Chapter 104: Hero Hunt (3)
Chapter 104: Hero Hunt (3)
The knights realized that the polearm Eugene held in his hand was somehow familiar.
"Sir Salvatore. That staff is clearly..."
"Isn't that the one he used at the tournament?"
Everyone vividly remembered Eugene wielding that thing in the arena like a human windmill.
"So that was the weapon's true form."
Salvatore gave a hollow laugh at the murderous weapon with mace heads dangling all over it.
-To bring a quarterstaff into the sacred tournament. I'll teach you a lesson.
He was the very man who had scoffed at it so dismissively, only to feel his life threatened the moment he faced the staff.
He felt foolish for having spent all that time brooding and devising ways to counter the staff. Back then, Eugene had effectively entered the tournament as if he were getting some exercise.
Thud. Thud.
Might, who had always maintained his composure on the battlefield, tensed up and pawed at the ground for the first time.
It was because he had instinctively sensed that the enormous creature before him was not simply a powerful variant.
A descendant of a hero blessed by a god. The aura of such a being was enough to shake the soul of anyone who faced it.
"Steady yourself, Might."
Of course, compared with the master astride him, there was little to fear. Eugene gripped Might's sides firmly with his legs and stroked his neck until the trembling subsided.
Might was not the only one uneasy. Rex trusted Eugene's martial prowess, yet seeing him face the gnoll chieftain made him tremble too.
The weight class disparity between the two sides was far too extreme.
"Sir Knight! Are you truly all right?"
"Don't worry. He can't reach me, but I can reach him."
Eugene calmly raised his flail and aimed it.
The true master of the battlefield—one that had overcome even the passage of time and leaps in military technology.
The one thing that had boasted supremacy ever since humanity first picked up a stone and would continue to do so forever.
That was range.
That was why Eugene had chosen the flail as his primary weapon instead of the sword, symbol of knighthood.
The space between him and the chieftain held several layers of death. Since his enemy had only one life, there could be only one outcome.
"Bring out the broadheads!"
"Create an opening for the knight to attack!"
The tribal warriors nocked broadhead arrows from their auxiliary quivers onto their bowstrings.
They were vicious arrows that could drop even the toughest wild boar in a shot or two and make even a bear howl in agony.
But if they did not penetrate, they had no effect whatsoever.
"Damn it! It's tough as hell."
Clad in armor and protected by its own tough hide, the gnoll chieftain had not taken meaningful damage from a single arrow.
As the enormous axe descended from the sky, clods of earth flew up with tremendous force.
But Might had already read the chieftain's movements and flung his body sideways on his own.
Every breath of the battlefield's blood scent washed away the fear Might's instincts pumped through him.
"As expected of a Barsian warhorse."
"Damn."
The tribal warriors were frustrated but had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Prrr!
Neeeigh!
Their own horses, standing quite a distance away, were so terrified that they kept trying to break free of control.
BOOM! BOOM!
During the lull in the arrows, the gnoll's axe struck the ground twice more. But it still could not hit Eugene, who was focused entirely on evasion.
Then, without warning, the flail came flying in.
WHAM!
The cluster of mace heads slammed into the wrist of the chieftain's axe hand.
"GRAAAH—!"
The chieftain lost his grip on his weapon from the pain of shattered wrist bones, but swiftly caught it again with his other hand.
He swung the axe with fury, yet it sliced through empty air to no effect.
Bbudeuk!
The gnoll chieftain ground his teeth at a frustration unlike anything he had ever known.
Even when he risked himself to close the distance, none of his attacks could reach, while that human could run away and swing almost casually yet still send a chill through his vital points.
WHOOOM!
As the mace heads flew horizontally toward his flank, the chieftain attempted to raise his axe and block.
Was he wary of a monstrous strength utterly unlike any human? He braced his stout arm against the flat side of the broad axe blade, preparing for the impact.
"Heh heh."
It was such an incongruous sight for a monster of massive bulk that a few of the mercenaries inadvertently let out snickers.
But there was something the chieftain had overlooked. When Eugene swung the flail with both hands, one could never be certain of its direction until the very last moment.
Twitch!
The wrist gripping the rear of the shaft bent about seventy degrees and snapped sharply downward.
The mace heads that had been flying horizontally suddenly dropped toward the ground as though yanked downward.
"Grr—?"
The chieftain had the sensation that the mace heads rushing in to fill his vision had vanished in an instant.
CRUNCH!
Every toe on his right foot broke at once, shattered claws flying in all directions.
"Now!"
"Go for his throat!"
The rain of arrows cut the chieftain's scream short. He hurriedly covered his face with the shield strapped to his arm.
Even then, his red eyes remained fixed on Eugene, the greatest threat. As Eugene charged with his flail raised, the chieftain kicked up a spray of earth.
It was a smart move.
Eugene turned Might aside so the dirt would not hit their eyes, taking the spray of soil and sand against their bodies instead.
However, the chieftain had kicked at the ground in such haste that he was forced to use the very foot whose claws had been shattered.
"GRAAAH—!"
He howled at the powerful impact and the pain of dirt and sand digging into the wounded area.
At that moment, spears and axes flew in from behind the chieftain and battered him. The Gord knights, having recovered even a modicum of stamina, had launched their signature devastating throwing attacks.
"We can't pierce his helmet. Give up on the head."
"Aim for the back of the knees!"
Bipedal creatures can never fully guard their lower bodies. Places like the back of the knee are vulnerable points on even the sturdiest monsters.
The gnoll chieftain roared in fury as the insignificant pests—not the monstrous knight before him—kept harassing him.
"C-Can't you hold still?!"
The horses, startled into a frenzy, threw several of the tribal warriors who had been about to loose their arrows.
"Ugh!"
The Gord knights, exposed to the roar at close range, staggered as their minds and bodies were shaken.
The chieftain was satisfied at the spectacle only a true powerhouse could command, yet he had not even the leisure to savor it.
He was too busy dodging the flail plummeting from the sky.
Eugene, raining down attacks with overwhelming range and brute strength.
Might, perfectly in sync with his master, maintaining a selfish distance.
'Selfish offense and defense.'
It was a battle that could be summarized in that single sentence.
The chieftain, having swung at empty air for what might have been the umpteenth time, leaped up. It was to escape the mace heads that had swept in as if to skim the ground.
However, he immediately realized his mistake. The memory of his claws shattering moments before had flashed through his mind.
Twitch!
As though fulfilling that expectation, Eugene snapped the wrist gripping the rear of the shaft, and the mace heads immediately sprang upward on a diagonal.
The maces squarely struck his shin and knee, defenseless in midair.
CRUNCH!
CRACK!
Everyone on the battlefield could hear the sound of the chieftain's leg being crushed.
The massive black-furred bulk tumbled wretchedly to the ground.
Bone jutted through above the knee, streaming blood, while the shattered shin was folded in half.
A mortal wound. And the worst kind of injury—one that robbed him of his mobility.
"YAAAAAH!"
"It's over."
The mercenaries raised shouts of victory as the knights nodded quietly.
The chieftain still threatened his surroundings with blazing eyes, but from the moment he could no longer even walk, the outcome was as good as decided.
"Cease fire!"
As Eugene raised his hand, Rex and the tribal warriors lowered their bows.
If they were going to kill it anyway, bringing it down with as little damage as possible made the carcass far more valuable. Everyone understood Eugene's intent without explanation.
Clink.
Eugene dismounted and walked forward, flail in hand.
"Grrrr..."
An executioner embodying death was approaching. Every trace of a conqueror's aura vanished from the giant gnoll's face.
What remained was a single ordinary gnoll, trembling in hideous terror.
Salvatore paid his respects as he looked at the dead gnoll chieftain.
"Thank you for saving us."
"It was only my duty as a fellow knight. Had our positions been reversed, you would have done the same."
Eugene's composed reply showed him to be a true knight, both in martial prowess and in character.
"That was truly satisfying vengeance."
"A miserable death that suits him perfectly."
The knights, their pent-up anger released, all clamored at once.
The gnoll chieftain, a creature that had ranked among monster heroes, had quite literally been beaten to death.
At that sight, the knights felt a profound sense of catharsis. They all took Eugene's hand and expressed their gratitude.
'It wasn't particularly for you, though.'
Eugene had only wanted the taxidermied specimen to be as undamaged as possible. The muscles and bones could be pulp; as long as no blade touched it, the hide would remain intact.
"Dump it out."
"Makes me sick."
The large cauldron tipped over, spilling pale broth and gray-cooked corpses onto the ground.
Not only humans but wild beasts and other monsters were mixed in, creating a hellish sight.
"Bleeergh!"
At that sight and smell, some of the mercenaries went to the corner and vomited.
Eugene pulled Varda's scarf from inside his clothes and covered Homi's delicate nose with it.
"No need to push yourself."
She nodded.
With the keenest sense of smell among them, she was bound to be suffering.
Homi's pale face grew calm thanks to the scarf that carried the scent of both Varda and Eugene.
The tribal warriors, as if accustomed to such things, lined up the corpses and began examining them.
Judging from the belongings gathered by the slave orcs and goblins, there had been knights among them.
"We identified the knights."
"We'll cremate them here. Sending them back to their families in this state would be more tragic."
Eugene collected a seal ring and one or two other items that could prove the dead men's identities, then gave the order.
"If any issue arises because of this, we will stake our honor and testify on your behalf, sir."
"Thank you all."
It was standard to send the bodies of those fallen in war or monster subjugation back to their families for funeral rites.
Cremating them on-site as an outsider could become a point of contention.
The Gord knights firmly vowed to speak in Eugene's defense.
Having won, they had to collect their spoils. The greatest prize from this battle was, of course, the gnoll chieftain's corpse.
Among nobles, boasting and competing over things that brought prestige to their houses was utterly commonplace.
For a knightly house, its standing was determined by the monsters it vanquished rather than gold or jewels.
"It's too big to load onto a cart."
"That's fine. We'll work on it right here."
Rex and the tribal warriors stood with their eyes gleaming, sharpened skinning knives and tools in hand.
"He'll be one of our family hanging in the hall now, won't he? I swear on the clan's name that we'll prepare him perfectly."
"Our family, you say..."
Eugene gave a wry smile at Rex's somewhat spine-chilling tone.
"Sir Knight, I think you can especially look forward to this piece."
"Since you beat it evenly all over, it skins very well."
As the humming tribal warriors all pounced, the once majestic giant gnoll was stripped bare in an instant.
Salvatore and the knights marveled as the tribal warriors skillfully began butchering the carcass.
Apart from their notoriety for arrogance, elitism, and contempt for nobles, their skill was undeniable.
Their martial prowess, which swept away gnolls like autumn leaves, was one thing, but their talent for supporting a knight outside of combat was also excellent.
For a knight, how honor was fashioned and displayed mattered just as much as how it was won.
"Just how did Sir Eugene become close to them, no, earn their loyalty?"
The knights looked at Eugene with envy.
Even to an outsider, the bond between them was plainly something far beyond that of employer and mercenary.
Meanwhile, an unexpected item emerged from the gnoll chieftain's body.
"A magic stone?"
"It's small compared to the one taken from the Wendigo."
Eugene wore a puzzled expression at the magic stone Rex had brought.
"It seems this wasn't a naturally occurring specimen. Some kind of otherworldly energy must have influenced it. That's nothing unusual in the Demon Realm," Marbas said after examining the magic stone.
"Let's hand this over to those knights."
"Don't you hate to give it up? They weren't much help anyway. You could keep it and they wouldn't dare say a word."
"Their mercenaries formed the defensive line, and the knights kept the chieftain's attention. If I simply take the whole prize for myself, they may resent it later."
"And yet, judging by the way they look at you, they seem full of goodwill."
"People's hearts can change over time. Something like, 'Now that I think about it, that pisses me off.'"
"Hahaha!"
Marbas guffawed at the voice and expression Eugene put on for the last part.
Indeed, the magic stone alone would more than cover the expenses Salvatore's group had incurred on this expedition and leave a profit.
"What about the meat or blood? Could they be useful?"
Marbas shook his head.
"Even though it's a formidable one, it's still a gnoll at its base. And being from the Demon Realm, its flesh, blood, and all organs are filled with contaminants, so it can't even be used as alchemical material."
"Is it poisonous?"
"Not poison—impurities. Whether they're used in reagents or magical items, they lower the quality. What do you think monsters outside the Demon Realm mainly eat?"
"Probably similar to predators. Animals like rabbits, deer, pigs. Some probably eat tree roots or bark."
Not all mid-sized monsters were carnivores. Some, like minotaurs, actually preferred plants.
"In the Demon Realm, everyone eats everyone. The distinction between predator and prey is meaningless. And those who eat meat accumulate karma in their bodies. Ordinarily, corpses return to the earth and the karma dissipates, but..."
"So before that can happen, they keep devouring each other, and the karma keeps accumulating?"
"Exactly."
Given the era, even a sage like Marbas spoke in abstract religious terms such as karma.
But Eugene couldn't help but think more pragmatically.
'Is it something like biomagnification?'
The Demon Forest, though not filled with water, in some ways resembled a marine ecosystem.
The small were swallowed by the large, the large by the larger, and when the larger died, the small swarmed from all sides to tear at the flesh.
In that process, undesirable things would inevitably accumulate—whether material or spiritual.
The meat of the demons that had poured out from the Wandering Castle would have been superior in cleanliness to the monsters of the Demon Realm.
"Sirs, I have a favor to ask."
"It is not something Sir Eugene should have to ask. This is a task the knights of Gord ought to do."
Salvatore, receiving the belongings of the identified knights, beat his chest with a solemn expression.
Eugene praised that honor and handed over all the equipment of the earlier victims as well.
When a knight's body fallen to bandits or monsters is recovered, one can claim ownership of his equipment and horse—except for a few items like the seal ring that stand in for personal effects.
"You didn't need to go this far."
"An honorable deed going unrewarded would be an injustice in itself, wouldn't it?"
"...Thank you."
Salvatore, who had completely shed any lingering grudge or jealousy from the tournament, embraced Eugene.
"If you ever pass near our family's domain, please do stop by! I will entertain you with the utmost hospitality!"
Rex smacked his lips as he watched the knights depart ahead of them.
"I respect your magnanimity, Sir Knight, but isn't it excessive? The magic stone alone seemed sufficient."
"If I didn't send them off on the pretext of escorting the effects, they'd likely want to stick with us."
"Ah!"
"Even if that were fine, if they followed us all the way to the castle, I'd have to host them, wouldn't I? I don't want that."
"It would be bothersome with more than just one or two."
"Right. I should get rid of them when I can."
They weren't ordinary guests but comrades who had fought beside him, so Eugene would have had to host their mercenaries properly too. Otherwise, his reputation would suffer.
To think that Eugene, who had maintained a dignified bearing since defeating the gnoll chieftain, had been harboring such petty motives.
Rex couldn't hold back his laughter.