Honor the dead's wishes

Momiji nodded and took the lead walking by the forest edge to avoid the previous battlefield. The three of them seems tensed Coco can be seen gripping her hammer tightly. Momiji walking in the front with me while Kaede and Coco follows behind.

After about ten minutes of hiking I stopped them, 'We need to get back to travelling on the road to have a better view of any incoming threats. There is the light smell of blood coming from the west of us, if the it gets stronger I will signal for a stop. If there is a battle don't engage unless the enemies get past me. How is the road towards Modoc like?'

Kaede answered 'This road only leads to Modoc there is no split off. After another hour if we keep our current pace there will be a bend and we should be able to see a river to the left side of the road.' If its a one way road that means the bloody scent I'm picking up might be coming from somewhere along the road there should be trouble ahead.

I nodded to Kaede and explained to them my plans. 'I will take the lead and keep the same pace stay behind me. The bend sounds like a spot which bandits would pick for an ambush so be prepared. Let me know if you notice anything weird, need me to slow down or need a break.' Seeing the three of them nod, I took the lead and started walking in front I pulled up my hood and opened my inventory to unhide my mask.

Thirty minutes in the scent of blood is getting stronger. I signaled for a stop to inform them 'There should be a fight ahead, what would you girls like to do? Avoid, speed up to help or slow down and approach slowly.' Momiji said 'We should approach with caution.' Kaede adds on saying 'We will follow your lead Hime sama, I trust your judgement.' Coco nods while looking at me.

'Understood. If we run into a situation where I deem the enemy too strong, I will shout the phrase Today is a good day to die. If you hear me shouting that it means for you three to run away immediately. I will stall the enemies before fleeing myself, hoping we don't get into such a situation. Let's go.' and with that we continued down the road.

Not too long later we came to a bloody scene with a man fending off six Kobolds with his polearm. 'I'm going to speed up to try and help him. The three of you stay close to each other and approach slowly.' Without even waiting for their reply I ran as fast as I could towards the the fight. The smell of blood seems to give me a rush of adrenaline.

The man seems to be making a last stand, his swings looks sluggish and it does not connect. There is a Kobold leader which was larger then the rest and it's fur was even darker in color then the one I killed earlier. The Kobolds are staying out of his reach while attacking from his blind side. Prepped with a stone in each hand, once I got close enough I pelted the Kobolds with stones taking down 3 of them. The Kobold leader made a grunt and the 2 remaining Kobolds rushed towards me with the Kobold leader staying behind them.

Extending my claws I went for the two Kobold's neck pushing them away and threw a rock into the chest of the Kobold leader's following with another towards its head. All it did was shake its head before rushing towards me trying to bite me. I lowered my stance to avoid it's attack and kicked its shin knocking it off balance and causing it to stumble a little.

Momiji shouted 'I'll support you with wind attacks Hime sama be careful!' I positioned myself to give her a better shot while using kicks to keep the Kobold leader busy. A wind attack slashed down the Kobold's arm not missing the chance while it howl in pain I went in for the kill clawing it's neck while it has it's guard down. The Kobold leader fell face down on the ground, I crushed its neck with my boots to make sure it's dead before heading towards the man.

Kneeling on the ground supporting himself with his halberd the man looked towards me and said. 'Thank you White lady for helping. Can you fulfil a request of a dying man?' The girls now standing behind me, I nodded to him saying 'I will try my best to help.' He took out a dagger and said 'If you happen to go to the town of Orario please pass this dagger to my Goddess Hephaestus. Tell her Chouta Salus and his party has fallen fighting bravely till the end.'

Coughing a mouthful of blood holding the wound on his stomach he struggled to say 'This Glaive is my best work I want you to have it as payment for your help. Take our belongings that will help you with your journey ahead don't leave them to waste with our rotting bodies.' Looking at him I said 'Mister Salus you have my word. I Byakko Hime will bring this dagger to your Goddess Hephaestus personally and let her know of the glorious battle your party has fought. Now rest well brave warrior and prepare for your final journey.'

Checking and confirming his death I closed his eyes with my hands. Looking at the girls I asked them to help out with making sure all the kobolds are dead and gather whatever magic stone they can. I head over to the two other bodies a dwarf man and a female chienthrope and brought them with their belongings over to Chouta's.

There were 2 gladius, 3 daggers, a mace, a two handed war hammer and a kite shield. The armor on their body a backpack with some rope, water, 2 lanterns and some dried food there was a pouch of 60000 valis. They are from Hephaestus familia so their items should be fairly decent. I called over the three girls 'Let's honor Mister Chouta's last words. If there is any armor or weapons which you want please take them. There's 60000 valis even split 15000 valis each.'

The three of them rejected the idea of splitting the valis insisting I should keep it all. I agreed to hold on to it and asked them to choose from the items anything they want. Once again the three disagreed to take any. 'Choose anything you want, I'll carry the bodies and any items we do not take into the forest and leave them there. So make sure you take what you want and take one dagger each to help gather the magic stones and any thing worth carrying with us, don't forget to take the dagger sheath if there is one. After you are done please take a break here and check if the food and water is safe to consume if so help yourselves.' I said to them to speed things up.

Momiji took the mace and kite shield and the straps for them. Coco swapped her wooden hammer for the war hammer. Kaede looked at me and said 'There is nothing here I know how to use. Thank you Hime sama for helping us earlier. We would have end up like Chouta's party if not for you.' Coco nodded and Momiji had tears in her eyes. Hoping to ease the tension I said 'You girls survived that's all that matters. Don't think too much stay alert until we reach the safety of Modoc.'

I took the two gladius, sheath and belt straps to attached it on my waist. Setting the Glaive and backpack together on the ground I began to carry the bodies over to the forest edge and rested the corpse beside a tree. After shifting the last body I checked that the three girls are still busy, staying out of sight I attempted to store the body. It worked and I stored all three bodies.

Checking my inventory I noticed that the bodies each took 1 slot. The armors got separated into different pieces and took up different slots. A total of 33 slots was used for their body and armors and Coco's old hammer. 29/66 slots available currently. I managed to equip the female chienthrope's armor directly from the inventory. The slots available changed to 39/66 slots. Looking at my inventory my rags got swapped for her cotton undergarments.

I made my way back to the girls, they were seated on the floor drinking out of bamboo bottles. Momiji handed me a bottle saying 'Hime sama this is for you. We've collected all the magic stones a total of 26magic stones with 4 damaged magic stones and one odd shaped magic stone that is the leader's. I've place the 26 magic stones with the 12 magic stones you got while saving us into the bag's middle compartment.'

Taking gulps of water I feel refreshed. 'Thank you Miss Momiji, Kaede, Coco. Let's prepare to continue for Modoc.' The three of them agreed and stood up. I tied the pouch of valis to my waist belt put on the backpack and picked up my Glaive.

Thankfully nothing else happened for the rest of the journey and we made it safely to Modoc before nightfall. I can sense their relieve when we finally see the wooden walls and gate of the village Coco even started sobbing.