The Human Threat #3
Humans have appeared again!
And this time, it’s not just one. There are three of them! A hopelessly overwhelming number! At this point, isn't that basically a regiment-sized force?!
If it were just one, I could take them out without a scratch, but three is a different story.
Thump.
Extreme tension. A feeling of anxiety bubbles up from deep within my heart. How are there three humans here? Is it that? Are these the people who came looking for the man I killed back then?
Whoosh.
I shove the thought aside. I can speculate on this later. Right now, survival comes first.
I briefly assess their identities and objectives.
For starters, all three are men.
Rustle.
The humans spread out a map, sat down, and muttered among themselves. While they were glancing around the area, I observed them as carefully as possible to avoid being detected.
First, their attire.
"..."
It’s not that great.
Perhaps they are poorer than the guy I killed last time; they are wearing gloves instead of gauntlets, and they don't have shin guards. They have swords strapped to their waists, but overall, their gear is simplified.
However... all three are carrying backpacks.
They are wearing packs the size of military rucksacks, stuffed to the brim to minimize their bulk. And a map on top of that? These guys came fully prepared. That means they have a clear objective.
I eavesdropped on their conversation while observing their appearance.
"Of course he's already dead. It's been a while."
"That %&;#& bastard, why did he have to go drinking and end up in this %#%%#& place..."
"Calm down. Complaining won't change anything."
There were many words I couldn't understand, but interpreting the context wasn't difficult...!
As I thought!
Listening to them, it seems they came to find someone. That "bastard" they mentioned. It's certain. They came looking for the guy I killed.
But a "bastard," huh?
He was definitely crazy enough to attack me the moment he saw me. If they went through the trouble of coming to find a guy like that... my guess is probably right. This is the worst. Given the crest engraved on my sword, he was definitely the child of a noble or a wealthy family.
Grip.
My hand tightens around my sword on its own.
"We have to find at least the corpse. If we can't find it, we have to keep going."
"How are we supposed to find it here, dammit?"
"If the Lord says to do it, we do it."
The Lord?!
What? No! A ruler? A superior? The interpretation is roughly that kind of feeling! Could it be that he was the child of that Lord?!
Why would a guy like that come into this forest looking like a beggar!
"%#%&#. Let's just keep exploring."
"Are we allowed to go deeper? What about the monsters?"
"It should be fine here. Strong monsters would be further inside."
"Ha, dammit. Let's rest a bit before we go."
"Let's do that."
Shudder...!
Exploration!
They're talking about exploring this forest!
"...!"
The more I think about it, the more I realize I'm screwed! He was the Lord's child! And they're going to keep exploring!
If that's the case, won't they eventually discover our location?
Should I just kill them here?
"..."
No.
Wait. Killing them won't be the end of it. They sent a search party to find his son... if the search party doesn't return, wouldn't they just send another one?
And they just said "strong monsters" are further inside. I don't know how far this is from their human lands, but they made it this far, and they know it's dangerous to go deeper.
If people who know that much die?
It will raise suspicions that there are strong monsters in the forest, and if so... wouldn't the Lord think those strong monsters killed his child? Wouldn't he naturally think he needs to subjugate them?
It's a total mess.
Should I let them go safely without touching them? I already got rid of that bastard's corpse anyway. If they search and find nothing, they might give up. But that's too optimistic.
What should I do?
"..."
Everything is dangerous, and everything has risks. I can never rely on coincidence or optimism. A split-second decision will determine my future life.
Should I kill them?
Or not?
I have to decide.
"That aside. Are they really in this %&%&%& place?"
"What?"
"Beautiful fairies."
Fairies?
"Kahaha! Come to think of it, that bastard said he was going to find fairies, didn't he?"
The bearded swordsman laughed heartily.
Looking for fairies? Was that berserker-like bastard actually a guy who came into the forest to find fairies?
"I'm not sure if they're here, but fairies themselves must exist. In a place like this %&%%&, they're bound to be here."
"Kekeke, then forget about that bastard and should we try catching a fairy instead?"
"Give it up. Fairies are stronger than you think. They eat people."
"Have you ever seen one?"
"I haven't seen one in person either. I've only heard rumors."
The humans know about the fairies.
"Kekeke, if it's a stunningly beautiful fairy, I don't really care if it's a man-eating monster."
"I agree. Finding a fairy would be more fun than finding that bastard's corpse."
"Nonsense. It would be better to go to a brothel with the reward for finding that bastard's corpse."
"But I want to see them. Those fairy women."
"Give it up. We've come quite deep, but things like fairies would be further away. It's dangerous for us if we go any deeper. What if an &&%& or &%%&% appears? For our level, &%#& is the limit."
The humans, who were talking about fairies like that, started preparing a meal as if they intended to eat and leave.
Clatter.
They took out a small pot-like thing from their rucksacks and poured water from their canteens. Then they threw in the ingredients they had brought and started preparing to light a fire.
It seems they really intend to cook and eat.
They are incredibly laid back.
And here I am, agonizing over this.
Still, I've learned something. There is a high probability that the humans will search this place thoroughly in the future. And although this place is somewhat far from human lands, it's not that far.
Finally.
"..."
It doesn't look like these guys have any special power. Look. I'm hiding and observing with Sharan right now, and they haven't noticed at all.
If we throw all our strength at them, we can definitely take out three people.
"..."
Sharan is also sticking right next to me, observing the humans. Anyway. Let's hold off on attacking for now. Those bastards are talking about all sorts of things while they eat.
"We should find the corpse faster than the other guys."
Other guys?!
Could there be another search party like this?!
"Can't he just die in an easy-to-find place, that idiot. What a nuisance even in death."
"Kekeke, the rumors about that bastard were a bit bad. He was always causing trouble at the tavern, wasn't he?"
The more I hear, the worse it gets.
"Ah, by the way. Didn't they say a pillar of light or something appeared last time?"
"I heard the rumors. I didn't see it myself, though."
A pillar of light?!
"...!"
This is extremely important information!
"They speculated that the messengers of God might be descending. The nuns at the convent seem to be in an uproar about it too. The nuns might explore this area soon."
Nuns, huh?
The interpretation is a bit ambiguous, but is it the nun I know?
"Whoa! My goodness! Are those pretty sisters coming into this forest!"
"Why are you so happy? If the nuns happen to find the corpse while they're at it..."
"I'm looking forward to meeting a lost sister. Aren't you guys?"
"What?"
"If I meet one, I'll catch her right there and bang her for three days and four nights!"
"You rapist bastard! Is that something to say about a nun!"
These bastards were talking obscenities. The bearded guy seemed to be a lecher, and seeing the other guy jump up at the mention of raping a nun, it seems they really are nuns.
"Kekeke! I'm just saying!"
"How are you going to deal with the aftermath?"
"The Lord is a piece of shit anyway, so couldn't we just run away to &%@%& up there? It looks like there's a path smugglers use, too."
"Ah. Come to think of it, I heard that a lot. That the Lord is a piece of shit and they want to run away somewhere else."
"That's what I'm saying. To force that kind of unfair contract on us adventurers just to find his own son. It's unforgivable. If that bastard were alive, I'd only think about killing him."
The core of the story is this.
These guys called adventurers came to find the Lord's son. And they signed an unfair contract. If they wanted to, they could run away elsewhere.
If so.
Wouldn't it be fine to kill these guys here? If there is no corpse, they might think they ran away.
Rustle.
Thinking that far, I retreated very carefully with Sharan. And after getting to a safe place, I said.
"Sharan. You saw."
"There were many humans, Master. Let's hunt the humans, Master."
"What?"
Sharan was burning with fighting spirit.
Whoosh.
Her pupils narrowed vertically like a cat's, and she even bared her fangs. Sharan was angry right now.
"Last time, the humans tried to kill you, Master. I can't forgive the humans."
"Sharan...!"
The mindset to hunt humans!
"Still, wait a moment. We have to be careful first."
"Shaa."
"Let's go to our guys."
My goblin unit is waiting behind there. I went straight there with Sharan.
"Keruk!"
As soon as I arrived, Buril rushed at me. After hugging him, I said quietly.
"Yeah. Buril. Be quiet for a moment."
"Keruk?"
Buril expressed his doubt. I saw that the goblins were all resting here. When I gave them a signal, everyone slowly got up and prepared for battle.
"We might have to fight. Get ready."
"Keruk...!"
Whatever it is.
They came to search. They are a very big danger factor for us. There is an option to let them live and send them away without being discovered, but this matter doesn't end there. Because we have to live here.
This is a matter of life and death.
Danger factors must be removed.
For the sake of my life and the lives of my subordinates.
Above all, if I can capture even one of them, I can get information about the humans. If I know the information, our survival probability will increase dramatically.
"First, I'll tail them slowly. And when they are most off guard, I'll launch a surprise attack..."
At that moment.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
A human scream echoed from over there.