LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 63
Chapter 63: The Crimson Mantle
“Everyone, drape this crimson cloth over your shoulders!”
As dawn broke, the expedition force, save for those who abandoned the venture into the Great Forest, had completed their preparations.
“Preparations are complete.”
“We set out now!”
“Move out!”
In the dense woods, akin to the Great Forest, horses could not pass, so the men bore the heavy burdens. Their pace would determine the speed of the expedition.
‘I suppose we’ll take breaks intermittently.’
That day, they rested a total of eight times. During these breaks, the exact size of the expedition was indiscernible, but it seemed to exceed a hundred, including non-combatants. It appeared to be a carefully selected group.
“Hey, did you hear?”
During a break, someone spoke up while wiping sweat away.
“It seems a number of adventurers have gone missing in Riudira recently. Even if it weren’t for this, an investigation team would’ve been dispatched soon.”
“Heh… What’s there to lurk around here for? To come crawling in.”
“We’re entering ourselves, aren’t we? Watch your words.”
“…Now that I think about it, yes.”
On the first day of the expedition, fortunately, nothing happened.
The rotten beasts of Urea seemed far enough away that none were spotted here.
The trouble began on the second day.
“Is this some kind of picnic? Shut your traps.”
Someone’s idle chatter during the march seemed to have irked Ssangsaldo. And there were those who no longer wished to overlook his rough manner.
“Enough with the growling, aren’t you tired?”
Five men blocked Ssangsaldo’s path and spoke up. As they stepped forward, murmurs spread among the crowd.
“It’s the Lafon party…”
“Wow… I mean… everyone was wondering how long they’d tolerate it.”
Were the Lafon party adventurers well-known in these parts?
“…Are you talking to me?”
“Who else would be spouting nonsense here? Is it because of your temperament that you’ll be solo for life, trying to act like a king among the expedition?”
The situation escalated due to Ssangsaldo’s continuous growling, not just today but from before.
Ssangsaldo’s expression turned icy.
“Idiot… it was bound to happen anyway.”
A man muttered behind Ssangsaldo and disappeared. Piyo watched with a look of intrigue.
“Is trouble brewing?”
A palpable killing intent emanated from Ssangsaldo’s retreating figure.
The second day of the expedition passed in this manner.
The next day, there were no particularly ominous movements.
Only the cold war between Ssangsaldo and the leader of the Lafon party, Edmond Lafon, continued as they marched. The atmosphere of the march was tinged with a chill.
Piyo, always laid-back by my side, spoke of the previous day’s events.
“Ssangsaldo is vicious; he’s always acted alone. It’s a well-known fact, but anyone who’s mentioned it has ended up dead.”
“How do you know so much?”
“When you live a nomadic life, you need to keep your ears open.”
Piyo puffed up his chest, crossing his arms with a smug look.
“…So, will Lafon be killed now? Within the expedition?”
Who knows? Would Scala, the leader of the expedition, just stand by?
“Hard to say? It’d be fortunate if things pass without incident… but if there’s a pretext, they’ll pounce, ready to stab.”
A man casually joined the conversation.
“You’re having quite the interesting discussion.”
“…Blanco?”
“You know my name?”
“I’ve heard it somewhere.”
Even if Blanco was older, it was rare for adventurers to use honorifics among themselves, so he addressed me casually.
“Thanks for stopping the unnecessary fight before we departed.”
“Thanks? If Ssangsaldo had drawn his sword then, it would’ve disrupted the schedule. It was only right to stop him. But… I’m worried about what’s to come.”
“Ssangsaldo?”
“Yes. His name is Yimun. He’s been around for a while since coming from the East.”
“Yimun…”
“It would be best if things just flowed smoothly…”
“Do you also anticipate Ssangsaldo will cause trouble?”
Blanco gazed into the distance.
“There are others in the expedition with reputations as big as Ssangsaldo’s, so nothing will likely happen while we watch. But it bothers me that he’s a criminal.”
“…A criminal?”
Piyo chimed in.
“Ssangsaldo is a former criminal. He’s killed his own party members because he didn’t like them.”
“…How did he become an adventurer?”
“Is being an adventurer something special? That incident was a long time ago and it just faded away…”
The third day seemed to end just like that.
Until just before nightfall.
Bwoooh!
Adventurers awoke from deep sleep to the sound of an alarm and scrambled out.
Scala was receiving a report from a sentry.
“An orc horde has appeared nearby! They seem to be fleeing from something!”
“It could be a higher beast. Which direction?”
“West!”
“Arm yourselves and follow!”
“Sc, Scala sir!”
Scala, the leader of the expedition, moved out first with a few investigators, and the remaining adventurers quickly grabbed torches and headed west.
“What’s happening in the middle of the night…”
Blanco and Piyo yawned as they followed.
Before they could cling to me, I spoke to my companions.
“Ruby, don’t use your strength.”
“Okay, got it!”
Kwoooooooh!
The orc horde scattered in all directions, howling.
Chaaaaak!
Scala leaped into the midst of the orcs with a large halberd, slashing wildly.
Crack!
Thud…
As Scala became drenched in blood, the number of orcs steadily decreased.
“It seems we won’t need to step in.”
“But something feels off…”
Kooong…
Kooong…
A massive tremor approached from afar.
Sssssssk!
Crunch!
The force that flung an orc’s corpse crushed an adventurer.
“Oh, ogres! It’s ogres!”
“Not just one! There are many!”
The figures that emerged were ogres, adorned with skulls on their shoulders and waists. Not just one, but a count exceeding five.
‘Is this due to Urea?’
While it was known that ogres inhabited the Great Forest, none had been seen until now. Likely, something had lured these creatures from their deep lairs.
“Disperse! Do not face their attacks head-on!”
“Hahaha! Finally, some action!”
[German activates Hunter’s Selection.]
[Combat power significantly increases when facing a target of the same species.]
Whoooosh!
An arrow from German, the troll hunter and another powerhouse of the expedition, flew towards an ogre.
Thump!
The sound of the arrow striking was followed by a gruesomely satisfying squelch.
Uuuuurgh!
An enraged ogre hurled a boulder towards the expedition’s location.
“Dodge it!”
“Aaargh!”
Whoosh!
Boom!
The destructive force was akin to an exploding shell.
The expedition scattered instantly at the terrifying display of power from the ogre.
“Hyaah!”
[Scala uses Wavering Swing.]
[A radial wave spreads out like ripples, shooting forward.]
[The wave deals physical damage equal to 230% of attack power, with overlapping waves inflicting 280%.]
Crack!
Ogres tumbled helplessly under Scala’s relentless assault.
“Valphus! Dodge!”
Flash!
Boom!
The spot I had just vacated was smashed by an ogre’s club.
Whip!
Piyo lashed his whip around an ogre’s neck. Normally, the one wielding the whip would have the advantage, but the ogre’s neck was like a granite pillar, barely registering the strike.
Swoosh!
Bill and Mori moved to the ogre’s blind spot, plunging daggers into its back.
Pop pop pop!
“It’s no use, the ogre’s hide is too thick to even feel it.”
Should I draw my sword?
‘No, it’s too conspicuous.’
An ogre that withstands Scala’s blow would crumble under the sword’s power, a provocative scene for all present.
[Byran activates Charcoal Slash.]
[The target’s flame resistance is reduced by the prepared sacrifice, and flame damage is inflicted.]
[Resistance is possible.]
A log wrapped in straw vanished before my eyes.
Fwoosh!
“Byran!”
“Elder, we’ll handle this side! Take your group south! There are two ogres heading towards the campsite…”
“Damn… Understood!”
Despite the urgent voice, I couldn’t just stand there dumbfounded, so naturally, I had to move south with Blanco.
“This feels ominous…”
Piyo smirked.
“I saw Ssangsaldo heading that way earlier…”
I might encounter Ssangsaldo Yimun, who harbors a grudge against me, away from the expedition’s sight.
“Over there!”
Blanco and Piyo pointed in the direction where an ogre stood. It looked weary, and the Lafon party was engaging it.
“That fool…”
Blanco suddenly shouted at them.
“Dangerous! Lafon!”
“…Blanco?”
Suddenly, another ogre burst from the Lafon party’s flank and rammed into them.
Boom!
“Cough cough…”
A vanguard and a mage from the Lafon party were crushed and sent flying…
“Adler!”
Roar!
Crash!
The ogre facing Lafon raised its ferocity, striking down on Lafon’s shield.
“Cough…”
Edmund Lafon, bleeding from the nose, was too shocked to notice the anomaly around him.
Only I and my companions could clearly see how the situation had unfolded.
“Damn…”
“Ssangsaldo! Stop!”
Bang!
[Yimun activates Twin Serpent Strike.]
[Weapons are drawn at high speed, crossing in front of him. It deals damage equal to 400% of attack power in a straight radius, but if it hits nothing, the stance breaks.]
Yimun’s twin swords burst forth explosively.
Slash!
Blood sprayed where he passed, not only cutting through ogres but also the remaining members of the Lafon party. The crossing blades cleaved through everything in their path.
Flesh of man and bone of ogre alike.
Thud…
“Yimun! What are you doing!? You’ve done the unthinkable!”
“Blanco… I’ve merely felled an ogre, haven’t I?”
“You madman… Do you think Scala and the investigators will just watch?”
“…Indeed? Then there’s no helping it.”
A murderous aura flowed from Ssangsaldo Yimun like an explosion.
“Even that one there is fair game…”
The gaze from Ssangsaldo was not that of an adventurer, but a killer.
“…The investigators have arrived. Hey, you.”
“…”
“Aren’t you looking forward to what comes next?”
This was a threat of murder.
“I’m not like you fakes. Hiding in a party, deluding yourselves into thinking you’re strong, you worthless runts…”
Ssangsaldo’s sword tip pointed at me.
“I do not tolerate insults, ever. Remember that. Heh… Shall we meet again?”
Thud…
Click…
Ssangsaldo shook the blood from his blade and sheathed it on his back.
Whoosh!
He vanished into the darkness.
Within a minute of his disappearance, the investigators arrived.
Step…
Step…
Neil, the leader of the investigators and Scala’s disciple, approached us.
“…Can someone explain what just happened?”