Ch.117Chapter 117 – Mountain Fortress (Revised)

Abruptly, how does one go about meeting bandits?

The answer was simple.

Choose a place away from the main road, somewhere secluded and easy for an ambush.

Fundamentally, these creatures tend to prefer secluded areas. They can’t go near main roads where guards and occasionally knights patrol, so they favor places with plenty of hiding spots to ensure they can ambush passing travelers.

As a bonus, the best locations are those that make it easy to escape in the worst-case scenario while also making it easy to detect danger.

In other words.

Just walk for a while on a small path slightly away from the main road.

“…Will bandits really appear if we do this?”

Beatrice looked at me with a skeptical expression.

Actually, not just her—both Sera and Christina also wore somewhat doubtful expressions.

“Don’t worry. Just trust me.”

“I’m afraid we’ll just end up wasting energy for nothing.”

Beatrice grumbled as she spoke.

But it wasn’t like I had no basis for my confidence.

How many times had I encountered bandits while traveling through forest paths near main roads in the New Kingdom?

-Rustle

Immediately, the bushes shook slightly.

Pretending not to notice, we walked further in…

“Hand over everything you’ve got!”

With that scripted line.

Wild bandits appeared.

Their number was about 10 or more.

“See?”

“No way, this is real.”

Beatrice muttered in disbelief.

“They really did appear.”

“Well, it was obvious.”

Sera muttered incredulously, as if she had truly been half-doubting.

Just because it was winter didn’t mean these guys would behave themselves.

If they were the type to behave during winter, they wouldn’t have become criminals in the first place.

Still, they must have stockpiled supplies for winter, and they were clearly still operating, targeting travelers who were still moving about. Though obviously, there would be fewer travelers in winter.

“They probably decided to attack without hesitation since it’s been a while since their last income.”

And these are the type who would attack based on numbers alone even against fully armed opponents. Meanwhile, my armor is completely broken, and Sera, Christina, and Beatrice don’t appear to have any notable armaments.

From their perspective, we must have looked like delicious prey.

“What are they muttering about?”

“You’re surrounded! Hand everything over quietly!”

“No, right now…”

One of them looked at our party with lecherous eyes.

To be honest, I won’t repeat what he was thinking since it’s not appropriate to say in front of women, but he clearly had more than just our possessions in mind.

And he wasn’t the only one—several others around him began eyeing our party with greedy looks.

“Ugh…”

Christina began to shrink back.

Indeed, those weren’t the kind of stares that were good for one’s mental health.

I feel a bit guilty for putting them in this situation.

“Let’s clean this up quickly.”

As I drew the weapon I had already switched to a sword, the bandits’ eyes gleamed menacingly.

“We have the advantage! Attack!”

The one who appeared to be the leader shouted bravely.

With eyes burning with greed, the bandits began charging courageously.

And toward them, I began swinging my weapon, which I had changed to a mace.

+

A short while later.

We were settled in a mountain hideout.

Naturally, it was the hideout that the bandits had been using.

“They really do just charge in relying on numbers.”

Beatrice muttered dejectedly as she examined a cupboard.

When she found a bottle of alcohol inside, I saw her pick it up.

Of course, numbers don’t mean much against me or Beatrice.

Even Sera and Christina could handle bandits who were equipped with nothing more than chest guards and worn-out weapons.

Of course, those two might be in danger if surrounded, but that’s only if they were fighting alone.

In any case, the bandits’ misfortune stemmed from their inability to recognize the skill gap before attacking.

We dealt with them, and some bandits were sacrificed.

Then we captured one survivor to find out the location of their hideout and…

Now we were in the process of looting everything.

“There’s no separate treasure room.”

Though only about 10 of them had attacked us, there were actually twice as many in the hideout.

I was surprised at how large the operation was for being near a main road.

Fortunately, that meant there were plenty of supplies to take.

“There’s really no better supply source than bandits.”

They’re like treasure goblins, so to speak.

Easy to catch, with no particularly valuable items, but they have decent stockpiles and almost never run away.

They’re excellent supply shuttles that yield something with every raid.

All that trouble of constantly encountering bandits in the New Kingdom was definitely not in vain.

“What did you do with the bandits?”

“I tied up the survivors and threw them down the mountain, so you don’t need to worry.”

Beatrice said.

So we won’t have to worry about them suddenly appearing and attacking us.

“Then, shall we gather what we need and leave?”

“Let’s rest here for a day.”

Beatrice said as she approached me with the bottle of alcohol.

“Rest? We need to return as quickly as possible…”

“I’ve already talked with the others. We’re resting here today.”

Beatrice snapped, as if telling me not to argue further.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“Me? I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie.”

Beatrice narrowed her eyes.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good, so get some rest.”

“…Really?”

“Honestly, everyone’s noticed, but we’re pretending not to for your sake.”

Beatrice stood up.

Soon she went outside with the bottle.

‘She’s quite perceptive.’

I unconsciously touched the area around my heart.

“When fighting, I didn’t feel any particular strain…”

I hadn’t felt anything unusual while fighting the bandits earlier.

But it seems my body wasn’t in perfect condition yet, as my complexion had apparently deteriorated.

“I guess I have no choice.”

Since they were being considerate, I thought I should rest a bit.

+

A little later, we were gathered in a large room.

Naturally, we had gathered for a meal, and the spread was quite generous.

“Is it okay to prepare this much?”

“They had enough for a large group. We’ve already gathered all the food we’ll need to reach the capital.”

Sera said this was made from what was left.

I wondered if it was okay to make so much, but after all, we had looted the bandits’ food.

It’s up to us how we use what would have gone to waste anyway.

So I started filling my stomach with the porridge Sera had made.

I could feel more strength returning to my body, and by the time I had quickly finished the porridge…

“Kay.”

“Yes?”

Sera quietly called my name.

“…There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

Sera spoke while slightly gauging my reaction.

I could feel that Christina, and even Beatrice who was pretending not to, were listening intently.

“It’s about your physical condition.”

“…I’ll explain.”

I thought about hiding it to avoid worrying them, but Beatrice had already noticed that I wasn’t normal.

I thought it would be better to be honest than to hide it.

Soon I slowly opened my mouth. I explained that my heart was a replica of a dragon’s heart, about the dragon Pia, and then…

“…So you were on the verge of death because of that black dragon…”

“Yes.”

I explained up to the point where Pia had used a technique to keep me alive.

Soon Beatrice sighed once and looked at me.

A magic circle appeared before her eyes.

“Helmet, sometimes there were red lightning-like discharges coming from your body.”

“That’s right.”

“Now, looking with my appraisal skill, I can see that lightning violently surging around your heart.”

I was a bit impressed that she could see even that.

And regardless of my reaction, Beatrice continued speaking.

“So according to what you’re saying, that lightning is forcibly keeping your heart beating to keep you alive?”

“That’s right.”

I hadn’t explained it properly.

Yet Beatrice had accurately grasped the situation.

Soon her face darkened a bit.

“…You do understand what condition your body is in, right?”

“Yes.”

Carefully, I opened my mouth.

“I know I’m essentially on the verge of death.”

Sera’s face turned pale.

Christina closed her eyes and quietly put her hands together in prayer.

Beatrice quietly opened the bottle of alcohol.

And after taking a sip, she spoke again.

“Well, I already knew your heart was a replica of a dragon’s heart from when we captured you and analyzed you.”

“I see.”

Come to think of it, I was examined by Asam back then.

If Beatrice was always with Asam, she would have known about my heart all along.

“And now when I look at you with my appraisal skill, I can see your body gradually changing to become like that heart.”

“Changing?”

“Yes. Becoming similar to a dragon’s heart.”

Beatrice paused for a moment.

“Essentially, you’re turning into a dragon.”

“Yes.”

Pia had said I would become something not human.

So that’s what she meant.

At that moment, Christina, who had been praying, carefully spoke up.

“…Is it your special power that’s keeping you alive, benefactor?”

“From what I can see.”

“…But that power, from what I observed, was a power that strains you to the point of shortening your lifespan.”

Christina carefully opened her mouth.

Soon, as if reluctant to acknowledge it, she closed her eyes and slowly said:

“In other words, if that power is extending your grace period by consuming your lifespan…”

“I won’t live very long.”

I tried to smile carefully.

“I knew that.”

Sera lowered her head.

Christina quietly began to pray again.

And Beatrice decided to carefully analyze the situation.

“First, if that power is gradually turning you into a dragon, there should be other changes as well.”

“I did see Kay summon armor like a dragon back then.”

Sera quietly spoke up.

“And he also wielded magic.”

“I did?”

“Don’t you remember?”

I carefully nodded at Sera’s words.

Apparently I had worn some kind of armor summoned by a dragon, but I couldn’t remember because I was out of my mind at the time.

Soon after I explained this, Sera carefully nodded.

“Indeed, Kay wasn’t in his right mind then.”

“So you went berserk.”

Beatrice carefully defined that state.

“Trading your lifespan for the ability to go berserk like a dragon somehow seems like a bad deal.”

“I know.”

What use is power I can’t control at will?

I’m grateful it helped me escape that crisis, but if I was going to be given something, I wish it had been easier to handle.

“…So that’s how you were able to defeat the black dragon.”

“Come to think of it, at the end, that dragon seemed to be saying something while holding onto Kay.”

Indeed it had.

And then it opened a warp gate and sent everyone away.

It clearly said it had read my memories…

“It said it read my memories and put something in.”

“Do you know what?”

“No idea.”

I only just properly remembered that much, so I didn’t recall anything specific.

Nothing I could do about that.

“At least now I can guess why we all landed nearby.”

It was clear that the dragon had read my memories and dropped us as close together as possible.

In a way, it was showing goodwill…

‘Why did it do that?’

And what did it mean by putting something in?

I couldn’t tell yet.

“Well, let’s leave the dragon topic at that. There’s not much point in thinking about it further.”

Beatrice took another drink before speaking.

The faint smell of cheap alcohol spread.

“This is troublesome. If Helmet becomes terminally ill.”

“Why is it troublesome?”

“Because there will be many people sad if you die.”

Beatrice spoke as if stating the obvious.

At those words, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Will you be sad too?”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll be as sad as you like.”

I hadn’t expected this answer.

While I was dumbfounded, Beatrice took another sip of alcohol.

“Good people die too soon.”

Beatrice muttered gloomily.

“I’m not dead yet.”

“You’re dying.”

“You think I’ll die without a fight?”

Beatrice looked at me.

“There must be a way.”

I carefully looked at my companions.

I fixed my gaze especially on Sera.

“You have to struggle until the very end before giving up.”

“Whose words are those?”

“Grandma Sera’s words.”

At that, Sera’s eyes widened slightly.

“You remember those words?”

“Of course.”

It was what Sera had told me when Christina diagnosed that it would be difficult to restore my face to its original state.

Yes, I remembered.

Though full restoration was still far off, my face had improved to the point where others wouldn’t frown in disgust when looking at me.

“Just as a genius alchemist almost completely fixed my face, I think somehow things will work out if I don’t give up and keep struggling.”

“That’s right.”

Christina also seemed to remember those words as she smiled and looked at Sera.

Beatrice also looked at Sera, perhaps due to the atmosphere.

Soon Sera blushed and bowed her head deeply.

And then.

“…Yes. Keep struggling.”

Sera raised her head and smiled.

“I’ll fix you.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded lightly to Sera.

Yes.

“I have to struggle.”

Even though my body had become essentially terminal.

I had not the slightest intention of just dying.