Chapter 142
Chapter 142. The Return Journey - Rescue
Early the next morning, the merchant and Trigotte expressed their gratitude once more and set off towards Filsatch.
We also broke camp and headed southeast towards Silveck.
The road was marked by deep ruts stretching ahead.
These were the tracks of the carriage Trigotte had been escorting.
As we moved forward, glancing at them, we noticed they were occasionally severely damaged, perhaps from getting stuck in mud and becoming immobile.
It was understandable to feel it wasn't worth the trouble.
By noon, without any incidents, we reached a river.
The flow began from the Frenas Mountains in the north, winding its way south.
The river was about three meters wide. We looked for a bridge but found none; the carriage tracks plunged straight into the river, continuing on the opposite bank.
"Did it collapse from heavy snow?"
"No, around here—there it is. We'll get a bit wet, but we'll cross here."
With that, Sekies stepped into the river.
It seemed stones had been laid beneath the surface.
Following carefully behind the others, I peered into the river.
The riverbed, where the road should have been, was covered with gravel, and stepping stones were placed across it.
The stepping stones not only allowed pedestrians to cross but also seemed to serve the purpose of preventing gravel from washing away.
Glancing towards the riverbank, I noticed submerged weeds peeking out.
The stepping stones were invisible, likely due to the rising water.
As the last of us, Balner, finished crossing, we entered the territory of Silveck.
The Count of Silveck is a prominent noble representing the southeastern part of the empire and a neutral party unaffiliated with any faction.
As expected of a count's family, they possess vast lands, though there are few notable towns compared to the size.
Like Jutel, this much was taught at the academy.
According to Verrot's additional information, the scarcity of towns is due to the threat of monsters.
As one travels further south into this area, even the grasslands are home to increasingly powerful monsters.
Settling or expanding towns here encroaches on the monsters' territories, provoking fierce retaliation.
The prime example of such monsters might be that.
"Eras Rhinos are over there."
In the sunlight, a herd of rhinos moved in the far distance.
Sekies stopped, shielding his eyes with his hand to observe.
"They're far away. And heading west."
"That's right. What a relief."
As I sighed in relief, Lambert and Felix tilted their heads in confusion.
I prefaced, "This is just something I've heard."
"Eras Rhinos are extremely short-tempered. They can snap for the slightest reason. Just catching a glimpse of them might provoke an attack."
"I thought they were docile… but even herbivores can be monsters."
Lambert narrowed his eyes, watching the massive herd leisurely moving across the grasslands.
"But their weight is incomparable to Meluga. The one you defeated—"
"Was eight years old. Let me tell you, I wasn't alone. The escort was skilled, and we fought a stray. If we had encountered that herd, I think we would have fled at full speed."
The status of Eras Rhinos is not particularly high.
Their attack methods are limited to charges and body slams, and they don't learn magic.
But they are enormous.
It's like having a truck rampaging in front of you; even a regular charge could be fatal.
The Battle Axe of Destruction that effortlessly handled them, Roland who stopped a charge with a single swing—they are extraordinary, but even they would choose to retreat if faced with a herd.
As I reminisced, memories from my first year suddenly resurfaced.
When Lambert saw the Rhino Sword, he spoke of wanting to defeat an Eras Rhino someday to obtain its horn.
I wonder if that desire still lingers.
If there's a stray here—we should stop him.
Neither Yabusho nor Felix can replace the Battle Axe of Destruction or Roland. Their endurance is high, but their firepower is too low.
With my help, we might win, but Lambert probably couldn't deliver a fatal blow.
Besides, I doubt he'd want my assistance.
Lambert watched the receding Eras Rhinos with a hint of reluctance in his gaze.
As the massive figures blurred and disappeared, he turned his eyes away as if to shake off the thought.
With continued training, I believe the time will come for him to challenge one.
If he ever gets a horn, I'll ask if he wants to turn it into a magical tool.
The knights of Reedwald and Kelten.
Each wielding the sword of the armored rhino to protect their lands—it wouldn't be a bad sight.
◇◇◇◇
After the Eras Rhino, we no longer saw any signs of monsters.
The road remained unchanged.
We were gradually heading south, so it should have been getting warmer, but the air was still cold.
Perhaps a few days of travel didn't make much of a difference.
Then, as the sun began to set, Sekies spoke up while gazing at the distant ridgeline.
"We'll likely arrive in Silveck late at night. Even if we continue, we won't make it before the gates close. It's safer around the town, but we'll lose rest time. What should we do?"
"Let's camp. No need to push ourselves. Even if it's safer, it's not that much different."
Sekies nodded at Lambert's immediate reply.
"Understood. We still have time before sunset, so let's look for a suitable spot as we move."
We decided to go a bit further in search of a campsite.
The ideal location would be a high ground with trees.
The snow would have melted there due to the sunlight, and we could use the trunks to hang cloth and shield ourselves from the wind and night chill.
However, we couldn't find a convenient spot, and the sunlight began to take on a golden hue.
As I looked around, I spotted another shadow in the distance.
It wasn't an Eras Rhino.
Something was running through the grasslands, occasionally hidden by the bushes.
It was quite far, but—that distinctive silhouette, a Cackle?
The last time I saw one, it wasn't running that fast.
Could it be targeting us? It's too far to tell.
I stepped away from the group and leaped onto a nearby tree.
Holding onto the swaying trunk, I activated [Concentration Up] and focused my eyes.
It wasn't coming toward us.
It didn't seem to be chased either…
So, was it chasing something?
"What's wrong?"
"A Cackle."
I briefly answered Lambert and shifted my gaze to the direction the Cackle was heading.
Something was visible in the shadow of the bushes. Smaller than the Cackle.
[Appraisal] requires visual confirmation, but it was still too far.
"Something's fallen over there. It seems to be the target."
"A human?"
"Not sure."
Lambert pondered for a moment, but only briefly.
He looked up at me and nodded.
"Understood. We'll check it out and help if necessary."
I jumped down from the branch and started running.
I deactivated [Concentration Up], equipped agility-boosting leather gloves instead, and activated [Moving Up] to accelerate quickly.
The Cackle didn't notice me approaching, drooling from its massive mouth as it ran single-mindedly.
I gauged its speed and the distance to the shadow visually, clicking my tongue internally.
Still not fast enough.
I'd need to use [High-Speed Movement] to make it in time.
Lambert and Felix kind of know about it, and Yabusho… well, it's not something I absolutely need to hide. Compared to [Multi-Chant] or [Appraisal], it's not a skill that would cause much trouble.
But I should assume the attackers are watching. I'd rather not reveal my cards.
If it's just animals or monsters, that's fine, but—
As I got closer, the shape of the shadow became clearer.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be the case.
[High-Speed Movement] was a last resort. First, I'd try to distract it another way.
I fired a [Fire Bolt] in the Cackle's path.
It didn't reach, but the flaming arrow entering its vision somehow caught its attention.
Immediately after, it turned sharply without slowing down and charged straight at me.
It was drooling excitedly from its mouth.
Its quick reaction was like a beast facing prey.
These things are impressive, huh.
Do they live solely on appetite?
The two-legged kiwi fruit closed in rapidly.
I drew my sword, enhanced for slashing, narrowly dodged its gaping maw, and slashed its leg as I slipped past.
It was tough.
Perhaps because it supported the massive head and body, the femur was unusually hard.
Still, I managed to inflict a deep wound, and the momentum sent the Cackle tumbling violently across the grassland.
The Cackle struggled desperately to get up.
I raised my sword to finish it off—but hesitated.
Normally, I'd go for the neck, but… it doesn't have one.
The body, over a meter long, truly only had a mouth.
No neck, not even eyes.
I couldn't locate the heart, and my blade wasn't long enough to bisect it.
Well, I'll just cut the legs for now.
I activated [Physical Up], aimed at the joint of the leg from behind the body, and swung down with [Strong Strike].
With both legs severed, the Cackle let out a high-pitched scream.
The kiwi fruit rolled left and right across the grassland.
It was a bit pitiful, but it was a monster that only ran and bit.
This was as good as dead.
Ignoring the noisy cries, I turned my gaze to the shadow.
What I found was a collar and shackles.
"I had a feeling, but it's really an escaped slave…"
The prey the Cackle had been targeting was a beastkin child.
Their clothes were tattered, and their limbs, stretched out weakly, were emaciated.
They looked under ten years old, but poor nutrition might have stunted their growth.
I felt sympathy for them.
They must have been bought by a terrible slave trader.
Slaves are expensive. Though treated worse than commoners, they're not starved.
But—was this the cause of their collapse?
The area around the shackles was stained red.
The bleeding had mostly stopped, but the wound was deep. Likely a bite from something.
They were breathing, so they were definitely alive.
Just to be sure, I activated [Appraisal] to confirm their status.
Relieved to see the display, I soon furrowed my brows at the details.
Their abilities were extreme.
Level 1. Their stats were much lower than the average for their age.
They'd probably lose a fight to Ginny, let alone Quince.
Yet, [Presence Detection] and [Stealth] were rank 3, and besides [Night Vision], they had the beastkin's unique skill [Beast Form].
Skills can be acquired through training, but stats usually rise alongside them.
With such talent, their agility should at least be on par with an adult's.
Is this kind of growth even possible?
While puzzled, I decided to check the wound first and approached.
At that moment,
"——!?"
A sudden presence surged, and I instinctively leaped.
A reptile the size of a horse burst through the ground, snapping at where I had stepped. Realizing it had missed, it immediately burrowed back underground.
It all happened in an instant.
Surprising. Another monster was lurking.
I hadn't paid attention to the ground. Even after Kudolga—what a blunder.
I landed near the child and tracked the faint presence moving underground.
Then, the mysterious monster surfaced near the Cackle, deftly grabbed its head and severed legs, and disappeared again.
At the same time, Sekies and the others arrived.
"The Cackle!?"
"Another species, underground!"
Yabusho immediately formed a defensive circle, glaring around.
But the mysterious monster didn't return.
Remaining cautious, Sekies lowered his sword.
"Was it a lizard-like monster?"
"Looked like it."
"Probably a Tepa Turtle. They usually live further south. My apologies, I should have mentioned it."
"No, I was careless too. I was too focused on the surface."
As I spoke, I wiped the blood off my sword and sheathed it.
A Tepa Turtle? It didn't look like a turtle, but then again, a running kiwi fruit is technically a bird.
That must be a turtle too.
"They wait underground for prey to pass by."
"Seems they're clever too. The Cackle was the target, and this child was the bait."
I pointed my thumb at the child lying behind me, and Amber rushed over.
Balner joined in, and they began examining the injuries.
"An escaped slave?"
Watching this, Verrot approached me.
"Seems so… What do you think?"
"Just a beastkin child. Doesn't look like someone a C-rank would chase."
Verrot also looked at the child, confused.
Could this child be part of a trap?
I shifted my gaze to the grassland, organizing the situation.
Waiting for passersby, placing a collapsed child and a Tepa Turtle.
Then, expecting me to notice, setting a Cackle loose from a distance where a normal person wouldn't make it in time to rescue.
I shook my head slightly.
That's too far-fetched.
If they were meticulous enough to tame two monsters, the setup was too sloppy.
Even if the attackers had unexpected variables, if I hadn't noticed, nothing would have happened.
Moreover, it was outside my [Presence Detection] range, and I only spotted it by chance while it was running. If I'd ignored it, that would have been the end.
Even if it were a trap, what would they do after we rescued the child?
If they wanted to probe our actions, they could have posed as travelers.
Trigotte might have been a scout for the attackers too.
Even if they planned to lead us somewhere, the warrior from Yuubu said to bring them to the adventurer's guild.
If we take them to our next destination, Silveck, we'll part ways there.
The remaining question is the child's abilities—but it still feels unrelated to the attackers.
From what I saw with [Appraisal], [Night Vision] is a racial trait, and [Beast Form] enhances attack power, so it's not a major threat.
[Presence Detection] and [Stealth] are high-ranked, but for a child, it's unusual.
As I pondered this, Lambert stood beside me.
"Do you think it's a trap?"
I was about to answer but stopped myself.
I wanted to hear Verrot's opinion too.
I explained the situation to the others.
Sekies immediately replied, "The possibility is low," and Verrot gave an answer almost identical to my speculation.
The others didn't seem to disagree either.
Lambert seemed convinced and decided to wait until the treatment was finished.
Shortly after, Amber and Balner stood up.
"The leg injury seems to be from the Tepa Turtle."
"We also did a body check, but they're not carrying anything suspicious."
"Nothing at all?"
"Yes. Just the clothes, collar, and shackles. The collar isn't a slave collar, just an iron one."
"I see. Good work."
At Lambert's praise, the two bowed their heads.
Then, timing it with the end of the report, Sekies spoke up.
"Is the injury serious?"
"It seems to be the decisive factor, but the cause of losing consciousness is hunger and fatigue."
"Can't we heal it with magic?"
"Yes. We've treated the wound, but…"
As Amber shook her head slightly, Sekies nodded once and looked at Lambert.
If left alone, the Tepa Turtle would return and eat them.
But whether to take them along wasn't the escort's decision.
Lambert glanced at the child, thought for a moment, and then looked back.
"Let's protect them for now. I want to hear their story."
"Understood. I'll carry them."
With that, Sekies effortlessly picked up the child.
On the evening of the fourth day since leaving Seren.
A slave child temporarily joined our journey.