A Highly Suspicious Colleague (8)
"Chief!"
"Don't come over!"
I waved her off as Celestine tried to rush toward me.
She was too far away. By the time she got here, she could get hurt. And mages never moved alone like this. There had to be more swordsmen lurking around. Once they realized I wasn't Patrick, they'd go straight for the real one behind me—so Celestine had to stay right there.
I bit off the lid of a potion with my teeth and downed it in one gulp. A maddening pain exploded through my body as the potion's energy surged everywhere.
I kicked off the ground and shot forward. The world around me stretched out long to the sides. An attack spell hurtled toward me to block my path, grazing past at an insane speed.
Kuuuung—
The magic slammed into the ground with a deafening roar that echoed slowly. I charged toward the flash of the spell, and swordsmen hidden among the trees revealed themselves.
"Stop him—!!"
I flashed through them, swinging Nightrend a few times. Clang, clang—
Their heads floated into the air, spinning lazily like tops.
Ahead, a black-robed mage was chanting a spell with terrified eyes. I smashed through the trees blocking my way and stood before him just as a blue flash erupted from his hands.
I thrust Nightrend forward and took the magic head-on with my body. My hair stood on end and my muscles spasmed—it felt like lightning magic.
I tore through the spell and lunged. Despair washed over the mage's face. Nightrend sliced across his waist from left to right, spilling guts and blood as he toppled forward.
At the same time, the potion's effect wore off, and everything snapped back to normal.
"Chief!!"
Celestine's frantic cry echoed from below. I raced down the slope to find a fierce battle raging between the swordsmen and Patrick.
Patrick, gripping his Gambri knight's greatsword, was holding his own against multiple foes. From the rear, Celestine was buffing him with holy power. But his weapon could only keep them at bay—it wasn't landing solid hits.
I joined the fray and brought Nightrend down on the nearest bastard's head. It cleaved from crown to left shoulder like tofu, making Celestine yelp in shock.
Even so, she extended one hand toward me, channeling holy power into both Patrick and me at once.
The holy buff eased the pain from the magic hit, lightening my body. Multicasting buffs? Impressive. What a find.
I pulled Nightrend back, drew a dagger from my bosom, and hurled it into the forehead of a flailing foe across the way. He toppled backward with it buried deep.
The last one saw that, tossed his sword, and bolted. I stabbed a dagger into his thigh, caught up, and grabbed his nape.
"Guhhh!!"
Squeezing every last drop from the lingering potion effects, I crushed his throat. My fingers dug into flesh and muscle until I felt the hard vertebrae—then I twisted my wrist, snapping it.
"Kyaaaak!!"
His head tore free and hit the ground. Celestine screamed, her holy power flickering out.
"Well done, everyone."
Patrick wiped the blood from his face with a handkerchief and smiled.
"You look like hell."
I glanced down. My cloak and leather armor were scorched and torn to rags in places.
"Took a direct lightning spell hit. It came so fast, no time to dodge."
"And you survived a spell like that?"
Patrick eyed me up and down with keen interest.
"A Demon Hunter, huh... And snapping a neck barehanded, no less."
"Anyway, deploying a mage just to get you? You're no ordinary guy."
I probed lightly, but he just smiled without a real answer.
"Money's a scary thing."
That was all he offered.
While we talked, Celestine stood there pale and trembling, staring at the sprawled corpses. It was a gruesome sight no one with average nerves could stomach.
Sweat glistened on her face, dripping from her chin.
"You okay?"
"Y-yes... Are you alright, Chief...?"
"Fine as you see."
She scanned me worriedly.
"Doesn't look like it... Take off your armor."
"Here?"
"You've got burns. Sweating in this heat with it on could make them fester."
Fester? I stripped off the armor fast.
"Aigoo, look at that. Scars everywhere."
I dropped my pants too, and Patrick admired my body again.
Celestine squinted to avoid looking, turning her hands golden. A warm, gentle energy swept over my wounds, healing them visibly as new skin grew.
Nothing beat holy healing for cuts and abrasions. At a temple, it'd cost a fortune in gold offerings.
Done healing, I went to redress—but the armor was trashed beyond use.
Patrick repacked the spilled cargo. The wagon was wrecked, but luckily the horses survived, so we loaded up there. We ditched the furniture, keeping only essential papers, ledgers, sample weapons and armor, and magic scrolls.
I'd brought a big sack for the scrolls in case I scored a demon head.
"Scrolls for trade too?"
"No, branch operations."
He chuckled, snatching the sack from me and tying it to a saddle.
"By the way, Celestine, you were amazing back there."
"What...?"
She blinked, genuinely puzzled by the praise.
"You multicasted buffs on me and Patrick. That's no easy feat."
"It wasn't that great... I have to be able to do it... As a halo saintess..."
She averted her eyes, mumbling awkwardly.
"With a halo up, multicasts are a given..."
"I'm talking about you, not the halo."
"Huh...?"
Her eyes widened as she looked up at me.
"Not the halo...?"
"Is the halo you?"
"No, but... I could do it because I'm a halo saintess..."
"The halo floats because you're strong, not the other way around."
She gaped, mouth half-open in a daze.
"Anyway, you were brilliant. Recruiting you might be my best move this year."
"Th-thank you..."
Her face flushed bright red.
Why's she like that? Not used to praise? A halo saintess should've been fawned over nonstop.
After that, she spent the rest of the trip muttering to herself, grinning goofily, scratching her head. What a fool.
But that shy look was seriously cute. Slurp.
We reached Schlessi as the sun set. No one followed—those mage and swordsmen must've been the last of the pursuit.
As we entered the city, Patrick reined in his horse.
"We're here at last. Good work, both of you."
He pulled a heavy money pouch from his bag.
"Your fee."
It was seriously weighty—I could guess the amount without counting.
"Thanks. Send more our way."
"I'll set up the branch in a storefront I rented downtown. Swing by sometime. We handle guild essentials—weapons, armor, all sorts of sundries."
Salesman through and through.
"Got it. Our guild's growing, so we'll definitely stop in."
As we went to part ways, he called me back.
"One moment, Leonar. Wait."
He rummaged in a saddlebag and pulled out something.
"That armor's done for anyway—try this."
In his hands was sleek, deep brown leather armor. I recognized the material instantly.
"No way—that's Quaratus hide?"
"Spot on. Sharp eye. Almost no one can tell."
"You made armor from that rare stuff?"
"No pressure. It's a gift. If you like it, buy more."
"Dunno what it is, but it looks good—take it quick!"
Celestine whispered, poking my arm.