Quest Reward

I was taken aback by Egun’s sudden appearance.

Although she had shown herself in the labyrinth before, I never dreamed she would appear in a situation like this.

Tap-

Her red finger lightly tapped Inis’s longsword. The sword turned to ash and disappeared. Time slowly returned to its normal speed.

We all stared at Egun with wide eyes.

“Evil! Evil! Evil! Evil! Cough, cough cough!”

The count’s daughter stood with her mouth open like an idiot, repeating the same words until she choked. Her body trembled uncontrollably.

“Egun. Why have you appeared so suddenly?”

Instead of answering, Egun pointed at the count’s daughter. Well, if not for her, there would be no reason for Egun to appear like this.

“Poor, poor thing.”

“W-w-what?”

She reached out and grabbed the noblewoman’s chin. When their eyes met forcibly, the woman trembled even more. It was surprising that she could tremble even harder than before.

“A child pushed to the very bottom with nowhere to stand. I will give you a place to stay. So rest comfortably there.”

“Y-y-you’re g-g-giving m-m-me a p-p-place to s-s-stay?”

I bit my lip hard at her trembling voice. Her manner of speech and behavior were so funny that it was a bit of a struggle.

“Pfft…”

And it seemed Inis felt the same way. She turned her head away, her shoulders shaking.

“Yes. You don’t want to end your life here, do you? You came all this way because of your strong attachment to life, didn’t you?”

“Y-y-yes…”

“So take my hand. That is your only path to salvation.”

We quietly watched Egun and the count’s daughter. After a moment of consideration, the noblewoman took her hand.

Flare-

Flames bloomed on the back of the noblewoman’s hand. A small tattoo was being engraved.

“I bestow my blessing upon you. With this, you will become even stronger.”

“Th-th-thank you…”

Egun smiled slightly and then approached me. She reached her arm toward Inis, who was standing next to me. Her hand gently stroked Inis’s hair.

“Well done.”

“Thank you…”

Her gaze then turned directly to me. Her smile brightening even more. Egun embraced me tightly. The soft feeling against my chest.

“Romon. My contractor. You’ve done very well.”

“Thank you.”

I also embraced Egun. When I firmly grasped her buttocks, she laughed softly.

“The count’s daughter is a gift I’m giving to you.”

“A gift for me?”

“Yes. It would be a waste to simply cut off her head. Although she can no longer use her status as a noble, the money she will bring and her talent will be of sufficient value.”

『Quest completed!』

『’Isabella’ has been bound to you.』

The moment Egun finished speaking, the quest notification appeared before my eyes. I felt a stinging sensation on the back of my hand, and a tattoo was engraved. At the same time, I felt a connection with the count’s daughter.

“When Isabella becomes stronger, power will also flow to you. It may not be much, but it will help.”

“Thank you.”

She had said the rewards would differ based on achievement level, but I never thought she would give me a person.

“And this is a gift from her to you.”

『’Inis’ has been bound to you.』

Another window appeared. I turned my head to look at Inis. She smiled and showed me the back of her hand.

“This wasn’t Egun’s doing but Inis’s wish?”

“Yes. She strongly desired it, so I helped her. Ask Inis for the details. Now I must go.”

Before leaving, Egun embraced me once more. She put her lips close to my ear and whispered.

『I expect the payment.』

Having said that, Egun turned to ash and scattered. The warmth and sensation I had felt on my body vanished like a mirage.

“Ha.”

I let out a small laugh. I had been curious about what the quest would give me when completed, but I never imagined I would gain two people like this.

There was much I wanted to say and ask Inis and Isabella. But now didn’t seem to be the time.

Toot toot-!

The sound of a horn in the distance. Most likely orc riders. They probably ran away and brought their tribesmen back.

“Shall we leave for now?”

“Yes. That would be best.”

We approached the count’s daughter. She sat on the ground, looking dazed. When we waved our hands in front of her face and called out, her focus finally returned.

“Y-yes?”

“Your name is Isabella, right?”

“Y-yes, yes!”

“Get up if you don’t want to die. Orcs are approaching right now.”

Isabella nodded and got to her feet. Then came the smell of urine. I remembered she had wet herself earlier.

“Ugh… I’m sorry…”

She pressed her legs together and covered her crotch with her hands. But that neither hid the urine stains nor eliminated the smell.

“…Let’s just go for now.”

I said, averting my gaze slightly. Isabella’s face turned crimson as if it might burst.

“I’ll help you.”

Inis quickly tended to her. Since the orcs were approaching, she couldn’t spend much time.

“Master. I’ve fixed it up a bit. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

I headed straight for the stairs without looking at Isabella. The orc riders had significantly closed the distance.

“Go first.”

Thinking we might be caught at this rate, I immediately turned around.

“Yes.”

“What? No, no. No matter what, for us to go first…”

“Just follow quietly.”

Inis forcibly took Isabella with her. Judging by her reaction, she seemed to have basic manners and decency.

“Fire Arrow.”

I summoned a fire arrow and shot it toward the orc riders.

Awoooo-!

The wolves howled. They scattered to either side.

It seemed they intended to cause confusion by dispersing, but that was actually my intention all along. To slow down the orc riders.

Whoosh-

I moved my hand and shot an arrow toward a wolf. Just before it touched the brown fur, the wolf suddenly changed direction.

“Tsk.”

I tried to control it quickly, but the arrow had already passed the wolf and disappeared. The attack missed by a mere fraction of a second.

The goblin riders had fallen for it like fools. Was it because these were actually wolves?

“Fire Arrow.”

I summoned a fire arrow again. I shot it toward the wolves and began controlling it carefully.

Whoosh-

I shot an arrow toward the one in the lead. An attack flying straight on. This time too, the creature was running straight ahead when it suddenly turned sharply. I raised the corner of my mouth at the sight.

“Kuaaargh!”

From the beginning, my target wasn’t the one in front, but the one behind.

To the enemy, it would feel like the arrow had sprung up from the ground. It had been hidden by the orc rider’s bulk until they dodged and revealed it.

Fwoosh!

“Kyaang!”

No matter how quick the wolf was, it couldn’t dodge an arrow that appeared so suddenly. Eventually, it caught fire and rolled on the ground. The orc riding it flew off and collapsed.

“Master!”

I looked up at the call from above. The stairs were wobbling precariously. Seeing this, I quickly summoned an arrow, sent it flying, and then rushed forward.

“Duck!”

I quickly lowered my head when Isabella shouted.

Whoosh-!

A sound of tearing air above my head. The terrifying sound made my legs slightly weak. It was horrifying just to imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t dodged.

Grr-

I gritted my teeth and grabbed the railing. Then I quickly began climbing the stairs.

Clatter-

I could see nearby orc riders dismounting from their wolves and following me up.

“You crazy bastards!!!”

“Kuaaaaargh-!”

Through the gaps between the stairs, I could see the orcs. They must have been tired from coming all the way here, yet they showed such passion. They must be extremely angry.

The speed at which the orcs were climbing the stairs was alarming. No matter how I looked at it, they would catch up at this rate.

“Fire.”

I summoned flames. Then I imagined a small, tall wall in my mind. As imagination and reality aligned, a barrier of flames rose before me.

Fwoosh-!

I passed right through it. I felt nothing.

Bang-!

Not long after, a thunderous sound came from below. Probably the orcs colliding with the wall. A series of pounding sounds followed.

“Uaaaargh-!”

A roar filled with rage. I climbed the stairs even faster. As soon as I reached the very top, I lunged forward.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

“Master, are you alright?”

“Are you okay…?”

I lay face down on the ground, breathing heavily. My heart was beating as if it might burst. The voices of the two women came from beside me.

“I’m, haa, fine… haa…”

I forced out the words to reassure them.

I don’t think I’ve run like this since contracting with Egun. Today I’m having all kinds of new experiences.

“Kuaargh…!”

Hearing the cry from behind, I got up. Looking down at where the stairs had been, I could see the orcs falling.

They should have just stayed put. Why did they have to be so stubborn? Serves them right.

“Let’s go.”

I turned my gaze and spoke to the two women. Inis and Isabella, standing side by side, nodded.

“Ahem.”

Inis cleared her throat and slightly distanced herself. I also stepped back a little.

I had tried to endure as much as possible. But she hadn’t bathed for days and had even wet herself, so you can imagine the smell.

“Ugh…”

Isabella, realizing the situation, hung her head low and blushed.

First thing when we get back is giving Isabella a bath.