Never touch Eldmia Egga - Episode 144
"I smell blood."
Catherine frowned at the unpleasant stimulation and adjusted her hand to hold the large bottle..
It wasn't like she was now showing any aversion to the scent of blood, as the blood she'd sprayed so far was more than the blood she'd spilled. The only problem was that the smell came out when I didn't want it, like now..
Recognizing such a reaction, Lellie asked with a curious mind..
"I guess there's something wrong with Mr. Gaendal.?"
"I don't think so. Rather than smelling blood, it's more like we're approaching a place where we can smell blood.."
After hearing the detailed explanation, Lellie's face darkened so clearly that it could be seen even in the darkness of dawn. And it was no different with Catherine..
"You better hurry. If there is a quarrel with the mercenary group, Gaendal could be in danger.."
It was Gin who stopped the two from falling into idle thoughts. No matter how capable Gaendal is as a scout, his opponent is a group of skilled mercenaries numbering about 40 people. It was clear that it would be difficult to escape safely if things went astray when the troops had already been forced to march for several days and were in charge of scouting without shifts..
"It would have been nice if Eldmia was there too.."
"Catherine? I know you've already said that more than 30 times since taking on this request.?"
"I? I didn't say it that often."
"...To be honest, I said it often.."
Catherine was quite taken aback when she saw Gin politely affirming Lellier's claim. Thirty times? In just 3 days? I've said quite a bit.
"Well, that could happen. You were capable.."
"......ha. I'm anxious, I'm anxious."
"huh? what?"
"no. First, let's join Mr. Gaendal first.."
They were deeply impressed by the fact that they got along quite well after the last abandoned dungeon incident, and began accepting party requests, considering a longer-term relationship. Originally, we spent time at the guild with the intention of recommending it to Eldmia as well, but since we hadn't seen each other for a while because of other things going on, the four of us were just trying to make a move together..
As they are a perfect match from skills to personality, even though they only did four requests together, they did not expect the satisfaction of their companions to decrease, and after agreeing to accept a longer-term request, they received this job..
The request was simple. To become a kind of temporary guard in the refugee village that has recently begun to settle down..
Refugees who fled to the vicinity of the capital to escape the Demon King's army had no intention of breaking the law while settling for a new home, and sought to receive the city's protection through proper procedures. The city welcomed the refugees' decision, but the process could not be accomplished overnight, so the request was to prepare and deploy public power while the adventurers temporarily protected them..
Of course, it was a request that only four people were not enough, and including other adventurers, we initially moved with a group of about ten people..
But no one expected that the village they arrived in would be devastated..
Someone present said. It's clearly the work of mercenaries called the Hawk Claws..
It was said to be a mercenary group that had gained notoriety by freely engaging in actions such as plundering and selling into slavery villagers who were not yet legally protected. Not only do they have outstanding skills, but they always target only those who have a vague distinction between thieves and ordinary villagers, so in this world, they are known to be people who are close to making a fuss even though they know it..
Since this was clearly against the law, others took action under the pretext of informing the guild of the mercenary group's atrocities..
Of course it was an excuse. They just wanted to escape from the scene of the disaster as quickly as possible out of fear that they would be tracked by the mercenaries..
The four people were worried that the guys who killed innocent people might do something else, so they separated from them and set out to chase them..
"...shit."
It was two days ago that I hurriedly moved on after reconfirming that the slash-and-burn village I had checked through the information store was nearby. It wasn't clear how much they were different from the mercenary group, so they hurriedly marched..
However, the slash-and-burn village where they arrived had already been plundered by a mercenary group..
"This is already..."
"Gaendal! Are you okay!"
Gaendal, who was walking helplessly towards the group, leaving the village behind, answered with a very tired face..
"day. Just one day wasn't enough."
Gaendal, who appeared in time for the group's arrival, opened his mouth with difficulty, unable to hide his sorrow. I could understand it without his explanation. A ruin with embers still remaining. In comparison, the campsite was organized in a decent manner. Even though it is early in the morning, mercenary guards stand guard around the campsite..
"He spoke calmly. It is said that they only dealt with the bandits who built villages and plundered them.."
"What about children? There must have been women and old people....!"
Instead of answering, Gaendal pointed to a wooden building that was still intact. I was able to understand everything about the building, which was built with the most care and sturdiness than any of the houses around, and what Gaendal's hand gestures meant..
A pantheon built by refugees in the hope that they will be safe here..
Survivors are trapped inside, waiting to be sold into slavery..
"How can you do that in front of the gods......"
The excuses will be obvious. Because there is nothing left that can be called evidence in the villages of refugees who are not protected by the law..
The thieves have already harmed the village residents and they have nothing to do with it. They captured the bandits who surrendered without resisting, and did not harm the refugees. They could claim innocence just by saying such nonsense..
"They seem like people who should be dragged in front of the crystal ball of truth and have their heads split open...."
No one bothered to point out that Lellie's words, which made her feel as though her mind was collapsing, were a wish that could not come true. Because they were thinking the same thing.
"It's more professional than I imagined, and the equipment is better. It feels like I'm watching an army rather than a mercenary group. It's frustrating, but I have no choice but to report it to the guild.."
They are adventurers. Depending on the request, there are cases where you are hostile to people, but your main opponents are monsters in the end..
On the other hand, they are a mercenary group. These are people who make money by fighting with people. No matter how proud one was of one's skills, pointing a sword at a group of 40 mercenaries was nothing but temerity..
Even if we defeat them, not everyone in the party will be fine..
Catherine, who was glaring at the mercenary group that was protecting the ruined village as if it were her own with a confused look, smiled and said..
"Haha... what would you have done if you were Eldmia?."
It's already over. It wasn't the first time I encountered such irrationality while working as an adventurer. In times like this, I had to at least crack a joke to change the mood. Since he understood it well, Gaendal also made an effort to make something similar to a smile and answered..
"...Like I showed you last time, wouldn't I have approached with a smile and started by killing ten people??"
"If anyone else did that, they'd call you crazy, but it's scary that Mr. Ega somehow thinks it's really possible.."
Unfortunately, there is nothing more we can do. Knowing that, it was a moment when everyone was about to take a step back with tacit agreement..
"hmm? Isn't that... a drake??"
Gin, who was looking at the sky with a long sigh because he couldn't shake off all the confusion, tilted his head and said the words, and everyone's eyes turned to the sky..
"I guess so. But did the flying dragon originally fly that low??"
"It seems like it's getting lower...? I hope there is nothing wrong."
It was not a common occurrence for a flying dragon to fall to its death, but it was also not unheard of. The group, who had already witnessed the bitter situation firsthand, began to stare blankly at the sky, hoping that the flying dragon would not fall..
However, contrary to their wishes, the flying dragon's altitude gradually decreased until it barely passed the trees in the forest..
"Well, isn’t that dangerous??"
"shit. I've never heard of anything about controlling drakes. I can't see well..."
"No, the pilot doesn't seem to be embarrassed after all that. I think it's right to fly low intentionally.."
Only after Gin, the brightest-eyed person, explained, were the group able to breathe a sigh of relief. Even if it was someone else's misfortune, it wasn't very comfortable to face it continuously..
"...Eldmia?"
"what?"
But in the midst of it all, Catherine alone discovered something else..
"The guy behind the pilot over there. It's not Eldmia?"
"Kasha. you...!"
Lellie was astonished. Since then, she has been missing Eldmia often, and she has become anxious that she may be suffering from lovesickness more seriously than she can imagine. Even at the drinking party she was at that day, she seemed to be strangely trying to stay close, so she couldn't believe it....!
"huh? Really. It's Eldemia."
"yes? It's real?!"
It was Gin who broke Lellie's delusion. Thanks to this, she came to her senses and concentrated as much as she could to look at the sky where the flying dragon was flying, but it was impossible to distinguish the flying dragon occupants in the distance with her poor eyesight in an environment that was not yet fully bright as dawn had not yet risen. did.
It was the same for Gaendal, but he chose to completely trust Gin's words rather than making a futile effort to confirm whether it was really Eldemia..
"Is this a coincidence? No, but where on earth are you going, so low......?"
no way.
However, the 'no way' that everyone shared without saying a word made the four people's eyes turn almost simultaneously to the campsite in the ruins behind them..
"...Anyway, that's true. It must be a coincidence. Could it be that that mercenary group has some business for you??"
"ha ha ha. yes. No matter how many coincidences overlap..."
In the meantime, everyone's eyes moved again to the flying dragon flying above their heads..
But, if it really is?
Without fully realizing what the anticipation that was creeping up inside them was directed towards, they watched as a man who appeared to be Eldmia stood up on top of the flying dragon..
"Nice to meet you, you bastards!!"
A loud cursing. It was definitely Eldmia's voice that I heard last time. And judging from that reaction, I don't know why, but it seemed right that the mercenary group had some business to do, and I could see that it was not a friendly attitude at all..
However, the dragon's speed does not decrease. At that rate, it was clear that we would just pass by the mercenary camp..
''What are you going to do?' At the moment when the question lingers in everyone's mind.
"I am! Eldmia Egatha!"
Eldmia pulled out her sword and jumped off the dragon..
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