Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Thousand Slaughter Star's Lone Stand
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The house Enoch had left.
Leone wore a gloomy expression as she forced the cold, congealed food into her mouth.
Lately, Enoch's appetite had been growing, so she'd prepared plenty.
This amount would last her several days on her own.
"Was I too harsh...?"
Leone finished washing the dishes and stepped out of the house.
Pushing through the forest, she arrived at that same spot from a week ago.
[The misunderstanding seems cleared up.]
The forest's master lay sprawled on the grass, belly up, greeting her.
"Ah.... I'm sorry about that time.... I lost my head."
[No matter. To be honest, even I wouldn't have believed it if I'd heard it.]
The bit about being a beast pup without a family tree had stung a little, but what could he do?
The forest's master licked his front paw, then thumped his thick, grotesquely split tail against the ground.
At once, green plants began sprouting atop it, as if time itself were accelerating.
[But your face looks terrible. What happened?]
"Ah, well.... Enoch and I had a little fight."
[That kid? Heh heh, that's unexpected. He seemed to hang on your every word.]
"That's what I thought."
With a sigh, Leone plopped down onto the grass.
The forest's master grinned and swished his tail.
Float-
A teacup and teapot floated in from somewhere.
Tree roots writhed up to form a low table, and the forest's master poured tea into the cup atop it.
[Go on, tell me about it. Sometimes just talking it out solves a lot.]
*
Having heard Leone's story, the forest's master scratched his head with his tail.
[Hmm.... No wonder he fought so fiercely back then.]
"Pardon...?"
[No, honestly, I didn't quite get it. No matter what, there was no reason for him to come at me like I was his mortal enemy.]
The fox's body shuddered as he recalled that night.
Even thinking about it now was tough. For real.
[Well.... I still don't fully understand..., but from what I've heard, kids that age are like that.]
"Puberty?"
[Exactly. Have you heard about that child's enlightenment?]
"No...."
The fox chuckled dryly before speaking.
[Under a single bond, become a single star and tear apart all before you.]
A brutal yet ridiculous enlightenment.
[In the end, isn't it just him saying he adores you?]
"Enoch, honestly...."
[I don't know the details, but he fought that hard—gaining enlightenment while thinking of you—and you didn't even notice, so he's sulking. Young lads get touchy like that easily.]
"Is that... how it is?"
[Of course. Even grown men want to look good in front of the woman they admire.]
"Woman? I'm like a mom to him."
No, more like a big sister?
The forest's master chuckled as Leone tilted her head.
[Whatever. If that's how you see it, then that's that.]
"He's too old for tantrums."
[You're hardly in a position to lecture me about age..., ahem, sorry. Put that hand down.]
Demigod or not, getting hit by that elf hurt.
*
Not long after Enoch had joined the mercenary guild.
Everyone at the guild was summoned outside.
"Thus, under the lord's mercy, you will all undertake a shared commission."
Murmurs filled the street.
The knight in gleaming silver armor frowned, then bellowed with mana-infused voice.
"Silence!"
The mercenaries clamped their mouths shut.
But those with auras rivaling the knights voiced their complaints.
"Don't we deserve to know what's going on?"
"You think we're just local mutts who roll over on command?"
Tension crackled between knights and mercenaries.
Enoch stared blankly at the scene, then scratched his head.
"Ah...."
Enoch was just annoyed by everything.
*
No fight broke out between the knights and mercenaries.
A fitting reward was offered under the lord's name, and the mercenaries seemed satisfied enough to back down.
"So, we're scouting the outer C sector."
It was the balding middle-aged dwarf-like man from yesterday, with his three-times-enlarged glass bead eyes.
He flashed yellowed teeth as he scanned the party.
"No one here doesn't know me, right?"
"Who?"
"......"
The bald man's gaze turned to Enoch.
Dark hood, colorful mask.
Suspicious as hell, and the man scratched his shiny scalp.
"Kid, what's with the getup?"
How'd he know?
Enoch panicked.
"If you can't tell, you're an idiot."
New faces weren't common around here, and with that height and childish voice, it had to be yesterday's brat.
"Anyway, I'm Max, B-rank mercenary. Party leader for this job. Any more questions?"
"Why scouting? War?"
"Close enough. Monster wave."
According to the brief explanation, hordes of monsters were set to swarm the city.
Enoch didn't really get it, but nodded anyway.
"No time, so we head out now. It'll be quick—no need for supplies."
As they walked toward the gates, the group gave short introductions.
"C-rank, Raphen. Archer."
"D-rank Tippy! Traps and basic scouting are on me!"
Raphen looked stoic, and Tippy was a woman about Enoch's height.
All eyes turned to Enoch next, and he introduced himself simply.
"D-rank, Enoch. Uh.... I can do anything."
*
Enoch had never heard of a monster wave.
Living with Leone made that inevitable.
Hordes of monsters charging in?
She'd casually clean them up on her walks beforehand, and even if they gathered, a few sword swings would handle it.
"No, Max. Why a monster wave out of nowhere?"
D-rank mercenary Tippy grumbled too, apparently unfamiliar with them.
"Dunno. Things have been weird lately. Dungeons popping up more too."
"Oh yeah! That's been nice."
"Not something to celebrate. Sudden stuff like this means something's up."
Raphen, who'd been listening quietly, perked up his ears.
His gaze flicked to the distance, then to Tippy and Enoch.
"D-ranks, go scout. I hear something."
"Yeah, yeah. What a mouth on you."
Tippy started moving stealthily.
Enoch just watched.
"What're you doing?"
"?"
"Go with her. You can handle basic scouting."
"Why me?"
Raphen's cold gaze fixed on Enoch.
"Oof."
Tippy covered her mouth.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"What?"
"Chain of command—know it? No coddling on a job. D-rank forgetting his place."
Chain of command.
Enoch knew the term.
Which made it all the more baffling.
"You? Above me?"
Raphen's eyes narrowed at the genuinely puzzled tone.
Twang—the bowstring he gripped hummed ominously.
Tension peaked.
Max intervened.
"Whoa, whoa, kid. That's how it works—by rank. Can't sort hierarchy every single job, right?"
"Hmm."
Some unwritten rule among human mercenaries?
Leone's words about not solving everything with fights suddenly came to mind.
"Fine."
Enoch meekly followed Tippy.
*
The first day's scouting didn't take long.
They found monster tracks but no encounters, so no combat.
The next day.
Heading out with the same party, the mood was odd.
"Hey, kid. Carry this."
Tippy handed Enoch some gear.
Unlike yesterday, they had to cover a wider area, so supplies were hefty.
Most fit in one big bag—the one she offered.
"Me?"
"What, you got a problem?"
Tippy scowled.
Raphen watched with icy eyes.
Is this normal?
Enoch glanced at Max, who gave an awkward chuckle.
"Hmm."
Enoch took the bag, and Tippy snorted.
The vibe had been like this since yesterday's clash with Raphen.
'Dump it?'
He considered for a moment but held back.
She'd said not to solve everything with fights.
Hadn't she?
Why should I listen to Leone?
Enoch's eyebrows shot up under the mask, then drooped again.
Apologize to Leone when I get home?
The thought echoed in his head.
"Hey! You listening?"
Enoch turned at the sharp voice.
Tippy sighed, face twisted.
"Sigh.... Stuck in a party with this guy. We're securing a base and moving, so quit spacing out and clear the area."
"......"
"No answer?"
Tap, tap—Tippy poked Enoch's head.
She'd put some force into it, but he didn't budge, leaving her flustered—then angrier.
"Ugh, what a frustrating punk!"
Thwack-!
Tippy punched Enoch's head.
Crackle—lightning flickered in Enoch's eyes.
But he held back.
Recalling Leone's words.
"...Yeah."
What more? He'd already done it.
Enoch cleared some rocks and branches farther off.
A spirit watching from afar pounded its chest.
[That idiot for real! Just do it like always—why...! Argh...! I'm gonna burst!]
*
The job went smoothly.
Save for Tippy getting hit by some mystery water splash while scouting—nothing notable.
At night, back at base, they drew lots for watch shifts: Tippy, Max, Enoch, Raphen.
Enoch, dozing lightly, woke to a small voice.
"Kid, your turn."
Bald Max's scalp glowed red in the firelight.
Enoch admired it a moment before exiting the tent.
He sat on a large rock by the fire, and Max sat opposite with an awkward smile.
"Don't take it to heart, kid. That's just how this work is."
Enoch eyed Max.
Rubbing his smooth head, Max continued.
"It's life-or-death, so chain of command's strict. Get looked down on once in this world, and you're done."
"Yeah."
"Just do what they say, and it'll get better."
Instead of replying, Enoch stared into Max's eyes.
The eerie gaze made Max scratch his neck.
"Anyway, good luck."
With that, Max ducked into his tent.