Chapter 10: 4 Silver Coins

Running through mountain paths was harder than expected.

Especially on steep slopes, the act of running itself was dangerous.

But I had no choice but to run.

The goblins’ speed was almost equal to mine, but these creatures lived here.

The mountain paths were all too familiar to them.

Every time I stumbled and faltered, they gradually closed the gap.

I gritted my teeth at the sight of goblins spewing incomprehensible words while narrowing the distance.

If I fell, the goblins would immediately swarm over me.

That imagined future made my legs tremble.

Was trusting Van the right choice?

Even considering the urgency, was following him here really the correct decision?

Shouldn’t I turn around now and fight with my sword drawn?

But could I actually win?

Countless thoughts swirled chaotically in my mind.

But my legs never stopped moving.

I didn’t want to die.

I desperately wanted to live, as there were things I absolutely had to do.

“Aaaaaah-!”

I screamed.

At my scream-like shout, the goblins seemed to get excited – their rough breathing grew louder.

With so many victims already, why hadn’t an official extermination squad been formed?

At a glance, there were over eight victims.

Then why was this handled as an Adventurer’s Guild request instead of forming an extermination squad?

Even in this rotten world, it seemed too strange.

“Damn it…!”

Fortunately, as Van had said, tree roots and protruding rocks seemed to have been cleared away.

As long as I didn’t misstep, I wouldn’t fall.

I ran as fast as possible with short strides.

My breathing grew ragged.

My ribs hurt as if stabbing my lungs.

I wanted to collapse right there and catch my breath.

But I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t stop.

I could feel them right behind me.

I barely avoided the filthy hands reaching to grab me.

Seeing that I’d inevitably get caught if this continued, I decided to gamble.

I chose to cut through the bushes rather than follow the designated path.

Van would be hiding and waiting near the trap anyway.

As long as I reached the trap, the route didn’t matter.

Covering my face, I plunged into the bushes.

Clothes tore on branches, twigs snapped.

Broken branches scratched my skin.

It stung but was bearable.

Blood droplets formed and dripped.

Pushing off the ground, I leaned forward.

From here on, it was all downhill.

If I stumbled and fell, I’d lose. If I focused and ran, I’d win.

My kicking foot stayed airborne for over a second.

The next step was the same. If I fell here, I wouldn’t just get caught by goblins – my head would surely smash open and kill me.

But this was the best option.

Knowing this, I boldly took the next step.

“Keeek-!”

A goblin failed to properly chase down the slope, tumbling and rolling.

Its head smashed against a rock, cracking open as blood sprayed.

A foul stench wafted.

We were almost there.

Relief washed over me, but I reminded myself to stay vigilant.

I’d seen many cases where things went wrong due to last-minute carelessness.

“Aaaaaaah-!”

I screamed.

This was my signal that I’d arrived.

The goblins chasing me, thinking I was cornered, cackled triumphantly as they recklessly charged forward.

Barely avoiding the trap area, I threw myself aside. The pursuing goblins couldn’t react in time and fell into the pit Van had dug.

One stopped in panic, unsure what to do, but was easily pierced by Van’s spear that appeared from behind.

“……Whew.”

Sweeping back his hair, Van approached the pit.

After examining inside, he looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Seven here, plus the one I killed makes eight… Where’s the last one?”

“…It fell and died while chasing me.”

“Huh.”

I sighed as Van approached me sitting weakly on the ground and looked me over.

“I’m fine, so please deal with them quickly.”

The pit was deep enough that they couldn’t climb out, but the fall wouldn’t kill them.

Pointing at the pit, Van tsked before starting to stab into it with his spear.

Unpleasant screams poured out.

Given his weapon maintenance, he wasn’t unskilled, yet strangely the screams didn’t stop.

He seemed to be deliberately causing pain.

“…What are you doing?”

“Nothing special, just venting.”

Come to think of it, Van had discovered the settlement first and planned this operation.

Meaning he knew the settlement’s condition.

Though cruel, I could understand this venting.

“Mister.”

“…Just call me Van.”

“Van.”

“What.”

“The goblin settlement was small, but people got hurt… Why wasn’t an extermination squad formed?”

“You don’t know?”

What was I supposed to know?

Tilting my head in confusion while staring at the ground, Van explained the situation.

“Monster-related matters are supposed to be handled by adventurers.”

“…Huh?”

“The Adventurer’s Guild bigwigs are so corrupt they’ll send letters picking fights if monsters get exterminated without going through them. Unless you’re a major noble, most avoid conflict with the Guild and just submit requests then leave things be.”

“Why…?”

“Beats me.”

Van scratched the back of his head irritably while grumbling.

He probably didn’t fully understand the circumstances either.

“Enough gloomy talk, let’s process the goblins.”

“We just need to take their noses, right?”

“Right. We need to submit extermination proof to get paid.”

Struggling up on trembling legs, I approached the pit.

For goblins, their long noses served as extermination proof.

Meaning we just needed to cut them off.

Van lowered me into the pit with a rope. Stepping on goblins whose guts, blood, and filth made the ground slippery, I cut off noses one by one and threw them over the pit’s edge.

It was so disgusting I nearly vomited, but I barely held it in.

“Kid.”

“I’m Ellie.”

“Just occurred to me – what if I dropped this rope right now?”

“……Huh?”

“Then I wouldn’t have to split the reward 50-50 with you.”

“That’s not a funny joke.”

The pit was slightly over 2 meters deep. Without the rope, I’d be trapped.

The soft earth walls made climbing difficult.

“Just kidding. Wanted to warn you how dangerous it was to jump in like that.”

“…Ugh.”

Why did this grown man act so childish?

After cutting all the noses, I signaled to pull me up, and Van obediently hauled me out.

“Let’s head to the settlement. We’ll cut the nose off the one that fell and died on the way, then clean up the settlement too.”

“Right.”

No matter what, I needed to destroy that creepy totem to feel satisfied. I trudged forward with effort.

Upon reaching the settlement with me, Van had me gather dry branches. After diligently collecting them, he lit the branches and began burning the totem.

Perhaps it had become a nest for insects.

As it burned, centipedes, maggots, flies, and all sorts of bugs crawled out, creating a disgusting spectacle.

Relieved that things were wrapping up, Van spoke to me.

“You’re braver than expected, yet more ignorant than expected. Want to keep working with me?”

“…No.”

“Come on, for future jobs like this, I’ll do 70-30 splits. How about it?”

Startled when he playfully smiled and bent to eye level, I tightly shut my eyes.

But it was already after our eyes had met.

“…You.”

I said nothing.

I already knew what was coming.

“You’re seriously disgusting.”

His previously light tone was gone.

No trace of playfulness remained.

Just stating facts, laced with contempt.

The person who’d joked with me moments ago.

The person who’d asked to work together moments ago.

As if transformed, he showed unabashed disgust.

Displaying the same revulsion he’d shown toward the cruel, horrifying totem – now directed at me.

As if I were equivalent to that thing.

His rough hand gripped my throat, not releasing despite my struggles.

Ultimately, my response was predetermined.

“S-sorry… Sorry……”

I didn’t even know what I was apologizing for.

But I had to say it.

My voice came out strained from lack of air.

Van slammed me to the ground.

“Gah-!”

My head spun. I couldn’t breathe properly.

My body twisted in pain, but I kept my eyes tightly shut.

This happened because he saw my eyes.

Given time, he’d calm down and return to normal.

Believing this, I curled into a ball.

Bracing for the coming pain.

…But the pain never came.

Slowly rising, I looked around.

“……He went down the mountain first.”

Relieved I hadn’t suffered worse, worry soon took over.

“……What about the request reward?”

Four silver coins.

I should have received them, but how could I demand payment from someone who showed such disgust?

Sighing deeply while kicking stones, I noticed something glittering under moonlight beside me.

Picking it up revealed four silver coins.

“……Even while feeling disgusted, he’s thorough with payments.”

Not sure if that’s admirable, but I felt I should never meet him again – and if we did, pretend not to know him.

Once formed, disgust doesn’t easily disappear.

“…But I earned money.”

Not a loss, but proper payment from a successful request.

“Hehe…”