Chapter 60 Winter in Razia Village
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The second volume begins.
Hiroya and the others start their real adventures.
”Pull it in a bit more.”
Hiding in a snow trench dug into the deep snow, I get ready with my crossbow, following Liz’s instructions. Thanks to Rena and Martina’s ‘Detection,’ we spotted a pack of snow wolves approaching, so we dug the trench and waited as usual.
”On my signal, we shoot together. Once we run out of ammo, Hiroya and Martina will jump out for close combat. Kazumi will reload her and Rena’s crossbows. Rena will cast ‘Protection’ with wind on Hiroya and Martina.”
After returning to Razia Village, we quickly started hunting around the village. We fought goblins in the ‘Goblin Forest’ and hunted wild boars in the northern plains… By the time we could work well together, winter had arrived.
Recently, we had mostly been hunting packs of snow wolves in the snowy fields. They are large wolves, and they work well together, making them quite tough opponents.
”It’s starting to snow a bit… Let’s finish this quickly. And…”
As Liz nocks an arrow in her composite bow, she looks at me and Martina.
”Don’t chase them too far. It’s probably going to snow heavily soon, and after we drive them away, we’ll head back to the village.”
Martina and I nodded at Liz’s words.
”Alright. Then…”
Liz pops her head out of the snow trench, readying her composite bow. We also get our crossbows ready. The distance to the pack is about 100 meters.
”Fire!”
At Liz’s signal, we shoot our crossbows at the pack of snow wolves. About half of the two0 snow wolves fall. After firing 3 shots, I put my crossbow back on my hip and exchange glances with Martina as we jump out of the trench to the sides.
”Protection, wind!”
With Rena’s words, a different wind starts swirling around me, protecting me from incoming arrows. I can’t afford to get hit by my own team. The front of the split pack lunges at me.
Just as I reach for my ‘Yamikirimaru,’ a snow wolf gets hit by an arrow and flies away. It’s Liz’s support. I quickly slice through the next one that follows. I sheathe my sword and dash toward the growling one on my right.
A huge snow wolf leaps at me, baring its fangs.
”Physical Boost!”
I rush in close and slash upward at the snow wolf’s belly. Checking on Martina, I see she has already taken down 2, but one is jumping at her.
Two wolves were heading toward the trench, but with Liz’s shooting and Rena and Kazumi’s reloaded crossbows, we should be okay. Without hesitation, I run toward Martina.
Martina is blocking the fangs of the snow wolf with her man-gauche in her left hand. However, she is being pushed down by its massive body.
”Martina!”
Noticing me, Martina smiles. At the same time, the snow wolf on top of her falls over. It looks like she stabbed it with her short sword.
”Big Brother Hiroya, I’m okay.”
Martina, whose chest plate is stained with the snow wolf’s blood, tries to stand up, so I help her.
”Thanks!”
She gets up and pulls the short sword from the snow wolf.
”Quickly, to Liz and the others. It’s snowing heavily, so we need to stick together.”
”What about you, Big Brother Hiroya?”
”I’ll be right back.”
Saying that, I push Martina’s back and head toward where half of the pack has fallen.
(While fighting, I saw a much larger figure…)
It was probably the leader of the pack. It was bigger than the other snow wolves. I looked around, but I couldn’t see it. Soon, the snowstorm started to get stronger.
(Should I go back to everyone…?)
Just as I thought that, a strong killing intent attacked me from the left. I turned and reached for ‘Yamikirimaru,’ but it was too late.
I blocked with my left arm’s gauntlet. The giant head of a snow wolf rushed at me, cutting through the snowstorm. I pushed my arm and gauntlet into its wide-open mouth.
”Whoa!”
I managed to dodge the direct hit of the fang, but I was blown away by its momentum.
I quickly regained my balance. As expected, he was the leader, and his body, which was rushing towards me, was much larger than the other Snow Wolves.
I rolled my body and dodged its charge, then leaped onto the Snow Wolf’s back.
(I can’t leave now… I have to inflict some damage while I can…)
I drew the knife from my waist and plunged it into the Snow Wolf’s back, still running at full speed with me clinging to it.
”Woo!”
It suddenly decelerated and twisted its body to shake me off.
(Good, I managed to create some distance.)
I readjusted my stance and reached for ‘Yamikirimaru’. The area was already engulfed in a fierce blizzard, with zero visibility. However, the intense killing intent coming from the front indicated the enemy’s position.
”Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…”
I heard a growl. I lowered my posture and waited, always ready to draw my sword. Eventually, the killing intent faded, and the growls ceased, leaving only the roaring sound of the blizzard.
* * *
(Damn… I lost them…)
It seems I was carried quite a distance by the Snow Wolf. Because of the blizzard, I had no idea where Liz and the others were.
I covered my head with the hood of my cloak and shielded my face from the blizzard with a scarf.
I headed in the direction of the forest, which I had confirmed before the blizzard intensified.
* * *
The blizzard was slightly milder inside the forest. I sat behind a giant tree and checked my left hand. The gauntlet was torn, revealing the second layer of alloy.
(No injuries. Toldo’s craftsmanship is truly remarkable.)
I raised my head and scanned my surroundings. Through the trees, I could see the light of a campfire in the distance.
(An adventurer’s party? Or a merchant caravan that took shelter in the forest to avoid the blizzard? If it’s the latter, camping in this forest could be dangerous.)
Considering we were in the forest and the sun’s position was obscured by the blizzard, it was probably evening. Since I didn’t know who these people were, I decided to sneak up on them, hiding behind the trees.
”We’re not so lucky with this blizzard.”
”But thanks to it, we met an Elven merchant caravan that took refuge in the forest. I’d say we’re lucky.”
”You killed all the men, was that necessary?”
”Men are not in demand. They have no libido, and their equipment is small, so they’re useless as s*x slaves.”
”In the end, there’s only one woman left. But she’s worth a lot, so we’ll make a good profit.”
I listened to the men’s conversation from my hiding place in the bushes. This was bad. They were hunters who captured people to turn them into slaves.
”So, what about the woman? Is she okay?”
”Yeah, I just carved an crotch tattoo on her. I’ve also used magic to make her body unable to move, so she can’t escape.”
”An Elven woman with an crotch tattoo… can’t we just take a little taste?”
”Of course not. If she’s no longer a virgin, her value as a product will decrease, and she’ll become your s*x slave.”
”You’re right. The first man to penetrate her and eja***ate inside her after the crotch tattoo is carved will become her master.”
”I understand your feelings. After the mark is carved, her body becomes that of a lustful female elf.”
”Why are female elves so beautiful during their estrus period?”
”That’s probably to arouse the male elves, who have no libido. That’s probably why their birth rate is so low.”
”In any case, we’ll camp here until the blizzard stops. I’ve heard this forest has become dangerous lately. Don’t let your guard down.”
I quietly moved away from the men and considered my options. It seemed the Elven woman was being held captive, and her companions had already been killed.
(She’s probably locked up in a carriage.)
Since her body was immobilized by magic, it wouldn’t be easy to rescue her. With my build, it would also be difficult to carry her away.
(If only Hayato were here…)
I thought of Hayato, my blue-roan horse, who had been my companion since our journey to the capital.
Facing four men would be a disadvantage. Since a magician was involved, who had carved an crotch tattoo and immobilized her body, it would be a challenging task.
(Besides… even though they’re hunters, killing them would be wrong.)
After rescuing her, I could leave the forest and use the blizzard to my advantage, evading any pursuers.
(First, I need to find a hiding place…)
I still had the foldable shovel I used to dig a snow trench. I could use it to dig a snow cave, where we could take refuge after the rescue.
I headed towards the snow-covered plains, where the blizzard was raging.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply