Chapter LXXXI - Misoh (part 2)

The team leaders finally came down from the stairs and called their teams for more briefing to the team members. 

According to the master, there will be six carriages waiting for us not too far from the middle castle, where one team will have their own carriage.

Hod also said that Valon will come too, but he will go using his own carriage and will be a little bit later than everyone else.

We have talked about this last night, but aside from the adventurers, there are also the knights who will be helping evacuate. They had already disappeared and on the move since the first bell, and they are probably there already.

Unlike us adventurers, knights were always quick in moving. It was their jobs, after all.

"Is everyone ready?"

Valon asked when he came out from the stairs. Everyone else stared at him, and he finally spoke again.

"Then go. The carriages are waiting."

We all finally marched out of the Office and headed towards the middle castle. While we walk, the citizens on the streets are watching us. Armored and armed to the teeth, the adventurers marched towards the middle castle with Hod leading in the front.

I really like how the people just watch silently, but their expression says that they are quite glad. Which means to them, adventurers aren't some people who step on them or punish their own people.

Back in Veldon, I remember every time their knights are marching on the main road, the citizens are watching them with disgust and hatred. This says a lot about how their government treats their people, and the huge difference between Mazino and Veldonia.

After walking and being watched by the people for five minutes, we arrived at the location of the carriages. Hod commanded everyone to start entering the carriages immediately. Group after group, the carriages are being filled by the adventurers.

We picked the carriage at the most back, so that Hod can oversee the other groups' carriages. The leader has to stay behind after all.

Hod didn't enter our carriage right away. He went from carriage to carriage to make sure everyone was in, and then went to the front carriage and confirmed. Once confirmed, the front carriage made their move.

When Hod entered our carriage, we all had already been waiting for him.

"Busy day, raid leader?"

"The people are putting their hopes on you."

Barett jokes, and I added to the pile. Hod snorted and sat down next to Bar. Our carriage began moving following the other carriages.

The path to the village will take around three hours, and the location is at the feet of a mountain.

I brought along the thick sweater just in case the night there will be extremely cold. Aside from that, I also brought my mask and robes, in case something terrible happens.

Which I hope will not happen, but since when does hoping things like that ever work?

I just need to prepare my heart and mind, because according to Hod, Marksus will definitely do something. But really, it's just Marksus. 

What can he do to me?

Speaking of Hod, he seemed to be very comfortable sitting on the window seat. He did enter last, but Barett specifically spared a seat next to him for Hod. 

He can see the road behind him, and since there's no carriage behind us, he can see everything.

"Say… since when are you so good at planning?"

I asked because apparently according to everyone else, Hod has always been good at planning, which Hod himself didn't even realize. I do know that he got large brains, but to think everyone else knows about it as well, is sort of odd for me.

They have known Hod for a long time, that they know Hod's pluses and minuses. His minus, apparently had something to do with spiders. Hod felt attacked when Valey said that, but I got it. Hod is scared of spiders.

Same…

The three hours trip felt very quick when you were with your friends. Once we stopped, the village was already empty. The villagers are already evacuated by the knights.

Instead of the villagers, the knights are here. They all seemed… panicked.

Seeing multiple carriages arriving on the street next to the village, the knights immediately ran towards us. They were quite far away, so we couldn't really hear what they were saying.

Once they get close, we can hear it clearly.

"The monsters are attacking!"

Hod, who heard that, immediately went on guard. He turned around and lifted his hands up.

"Adventurers, get ready! The scouts are here!"

When the adventurers hopped down from the carriages, they all went on guard immediately. The knights pointed at the forest far away, where a single monster can be seen.

Using enchanted eyes, I can see the monster clearly. It has the head of a lion, the muscular body of a bodybuilder, and fangs as large as saber-toothed tigers.

Its palms-no, paws… are those even hands? They are holding a sword at each hand. A schimitar, a curved blade with a shorter range than a longsword. 

The foot of the beast is a lion's paws. Every single finger is as huge and long, just like how its fangs are curved on its curled mouth, grinning as it searches for a prey.

When the Misoh spotted the group of humans at the village, it screamed and began running towards us immediately.

"HORRAAAA!!!"

"It's coming! Get ready!!"

Hod barked at the other adventurers waiting to ambush the Misoh. And when the Misoh is in range, a single arrow enchanted with lightning flies at it.

But the Misoh is good.

Using its sword, it deflected the arrow until it hit the ground behind it, where the lightning from the arrow exploded.

Seeing the spectacle done by the monster, everyone was very confused. Especially the archer who fired the lighting enchanted arrow.

"W-What the hell?"

Valey muttered when she saw her arrow had been deflected. That Misoh moved like it was trained, and it continued running towards us as quick as it possibly can.

"Every ranger! Fire!!"

Hod shouted, and all the archers present started their shoots. Valey as the strongest archer on the group, couldn't even scathe the beast's skin. The beast moved incredibly fast for them to shot, and when there's an arrow coming, the beast simply moved its blade and deflected the arrow.

"Tch! Rangers, fall back. Warriors get ready!"

The beast has already gone very close. The rangers including Valey started retreating as the beast got even closer. Fran and Marksus went forward, followed by the other close range fighters.

When Fran is on range, she slashes the air using her sword and white slashes come out and slices the air. The white slashes were able to damage the beast's skin, but it's too shallow.

"Heh! Good thing that bitch gave you back the sword!"

Marksus complimented as he conjured a horizontal tornado towards the beast. The wind was able to stun the Misoh, and even slightly inflicted wounds on its skin. But, a mere wound wouldn't be able to kill the powerful Misoh.

At least, until Fran leaped forward and with a single slice.

"ROAA!!!!"

The beast lost its left arm.

Fran was initially aiming at the head, but the beast was able to read her movements even though she moved at insanely high speed.

With rage, the beast swung its blade crazily. Fran leaped away, and Marksus took his turn. He created a tornado where the beast stood, but a mere wind slice wouldn't be able to kill it. The beast moved out of the tornado forcefully and ran straight towards Marksus.

"SRINNGG!!"

A blinding light beam appeared next to Marksus' ears and sliced through the beast's face.

The beast has a giant hole in its face now, all the way through to the back of its head, showing everything inside. As the beast fell to the ground, Fran and Marksus turned to see who it was.

"Thanks for the clear shot, guys."

Cane said as he posed with his finger guns. He blew the tip of the finger gun, as if he just shot a bullseye.

"Kheh. Beginners luck."

Marksus said as he returned to his teammates. Fran walked towards Cane and patted on his shoulder.

"Next time, try aiming."

Oh dear, she knew…

Cane actually missed. He was originally aiming at the chest, where it is a little further from Marksus. But the shot moved, and it shot slightly too close to Marksus' ears, nearly killing Marksus.

Cane's face turned red.

"H-Hey! I didn't miss it!"

"Yeah right. Tell that to Marksus' ears."

"Grr…"

Cane's luck is truly fearsome. If it was anyone else, they would miss until it killed either Marksus or Fran. But he somehow missed and hit the face of the beast.

Who the hell missed and did a headshot? That was mad luck that he just had!

Cane was heavily showered with praises from his team and the other adventurers. He claimed that he shot it perfectly, but Fran knows the truth.

"Hey."

A sound came behind me. It's Hod.

"You could have moved there, you know?"

"I know. I just wanted to see how strong everyone else is."

Hod chuckled. He patted my shoulder and left me to meet the others.

Now we move on to the next phase.