Chapter 132 Night Attack
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After we wiped out the goblins, we hurried to meet up with the caravan that was waiting a little ahead.
We rushed until evening and started setting up camp in a pretty open area. We arranged 4 carriages around a big campfire and set up a few tents inside.
Ms. Sasha’s attendants took care of the cooking and served us too.
”Getting served by maids while camping is the best!”
”Yeah, maids are definitely a guy’s dream.”
Gorge and I grinned.
”I see. So, you like that kind of outfit, Gorge?”
”How about we all try wearing them next time?”
”That sounds good. We’re moving to a new mansion soon anyway.”
Asuka said seriously, while Liz and Dorothy looked at us with a side-eye.
”I want to try it too!”
Martina, you’re so pure and cute.
”Listening to you guys talk, I can’t help but feel super jealous that Liz and the others live with Hiro.”
Aluda mumbled while looking down.
”Oh, right! When we move, we’ll have maids coming!”
”Wait?! Master, did you get a girlfriend who’s a maid too?!”
”No, that’s not it.”
I started talking about what happened with the pack of Snow Wolves as a meal topic.
”Yeah, I’ve heard they have a lot of magical power──almost like a demon race.”
”I see. I heard some places in the northern region even worship them.”
”Well, the pack leader offered Hiroya his daughters as ‘brides’.”
”No, Liz, that’s not how it is!”
”But, I’m curious about the Snow Wolf leader that Hiroya missed.”
”Asuka, no! We made a non-aggression pact, remember?”
”Yeah, that’s too bad.”
I’m not a battle maniac or anything.
”But turning into a human is amazing. They must have a lot of magical power. Three of them as maids… so envious… wait!”
Gorge got hit on the back of the head by Asuka. No matter how devoted he is to Asuka, he still has that ‘womanizer’ trait.
* * *
The first watch was me and Dorothy. Everyone else, including the Zett Merchant Guild people, was sleeping in their tents.
I sat in front of the campfire, adding more wood. Dorothy sat next to me, leaning in.
”Mr. Hiroya──no, Master… I’m really happy.”
Next to me, Dorothy stared at the flames.
”I lost my family, but thinking about it, that led me to meet you, Mr. Hiroya… maybe I’m a bit heartless.”
”Not at all.”
I reached out and patted Dorothy’s head.
”You’re living happily like this without becoming a sl*ve. Your family would be happy for you too.”
”Mr. Hiroya…”
With tears in her eyes, Dorothy leaned closer and closed her eyes.
We kissed, illuminated by the fire.
* * *
We were sharing a long, sweet kiss when suddenly, Dorothy’s eyes snapped back to reality, and she pulled away.
”Enemies. There are 5 enemies coming this way… about 100 meters (328 feet) away…”
It seemed Dorothy’s ‘Detection’ picked something up.
”Dorothy, wake up Ms. Sasha and the others!”
I said that and went to wake up Liz and the others.
* * *
”Enemies, you say?”
With the campsite buzzing with activity, Asuka and Gorge came out of their tent.
”Yeah, get ready quickly. We’re going to check out the enemies.”
Liz quickly put on her armor and gave orders.
”Wait, Big Sister Liz! The enemies are already close!”
”That was fast… where are they?”
Martina points to a corner of the forest, but all we see are the trees lit by the campfire and the shadow of a carriage.
”I can’t see them, but… they’re there…”
Martina pulls out her short sword and man-gauche.
”There are 5 of them… It’s annoying that we can’t see them.”
”…Everyone, Aluda and Gorge are by the campfire with Ms. Sasha. We have to protect them for sure.”
Liz also pulls out her short sword, ready for close combat.
”Spread out! They’re coming!”
At Martina’s shout, I draw ‘Yamikirimaru.’ Asuka also pulls out her sword.
”Big Sister Liz! Behind you!”
From my long shadow, a monster suddenly appears. It’s completely black and tries to stab Liz’s feet with a dagger.
”Ugh!”
Liz quickly jumps back to dodge it.
I didn’t understand what was happening, but my body reacted first.
I swing ‘Yamikirimaru’ at the monster trying to hide back in the shadows.
Just in time, I catch its neck and slice it off.
”Grroooar!”
With a scream, the monster appears from my shadow. It’s headless but still looks like a human shape, all black.
”Is that a Shadow Stalker? This is a pain; they come through the shadows!”
Liz signals for us to back up.
”We have to make sure our shadow doesn’t touch any other shadows… but the campfire makes it stretch out.”
”Right now, it seems to be in the shadow of the carriage.”
Hearing Martina, everyone moves to keep their shadows from touching the carriage’s shadow.
”Wisp!”
Dorothy creates a ‘Wisp’ above the campsite. It’s pretty big.
”Got it! ──Put out the campfire!”
Following Liz’s order, Gorge and Aluda near the fire put it out. Now, the only light source is the ‘Wisp’ above, making the shadows shorter.
Suddenly, the atmosphere feels dangerous.
”They’re coming!”
Asuka must have sensed the danger too, as she gets ready to attack the carriage.
Liz steps back, and I, Asuka, Martina, and Dorothy move forward.
Three monsters called Shadow Stalkers jump out from the shadow of the carriage.
””Physical Boost!””
Asuka and I kick off the ground to meet them. From a low stance, I slice through one of their bodies.
Asuka dodges one attack and takes down another with a diagonal slash.
The one that missed Asuka jumps into my shadow.
(Can I do it… Yamikirimaru!)
I stab ‘Yamikirimaru’ into the shadow at my feet.
”Graaaah!”
The Shadow Stalker that was hiding in the shadow comes up, bleeding blue from its head. It’s already dead.
(Looks like the ‘Demon’s Kin Special Effect’ worked.)
Seeing that, another one appears from the carriage’s shadow and quickly disappears into the shadows of the trees in the forest.
For a moment, I see its shape, clearly different from the other Shadow Stalkers… it looked like the Lesser Demon I met in the Hobgoblin’s nest.
”The Demon King wanted a woman, so we attacked… but it seems we picked the wrong target.”
A low voice echoes around us.
”Since my minions have been defeated, I will retreat. Next time, I won’t be late.”
With that, the presence disappears.
* * *
Even though the bodies of the Shadow Stalkers vanished, a mass of miasma remains, so we collect it. It’s probably a bit smaller than the one from the ‘High-ranking Incubus’ I defeated before.
Martina and Aluda are rekindling the campfire. Liz reassures Ms. Sasha and the others, saying, “It’s okay now.” The 3 of them seem ready to take turns keeping watch with us.
”If anything happens, wake me up right away.”
As Asuka says this and heads back to the tent, I hand her 2 pieces of miasma.
”This is for what you defeated.”
”No, I owe Hiroya and the others. Think of it as a part of that.”
”That’s one thing. This is another. It’s a fair share. Of course, I see it as a way to repay my debt too.”
”…I see.”
Asuka took it and put it in her pouch.
”Master, you and the older sisters are really amazing!”
While following Asuka, who went back to the tent first, Gorge turned around.
”That quick decision and teamwork. You guys make a great team.”
”They’re my proud lovers. Oh, and they’re not just teammates, they’re family.”
”You’re showing off, huh? Anyway, thanks for the food. And family… I think that’s a nice relationship.”
Gorge said that and waved his hand lightly as he slipped into the tent.
* * *
(Oh, by the way… where’s Dorothy?)
I was about to head to the tent to sleep, but I couldn’t find Dorothy.
I moved a bit away from the campfire to look for her and found her hiding behind the carriage, looking dazed and holding her lower belly where her crotch tattoo shone.
”Dorothy! Are you okay?”
”Oh♡ Mr. Hiroya♡ I’m sorry…♡ I was trying to hold it together during the fight, but… I can’t anymore…♡”
Right, we were flirting right before we detected the enemy…
”I’m sorry, Dorothy. It’s understandable to feel that way.”
”Ah♡ Mr. Hiroya…♡ Master…♡ Please, help me quickly…♡”
Since she has new armor, it must be tough for her not to touch herself no matter how much she wants to. But it’s also very Dorothy-like to be serious and not take off the crotch part.
”I’ll carry you to the tent, so just make sure to use ‘Soundproof’.”
Since the effect of ‘Physical Boost’ is still on me, I tried to pick up Dorothy.
”Ah♡ Well, a princess carry is nice, but… if possible… I’d like to be carried on your back… like that time…”
Even in her dazed state, Dorothy had a very gentle expression.
”Got it.”
It reminded me of the time I carried her on my back from the snow cave during the blizzard.
”My…♡ precious memory…♡”
Dorothy clinging to my back was just so adorable.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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