Ch.60Chapter 60 – The Fisherman Who Catches People (1)

Keeping a certain distance, the adventurers continued to follow us.

Do they still believe they haven’t been noticed?

Either way, they showed no signs of attacking immediately.

“I thought they’d attack as soon as we got away from the gate.”

I said, looking at Eve.

She glanced back slightly and replied.

“I think there are exactly two reasons why they haven’t attacked yet.”

“Such as?”

“First, we’re still within the territory, so if their attack is discovered, they could be pursued.”

Eve turned her gaze slightly again and looked at me.

“The other is that they still don’t think we’ve noticed them.”

“They’re being so obvious, yet they think we haven’t noticed.”

“Well, Seraphina and Christina still haven’t noticed, so it’s not unreasonable.”

Those two had fallen asleep on the cart but were now awake again, looking around and chatting with each other.

Perhaps because they were only a year apart in age, they had quickly become friends and were engaged in lively conversation.

From a distance, it would look like a heartwarming scene, but in a situation where someone might attack at any moment, I wished they would be a bit more cautious.

‘Or maybe they think we haven’t noticed because those two are acting like that.’

Considering that possibility, I looked at Eve.

“Just asking, you don’t have any weapons besides your sword, right?”

“I left my crossbow at the guild, so all I have is my sword.”

A crossbow would have been better.

I had all my weapons, but essentially I was the only one who could use them.

Well, I suppose Sera could swing something if needed.

“But it’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Why are they targeting us?”

Eve looked at me as she said this.

“Are they after the wine?”

“If they’re following us this persistently for wine and grapes, that would be impressive in its own way.”

Eve replied with disbelief.

Well, I was just throwing out ideas.

“Then are they trying to kidnap someone?”

Eve pondered my words for a moment.

“That’s possible. If they’re human traffickers.”

Soon Eve smiled slightly and said.

“With our group, quite a few people would be targets.”

“Where does that confidence come from…?”

“Am I wrong?”

In truth, not just Eve but Sera and Christina were quite pretty too, so they could be targets, but I didn’t say that out loud.

If I did, I’d surely get smacked.

“But you don’t seem scared, Eve?”

“Because I have you.”

Eve said leisurely.

“I’ll protect the others and the luggage, so you protect me.”

“Of course.”

It’s obviously my duty.

Actually, protecting the luggage is part of my job too.

We had arrived at the gate, so we prepared to pass through.

‘I should tell them soon.’

I approached Sera and Christina to explain the situation, and their expressions turned serious as they heard what was happening.

“So, right now, behind us?”

“Don’t look around trying to spot them. They don’t seem to have realized that we’ve noticed them yet.”

I warned them in advance, and Christina, who was about to look around, stopped in surprise.

“Do you think they noticed?”

Glancing back, there was no sign they had noticed our awareness.

Well, looking around once or twice could be dismissed as habit or coincidence.

“We might be safe near the gate, but beyond that it could be dangerous…”

Christina said tensely.

Sera, who had been walking quietly, spoke up.

“I don’t think they’ll attack until nightfall.”

Sera said cautiously.

“If I were them, I’d leave our sight temporarily to make us let our guard down, then attack at night.”

“That makes sense.”

“But since they outnumber us, they don’t necessarily need to attack at night, do they, Sera?”

“They probably don’t want to be seen by passersby.”

Eve said.

“Perhaps they want to fight with every advantage they can get.”

I fell into thought for a moment.

Either way, we need to deal with them.

‘The best method.’

-Thud!

At the sudden sound, I turned to see the cart had just passed over a stone.

Nothing fell, but the arrangement of grape boxes on the cart had shifted slightly.

Seeing that gave me an idea.

“I have a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll explain slowly.”

After saying that vaguely, I looked at the sky.

Judging by the sun, it would start getting dark in about two hours.

“Let’s decide on watch shifts first.”

Christina and Sera looked at me as if to say, “Is that really important right now?”

+

When camping outdoors, someone needs to stand watch.

There were four of us, but since our esteemed employer standing watch was out of the question, the three employees would take turns.

“Of course it’s me.”

It was Sera’s turn to stand watch alone in a situation where an attack could come at any time, requiring maximum vigilance.

Christina’s turn hadn’t come yet, and Kay had taken the first shift, so he was now sleeping.

Looking at her companions’ blankets, Sera took out a book.

She planned to pass the time studying alchemy while reading her grandmother’s journal.

-Rustle.

The grass moved slightly.

‘They’re here.’

She lightly poked a blanket with her staff and surveyed the surroundings.

She accidentally bumped the cart, making a loud sound, but ignored it.

‘…Where will they come from?’

As she had predicted, it was time for the ambush.

Just as she approached her companions’ blankets…

‘Carefully.’

Everyone knew an attack was coming.

Soon, they would all wake up.

And then people began rushing out from the grass.

“Eek?!”

Though she knew it was coming, she couldn’t help being startled.

Still, she swung her staff and cast Magic Missile.

Her aim was terrible, though, and no one was hit.

“Attack…!”

She needed to wake everyone quickly.

With that thought, she tried to shout loudly.

And then arrows began to fly.

-Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Soon the blankets covering her companions became a pile of arrows.

“Ah…!”

Seeing the blankets turned into porcupines, she fell back in surprise as the adventurers approached.

“What is this…?”

In shock, Sera approached the blankets.

It was too dark to see clearly, but some liquid seemed to be flowing.

No one was moving.

It was too late.

The adventurers approached Sera.

“Come here, miss.”

They approached with weapons pointed, looking every bit like criminals.

Judging by their faces, they might actually be criminals.

“Even so, there was no need to kill…”

She said, backing away.

“This place needs to become a site of a bandit attack.”

“And there should be no survivors.”

Passing by the arrow-filled blankets, the man spoke.

“What exactly is your purpose?”

She gathered her courage to ask.

At the very least, she needed to know their objective.

“You.”

Sera’s mind went blank for a moment.

“Me?”

“Well, the target is…”

With her head full of question marks, Sera continued backing away.

-Thud

“Ah.”

She had reached the cart they had set up nearby.

The cart full of grapes blocked her retreat.

In front of her were many men, with what looked like two or three silhouettes holding bows.

It was too many to handle alone without allies.

“This girl looks pretty good, and she’s got a nice body too.”

“Yeah, and she’s got some nice big ones on her. Let’s…”

As one man reached out with lecherous intent, the man who seemed to be the leader slapped his hand away.

“Stop it. The client could kill us.”

“Tch.”

He seemed to have quite a bit of charisma.

At least the other adventurers didn’t seem inclined to misbehave.

Of course, that didn’t help Sera’s situation.

“If you come quietly, you won’t be harmed.”

The man approached until he was right in front of Sera.

One step, then another.

Now they were right in front of her.

And the man placed his hand on Sera’s shoulder.

As if in final resistance, she grabbed his hand.

“Resistance is futile.”

The man said, trying to pull Sera toward him.

And then he noticed something strange.

‘Why is she pulling?’

Rather, this girl was pulling him toward her.

As if she was trying to prevent him from escaping…

The moment he felt something was off.

-Squelch!

Blood sprayed.

He didn’t even feel the pain.

His brain hadn’t yet processed what had happened to him.

‘What…?’

The man looked ahead with surprised eyes.

Then the pile of grapes began to rise.

And only then did he realize that a silver blade extending from between them had pierced him.

With the pain came blood flowing from his mouth, and the man panicked.

“What is this…?”

“What do you think?”

From within the pile of grapes, a man in armor rose.

It was the one person they had been wary of all along.

That’s why they had aimed to eliminate everyone with a barrage of arrows while they were sleeping.

“You’ve been baited.”

Jumping down from the cart, he kicked the man.

As the sword was pulled out, the man fell backward.

And then another pile of grapes rose.

“Holy Light!”

A nun in white robes formed a hand seal and shot out an intense light.

The powerful flash momentarily burned the adventurers’ eyes.

+

I succeeded in becoming a fisherman who catches people.

Now it’s time to do my job.

“Take this, friend!”

“Mmph!”

After slashing two adventurers who had covered their eyes from the sudden flash, I immediately aimed the bow I had strapped to my back.

I had seen their positions thanks to Christina.

I aimed and fired in rapid succession.

-Swoosh!

“Argh!!”

I heard the sound of various things falling.

Confident that the enemy archers had been hit by my arrows, I threw aside the bow and arrows and charged at another one.

“What the…?”

He engaged in a test of strength with me, crossing swords.

But the enemy had just recovered his sight.

His unsteady movements showed he couldn’t put his full strength into it.

I raised my sword and cut right through his armor.

-Swoosh!

‘There’s still someone left?’

I deflected two arrows flying at me simultaneously with my sword and quickly retreated.

‘Direction.’

I had already seen where the arrows came from.

I reversed my grip on the sword and threw it in that direction.

“Aaagh!”

“What…!”

A man who was rushing toward me stopped in surprise at my feat of hitting a target in the dark night.

I punched him, and another arrow flew at me.

Just one arrow.

‘The last one?’

I quickly scanned the surroundings for anything useful.

I spotted a man lying on the ground, knocked down by my earlier punch.

“No choice.”

I grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him up.

“You, become my comrade.”

“What?”

I held the man up facing the direction the arrows were coming from.

An incoming arrow struck him.

“Aaagh!!”

“The shield works well.”

I quickly charged at the enemy, carrying my new comrade.

His performance was so excellent that he even prevented the enemies from attacking properly.

I swung my comrade to knock down one enemy, stole his sword, and slashed another.

Of course, I didn’t forget to point my comrade toward incoming arrows, since his role was to be a shield.

‘This archer has pretty good night vision.’

Seeing how accurately the arrows were flying, I narrowed my eyes.

I noticed that my shield was becoming less responsive.

Our fusion time was coming to an end.

“Save… me…”

“Sure.”

If he asks to be saved, I should let him go.

Catch and release.

I spun around, adding rotational force, and threw the man.

“What the…?”

A new voice was heard, suggesting the archer had been hit.

Soon, with a dull sound, two shadows tumbled together.

“I won’t forget your sacrifice, Mr. Shield.”

I took the sword I had stolen and thrust it into the two shadows mixed on the ground.

“Is that even human?!”

The remaining men surrounded me, having somehow infiltrated their ranks.

However, seeing the carnage I had already caused, they already looked terrified.

“Damn it, attack together! He has no weapon! We can win if we strike!”

One man shouted to his remaining comrades, and they began charging toward me.

And one of them was immediately stabbed in the abdomen by a sword thrusting from the side.

“I didn’t expect things to align this well.”

It was Eve, who had suddenly drawn her sword and stabbed a man in the abdomen.

She immediately pulled out the sword and slashed horizontally at the man’s neck.

Another one died pathetically.

“Damn it!”

The remaining men hesitated, then exchanged glances before one rushed at Eve while the rest came at me.

Soon Eve and her attacker began exchanging sword strikes, while I faced a man charging at me with an axe.

“Die, you bastard!”

“Calm down a bit.”

Perhaps due to panic, his movements were too predictable.

Of course, they had firmly believed they would be the ones ambushing us.

They never thought they would be defeated so pathetically.

I easily caught the swinging axe.

“How did you… it was supposed to be an ambush…”

“Well, the problem is that you gave us time.”

I spoke with genuine pity.

“We knew you were following us all along, and when you gave us time, it’s like you were begging us to prepare.”

“Aaaaargh!!”

He tried to chop my shoulder with all his might, but his arm remained suspended in the air, unable to move.

Having him hold an axe like this looks a bit awkward.

“I’ll confiscate this.”

I pulled his arm while kicking his body.

Soon the axe flew through the air, and I caught it with one hand.

“That’s mine, give it back!”

“Give it back, you say?”

As you wish.

I immediately threw the axe.

The man who received the axe with his face collapsed backward.

I saw the remaining men charging at me.

“Kay!”

Hearing the sound of something cutting through the air, I saw a halberd flying toward me.

Looking back, it seemed Sera had thrown it skillfully.

I reached out and caught the halberd precisely, spun it a few times in the air, and took a stance.

“Now then.”

Eve was still fighting, but she seemed to have no problems.

The remaining men stopped and looked at each other nervously as I smiled.

“Who’s first?”

“Damn it, attack!”

Being on such good terms, they all charged in together.

It didn’t take long to deal with them.

+

“Their skills weren’t much to speak of.”

Eve was wiping blood from her sword.

“The element of surprise played a big part.”

“It’s thanks to your strategy.”

Eve approached with a smile.

“Though I hadn’t considered the bow.”

I should have considered that they could shoot well enough. I need to reflect on that.

“Thanks to that, all the grapes are ruined.”

Eve lifted a blanket with slight regret.

Inside were grapes that had been pierced by arrows and were now leaking juice.

Before they arrived, we had placed grapes in the cart to hide in, put them on the ground, and disguised them to look like us, only for them to meet this fate.

As I recalled how the plan succeeded thanks to the sacrifice of the grapes and Mr. Shield, Eve approached with a smile.

“Your strategy has ruined all my goods. Do you have any plans for compensation?”

“Let’s ask their pockets.”

“I’ll have to ask properly then.”

I answered Eve’s joking question.

If we collected all their weapons, equipment, and possibly wallets, it should more than make up for some damaged grapes.

Then Eve and I headed to where Sera was.

The man I had first stabbed was now restrained and lying down.

“I’ve captured him as you said.”

“Good job, Sera. Your acting was superb.”

“This is… nothing…”

I praised Sera, who had faithfully played the most dangerous role.

She bowed her head slightly, seemingly embarrassed.

In this warm atmosphere, I looked at the restrained man.

While Eve and I were fighting, Sera had tied up the man I had first stabbed, and Christina had provided first aid to keep him alive.

In other words, he was packaged up quite fresh.

Though still in pain and groaning, the man looked up at me.

“Now it’s time for interrogation, friend.”

“Damn you all.”

The man looked at us with a face full of malice.

Smiling, I kicked him once in the face.

“Ugh!”

“Just answer the questions I ask.”

Perhaps because I kicked him lightly, the man didn’t break and began glaring at me again.

“Your answer?”

“I won’t say a word—!”

I kicked him again.

“Answer the questions I ask.”

After being kicked in the face twice, the man’s eyes looked slightly subdued. I grabbed his face and asked.

“So, I heard something strange earlier, and I’ll ask directly.”

“What—”

-Slap!

“Just answer the questions I ask.”

I slapped his cheek once to make him understand his position, and the man closed his mouth again.

“Now for the question.”

I lifted the man’s face up to mine and asked.

“Why did you target Sera?”

The man’s eyes wavered slightly.