BSS 106

Chapter 106

“Hello, my friend!”

[Not sure if they’re people or not, but it seems like a group.]

“Three… no, maybe five.”

[Shall we keep going?]

“Could be monsters,”

[There’s also a way to go around.]

From the distant presence alone, it was hard to tell if it was people or a group of monsters.

But I could tell it wasn’t too far.

At most about 300 meters, a distance that would be visible if there weren’t so many trees.

Though I had tried to train my senses, detecting presences was usually a skill for physically-oriented people.

Intellectual types like me tended to be a bit dull in that regard.

“Let’s land first.”

I stepped down from Rai’s hands, stretched, and leisurely checked the compass again.

As expected, it pointed exactly toward where the presences were.

Since we weren’t changing direction, we had to go see.

“Let’s go. It could be people, so stay transformed as a wolf.”

[Got it!]

“If I roam with a top-level dangerous monster, no one would play with me.”

The ogre was a classic man-eating monster.

A terrifying target that could easily make people faint.

I had chosen an ogre as a mount because near Magi’s lair, there was nothing else.

I had no other choice. If there had been horses, I would have ridden one.

The 3-meter-tall ogre I had just been riding instantly melted into molten metal, then shrank into the form of a wolf in the blink of an eye.

[Ready!]

Now used to transformations, I followed the compass immediately.

[Master.]

Rai, a few steps ahead, suddenly stopped.

I realized the reason too late.

[Arrows incoming.]

“Eek!”

Say that with more urgency! Don’t use the same tone as “Hamburgers incoming”!

The moment I saw the shining arrowheads flying toward me, I ducked at superhuman speed.

At the same time, I grabbed Rai’s back to shield myself.

Twang. Ping.

[Ma, Ma…ster! Ugh!]

The arrows narrowly missed Rai’s face and ears, bouncing off harmlessly.

“Adol!”

[It’s Ador!]

“Shut up, Lightning Dance!”

I called forth Ador, one of my spirits with fast attacks, and it immediately complained about me calling the name wrong.

Meaning is what matters! There’s no time for nitpicking!

[Cheh, cheh!]

Even a tongue-less creature can click its tongue.

Though disrespectful, Ador’s skill was undeniable.

Every time the electric mass flashed and moved like lightning, someone tumbled from the trees.

Lightning Dance.

A skill that shocked all perceived enemies in range. Its damage wasn’t high, but it was optimized to quickly impact multiple targets.

[Found one!]

“Ahhh!”

[Here too!]

It didn’t take long to discover and hit all the hidden people.

Ador was my fastest spirit in terms of attack speed.

Maybe even faster than any other spirit I had.

[More? More!]

He was impatient too.

Maybe it was in his battle-blood, but Ador always craved prey. He flew about frantically, seeking the next target.

He should have known everything was already down.

“Ador! Enough, focus on guarding around me.”

[Not nearly enough!]

“Someone might think a black dragon is rampaging.”

I sent Rai ahead and examined those who had tried to ambush me.

Lightning Dance was relatively weak, so no one seemed seriously hurt.

In fact, injuries from falling from trees seemed worse.

Rai sniffed and lifted his nose.

[Seems like they’re natives of this area.]

“Looks like it.”

But that didn’t excuse shooting arrows at me immediately.

I couldn’t be friendly, so I placed a hand on Rai and approached a woman whose leg was broken, helplessly glaring at me.

She was closest to me.

“…You! Outsider! This is our land!”

The injured woman glared at me with beast-like caution.

It was imperfect common continental speech. Understandable, but not very skillful.

The closer I got, the more her companions gathered.

Soon, they surrounded me completely, exuding hostility.

All women, with slightly varying but generally brown skin and gray hair.

They looked ready to tear me apart if provoked.

“Oh my.”

They all drew weapons and aimed at me.

I was just passing by! Killing me for that makes me extremely… very, very upset.

[They’re in the way. Shall I kill them, Master?]

“Well…”

I hesitated, but if they tried to kill me, I had no choice but to retaliate.

That’s survival of the fittest.

“The wolf… too big. Threat. Cannot pass!”

“Ah.”

[Hehe, I’m a bit big for a wolf, right?]

“That’s not a compliment! You caused them to shoot at me!”

[Ugh!]

I yanked Rai’s head, and he exaggeratedly acted pained.

Though normally numb to pain, he would pretend if I looked angry—though it only annoyed me more.

I almost wanted to make him bald.

“Jini?”

While I was tormenting Rai, a familiar word reached my ears.

I thought I misheard it—maybe a native word that sounded similar…

“Huh?”

I turned reflexively toward the voice—it sounded very gentle.

There was one native staring at me with a clear, distinct expression, and her face looked familiar.

Very familiar.

Memories long buried resurfaced rapidly.

Only then did I realize who the compass had been pointing toward.

Tall, silver-haired like a tarnished silver bowl, smooth muscles, healthy brown skin.

A 30-year-old woman looking at me with a face full of joy and emotion—undoubtedly:

“Anel… sister?”

[Ah, the woman I saw not long ago.]

Nine years ago… not long ago?

Then Magi must have been seen just before this.

My frustration with Rai vanished for a moment as I turned to Anel.

We hurried toward each other, both stretching out our hands, and embraced fully.

“Jini, is it really you?”

“Sister!”

The overwhelming joy made me forget that I had been somewhat angry.

Of course, strangers in their territory might shoot arrows or try to kill me.

“Oh my. I almost didn’t recognize you! You’re all grown up now.”

She hadn’t changed much.

Still kind, still fluent in the common tongue, holding my hands.

Her face almost tearful, touched my cheeks and forehead.

How could I forget Anel? Nine years ago, she was my lifesaver, role model, and showed me a new way of life.

And they seemed to belong to the same tribe as those who just tried to kill me.

So, are they the Silver Wolf tribe? All skilled dual-swordsmen? Then this must be the Korlan tribal nation. Far from Dmitri.

Questions arose, but joy came first.

“Of course. Nine years have passed. I’m already nineteen… I thought I’d never see you again!”

“I thought the same. Sorry, Jini. I didn’t expect the intruder to be you… I apologize for attacking.”

“It’s okay! I’m not dead, so it’s fine!”

And I was glad I wasn’t killed. It was a close call.

“But how did you end up here?”

“Oh, I got a little lost.”

“Lost? This seems… really deep, doesn’t it?”

“Ah! Don’t worry about that! How about your mercenary work, sister? Did you quit?”

I couldn’t exactly say I had been kidnapped by a dragon and ended up here, so I dodged the topic.

She seemed flustered by this unexpected reunion.

“I quit a while ago. Soon after parting from you.”

“I thought you’d be a mercenary forever! It suited you so well.”

“I thought so too. But…”

“But?”

“I had a child. A cute girl who looks just like you, Jini. So I had to return home.”

I was momentarily speechless, eyes wide open.