Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 60: The Festival Of Dark Mages (6).

After being swept through by the necromancer’s night raid, the village suffered considerable damage. The screams mixed with tears of those who lost their families continued until the early dawn.

The bodies that started burning from the night continued to burn until the morning sun rose. A few villagers with weak stomachs vomited due to the disgusting smell of the burning bodies.

Having already experienced such a terrible event, the villagers readily accepted the idea of fleeing to the city. They were not unaware that staying here meant certain death. Only the elderly, who were born and raised here, chose to stay until the end, preferring to die in their homeland rather than dying as guests on the road.

Those who decided to leave tried to take as much valuable property as they could. Some even tried to take their livestock with them, but the mercenary group naturally did not allow it.

“You’re just trying to avoid danger for a while. You’re not leaving forever, so just pack some money and food.”

The elderly village chief went around the village, persuading them. Still, there were quite a few who wouldn’t listen, but as long as it wasn’t too severe, the mercenary group tacitly allowed it.

Thus, nearly five hundred people left their beloved hometown to take refuge. Even the rowdy children, sensing the grim atmosphere, quietly held their parents’ hands and followed.

Since most of the horses had died from the ghouls, unlike when they arrived in carriages, the mercenaries had to walk with the refugee procession when leaving.

Whenever they rested, people asked the Blind Saintess and the devout believer Christopher to please pray for God’s blessing. They moved among the people, praying tirelessly without proper rest, yet they seemed to have no complaints at all. Rather, they acted as if it was only natural.

“I’m glad I didn’t become a believer. If I had, I probably would’ve kicked those bastards’ balls so hard they’d burst for disturbing my rest.”

“You retard, who asked you to?”

As Bald Illiterate Billy kicked at the air while lying down, Inkster Arnold chuckled and said that.

Among the mercenaries’ vulgar chatter, the short break ended. Hundreds of people began moving again towards the mid-sized city, Hegel.

Even the money-loving merchant groups seemed scared of the dark mages’ rampage, as not a single group was seen roaming the big and small villages. Well, even they wouldn’t risk their lives for a mere pittance, after all.

The procession’s pace was quite slow. Not only were there robust young men, but also the old and weak mixed in. Group Leader Rudra took breaks as often as possible, but they couldn’t endure such a sudden forced march.

As a result, the expressions of the members gradually hardened. Honestly, for them, it would have been best if they got to the city with as little fighting as possible and all of their limbs intact. But, this was the opposite when it came to the group leaders.

After walking and resting all day, the group decided to stop at sunset and set up camp there. It was more akin to sleeping outside than camping, in truth.

For the Allen-Mercenary Group, a mat was all they had for a bed. Of course, there was no firewood around to start a campfire. Bringing torch sticks from the village to light up the surroundings was the best they could do.

The wind blowing fiercely across the desolate sand plains was bitterly cold. Yet, Allen, having once experienced the dungeon’s severe cold, found the chill bearable with an extra layer or two of clothing.

The group had arranged the people in the center, with the mercenary groups forming a circle around them. Each mercenary group had one person on night watch.

“Everyone, stay alert and keep watch. They might dig through the ground to approach us like yesterday, so check the ground regularly.”

Yesterday, the stone walls obscured the ground, but that wasn’t the case today. Proper vigilance should prevent a repeat of yesterday’s unfortunate events.

Fortunately, it seemed that the dark mage had made the bandits as scarce as extinct animals, as they hadn’t seen any by day or night. They also valued their lives. That was probably why they wouldn’t dare come near… or perhaps they were already dead.

“I know I’ve said it so many times that you must be sick of hearing it…, but there’s no need to be too scared of them. You had a rough fight yesterday, so shouldn’t you be able to handle it now? Now that you’ve gained some experience, if we have to fight the enemies again, it will be much easier to deal with them.”

“Definitely, we’ve confirmed that their balls aren’t their weak point.”

“Heheheh—.” Everyone chuckled softly at the bald man’s joke. While it was important to avoid becoming too tense from excessive nervousness, as the group leader, he didn’t want them to become too relaxed either.

“So…, anyway. Don’t take off your gear even when you sleep. You all know the reason by now.”

“Yes, Leader.”

“Everyone, get a good night’s sleep. The ones on night watch, hang in there.”

Except for those on night watch, the rest immediately fell into a deep sleep as soon as they hit the mats.

Allen tossed and turned a few times before quickly falling asleep as well.

Fortunately, the dark mages did not appear for two days. People seemed to hope wildly that perhaps they had managed to shake them off, but Allen did not think so at all.

‘Being the kind of bastards they are, they must be lurking somewhere—waiting for an opportunity. We must not let our guard down…!’

It was also possible that they were making them complacent by staying away for a few days, only to attack suddenly. Considering the scale of the enemy faced last time, the mercenaries believed that was the case, but the dark mages undoubtedly must have also believed that it was worth trying to fight and win.

When looked at calmly, the ones who would definitely suffer from fighting were the mercenaries. Even if the necromancer lost in the battle, they could simply retreat for a while and then slowly replenish their corpses elsewhere. On the contrary, if they won, it would be an opportunity to increase their size further. …Of course, if the necromancers were to be killed, the story would change.

Anyway, after another long forced march on the third day, night fell again.

The distance left till they arrived would be reached as early as tomorrow afternoon and at the latest, within the day after tomorrow. Allen believed that, without a doubt, there would be an attack by the enemies tonight.

The members hoped that if they could somehow get through tonight, they might be able to return safely to the city. However, unfortunately, Allen poured cold water on their spark of hope.

“If they don’t attack us today, they’ll have no more chances. They’ll likely storm in tonight. So, everyone, stay sharp.”

Not only Allen but all the other group leaders thought the same. Naturally, they ordered the night watch to be more vigilant than usual.

“Yeah, damn it, what kind of bastards are they—! Why would they leave us alone? They’ll definitely come. I’d bet one of my balls—!”

The bald, illiterate made such a bold declaration.

…However, unbelievably, the enemies did not appear that night either. Everyone was baffled. Honestly, even Allen couldn’t help but be surprised this time.

As soon as they woke up early in the morning, the group leaders gathered in one place as if they had promised to do so.

“Why didn’t the enemies show up?”

“But, if they don’t show up, isn’t that actually better for us?”

“That’s true.”

“It seems we’ve really ostracized them.”

“We can complete the mission without any sacrifices!”

It was a situation hard to understand, yet the joy was evident. If they could avoid fighting them, what could be better—?!

Of course, Allen couldn’t be as simply happy as they were.

Why would they leave such tempting prey alone? If that’s really the case, why? What for?

It seemed Group Leader Rudra also felt something suspicious like Allen. So, after the group leaders dispersed, she came to find Allen alone.

Throughout the time she had seen him, he was sufficiently trustworthy and an excellent leader. In the goal of surviving together, receiving his help was a path of mutual assistance. Thus, he became a colleague she could trust and rely on. The sense of rivalry had already faded away.

“Is there anything you suspect?”

“Well, it’s strange. This is hard to understand….”

“Maybe we should just take it positively?”

“……That could be possible. Yes. It might just be my unfounded worry.”

Allen began to slightly feel that perhaps his worry had been too much. And the fact that this worry was unfounded was clearly shown right before his eyes, undeniable.

“It seems like returning to the city quickly should be our priority.”

“Right. Understood.”

The group hastily ate their breakfast and moved again towards the city, Hegel.

“Hey fucker, you said they’d definitely come yesterday. Said you’d cut off your balls if they didn’t. Gonna do it now?”

“Ah shit, give me a break, you bastard—!”

“You retard, that’s why I told you not to run your mouth carelessly.”

“Ah, alright, cut them. Go ahead—.”

The bald illiterate suddenly stripped off his pants and, with his grotesque penis dangling, made a fuss about having his balls cut off.

“Ah—.”

The Blind Saintess and the milk-jug mage turned their heads away quickly as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.

“Ah, just pull your pants up. It’s fucking disgusting—!”

“Fuck, you can’t even cut them. Heh heh.”

“Then I’m really gonna do it! Fucker, don’t regret it!”

“Ah, I got it, I got it. Can’t even take a joke. Shit. So heartless. Hehe.”

The bald illiterate who had protected his filthy testicles smirked annoyingly as he pulled his pants back up. …The milk-jug mage suddenly realized that the group leader’s penis was very large. In comparison, Billy’s willie was no different from a dirty baby’s willie.

Anyway, they walked and rested all morning, and finally, the city walls began to come into view.

“It’s Hegel—!”

Someone shouted with a hopeful voice. They all hugged each other with expressions of relief.

……But something was off.

Why the smoke?

Why were several columns of black smoke rising into the sky from inside the city?

In an instant, Allen felt a chill run down his spine. He swallowed dryly and hurriedly ran to Group Leader Rudra, who was walking at the front.

“Group Leader Rudra—!”

“Allen…!”

Not only them but the expressions of the other group leaders also slowly shifted from hope to surprise and despair.

Though it seemed unlikely, they realized that this very thought precisely coincided with the situation of why it had been calm last night.

The murmuring grew louder. It didn’t take long for it to turn into sighs filled with despair.

And when the crowd got close to the city, that terrible assumption turned into certainty.

“Ah—.”

Only then did Allen understand why the dark mages hadn’t attacked them.

…The mid-sized city of Hegel,

Had fallen to the enemies overnight.