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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Cowardly Asel (4)
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The goblins that had seen blood flew into a frenzy.
From their perspective, the face of their comrade with the mace embedded deep in it was enough to turn anyone's stomach. As if on cue, they all snatched up their weapons.
-Kyaaak?!
That's when one of them pointed at the altar and shrieked. About half of their gathered offerings had vanished. The utterly berserk goblins let out roars and scattered in all directions.
Before long, they spotted a human figure slowly rising into the air.
-KeaAaak!
"W-We've been spotted!"
Asel gritted his teeth and focused his mind. He'd never tried levitating his own body with telekinesis before.
In an instant, goblins swarmed at his feet, clambering over each other and leaping up desperately.
"GaaAaah! Get away!"
A barrage of crude blades grazed the hem of his pants. Flailing his legs in desperation, Asel finally reached a height the goblins couldn't touch.
He hurled himself toward a nearby tree. Stretching out every joint in his body, he barely managed to grab a protruding branch.
"Huff...! Huff!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his thigh. He looked down to see blood trickling from a tear in his pants.
Asel swallowed his rising tears and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hic, Ronan...! Hic, I made it up!"
At that moment, a shadow burst out from behind the tree Asel was clinging to.
The shadow charged straight at the goblin horde. The goblins, fixated on Asel, didn't notice Ronan approaching.
Slash!
A silver arc sliced through the air, sending three heads flying. Drawing his first stroke, Ronan realized with relief that his senses hadn't dulled.
Splatter! Two more heads erupted in a spray of blood.
-Kyruk? KyaaAak?!
Only then did the goblins notice there was another intruder. Not that Ronan cared—he swung his blade without a second thought.
A goblin that had been looking around split vertically in half.
-Kyaak...!
Blood exploded outward, splattering everywhere. Ronan kicked the severed torso hard, unraveling its tangled guts, which rained down on the goblins below.
Now at the center of the pack, Ronan came to a halt.
-Ke, Kerruk...!
"One... two..."
It was a resounding success for the reign of terror. The terrified goblins couldn't bring themselves to approach him.
Ronan wiggled his fingers, counting the remaining goblins. His arms were already throbbing—clearly, he needed to train his body more.
First count: thirty-one in sight.
"Fifteen swings."
Estimating the swings needed, Ronan kicked off the ground and charged.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Dawn was breaking. The gradually spreading sunlight stretched the shadows of trees and grass. Birds began to chirp, and awakening animals stretched lazily.
It was a time when everything grew beautiful. Everything except the goblin village destroyed overnight and Ronan, drenched head to toe in blood.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... I'm fine."
Asel held his breath as much as possible while answering. The metallic stench of blood hung thick in the air, enough to make him pass out. Around the campfire, the area was a mess of dismembered Luna Goblins and their innards.
"Good work."
Ronan patted his shoulder. Asel nodded soullessly. His mind replayed Ronan's battle scene over and over.
'What the hell did I just witness?'
It was a nightmare made real. Ronan had wrought this carnage with exactly fourteen sword strokes. The flawless massacre was almost artistic in its precision.
Suddenly, Asel felt pathetic.
All he'd done was climb a tree on Ronan's orders. Ronan would've achieved the same result without him, no doubt.
"But... doesn't that mean you didn't need me?"
"Hey, I said real combat experience matters."
"No, it's not about the danger... I just feel like I got in your way."
"I had you do what you could. Soon enough, there'll be plenty of things only you can do."
It was a matter-of-fact tone, like explaining that ice melts into water. Asel nodded, hoping it would come true.
"Speaking of, what's that on your leg?"
Ronan suddenly turned serious. Asel looked down and saw a long gash on his thigh.
"Huh? Oh, this is from earlier..."
"You said you weren't hurt."
Asel shook his head dismissively. It was a scratch from climbing the tree—not deep, so he hadn't mentioned it.
But Ronan examined it with a grave expression.
"You know how filthy those bastards' hands are? Catch some weird disease, and you're dead."
He strode to the altar and rummaged through the junk. When he returned, he held an ornate vial.
"Always grabbing anything that sparkles. Useless idiots."
"What's that?"
"Put your wound here."
Asel extended the gash as instructed. Ronan unhesitatingly poured the liquid from the vial. The area warmed on contact, and the wound healed in seconds.
"P-Potion...!"
Asel's eyes went wide. It was his first time seeing a real potion.
He didn't know the exact price, but he knew something this effective cost at least gold coins.
"Damn, heals fast. Quality stuff from this workshop. Remember 'Holy Donkey'."
"Y-You can use something this valuable on me? I didn't do anything..."
"What bullshit is that? Should I use it on myself since I'm unhurt?"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"It's healed. Now pack the loot. Lots to do."
Ronan opened the sack and tossed in the remaining potion. Asel hesitated, then started filling his own.
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Filling twenty sacks didn't take long, but transporting them did. They shuttled back and forth between the river and forest, sweating buckets. Ronan marveled at the sacks floating in the air.
"Oh, you can use it while moving now."
"Yeah... but... it's... kinda... hard...!"
Asel had managed to use telekinesis while in motion, albeit clumsily. Far less stable than from a stationary position, but the achievement mattered.
"Man, I'd love to see those morons' faces. Right?"
"Yeah...? Uh, yeah...!"
Ronan grumbled. He was thinking about the shout that woke the goblins. Asel's injury and his own bloodbath were ultimately those unknown fools' fault.
Chatting made time fly. Before they knew it, they were hauling the last sacks. Asel, walking ahead, froze in place.
"Huh?"
Thud! His sack hit the ground. Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"What's up?"
Asel squinted through the trees at the riverbank.
"...Isn't that our raft?"
"What?"
Ronan followed his pointing finger. In the middle of the river, something bobbed along. A familiar, shabby raft. Ronan dropped his sack and bolted.
"You fucking assholes!"
Asel hurried after. Reaching the bank, Ronan saw the raft drifting away, loaded with their sacks—and two men cackling atop it.
"Puhahaha! We're rich now!"
"First that bird, now this lucky break! We might even make executive!"
They looked like adventurers or hunters. Their voices carried clearly to the shore.
Asel realized those voices matched the ones that roused the Luna Goblins.
"Th-Those voices! Hey! Stop!"
"You worthless orc-nut bastards!"
Ronan plunged into the water, bellowing.
"Stop right there, you thieves!!"
"Eh? It has an owner?"
"Figures. Hey! We're keeping this fair and square~!"
"I'll kill you all!"
Veins bulged on Ronan's forehead. Sword in mouth, he swam furiously. Splashes formed rainbows with each stroke.
"Ooh, decent swimmer. But my paddling skills are superior."
"Nyeomunul modoo jigil tta~"
Ronan's speed was incredible, but the current-borne raft edged him out. The men wiggled their hips mockingly.
Then Asel, running along the bank beside the raft, stopped. The terrain grew too rough. Catching his breath up to his chin, he extended his right arm.
"Huff... huuuh...! I said... stop...!"
The raft vanished behind his palm. The only spell he knew slipped from his lips.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Asel's body lurched toward the river.
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The first to notice the anomaly was the man paddling.
"Huh? What?"
"What's wrong?"
"The raft... it's not moving?"
Panicking, they inspected it. No visible issues, but no matter how hard they paddled, it wouldn't budge. Like someone was holding it.
"You mean...?"
Only then did they spot the demon approaching, sword in mouth.
"Hiiik!"
The once-distant gap closed rapidly. Ronan's face emerged rhythmically through the spray, savagely fierce.
Sensing danger, the men drew their blades hastily.
"H-He's just a kid! Nothing to fear!"
"Yeah, punk! Turn back if you value your life!"
Ronan vanished beneath the surface. In the sudden silence, the men pressed backs together, on guard. Only water and wind sounds remained.
-Plop!
A shad leaped from the water. Simultaneously, Ronan erupted in a spray, landing on the raft. His sword was now in hand.
"You fucking dogs! I'll chop your hands off and shove 'em up your asses!"
"K-Kill him!"
The men charged. Asel, who'd been staring at the raft, turned away.
The clash of metal soon turned to agonized screams echoing over the river.
"GyaAAAAAh-!!"
Ronan would surely keep his promise. By tomorrow morning, searchers downstream would find two corpses with hands lodged in their rears.
A horrific scene too gruesome to imagine—yet Asel's lips twitched upward.
"Ah... haha... ha..."
His lower body was numb with cold. Water lapped at his waist. He'd anchored his ankles in the riverbed to halt the raft.
Splash! Asel toppled backward. Like a puppet with cut strings, he couldn't move a finger. The untaught boy didn't know this was mana exhaustion.
Floating on his back, he gazed at the blue sky. Ronan's voice echoed in his ears.
Lots of things only you can do. He hadn't expected it so soon.
"Real combat experience... nice..."
The river breeze was cool. The risen sun painted the water gold.
The longest night of Asel's life had ended.
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"What the hell's wrong with this guy now?"
"Ugh... Ronan... can't move..."
Ronan had paddled back alone.
He'd fished the jellyfish-like Asel from the water and laid him out on the raft. Tickling his side only elicited laughs—he was utterly spent.
Bloodstains soaked one corner of the raft. Asel didn't ask what happened to the men. Ronan set down the oar and squatted by his head.
"You stopped it, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Good job, man."
Ronan poked his side again. Asel giggled, feeling helpless satisfaction.
He praised not just the "good job," but Asel's absurd progress.
"Hic, s-stop! Heh, th-thanks... to you."
Even laughter exhausted him, producing leaky wheezes. Astonishing growth, even to him.
Days ago, lifting a child was a struggle. Now, he'd halted a heavy raft. Last night felt like a long dream.
"Ta-da."
Ronan dangled a sack before him. Asel tilted his head.
"Huh? This... isn't ours?"
"Right. The thieves'."
As Asel said, it was new—thicker, tougher leather than theirs. Left behind by the raft thieves.
"They guarded it desperately. Must've stolen something before coming here."
"Related to those forest shouts?"
"Let's see."
Ronan untied the sealing cord. The knot was so tight, cutting seemed easier.
Finally loosened, he upended the sack. Something blue-tinged thudded out.