episode_0005

It was the first time I had to escort someone.

Since I had been traveling alone with an attitude of not wanting to be associated with others, it was inevitable.

However, I knew how to act because of my past when I was protected by my master, Geomje.

“Stay low and wait until I say it’s safe.”

“Ugh!”

“Ahh!”

Crack!

The beast’s arms, as strong as iron bars, swung down, breaking all the trees around.

It was the deer monster, Wendygo, who sniffed out the human scent like a ghost and came.

With its long arms over ten feet long, it crushed carriages and humans, tearing flesh apart and devouring it.

However, due to its decaying body, the flesh it devoured was quickly expelled.

Wendygo’s hunger was never satisfied, constantly attacking humans.

The only way to stop Wendygo’s endless cannibalism was to return it to the earth.

“It’s difficult to cut through with this cheap iron sword.”

I had to hide the true power of the Divine Sword Formation to avoid revealing my identity as a Sword Saint.

I was using a sword I had picked up from an assassin temporarily, but it was in worse condition than my body.

Even in its decaying state, Wendygo’s body was harder than most steel.

It was difficult to even cut through with a cheap iron sword.

Of course, if I exerted all my strength, I could cut through with the iron sword.

But I was convinced that the sword I had brought would break without a doubt.

“I need to use my head more than my strength.”

Taking a deep breath, I sprinted and caught up with Wendygo in one breath.

Although it looked like a cedar tree, I kicked with all my might at Wendygo’s right calf, which was more solid than imagined.

Crash!

With a shockwave, the beast knelt.

Seizing the opportunity, I leaped and grabbed Wendygo’s antlers tightly, hanging on.

“I found it…!”

As the flesh wore away, Wendygo’s frozen heart was visible between the ribs.

No matter how sturdy it was, the heart couldn’t be as hard.

Releasing the hand holding the antlers, I swung the iron sword diagonally.

Clang!

As the sword scratched the surface of the ribs and reached Wendygo’s heart, I cleanly cut it out.

“Grrrr!”

With a grotesque scream, Wendygo’s heart popped out and fell onto the snowy ground.

Soon, Wendygo’s left knee collapsed, and it crumbled.

The heart that fell to the ground eventually burst under its own body.

“It’s over. You can get up now.”

“Ugh…! Ugh…! Th-thank you!”

“Don’t mention it. I was just doing my job as an escort.”

“Are these monsters common in the North?”

“They’re not common. It’s just that the road we’re passing through is particularly dangerous.”

The snowy region in the North is classified into Pernil in the West, Magel in the Central, and Pledishu in the East.

Pernil, where we were located, derived its name from the snowy mountains, and it is a sparsely populated area due to severe snowstorms.

With fewer human touches, the ecosystem remained intact, and it became a land overflowing with monsters like now.

Magel, with calm weather, became the center of North trade due to its dense population, while Pledishu, with many mines, became a land where dwarves and human blacksmiths lived in large numbers.

Therefore, only the West was abnormally dangerous, while the other two places were relatively safe.

“By the way, I heard you two came from the South. Which route did you take to get here?”

“It was through the Kinel Kingdom that I came.”

“If you had come from the Kinel Kingdom, you could have safely arrived in Magel by simply heading north, right?”

“Unfortunately, I had to take a detour due to encountering a band of thieves.”

“I see.”

Thus, I ended up stepping into the place where Bum lived.

She was a woman with no luck.

Or, could it be said that I had no luck since I met her on the way?

Since I had just finished my hideout life and come out at the right timing, I could consider myself blessed in a way.

“Next time, if such a situation arises, it would be better to turn back or even flee to the east. This place is very dangerous.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“But why were you in such a dangerous place, Aaron?”

“Oh, I was just…”

I realized too late that I hadn’t thought of any plausible excuses.

Even if I tried to mumble about unavoidable circumstances, it wouldn’t be good if rumors spread to the woman’s ears that I was hiding in the Fernil Mountains.

Upon hearing that information, they would naturally start to doubt my true identity.

I had to come up with a convincing excuse.

“I, I was on a pilgrimage!”

“In a place where blizzards rage incessantly and monsters overflow?”

“Yes, isn’t it said that one must push oneself to the limit to reach a new level?”

“Indeed, when I think of the invincible power you showed, it’s a story that makes sense.”

“Haha…”

I managed to smooth things over for now, but I realized the need to think of a good excuse for the future.

That’s why I didn’t want to expand my human relationships, you know.

Still, it was nice to be able to have a casual conversation with the woman while heading towards the village.

“By the way, how is the Kinel Kingdom?”

“It was still a beautiful place. With the sacred Holy Sword, Lady Alaina, at the helm, it was flourishing in many ways.”

It had been a while since I heard news about Alaina.

I had expected it, but it seemed like I returned to the kingdom after selling out.

I assumed they had found a good hero and things were going well.

If I were to reunite with Alaina, she would probably boast about finding a better hero than me, right?

“…I see.”

I should try to avoid eye contact with Alaina as much as possible.

“Where are you from, Aaron?”

“I am from the Margal Kingdom.”

“Margal… I visited once before and remember it as a very nice place.”

Indeed, the outward appearance wasn’t bad.

But the kingdom was filled with corrupt individuals, and the people were suffering under their rule.

It wasn’t just a matter of back alleys existing within the kingdom and numerous orphans starving to death.

I, who was once one of those orphans, despised the Margal Kingdom to the extreme.

I had plenty of other places in mind for my next hideout, but not a single one in or near the Margal Kingdom.

“We have arrived at the village before we knew it while enjoying our conversation.”

“Oh! Finally…!”

As soon as the village came into view, the woman’s face lit up.

After nearly dying more than twenty times, there was no reason not to be happy.

In fact, it could be considered remarkable that she didn’t sit down and cry in place.

“Well then, Aaron, I will wait for you at the main gate tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock!”

“See you tomorrow!”

“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

Although it was a bit late, Fabiel and Rama decided to go sell their goods right away.

Since the security inside the village was decent and I didn’t need an escort, I parted ways with the woman for a while.

The next morning was free time, so I leisurely strolled around the village.

“This atmosphere is truly nostalgic.”

The bustling market and the crowds moving back and forth remained unchanged.

The savory smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the chimneys stimulated my appetite.

It finally hit me that I had arrived in a village where people gathered to live.

“If I’m in a village, I should definitely start with a drink, right?”

Although the freshly baked bread was tempting, the alcohol was the first thing on my mind.

I rushed to the tavern and as soon as I entered, I ordered a bottle of wine and dried fruit snacks.

The wine bottle handed to me by the tavern owner.

I poured it into a glass and sipped it.

For wine sold in a remote village, it had a balanced sweetness, acidity, and a subtle aroma, which I enjoyed.

Especially the slow intoxication spreading through my body was something I had missed dearly.

“Even if I drink a lot, I won’t get drunk, right…?”

Still, I felt good being able to leisurely drink in a cozy tavern.

As long as the mercenary men with malicious smiles didn’t approach me.

“Hey, buddy! You look like a mercenary we haven’t seen around here. If you have good wine, let’s share it together…”

“Get lost.”

Crack!

I swung the bottleneck of the wine towards the man who approached me, hitting him on the forehead.

With a clear sound, the wine bottle cleanly shattered, and the man fell to the ground.

As my master used to say, deal with beasts with a stick and don’t mix words with them.