Chapter 48
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 048
Chapter Title: Veterans and Newcomers (3)
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"Everyone, run!"
The moment I spotted the troll,
I shouted to the able-bodied men.
It was an opponent they could never handle.
'No way... Did they plan for this?'
The unidentified liquid Terence had scattered.
It seemed to have acted as a lure drawing the troll here.
There was no other explanation for the situation.
Moreover, ever since it appeared, the troll had kept its eyes fixed on this spot—more precisely, on the wet ground.
That meant it had likely followed the sour smell.
'What do I do?'
As that thought crossed my mind,
the troll snorted forcefully.
From nostrils large enough to swallow a man's head whole, a bucketful of yellowish snot dripped out.
Right after, it charged straight toward us.
Boom!
Along the troll's path,
the undead loitering there were either crushed into paste under its feet or sent flying by its thick legs.
It was an overwhelming sight.
A straight charge attempted by a beast over 4 meters tall.
Who could possibly stop it?
"Sir Bear, can you slow the troll down?"
I asked Sir Bear.
I couldn't bring myself to ask him to stop it outright.
"I'll do my best."
Sir Bear replied with a stiffly set face.
He shot forward.
Without a moment to watch his back, I turned toward Connel.
"Sir Connel!"
Calling his name made him, who had been rushing toward the troll, look my way.
"Help Sir Bear slow the troll down! We need to buy time for our allies to escape!"
At my shout, Connel nodded.
Then he picked up speed, closing in on the troll.
It was astonishing.
Not every knight was like him or Sir Bear.
That's why knighting ceremonies emphasized loyalty, protecting the weak, punishing the wicked, and so on.
Because there were so few who actually lived by those ideals.
'What's next?'
If I had any mana left, I could've used magic to harass the troll and support the two knights.
But my mana was already depleted.
So right now, I had to leave the fighting to Sir Bear and Sir Connel and figure out how to resolve this mess.
"Run faster!"
I shouted to the able-bodied men.
But their pace didn't quicken.
Our group was larger now than before.
Thanks to Connel's efforts.
While mopping up the remnants,
Connel had handed over the three black mages he'd captured alive to the men before heading to intercept the troll.
Not satisfied with that, he'd also turned over the dozens of prisoners the black mages had been dragging around.
The black mages were in bad shape from Connel's beatings, and the prisoners were weakened from prolonged starvation.
Naturally, the group's movement speed was slowed.
'What about Sir Bear and Sir Connel?'
After watching the group depart the battlefield, I turned to where Sir Bear and Sir Connel were.
Chaos reigned there.
Kaboom!
Every time the troll swung its rock-like fist, wind whipped up in its wake.
One solid hit, and a body would burst apart.
Yet Sir Bear and Sir Connel showed no fear, circling the troll to draw its attention.
They even seized openings here and there to strike.
Whether it was effective was another question.
Slash!
Sir Bear's sword sliced the troll's skin.
But that was it.
A bit of blood flowed, then the wound closed.
Regeneration far superior to a kudrak or werewolf.
'Sir Bear and Sir Connel alone... it won't be enough.'
The surest way to kill a troll?
Destroy its brain.
But the troll knew that well, reacting sharply to any head-targeted attacks.
It was doing so now.
Sir Bear lunged, stepping on the troll's right arm to leap for its head.
The troll covered its crown with its left hand and swung its right to drive him off.
Whoosh!
Thanks to Sir Bear drawing its gaze, Connel managed a long slash across the troll's belly.
But it healed in moments.
Seeing that, I knew for sure.
We couldn't take it down like this.
'Think.'
Sir Bear and Sir Connel were holding their own for now, but maintaining the status quo was their best.
Time wasn't on our side either.
The knights would tire before the troll.
Or the fight might end sooner.
The enemy was a monster of brute strength.
If either knight took even one hit, it'd be fatal.
At this rate, their lives were at risk.
'Should I send Gilbert out?'
As I pondered, Gilbert came to mind.
Left on the battlefield now: Sir Bear, Sir Connel, leaderless undead, the intruding troll, and me.
Everyone else had left.
If I was prepared for Connel to learn I was a necromancer, I could deploy Gilbert.
'Can I trust Connel?'
I asked myself.
And quickly decided.
Send in Gilbert.
The Connel I'd known kept his mouth shut; he wouldn't blab my secret easily.
I trusted my judgment.
'Gilbert.'
Calling him mentally,
the skeleton hidden in the woods emerged.
And immediately joined Sir Bear and Sir Connel.
"What the—!"
Connel spotted Gilbert approaching and tensed warily.
So I shouted to him.
"Sir Connel! That skeleton is an ally! Don't worry!"
Connel glanced my way briefly,
raised his left hand, then refocused on the fight.
Acknowledgment.
With this knight-level addition, Sir Bear and Sir Connel's burden lightened considerably.
'Fight aggressively.'
My order: engage up close boldly.
As Gilbert drew the troll's eyes, Sir Bear and Sir Connel could attack freely from the flanks.
Of course, it was highly dangerous.
Gilbert had to tank the troll's strikes alone.
'That's why I put Gilbert in front.'
Gilbert was undead.
Already dead, so he could handle life-risking tasks without worry.
'If only I had mana, I'd help.'
The more I thought, the more it grated.
With magic, this would've been easy.
Stone Thorn could pierce its body with rocks, crippling movement.
Clinging Flames could burn its flesh, halting regeneration.
'But excuses, all of it.'
My mana was under 20.
Couldn't cast Stone Thorn or Clinging Flames, but Ignition? Yes.
Yet I hadn't joined the fray.
Fear.
'No confidence dodging the troll's fists.'
I lacked the superhuman bodies of Gilbert, Sir Bear, or Sir Connel.
No faith in jumping into that mythic melee.
Why hadn't I left then?
Stubborn pride.
Vow not to flee leaving precious comrades behind.
That gripped my ankles, keeping me here.
Once was enough for that lesson.
'A few more minutes, and I'll have enough mana for Stone Thorn. Just hold till then.'
I stayed put, thinking that.
Not that I lingered where Terence lay dead.
I wasn't dumb enough to stick to a spot the troll targeted, even after confirming it.
'Use magic to buy Sir Bear and Sir Connel time to escape. Then we all leave together.'
That was the plan.
With their personalities, they'd resist withdrawing.
But if I insisted strongly, they'd listen.
"Hold on just a bit longer!"
I shouted to Sir Bear and Sir Connel.
That instant,
the troll, weathering their assaults, suddenly whipped its head toward me.
Our eyes met.
Grin.
The troll bared its yellowed teeth in a smile.
Chills erupted over my skin.
'No way...?'
Had it recognized me as the group's leader?
The suspicion arose.
Entirely plausible.
Trolls ranked high in monster intelligence.
As that thought hit,
Thud!
The ground shook suddenly.
The quakes grew fiercer, unrelenting.
Inevitable.
The troll was charging me.
'Damn it!'
Eyes locked on mine, it barreled forward.
My mind went blank.
But I couldn't freeze.
I needed an answer.
'Still short on mana.'
Under 25.
Just shy of Stone Thorn.
I could force it, enduring backlash.
But that risked death—last resort only.
Dismiss Gilbert?
Useless.
Cutting the link didn't refund summon mana.
Run on foot?
Ridiculous.
Its stride dwarfed mine.
No outrunning on foot.
'This won't work, that won't...'
To buy thinking time, I directed Gilbert to intercept.
But things didn't go as planned.
Crunch!
Gilbert, pushing too hard to block, took a fist and flew.
Bone shards arced through the air,
vanishing on impact with green skin.
The troll's speed unchanged.
All my misjudgment's fault.
My head throbbed.
"Lord Heros!"
A voice calling me.
Turning, I saw Sir Bear rushing over, teeth gritted.
To grab me and flee, no doubt.
But the troll would reach me first.
He couldn't save me.
What about Connel?
I looked opposite.
There he was.
"Raaargh!"
Connel bellowed, hacking at the troll.
Giving his all to stop it.
But the troll ignored him.
Protected vitals with one hand, focused solely on closing to me.
And it paid off.
'It's here.'
The troll finally before me.
Ten paces away.
Is this the end?
As that thought formed,
weeds under its foot caught my eye.
'Weeds?'
A flash of inspiration.
I cast magic immediately.
Pouring in every drop of mana I had.
Swish.
Where I predicted its right foot would land,
the weeds intertwined, forming a thick ring of blades.
The instant it stepped there,
the ring tightened, snaring the thick ankle.
Snap!
The green knot tore instantly.
Couldn't withstand the troll's strength.
But I'd achieved my goal.
It lost balance and pitched forward.
Thud!
Troll's face plowed into the dirt.
Its head right at my feet.
Staring down at the massive nape, I screamed hysterically.
"Now!"
Right after,
Sir Bear arrived, a beat behind the troll.
And Connel, who'd slashed relentlessly.
From both sides, their swords pierced the troll's neck.
The massive body convulsed like it'd been struck by lightning.
But it still lived.
Needed a finishing blow.
That's when.
'Gilbert?'
One skeleton dropped onto the troll's nape.
Gilbert.
The fist's damage was severe; half its body gone.
Left leg, left arm, left face side only.
Yet.
Gilbert was Gilbert.
As always, never disappointing me.
Stab!
Gilbert's sword plunged into the troll's nape.