Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 26 : Encounter (1)

Encounter (1)

There are various mobs in the fields of the game, belkhazium.

They are divided into beasts, wild beasts, demonic beasts, and monsters.

Naturally, the further down the list, the more difficult they are to deal with.

Of course, there are exceptions, like the Ice Bear, a wild beast but not inferior to demonic beasts.

And right now, the 'monster' Impet before my eyes was also such an exception.

Among monsters, it was the weakest kind.

'But that's just by game standards.'

In real life, it looked rather horrific.

A creature that looked less than a meter tall, with the form of a human mixed with a lizard.

The thing that had been a cluster of dots and code in my memory,

"P-Please, save me!"

was about to pounce on a young man,

while the man opposite the Impet, holding a dagger, was trembling uncontrollably.

"Kirik?!"

Impet, seemingly startled by my sudden appearance,

alternated its gaze between its original prey and me.

'But why is the Impet alone?'

Those things are typically subordinate monsters summoned by the lesser devil, imp.

They usually travel in groups.

'Maybe it's not actually an Impet.'

I considered the differences between game graphics and the real thing for a moment,

when the Impet raised its sharp claws and charged at me.

"Kiririk!"

Damn, it's fast.

No matter how weak a monster it was in my memory,

I couldn't forget the fact that, as a 1st-rank in the real world, I was also weak.

'Stay sharp!'

I rolled to the side, dodged the Impet's attack,

then got up and looked for it in a continuous motion,

"?"

The Impet was darting out of the cave.

'It's an Impet after all.'

Clever enough to run when outnumbered.

It was definitely an Impet.

Clatter!

I turned at the sound of something metal falling.

The man, perhaps relieved, had dropped his dagger and slumped to the ground.

"Hah... Hah..."

Nearby, a pile of firewood and a flint were scattered.

So that meant, most likely—

"Were you trying to start a fire when the Impet appeared?"

Even as I asked, the man just muttered blankly.

"Impet? That... was the monster's name... Ah, right. This isn't the time for this."

The young man seemed to finally come to his senses, bowing his head to me.

"Th-thank you, adventurer! If it hadn't been for you, I'd be as good as dead!"

Because of my robe, I was mistaken for an adventurer again.

It was much better than being called an outsider, so—

'I'll pretend to be an adventurer.'

I tossed the twigs in my hand onto the firewood pile and started the fire first.

When the fire whooshed to life, the cave's interior became clearly visible,

and only then could I get a good look at the man.

He looked young, younger even than I'd expected.

A long-collared green tunic.

A flute tucked into his belt.

"A bard, are you?"

He was a bard, anyone could see it.

"Colby of Tephron village, bard."

Where was Tephron again.

He forced a smile, and after a moment's hesitation, I spoke.

"... Ian. I'm an adventurer."

Saying I was an adventurer would be better than being called an outsider.

"I was looking for a spot to camp for the night; would you mind if I stay with you for tonight?"

It was only natural to ask permission if someone else had already settled in.

"O-of course! I'm grateful, really!"

Colby scratched his head awkwardly in response.

A bard who was just attacked by a monster could hardly refuse the request of an adventurer.

Still, I didn't let down my guard and tried to size him up.

'I got stabbed in the back so many times in the game.'

How many times had I been killed by betrayal during camping and had to restart my character?

If your level, sense, and luck stats were low, it happened from time to time.

'Judging by how he trembled at just a single Impet, though, he seems genuine.'

He didn't look like he had any combat power or mana,

but even so, if he tried anything while I was asleep, I'd be dead meat.

"Then as a token of trust, hand over your dagger."

I held out my hand to Colby.

"I'll return it in the morning."

Colby hesitated, but soon handed over the dagger.

"If anything happens, you'll protect me, right? So, I'll trust you. Ha ha."

Good. Now there shouldn't be any trouble at night.

"Thank you. In return, I'll provide dinner tonight."

"R-really? Thank you!"

I skewered three potatoes from my pack and set them over the fire.

Jerky and sausage were too expensive, so I'd save those.

"Sorry, this is all I have."

"It's nothing! As long as it fills the belly, it's a meal!"

"......"

While I roasted the potatoes, Colby started talking.

"You're from the Len Kingdom, aren't you?"

Even though I hid under a hood,

at close range, my black eyes and hair probably stood out.

"Yes."

"Wow! I've seen a few easterners, but it's my first time meeting someone from Len Kingdom who's so fluent in the imperial tongue! That's amazing!"

Looks like he's the talkative type.

Tonight's going to be tiring.

"Thanks."

"Where are you coming from, adventurer?"

"Granfen village."

"I knew it! I also just came from Granfen—it makes sense that we'd meet here, not much else around in this winter. Why were you there?"

"I had a task."

"Oh, right. Of course, an adventurer would go there for a job. Ha ha. How was Granfen?"

"So-so, I suppose."

I tried to sound as tired as possible, but he only got more excited.

"Granfen's famous for its red-light district, isn't it? So much fun. Heh heh. Too bad I spent all my money and couldn't try that famous restaurant—uh, what was it... the..."

A famous restaurant? I unconsciously perked my ears,

"Oh, right! Wyvern Tail! They say their tomato soup is amazing, how was it?"

Tch, spit.

I didn't literally spit.

"No idea. First I've heard of it."

"What a shame. They say everyone should go to Wyvern Tail when they visit Granfen."

If a bard knows about it, Wyvern Tail must be pretty well-known.

But that's someone else's shop, not my concern.

"Hmph. Have you ever heard of a place called Fairy's Leg?"

"Fairy's Leg? Never heard of it, but the name is intriguing. Do they have a famous lady there?"

It's a place that sells food, not women.

I fought the urge to punch Colby's leering face, and instead,

"... They're done. Eat up."

I shoved a hot, unpeeled potato into Colby's mouth.

"Waph! Hot, hot!"

Colby groaned in pain, then blew on it and savored the flavor.

Finally, some quiet.

"......"

Someday, I'll definitely make my shop as famous as Wyvern Tail.

—I caught myself thinking that all of a sudden.

'Damn it. Thinking about the shop again.'

I hadn't even decided whether to run away or go back to Granfen.

I bit back a grin and took a huge bite of potato.

It was a moment when I really craved salt.

*

Colby and I took turns at the night watch.

When dawn broke, Colby asked,

"Adventurer, are you by chance heading to Grey Fortress?"

For an instant, I was conflicted.

'What if he wants to travel with me since we're going in the same direction?'

He was annoyingly talkative, but on the other hand, traveling together might be less dull than going alone.

I decided to answer honestly.

"Yes. I was on my way to Grey Fortress."

"Oh! That's great. I'm headed to Grey Fortress too. Would you like to go together?"

Just what I was worried about.

But hey, who am I?

A pupil of the money-grubbing Jeros.

Time to turn a crisis into an opportunity.

I held out my hand and said,

"If you want me as an escort, you'll have to pay."

Survival of the fittest, that's how it should be in this medieval fantasy world.

"Uh, well. It's just..."

Colby flustered, reaching for his coin pouch,

and handed me three copper coins.

"This is all I've got now, but I can sing a few songs to keep us entertained. Maybe you could take that as payment for the escort?"

Normally, you'd have to pay a bard to listen to their songs.

He's offering them for free in exchange for traveling together.

'What should I do?'

Does it matter? The road to Grey Fortress is the same anyway,

I'll just consider it three coins for free.

"All right. Let's go together."

"Th-thank you!"

"But don't sing."

Colby looked disappointed at my words.

"Should I at least play a tune on my flute?"

Didn't this guy see all those Impets wandering around yesterday?

"No. Please be as quiet as possible."

Colby followed me, sullen-faced.

But this lethargy didn't last—

Soon, the bard was running his mouth like he'd attached a motor.

'Damn.'

If he were prattling about the continent's international affairs,

the tides of war,

the state of labyrinths or artifacts, I could at least understand.

No, actually, that'd be useful; I'd ask more.

But instead,

'All he talks about is dirty jokes.'

Who has the best figure in the brothels of the Rial Peninsula,

the Third Princess of the Empire is a peerless beauty—

listening to this kind of stuff made my ears burn.

Burt and the soldiers who came to the shop talked about women plenty,

but Colby here is on another level.

'No wonder. Yesterday he started on the red-light district as soon as I said I was from Granfen.'

After a long day of walking, my patience was wearing thin.

I was about ready to give back the three coins and walk alone,

when, finally, Colby fell silent.

"Oh dear."

Because a blood-soaked person was sprawled right in our path.

Long purple hair tangling in mats,

the crown and back of the head stained bright red with blood.

Luckily, aside from that, there were no major wounds.

I approached what appeared to be a corpse and turned it over so I could see the front.

"What is this, again?"

A cloth completely covered the eyes.

From the shape of the face below, it looked like a woman.

"Oh! Even covered, she's super pretty!"

Colby's excited voice grated on my nerves.

"... Is that what you have to say with someone collapsed here?"

I glared and Colby backed off.

Ignoring him, I checked her pulse.

'Is she dead?'

Nothing. But she was still warm.

Next, I put my ear near her nose.

"Huh?"

Soft... breath, soft... breath.

No heartbeat, but surprisingly, I heard faint breathing.

Very weak.

'Let's take off the blindfold first.'

I wanted to check her eyes for any movement when—

"Adventurer. Are you really going to save her?"

Colby said.

I turned to look at him.

He gave an awkward grin.

"Ha ha. Does it really make sense to bother saving a girl who's almost dead?"

It felt like a hammer to the head.

Because Colby was right.

'Whether others live or die, if it doesn't help me, the rule of this world is to ignore them.'

The habit of a modern person surfaced suddenly.

The sensibility that every life is precious.

As I hesitated for a moment, Colby continued.

"She's pretty, but is there any need to save a bum like this? You couldn't even sell her as a slave."

Right. Colby was completely right.

She looked hard to save,

and even if I did, it was probably pointless.

Thinking this over to myself—

"If you're really going to use that half-dead girl... that patch of bushes over there looks good. She's pretty and has a nice body, after all."

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

"... What?"

Did that bastard really say that?

"Oh, come on, don't pretend you didn't understand. Should I help you move her?"

My heart, which had been calm, started to beat wildly.

A surge of irritation hit me.

"......"

Ignoring a dying person is one thing.

That's medieval logic.

It won't help my survival.

But what?

What did he say?

'You see a woman on the verge of death, and that's what you think?'

Grit.

My jaw clenched and my teeth ground without me noticing.

Is that what a medieval mindset is?

No. No way.

I've seen plenty of medieval bastards,

but I've never seen anyone this crazy.

"Get lost."

"... What?"

Colby, flustered, asked again.

I threw his three coins at his feet and said,

"Get lost. We're done traveling together."

He'd driven me mad enough with his nonstop dirty talk,

but I could stand it no more.

"B-but... Adventurer, why are you—?"

He said, picking up the coins, so to make my point, I gathered mana and said,

"I'll count to three. Disappear before then."

"A-Adventurer. Please, calm—"

"One, two."

Only then did he turn and start to run.

Watching his back, I tried to calm my anger with deep breaths when,

Sasasak!

Something suddenly leaped out from the roadside and covered Colby's face.

Crunch!

It was an Impet.

The Impet sprang out without warning and bit into Colby's neck,

blood spraying like a fountain.

"Aaaaaagh!"

The bard's scream echoed.

He struggled to throw off the Impet, but soon collapsed, foaming blood.

Then more Impets lunged out, one after another.

'At a glance, at least ten.'

I gripped my kitchen knife.

I was holding it in my right hand, but that wouldn't be enough, so I grabbed it with my other hand too.

Of course, even that wouldn't help, and I knew it well.

"Kirik."

"Kiruk!"

Three or four Impets tore at Colby,

while the remaining half dozen closed in around me.

'Can I escape?'

There's no way a single first-rank could take on a pack of monsters like this.

'This is a road Burt probably traveled easily, but of all things, why did I have to run into a mob, not just wild animals?'

What rotten luck.

"Kyaaaak!!"

"Krrik!!"

At the sound of the Impets lunging at me, I snapped out of my thoughts and tightened my grip on the knife, and then—

Sizzle.

Whoosh!

An achingly beautiful blue flame

burst forth right in front of me.

Fwoooosh!!

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Good riddance to that perverted bard...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】