Chapter 76: Legendary Warrior (1)

My eyes, no, seeing Ibi pull out her dagger, saying she would gouge out my brain, Miki and Lily, startled, hurriedly tried to pull Ibi away from me.

Seeing how full of energy everyone was even in the middle of the night, it was a bit belated, but Lily's [Cooking] seemed to have been a ‘great success’.

Anyway, the commotion at the campsite in the middle of the night was settled one way or another.

As a result, we agreed to ‘suck blood’ whenever necessary without worrying about the other companions' eyes.

Rather, Ibi strongly insisted that we do it in front of everyone instead of doing it at night.

She said she had to see for herself that we weren't doing anything foolish.

Specifically, she would watch whether or not I had a strange dream (?) where she appeared again.

Even though I explained that sucking blood alone couldn't induce a lucid dream, she said she would watch anyway.

But that, in its own way, was a bit… awkward.

So, I ended the conversation with Lily by saying that we would continue to give blood while avoiding people's gazes as much as possible, just like now.

Lily must have thought the same.

Even if it was an act with nothing to hide, doing it in front of others was a bit… different.

…And to be honest, Lily's appearance when she was drinking blood or after she had drunk it was… a bit difficult to show to others.

Even if she had no knowledge, or rather, even more so because of that.

Still, it was a good thing that I could now give blood without hesitation in front of everyone when temporary strength was needed.

In the game, it wasn't exactly like this, but a similar function was unlocked.

It was also a time when we had to use whatever power we could from now on.

Sure enough, as soon as we crossed the border of the Daian region, the ferocity of the monsters was also clearly different from before.

Before leaving Daian, we had not been attacked by monsters even once—unless we provoked them first—but this time, as if by magic, they attacked us first as soon as we left.

As if to say, ‘This is the wild from here on out’.

Especially when we entered the mountain path, high-level monsters that we had never seen before as ordinary ‘trash mobs’ appeared and tried to make us their prey.

“Kuooh──!”

Well, they were no match for us though.

『Down!』

Thud!

The moment the giant 「Moon Hunt Bear」 fell to the ground as if slipping on my 「Word Command」, Rine immediately aimed her staff.

『──Soar!』

Fwoosh!!

At the same time, two strong 「Pillars of Fire」, stacked through 「Delayed Casting」, instantly burned the fallen 「Moon Hunt Bear」 to ashes.

“Kuooork──!!”

At that moment, another 「Moon Hunt Bear」 that saw the scene let out a roar of 「Fury」 and rushed towards Rine.

It was a very nimble movement, unbecoming of its heavy body.

Then, shwaak! the moment its large claws scratched as if tearing the air.

Kagagak──!!

Small sparks scattered as they clashed with Miki's shield, who had rushed to 「Guard」.

When its attack was blocked, the 「Moon Hunt Bear」 became even more enraged and swung its other hand, but this time too, it could not break through Miki's shield.

“Keuk…!”

However, it was difficult to withstand the enormous power of the 「Furious」 「Moon Hunt Bear」, and Miki staggered.

The 「Moon Hunt Bear」, which seemed to have instinctively noticed this, this time, instead of scratching, raised its front paw, twice as large as Miki, and tried to crush him.

At that moment, a holy blessing that descended through Lily's prayer settled on Miki's entire body.

Then, Miki, whose [Strength] was enhanced, began to push the bear's paw back, little by little, slowly.

The panicked 「Moon Hunt Bear」 tried to lift its paw, but.

『Blow!』

Miki returned the shock he had received from the bear with 「Tailwind」.

Paang!

A strong wind burst out from the shield.

“Kuoork──!?”

Of course, since it was a huge creature, it didn't fly away, nor did it fall easily, but.

“──Gotcha!”

The large opening that was created, Ibi did not miss.

Quickly going behind its back, Ibi stabbed her daggers one by one, and began to climb the broad back of the 「Moon Hunt Bear」 as if climbing a rock wall.

“Ah, come on! Hold, still!”

“Kuork! Kuoork!”

The 「Moon Hunt Bear」 struggled in pain, trying to shake off Ibi on its back, but its arms were too short to reach behind its back.

In the end, it seemed to try to fall over and roll, but in the meantime, Ibi had already climbed up to its shoulder.

Thus, Ibi used its shoulder as a stepping stone and jumped up as if doing a somersault, and threw the 「Dandelion Thorn Dagger」… no, ‘Dosun’ in her right hand.

Thwack!

‘Dosun's’ blade plunged deep, but the 「Moon Hunt Bear's」 shoulder was too broad to be damaged by such a short blade.

“Boom.”

Until Ibi cast 「Thorn of the Wind」.

“Kuoork!!”

The 「Moon Hunt Bear」, which had received the damage of the small ‘blades’ deployed from inside its body all at once, screamed in pain.

Looking at it, I took a deep breath.

And.

『You're literally a slow-witted bear!』

I spat out the 「Vicious Mockery」 that would finish it off.

* * *

After catching two level 8 「Moon Hunt Bears」 with relative ease, I realized that we were also getting stronger.

However, we were still just fledglings.

Therefore, we came to this ‘Haim Village’ to find a veteran among veterans who could lead us.

This village, with its idyllic atmosphere located in the middle of the mountain path, looked so peaceful that it was hard to believe it was in an area where ferocious monsters like 「Moon Hunt Bears」 appeared.

There were several reasons why this atmosphere could be created.

First of all, living in the middle of such a remote and dangerous mountain meant that they could handle most of the threats they encountered on the mountain on their own.

This was a place where such people gathered to live.

Second, the monsters really didn't attack the village unless it was absolutely necessary.

Finally, third, this village had a guardian.

“Huh? A legendary warrior?”

Perhaps because this was the only form of entertainment around, a considerable number of people for the size of the village had gathered in the tavern since early evening, drinking.

(Well, it was only two tables at most.)

“I heard he was active as a member of the ‘Kapers’ in the past.”

The Kapers were, in short, a righteous organization.

Their heroic tales were a staple song material for bards, and therefore, even in a mountain village like this, there was no one who didn't know their name.

“I heard a rumor that he's in this village, do you perhaps know?”

Therefore.

“Puhahaha!”

“Wahahak!”

As soon as they heard my words, the drunkards burst into laughter without anyone having to go first.

“Kapers? Why would such a great person be in a village like this?”

“The guardian of the village? Hiccup. Do you think there's such a thing?”

At the same time, a half-elf with a very familiar face showed a similar reaction.

“In the first place, isn't the whole Kapers thing just nonsense made up to tell children? Right, old men? Righteous organization, my ass.”

“…Why are you there again?”

Of course, that half-elf was our dear Ibi.

We had definitely entered the tavern together, but I don't know when she went over there, but she had naturally blended in with the table opposite us and was receiving drinks.

“Oh my, this young lady can drink! Here, have another glass!”

“Oh, thanks old man.”

“The alcohol is going down smoothly.”

At that moment, Miki intervened.

“N-No, Sister!”

“Huh?”

“The Kapers really exist! They are the ones who have protected our continent from numerous crises!”

Unable to bear the denial of the heroes he had admired since he was young, Miki spoke in an unusually strong tone.

“Uh… i-is that so…?”

Ibi was so taken aback by Miki's reaction that she stopped her hand that was drinking.

In the meantime, the owner, who had come to serve beer in both hands on the table, said as if he had remembered something.

“Ah── I don't know if he's a legend, but there is one guy who was a ‘warrior’ a long time ago.”

The first to react to these words were the drunkards who had burst into laughter a moment ago.

“That eccentric dwarf old man?”

“Puhahat! No, owner. Do you really think that coward is a legendary warrior?”

“Kapers? A guy who's so scared he can't take a single step out of the village?”

At that, the owner, who had placed the beer mugs on the table, shrugged his shoulders.

“But he's the only warrior who's not from this village, isn't he?”

“Where is that person now?”

When I asked, he scratched the bridge of his nose as if it was difficult to answer.

“Ah, well…”

In the end, the ones who answered my question first were the drunkards who looked at each other and burst into laughter again.

“Are you serious? I mean, I won't stop you if you go look for him.”

“The legendary, Silverhaaaand.”

“If you look at the very top of the village, there's a small house. Go there. He's always cooped up in there and never comes out, so you'll be able to meet him right away if you go. You'll be able to meet him, at least.”

“No, he comes down sometimes.”

“What? Really? Why have I never seen him?”

“Wasn't it because he was hidden by a large barrel? He always carries it when he comes down.”

The drunkards, who were continuing their conversation among themselves as if they were sitting at the same table even though they were at different tables, chuckled and said to me.

“Who knows. Maybe that guy, is really the legendary warrior you're looking for.”

To get straight to the point, he was right.

The legendary warrior.

So, I went to find him.

To the shabby wooden house standing at the very top of the village.

When I carefully knocked on the door of the house, which wouldn't have been strange if it collapsed at any moment and could have been called a ruin without any exaggeration.

“……?”

There was no reaction.

“What? Isn't he here?”

Ibi, as if she couldn't wait, knocked on the door hard, bang bang bang, like a debt collector.

It was probably because she had dismissed the rumor of a legendary warrior as mere nonsense from the beginning.

She seemed to just want to quickly confirm that there was no such person here and go back to drinking.

“Hey! Dwarf! You're in here, aren't you!”

Then, a moment later.

Squeak, squeak──

I heard the sound of an old wooden board creaking from beyond the door, and then.

“Come out──”

Bang!

The door was thrown open.

And the first thing that caught my eye was.

“──Toric Silverhand.”

The long, bushy beard that one usually associates with dwarves.

“The legendary berserker, formerly of the Kapers.”

And the next thing I saw was──

“Uh……”

Enough to startle my companions who were seeing him for the first time.

Especially Miki, who had been so excited to meet a member of the Kapers he had admired since he was a child, must have been utterly shocked.

Even Ibi, who had dismissed it as nonsense from the beginning, was agape.

Because, the legendary warrior that we had finally met.

“It's an honor to meet you.”

No matter how you looked at it, seemed to be nothing more than a fat drunkard with a beer belly that couldn't be hidden even by his bushy beard.

He was even holding a large drinking cup… no, a keg in one hand.

“……Burp.”

And to top it off, Toric, who let out a burp that reeked of alcohol.

“Get lost.”

Soon turned his back and went back inside the house.

Slam!

He slammed the door shut, as if to say that visitors were not welcome.