Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Kept Mistaken for a Pro (13)
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“R-r-run, run awaaay—!”
“Gaaah!”
The mercenaries let out desperate screams as they scattered in all directions.
Let the living save themselves.
Thud, thud. Amid tremors that shook the earth, the massive deer came to a halt.
From within the rising cloud of dust, it snorted violently, scanning its surroundings.
Its posture was like that of a predator selecting its next prey.
And the monster's choice was simple and swift.
The nearest mercenary was marked as the next victim.
Woodhorn shook its enormous head menacingly with a growl.
Then it pawed the ground with its front hoof, building up momentum.
Rumble...!
With its sharp antlers aimed straight ahead, it charged in a straight line, shaking the ground beneath it.
“Why meee?!”
The targeted mercenary screamed and hurled himself sideways with all his might.
He tumbled across the dirt before staggering to his feet.
His chainmail armor was torn long gashes at the shoulder. He'd dodged by a hair's breadth.
Woodhorn overshot its target and only halted its massive bulk after traveling much farther.
It wheeled around, confirming that its prey was still alive and moving.
In that brief moment, the mercenary was already fleeing for his life. Direction didn't matter. All he could think was to put as much distance as possible between himself and that monstrous horror, as fast as he could.
But he was cursed with utterly rotten luck.
“Gah!”
His foot caught on a protruding tree root, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.
His vision blurred as his mind reeled from the impact.
A few mercenaries who'd glanced back witnessed the scene.
Some thanked his sacrifice and kept running.
A few others paused for a moment, wondering if there was any way to help...
But in the end, no one reached out.
Helping would just make them the next target.
His role—his fate as the first sacrifice—was to buy as much time as possible by struggling desperately for everyone's sake.
“Hnnngh...”
The mercenary, his face a bloody mess, slowly pushed himself up.
He'd barely raised his torso when he staggered, turning to look behind him.
His eyes met the savage gleam in Woodhorn's gaze.
Terror seized him, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He wanted to stand, but his legs refused to obey.
I'll die like this. I can't go out so pathetically. I want to live. Please, I want to live!
Tears and snot streamed down his face as he strained to haul himself upright.
But Woodhorn was already rearing its massive foreleg, preparing another charge.
The ground quaked, the antlers lowered, and the thought that this was truly the end flashed through his mind...
That was the moment.
“Rune, mind if I borrow this?”
“Uh, uh...?”
Asha, who'd approached unnoticed, drew the dagger from the hunter's belt.
'Better to just finish it off.'
If she didn't want to step in, she could always sprint over, hoist the mercenary, and bolt.
But that would just shift the target to another.
Better to end it cleanly than deal with the hassle.
Time to teach this arrogant deer who the real king of the forest was.
Asha set her plan.
At that instant, Woodhorn kicked off the ground and charged.
Asha exploded forward, planting her feet hard.
The hunter beside her didn't even register her movement. By the time he blinked, she was already standing in front of the fallen mercenary.
Why'd that girl suddenly rush over there? And when did she even get that far? Was that even human speed?
Before his confusion could clear, events unfolded in a flash.
Woodhorn barreled toward them with a thunderous roar.
Asha stood squarely in its path, the mercenary at her back, and casually flicked her wrist upward.
A sharp whistle cut the air as the dagger spun through the sky.
Golden hair danced in the wind as Asha stood unflinching.
She looked ready to meet the charge head-on.
“...!”
Everyone who saw it held their breath.
Even the sobbing mercenary behind her gaped at the reckless act.
And then, Woodhorn closed in right before her!
Asha's hands moved in a fluid, arcane motion.
A clear, beautiful sequence of hand gestures too intricate to follow traced paths through the air.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
And then.
Booom—!
A colossal crash shook the earth!
Yet Asha stood serene and dignified, exactly as before.
So what was that thunderous sound?
Something had definitely collided violently—that much was clear.
The fallen mercenary stared blankly to the side.
His eyes bulged wide.
“Whoa, insane...”
The massive deer's head lay right in front of him.
Antlers and all, its jaw smashed into the dirt!
As if it had been crushed by its own charging momentum.
Like some mystical force had wrenched its path aside.
It had all happened in an instant.
The mercenary understood nothing from start to finish.
He just sat there, dazed, staring.
“D-did you get it?”
He mumbled without thinking.
Right then!
Whoosh—thunk.
Asha snatched the falling dagger midair with perfect precision.
In one fluid motion, she plunged it into the deer's neck with a wet stab!
Woodhorn's body shuddered.
Its majestic frame lost balance and toppled sideways.
Asha dusted off her palms with a grin.
“Know your place, beast.”
The mercenary was awestruck.
“A-Asha! How the hell did you do that?!”
“...Well?”
“Hah.”
He exhaled in disbelief.
He alternated stares between the girl and the deer carcass.
“...”
Even looking again, it didn't feel real.
Was there anyone else who saw it? He whipped his head around.
Naturally, the onlookers at a distance weren't much different.
They only realized they'd been holding their breath after everything ended.
They gulped down air greedily.
“Hah, hah... W-what just happened?”
“This isn't a dream, right...?”
The mercenaries couldn't shake off the shock easily.
They even did things they normally wouldn't.
“Hey, that dagger toss and catch actually works in real combat...?”
“Uh, y-yeah...”
“Sorry for calling it bluff all this time.”
“N-no, it's fine.”
It was a bluff, though.
The mercenary who'd taught Asha the trick wore a sheepish look.
“Rune, here's your dagger.”
Asha approached the hunter and returned the borrowed item.
“Sorry for taking it without asking.”
“N-no, it's fine.”
“Got a handkerchief or cloth?”
“Cloth? Hold on...”
Rune rummaged through his pouch.
The scrap for butchering game wouldn't do, and his neckerchief was soaked in sweat...
Finally, he emptied the dried meat from its wrapping cloth and handed it over.
“This work? What for?”
“That fallen merc's got a scrape on his arm.”
“...”
Rune grimaced for a split second before composing himself.
Honestly, he hated wasting the cloth.
Oblivious, Asha trotted over to the injured mercenary.
He was still in a daze.
“Mind showing me your arm?”
She carefully examined the wound.
Not much blood, but the rough skin was scraped raw and red.
Asha shook out the cloth lightly with her fingertips, folded it neatly, and wrapped his arm.
Her movements were casual yet practiced and gentle.
The watching mercenary's cheeks flushed.
'Can I keep this cloth?'
At least until they ask for it back...
He mistakenly thought the cloth was Asha's.
Thus, the village hunter's shabby wrapping became a treasured memento that stirred his heart.
A keepsake to pull out and reminisce over.
While the mercenaries hauled the heavy carcass out of the forest.
Once the path evened out and the direction grew clear, three people pulled ahead.
Hunter Rune, to report to the village chief.
Mercenary leader Logan, to inform his employer Rina's father of the results.
And Asha, because her job was done.
No one objected. Asha had earned it with her feats. Besides, her contract hadn't required manual labor from the start.
“A giant deer monster appeared?”
“Woodhorn, sir. We spotted it fighting the wild boar while tracking it.”
“And you took both down?”
“Yes. Woodhorn got the boar, and our group handled Woodhorn.”
Rune gave a vague report.
What he'd witnessed defied common sense—a truly surreal scene.
Reporting it straight would get him labeled insane.
And he was too mentally drained for long explanations.
He just wanted to get home and crash.
“Hmm...”
The chief stroked his goatee slowly after the report.
Hard to believe they'd felled a Woodhorn.
But no reason for the village hunter to lie.
'They'll bring proof anyway. I'll check then.'
Results mattered now.
The threats to the village were gone; all that remained was payment.
But the situation felt off.
With the right words, he might cut costs—or skip payment altogether.
Avarice glinted in the old chief's eyes.
“Then I'll be off.”
“...Good work. Leave the haggling to me.”
Rune nodded and left the chief's house.
Soon after, the merchants arrived—including Asha.
Rina's father, thrilled and eager to reward her with big money right away, had insisted she come.
Asha, who hated haggling, quietly faded into a corner.
Then Rina's father spoke up, excitement coloring his voice.
“Chief, you've heard the story, right?”
“Yes, not just boars but a Woodhorn too—dangerous business.”
“Exactly. So beyond the agreed fee, additional compensation is only fair.”
“Well...”
The chief trailed off, narrowing his eyes.
“We only requested boars. Never asked for that deer thing. Why should the village pay for it?”
“...!”
Rina's father gaped, stunned.
He grasped the old man's intent perfectly.
“You didn't give accurate info from the start—that's on the village! We faced risks beyond the contract, so we have every right to demand extra!”
“Heh, kidding. Heard the boar was killed by the deer anyway? Should we pay the deer then?”
“We killed that deer monster!”
“Oh? Who asked you to?”
The chief kept weaseling like a sly fox.
No extra pay—and he clearly planned to short even the boar fee.
Rina's father's clenched fist trembled.
Stepping up for long-term trust and symbiosis between village and merchants!
And this was the thanks? Cold-blooded nonsense!
He bellowed in fury.
“You really gonna play it like that?! Without us, who knows what would've happened to your village and forest!”
“Hah, throwing a tantrum? You're no better than bandits trying to extort unrequested cash!”
Rina's father's face turned beet red.
His expression turned murderous, like he'd grab the chief by the collar any second.
The room thickened with tension ready to explode.
A sleazy smirk still curled the chief's lips.
Right then.
“Asha sisss—!”
“Sis! Tell us what happened today!”
Children's bright laughter erupted in layers from nearby.
The kids who'd come with hunter Rune swarmed in like ants to the village hero, Asha.
Twitch.
The chief's brow furrowed sharply.
A chill of foreboding made him shudder instinctively.
Something was about to go sideways...