Chapter 62: Kid(2)
Chapter 62: Kid(2)
The little boy began to explain his situation, sniffling the whole time. Damn, he was really sucking it all back in.
"Sniffle... My mommy... my mommy... she's been captured... The bad men... sniffle... said if I brought the big sisters and big brother... sniffle... they'd let her go... Please help me..."
"Those bad men... one of them wasn't incredibly fat, and the other rail-thin, were they?"
The boy nodded. They were practically advertising that it was a trap. It seemed they had figured out Lina's personality.
"Was there a monster with a lion's head?"
Barikmeteo. If he was there, things could get complicated.
"I didn't see a monster like that. Sniffle."
That was a relief. The party began to discuss the matter.
"Kerry, will you be able to use the tracking magic again?"
"I can. Thanks to the elixir."
Kerry gripped the orb.
He could now use magic with the mana in his own body without having to charge the orb beforehand.
Though his reserves weren't exactly plentiful yet.
Kerry activated the tracking magic, focusing his search in the direction the boy said his mother was.
He could feel them in the waves of mana.
The pig and the skeleton. Just as the boy had said, Barikmeteo was nowhere nearby.
Not bad.
But the real problem was the number of monsters they commanded.
Kerry could sense massive beasts he had never seen before and had no desire to ever meet.
Are these huge ones trolls? They brought some troublesome bastards with them.
And they filled out the ranks with kobolds and wolves. I see some monsters I don't even know the names of, too. Looks like they're serious this time.
Kerry told the party everything he had sensed.
"This has become a headache. It seems they've prepared thoroughly."
"Yes, that was definitely the feeling I got. And this time, they weren't hiding. It felt like they were certain we would come."
"...Was the boy's mother there?"
"Yes. The skeleton was holding her."
"..."
"It's a blatant invitation to walk right in. Do we have to go, knowing full well it's a trap?"
"..."
Lina clenched her fists.
She glanced over at the boy standing a short distance away. I could see her steeling her resolve.
Her expression was one of indescribable anguish. With her kind heart, it was inevitable.
She felt sorry asking us to walk into a trap, but she couldn't abandon the child's mother either. I hate these kinds of frustrating developments.
Just as Lina's lips parted to speak, Kerry beat her to it.
"Lina. I have a plan. If you don't mind, would you hear me out?"
Lina's eyes widened. Then, she smiled warmly and said, "Let's all hear it."
That smile was even more burdensome to Kerry than her gaze full of trust.
*
Kerry had always believed that people were fundamentally selfish. But even so, the way these bastards operated was infuriating.
They needed to learn about having some decency.
I was starting to understand why Lina hated them to death.
"What do you think? I think it's a pretty good plan."
"..."
Why was no one answering? Did they not like it? I thought it was a decent strategy.
But Kerry's worries were unfounded.
Lina suddenly grabbed his hand. Then she gave him that signature look, brimming with trust. Stop it! It's too much pressure.
"I'm... I'm so glad you're here, Kerry. If you weren't here... I... I would have just been played by them."
To Lina, Kerry's existence was more than a goddess of luck... no, a god of luck.
"Lina, aren't you holding his hand for a little too long? My husband is mine, you know."
"Ahaha. My apologies, Natasha."
"Anyway, I think we should just do what my husband said! I'm all for it!"
"I also believe the method Kerry described is our best option."
"That's my son-in-law."
"I think we should proceed with the plan exactly as you've laid it out, Kerry."
Kerry nodded. It was finally time for the intermediate-level spell stored in the Hero-grade Magic Storage Orb to shine.
I really picked the perfect spell to store in it.
"Natasha. Please get ready. Your role is crucial."
"You can count on me, Husband. Hehe."
Natasha separated from the group and disappeared into the forest, occasionally looking back to wave.
"Little boy. You ride this back home."
As the grandmother chanted an incantation, tree roots and vines twisted together to form a pony.
Once the boy was on its back, it immediately galloped toward the village.
"Big brother! Big sisters! Please save my mommy. Thank you!"
Heh. Since he didn't call me 'mister.' I'm only helping because he's cute.
"Well then, let's get moving. To where they are."
"Yes, Lina."
Lina's party walked slowly in the direction of the skeleton and the pig. There was no need to hurry.
The enemy would wait for them to arrive anyway, and Natasha needed time to prepare.
It was then that Victoria sidled up next to Kerry as he walked quietly.
"Huhu. With Natasha gone, Kerry is all mine."
"...Aren't you a little too close, Victoria?"
"What's wrong with it? Doesn't Natasha cling to you every day? I should be allowed to do it for one day."
With Natasha, I was sort of used to it by now.
Besides, Natasha and Victoria were different.
When Natasha clung to me, she gave off a cute vibe. But when Victoria did the same, the atmosphere somehow turned erotic.
Part of it was due to Victoria's curvaceous body, but the sly expression she gave me was also brimming with sensuality.
Look at that. Even Lina doesn't know where to look and is pretending to gaze off into the distance. The vibe really is different from Natasha.
Just then, something pressed against Kerry's ass.
It was Victoria's hand. While pretending to cling to him, she was copping a feel.
This woman has no sense of time or place! Her 'frustration' cooldown shouldn't be over yet.
It was useless for Kerry to bat her hand away.
Victoria caressed his ass as if it were her own. I might as well give up.
When you thought about it, it was largely Kerry's fault that Victoria had become this way.
The price for Victoria's disobedience would simply have to be paid later with my enhanced cock.
Lina, walking ahead, spoke in a low voice.
"We've arrived. The air is overflowing with a thick killing intent."
"Kerry. From here, it would be best to use 'that'."
"This seems like a good spot, then? Understood."
Kerry infused mana into the Hero-grade orb.
Their preparations complete, the party walked forward. Before them was a plateau.
Piles of rock were scattered all around.
The plateau was encircled by hills, and it seemed the enemy was hiding among them.
Lina shouted, acting as their representative.
"Are you going to keep hiding? I doubt you're foolish enough to believe you can conceal a killing intent this strong."
Only then did the enemy begin to poke their heads out one by one from the high hills around them.
Kobolds and wolves came into view. There were also four trolls.
Four trolls was a number that could be a major factor even in a siege.
There were also monsters I'd never seen before, and some with bizarre teeth that looked like they'd inflict a horrific wound if they bit you.
Looks like they dragged out every useful creature in the forest.
Lina's party was now surrounded at the base of the circular hills.
Finally, Furuku and Nassen appeared.
"Buhik! They really came! Just like Nassen said, they're out of their minds! Buhik!"
"I knew it. It's not like we've only known each other for a day or two. Did you think I wouldn't notice such a fatal personality flaw?"
Lina bit her lip hard.
Even after hearing that, she had no choice but to come here.
"Where is the hostage?" Kerry asked.
"Oh? The man... this is the first time we're speaking face-to-face, isn't it? What was your name again? Kerry? Right. I'm sure that was it."
"Annoying man! Buhik! I won't let you off this time! I'm going to chew you up alive! Buhik!"
Annoying man? Is that what they've been calling me? I'll have to show them what's truly annoying.
"I have no intention of talking to you. Just show us the hostage."
"You mean this bitch?"
From behind Nassen, kobolds brought a woman forward. Nassen grabbed her by the hair.
"Aah! He-help me! Please, help me... Please, just spare my life..."
The woman didn't appear to be injured, though she was terrified.
Then again, there weren't many people who wouldn't be scared in the face of such a horde of monsters.
"How about it? The woman looks healthy, doesn't she? But what were you thinking, coming all the way here? Do you really think you can save her from my grasp?"
"..."
"Think rationally. This woman is already dead."
"Help me... please help me... sob..."
Lina's sword hummed, woooong. It felt as if the blade itself were growling and baring its teeth.
"Oh, my. How scary. Are you going to cut me in half again? But are you sure about that? Didn't you come here to save this woman?"
"If the woman dies, there's no point in you being here! Buhik!"
"Just as Furuku said."
They laughed, full of confidence. Lina's party held their positions, glaring at them.
Laugh while you can.
"But what's with the red-headed psycho? She's being awfully quiet."
"Buhik. The craziest bitch is quiet! Strange!"
They were right. Natasha was standing silently next to Kerry.
Fortunately, it seemed they hadn't noticed anything.
"Well, I guess it's to be expected. Even a madwoman wouldn't dare to run wild in a situation like this."
"I'll kill that red-headed bitch. Buhik!"
"So, what will it be? Will you die quietly? Or will you kill the hostage here and have an all-out brawl? The choice is yours."
"They're dumber than me! Buhik!"
It was then that the hostage cried out.
"J-Just! Just kill all of them! I'm not going to make it out of here anyway! Kill every last one of these bastards! They're the ones responsible! They're the ones who have been kidnapping the villagers!"
"Stupid bitch, do you not understand the situation? Hehe."
"Buhik! This woman is stupid too!"
"Furuku, go down and kill them. It's obvious they can't fight back as long as we have the woman hostage."
"Got it. Buhik!"
Furuku started down the hill.
The sight of him descending with two trolls was quite intimidating.
Thud— Thud—
The massive figures stood before Lina.
"Don't move. If you move, this woman dies. Got it?"
"..."
"Buhik. Stupid bitch. Die!"
Furuku's iron mace swung back in a wide arc.
He was poised to smash Lina's head in a single blow.
Just then—
Lina's sword moved with the speed of a flash. At the same time, blood spurted from Furuku's body with a wet tear.
"Buhiiiiiik!"
Furuku let out a piercing scream from Lina's strike.
Blood gushed from his body. It was far beyond a simple flesh wound.
"I suppose I've been underestimated."
"..."
"My apologies to the lady over there... but I cannot die in your place."
Lina remembered her mission.
I have to stop the Holy War. Until then, I cannot die, even if I am killed.
"It's okay! Kill them all... Mmph!"
"Shut up, you bitch. Stay still."
Nassen clamped a hand over the woman's mouth and smiled viciously.
"Yes. That's more like it. Furuku! Stop whining and get up."
At that same moment, Furuku grabbed a nearby kobold and swallowed it in one bite. The wound Lina had given him began to close.
"Buhik... I really thought I was going to die."
"I have no intention of letting you die so easily. Don't worry. I have a lot of scores to settle with you."
"Buhik... You damn blonde bitch! What are you all doing! Everyone, attack!"
The monsters swarmed down from the hills. Surrounded, there seemed to be no way out.
At that moment, Victoria slammed her sword into the ground.
Wooooong—
Simultaneously, a protective barrier formed around us.
"If you can break through this, then by all means, try. You insignificant creatures."
The monsters that came down from the hills hammered against Victoria's barrier. A troll brought its massive club down on it.
Wolf-like monsters slammed their bodies against the shield.
But the barrier held firm. It didn't even budge.
It was then that Nassen, still holding the woman, began to mumble an incantation.
"Watch out! It's a curse!"
The grandmother shouted and began to chant her own spell, likely trying to block Nassen's curse.
But she alone wasn't enough to stop Nassen's magic, and black spots began to appear on the party's skin.
"Ugh... Son-in-law... I don't think I can hold on for much longer."
"It's alright. This is more than enough time."
Kerry smiled, certain of their victory. By now, Natasha's preparations had to be complete.