Chapter 140 |
Chapter 140.2. The Return Journey - To Keten (2)
Basking in the faint sunlight, I woke up.
Listening to the crackling of the bonfire, I stretched while still lying down.
Glancing sideways, I saw Lambert and Felix, who had been on the last watch, warming themselves by the bonfire.
My breath was white.
Thanks to [Ice Resistance 2], I wasn't too affected, but it seemed like a rather cold morning.
As I got up, I sat down beside the two.
"Any issues?"
"Nothing besides the cold. Want something to drink? The water's boiling."
The tension from yesterday was nowhere to be found as we exchanged casual conversation and I took out a cup.
I poured hot water into it and added a small amount of tea leaves.
While warming my body with the general's tea, the others began to wake up.
Last night, there was a bit of a dispute after we returned.
It was because Lambert and I insisted on taking watch too.
Though it's odd to say it myself, I'm more skilled in scouting than anyone else. There's no reason to exclude me.
Sekies quickly gave up on persuading me but argued that Lambert should rest.
To that, Lambert retorted, "If the guards are exhausted from the long journey, it'll be a problem. We should all share the burden."
When the client says so, there's no choice but to back down.
But the issue didn't end there. It was about the numbers.
Sekies and Amber, Balner and Verett, Lambert would pair with Felix.
There was no one left for me.
Sekies and the others offered to take two watches in shifts, but I refused.
For a short camp of two or three days, it might be fine, but this is a long journey. Irregular schedules would lead to accumulated fatigue, even if minor. I wanted Yabusho to remain in perfect condition.
In the end, Sekies and the others relented, but the deciding factor was Lambert's blunt remark.
"It's the usual. During training, he always wandered off alone."
Perhaps recalling the battle with Elphimia, Yabusho gave a wry smile.
It's mostly true—though I've only gone solo a few times seriously.
Keeping that retort to myself, we ended up sharing the watch duties among everyone.
We had a simple breakfast and broke camp.
Sekies led the formation, followed by Verett, Amber, with me in the center, then Lambert and Felix, and Balner at the rear.
I was positioned in the center to keep an eye on all directions.
At first, our breath was white, but as time passed, it grew faint and eventually disappeared.
After several hours of marching, the gaps between the trees widened.
It seemed we were finally about to leave the forest.
"I'm glad we're almost out, but before that, we've got company."
Tension ran through the group as everyone readied their weapons.
As soon as they focused on where I pointed, Amber immediately stepped back, grimacing.
As an adventurer, it's not ideal—but at least he didn't fall behind Lambert.
"What is that?!"
"A snake, right? Just… a really big one."
Coiled around a large tree was a massive serpent.
From its position, it seemed to be targeting passing travelers.
An ambush from the trees just as we let our guard down upon seeing the grasslands, huh?
It's well thought out, but a bit late for a Meruga.
"Could that be—"
Recalling yesterday's conversation, Lambert chimed in.
"If it is, it'd be tasty. But that's just a Meruga. A big snake, nothing more than a glutton."
"Not tasty?"
"Who knows? It's in the way, so should we hunt it?"
As Lambert nodded, Sekies stepped forward, but I stopped him.
When dissected, you'll see that a snake's jaws aren't connected, allowing it to swallow prey much larger than itself.
The Meruga's head was about forty centimeters wide. It could easily swallow not just a person, but even a horse.
Moreover, this type of monster is pure muscle, making it far more agile than it looks.
The fastest among us should act as bait.
As I approached, the Meruga began to shift its posture.
Then, without making a sound, it slithered down the tree like a whip, avoiding any vibration.
I dodged its massive maw and used it as a foothold to leap back.
The Meruga crashed headfirst into the ground, sending up a shower of snow and dirt.
It seemed to have suffered a concussion from the impact.
Though it didn't sink into the ground, it stopped moving entirely.
Hmm… I've seen this before. Is this the signature move of the serpent family?
"The rest is up to you."
"Got it!"
Sekies charged in, slashing at its neck with his broadsword.
Balner followed up with a running strike, causing the Meruga to writhe in pain.
Regaining its senses, the Meruga tried to bite, but Sekies blocked with his shield, allowing Balner to deliver another blow.
Looks like it's under control.
Yabusho is skilled, but with only Sekies and Balner as pure combatants, the lack of firepower is undeniable.
Still, Sekies' stability and Balner's mobility, plus—
"The barrier's broken! Help!"
"On it!"
As the translucent barrier protecting Sekies shattered from the tail strike, Amber immediately recast [Sacred Ramellar].
With her support, we can recover even during combat.
As long as we maintain our strength, we can push a little harder.
While the three fought valiantly, Verett stood by, dagger in hand, watching the battle from a distance.
Though he appeared to be guarding Amber, his idle stance was obvious.
Well, his true value lies outside of combat. Yeah.
As I watched Yabusho's battle, Lambert stood beside me.
"Aren't you going to help?"
"They've got it covered. Besides, this is when we need to be most cautious."
As I spoke, I glanced toward the forest.
Noticing my movement, Lambert and Felix grew wary.
"Yeah, it's fine for now. You two, try to avoid fighting. It'll be hard to protect you in a chaotic battle."
"It's hard to just watch… but fine. Understood."
True to its nature as a high-vitality serpent monster, the Meruga fought fiercely.
But under Yabusho's steady assault, it was gradually worn down, and its desperate charge was met head-on by Sekies' hand axe.
That strike sealed the deal, and the Meruga was quickly overwhelmed.
Before long, I stepped forward.
And stored the writhing Meruga into the magical bag, Telpas' Bag.
"Was it already dead?"
"Snakes are hard to tell. I had trouble judging with Kudolga too."
The Meruga was still moving, but it was just reflex.
With some monsters, it's hard to tell when they're dead.
By the way, I determined its state using [Appraisal].
Even if it looks alive, once dead, its status disappears, and it's treated as a corpse.
It's helpful when dealing with monsters that don't die completely.
Sekies and the others had no major injuries, with only some weapon chipping and Amber's mana being depleted.
As they checked their equipment, we set off again.
And just past the Meruga, the forest gave way to a vast grassland.
I took a deep breath and looked around.
Rolling hills stretched out like waves.
In the distance, I could see a stone wall and a small fort. That must be Jutel's town.
Looking back, the dim forest extended along the edge of the grassland.
This was the border between Selene Territory and the direct jurisdiction.
"Jutel's in sight. Let's go."
As Sekies spoke, he started walking.
I turned my gaze forward and looked down at my feet.
It's not the first time I've stepped outside, but—
As I stepped onto the grassland, an indescribable feeling swept through me.
My three-year academy life had ended, and I had now officially stepped out of Selene Territory.