Chapter 54 – The Witchwood (Part 1)

 

- Does this mean that these are the same looters that were earlier?

Brown nodded at Hikuroda's question, which made the situation quite clear. It couldn't be a coincidence that the people proudly marauding on the 3rd floor came to where we were, chased by the monster.

"I don't know who it is, but it's clear that they're deliberately targeting us," I said.

"Although we do not know the reason. Perhaps they are pretending to be persecuted in order to get to us," Brown confirmed my words and added his own opinion. I had the same thought.

"Then what should we do now?"

And what was to be done?

Thanks to Brown, we were able to recognize their tricks at an early stage.

"We must seize this opportunity.

"Take advantage of it?" Mike tilted her head.

However, there was not enough time for detailed explanations. It seemed that they had already arrived.

"Light!" It's light! One of the men shouted. In the group, there were two men and one woman covered in blood, they hurriedly entered the perimeter of our torchlight.

"If you're not confident in your abilities, just sit still and watch," I whispered to myself and made eye contact with Brown. Then he nodded slightly.

I swear this guy understood me so well.

Even Hikurod, who I was a little worried about, seemed to understand exactly what I meant.

Then maybe we should start?

"Don't come any closer.

Seeing them running up to us, I immediately grabbed my shield, stepped forward, and stood in their way.

"Hey!" Our team was destroyed. Help us! We will repay you!

A desperate but urgent expression on his face. This guy is a good actor.

"Lower your weapon.

"But there are monsters there...!" "A man in his mid-30s pointed behind him. A group of Orcs were watching us from behind the range of the torch.

"Ch-chwiik!"

As there were more people, they couldn't come up, but we couldn't be sure how long it would last.

Perhaps he meant to say, "So hurry up and let us in," right? But so what?

I spoke harshly again.

"It's your choice. Either lower your weapons or get out.

The answer was not easy. Of course, I am sure that there was something to think about. In the labyrinth, your weapon was equal to your life. Perhaps they thought we doubted them to some extent, but it didn't matter. Whatever choice they made, we had nothing to lose.

— ... We will put down our weapons.

The mustachioed man made a decision and lowered the weapon to the ground. Two others followed suit.

Have you decided to be greedy?

This decision both satisfied and worried me. Are they taking such a risk to go after us? I couldn't even imagine why.

"Okay, then come here, slowly. But as far apart as possible.

"There's no need to go that far, is there?" We just want help...

"If you want help, do as you are told.

"Good.

Then, as they approached one by one, as ordered, Brown walked over and checked them for concealed weapons.

— ... They have nothing that could pose a threat.

- I see. Hikurod, keep an eye on them.

"Good!" The dwarf tensed and nodded his head, then strode beside him, arms and legs straightened like a soldier. A sigh escaped him. Fortunately, judging by their faces, it seemed that the other group didn't notice any awkwardness in his actions.

"Ch-chwiik...

"Chwiik, Chwiik, Chwiik!"

After I left Hikuroda with the trio of marauders and looked at the Orcs, the monsters soon turned around and left. Even they felt that fighting with such a large group of people was too risky.

These monsters are smart bastards.

Well, that's nothing compared to human bastards. In any case, avoiding a useless battle was good news for us. Given the new problem, it would be very tiring to even focus on the battle with the Orcs.

"Phew, I thought I was going to die..." As soon as the group of Orcs disappeared, the female of the group fell to the ground. After a few seconds, she came to her senses, then stood up and bowed politely to us. "Oh!" My name is Eliza. Thank you for saving us!

With her torn shirt exposing her chest, the dwarf coughed and turned his head.

— Кхм. Я Хикурод Мурад.

I didn't have the feeling that he was playing naivety.

Although his head was turned, his eyes were still fixed on one point.

"So your name is Mr. Murad!" What about everyone else?

"Bjorn, son of Yandel."

"Oh, I see! The woman who introduced herself as Eliza came up to me and took my hand, then bowed her head again, just like last time, of course, emphasizing her breasts. "Ha, thank you all very much!" I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't met all of you..." Now that I looked at it, it seemed that this was the reason for all of them, only her shirt was particularly torn...

"Bjorn!" Your eyes glaze over! Mike muttered, misunderstanding my actions.

I didn't do anything to fix it right away; The opportunity for this will soon present itself.

"Tell us your names, one by one."

To dispel their doubts, I began with a simple roll call.

The first to introduce himself was a mustachioed man, who also turned out to be the leader.

"Hans Argo."

A what?

— ... Hans?

— This is a common name. Do you know the other?

"Uh, well... something like that," I nodded awkwardly.

Hansoo: Ah, I broke my head with my shield. I met Hans V by chance in a tavern, but I never saw him again after the advice he gave me. Today I see Hans S, a mustachioed man who followed in the footsteps of Hans A. In any case, the next one.

— My name is Irit Tyson.

Irit was a tall, blond spearman. He was about 25 years old, and there were no other special features in him. If I had to choose something, it would be his polite attitude.

"I thought that I would meet my creator then, but thanks to all of you, we survived. I want to thank you again.

When Irit bowed 90 degrees, Eliza made a noise in her characteristic, natural tone.

"That's true!" If it wasn't for you guys, I don't know what would have happened to us... This must be the blessing of Reatlas!

"Reatlas?" Brown stiffened at the one word, then asked cautiously, "Could it be—" that you...

"Oh, I haven't told you my name yet. My name is Elisa Behenk. As you can see—" Eliza interrupted her words and looked at her clothes with tears in her eyes. It was torn, covered with sweat and dirt, but once it was snow-white. "You probably don't see it. But now I'm in the service of Reatlas!

"Hah!

While the dwarf only uttered a short exclamation, Brown closed his eyes and made the sign of the cross in front of Eliza.

"You are indeed a priestess.

Wow, this guy plays well.

"May the blessing of the twilight star be with you.

"Yes, may the blessing of the twilight star be with you.

She probably thought her plan worked. Eliza, too, smiled brightly and crossed herself.

After that, the alertness in the air seemed to disappear instantly. At least, that's what it looked like to them.

As we all know that it cannot be a real eat-...

"Lady Eliza, would you take a look at my wound?" Hans asked.

A what?

"Excuse me!" I had to help you with this first...

Wait, is she a real priestess?

As I shuddered at the unexpected turn of events, Hans S rolled up his sleeve to show the knife wound. Eliza then chanted a prayer spell and brought her white glowing hand to the injured area.

*Swaa*...

The wound healed instantly. Although I watched this whole process with suspicion, there was no doubt that it was indeed divine magic. How could I be sure if I had never seen it before? First of all, it sounded different than when a wound heals from a potion, and Hans S's expression is calm, without the slightest pain.

"May the blessing of the twilight star be with you..."

It was unexpected for everyone else. Brown froze for a moment, and then made the sign of the cross over himself, like a man who has seen a miracle happen. In my opinion, this looked a bit exaggerated, but it was actually a normal reaction given the structure of this universe.

Just as other races grew up in their Holy Lands, most human children learned to read from an early age and accumulated knowledge in temples. The weight of the priesthood title was different for them.

"Oh!" So can we get our weapons back now? Eliza asked naturally, as if she had just realized that she did not have her own. Perhaps the demonstration of her divine power was a prologue to this for her. It must have been because of this that they made the bold decision to drop their weapons earlier.

But...

"That won't happen.

"D-yes?"

Watching her puzzled expression, I behaved naturally. There was no need to show that I already knew her identity.

"I see that you are a real priestess.

But so what?

I was a barbarian who believed in my ancestors. I didn't get anything from the priests, so it wasn't a strange reaction. Not long after, Eliza smiled awkwardly and looked at Brown and Dvalki, who were both human. It seemed that she was trying to get their help, but I resolutely stopped all chances of this.

"We will return their weapons on the way out after we receive compensation.

"Compensation?"

"Why are you surprised?" Priestess or not, you're an explorer once you've entered the labyrinth. You have to follow the convention.

"Oh, yes... I have heard of such a custom. Then... How much should we give you?

I pretended to think for a moment and then said:

"About two million stones should be enough.

— ... Wh-What? Eliza asked again to make sure she had not misheard, but I stood my ground.

"This should not be an unreasonable request.

On the contrary, it was almost nothing. I've heard that bad guys even took away equipment in exchange for the lives of their victims.

"Think about the price of your life.

"But... We don't have that kind of money.

I already knew that. Who carries cash into the maze? Now that I had received the answer I had been expecting, it was time to move on to the next one.

"I'm not asking you to lower the price. At least let us pay you outside...

— No, I don't. I don't believe the words of anyone but my own people. If you don't have money, pay with your belongings.

— ... Things?

"Hmph, this man's armor should be suitable.

When I pointed my finger at Hans S, the man frowned. However, after exchanging glances with Eliza a few times, he took a deep breath.

"Ha... In exchange for my life, it's not a loss-making business. However, there is a condition. We will stay with your group overnight until we regain our strength.

"Okay," I nodded readily.

The intention was obvious, but I still had no intention of keeping my promise.

"Irit, can you help me?"

— Yes.

Hans S removed his heavy armor with the help of a spearman, then handed the equipment to Brown. It's cool. Now that we've removed the armor from one bastard, we've taken everything we needed for the moment.

"So. We've paid the price, so will you get our weapons back?

I didn't wait any longer and smiled brightly. To be honest, I didn't think everything would turn out so well.

— ... Why are you laughing? Hans S looked at me with a stern face.

I didn't answer, just as I didn't correct Mike for calling my eyes glazed over at Eliza. They'll find out soon anyway.

"Uh, Mr. Yandel?" We really can't afford to give you more than-...

"Ah, there's no need for that," was my answer before I swung my mace at Eliza's head.

*Blow!*

"L-Lady Eliza!"

Whatever game you played, smashing the priest's head was the first general rule.