Volume 4 Chapter 39-2 The Sword Raised by Bullets
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
That’s what they call a Stampede.
The adventurers had staked out spots near the forest’s edge.
Campfire smoke curled up everywhere you looked.
You could hear people cleaning weapons, teasing each other, trying not to look too nervous.
But, honestly… even the smiles were tight.
Everyone knew something was about to snap.
Just showing up and hanging around here gets you a paycheck.
Why? They’re supposed to be a wall──keep the monsters from pouring out.
Any extra cash for slaying monsters? That depends on what guild staff or other adventurers say you actually did.
So yeah, everyone wants to be where they’re seen.
No point hiding if nobody’s gonna vouch for you.
The real loot? Dropped magic stones and monster parts.
But during a Stampede?
It’s a flood of weaklings.
Not worth the hassle to carve ’em up or pick through the mess.
Bottom line, diving deeper into the woods isn’t really worth it.
Too risky, not enough to gain.
So… what should we do?
Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the guild rewards.
Not here to show off for anyone, either.
Maybe we should just charge straight in, head for the heart of the forest, and let Lifia and Yomi blast whatever’s causing this Stampede with their magic?
But that’s assuming we actually find anything back there.
Who even knows how far we’d have to go?
While I’m turning that over, someone starts heading my way.
Looks rough. Definitely the “bad news” kind of adventurer.
His eyes? Not on me──He’s openly ogling Lifia and the others, just dripping sleaze.
”Hey, little ladies. If you’re bored… how about a drink with me──”
He smirks as he hits on them.
Pretends I don’t even exist, even though I’m standing right here.
Merchants aren’t the only ones near the woods tonight.
There’s also plenty of prostitutes who deal with adventurers and soldiers.
In life-or-death battles, primal instincts flare up.
And in places like this, there’s a demand for that kind of thing.
So they probably mistook Lifia, Kéa, and Yomi for that kind of woman.
Can’t really blame ’em, though.
Lifia’s outfit is a bold mini-skirt maid dress, thighs fully exposed.
With garter belts, no less.
Yomi’s rocking a pointy magician hat with a skintight, high-cut leotard──bunny girl style.
Black tights, too.
Honestly, all 3 of them look way more provocative than any streetwalker.
Not that I can blame anyone but myself.
It’s my taste, after all.
”They’re with me. Go chase someone else.”
I say it plain as day.
But somehow, I guess I just look weak to people.
The guy grins like an idiot, trying to stare me down.
”Huh? Who the hell are you? Trying to ruin our fun? We’re Silver Rank, you know!”
Silver Rank adventurers.
For adventurers, that’s actually pretty solid.
Most folks would call them elites.
But that’s just normal people’s perspective.
In dungeon terms, these guys only make it to the 2nd or, if they’re lucky, 3rd Floor.
I’m running around on the 5th Floor now.
They’re nothing.
Maybe that leaked into my attitude, because the guy’s face twisted up.
”Huh? Think I’m bluffing?”
Right. I’d forgotten.
Lately, I’ve only been hanging with top-tier adventurers like Gaedaf, skipping the guild entirely.
Forgot how many scumbags call themselves adventurers.
And that with trash like this, you’ve gotta show ’em your strength.
The guy’s hand twitched toward his sword—trying to intimidate me?
But I’m faster.
*Draw.*
Blade at his throat.
”Agh…!?”
His face went pale. Throat quivering, he choked out a soundless noise.
Guess he didn’t see that coming.
Fair enough.
I’ve leveled up in dungeons, trained hard.
My strength, my reflexes—none of it’s the same as when I first got summoned.
”Get lost.”
My voice low, sharp. He scrambled away, half-collapsing as he fled.
”Hiiiiee!”
Watching his back vanish into the dark, I sighed, sheathing my sword.
The air went silent.
And then I noticed—all eyes on me.
Around the campfire, hands paused mid-weapon maintenance, staring.
”Ugh…”
I let out a tired breath.
Wish I had that kind of *presence*—the kind that freezes people with a glare.
I want to have the kind of presence that makes others shrink back just from the atmosphere.
”Master, thank you for your hard work.”
I turned at her words, and there she was, smiling.
She looked happy, almost proud.
Right.
Now that I think about it, she got tangled up with Adventurers the first time we met too.
Back then, I didn’t know how to fight, so I had no choice but to hide in a ‘Love Hotel.’
And the next time we ran into them, Lifia had to take care of them for me.
But this time, I handled it myself.
I drew my sword, applied pressure, and spoke the words that sent them running.
Things I never could have done back then.
If I think about that, maybe I really have grown.
”Milord! That was magnificent!”
”You looked kinda cool there.”
Kéa and Yomi both praised me.
Kéa was cheerful, as usual.
Yomi, though, was hiding her face behind her hat, blushing a little.
”I see. Thanks.”
I smiled back at them and turned my gaze to the forest.
They’re willing to follow me, even someone like me.
I’ve come a long way, compared to before.
If I’ve changed, even just a little, that’s enough for me.
”Alright, it’s settled. Let’s head into the forest.”
Before us lay the ‘Shadow Forest,’ a place crawling with monsters, and right on the edge of a stampede.
But I felt no fear.
No matter what awaits ahead, I know I can move forward with them by my side.
That’s the feeling I had.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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