episode_0072

“Poison?”

Steria brought her nose closer to the bread and sniffed.

“I’m not sure… but if you say so, then it’s probably true. Do you know how to distinguish poison?”

“I’m sure.”

During the training to become an adventurer, there was also training on how to identify poison.

Since there are plenty of monsters that use poison.

During the demon war, there were enemies who used poison, but back then, we didn’t pay much attention because we had a comrade with strong detoxification abilities.

“But if that’s the case… why?”

“…There’s one thing that bothers me.”

The soldiers of Brigal we encountered on our journey.

We encountered them disguised as a band of thieves, but at that time, we managed to deceive their leader by mentioning the names of the Spearhead Warriors and the Horanze.

We didn’t pay much attention back then because we just needed to get away…

But it seems like they found out they were deceived and maybe the innkeeper bribed someone.

Of course, I didn’t think I could continue to deceive them, but to involve civilians from another country…

Or was it a threat?

…There was nothing suspicious about it.

If the innkeeper didn’t have any other intentions…

“…”

I sent a signal to Steria that I had something to say quietly.

“There’s an assassin. Get your weapon ready.”

I said that and put on my armor as quietly as possible.

There was no unnatural feeling when we faced the innkeeper.

So the one who put poison in the bread was someone else.

And the disguises and skills of the Brigal vanguard I met before were quite good…

“…”

“…”

Steria and I didn’t make a sound.

We must not miss even the slightest sound or movement outside the door.

The assassin will surely come to check whether the operation to poison us was successful or not.

After a while, a faint sound was felt outside the door.

The landlady had already served the meal and there was no one else who would come to our room.

Except for one person.

I quietly put my hand on the dagger at my waist.

It would be a good choice for us to attack first.

But what if… it’s not an assassin but someone else?

It would mean killing an innocent person from another country…

It would make the situation excessively complicated.

“…”

I pondered for a very short time.

The anxiety of our safety and the possibility of killing someone innocent from another country.

Which side should I prioritize?

As an answer, I drew my dagger and threw it towards the door.

The dagger extended and stuck into the door.

“Ugh…!”

A groan was heard from outside the door.

A man’s voice.

At least it wasn’t the landlady.

A red flush seeped through the gap in the door where the dagger was stuck.

“…”

Still tense, I got up and opened the door.

There was a man leaning against the door with the blade of the dagger stuck in his body.

“How…?”

He said.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

At least he wasn’t innocent…

“…”

The assassin quietly breathed his last with the blade of the dagger embedded in his body.

I went back downstairs wearing my armor.

“Um? Is there something you’re looking for?”

The landlady, who had served the bread earlier, asked with a clueless expression.

I explained to her what had happened upstairs.

“Eek?!”

“Keep it down.”

“Uh!”

She covered her mouth with her hand in shock.

“We don’t want to cause trouble here. We’ll take the body with us, so just clean up after us.”

“Y-yes…”

She seemed more flustered and scared than understanding.

For now, that’s enough.

I went back upstairs.

Steria had already hidden the body and pulled out the dagger.

“What should we do with Kona?”

Steria asked.

“Will you carry her? I’ll take care of the body.”

“Got it.”

We quietly packed up our belongings so that Kona could rest as much as possible before lifting her up.

“…”

Fortunately, Kona was so exhausted that she didn’t even stir when Steria lifted her.

After wiping the blood off the assassin’s body, I lifted her onto my back.

Thanks to the short blade of the dagger, I could cover up the wounds on his body by carrying him on my back without piercing him.

Although a few drops of blood dripped as I walked, it wouldn’t be noticeable from a distance.

I had to go far away and dispose of the body before moving on to another village.

“…”

On the way down, I came face to face with the lady of the house and a middle-aged man next to her.

The man looked at us sternly, then turned his head and went up first.

“He’s my husband,” the lady said.

“Are you leaving now…? What about that behind you…?”

“You didn’t see anything. You didn’t hear anything, and you never met us.”

“That, that’s… understood.”

And we left the inn.

It was a bold move to leave with a body on our backs, but surprisingly, walking openly didn’t raise much suspicion.

Luckily, it was late at night, and it was just a village, so there were hardly any people outside.

Hardly.

“…Someone’s there,” Steria said.

I nodded.

There were about two or three people staring at us intensely…

They couldn’t pinpoint exactly who or where we were, but they could sense our presence vaguely.

We left the village.

We veered off the road and headed towards a secluded hill, and it was clear that someone was following us.

“…”

And when the original village was no longer in sight, I quietly threw the body on the ground and drew my sword.

At the same time, a sword flew towards Steria, who was carrying Kona.

I stepped in front of Steria and deflected the swords.

Without hesitation, targeting the woman carrying the child first.

There’s a high chance the dagger is poisoned too.

“Keep carrying Kona.”

“Got it.”

There was no question of whether it was okay.

I didn’t expect such a question either.

Just do what needs to be done.

“…”

“…”

Two figures emerged from the darkness.

The second, no, the third, since the second ambush had failed, there was no reason to hide anymore.

Preparing for a fight would only decrease the number of people fighting head-on.

And one of the two…

I have a vague idea.

It’s the leader of the Brigal soldiers.

No, not just a soldier, but the leader of the reconnaissance unit.

Although his face was hidden under a helmet, I could sense a strong enmity from him.

“…”

But despite exuding such hostility, he showed no signs of rushing.

He calmly surveyed our side.

He wore a helmet on his face, but… at most, he wore chainmail armor.

It’s definitely not plate armor like mine.

Even if it’s chainmail armor enchanted with magic, it’s probably inferior in performance to my armor.

In a direct confrontation, even if the numbers are one more, I am overwhelmingly superior.

The problem lies in the possibility of poison…

I have to be careful about that.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

Naturally, there was no answer.

“Then we can just leave, right?”

If the standoff continues… but we still have the upper hand.

If we keep walking, we’ll reach another village.

I don’t know how long it will take, but if we follow the road, we’ll probably arrive within a day.

Once we get there, the possibility of those guys killing us will significantly decrease, practically becoming impossible.

Even if they delay the fight and look for an opportunity, they’ll have to fight and make a decision before that.

At the point where the two ambushes failed, our advantage is clear.

“…!”

“…!”

In the end, the two of them ran towards us first.

And at the same time, I easily parried the two daggers flying towards us.

If it’s coming from a square, I might not know, but it’s obvious when it’s coming straight at you.

Another dagger.

But this time, only one.

The rest of them ran towards me with a long sword in hand.

I also swung my dagger again, but at that moment when I disrupted my defensive stance, one of them rushed towards me with a sword.

The target was the gap in the armor.

Without forcibly correcting my stance, I rotated my body widely and blocked the sword with the back of my armor.

Unpleasant sound of metal brushing against each other and a slight impact from behind.

But that was it.

At the same time, I kicked the opponent who rushed towards me.

“…!”

A satisfying feeling surged through my foot.

It was the feeling of hitting ribs properly.

The opponent stumbled back, holding the sword in hand but bent heavily.

Impressive that it didn’t break.

“Haah, haah… Ugh…”

The retreating opponent knelt down, groaning in pain and curling up.

Definitely.

The ribs were broken.

Breathing must be difficult.

If the broken bone pierced the lung, there was a possibility of suffocating in their own blood.

He quickly reached into his waist and pulled out a small vial wrapped in leather.

Probably a healing potion.

Should I let him drink it?

This time, I threw my dagger.

A dagger that killed their comrade, so they could go peacefully.

“Where…!”

But this time, the other comrade rushed forward and blocked my dagger.

With a loud noise, my thrown dagger bounced off.

“…!”

The one who deflected the dagger looked surprised and glanced at their own sword.

Probably a tooth was knocked out or the edge was damaged.

I’m not saying my dagger is a top-notch product.

Where do you think I spent my money during over a hundred years of adventuring?

“Damn it.”

However, while the comrade bought time, the injured one seemed to have recovered somewhat and stood up, saying something.

The voice… belonged to the captain.

“Are you okay? If it’s a corpse, I can return it, so just leave.”

I pointed with my chin to the assassin’s body left behind.

It’s not a lie.

Anyway, if I just go to another village and take a carriage, I’ll achieve my goal.

“Shut up…”

“…”

Well.

It must be quite embarrassing for the captain who was deceived by the enemy and even gave away the military funds.

Returning without killing me would be a disgrace… I guess.

“…You, do you have a family?”

“Do you think I’ll tell you?”

“You should know that Brigal’s situation is at a cliff’s edge.”

Without Elven support, Brigal won’t survive safely.

Harsh exploitation of the people will soon begin, and people will starve to death.

Rebellion will naturally occur, and the damage will increase.

Until the food supply improves as the mouths to feed decrease.

“Do you…! Are you telling me to betray my country?!”

“I didn’t go that far. Just… in the off chance… if your family comes to where I am, I can provide food and shelter for them.”

The pouch of gold coins he gave me was a great help.

So, this level of kindness can be repaid.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that his family will come from Brigal to the Labyrinth City.

And this declaration also means that I won’t hesitate to kill you.

“…”

“…”

After a moment of silence, he whispered something to his companion or subordinate next to him.

“…! But…!”

“It’s an order.”

“…”

“Let’s go.”

“Understood…”

He bowed deeply to the captain and left.

Only the two of us remained.

“What’s your name?”

“Rezeph.”

The captain of the noble unit, Rezeph, said his name.

By revealing his name, it meant that he wouldn’t let me leave alive.

“You know my name, right? It’s Rasiwood.”

I raised my sword.

The two of us walked towards each other.

After about five minutes had passed, I closed Rezeph’s eyes and, with Steria, who lifted her nose, headed to the next village.