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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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The boy, sniffling, began to explain the situation to us. He sure was sniffling a lot.
“Sniffle…Mommy…Mommy…is captured…Bad guys…sniffle…They said…sniffle…if I bring my older sisters and brother…sniffle…they’ll let Mommy go…Please help…”
“Were those bad guys a really fat one and a skinny one?”
The boy nodded. They were practically advertising it as a trap. It seemed they had figured out Lina’s personality.
“Was there a monster with a lion’s head?”
Barickmeteo. If that one was there, things could get troublesome.
“I didn’t see a monster like that. Sniffle.”
That was a relief. The group began to discuss.
“Kerry, can you use your tracking magic again?”
“Yes, thanks to the elixir.”
Kerry grasped the orb.
Now, he could use magic with the mana inside his body without pre-charging the orb.
Although, he wasn’t exactly overflowing with it yet.
Kerry used his tracking magic. He focused his search in the direction the boy indicated his mother was being held.
He could sense the presence of the men through the mana waves.
He sensed the pig and the skeleton. Just as the boy said, Barickmeteo wasn’t nearby.
Not bad.
However, the real problem was the number of monsters they commanded.
Kerry sensed enormous monsters he had never seen before and had no desire to encounter.
Were these huge things trolls? They brought troublesome company.
The smaller creatures seemed to be kobolds and wolves. There were also some monsters he didn’t recognize. They seemed to be really prepared this time.
Kerry told the group everything he had sensed.
“This is a headache. It looks like they’re really out for us.”
“Yes. That’s definitely the feeling I got. Plus, they weren’t hiding this time. It felt like they were certain we would come.”
“….Was the boy’s mother there?”
“Yes. The skeleton was holding her.”
“….”
“It’s like they’re openly inviting us in. We know it’s a trap, but do we have to go in?”
“….”
Lina clenched her fists.
Then, she glanced at the little boy standing apart from them. Lina’s resolve was hardening.
It was an agonizing expression, difficult to describe. It was understandable, given Lina’s kind nature.
She felt bad about suggesting they walk into a trap, but she couldn’t abandon the child’s mother. This kind of frustrating situation was the worst.
Just as Lina opened her mouth to speak, Kerry beat her to it.
“Lina, I have a plan. Would you be willing to hear it?”
Rina’s eyes widened. Then, she smiled warmly and said,
“Let’s all hear it.”
Kerry found that smile more burdensome than Lina’s trusting gaze.
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Kerry originally believed that people were selfish. But even so, their methods were infuriating.
They needed to know their limits.
He was starting to understand why Lina hated these guys so much.
“What do you think? I think it’s a decent plan.”
“….”
Why the silence? Did they not like it? He thought it was a pretty good plan.
However, Kerry’s worries were unfounded.
Lina grabbed Kerry’s hand. Then, she gave him that characteristic trusting look. Stop it! It’s too much pressure.
“Kerry…I’m so glad you’re here. If it weren’t for you…I…I would have been completely at their mercy.”
To Lina, Kerry’s existence was more than a goddess of luck…no, a god of luck.
“Lina, aren’t you holding his hand for too long? My hubby is mine, you know.”
“Ahaha. Sorry, Natasha.”
“Anyway, I think we should do as hubby says. I’m all for it!”
“I also think Kerry’s method is the best.”
“As expected of our son-in-law.”
“I think we should follow Kerry’s plan as is.”
Kerry nodded. Finally, it was time for the intermediate magic stored in his hero-grade magic storage orb to shine.
He had certainly inscribed that spell well.
“Natasha, then please get ready. Your role is important.”
“Just leave it to me, hubby. Hehe.”
Natasha moved away from the group and disappeared into the forest. She occasionally looked back and waved.
“Little one, ride this back home.”
The old woman chanted a spell, and the roots and branches of a tree formed a pony.
As soon as the boy was on the pony, it ran towards the village.
“Big brother! Big sisters! Please save Mommy! Thank you!”
Little rascal. He didn’t even call me “mister”. I’m only helping him because he’s cute.
“Then let’s move too. To where they are.”
“Yes, Lina.”
Lina’s group walked slowly towards where the skeleton and the pig were. There was no need to rush.
They would wait for Lina’s group anyway, and Natasha needed time to prepare.
Just then, Victoria sidled up to Kerry as he walked quietly.
“Hee hee. With Natasha gone, Kerry is all mine now.”
“….Aren’t you clinging a bit too much, Victoria?”
“What’s wrong with that? Natasha clings to you all the time, doesn’t she? I can do it for a day, too.”
He had gotten used to Natasha, in a way.
Besides, Natasha and Victoria were different.
Natasha’s clinging was cute, while Victoria’s, even if it was the same action, had a certain suggestive air.
Part of it was due to Victoria’s curvaceous figure, but just the way she looked at him with those sly eyes was full of allure.
See? Even Lina was pretending to look away, unable to meet her gaze. Definitely a different vibe from Natasha.
Then, Kerry felt something touch his backside.
It was Victoria’s hand. Pretending to cling, she was touching his butt.
This woman never stopped! Her lust cooldown shouldn’t have reset yet.
Even when Kerry brushed Victoria’s hand away, it was no use.
Victoria continued to fondle his backside as if it were her own. He gave up. After all, Kerry was largely to blame for turning Victoria this way.
Lina, who was walking ahead, spoke softly.
“We’ve arrived. A thick, murderous aura is overflowing.”
“Kerry, it would be best to use ‘that’ from here.”
“I suppose this is a good spot, then? Understood.”
Kerry poured mana into the hero-grade orb.
Ready, the group walked forward. Before them lay a plateau.
It was littered with boulders.
Hills surrounded the plateau, and it seemed the enemy was hiding within them.
Lina shouted, representing the group.
“Are you going to keep hiding? I don’t think you’re fools who believe you can conceal such murderous intent.”
Only then did the enemy slowly reveal themselves, one head at a time, from the surrounding high hills.
Kobolds and wolves were visible. He could see as many as four trolls.
Four trolls were enough to be a force in a siege battle.
There were also monsters he’d never seen before, and monsters with grotesque teeth that looked like they would inflict a terrible bite.
It seemed they had brought every useful creature from the forest.
Lina and her group were surrounded at the bottom of the rounded hills.
Finally, Huruuku and Nasen appeared.
“Buhik! They actually came! Just like Nasen said, they’re insane! Buhik!”
“I knew they would. We’re not strangers who’ve only known each other for a day or two. Did you think I wouldn’t notice such a fatal flaw in their personalities?”
Lina bit her lip hard.
Even after hearing such words, Lina had no choice but to come here.
“Where’s the hostage?”
Kerry asked.
“Oh? A man…talking face to face, this is a first, isn’t it? That…what was your name again? Kerry? Right, that was definitely your name.”
“Annoying man! Buhik! I won’t let you off the hook this time! I’ll chew you up alive! Buhik!”
Annoying man? Were they calling him that? He’d show them what truly annoying meant.
“I have no intention of talking to you. Just show me the hostage.”
“This bitch talking back to me?”
From behind Nasen, some kobolds brought out a woman. Nasen grabbed her hair.
“Kyaa! Help me! Help me…please, spare my life…”
The woman didn’t appear to be injured. Just incredibly terrified.
Well, not many people would remain calm surrounded by such a horde of monsters.
“See? The woman looks healthy, right? But what were you thinking, coming all the way here? Do you really think you can save this woman from my hands?”
“….”
“Think about it rationally. This woman is already a dead woman walking.”
“Please save me…Save me…Sob…sob…”
Lina’s sword hummed. It felt like the sword was growling, baring its fangs.
“Oh my. How scary. Are you trying to cut me in half again? But will that be alright? Didn’t you come here to save this woman?”
“If the woman dies, there’s no point in you being here! Buhik!”
“Just like Huruuku said.”
They laughed confidently. Lina and her group firmly held their positions and simply glared. Let them laugh while they still could.
“But why is the red-haired crazy bitch so quiet?”
“Buhik! The craziest one is being quiet! Strange!”
They were right. Natasha was standing next to Kerry, silently.
Fortunately, they seemed to have noticed nothing.
“Well, it’s only natural. Even a crazy bitch wouldn’t be able to act up in a situation like this.”
“I’ll kill that red-haired bitch. Buhik!”
“So, what will you do? Die here, or kill the hostage and have a big showdown? The choice is yours.”
“They’re even dumber than me! Buhik!”
Just then, the woman being held hostage shouted.
“J-Just! Kill them all! I’m going to die anyway! Kill them all! These are the culprits! They’re the ones who have been kidnapping the villagers!”
“Stupid bitch, can’t you grasp the situation? Heh.”
“Buhik! This woman is stupid, too!”
“Huruuku, go down there and kill them. It’s obvious they won’t resist as long as we have the hostage.”
“Got it. Buhik!”
Huruuku descended the hill.
He brought two trolls with him, making for a rather intimidating sight.
Thump- Thump-
The enormous creatures stood before Lina.
“Don’t move. If you move, this woman dies. Understand?”
“…”
“Buhik. Stupid bitch. Die!”
Huruuku swung his iron club back with great force. He seemed intent on crushing Lina’s head with a single blow.
Just then, Lina’s sword moved with lightning speed. Simultaneously, blood spurted from Huruuku’s body with a fwoosh.
“Buhiiiiiit!”
Huruuku screamed in agony at Lina’s strike. Blood erupted from his body. It was beyond just painful.
“I guess I was underestimated.”
“…”
“I apologize to you, miss…but I can’t die in your place.”
Lina recalled her mission.
‘I must stop the Holy War. Until then, I can’t die, even if I’m killed.’
“I’m alright. Kill them all…Mmmmph!”
“Shut up, bitch. Be quiet.”
Nasen covered the woman’s mouth and smirked.
“There we go. That’s how it should be. Huruuku! Stop whining and get up.”
At the same moment, Huruuku grabbed a nearby kobold and swallowed it whole. The wound Lina inflicted began to heal.
“Buhik…I thought I was really going to die.”
“I have no intention of letting you die so easily. Don’t worry. I have a lot of pent-up anger towards you.”
“Buhik…Damn blonde bitch! What are you all waiting for! Attack!”
The monsters swarmed down from the hill. Surrounded, there seemed to be no way out.
Then, Victoria slammed her sword into the ground.
Woooong-
Simultaneously, a protective barrier enveloped them.
“Try to break through this if you can, you insignificant creatures.”
The monsters that descended from the hill pounded against Victoria’s barrier. A troll lifted its massive club and slammed it down.
Wolf-like monsters also body-slammed the barrier.
But the barrier held. It didn’t budge.
Just then, Nasen began to mumble a spell while holding the woman.
“Dangerous! It’s a curse!”
The old woman said as she began to chant a counter-spell. She seemed to be trying to block Nasen’s curse.
However, it seemed too much for the old woman to handle alone, as black spots began to appear on the group’s skin.
“Ugh…Son-in-law…I don’t think I can hold on much longer.”
“It’s alright. This is enough.”
Kerry smiled, certain of victory. By now, Natasha should be ready.
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