Eastern Ruins (6)

"Phew, it's over."

Luchi retrieved his sword and looked around.

The corpses of at least three hundred gnolls were strewn all over.

It hadn't been easy.

But it wasn't particularly hard either.

The gnolls led by their leader were organized.

The armored gnolls drew attention from the front, while the ones armed with crossbows constantly fired from the back.

Spears jabbed in between, rusty swords swung, arrows flew, and maces slammed down.

Claws, teeth, fists, and even stones—they attacked relentlessly, leaving no room to breathe.

If it had been anyone else, they'd probably be torn to pieces here, leaving no trace.

But Luchi and Heinzel were different.

I was different too... hehe.

The two of them massacred the gnolls as if they were out for a casual stroll, exchanging jokes.

And the gnoll leader was sliced in half by a single strike from Heinzel.

They were clearly platinum-ranked adventurers on the verge of becoming 'Masters.'

I wondered, could I beat them if I fought with everything I had?

As I recalled the earlier battle, I tried to picture it in my head.

Hmm... if I fought with pure physical combat, maybe I could manage it.

Yeah, with just 'physical combat.'

But if they used their 'unique abilities,' there's no way I could win in my current state...

You might say, "How can someone with eight years of experience not win?" But platinum is platinum for a reason.

In the game, the highest rank you could achieve just by hunting was gold.

To become platinum, you had to pass a trial.

Once you passed the trial, you'd unlock a 'unique ability' depending on your class and be promoted to platinum.

Of course, reality might differ from the game, but Luchi and Heinzel definitely have unique abilities.

I've seen them in the game. They were so cool.

Luchi would do a swish with his sword, and then it'd go Kugwagwagwa!!, killing beasts left and right.

And Heinzel would go Twak! and the beasts would Puzhazhazhak! get crushed.

But... I'm frustrated.

I'm a veteran too...

I could use all those abilities too... well, in the game.

I couldn't help but feel a little resentful. I stabbed the ground with my greatsword.

Sure, they reached their current level through relentless training and deadly experiences in real life...

But still, it felt unfair.

"Sigh—"

While I was sighing, Heinzel approached, glancing around, and opened his mouth.

"So, Luchi, how many did you take down? I'm getting old, I lost count halfway through."

"It seems your intelligence disappeared along with your hair. I took down about 90."

Heinzel rubbed his shiny bald head and replied, "I didn't get as many as that, but since I got the leader... can we count the leader as, say, 20?"

"Hah! Not a chance. Do you know how much my bar tab costs?"

"Fair point..."

"But, Heinzel, weren't we supposed to be using our aliases?"

"Oh, right... You were... Racha?"

"Rich. It was Rich. Ha, this is a mess... Hermil- ahem! The client is going to chew us out."

"We might not even get paid properly."

"Is money the problem right now? Damn, this is a real headache."

They casually exchanged pointless banter as they began to quickly check their weapons.

I followed their lead and checked the state of my greatsword.

"Sigh..."

This thing is just a club now. A big, blunt club.

It's no longer a sword...

The blade was not just dull, it had completely worn away. The wobbly hilt felt like it could fall off at any moment.

And my body wasn't in great shape either.

I kept feeling dizzy, and blood kept rising in my throat.

I need Aileen... my free walking potion...

On top of that, being in pain made me miss the warmth of Hermila's voice and Aileen's comforting touch.

It had only been about twenty minutes since I last saw Aileen...

I slapped both cheeks to refocus and looked around.

I wondered if any of the fallen knights had a greatsword I could use, but of course, there wasn't one.

There was no choice.

I picked up a few daggers that had fallen from the gnolls and moved forward.

The north gate was secure, but I still had to check the west and south gates.

"Miss... where are you going?"

Heinzel turned to look at me as I passed.

"I'm going to the west gate. They're coming there too. If I don't go now, it'll be too late..."

"You're going with that equipment? Ha, seriously..."

Luchi clicked his tongue as he glanced at my greatsword.

But what could I do? I wasn't skilled at self-repair.

That's why I grabbed a few daggers.

I patted the daggers hanging at my waist.

"I'm... fine. You two go to the south gate."

"They're coming from every entrance, huh?"

Heinzel glanced toward the direction of the south gate.

"Yes, but the rest are only about 30 percent of the total force. So..."

"So, you're saying we can handle it on our own? Hah, these knights don't even consider us human."

Luchi sneered as he looked at the knights.

Heinzel joined him, mocking the knights with a laugh.

They hadn't been completely useless... but they hadn't been much help either.

Roughly... Luchi had killed 90, Heinzel had taken down 70, and I had eliminated about 60.

I could've killed more. What a shame.

Anyway, the three of us had killed 220 in total.

Those nine knights had taken down 80... less than ten each.

If they had been cute newbies like Aileen, I would've let it slide with a smile, but since they were the cause of all this, it annoyed me.

If Luchi and Heinzel hadn't been here, Aileen would've been in real danger.

I could've survived on my own somehow, but Aileen... she would've died.

That's why I hated those knights.

I couldn't even bear to look at them.

I closed my eyes.

They could go to hell for all I cared.

"Sigh... Anyway, please head to the south gate. I'll handle the west gate by myself."

Luchi, who had been quietly watching me, spoke up.

"I'll go with you. That bald guy can handle it alone."

"You one-eyed bastard..."

If Luchi was coming with me... that was great.

Honestly, I had been hoping for that.

I could manage alone, but... it would've been tricky.

Heinzel could handle himself solo, though.

Since Luchi was offering to come along, there was no reason to refuse.

"Well then... bald uncle, you go to the south gate, and Luchi and I will head to the west—"

"Noah. Where do you think you're going?"

A familiar voice interrupted me from behind.

The voice I wanted to hear the most right now.

Aileen!

Overjoyed, I turned around with a big grin... but wait...?

Aileen was really angry...?

"A-Aileen...?"

She pulled her robe low over her face and strode straight toward me.

Scary...

"Noah."

Her voice, full of suppressed anger, sent a cold sweat down my spine.

"Y-Yes...?"

Aileen stopped right in front of me.

If we were the same height, our noses would've touched, she was that close.

Was she going to cancel the request...?

I'd already received 15 gold coins, so... I guess I should return them...?

I'd grown attached in such a short time...

And besides, just now... I was fighting to protect Aileen...

My body ached, my equipment was in ruins, I might lose the money...

And thinking about being separated from Aileen made me feel a little... teary.

"Noah."

"Y-Yes, hic... yes..."

I hung my head low, waiting for her to speak.

"Your appearance... what do you look like, for a girl... seriously..."

"N-Nnh...?"

But instead of what I feared, Aileen pulled me into a warm hug and gently stroked my back.

Wh-Why...?

"I'm sorry, Noah... I'm really late, aren't I?"

"N-No... I told you to stay... in the room... B-But if you keep holding me like this, you'll get blood on you... And I stink."

"It's fine. Just stay like this for a moment."

When I tried to push her away, Aileen hugged me even tighter.

Sure, I could've pried her off if I used more strength...

But I stayed still.

I wasn't sure why.

Maybe... because it felt soft and comforting.

As we hugged, Luchi and Heinzel turned their backs to us, glaring at the knights.

Why?

"A-Aileen...? I kind of need to hurry... I have to get to the west gate... so..."

Hearing my words, Aileen gently pushed me away.

For some reason, I felt a tiny pang of disappointment.

Was it... the softness of her chest...?

Big chests really are the best...!

"You're saying things like that in your condition? Are you doing this on purpose? Do you want me to cling to you, is that it? Hm?"

Aileen's words hit me like a rapid barrage.

"Why are you like this? Last time, when I asked for a quiet place, you led me to a blacksmith shop. I thought you were mocking me. I was so angry. I didn't tell you before, but... sorry for getting mad. And for the coffee you made... I'm sorry, but it was really disgusting. But still! I thought you were going to reject the request back then because of all that. Well, now I can see that's not the case."

"W-What...?"

"And then last time, you went and killed that Black Bear all by yourself! In the middle of the night! Covered in blood!! You noticed it was coming toward us and went off alone, didn't you?!"

"N-No... that was..."

My body was stiff from that day... and well... I wasn't used to sleeping with others, especially girls... so I couldn't sleep well...

So I went and picked a fight with the Black Bear that had been sleeping nearby... Uh...

"And earlier today, you fought off all those gnolls by yourself. So recklessly! You were so badly injured, bleeding everywhere, and you got burned too! That wound hasn't even healed yet, and you must still be in a lot of pain!! And then... fuu... haa... fuuu..."

"A-Aileen... breathe, breathe..."

"And then earlier... right in front of me, you were bleeding from your nose and spitting up blood, and you told me to just stay behind and cook?! Ha! Noah!! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Uh... uh...?"

"You get hurt like that, suffer like that, and then tell me to just stay behind. As if I'd say, 'Oh yes, Mr. Idiot Adventurer, I've paid you in full, so you go fight all by yourself and come back to protect my precious self like a dog!' Did you think that's what I'd say?! Answer me!"

"N-No, that's not it... I didn't mean..."

"What, just because we haven't known each other long, you think I wouldn't care about you? You think I hate you? No, I don't. I don't, okay? Even when you show me those scars on your small body... and tell me it's fine with that kind of face... you really think I wouldn't care?! You think I hate you? If you hate me, just say it! Even if I tease you all the time... maybe you hate me... I-I just... sniff... I just care about you, Noah... hic..."

"A-Aileen... please... don't cry..."

I reached out to wipe away Aileen's tears.

"Don't touch me! I'm not crying! I'm... not crying... So why... why do you fight so desperately... when you have me here? When there's someone who worries about you... why do you do this...?"

Aileen, who had been so angry...

Suddenly embraced me softly...

Then, gradually, her voice shifted into anger again...

She shouted fiercely...

And now she was crying.

Yet even as I wiped her tears, she didn't push me away...

Um...

I don't really get what's going on...

Luchi and Heinzel were still standing with their backs to us, glaring at the knights.

The knights, unable to do anything, were pacing nervously like puppies who needed to go to the bathroom.

I honestly have no idea what's happening.

I still feel dizzy, like I'm going to pass out, and I'm swallowing down the blood that keeps rising in my throat because I'm too close to Aileen...

Gnolls are closing in from both the south and west gates, and if the red wolf catches the scent of blood, he might wake up—it's an incredibly dangerous situation right now...

Maybe I should calm Aileen down first...?

What would be the best way to soothe her in this situation...?

Hmm... based on my experience...

"A-Aileen... then... how about we go to the south gate together? We can... hunt gnolls together. Maybe even have a contest? See who can kill more? Wouldn't that be fun...? Hehe."

Killing mobs is the best solution.

We'll deal with the gnolls, clear our heads!

Of course, this isn't a game, it's real life... and our lives are on the line...

But with Aileen behind me, I won't die easily.

If things get too dicey, I can send Heinzel alone and go with Luchi!

Feeling proud of my brilliant idea, I grinned, but suddenly I heard a slap behind me.

It was Heinzel slapping his forehead with a groan.

Ah, right.

The south gate was Heinzel's job, wasn't it?

"A-Aileen. I guess we should go to the west gate after all... The bald uncle over there was supposed to handle the south gate."

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[I have moved the past Illustrations to Deviantart to keep the original quality without having to compress them, I also added 2 new ones, just follow the steps below to view them]

[Go to Deviantart.com/ov4096 -> Gallery -> The Greatsword Isnt My Main Body]