Chapter 166

Chapter 166

166th Episode: Trick And Treat “Once, in a backwater village called Talington, this happened…” As we shared stories, the sun quickly began to set. The word ‘mercenary’ wasn’t a lie, it seemed. Their leader regaled me with various episodes and tales, drawing me into the stories so much that I lost track of time. “…You’ve traveled quite a bit, haven’t you?” “Not really, just the northeastern region. That’s where the money’s best.” “Is that because of the goblins?” “Not necessarily. It’s more that the northeastern nobles are the wealthiest.” Being able to tell stories well was a talent in itself. As we were chatting in such a cheerful atmosphere, the mercenary leader looked at me with curiosity and asked, “But you’re in better shape than you look.” “I was about to say the same thing. I thought you’d collapse from exhaustion right away, but somehow you seem to be doing better than us?” Of course, my stamina was more than sufficient. I had trained my body with internal energy and had been reborn as a superhuman through a complete transformation. But I couldn’t say that outright. I smiled and gave the mercenaries a plausible excuse. “Hehe, I’ve always had good stamina since I was little. I could walk all night like this without any problem, you know?” I subtly hinted that I would be fine being used all night long, I wondered if they caught on. One of the mercenaries grinned lewdly at my words and nodded. “That’s good.” I couldn’t tell if he understood. But I had a feeling they would do it even if they didn’t. No matter how easy the journey was, we couldn’t walk through the night after the sun had set. Stamina aside, night in the rugged mountain range was never a safe time. Visibility was limited, we were surrounded on all sides, there was no one to help, and wild beasts were lurking in the darkness, waiting for prey. Naturally, we had no choice but to prepare for camping. “Is there anything I can help with?” “Haha, it’s alright, just sit tight.” The mercenaries, except for me, unpacked their backpacks and busily prepared for the camp. They found and leveled a flat ground, gathered firewood for the bonfire, and took out tableware, food, and blankets. “…That’s a backpack with space magic on it.” Even if the backpack was big, there were too many items coming out of it. As I muttered to myself, someone nodded and replied to my mumbling. “That’s right. Even though it looks old, it’s the most expensive thing we have.” It was obvious that magical tools were expensive. Magic required an energy source to be maintained, and that energy source was usually a monster’s core. I knew it well, as I also had a pouch with similar magic on it. Just as I was about to nod and move on, the man next to me looked at the pouch hanging from my waist and muttered. “…Come to think of it, the lady’s item must also have magic on it.” “I’m a mage, after all.” Were they planning to steal it? Of course, even if they did steal it, I was confident I could get it back quickly. Although not immediately. The fun and games would only last until we crossed the Altarkin Mountains. What happened after that… would probably depend on their actions. I smiled inwardly, looking forward to what was to come. It was uncertain what would happen in the future. If they were really planning to escort me chivalrously, I had no intention of bothering them. But if they treated me chivalrously in a different sense… Then it might get a little interesting. / Certainly, skilled mercenaries were different. They quickly finished setting up camp and prepared a meal with practiced efficiency. Of course, since it was a meal in the wilderness, dinner was a stew made by boiling ingredients and spices, but the fragrant smell had a stimulating aroma.

-Crackle, pop.

We sat around the blazing bonfire, brewed the stew, and shared it together. And I couldn’t help but be impressed by the taste, which I hadn’t expected much from. “…Wow, this is really delicious?” I didn’t know who cooked it, but their skill was surprisingly good. If I had been traveling alone, I probably wouldn’t have been able to cook such a delicious stew. Aside from the fact that there were ten men, it was quite a satisfying aspect. “Maxen may not be good at anything else, but his skill in creating flavors is amazing. That’s why we accepted that idiot.” “Hee… Thank you, Maxen.” “Hehe, there’s no need to thank me… Hehehe.” Of course, I couldn’t get used to his lewd laughter. His smile was so overtly filled with lust that I even suspected it wasn’t his real smile. Perhaps he was actually a good person, and I was misunderstanding him as trash. Of course, his stew alone was worth giving my body for, so I smiled and encouraged Maxen. “Thank you. I’ll have to repay you someday.” Maxen. It felt like I had heard that name somewhere before. Was it because it was a common name? As I retraced my memories, I brought the rest of the stew to my mouth. “I hope I can eat it again next time.” “Haha, you can ask anytime. If it’s for the lady, he’ll gladly volunteer for cooking duty.” Then the mercenary leader sitting next to me laughed and put his hand on my shoulder. The moment I felt his hand slowly moving downwards, I smiled inwardly with satisfaction. ‘As expected…’ I was a little confused, but my prediction was correct. The mercenary leader’s hand was slowly reaching towards my chest. Moreover, the other mercenaries were also glancing this way with expectant eyes, even though they were pretending not to notice. The emotion in their eyes was obvious. Lust. It was the emotion I had encountered the most in my life, and the emotion that most of the men who had seen me had harbored. “….” I pretended not to notice and scooped up the stew, waiting for the mercenary leader’s hand to come closer. Soon, they would probably gang rape me. How should I enjoy that moment? I could slap them in the face as if I hated it, or I could freeze in shock. Or should I cry, saying I didn’t know they were these kinds of people? As I pondered these things, I waited for the mercenary leader to actively grope my chest. …However, as they say, you never know what might happen in life. His actions were stopped before they could even begin.

-Whoosh!

With a heavy sound of air being torn, something small suddenly flew in and pierced one of the mercenaries sitting around the bonfire.

-Thwack!

“Ugh!?” With a dull sound, the mercenary who was hit clutched his chest and fell backward. He was wearing leather armor, so he didn’t seem to be seriously injured, but he couldn’t completely negate the damage, as he lay there clutching his chest and groaning for a while. And seeing that, the mercenary leader quickly removed his hand from my chest and shouted. “Goblins! Everyone, prepare for battle!” Once a soldier, always a soldier, I guess. The moment his voice rang out, the mercenaries, who had been leering at me lewdly, drew their weapons and prepared for battle. And I, too, had no choice but to follow them and make my own preparations. …Why did it have to be at this timing? I sighed inwardly and took out my spellbook.

-Shwing.

Despite the fact that they had been trying to take my body, the mercenary leader ordered me in a firm voice. “Lyla, light up the area!” Was that experience, or shamelessness? While pondering inwardly, I took out the spellbook from my waist and searched for the page. I checked the drawing engraved on the parchment and opened the page with the spell I wanted. “Ante Sa Romva!” Butterflies of Light. This spell, which creates familiars, is mainly used to illuminate the area as a substitute for torches. There was nothing more suitable for use in the dark night when the enemy was not visible.

-Flutter.

As I stretched out my hand and chanted the spell, a red butterfly-shaped flame formed in the air. After completing the summoning, I controlled the familiar through my thoughts and sent the butterfly flying towards the direction where I felt a presence. “Over there!” I already knew where the goblins were. I had sensed their presence the moment the attack came.

-Swish.

The darkness in the direction the butterfly flew towards receded, and a strange shape emerged from below. A small body, a hideous face, and green skin. It was the appearance of a goblin, which was commonly found in this land. “Kieek!?” The goblins, who were crouching as if trying to hide among the bushes, let out strange cries as the butterfly flew towards them. Were they surprised? In their crouching hands, they held slings used to throw stones. ‘….Those are.’ There were a total of thirteen of them. After confirming that, I hesitated for a moment. Which would feel better, being violated by goblins or humans? Of course, that hesitation was short. ‘The stew was delicious, so…’ I made a quick decision and decided to fulfill my role as a mage. Anyway, it didn’t seem like they would die even if I wasn’t there, but since I was doing it, I didn’t want to pretend to be a stupid woman and cause a ruckus. “Alright!” Along with someone’s shout, the sound of air being torn rang in my ears.

-Thwack!

An arrow that flew from my side, cutting through the air, accurately pierced the goblin’s chest. With blood splattering, one of the goblins who had revealed themselves screamed and collapsed. “Kieek!” Seeing that, the mercenary leader ordered me again. “Those guys are bait! Light up the area more and spread it around!”

-Clang.

Before I knew it, the mercenary party had formed a formation around me. Despite the fact that they had been trying to rape me with lewd smiles, they understood the iron rule of protecting the mage well. A seasoned atmosphere emanated from them, each holding a shield, sword, and bow. Their atmosphere was not just a facade.

-Whoosh!

One of the mercenaries swung his shield and deflected a javelin that flew from another direction. “Over there!” Perhaps his name was Jaichen? He skillfully deflected the javelin that flew from the darkness, and with his other hand, he pointed in the direction the javelin had come from and shouted at me. I nodded at his words and summoned the butterfly of flames once again. “Ante Sa Romva!” As the butterfly flew in again, several goblins revealed themselves from under the receding shadows. “Kieeek!?” The goblins, armed with javelins and slings, were hiding between the bushes and trees, glaring at us. Perhaps surprised by the sudden light, some of them threw stones at us. The stones, thrown with a great swing of their arms, were accelerated by the slings and flew at tremendous speed.

-Whoosh.

Just because they were stones didn’t mean we could ignore them. Their power was so strong that they could kill instantly if they hit a vital spot properly.

-Thwack!

However, the mercenaries skillfully swung their shields and deflected the flying stones. He was the man who had been hit in the chest with a stone at the beginning. As if not wanting to be outdone, he swung his shield to deflect the stone, then took out a short javelin he was carrying and threw it at the goblin.

-Thud!

“Kieeek!” Then, with a low groan, one of the goblins screamed and collapsed. I could see the goblins near the fallen one flinching as if they were agitated. I couldn’t just stand by either. If they got hurt, they might not feel like violating me. Of course, apart from such desires, I was also slightly excited because their response was excellent.

-Chrarak.

I turned the pages of the spellbook again to find the necessary spell and chanted. “Filla Tiar!” Thorns of Flame. The thorns of flame that formed in the air flew towards the goblin that had revealed itself at high speed and pierced its chest.

-Crackle.

Along with the sound of something being scorched by the flames, a pungent smell of burning spread around. “Kwieek!!” The goblin, who let out a death cry, collapsed powerlessly and tumbled into the bushes.

-Thwaaack!

And, once again, with a resounding sonic boom, a goblin falls, struck by an arrow. It’s dangerous to rashly venture out in the darkness. The mercenaries were thoroughly maintaining their battle formation and insisting on ranged combat. “Hold your positions! They’ll retreat soon!” The mercenary captain seemed to share my thoughts, ordering his men to hold their ground. After enduring several volleys of stones and spears thrown by the goblins while holding our positions… “Kikak, Katsak!” A strange cry echoes from the darkness where butterflies have yet to flutter. Was that sound a signal? With that single cry, the goblins hiding behind bushes and trees simultaneously retreat.

-Thud, rustle, rustle.

In the darkness, only the strange sound of footsteps echoed for a while. The mercenaries listened intently, holding their breath, to the sound that gradually faded and receded. And as the receding sound completely died down, the mercenary captain issued his final order to his men. “Everyone, rest.” With those words, the tense atmosphere instantly dissipated. “Hoo…” “Damn bastards, I almost pissed my pants.” “Hey, Kazantin. Are you alright?” “I’m fine. My armor protected me, so I wasn’t seriously injured.” “Lucky for you they’re unskilled. If it had hit your head, you wouldn’t have survived.” Watching the mercenaries chattering amongst themselves, I was inwardly a little impressed. I had thought mercenaries were just a bunch of thugs, but perhaps they had this side to them as well. It seemed that the prejudices of the adventurers in the stronghold city and the hunters of Yurkin had subtly influenced my perception of mercenaries. As I was observing the mercenaries, the mercenary captain approached me and spoke. “…Good work, Laila.” “No, I didn’t really do anything.” “No, you did very well. We’ve worked with mages before.” That didn’t sound like a compliment. “How were they?” I asked, curious, and he shook his head with a bitter smile. “That guy failed to cast spells about five times in a row. He managed to get through it somehow, but he wasn’t helpful at all. You were different.” “Hmph… Thank you.” That was quite a pleasant compliment. I answered with a bashful smile, and the mercenary captain nodded with a faint smile. “You did a great job today. You don’t need to stand guard, so rest well.” “Yes… Yes?” I nodded absentmindedly at his words for a moment. But a vague, ominous feeling flashed through my mind, and I blankly questioned him. Wait, did something just get skipped…? However, the mercenary captain’s answer was firm. “If we’re going to march from dawn tomorrow, shouldn’t we sleep now?” He replied as if it were obvious, and then shouted to the other mercenaries. “We have a lot to do tomorrow! Don’t even think about wasting your energy on nonsense, and get to sleep right away!” “….” I couldn’t help but be flustered by his words. …Until just now, it definitely wasn’t this kind of atmosphere. Where did the thug who tried to grope my chest go, and when did he become such a dignified gentleman? I was already getting aroused and wet down there, and I never imagined I’d be betrayed like this. “Huh, are we just going to sleep right away today?” As if reading my mind, someone asked the mercenary captain. It was Maxen, the talented cook who made delicious stew. I inwardly agreed with his words, and looked at the mercenary captain with what I hoped was an earnest gaze. But he remained firm. “Not just today, but from now on as well. The terrain seems rough, so let’s focus on crossing the Altarkin Mountains as quickly as possible.” Is he seriously saying he won’t touch me from now on? That’s the only way I could interpret his answer, but it was too early to give up. I subtly directed a question towards the mercenary captain. “Um, what do you mean by wasting energy on nonsense?” Just in case, I asked the mercenary captain, and he shook his head with a bitter smile. “Those guys start gambling as soon as they’re given a little leeway. Sometimes I allow it for the sake of cheating… but the situation isn’t good right now, so I can’t just let them do as they please, can I?” “….” Who would fall for that? …Wait, was he being serious? The mercenary captain’s answer was so matter-of-fact that even I started to doubt myself. Could I have been mistaken all along? Otherwise, such a quick change of attitude wouldn’t make sense. Of course, the reason was easy to understand. “You really did a great job today. It’s like we were escorted.” It seemed he had chosen to utilize me as a mage rather than treat me as a troublesome sex toy. From my perspective, where I was willing to do both, it was a truly painful mistake. “…It’s nothing. I would have been in danger if I were alone.” Swallowing my disappointment, I resolved inwardly. It’s not too late to give up yet.