Chapter 25
Hoouuu~
"Thank you adventurers"
The man thanked after taking a deep breath. After Ahman offered, not in a pleasant manner, a helping hand to them, they then used the backroom of her shop.
"I am Sethal, a wondering merchant. I have heard some tales and praises from folks in this town about your deeds, where you will help anyone, disregarding status and gender, even wealth"
"Well, we did some, but not to the point where some folks will sing such praises to us"
Kanade replied, still quite distance to this man
"Might be, but tales of honor and glory aren't sang for those who have did a tremendous fame, but to those who have done small yet impactful to the surrounding citizens"
He replied, ferm and frank
"Adventurers, little am I to the world but I still live alongside my friend and family. So I ask you, all of you, please, please help me, help me free them"
Sensing his sincerity, the 4 then looked at each other, and nodded. Sarah then replied to his plea
"So what is the problem?"
Relieve, the man then answered in joy
"Yes, thank you"
Taking a deep breath, he then spoke
"Out beyond the town, pass the old city, those damn bastards... my family - my wife and daughters - they were kidnapped by them"
In anger he muttered, clenching his fist in fury and anxiousness
"Bandits?"
"Yes, with them are {Goblin Riders}, and a ton of them too. We were outnumbered by them, completely overwhelmed. I was so damn helpless, begging that they won't dare to hurt my family. It was terrifying, seeing them swarm us like that, not knowing if we'd make it through.
"{Goblin Riders} ha"
"Then, how did you escaped them?"
"I - I didn't... I mean, I don't know. It was just all so overwhelming"
"What?"
"I - I... When I opened my eyes, when I woke up, everything was gone. I was alone in the outskirt, few blocks from the town, deserted. My family.... They're were all gone. My carriage, my goods, stolen. I'm just... Lost"
"... Then, how did you know where were they?"
Tsubaki questioned, skeptical to his story
"Yesterday, around noon, I heard an adventurer filing a report about a monster sighting, a group of {Goblin Riders} roaming around the forest, pass the city. Hearing more, the adventurer mentioned seeing some unarmed folks going out from the forest, being escorted by those creatures as if they were guarding them. It's somewhat relief to have some information, but it's troubling"
He stated in a concerning, and stern tone.
"So you concluded that those folks are the one who kidnapped your family?" (kana)
"It is the only solid lead I have right now, yes"
"This adventurer, does he stay here?" (eliz)
"His also a part time guard in this town"
"Can we meet him?"
"Yes, in fact, his one of the people who suggested to ask help to you"
"I see"
"By the way, how did it all happen, exactly?"
Kanade curiously asked, still quite doubtful to the man upfront
"Pardon?"
"I mean, the kidnapping case... how did it all happen, exactly?
While trying to be in the case, masking her intentions of letting this man bare who he is
"Oh, we were heading back to the Harbor, after selling some goods in the [Village of Owawui], which is at the other end of the island. Passing the mountains and forest, we were trying to reached the Harbor on a much early schedule"
"Why?"
"A friend of mine who owns a commercial transport offered us a free ride to another island. The supposed time should be at the 4th night, but it seems there was some urgent matter he needs to attend to, so it was rescheduled. Packing our things up, we were trying to pass through a shortcut in the forest, but unfortunately - "
"Those bandits were there"
"Yes"
"But how-"
"Hey Amhan! You here?"
They then heard a sudden yell inside the shop. While the 4 were surprised, Sethal wasn't
"That's him! That's the adventurer I am referring to!"
He then stood from his seat, and hurriedly run towards the room upfront. The 4, especially Kanade and Tsubaki, sensed something amiss, a settling atmosphere of quietness and doubt
"I hope I'm just overthinking things" (tsu and kana)
Or maybe it was just from watching too much drama and thrilling series, maybe?
Following him, they then saw the same guard that they meet just this morning, a man with many rumors especially when it comes to women, and among the suitors they rejected, Robert. Seeing the 4 women coming out from the same room where this guy came from, made him a bit envious and resentful to him, but he still greeted them with a warm smile
"Ummm, this is Robert, one of the people I have meet, and kind enough to help me"
"I am Robert, Patrick's son"
"Nice to meet you, I am Elizabeth, and this is Sarah, Tsubaki, and Kanade. We will be in your care"
"Yeah, me too"
He apprehensively replied.
"Great, another person..... *sigh* Welc- ahhh, Robert, what do you what?"
She sneered, after seeing Robert at her shop, seemingly energetic while leering at the 4 women.
"Oh Amhan"
He then slowly went towards her, as she climbed down the staircase.
"Your-"
"Shut up, what is it?"
".... Ahem, boss wanted more"
And handed a piece of paper. She then furiously grabbed it. As she started reading it, she frown
"What the hell is this!?"
"Don't ask me"
Robert stated as she raised his hands up, looking at her with nonchalant gaze
"What the hell! I already gave everything to that bastard! What more do he want!?"
She screamed, as she throws the paper at his face. Robert, getting used to it, then picked up the paper, tapped it, and glared at her
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"Look, this ain't my problem. You and the boss made a deal. You either get on with it and keep quiet, or shut up, well.... Forever?"
And tapped her shoulder as he gave the paper back to him
"And beside, we own everything to him, can't be too selfish now aren't we"
"Tsk"
Outrage, she then climbed back to the top floor. Robert then gaze at their silent audience and muttered
"Ah, sorry about that. She's just a bit of a fiery streak and stubborn young lass, but she ain't a bad sort when you get past her knuckles and chums"
"Yeah, we can see that"
Giggle
"Hee, interesting ain't she? A few tweaks on her gear then you can get her sweet little kisses"
"I see"
Uninterested, the 4 simply didn't give a much attention to him. Sensing that his luck towards them didn't change, made him sigh in defeat
"So, Sethal here said about you lass accepting his request, you know for sure his broke ass can't give you any penny right?"
"That's our choice, not yours"
"Hey, just to clarify, alright? It's been two days now, and no sign of his family whispering on him, can't give him some hopes for a lost cost, neither to you folks. So if you accept this, no fame, no glory, neither money, just a simple underground work"
Silence then deluge the place, confirming to the 4 that while this might be a once in a lifetime fantasy settings, but this isn't a game. People die not simply because they were killed, but because they do.
".... That's why we need further information, if you have those, the more chances we have"
Elizabeth then replied, stern and awake.
"Hey, it's your call. So, what's on your mind? I might be a bit of a eccentric playboy, but I still have cards to play"
"Where are they?"
"Cutting to the chase, huh? That's my style. Rumors aren't much accurate, but their words still have grain of truth, and I have heard that an old abandoned tower, once reign by a powerful {Witch}, is now the new hideout for a gang of thugs. Some rat with loose lips whispered about them, having a tamer one"
"..... How accurate is this?"
"Not much, just a couple of silver coins for it to speak"
"..... Where is it?"
"Just up ahead of that ghost city, deep in the woods, you can't miss that towers sinister edifice"
"How many?"
"Let us just assume that this thugs aren't in numbers of 20, shall we?"
Deeply lost in thought, Sarah and Elizabeth then looked at each other, and simply shrugged
"We will moved tomo-"
"I won't if it were me, Missy"
Interjecting, Robert simply smiled at the 4, which made the 2 simply gazed at him, puzzled and frowned
"Let just say that even how much tightly locked and sealed a chest is, a Lockpicker can still opened it"
"You mean?"
Tap
He then placed a coin sized emblem, and at the center, a skull of a {Deer} in a {Raven's} head were drawn
"[Ravenhold], one of the [Dark Guilds] were now moving in the shadows, and coincidentally, in the most amazing connection, some 'bandits' were also involved"
"Accuracy?"
"5 gold coins"
"..... Your suggesting that?"
"Well, if we don't moved now, maybe we shouldn't then"
Silent, everyone simply stared at each other
"Days?"
"6 days journey on foot, and 2 days on a horseback"
"Do we camp outside?"
Puzzled, Robert and Sethal just simply looked at them. Notion, Robert then asked
"You are adventurers right?"
"What else?"
"Pardon us but, we really don't know what are you trying to say here"
Concern, Sethal spoke
"I mean, what about {Swallowing Night}? How do we deal with them?"
"{Swallowing Night}? Never heard of that booger"
"What?"
"Dear adventurers, what is this {Swallowing Night} you are referring to?"
Looking at each other, Elizabeth then explain
"They are monster who lurks in the shadow, ranging from platinum to Emerald rank, none could be so sure as you are already dead when you tried to pry to it. Description of these beings are shrouded in rumors, saying they are like dead mills of walking death, having wings of a great sparrow and a face of a hideous creature, or an old crook who got cursed and became a walking spectral of death, and some even said that they are the messenger of death, picking who lives and who dies at their whim."
" Which is why, some people doesn't travel during the night but on the broad daylight, and if by some chances they needed to cross another plain for a long journey, they needed to make sure they hid themselves in a safe haven"
Sarah then added. Hearing that, Robert then was flabbergasted as he spoke
"Whoever that nut job with foul mouth that told you that, he better not be here, cuz if that shit truly lurks in the darkness, everyone of us should be long time dead now, Missy, especially those peeps who creeps out during the night"
"His right adventurers, if this so called being really existed, my family and I would likely have been gone by now. [Village of Owawui] is 19 days journey on foot (8 days on horse), and there are no places for us to hide other than in our carriage, or tent. So I'm uncertain whether this said thing really existed or not, but during my stay here and throughout my years as a merchant, I never encountered anyone who claimed to have seen one."
"..... "
Hearing that, the 4 were simply baffled, thinking that the said monster who were a menace back then were now gone, or were hiding. After being told that no such monster existed now, they then agreed to depart immediately, right after of course obtaining a Quest, by submitting a [Quest Admission] to the guild. Sethal's close friend already submitted the form and received a Quest.
We then took whatever we needed, from a tent to the food reserve, and also some [Monster Ward], which is an essence strapped inside a small bag (3 inch) coated in bisque beige coat. It can repel monster with a radius of 3 meters, good for outdoor adventuring.
...
(Sarah's POV)
Clatter Clatter Clatter Clatter Clatter Clatter
2 hours passed as we rode our {Horse}, we are currently passing through the old city. At my side, I then saw Kanade getting close to me
"Sis, I can't still put my full trust on them, so stay vigilant"
She whispered. Not only her does felt such doubt, everyone of us, for unknown reason, or maybe because we already suffered from someone that are close to us, we can't fully give our trust to anyone except darling.
"They're smart, but still tell them not to use any skills that would exhibit their full potential, just use the bare minimum"
She then nodded and went towards the others
(Author's POV)
Clatter Clatter Clatter Clatter Clatter
As the hooves of the {Horse} resound, passing through the old battered walls of the once rising city, behind them, staring with a fixed gaze, Robert is intently gazing at them, concerned, full of doubt and uneasiness. His eyes were painted the same as those people who saw their peers as nothing but investment and bank, his assessing them.
Sethal then slowly went closer to him, trying to not make it obvious, and whispered
"What do you of them?"
(Robert's POV)
"Noob, at 1st"
"Now?"
"Suspicion"
Maybe it just me overthinking things, or
"They are hiding something"
"Why?"
"Just a hunch but, for a party of silver rank, to not even comfirming regarding this said 'rumor', they are quite naive"
"Or maybe too relaxed"
"That's also, but another thing is, for 2 months of staying here, they were able to complete 14 Quest already"
"That fast?"
He muttered in doubt and praise
"They are only a party of 4, yet finishing that many Quest for 2 months is a worth of praise, yet, how?"
"Another secret comrade perhaps?"
"Might be, but"
"But?"
"What if they aren't silver rank? What if they aren't as simple as their beauty suggest?"
"..... Your call?"
"Let see if we can make them talk for this journey, if we can? Jackpot, if we can't? Then better try another course"
I said, grinning ear to ear, quite lucky that I accepted this fat man's request.
'I hope I can roll a triple 6 here'
(Author's POV)
After leaving the old city, they then entered the dense forest. After running across the still *glade part of the woods for an hour, they then stopped, and slowly made their way in a steady step, vigilant to their surrounding area.
"Be careful, stronger monsters roams here, so stay vigilant"
Everyone then silently nodded to Robert's words. An hour has passed
Screechety Scrape Gnashety Gnash Grindety Grind
Robert then signaled everyone to scrouch, stay silent, and wait, as he slowly went forward.
Gnash Gnash Gnash
Grind Grind Grind
Hiding behind a huge tree, under a thick bush, just upfront of him was feast of hungry monsters, devouring their catched prey.
Mrrraaaaah
He then slowly back away, and went back to the group.
"What was it?"
Elizabeth asked in murmur, concerned to such loud roar
"{Undead}, and a lot of them"
"Shit" (kana)
"In broad daylight?"
Sethal asked, confused, as monsters like them tend to move at night. The forest might shaded them, but it isn't enough that it can literally block all lights from the sun
"There's a necromancer among them, a {Wandering Draugr}"
"Number?"
"16 pawns, 1 leader"
"For a [Silver III Tier] monster commanding such army, that's equivalent to [Gold Tier]"
As Kanade stated that, everyone was silent.
"Can we detour?"
"We can, but not a shortcut"
"How long?"
"Maybe 3 or more hours, depends if we won't encounter anything else there"
"Option B?"
"Fight them, kill their leader 1st, and done"
"That's easy to say than done..... Let's take option A"
Elizabeth stated. As everyone was about to agree
"There's another option, C"
Robert then interject, proposing. Silent, everyone then attentively listen to his proposal
"If my memory serves me right, there's a [Goblin Den] just up ahead, with few {Hobgoblins} in them. We can use them as a distraction to occupy all the {Undead} while we take care of the {Draugr}. If all goes well, we can got their bones and essense"
"If not?"
Tsubaki muttered
"Then we flee Missy, what else?"
Tsubaki just simply shrug his smug look. Seeing nothing wrong with his suggestion, everyone then agree
"So now, who will knock the door to our beloved friends?"
<>><×[<|{Monster/ Race/ Equipment Manual}|>]×><<>
<> {Goblin Riders} aren't a new species of {Goblins}, they are simply a new military power for the monster. They ride {Black Wolves} or {Wolves}, with either club, bow, or spear in hand. [Silver tier] monster
<> {Hobgoblin Rider}, a much powerful {Goblin Rider}, either holding a wand, spear, sword, or bow. [Silver III tier] monster
<> {Champion Rider} are {Goblin Champion} who ride at the back of a {Gray Wolves Variant} or {Gray Wolves}, either holding a club, battle axe, Warhammer, or greatsword. [Gold II tier] monster
<> {Draugrs} are powerful undead who guard the place where they were buried, along with their hatred, regret, and guilt. They can summon 4 to 5 {Undeads}, weak against holy, fire, and light magic. [Silver I Tier] monster
> {Wandering Draugr} is a species of {Draugr} that travel across the plain due to either not being buried beside their body, or their body were simply taken by something. Some says they were trying to reunite with their lost body to ascend. Can summon and take command of 15 to 20 {Undeads}. [Silver III Tier] monster.
<> {Undead} is an animated corpse that were either summoned, crawled out, turned into after death, or were bitten. They are twice the strength than when they were alive, weak against holy, and light. [Copper II Tier] monster
<>><×[<|{××××××××××l}|>]×><<>
*Glade: A glade specifically refers to a small, open area within a forest where sunlight penetrates through the canopy, creating a relatively bright and open space amidst the trees.
Draugr: In Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore, draugar (singular: draugr) are undead creatures similar to zombies or revenants. They are often depicted as strong and aggressive beings that guard their burial sites and treasure hoards.
×so you won't get confused:
Human average speed (in my novel) = 3.5 km/h
Horse average speed (") = 20 km/h (walk); 40 km/h (gallop)
Distance between the town to the tower is 490 km
8 days journey = 5 hrs sleep, 1 hr and 30 mins rest per day, 3.5 km/h speed
2 days journey = 5 hrs sleep, 1 hr and 30 mins rest per day, 20 km/h speed
12 hrs/ 1 day journey = 5 hrs sleep, 1 hr and 30 mins rest per day, 40 km/h speed