Chapter 11 - In Rankol's Absence
The time when the dawn's sunlight began to shine. Flames, burning hotter than the sun, spread across the swamp. It was like a brilliant festival, and also like a purification ritual, burning away the impurities of the days past.
'I survived.'
A dawn filled with a sense of accomplishment, befitting the terrible day I had. The shaman's jewel, having used all three of its charges, turned to ash, but I didn't feel it was a waste in the slightest.
The Mithril armor Mosilian gave me, the new skills I learned, the Kobold Champion's Spicy Pepper Powder, and the Goblin Shaman's Jewel. If even one of them had been missing, I would have died.
I properly engraved the danger of this other world, which even I hadn't fully realized, into my heart.
The roaring fire burned down all the Murlocs' log cabins. It would have been nice if my level had shot up at the same time, but since all the Murlocs had hidden in the swamp, I didn't gain much experience.
All that was left was a dry land perfect for crossing. When I returned to where my friends were, a commotion unfitting for the early morning had arisen.
"No way. No one moved during the dawn..."
"I knew it would be like this. That person is just really shy."
The contrast between the despairing Hyung-seok and the delighted Hong-seop was quite a sight.
We crossed the swamp.
The log cabins were all burnt down, and the swamp was half-dry, so it wasn't difficult to cross.
***
"Ooh, to think you have crossed that swamp. The heroes of the prophecy has arrived!"
"The heroes of the prophecy has finally arrived!"
As soon as we entered Carroty Village, the people were startled. They welcomed us with a fervor that seemed almost unnecessary. Soon, the village elder revealed herself.
"Welcome, heroes. We have been waiting. I am Carrotina, the elder of Carroty Village."
If Ronan was a typical old man, Carrotina had the impression of a nun or a saint rather than an elder. Her pure white clothes, which seemed out of place in this run-down village, were especially so.
"You were waiting? Did you know we were coming?"
"Of course. Our Carroty Village is a village that serves the goddess. Her revelations do not turn away from us."
Carrotina pointed to a statue of the goddess standing in the center of the village.
"There was a divine revelation from the goddess. A prophecy that a hero who will save the village from calamity will cross the swamp. That swamp is a treacherous one where fearsome monsters live. I didn't think anyone would actually cross it, but today, we meet you heroes like this. Now, please come this way."
If the first village, Lagun, was a village where blacksmithing had developed, Carroty Village was different. Instead of the smell of metal and heat, there was a savory stench.
"Our village has specialized in the livestock industry for generations. This was all possible because of the goddess's arrangements."
Indeed, a vast land stretched out in front of the village. Carrotina explained that although it was good land that would normally attract many enemies, there were no monsters because of the menacing swamp behind it.
With a thriving livestock industry based on fertile land, there was no shortage of meat, and by extension, plenty of its byproducts like hides and bones.
It meant they had enough to eat and that trade with their good-quality hides wasn't bad. Until a problem arose.
"One day, that monster appeared. It was a monster that could easily carry away a whole cow. It's not just a matter of one cow. At this rate, the industry that is the foundation of our village will be shaken."
It would be like if Hoengseong could no longer raise its famous Hanwoo beef. Hoengseong wouldn't starve without Hanwoo, but it would mean the loss of a regional specialty and a channel for creating added value.
Ah, did I sound too much like a capitalist just now?
Anyway, this village was only different on the surface; its role was the same as Lagun's.
It's all well and good to call it a goddess's revelation and call us heroes, but this is just asking us to take care of something dangerous for them again, right? We're not errand boys, who would do something like that…
"Of course. I am a person who was given another chance thanks to the goddess. I will not turn my back on a place that needs the goddess's help."
"Ooh, Hero."
Hong-seop and the elder clasped both hands and exchanged glances.
Ugh… so intense.
Normally, even Hyung-seok would have objected to that decision, but he was still in a state of shock. It was due to the shock of having stayed up all night with his eyes peeled, only to fail in finding me.
Dude, I understand how you feel, but I moved fair and square. Besides, I can't really move in secret anymore.
I came back right after fighting Rankol. Thanks to that, my whole body was screaming. Whatever this village's mission was, I would need to lie down and recuperate for a few days.
So I was looking for a suitable place to rest. If it hadn't been for the words that came out of the elder's mouth.
"The name of the calamity that has befallen our village is Rankol. A monster that, despite being a monster, possesses intelligence and is a wicked and powerful being."
Excuse me? What did you say? Rankol? The Rankol I killed? The one carrying a dagger, the big one, that Rankol?
"It is a giant cat monster. It carries a large sword, and an ordinary person would be sliced to the bone in a single strike. O heroes of the goddess, please save our village."
"Please save our village."
"Save us."
"No, Hong-seop. Think carefully. We're not an errand service; we can't just take care of troublesome things in every village we go to. Right?"
"Please rise, everyone."
"We're just leaving it. Got it?"
"There must be a reason the goddess led us here. We will not turn our backs on you."
"Oh, damn it."
My words didn't reach anyone.
Soon, a party was formed to hunt Rankol.
A party for everyone to gather their strength and hunt Rankol.
It was a truly cool and heroic thing, but there was a big problem with it.
'Rankol… is already dead.'
My life, which I had resolved time and time again to live quietly, began to go off the rails as soon as it got back on track.
"Rankol is truly strong. It is an enemy that no one can handle alone. No matter how you are all heroes of the goddess, you must prepare thoroughly. Come this way. This is our village's pride, our good-quality leather armor."
The livestock industry, meat processing, and leatherworking were bound to develop together. When there's an abundance of materials, proficiency follows. Thanks to that, the quality of the leather armor Carrotina provided was outstanding.
The kids took off their dust-caked and quickly worn-out clothes and changed into the armor. Seeing them like this, they now truly looked like residents of the Lumos Continent.
Was it because I had thought of NPCs a while ago? From Lagun to Carroty Village. The flow of these two villages felt like a kind of tutorial.
A tutorial that helps us survive on the Lumos Continent and, at the same time, changes us to fit in on the Lumos Continent.
No matter how great a goddess is, her power cannot reach the entire continent. So she's using the land where her influence is strong to socialize us.
Thinking of it that way, it was quite a scary thought. A Demon King subjugation squad that has been repeated dozens of times. Villagers who are friendly to the other-world heroes and who never question anything.
Someday, I'll have to think seriously about this issue. Of course, for now, I had to solve the problem right in front of me.
Going to hunt Rankol when there is no Rankol. How on earth was I supposed to solve this?
"Heeh, there are a lot of people here who look similar to you, Hero. Are they all your comrades?"
"..."
"Hero? Can you not hear my voice? Hero?"
A presence suddenly tapping my shoulder.
I was completely startled.
Both the sudden appearance of this being and its identity were shocking beyond belief.
"Uwaah, what are you! Why are you here?"
"Because I followed you, of course. The smell of my Mithril armor that you wore. You didn't have a scent, Hero. I've seen many humans without a presence, but you're the first human whose scent is also faint!"
Hmm, so not only do I have no presence, but I also have no scent?
I learned one more piece of not-so-useful information.
"When did you start following me? I didn't feel a thing."
"You were too busy examining the jewels, weren't you?"
Ahem. I did check what kind of jewels I had received on the way, but still, following me this closely without any presence is too much.
It was a moment where I understood for the first time how those people felt when I suddenly touched them and startled them.
"Why did you come here anyway?"
"I told you. That I would repay your kindness. If you, Hero, give me such a trial, it is the duty of a subordinate to overcome it."
"Mongshil-i."
"Yes, Hero!"
"Get lost."
"Aww, besides that. Is there anything else?"
"No. Get lost."
"Sob, do you truly mean that you have no need for me, Hero?"
"Yeah, get lost."
"I do have a few jewels left..."
"You think jewels can solve everything?"
"But you liked them. The look on your face when you were looking at the jewels was more sincere than at any other time."
This brat, she was more observant than I thought.
"Anyway, what on earth are you worrying about? If you defeated Rankol by yourself, isn't that a better thing? Those people would probably be happier if they didn't have to fight that monster."
"I have no intention of advertising that I caught Rankol. I just want to take the tangible benefits."
"Hoooh, so it's the idea that a sword is only feared when it's in its sheath. I see. The stronger one is, the less need there is to flaunt it. In that case, I have a good idea."
"What is it?"
"I'll testify for you. That someone else killed Rankol. Wouldn't that work?"
"Hmm..."
Mosilian was a beastkin, but she was still a resident of this place. If a creature like her testified, it would have some effect. But one problem remained.
Everything that happened on the Lumos Continent was part of the goddess's arrangements. Starting with the weakest goblins and gradually moving to stronger enemies. From weapons to armor.
Rankol must have been one of those arrangements. If everyone was meant to face one, it could be considered a kind of raid experience.
But it was already dead. The kids would be lacking that much experience, and they would be in that much more danger.
I had no intention of giving up being the strongest, but I didn't wish for the kids to be weak either. This was a land overflowing with danger, after all. There was no harm in having strong comrades.
"You even care about the weak. You're so kind."
"Who cares about the weak..."
Thinking about it, she was right. I was the strongest even before I caught Rankol, and now that I had, the gap was immeasurably large.
"Anyway, those guys need a way to grow. Are there any other monster groups around here? Not as strong as Rankol, but something that could serve as experience points."
"There aren't any. They all ran away because Rankol was too strong. The only things left are the Murlocs in the swamp."
"Murlocs? Right, there were those things."
Now that I had caught Rankol, Murlocs didn't give me much of a level boost, but back when I was saving Mosilian, the experience from Murlocs was quite good.
The difficulty was also easy enough that I could take care of several at once. We would have to go back, but that was the only place to gain experience right now.
"Then let's do this."
I relayed my new plan. The only plan to raise the kids' levels without Rankol.
"This way. If you go straight this way, you'll come to a giant tree stump. Rankol has made its lair there."
Carrotina was just like Ronan. Even though it was her own village's crisis, she didn't step forward herself but instead left everything to us.
Well, for now, that's a relief.
We followed Carrotina's guidance toward the tree stump.
"Everyone be careful. As Elder Carrotina said, if we all have to face one creature, it won't be an ordinary enemy. Since we can't all attack at once, fall back when you get tired and let someone from the back join in."
"Then I will stand at the vanguard."
Hyung-seok, hounded by a sense of crisis, stepped forward first. Joo-hye looked quite displeased by this, but Hong-seop stopped her.
"I'm counting on you, Hyung-seok. But be careful always."
Hong-seop backed down cleanly, but Hyung-seok bit his lip, due to the complaints that naturally followed.
"There he goes again. He must be dying to show off."
"I know. It would be safest to leave it to Hong-seop."
"He must want to be somebody. Even though he's not cut out for it."
Hmm. I guess this is how villains are born behind the scenes in stories. Hong-seop didn't do anything particularly bad, but Hyung-seok was filled with resentment and malice.
I wasn't particularly close to Hyung-seok. His violent personality didn't mesh well with mine. But it was pitiful to see him being bad-mouthed just because he was involved with Hong-seop.
You poor bastard. At least I'll acknowledge you. Whatever that might mean.
Anyway, we soon arrived at the giant tree stump. A single being sat occupying the space that could easily fit ten people. That being was the one who boasted overwhelming power, Rankol… of course not.
A brown robe and a small stature. Its identity was none other than Mosilian.
Please do a good job, Mongshil-i. Please!