episode_0040

After walking for about thirty minutes, we arrived at a small stream.

Between the lush bushes and wet pebbles, a clear stream the width of your forearm was flowing.

Leaves that had fallen from above swayed on the surface of the water following the current, and small fish were busy moving around between the cracks in the stones.

good. You can refill your drinking water here and take a good shower.

There was one group that came first, but when they saw my face, they just shut up and quietly went about their business.

I guess they decided it would be better to just ignore it and not worry about it.

I lightly wiped my face and armor, which were dirty with the kobold’s blood and intestines, and took some water to drink.

Hans took out leather water bags from his backpack and handed them out.

Although his skills are weak, his preparation is good, so I think he would be better suited as a guide rather than a warrior.

I must have secured water, so I looked around the area and looked for a suitable place to sleep until night came.

In the middle, a group of kobolds attacked once again.

About five of them jumped out of the tree and attacked.

I only knocked down the guy who was jumping towards Lana, and left the rest to Millia and Hans.

The kobold hit by the back of my hand flew away and landed in a tree trunk.

Blood spread all over the back.

There were some who used magic, but they were not a threat because they were just sparks and not fire arrows.

I thought he was crazy, using fire magic in the forest.

—-

After walking for about an hour, I was lucky enough to find a small cave and headed there.

There were small footprints around the entrance, probably a cave where kobolds lived.

I turned on the lantern, gave it to Lana, and explored the inside of the cave.

Moss had grown on the damp, cool walls, making them slippery, and the inside smelled of musty food and excrement.

Inside were twenty large and small kobolds.

A small kobold was being roasted over a bonfire, perhaps as a species that preys on its own kind.

Smoke was seen escaping through a crack in the ceiling.

It’s perfect. The space is reasonably large, the entrance is narrow so trolls can’t enter, and there are ventilation holes.

I just need to do some cleaning.

Hans and Millia were sent to clear away the kobolds.

me? I have a huge responsibility to protect Lana from any surprise attacks, so I don’t have to.

Crying shouts, the sound of men and women cheering, and the sound of meat being torn apart echoed in the cave.

Not long after, Hans and Millia returned after finishing cleaning.

Even though twenty was a bit much, I was out of breath and had a few injuries here and there, but that was enough for Lana to treat me.

The corpses and waste of the kobolds were moved to one appropriate location and a camp site was prepared.

As for the camp, sleeping bags were laid out next to the campfire, and a rope with a bell attached was installed at the entrance.

I didn’t like the smell of the cave, so I stood to one side and smoked.

I thought the sweet peppermint scent would remove the smell, but in the end, it didn’t make much of a difference because my senses became more sensitive due to the effects of the magic herb.

…I’ll have to ask Asha to make a purifier quickly.

We sat around the campfire, warmed up our combat rations, ate them, and talked about various things with our group members.

Perhaps because she sensed that I was protecting her well, Lana spoke to me in a quite cheerful manner.

“Hashal is incredibly strong. Are all Kahars like that?”

“Probably not.”

I’m not sure about Jahan, but if you look at the way the rest of the warriors fight, they’re not much different from the knights here.

“I see…Then, how did you become so strong?”

“Training and practice.”

I don’t know any more than that.

How on earth did Hershela create a body that doesn’t look like this person?

Lana pouted slightly, as if she didn’t really like my answer.

Millia, who quickly finished eating and was checking her equipment, looked at Hans and opened her mouth.

“What should I do to keep watch? I hung a rope at the entrance, but I think at least one person would be needed.”

“The three of us will have to take turns standing for about three hours each. Except for Miss Lana. Unlike us, if we are attacked, it will be difficult to deal with it.”

“I’m sorry…”

“You don’t have to worry. It is said that it is common for priests not to be on watch.”

It’s on watch duty. Three hours per person…

It’s a little long, but that’s okay.

“Then I can stand first today, right? The remaining two seats are up to you. ”

First of all, I claimed to be the first person. I had work to do tonight.

6 hours is probably enough.

Millia volunteered to play the middle part, and Hans took the middle part.

Instead, they said they would prepare for tomorrow’s exploration in advance while remaining on alert.

When I wondered how to measure three hours, Hans took out an hourglass from his backpack.

…At this level, it really seems like being a guide is my calling.

Eventually, when it got completely dark, the team members got into their sleeping bags and went to sleep.

I spent some time sitting in front of the campfire, smoking a cigarette, and checking my weapons.

Waiting for night to come.

—-

Three hours have passed.

I walked towards Milia’s sleeping bag, put the lit lantern in front of my eyes, and shook my shoulders.

I wanted to try this at least once.

“Hey, wake up. Millia.”

“Ugh…it’s dazzling…!”

Millia, frowning, stood up shakily.

I turned off the lantern light and waited for Milia to get dressed.

“You worked hard, Hashal. I’ll take charge now. Go sleep.”

“No, I have some business to attend to.”

It’s a long enough errand to keep you up all night.

I grabbed my sword and stood up.

“…Business? What’s going on?”

Milia, whose expression hardened, perhaps sensing an uneasy tone, quietly asked back.

“Things that good children should not see. I’ll be back by morning, but if I don’t come back, I’ll just stay here for four days and avoid trolls from then on.”

“…Are you going to kill someone?”

Millia gently pointed to my waist with a trembling finger.

The two long swords collided with each other, making a metallic clanking sound every time they moved.

“Well…you’ll have to meet to find out.”

I was planning on having a conversation first.

We’ll probably end up fighting, though.

“Trying to kill an imperial citizen, and a student at the same academy. Do you think I’ll leave it alone?”

Millia stood up.

His eyes were shaking but his expression was stubborn, and his hand was pointing towards the hilt of his sword.

As expected, you are trying to stop me.

“If I don’t leave you alone, what are you going to do? Are you trying to stop me?…with your skills?”

He glared at Milia and smiled as if showing his teeth.

The corners of her eyes fluttered.

“Ugh…! Well, I can’t stand by and watch someone try to hurt an innocent person! Even Damian would have stopped you!”

Because he is an innocent person. Well, that’s fine.

At least not for me.

“He’s probably not a particularly innocent guy. Because they are trying to kill me first.”

I took a step forward and grabbed Milia’s arm. Her shoulders trembled.

He pulled his arm in, brought his face close enough for their foreheads to touch, and growled softly.

“Or what, it’s justifiable for the Westerner to try to kill Ka’har, but it’s wrong for me to target him first?”

Milia stopped breathing and trembled.

okay. I guess I have nothing to say. This is self-defense, and I am doing what is natural as a warrior.

I let go of Milia, who couldn’t find the words to reply, and her mouth was dry.

Millia sat down.

As I left the cave, I left behind only one word.

“If you’re that worried, just pray that he doesn’t have any intention of killing me. Then I’ll just talk to you.”

Millia said nothing.

—-

He jumped up the tree and ran, jumping over the branches.

I occasionally saw kobolds below my feet, but I didn’t pay any attention to them. Because you won’t be able to chase me.

I have a rough idea of the direction it is in.

I remember the smell, and I was constantly listening to the unique sound of chain armor.

As my instincts tell me, I cross the forest with my senses heightened.

Startled birds flapped and flew high into the night sky, and the shaking leaves fell like premature leaves.

Is this right?

As I run toward the enemy, I ask myself once again in my heart:

It’s different from previous fights.

Unlike the massacres in the east, where I was pushed by mistake, this time I am going to kill people just because they will get in my way.

I told myself several times that I wouldn’t care, that I could do anything for myself now.

Even so. I could not completely erase the hesitation that remained like a stain in a corner of my heart.

That stain was like the last remnant that reminded me of my true self, now blurred, distorted, and forgotten.

If you stain your hands with blood and erase the stain, what will be left?

Perhaps, tomorrow I will not be the same as I was before. I had that intuition.

Whatever it is, it is something that cannot be undone now.

I found his scent.

—-

Did he guess that I was coming?

Knut was sitting on a tree stump in a clearing in the middle of the forest, silently closing his eyes.

Cold moonlight poured down from the hole in the sky.

A black ax lay on his thigh, and a spear was stuck in the floor, casting a long shadow.

The corpses of murdered kobolds were lying around.

…The team members were nowhere to be seen.

Seeing as they don’t even have a presence, it doesn’t seem like they are planning on launching a surprise attack, so they probably left it alone like I did.

He jumped from the tree and landed in front of Knut.

“Are you waiting for me? Knut.”

Awakened hostility filled the night sky.

“As expected, did you come…”

Knut opened his eyes and slowly stood up.

The chains of the armor clashed against each other and made a clanging noise.

“Warrior God, the time has come to answer Bölberg’s guidance.”

The ax clutched in both hands flashed black, emitting heavy murderous intent.

“Aishangior. Our enemy.”

my enemy.

Knut raised his axe.