Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: 14. Crisis, and Cooperation. (1)
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Outside the outer walls, the wreckage of carriages lay scattered haphazardly, mingled with bloodstains, chunks of flesh, and all sorts of trash.
“Damn it...”
The group stared at the unbelievable sight in stunned silence. The villagers sobbed in despair, while the mercenaries muttered quiet curses.
This was the worst situation imaginable. Even Allen hadn't foreseen it in the slightest.
...Those bastards, who would've thought they'd launch a raid like this.
With the atmosphere already tense from the dark sorcerer, all the merchant caravans and mercenary bands had already departed. Then the capable ones left to save the village, leaving a massive gap in the city's defenses.
Of course, it wasn't a total vacuum, but no one had anticipated an assault on the city itself. They must have been completely off guard, and the enemy had struck right at that vulnerability.
The group passed through the gate—its remnants dangling pitifully from shattered hinges—and entered the city. The romantic, leisurely vibe of the western city was gone, replaced by a desolate ruin utterly devoid of human life.
The interior was eerily empty, not even a single rat in sight. ...Where the Death Sorcerer had passed, only hollow silence remained.
Sigh—
Hollow sighs escaped from the group. It felt exactly like completing a mission successfully only to return and find your home obliterated.
Now, money and fame be damned—it was time to focus solely on survival.
Rudra, the Mercenary Leader, first ordered the villagers to scour their homes for any food they could find, then gathered all the other leaders. Naturally, they all wore expressions of utter devastation.
“As you can see, Hegel has fallen. We're in a situation where we need to come up with a survival plan. ...Any ideas?”
One leader, glancing nervously around, voiced the most pressing issue.
“How long are we supposed to take responsibility for these people? Our mission is done. We risked our lives to bring them here. ...But the city's destroyed now. What does that have to do with our mission or responsibility?”
“We have to survive ourselves, don't we? We'll all die at this rate.”
Rudra was well aware of that. ...No, everyone present knew it all too clearly.
They couldn't keep dragging these people along any longer. There was no reason or purpose to it now—
Allen stood with his arms crossed, staring expressionlessly at the dirt ground. The others subtly watched him, waiting for his agreement.
“...I agree it's tough to take them with us.”
Realistically speaking, it just wasn't feasible. And he wasn't some bastion of justice either.
“Even Allen the Leader thinks so.”
“It's just not practical. No sense of obligation left anyway. We've done our duty bringing them this far—!”
With Allen's agreement, the leaders buzzed excitedly, each affirming the others.
...At that moment, Allen suddenly continued with a twist.
“However.”
His intense gaze lifted slowly from the ground, sweeping over the leaders' faces.
That look carried an overwhelming charisma and nobility that subdued them all.
“If there's a good way to take them along, that changes everything.”
A hot-tempered leader raised his voice. His own life hung by a thread; there was no spare capacity for others.
“Taking them ties our feet—! Way too slow—! We'll all die—?!”
“...So we just make sure it doesn't slow us down, right?”
“Hah—. Thinking of loading them on wagons? No living beasts left in the city. Look. We can't pull them ourselves—!”
Allen nodded as if in agreement.
“If we walk, yes, you're right. ......But what if we use the river?”
Ah—!
Those who grasped his meaning clapped their hands in realization.
“Boats... yeah, we take boats—!”
“Right, why didn't we think of that? Great idea from Allen the Leader!”
“Yeah, boats make all the difference—!”
The shock of the devastation had made them overlook it momentarily.
...The problem was whether any boats remained—
There probably were some. Recalling the raid back in the previous village, hardly anyone had escaped the city. Manning a boat required a decent crew anyway.
If no boats, they'd strip every tree in the city for rafts. Wood was scarce here, but not nonexistent.
...Of course, rafts couldn't carry people, but that was unavoidable. He wasn't some saint willing to sacrifice his life for them.
“Quick, let's find boats—!”
The leaders, already dreading the trek on foot to the next city, were thrilled at this promising transport option.
Thus, the group headed out the north gate to the riverbank. Fortunately, boats were there. Mostly small fishing skiffs, but several larger vessels too. Western cities had a resort feel, with plenty docking on this calm river for leisure cruises. These big ones were built for exactly that.
“There! Boats—!”
Everyone cheered with relieved faces. Packed tight, they could all squeeze in. Use the skiffs if needed.
The group divided into three large boats and five medium ones. Crammed to the gills with barely standing room, but everyone boarded.
Oar-powered with no sails, every able-bodied person—regardless of gender—headed below deck to row. Most had never rowed or even been on a boat, staring cluelessly. Even Allen couldn't help there.
Luckily, a few in the group had boating experience. They demonstrated a few times, then drilled everyone on rowing in rhythm together.
“Sir, we're ready.”
“Then let's depart.”
“Yes.”
Allen took the captain role on the large boat. No expertise, but major decisions fell to him rightly.
Flags fluttered from each boat signaling readiness. Rudra's boat led, followed by Allen's.
Progress was sluggish at first, but speed built steadily over time.
...Yes, we did it...!
Only then did Allen exhale in relief. How shocked he'd been learning of the city's fall. No matter how obsessed with money and fame, life came first.
...There might even be a lich among them.
With Hegel fallen, it was wise to consider every possibility.
The boats yielded to the river's slow current. Deeper into the west, but rowing upstream against even this gentle flow was beyond them. Better to link up with any city first and sort out the mess.
After grueling rows, the next shift came up for rest on deck. The bald, squinting Billy—drenched in sweat—guzzled water beside Allen, basking in the cool river breeze.
“Fuck, feels like I can breathe now.... Leader, we're lucky. Keep this up, we'll reach the next city safe. ...Three days, yeah?”
As he said, if things stayed smooth, they'd make it. ...Whether it would was the question.
“No getting complacent. We're not safe yet.”
“Eh, on boats, how could they attack? Ghouls don't swim or anything. ......Right? They can't, right?”
“Yeah..., ghouls can't cross rivers.”
Ghouls couldn't swim. That's why in Guild Master, rivers were a strategic tool against necromancers. ...The issue was situations where swimming wasn't needed.
For now, they could only pray the enemy wasn't targeting them. Forces that took Hegel were near impossible for them alone. Being afloat was a small mercy.
......Damn it, everything's gone to shit...
Risking danger and busting ass for nothing—no pay—it'd be a lie to say he wasn't pissed. He'd briefly considered looting valuables from the baron's manor earlier, but with necromancers rampant, no chance. Terrifying too. ...And the baron had probably taken everything worthwhile.
As Billy headed back below after catching his breath, the red-hatted sorceress—who'd been minding the children—slipped quietly to Allen's side.
“Is it very dangerous right now?”
“Still fine for now. Way safer than walking. ...But can't drop our guard. No telling how they'll come at us.”
They remained prime prey. Poke-and-prod attacks from some wouldn't be surprising.
“I'll be your strength. Just give the order anytime.”
Allen glanced at the red-hatted sorceress and smiled faintly.
“Yeah, thanks. You have no idea how much that helps.”
The tender exchange warmed their hearts. ...His dick nearly perked up oblivious to the situation. Classic [Lustful] response—!
“Nothing's gonna happen. Try not to worry too much.”
Allen offered hopeful words, but deep down, he didn't believe them.
Unfortunately, [Guild Master] wasn't some hoho-happy kids' game. It was the kind that smashed gamers' keyboards to bits.