Chapter 53
Rough Trip
It had been a couple of days since Erin and her group had left Moonstone City. So far, their trip hadn’t met all that many obstacles. Lexton knew how to keep most beasts away through the use of materials that drove them away, so they were left in relative peace. They traveled during the days and slept during the nights, while having someone stay up in watch. This ensured that no bigger beast that wouldn’t have minded the unpleasant smells managed to surprise them.
However, while no life-threatening dangers had come up, there were still a few issues that were making the trip difficult. Primarily, the unpleasant living conditions that they were stuck in for the time being.
“Lex, are you really sure we can’t get rid of some of this crap!? This smells worse than a freaking sewer!” Ryle complained as she was pinching her nose in disgust at the materials that the kobold had gathered in his mobile workshop. “Seriously, how the hell are you able to live in this disgusting dump!?”
“Hey! Might I remind you that not only is this “dump” your best way of getting around, but those smelly things you love to complain about are what keeps us safe from all the nasty creatures out there!” Lexton yelled back. “If you don’t like the smell, why don’t you ride on the roof or something!?”
“I would love that! But wasn’t it you, who told me not to climb on top of your trash can!?” the blonde yelled back. “I believe you said something about it being too reckless and stupid!?”
“That and I don’t want to wash whatever stains you’ll leave on my car, once you inevitably fall off from there!” the kobold replied. “But I’m willing to take that risk, as long as it means that I don’t want to listen to your goddamn whining any longer!”
“Fine by me!”
“Okay, let’s just try to calm down, you two!” Erin called out, hoping to put a stop to the argument. “Maybe we should take a quick break? I’m sure we all could use some time to rest from our long trip.”
“Fine… If that helps make things at least a bit less annoying,” Lexton said as he began to slow down. “Seriously, I give you guys a ride and provide protection from the wild, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Look, it’s not that we don’t appreciate all the help from you. It’s just that the trip has been less than… pleasant, to say the least. I’m sure we’re all just tired and cranky,” the redhead said, hoping to make the mood at least a bit better. “By the way, how far are we from our destination?”
“You mean where one of The Five Overlords is? That’s still far off from us, I’m afraid,” the kobold answered as he pulled the vehicle into a stop. “In fact, if we are going there by driving like this, we’ll be stuck traveling for at least over a week. That’s why I was hoping to actually go to a place called Burrow’s Deep.”
Upon hearing the name, Erin began to think back to the days when Five Realms had been just a game for her. The place called Burrow’s Deep was familiar, as it was one of the places one could travel to. From what she could recall, you could purchase creatures that you’d normally see in the wild as pets to be used in various manners. Some could be made into mounts, some could be used as partners in combat and many others such uses.
The most popular and useful beats one could find were the large underground creatures. While expensive, they had a lot of uses. These included tough armor that made them great in combat and the ability to dig underground for treasures and other things. This naturally led to the redheaded assassin making a guess as to why Lexton wanted to go there.
“Are we going to be getting something that can help us dig underground?” Erin asked. “That could be useful.”
“Huh? Oh, you’re talking about the old animal companion thing that was going on there back in the day,” Lexton said knowingly. “I’m guessing you haven’t been there or heard what’s going on there for quite some time then.”
“What do you mean?” the redhead asked.
“That whole business has been pretty much shut down entirely. While some of the smaller critters are still sold around there, the ones you’d really want are now controlled by government officials. Only very few get a permission to handle things like Diamond Moles or Granite Larva,” the kobold explained. “Nah, what we are going there for is completely different.”
“What would that be then?” Erin asked. “Are you looking to get your hands on some of the rare minerals that can be found there?”
“While tempting, unless I can find a good deal through some black market seller, that’s not happening either,” Lexton answered. “The thing I’m looking forward to get is in the way that place made itself known after its original business dried up. By using magic and some of the creatures they had in their control, they’ve actually built an underground network that will help us move a lot faster to our destination.”
“Oh, so like an underground railroad? That sounds great!” the redhead said happily. “But won’t we be forced to leave your car back here?”
“Not exactly. I think I know what you’re thinking it’s like, but the underground network isn’t exactly a railroad,” the kobold said. “Anyways, you’ll see it once we get there.”
“Alright then. I’ll trust your judgment,” Erin said with a smile.
“You know, you shouldn’t be so trustful towards others. You could easily get scammed over by someone,” Lexton said as he got into a more relaxed posture on his seat. “I know it’s kind of ironic coming from me, but I think the point is still valid.”
“I know I can trust you. You haven’t misled me yet,” the redhead said, only to receive a slight frown from her companion. “Okay, with the exception of the first time we met…”
“...Seriously, you are one strange case, you know?” the kobold said. “I’m not just taking about how you’re so trustful towards others to the point it’s dangerous, but so many other things about you that are just odd. On one hand, it seems like you don’t seem to know anything about the world around you, but at the same time you do. You know about Burrow’s Deep, yet only what it used to be. You also don’t seem to have any reservations towards those of different races at all, whether positive or negative. And you are willing to take on some of the most dangerous people in this world, which is pretty much suicidal. Just who are you really?”
Erin was taken aback by the sudden question. In all honesty, she wanted to tell her friends the truth about who she and The Five Overlords were. However, she knew from experience that it was a risk she shouldn’t take. At least not yet.
“I’m sorry… but I can’t tell you much,” the redhead said. “Maybe I’ll tell you my story one day, but not today.”
“Fair enough. It’s not like I have told you everything about myself either,” Lexton said as he pulled down his hat so that he could take a nap without worrying about the sun. “Wake me up when you guys are ready to continue, okay? I’ll try to catch up on some sleep in the meantime.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Sure,” Erin replied before walking outside, hoping to stretch her legs a bit and get some fresh air.
Once she got outside, the redhead noticed that Ryle and Arkay were there already. The blonde was simply looking around at the surrounding scenery, while the cat boy was placing small bags filled with herbs around the area. The herbs were used to ward off some of the beasts that were around, so they wouldn’t have to worry about being attacked.
“How you doing, Ryle?” Erin asked, walking up to her friend.
“A bit better now that I don’t have be stuck inside that smelly box of crap,” the blonde answered. “I swear, Lex needs to do something about that stuff. How anyone can stay inside that place for more than ten seconds is a freaking wonder!”
“It’s not so bad, once you get used to it. Besides, beggars can’t be choosers. Lexton is the only one with a ride and that’s the ride we’re getting from him,” the redhead said with a shrug. “Besides, we should honestly be thankful that he’s helping us out. Without him, we’d be stuck walking all the way there.”
“Sure, but it still doesn’t change the fact that his ride smells like shit and is cramped like hell,” Ryle retorted. “Seriously, would it have killed him to get something with a bit more space!?”
“Actually, it probably would have. Remember that it’s specifically made for a person of his size,” Erin said. “If it was made for people like us, he probably wouldn’t be able to reach the pedals.”
“I’m sure he could have found a way around that. Besides, thanks to that, he is the only one who can drive the damn thing!” the blonde complained. “The only one besides him that fits in the freaking seat is Arnie and he could do it just barely! Need I remind you of how terrible it was for me?”
All the members of the group had tried to take seat behind the wheel in order to see if someone other than Lexton could drive. However, this had yielded less than favorable results, as only Arkay was able to fit there. This wasn’t much of help, as he had no idea how to drive at all. Erin was only barely able to sit down, but she couldn’t move her legs to use the pedals and her upper body was squeezed between the wheel and the seat in a rather painful manner.
The worst result had been with Ryle, who had to crouch on the seat like some gargoyle. While it was impossible for her to drive, the sight provided a great deal of amusement to the others.
image [https://i.ibb.co/ZX8xVF8/Ch-53-Pic-1.jpg]
“Well, I did tell you that if I couldn’t fit in it, you most likely wouldn’t either,” Erin said as she had to hold back her giggles due to the funny memory. “Still, we should be thankful that Lex has decided to help us out so far. Without him we would be much farther away from our destination than we are now. And we would be sleeping on the ground while worrying about local beasts.”
“If you’re talking about that repellent crap he has, do you really-”
Ryle was cut off, as a horrid smell entered her and Erin’s noses. This was due to Arkay planting the repellent he had gotten from Lexton near them. While he wasn’t doing this next to Erin and Ryle, he was still close enough that the wind was easily able to carry the stench to them.
“Sweet merciful crap! Arnie, could you take that stinky shit somewhere far away!?” Ryle pleaded while holding her nose. “I swear I’m gonna lose my sense of smell at this rate!”
“I’m sorry, Ryle, but I can’t,” the cat boy replied apologetically. “Lexton told me that I need to place this stuff close enough to our camp. Otherwise it won’t do it’s job of driving away the beasts around here.”
“Goddammit! Can’t I escape this terrible smell no matter where I go!?” the blonde whined.
“Just bear with it, Ryle. It’s for the better,” Erin said while holding her own nose.
“Bullshit! I can’t believe this crap actually helps!” Ryle complained as she stomped away. “I’m gonna get away from here, so I can actually breathe some clean air for once!”
“Hey, don’t go too far! If you get attacked, we might not be able to help you!” the redhead called out.
“Who do you think I am!? You!?” the blonde yelled back as she was walking away. “I know how to handle myself out here!”
Now away from their camp, Ryle was able to take a moment to relax herself. She found a nice shade to sit in as she simply enjoyed not being stuck in a cramped and smelly place for once.
However, little did she realize that there was a looming threat nearby, as a beast was quietly observing her from a distance. A large canine beast with blazing red fur was bearing its fangs, hoping to turn the blonde woman into its next meal. This was a Badlands Wolf, a tough beast that liked to stalk its prey for days, waiting for the best opportunity to attack. Now that opportunity had presented itself with the wolf slowly and quietly getting closer and closer.
The wolf had gotten on top of a nearby cliff, looking down at its next meal. Saliva dripped from the hungry beast’s mouth, as it tensed its body to jump down and kill the prey before its eyes. With a powerful leap, the wolf lunged towards Ryle and opened its massive jaws to sink its teeth into her neck.
Just as it was doing this, Ryle’s nose twitched. She had picked up a strange smell not too long ago, which often meant danger. With reaction speed of a skilled and experienced fighter, she quickly rolled out of the way of the oncoming wolf. The beast smashed into the rock that had been behind the blonde, who wasted no time in retaliating. A swift and powerful kick to the creature’s neck was more than enough to put down the wolf, who could do nothing to protect itself.
“Bad dog! Down!” Ryle said to herself with a cocky grin. “That’s what happens when you think you can make the legendary badass Ryle into a meal! You get put down before you can even say “I’m screwed!” Should have picked a better target, you furry bastard.”
The blonde’s gloating was suddenly interrupted as she began to hear growling from around her. Taking a look around, she noticed that there were now multiple wolves surrounding her, all with their teeth being bared at her.
The most dangerous about Badlands Wolves wasn’t their strength or ferocious nature. It was the fact that they liked to hunt in large packs.
“Oh shit…” was all Ryle could mutter at her situation.
Back with the others, the three members of the group were each doing their own thing to pass the time. Lexton was still in the middle of his nap, Arkay was practicing his magic and Erin was reading the books the cat boy had gotten her.
However, their peaceful time was brought to a sudden end, as a scream caught their attention.
“AAAAAAH! HELP ME!” Ryle screamed at the top of her lungs while running towards the camp, a large pack of wolves running right behind her. “GET THESE DAMN ANIMALS OFF MY ASS!”
It took a moment for Erin and Arkay to break out of their stupor at what they were witnessing, but soon sprung into action. The redhead grabbed her sword, hoping to offer assistance to her friend, while the cat boy began to prepare spells in order to give support.
“What are you two panicking over?” Lexton asked the two of them, showing no signs of distress at all. “Why waste your energy attacking those things at all?”
“What the-!? Ryle is being chased by them! Isn’t that reason enough!?” Erin asked, shocked that the kobold didn’t seem to be even the least bit bothered by what was going on. “We need to help her or she might die! Don’t you care at all!?”
“Don’t you two already know better than to distrust my skills?” Lexton asked. “You’ll soon see what I mean.”
Meanwhile, Ryle was still running for her life away from the hungry beasts chasing her.
“HEY! ARE NONE OF YOU ASSHOLES GOING TO HELP ME!?” the blonde screamed, noticing how none of her friends seemed to be going to assist her in the slightest. “IF YOU GUYS DON’T HELP ME, I SWEAR I’M GOING TO-!”
Just as she was about to let out her threat, Ryle noticed that the wolves had suddenly stopped chasing after her completely and seemed to be backing away. They still had their sights set on her and were growling in hunger, still desiring to feast on the prey before them, yet not taking a single step forward.
Realizing that her life had apparently been saved, Ryle slowed her run down to a jog as she reached her friends. Everyone except Lexton were staring at the wolves with wide eyes, wondering just what was going on.
“W-What’s going on?” Erin asked, as she stared at the wolves in disbelief. “Why aren’t they coming closer at all?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Lexton said as he walked out of his RV and joined his companions. “They aren’t getting any closer due to my repellents. The smell has a certain quality to it that drives these creatures away. Even if they want to come here and tear us into pieces, they can’t help but stand there.”
“Amazing… I understood that the repellents were meant to drive beasts away, but I never would have imagined that they would work this well,” Arkay said. “You are incredible, Lex.”
“Yup. That I am,” the kobold said with a smirk.
“...I still can’t believe all that stinky shit managed to do this of all things,” Ryle said, still in disbelief over the whole ordeal. “By the way, are they just going to stay there or will they leave at some point?”
“They should leave eventually. No animal is going to try go after a meal it can never get,” Lexton answered. “It’s only a matter if time until these things give up as well and leave us alone.”
Almost as if on cue, the wolves began to turn around and ran away, leaving the group alone.
“And there you have it. I am once again correct,” the kobold said happily, before he went back inside the RV. “Now, if we are done here seeing my amazing skills at work, I’d like to return to my nap. Also, Ryle, I understand that you don’t like the smell of any of my products. You have made that very clear to all of us. But would you mind and not walk outside the range of my repellents? Next time you might not be fast enough.”
“...I don’t know which is worse,” the blonde said with a sigh.
“What are you talking about?” Arkay asked.
“The fact that Lex got to flex with all this junk he has,” Ryle answered, before glancing at Erin. “Or the fact that I just pulled an Erin.”
“Okay, we are NOT going to use my name like that,” the redhead said angrily.
Meanwhile, the wolves were moving away from Erin’s camp, hoping to find a new prey. They soon discovered a single humanoid figure nearby, just waiting to be attacked. The leader of the pack let out a howl and the wolves ran at top speed to surround their new prey.
However, instead of panicking or even showing the slightest sign of distress, this new person simply stood calm, despite the pack of hungry wolves surrounding them. They simply dug into their pockets and pulled out an ocarina.
Just as the wolves were about to attack, the person began to play a calming melody that immediately had an effect on the hungry beasts. As soon as the sound came from the ocarina, the wolves seemed to calm down and turn docile. With the beasts now calm, this person smirked to themselves, as they looked over their newly recruited help.
“Not bad. This should help me in getting started at least,” the person said to himself.
The first of Golorath’s assassins had arrived.
image [https://i.ibb.co/2MF9Xm0/Ch-53-Pic-2.jpg]