Chapter 22. To a Wider World (2)
Chapter 22. To a Wider World (2)
I advanced along the mountain path relying on the map.
Wolves might appear, but.
Now I could cast two decent ranged attack spells, so no big deal.
The packhorse had quite a load on it.
It should be heavy, but.
It was following along without complaint.
Bruno was tagging along right behind.
The guy looked in an extremely good mood, like he was out for a stroll.
"Um.. honey? I have something to ask."
Helen, walking alongside me, broached the subject.
"That knight was desperate to find you. Did you really steal gold coins?"
"Do I look like a thief to you?"
I put on a stern face and shot back.
Helen flinched in surprise and shook her head.
"Ah, no.. sorry, if my question upset you.."
"I'm kidding."
I chuckled and lightly pinched her cheek.
"I incurred a huge grudge from Baron Kargon."
"A grudge?"
"Yeah."
How much should I spill?
I couldn't say it like, 'I fucked the baron's daughter for free.'
But lying felt wrong too.
After a moment picking my words.
I laid it out neatly and coherently.
"The baron's daughter had her eye on me."
And using her status and power, she raped me.
Not just once or twice.
For several months.
Whenever she had a chance, she'd summon me and ravage my body.
Telling it that way.
Tears welled up in Helen's eyes.
"How could such a thing.. honey.. that must have been so hard for you.."
It wasn't hard at all.
Well, strictly speaking, my body was exhausted.
I was getting milked every other day.
But physically, it was pure bliss.
A beautiful face and a dizzyingly hot body.
Sex with the first woman who awakened me to lust— I'd never forget it for the rest of my life.
I'd been a virgin too before meeting Anna.
Maybe that's why it stuck with me so much.
Those heavy breasts.
Even the faint blue veins visible under her translucent skin.
The scent was unforgettable too.
Bury my nose in her cleavage.
Take a deep breath.
Her stimulating womanly fragrance would fill my lungs.
But all that had to stay secret from Helen, at least.
She already loved me.
So I put on a pitiful expression.
"You've got the same kind of scars as me, honey. So we'll understand each other even better."
Helen comforted me in her gentle tone.
Damn it, this just makes my guilt worse..
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me. If there are any more wounds you want to open up about in the future, tell me anytime. I'll soothe you as much as I can."
"Mmm.."
When lunchtime came.
We settled on a big rock and filled our bellies with rations.
Hard biscuits and jerky.
Washed down with watered wine.
I wasn't that hungry, actually.
I'd stuffed myself last night.
Still, gotta eat regularly enough.
I tossed some jerky to Bruno too.
He snatched it like he'd been waiting.
And tore into it eagerly.
Helen smiled warmly watching him.
The biscuits were hard enough to curse about.
I rinsed my sticky mouth with wine.
And checked the map I'd looted from the soldiers.
Were we on the right track?
Couldn't be sure.
I glanced over.
And locked eyes with Helen, who was munching jerky.
She smiled with her eyes.
Good thing we're together.
Once we safely reach Yohvin.
We can stay at her parents' house.
They'd show that much hospitality to the man who saved their daughter.
Plus, Helen's carrying my kid.
Slim chance they'd kick out their son-in-law harshly.
I roughly wrapped up my thoughts.
Rested enough.
Gotta hustle before sunset.
The packhorse let out a pururuk- snort.
Looked like it was complaining about leaving already.
"We've rested plenty, time to move."
We started walking again.
The forced march continued into the third day.
Still a long way to the village.
I didn't mind.
Not only did we have plenty of food.
The weather was pretty mild for midwinter.
Nights weren't a big issue either.
Thanks to Fire Magic.
The fireball from visualization.
Now I could keep it floating steadily for about two hours.
But it vanishes if I lose focus.
So every time Helen fell asleep.
I stood watch, floating a fireball above her dainty little head.
But consecutive nights camping out isn't good.
There's a life growing in Helen's belly.
Gotta find a village ASAP, even if it's just one day sooner.
After half a day along the trail.
We finally emerged onto a somewhat bigger road.
I gauged our approximate position from the map.
"Hmm.."
Follow this road straight.
And we'd hit a place called Salthill.
A village on a route that largely bypasses Rafalen.
We'd stay there overnight.
Under a roof.
Recover with some hot stew and set off again.
Another half day straight along the road.
Far off, a carriage parked on the roadside came into view.
The vibe was off.
Heavily armed cavalrymen surrounded it.
Could be bandits.
Helen grabbed the bow from her back.
Didn't nock an arrow.
Probably figured it'd provoke the riders.
I pulled out my staff too.
Visualized a fireball in my head.
Ready to attack anytime.
Five riders total.
Not a huge number, but.
No room for complacency.
In this medieval world, cavalry were like tanks.
Might even be knights.
If any handled Aura well.
It'd be serious trouble.
Two riders approached us.
One held a lance.
The other was armed with a crossbow.
The turbans on their heads caught my eye.
Reminded me of Arab-style garb.
Probably heretics from the west.
The riders stopped about ten meters away.
Stared at me hard for a while.
Then the lance rider straight-up pointed his spear tip at me.
"#%$*#%!"
And started yelling his head off.
Fuck, couldn't understand a word.
Heretic language.
No way I'd get it.
I shrugged and looked at Helen.
She was a merchant's daughter.
Maybe she knew a few foreign words.
Spot on.
Foreign words came out of Helen's mouth.
"$%#*$&@#$#@."
"What's he saying?"
I asked quietly.
Helen grimaced and replied.
"They want us to hand over everything we have. Even strip naked.."
"Bandits, then."
Not just gonna take our stuff.
They'd take Helen too.
Stuff their lust after raping her greedily.
Then sell her at some slave market.
No point in talking.
Not that I wanted to.
So, only fight left.
As I wrapped up my thoughts.
Suddenly, a rider aimed his crossbow at the packhorse and pulled the trigger.
The packhorse thudded down.
Rolled sideways.
Its four legs thrashed pitifully.
Then went limp.
"Ponika!"
Helen cried out.
Tears streaming down her cheeks.
She'd even named it 'Ponika' herself and cherished it.
Always fed it well.
Took meticulous care of its shoes.
That's how precious it was to her.
And now that creature was shot with an arrow.
A death so pathetic it was laughable.
"You sons of bitches.."
With a low curse.
Helen nocked an arrow.
But the rider was way faster.
He raised his reloaded crossbow to aim at Helen.
Like I'd let that happen.
Visualization was long done.
I pointed my staff at the crossbow rider's head like I'd been waiting.
"Stun Chain."
I chanted the incantation.
Just like Lieselotte taught me.
With precise pronunciation and intonation.
Pajijijijijik!
Lightning twisted into chains.
And shot forward.
The crossbow rider startled.
Shifted aim from Helen to me, but.
"Gaaahhhh!"
Blinding white lightning struck him dead-on.
He lost consciousness instantly.
His horse too.
It flopped sideways, legs twitching.
The lightning didn't stop there.
Like a pinball.
It veered sharply toward the lance rider.
He met the same fate.
Tumbled with his horse, didn't get up.
The mood flipped in an instant.
Bruno, all fired up.
Tried to charge the distant riders, but I stopped him quick.
"Hold."
Grrr..
Helen was still dazed.
I aimed my staff at the remaining riders—now three.
Too far away.
Even if I cast, it wouldn't reach.
But that was fine.
Goal was to scare 'em.
As expected, they bolted.
We'd bought a breather, but.
No time to dawdle.
Reinforcements might come.
Gotta regroup fast and get out.
First, checked the riders' conditions.
Both dead.
Eyebrows and hair singed off.
Proof of brutal electrocution.
The two horses were bad off too.
Not instant kills, but.
Looked like they'd die soon.
I decided to put them out of it.
Using Stun Magic.
A split-second high-voltage jolt to the head.
Their eyes went dull.
Instant death.
"Hic.."
Helen's sobs reached me.
She was hugging Ponika, weeping.
I sat beside her.
Wrapped her shoulders gently.
Packhorse Ponika.
Before I came, it was her big support.
For it to go so suddenly.
Must feel like a massive loss.
She'd be down for a while.
While handling the aftermath.
The carriage approached.
Pretty big and fancy.
Ebony all over, pitch black.
The cabin door flew open.
A man in thick furs stepped out.
Age between middle and old.
Not just burly.
His eyes were sharp too.
The middle-aged man bowed deeply.
Could tell just from that.
Not nobility.
If he were, he wouldn't humble himself like that.
"Thank you. You've done us a great favor."
He glanced at the downed riders and horses, then continued.
"I'm Varius. I run a trading company."
Trading company head.
A staple in fantasy novels.
Synonym for the filthy rich running massive commerce ops, right?
So why travel without guards?
Must have some circumstances.
Maybe owner of a small outfit.
"Uncle Varius?"
Helen, stroking Ponika's mane and sniffling, suddenly looked up.
Her eyes wide.
A storm of emotions in those brown irises.
"H-Helen?!"
Varius was just as shocked.