.
Fatigue starts to set in.
Ugh, dizzy...
Feels like I'm gonna puke...
Even though I wasn't fighting at all, and the path was flat terrain without much hardship.
A normal person like me walking nearly 4 hours straight would obviously tire out.
No, my legs were shaking, and my vision was spinning.
On top of that, my back was loaded with oil, tools, consumables, food, and such.
In short, it was like marching with full gear for 4 hours.
We rested during their fights with monsters or beasts, but honestly, I couldn't relax and sit properly out of awkwardness?
...At least those breaks kept me from collapsing.
They were going a bit slower to accommodate me, it seemed.
...They're rough and look down on me, but not bad people.
So why not just ask to rest?
I'm the protectee, practically the boss, right?
No. This is like me being the oblivious 8-year-old daughter barging into my parents' date, yelling 'Me too! Take me!'
Imagine if that kid whined 'I'm tired! Rest! Let's rest!' amid their building frustration.
Parents might forgive an 8-year-old kid, but a full-grown adult stranger acting like that?
...I'd slap them.
Anyway.
That's why asking to rest feels awkward.
But it's not that far, so if I just endure a bit longer...
"I see the village."
Party leader Karl spotted the village palisade and buildings in the distance.
My vision was too blurred with sweat to see clearly.
Anyway, if it's visible to them, it's 20-30 minutes at most.
Finally!
"...Huh? Wait a sec."
But then.
Loen, the archer with the party's best eyesight, frowned as he peered intently at the village.
And then.
"...Looks like it's under attack right now?"
"What?!"
"...!!"
What? In broad daylight?
Silver Wolves...!?
Silver Wolves are basically nocturnal.
You might wonder how with their shiny silver fur.
But that's because their habitats lack predators stronger than them.
So flashy colors don't matter, leading to that evolution.
In fact, their silver fur sparkling under moonlight intimidates prey, preventing escape... or so the monster encyclopedia says.
Bottom line: the chance of them attacking a village in daylight is extremely low.
A definite 'anomaly.'
Could this be troll-related too...
"Damn it! Hey, Instructor! Can you run?"
"...Uh, yeah?"
Suddenly, Karl yelled at me.
He must figure I'd slow them down getting there.
"I'll be fine on my own. Unless an ogre or wyvern shows up out of nowhere, I can survive."
I catch his intent and reply immediately.
It's not bravado.
I'd prepared for any contingency, including surviving alone.
Even if orcs or trolls appeared.
Even if village-attacking Silver Wolves came for me, I was fully equipped to escape alive or regroup with Black Axe.
"...Tch. Loen and Tier, stay here and come slowly with the Instructor. I'm the fastest here anyway."
But Karl didn't trust me, leaving two party members behind as he bolted off.
"Hey, Karl! Wait! What are you gonna do alone?!"
"Karl!!"
Loen and Tier urgently called after him, but he was already racing far toward the village.
"Damn it! Dead weight like..."
The hot-tempered Loen finally snapped and cursed at me.
...But I can't argue.
I am dead weight, after all.
Part of it is they don't trust me.
I'd prepared thoroughly to not be dead weight and survive solo.
Yet they don't trust me.
Seeing me only as a helpless protectee, baggage.
...It didn't hurt my feelings that much.
I'm used to it.
"Let's hurry."
Right now, while they see me as nothing more, nothing less than dead weight.
There's only one thing to do.
Get to the village fast.
"...Tch."
"Hoo..."
Loen and Tier agreed, clicking their tongues once before hurrying along.