Volume 4 Chapter 39 The Sword Raised by Bullets
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next morning, we’re up and out early.
The priest and the kids see us off.
Rubbing their sleepy eyes, they wave goodbye.
”Good luck, uncle!”
”Make sure you come back!”
”Bring us some souvenirs!”
They wave and bounce around, sending us off.
With their smiling faces at our backs, we set out.
First, we check into a Love Hotel.
Our destination is Dungeon City.
We stop by Beckus’ workshop.
”Sorry, but supplies are scarce and prices are soaring. This is all I could make this time.”
The dwarf blacksmith, old man Beckus, hands over a small wooden box as he speaks.
Inside the box: bullets.
Only about 20 of them.
A lot less than I expected.
”Guess it’s the Stampede’s doing.”
”Yeah, everyone’s in a frenzy trying to secure materials.”
It’s not enough, but it’ll have to do.
Gotta make do with what we’ve got.
I thank Beckus and hand over some ‘Love Hotel’ brand booze as payment.
”Here’s your payment for this batch. Keep making bullets for us.”
”Leave it to me. Just don’t go dying on me, alright?”
”Oh, sure thing.”
He must’ve noticed too.
That we’re heading to deal with the Stampede.
We exchange a few words, then leave the workshop behind.
Our next stop is the ‘Shadow Forest,’ where the Stampede is predicted to appear.
Kéa opens the door from inside the Love Hotel, and we step out into the street near the forest.
We take cover in the shade of a tree.
As we emerge from the shade onto the street, an unusual sight greets us.
In front of the forest, there are multiple tents set up, with soldiers and adventurers bustling around.
Merchants dealing in food and weapons line up, creating a makeshift settlement.
There’s a buzz in the air, but everyone’s expression is grave.
You can feel the tension and readiness.
They’re all dreading what’s about to happen.
Among the tents, there’s one belonging to the Adventurers’ Guild local branch.
We send Tifi there.
Tifi approaches someone who looks like a guild officer and shows her ID.
The officer, after checking the documents, greets Tifi with great joy and invites her in.
Looks like the manpower shortage is a serious problem.
With someone like Tifi, a real powerhouse, showing up, they’ll definitely rely on her.
She’s already being handed tasks.
There are concerns, though.
Normally, it takes about 2 weeks to get from Dungeon City to Shadow Forest.
Some might question how she made it in less than 3 days, but right now, that’s the least of our worries.
We don’t have much time before the stampede hits.
Can’t afford to focus on details like that.
We get a quick briefing from the guild staff on-site.
The stampede hasn’t happened yet.
But it’s all but guaranteed to happen soon.
”The Adventurers are waiting at the forest entrance, ready to handle the monsters that will spill out.”
The staff’s words are polite, but the weight of what they’re saying is clear.
In other words, we’re going to be the front line ── the wall that faces down the flood of monsters.
”Is it okay to go deeper into the forest?”
”It’s not forbidden, but we don’t recommend it.”
In that dark, monster-infested forest, the risk of being surrounded is high.
It’s on us if we get caught.
By the way, the military is positioned further away from the forest.
They’ll stop any monsters the Adventurers miss from reaching the villages.
We’re the ones on the front lines.
Feels like we’re just being used as pawns, but that’s probably how things are divided.
After the briefing, I part ways with Tifi.
She’s staying here to manage the Adventurers.
”Be careful. If you feel anything off with your health, take a break right away.”
”I will. Thank you.”
”You can use the demon sardines in the room if you need them. Don’t hold back, or you’ll regret it.”
The demon sardines Tifi controls are strong enough to take on monsters in the dungeon’s middle floors.
And she keeps hundreds of them in her Love Hotel room.
If she releases them all, she could wipe out a whole group of monsters on her own.
But if it’s just for her protection, a few tucked under her skirt should be enough.
However, if the stampede happens, we don’t know what could go down.
I make sure to tell her so she won’t hesitate when the time comes.
The swarm of demon sardines turns into a massive shadow gliding through the sky.
They’re bound to catch a lot of eyes.
Not exactly a well-known monster.
Who knows how they’ll be treated when they step into the spotlight?
They’re likely to be seen as a threat.
But that doesn’t change Tifi’s safety.
Or the safety of her family back in Saoriba town.
”Understood… Take care of yourself, Mr. Taro.”
We embrace, our lips meet.
A temporary goodbye.
After parting with Tifi, we approach the Shadow Forest.
The forest, where sunlight is blocked, is cool even as day approaches, filled with an eerie silence.
”Lifia, how’s it looking?”
In this forest with poor visibility, her Spirit Magic is our lifeline.
Lifia closes her eyes and describes the forest as the spirits tell her.
”I don’t sense any large groups of monsters in the area.”
But Lifia’s expression is grim.
”However, both monsters and animals are scared. They want to escape from the depths of the forest.”
It seems there’s something dangerous even for monsters at the heart of the forest.
We don’t know if it’s a group or a single creature.
”But they say there are too many people to get out.”
I see.
Just having a lot of people here, adventurers, acts as a deterrent.
But there’s a limit to that.
If the pressure from whatever is in the forest intensifies past a critical point, the monsters will probably burst out all at once.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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