Chapter 10: Night Companion (3)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 10: Night Companion (3)

Strictly speaking, "we" was not the correct term here, because it was Erwen, not I, whom the Chubby and Boney duo were interested in. I tapped Erwen with my foot again.

"Mmm..."

No "mmm." Wake up right now. I know you're not asleep.

The moment I heard their voices earlier, I glanced over and caught her covering her face with the blanket.

"Ah!"

It was a waste of time to argue with her, so I just grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her up.

"Why are you pretending to be asleep?"

"Because..."

Erwen trailed off mid-sentence and avoided my gaze. This was rather frustrating behavior for me, because I had to get information from her as quickly as possible to make a decision.

When I grabbed her chin to look her in the eye, Erwen reluctantly opened her mouth.

"Because you were going to leave once I woke up..."

Is that true?

I had made a promise: if there was a fight with an adventurer while one of us was standing on night watch, we would fight them together. But unfortunately, this situation happened on my last promised watch.

Well, I didn't care about a warrior's honor or any of that, but... this woman didn't know that. So, she had tried to make our alliance last as long as possible. She knew that the moment she opened her eyes, our night companion contract would be over.

"Whew."

First, I took a deep breath. If a grown man like Mr. Hans had done something like this, I would have been angry... However, since she was just twenty years old, a sense of pity welled up within me first.

Of course, the situations were completely different.

"What happened with those two?"

"Nothing."

"Then why were you hiding?"

"...The symbol stitched into their clothes was the same. The same as the human man who tried to hurt me. They must belong to the same guild."

A guild... Shit, things were getting more serious. I was starting to wonder whether it would be better to just say goodbye to this elf girl and go our separate ways here.

"Let's talk while we move."

"Are you going to help me?"

"I'll decide after I hear the rest."

First, I got Erwen out of there. While practically running, I tried to understand the rest of the situation.

"Tell me everything that happened."

Apparently reading the atmosphere, Erwen gave me a summary of the most important information without any unnecessary details.

"On the first day, I met a night companion who attacked me while I was asleep. I found out later that he was a member of a guild whose main base was the first floor."

For reference, the guild's name was the Crystal Union.

"I managed to escape, but ever since then, people from the same group have been attacking me whenever they see me. That's how I got injured."

I stopped her there.

"Wait, how did they know what happened?"

"A message stone."

What was that? There was nothing like that in the game I had played.

"In more detail," I said.

"It's a magic tool that allows you to communicate with other message stones that have been linked to each other. I heard the radius is about three hundred yards."

"I see."

It was a kind of walkie-talkie, then. If you established a frequency in advance, communication was possible up to a radius of three hundred yards.

Gradually, I started to understand the situation. If these people had magic tools like that and enough manpower, transmitting information would be easy, even in such an isolated environment.

However, the problem was...

"Why are they going this far to catch you?"

Erwen had done nothing wrong. So, why were they working so hard to chase after this victim?

"Is it to keep you quiet?"

"...I don't think it's just that."

"There's more?"

"Well, it's because..."

Erwen, who had been answering my questions straightforwardly, hesitated to speak this time. If she was going to act like that, there was no way I could help. At least that was what I was thinking when she finally answered.

"W-When I first escaped, I swung my knife. But it happened to strike a not-so-nice location..."

"...Not-so-nice?"

Chills broke out all over my body. A breeze blew past my groin.

"You know, that...that area...?"

I was right.

"Ahem, anyway, from what the people chasing me have said, it was completely cut off, so it can't even be reattached with a potion... I guess that's why..."

I could understand now why their eyes were blazing with revenge.

"S-Sorry......"

But there was nothing to apologize for. Wasn't he the one whose fault this was in the first place? It was karma. The problem was that there were way too many people in the world who didn't understand that simple logic.

"Mister, I think we have someone following us."

"What?"

"Don't look back."

I concentrated on trying to hear them, but I couldn't hear anything.

"The distance... they're about 150 yards away," she said.

That was a strange distance to be able to sense someone's presence from, but it didn't seem like a lie. There was no reason for her to lie.

So, was this an elf's keen senses at work? Suddenly, her esteem went up in my eyes.

"We need to speed up, is that okay?"

"Yes. I can still take it."

Even though her white bandage was stained red from her wound, Erwen did not utter a single pained sound. She showed great determination. It challenged my view of her.

"How far is the pursuer?"

"...They're still about 150 yards away."

Even though I had increased our speed, the distance between us had not changed. That wasn't good. By now, our pursuer was no doubt announcing our location to their allies with the message stone or something.

What was that? There was nothing like that in the game I had played.

"In more detail," I said.

"It's a magic tool that allows you to communicate with other message stones that have been linked to each other. I heard the radius is about three hundred yards."

"I see."

It was a kind of walkie-talkie, then. If you established a frequency in advance, communication was possible up to a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠radius of three hundred yards.

Gradually, I started to understand the situation. If these people had magic tools like that and enough manpower, transmitting information would be easy, even in such an isolated environment.

However, the problem was...

"Why are they going this far to catch you?"

Erwen had done nothing wrong. So, why were they working so hard to chase after this victim?

"Is it to keep you quiet?"

"...I don't think it's just that."

"There's more?"

"Well, it's because..."

Erwen, who had been answering my questions straightforwardly, hesitated to speak this time. If she was going to act like that, there was no way I could help. At least that was what I was thinking when she finally answered.

"W-When I first escaped, I swung my knife. But it happened to strike a not-so-nice location..."

"...Not-so-nice?"

Chills broke out all over my body. A breeze blew past my groin.

"You know, that...that area...?"

I was right.

"Ahem, anyway, from what the people chasing me have said, it was completely cut off, so it can't even be reattached with a potion... I guess that's why..."

I could understand now why their eyes were blazing with revenge.

"S-Sorry......"

But there was nothing to apologize for. Wasn't he the one whose fault this was in the first place? It was karma. The problem was that there were way too many people in the world who didn't understand that simple logic.

"Mister, I think we have someone following us."

"What?"

"Don't look back."

I concentrated on trying to hear them, but I couldn't hear anything.

"The distance... they're about 150 yards away," she said.

That was a strange distance to be able to sense someone's presence from, but it didn't seem like a lie. There was no reason for her to lie.

So, was this an elf's keen senses at work? Suddenly, her esteem went up in my eyes.

"We need to speed up, is that okay?"

"Yes. I can still take it."

Even though her white bandage was stained red from her wound, Erwen did not utter a single pained sound. She showed great determination. It challenged my view of her.

"How far is the pursuer?"

"...They're still about 150 yards away."

Even though I had increased our speed, the distance between us had not changed. That wasn't good. By now, our pursuer was no doubt announcing our location to their allies with the message stone or something.

Get rid of them.

If I were the one they were targeting, I would have certainly decided to do just that. But I was still just running. Once I killed one of them, I would no longer be able to get out of this. So, I needed to confirm some things before I made the call.

"M-Mister...?"

How much risk would I take on, and what could I get in return? I needed more detailed information.

"Erwen."

"Y-Yes?"

"What are you good at?"

"I am confident in my laundry and cleaning skills. I-I can't really cook, but..."

What is she talking about?

"When you're in battle!"

"A-Archery! Oh, and elemental magic too!"

A standard elven archer.

"Type?"

"...Fire."

Hmm, that was the rarest type of magic. Thanks to that, I could now picture her skillsets in my head.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"No... But I could."

That was something you could only think you knew about yourself.

"I see." I finally asked her. "Erwen, would you like to be my comrade? Our team will last until we get out of the labyrinth, and the loot distribution will be nine to one, nine for me and one for you."

"Y-Yes!"

And that gave me all the reason I needed.

***

"I promise in the name of my clan."

"I also swear on the honor of a warrior."

We stamped something as a token of trust, like before, and upgraded our relationship from night companions to temporary team members.

All while, of course, running like crazy.

"Distance?"

"About one hundred yards!"

Even at my maximum speed, the distance between us and them was getting smaller. I made up my mind.

"We'll escape to the outskirts."

"Okay!"

I turned us around and entered the dark passageways. The crystals that shone on the walls and ceilings became fewer and fewer, and, before long, a pitch-black darkness fell upon us.

I was feeling mixed emotions. After all, I hadn't thought I'd come back here voluntarily.

"Erwen, summon an elemental."

A flame the size of a watermelon floated in the palm of her hand, illuminating our surroundings. Keeping an eye on the floor, we quickly made our way through the darkness.

And then...

"Unsummon it."

We hid in the dark.

"Presence?"

"Soon you will be able to hear it too."

"I see."

I kept as quiet as I could and focused my attention on listening. The best-case scenario was for our pursuer to miss and pass us by. Then, there would be no need to kill them, and I would be able to back out of this deal, too.

Get rid of them.

If I were the one they were targeting, I would have certainly decided to do just that. But I was still just running. Once I killed one of them, I would no longer be able to get out of this. So, I needed to confirm some things before I made the call.

"M-Mister...?"

How much risk would I take on, and what could I get in return? I needed more detailed information.

"Erwen."

"Y-Yes?"

"What are you good at?"

"I am confident in my laundry and cleaning skills. I-I can't really cook, but..."

What is she talking about?

"When you're in battle!"

"A-Archery! Oh, and elemental magic too!"

A standard elven archer.

"Type?"

"...Fire."

Hmm, that was the rarest type of magic. Thanks to that, I could now picture her skillsets in my head.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"No... But I could."

That was something you could only think you knew about yourself.

"I see." I finally asked her. "Erwen, would you like to be my comrade? Our team will last until we get out of the labyrinth, and the loot distribution will be nine to one, nine for me and one for you."

"Y-Yes!"

And that gave me all the reason I needed.

***

"I promise in the name of my clan."

"I also swear on the honor of a warrior."

We stamped something as a token of trust, like before, and upgraded our relationship from night companions to temporary team members.

All while, of course, running like crazy.

"Distance?"

"About one hundred yards!"

Even at my maximum speed, the distance between us and them was getting smaller. I made up my mind.

"We'll escape to the outskirts."

"Okay!"

I turned us around and entered the dark passageways. The crystals that shone on the walls and ceilings became fewer and fewer, and, before long, a pitch-black darkness fell upon us.

I was feeling mixed emotions. After all, I hadn't thought I'd come back here voluntarily.

"Erwen, summon an elemental."

A flame the size of a watermelon floated in the palm of her hand, illuminating our surroundings. Keeping an eye on the floor, we quickly made our way through the darkness.

And then...

"Unsummon it."

We hid in the dark.

"Presence?"

"Soon you will be able to hear it too."

"I see."

I kept as quiet as I could and focused my attention on listening. The best-case scenario was for our pursuer to miss and pass us by. Then, there would be no need to kill them, and I would be able to back out of this deal, too.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

Before long, I could hear the sprinting tracker's footsteps even with my own ears. However, despite what I was hoping, they didn't pass us by. The sound of their footsteps stopped just in front of the crossroads we had just turned at.

Shit!

It seemed the tracker had a method of tracking us down. Smell, sound, or perhaps even something magical.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

They turned and walked slowly toward us, stopping at a distance of about thirty yards, right at the border where the abyss-like darkness began.

He stuck his head in and looked around. We held our breath inside the darkness and watched.

"There you are," the man murmured to himself after sniffing a few times into the quiet stillness. Then, he pulled something out of his pocket. It was an item I had never seen before in my life, but I intuitively recognized its function.

A message stone.

The moment I spotted the item, I sent a signal by mouthing a word at Erwen, who had been aiming her arrow, the bowstring pulled taut, this entire time.

"Shoot."

Swooo... Shawnnk—

Before I could even finish my message, the arrow was embedded in the man's forehead.

Thunk.

Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠though the man lay dead on the ground, I did not move right away. Next to me, I could feel an uncontrollable trembling from Erwen.

"Good job. If you had hesitated, things would have been dangerous."

This was not an empty compliment, but the truth. Hadn't I also hesitated when I slammed the shield down? Erwen hadn't even had time for that. Even if I hadn't told her that, she knew it herself. She could not have hesitated.

"Yes..."

"Get some rest."

The words of comfort ended there. I left the darkness and searched the body. Perhaps he had left his backpack behind to move quickly because our pursuer was only modestly equipped.

The fact that I'm feeling disappointed right now must mean I've fully assimilated into this world.

First, after removing all of the tracker's equipment from head to toe, I organized the acquired items one by one.

A belt, a leather shirt and bottoms, two shortswords, a fairly heavy pouch of mana stones, a potion bottle that was kept in a bottle tied to his belt, and even a message stone.

After the rough inventory was complete, I called Erwen.

"Good. Come here."

Then I removed her bandages and treated her wound using the potion. The wound began to heal with a sizzling sound.

"Ugh..."

It was okay to make noise at this point, but Erwen clenched her teeth and endured it silently.

So this woman also has a tough side. Or maybe she's just lost it?

I hoped it was the former. I was not confident in my abilities as a therapist.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. Much better."

"Then change into this."

After a few minutes of treating the wound, I held out the leather shirt and bottoms I had just obtained. I judged that they were much more practical than loose-fitting clothes.

"Let me go put it on."

Maybe she had decided that following my instructions was the best way to keep herself alive. They might have been uncomfortable, but Erwen immediately picked up the clothes and stepped into the dark to change.

"It's a little big. Come here."

I cut the excess fabric from the arms and legs for her.

"Wear this too. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It will be a little better."

It looked a little baggy overall, but it looked quite comfortable with the belt on. However, because of the change in clothes, she gave off a completely different vibe. Previously, she had looked like an elven girl on an outing, but now she looked like a full-fledged female warrior. Even her face.

"...It feels very strange."

"You will get used to it."

"Will I...?"

"Yes, you will."

I shoved all of the other items into my backpack and dragged the naked corpse into the dark. Then, I held the message stone in my hand.

"How do you use this?"

"Just a moment. I'll try."

Erwen looked at the message stone and then clicked something.

"...Serdin was chasing the elf bitch and barbarian, but we've lost contact. Anyone who receives this message, gather in the goblin zone."

So far, this was all going as I had expected it to.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

Before long, I could hear the sprinting tracker's footsteps even with my own ears. However, despite what I was hoping, they didn't pass us by. The sound of their footsteps stopped just in front of the crossroads we had just turned at.

Shit!

It seemed the tracker had a method of tracking us down. Smell, sound, or perhaps even something magical.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

They turned and walked slowly toward us, stopping at a distance of about thirty yards, right at the border where the abyss-like darkness began.

He stuck his head in and looked around. We held our breath inside the darkness and watched.

"There you are," the man murmured to himself after sniffing a few times into the quiet stillness. Then, he pulled something out of his pocket. It was an item I had never seen before in my life, but I intuitively recognized its function.

A message stone.

The moment I spotted the item, I sent a signal by mouthing a word at Erwen, who had been aiming her arrow, the bowstring pulled taut, this entire time.

"Shoot."

Swooo... Shawnnk—

Before I could even finish my message, the arrow was embedded in the man's forehead.

Thunk.

Even though the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠man lay dead on the ground, I did not move right away. Next to me, I could feel an uncontrollable trembling from Erwen.

"Good job. If you had hesitated, things would have been dangerous."

This was not an empty compliment, but the truth. Hadn't I also hesitated when I slammed the shield down? Erwen hadn't even had time for that. Even if I hadn't told her that, she knew it herself. She could not have hesitated.

"Yes..."

"Get some rest."

The words of comfort ended there. I left the darkness and searched the body. Perhaps he had left his backpack behind to move quickly because our pursuer was only modestly equipped.

The fact that I'm feeling disappointed right now must mean I've fully assimilated into this world.

First, after removing all of the tracker's equipment from head to toe, I organized the acquired items one by one.

A belt, a leather shirt and bottoms, two shortswords, a fairly heavy pouch of mana stones, a potion bottle that was kept in a bottle tied to his belt, and even a message stone.

After the rough inventory was complete, I called Erwen.

"Good. Come here."

Then I removed her bandages and treated her wound using the potion. The wound began to heal with a sizzling sound.

"Ugh..."

It was okay to make noise at this point, but Erwen clenched her teeth and endured it silently.

So this woman also has a tough side. Or maybe she's just lost it?

I hoped it was the former. I was not confident in my abilities as a therapist.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. Much better."

"Then change into this."

After a few minutes of treating the wound, I held out the leather shirt and bottoms I had just obtained. I judged that they were much more practical than loose-fitting clothes.

"Let me go put it on."

Maybe she had decided that following my instructions was the best way to keep herself alive. They might have been uncomfortable, but Erwen immediately picked up the clothes and stepped into the dark to change.

"It's a little big. Come here."

I cut the excess fabric from the arms and legs for her.

"Wear this too. It will be a little better."

It looked a little baggy overall, but it looked quite comfortable with the belt on. However, because of the change in clothes, she gave off a completely different vibe. Previously, she had looked like an elven girl on an outing, but now she looked like a full-fledged female warrior. Even her face.

"...It feels very strange."

"You will get used to it."

"Will I...?"

"Yes, you will."

I shoved all of the other items into my backpack and dragged the naked corpse into the dark. Then, I held the message stone in my hand.

"How do you use this?"

"Just a moment. I'll try."

Erwen looked at the message stone and then clicked something.

"...Serdin was chasing the elf bitch and barbarian, but we've lost contact. Anyone who receives this message, gather in the goblin zone."

So far, this was all going as I had expected it to.