Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Treasure Hunt (3)
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That night, Demian rented the best inn room in Old Village.
With the guide now on board, preparations to find the hideout were complete. Demian lay on the bed, organizing his thoughts.
'What on earth have they hidden there?'
The hideout Demian was seeking was a place where Yulan's black mages had stashed their treasures for safekeeping.
It was certain to be piled high with vast wealth, along with all sorts of rare items.
'The things I need most are mana cultivation methods and elixirs.'
Since it was a black mage hideout, he couldn't expect mana cultivation methods, but elixirs—or at least materials to make them—were fair game.
'That aside... what to do about the mercenary group.'
More pressingly, though, Juan and the mercenary group were weighing on Demian's mind.
'They're weak. Way too weak.'
It was a fact he'd noticed even in his past life, but the six including Juan just weren't cut out for mercenary work.
They lacked talent for combat, and their dispositions weren't ruthless enough.
It was only thanks to the knight trainee methods Juan had picked up that they were scraping by as mercenaries.
'I can't stick with the mercenary group anymore.'
Unlike in his past life, Demian now had his own tasks to handle. No matter how precious the group was to him, he couldn't travel with them.
'But leaving them to their own devices... something's bound to go wrong eventually.'
In his past life alone, there had been more crises the mercenary group escaped thanks to Demian's heroics than he could count on two hands.
'No helping it. I'll have to put in the work myself.'
If their skills were the issue, he could just train them up.
Fortunately, Demian's mind held the techniques and realms of over a dozen masters.
'Nothing too advanced, though. They won't master it properly.'
That said, he couldn't just hand over anything willy-nilly. It'd be too hard, and they wouldn't even nail a single move.
'No choice. I'll have to create something new.'
He needed martial techniques that were simple enough for even the dullest to learn—yet effective.
Demian stepped out and bought ink and paper.
He sat at the table and began pondering techniques to pass on to his companions.
Night deepened.
* * *
As he mulled over techniques for his crew, day broke.
Demian packed his things and headed to the rendezvous point with the mercenary group.
"Oh, you're early."
Juan greeted Demian with a cheerful face.
Overnight, Juan's mercenary group had changed a great deal.
For one, they wore sturdier armor than the day before. Their weapons were brand new too.
"Thanks to the generous pay, we got fresh gear for once."
Noticing Demian's gaze, Juan explained.
Fresh cash in hand, and instead of blowing it, they'd invested in equipment.
It seemed obvious, but most mercenaries wouldn't make that choice. They'd squander it on booze and gambling.
A man who excelled at everything but fighting, indeed.
"Just trust in us. We know the Longghost Mountains like the back of our hands! We've got ties to bandits too, so we can dodge pointless scraps!"
With that, the mountain trek began.
"Watch out here—the ground drops suddenly."
"That flower's poison ivy. Don't touch it. Even brushing it poisons you."
"Whoa, a viper. Let's swing wide."
True to his word, Juan's guiding skills were impressive.
Follow his directions, and every hazard was avoided.
"That's the rock you described, shaped like a woman."
Juan pointed into the distance. At the cliff's edge, a strangely shaped rock teetered precariously.
Demian unfolded the map. It showed a tangled path starting from that rock.
"I want to head in the direction that rock is facing."
"That'd be toward the valley. The path gets even rougher there. Steel yourself."
Juan turned to go.
Then Demian spoke up.
"Hold on."
"What's up?"
"Ambush."
"Ambush? No way. Bandits are deeper in..."
Demian picked up a stone and chucked it into the woods. A sharp crack rang out, followed by a scream.
"Argh!"
A man clutched his head and crumpled.
"Damn! We're made!"
"Everyone out!"
A gang burst from the trees.
Their ragged clothes belied the vicious weapons they brandished.
They didn't look like honest folk.
"Spotting the ambush! This guy's no ordinary punk!"
"So what? Gut him, and he's done."
The bandits hurled threats at Demian's group.
"Out of the way, you brain-dead morons who can't even hide right."
Pushing through them came a bald man.
'A real powerhouse.'
Surprisingly, the man wasn't some average bandit. Demian could sense mana radiating from him.
"Hedgehog! What the hell is this? We've paid the toll every time!"
Spotting the man, Juan scowled and yelled.
The man dubbed Hedgehog picked at his ear with a finger.
"What, sorry about that. Didn't want to, but word is that guy's loaded."
Juan's face hardened at Hedgehog's words.
"...Where'd you hear that?"
"Where? It just came around. Juan, you took a gold-coin fat-cat job."
Hedgehog's lip curled.
"For someone with that kinda wealth, why settle for tolls when you can rob 'em blind?"
"...Looks like the rumors got twisted! This client's a knight who wields aura!"
"Ha ha ha! Aura? Aura's great. Love it."
Hedgehog snatched the axe from his back. Crimson aura enveloped the blade.
"Forgot, huh? I'm an ex-knight myself. Just stuck in this backwater hellhole by bad luck."
No wonder folks shunned the Longghost Mountains.
Quite a few of the criminals and bandits swarming there were fallen knights.
"Hey, you there. Fair warning: I'm low-class."
Hedgehog jabbed a thumb at himself, clearly pleased with his rank.
"..."
From Demian's view, so what?
"Ha ha! Cat got your tongue? I know your type. Fresh knight, itching to make a name, so you hit the Longghost Mountains."
Hedgehog pointed at Demian.
"Already crushed five like you! You'll make six. Ha ha!"
He jabbed a finger at Juan's mercenary group.
"Kill 'em all! No prisoners!"
The bandits charged weapons high.
"Fall back!"
Juan shoved Demian toward a big tree. They formed up against it.
Juan, Bolt, and Reg held shields blocking the flanks. Behind them, Bread, Fish, and Bob readied short spears.
"Come on! You backstabbing bastards!"
"I'll take your heads!"
Juan, Bolt, and Reg bashed shields and one-handers, menacing the bandits.
The wall of shields kept them at bay.
That's when Apple, Fish, and Bob thrust spears from behind.
"Ow! Ack! They actually stabbed!"
"You pricks! You wanna die?!"
The mercenary formation was so solid the bandits couldn't close in.
'Individuals are nothing special, but group tactics? Different story.'
They'd been trounced by Griffin's crew, but Juan's group was actually top-tier.
Thanks to Juan drilling them relentlessly, their stamina and grit were solid. A far cry from lazy bandits.
'Everything else is a mess, though.'
To Demian, every move screamed amateur.
Shift that stance a bit, and they'd handle foes more efficiently.
Aim the thrust differently, and they'd kill outright.
Such thoughts swirled in his head.
'Their attitude toward the client deserves praise, at least.'
Even knowing Demian's strength, the mercenaries hadn't called for help. They were facing the bandits with their own power.
Paid up, so they'd earn it.
'I really lucked out with this mercenary group.'
Any other outfit would've taken Demian aboard, then used him as a meat shield and ditched him.
"Damn it! Quit screwing around and kill 'em!"
Hedgehog bellowed.
"Do that shit again, and I'll end you myself!"
He radiated killing intent. Terror gripped the bandits' faces.
Fear banished hesitation. They charged fiercer.
"Ugh, argh!"
"Better die here than face the boss!"
Bandits threw themselves forward, lives be damned. Some slipped past spears and hammered shields.
"You bastards! Back off!"
Juan slashed over his shield, yelling. But pinned with the shield up and comrades at his sides, he couldn't swing properly.
Bolt and Reg were in the same bind.
"Juan, Bolt, Reg. Swinging high is useless—you can't get leverage. Drop low and stab their thighs."
Demian called from behind. Juan shouted desperately.
"What the hell—"
"Stay put, and your formation breaks. Do it now!"
Demian's sharp bark startled Juan, Bolt, and Fish into obeying.
They stabbed the thighs of encroaching bandits. Blades sank in, drawing screams.
"Graaah! You fuckers!"
"My leg! My leg!"
The thigh was vital for movement, laced with major arteries and veins.
Hit it, and mobility vanished—best case, you severed the femoral artery.
"Apple, Fish, Bob. You three lack the strength for frontal thrusts—they won't kill. Angle low and slash down."
Demian directed the rest. Bewildered, they complied.
"Gah! Glurk!"
Spears tore into flesh proper. Bandits screamed death rattles and dropped.
"Juan! Your shieldwork's sloppy! When they rush, bash with it! Don't just stand there!"
"Bread! Get your head in the game! Don't stop moving if you wanna live!"
"Reg! That's not how you grip a spear! Shorter!"
"Bob! What're you saving that bulk for? Scan ahead for threats!"
Demian's orders flipped the battle. Juan's group began overwhelming the bandits.
In a blink, over ten lay dead or wounded.
The survivors encircled them warily, faces full of dread.
"You trash! I'll clean this up. Move!"
Hedgehog shoved bandits aside and advanced. They parted for him.
"You scrawny bastard! You a knight too? Step up! Real ones duking it out!"
Hedgehog unleashed mana. The pressure blanched Juan and his crew.
"If you wanna die that bad, fine."
Demian stepped forward. Hedgehog blinked.
"Where's your weapon?"
"For trash like you, this is plenty."
Demian raised his middle finger. Bloodshot rage filled Hedgehog's eyes.
"You punk! I'll snap that finger off first..."
Abruptly, Hedgehog froze. Though Demian hadn't approached, he began trembling violently in place.
Moments later, jagged bloodlines zigzagged from head to toe. His body shattered into chunks and collapsed.
Blood sprayed, soaking the ground. The metallic stench spread instantly.
Where Hedgehog had stood.
More precisely, behind where he'd been, a woman now stood.
Her hair was a wild mess like a homeless person's, her clothes filthy rags.
"Hi?"
She grinned wide. Her blood-red lips split to her ears.
'...Why is she here?'
Demian knew her well.
A madwoman who'd ascended to master realm through obsession with killing.
Dorgo had tried recruiting her as an ally, but failed—ending with her death by Demian's hand.
The Slaughter Ghost.
She stood before him.