Chapter 90 – Ulterior Motive (2)

The screech of a door opening was heard. Following that, urgent footsteps echoed inside the inn. The owner who had played the trick had noticed and slipped out.

Was there a back door? With Belloc suddenly spitting out his drink and the owner fleeing, the two of them understood the situation at once. Cara gasped and dropped the spoon she was holding.

“These… despicable swarthy bastards!”

Adele spat out a thick curse and flipped the table. Plates and bottles shattered with a crash. Food spilled thickly over the old wooden floor. Cara said with a dumbfounded expression.

“What did we do wrong to them…”

“Isn’t it obvious? They probably planned to take our luggage and sell it, and play with our bodies. Shitty human hunters! I’ll kill them all!”

Furious, Adele gripped her axe and panted, then opened her eyes wide. Soon, she turned her gaze and said.

“More importantly, Lord Belloc! Didn’t you put that food in your mouth?! Are you okay?! First, let’s treat you…”

“No problem.”

He was truly perfectly fine. Except for feeling a slight tingling when he drank the beverage. What did they put in it? It felt like drinking a carbonated beverage. At that moment, Belloc’s gaze shifted and the inn’s door opened.

The soldiers who had been standing guard wearing scale armor, whom they had seen at the entrance, were standing there. Most of them had indifferent faces. Some openly frowned as if things had become troublesome. Belloc knew these kinds of guys well. Those who held swords instead of plows, living with blood and war as their companions. Ruthless killers and plundering bastards. One of them spoke. It was the wrinkled man who had inspected the group at the entrance.

“That is a pretty powerful sleeping pill. A single drop can make even a Lizardman lose consciousness. Besides, it’s famous for working fast. Did you really drink it?”

What is this crazy bastard talking about? Seeing the man speak so casually, Belloc replied in kind.

“I didn’t know the stamina stat had this kind of function… Should I have tested it a bit more?”

Was it dissatisfaction with not receiving a proper answer? Or did they feel a sense of incongruity at the group’s calm demeanor despite their anger? The soldiers’ momentum changed. The wrinkled man distorted the corners of his mouth.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now anyway. Since your death throes will be nothing but the screams of the dead.”

Following the man’s hand gesture, the soldiers moved in a swarm. Soldiers carrying Arian-style spears and shields blocked the entrance, and soldiers holding crossbows aimed at the group through the gaps. Once an iron wall was completed in an instant, the man puffed out his chest. His voice grew even louder.

“Since it will soon be time for those lords to arrive, let’s handle this quickly. We cannot feed them our residents—Argh!”

The man’s head jerked back. Before he could even scream, he slumped to the floor. Between his limp eyes and hair, a spearhead was embedded in his forehead.

“Is it magic?!”

The mage is behind me, not here.

“Shut your mouths! You cowardly bastards!”

At Belloc’s action that required no words, Adele also moved quickly. Crossbow bolts flew in, shattering the glass windows with a crash, but she spun her axe with both hands, deflecting the black lines. ‘She has improved a lot.’ While Belloc admired her, Adele and the soldiers’ formation clashed.

Even in their panic, they pushed their shields forward to claim the space. Then they thrust their spears in unison. Whoever their training captain was, they seemed to have learned properly. But that was all. It was far from enough to stop a paladin tempered against monsters.

The sound of splintering wood was heard, followed by a gruesome sound of tearing flesh. The merciless battle-axe had just split a shield and was carving up a soldier’s shoulder. Next, with clangs, Adele’s plate armor easily deflected the remaining spearheads.

Belloc thought that unless it was a crossbow bolt, it would be difficult to pierce that armor. Since none of those soldiers seemed to be descendants of giants. However, the crossbowmen who were supposed to cover them had long since been turned to ashes by the lightning Cara unleashed.

“Aaaaargh!”

The spike at the end of the axe pierced a soldier’s neck. A steel greave flew toward the soldier, who was making choking sounds as air leaked out. The spike slipped out. Then, the freed double-edged axe swung relentlessly, splitting the soldiers’ heads one after another.

Eyeballs rolled on the floor, followed by spilled brain matter and jawbones. Adele slaughtered the soldiers just like that, without even wearing a helmet.

“Die!”

In the past, he would have thought some crazy bitch was massacring people. Since their screams and pain were real. But not now. He simply found Adele, who had reached this realm, praiseworthy, and her blood-stained short hair looked beautiful. Had he grown numb to killing? Perhaps. They had experienced situations hovering between life and death countless times. Even so, it wasn’t as if the group killed just anyone like some maniacal murderers.

If they hadn’t resisted, or if he didn’t have immunity to poison, the three of them would have suffered a terrible fate. Judging by what they said, they mentioned offering something, didn’t they? An intact village amidst monsters and a sacrificial ritual. Something smelled fishy. Belloc, pondering, smirked. Then, he rummaged on the floor, picked up a half-spilled cup of the drink, and moistened his throat. He decided to think simply.

Some group of killers attacked, and they killed them before they could die. Yes, this was the end of it. A very common occurrence that happened all the time in this world. There was no need to understand it with the sensibilities of a modern person.

“Don’t you need to help?”

Cara was stepping backward to avoid the blood streaming on the floor. The high heels of her leather boots made clicking sounds, and her supple thighs and buttocks were fully revealed. She seemed to dislike getting dirt on her armor. He stared at Cara’s back for a moment and shook his head.

His level had also risen quite a bit. Killing a few bandits wouldn’t increase his experience even by a speck. Moreover, seeing Adele swinging her axe with a smile, she seemed to be venting her accumulated stress with this. ‘Hmm. Is this right?’ While he was thinking about Adele’s education once more, Cara muttered.

“Is it simply a village of human hunters? Or has the Lord of Altanis’s scheme to retrieve the gold coins reached all the way here?”

“Let’s think simply. This village had terrible hospitality, and we simply left.”

“True, we have a long way to go. We can’t get bogged down in a place like this.”

Cara nodded readily. In response, the screams ended. Adele stood loftily amidst the corpses inside the ruined inn. She shook off the dripping blood from her axe and spat on the floor. Then, walking casually over to the two, she said with a smile.

“I killed them all, Lord Belloc.”

Yes, you are a fine murderer. At her attitude of wishing for praise, he patted Adele’s shoulder as usual.

“You worked hard.”

However, Adele’s behavior was different from usual. She lightly swept her bangs aside with one hand and stared at Cara for a moment. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she suddenly embraced Belloc.

It was indeed an awkward embrace. Her arms only trembled, unable to even wrap around his back, and she merely buried her head in his armor. However, her sudden behavior was enough to fluster the two of them. ‘What is wrong with her?’

“Adele?”

Belloc spoke, but Adele mumbled and shook her head.

“I… I think I hurt my leg. My foot slipped, and…”

It was an absurd excuse. However, Belloc smiled slightly, wrapped his arms around her back and shoulders, and patted her head. Along with the smell of blood and sweat, Adele’s unique body scent was strongly felt.

What scent is this? It smells like some flower… The two of them stayed like that for quite a while. Soon, when Cara cleared her throat, Adele gasped in surprise and broke away from Belloc’s embrace.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing. If you hurt your leg next time as well, let me know.”

He spoke with a laugh, and Adele’s face turned red. Cara looked at Adele with a defeated expression and then shook her head. She pointed out the window.

“Hey, shouldn’t we move about now? Unless you plan on killing all the villagers too.”

Since it was a reasonable suggestion, the three of them moved immediately. The squishiness and hardness of the corpses felt through their boots was certainly not a pleasant feeling. However, the glares of the villagers watching them outside were no less intense.

They seemed to be a step too late. The most prominent among them was an old woman crying while hugging a soldier’s corpse.

“Doran! Doraaan! Oh my… my baby!”

A middle-aged man who was comforting the old woman with a worried expression pointed a finger at the group.

“You ruffians! What is the meaning of this outrage!”

The farmers carrying plows, young men, and middle-aged women also spat out curses. Roughly summarized, it meant they would go to hell. The group was dumbfounded. Who were the ones who attacked them first? Adele, who had been smiling, instantly hardened her expression. She growled, gnashing her teeth.

“What nonsense are you dirty bastards talking, when you put poison in our food! Didn’t you try to kill us first!”

“That is…”

Whether they were speechless or terrified of the blood on Adele’s axe, the villagers’ mouths shut tight. But those who had lost family members to them were exceptions. The old woman flailed her arms and rushed at them.

“You bastards! Gi-Give me back my son. Give me back my son!”

The sight of the waddling old woman was enough to pull at one’s heartstrings. Adele was merciless. Her trademark kick exploded, and the old woman let out a gasp and fainted. Although she had adjusted her strength in her own way, the villagers’ hostility became even more menacing.

-These bastards. How dare they treat an elderly…

-Let’s kill them! If we all rush them somehow…

-Anyway, if we don’t offer the sacrifices, we’re all dead men!

It was a shitty situation. Until now, the group had only killed those holding weapons and had never harmed ordinary citizens. It meant they had only dealt with those prepared to risk their lives. Therefore, Adele and Cara hesitated. At that moment, a clanking sound was heard, and a giant sword revealed itself. Soon, a cold voice struck their minds.

“Wake up. These bastards are trying to impose some strange logic of responsibility now. Did you forget? The guards plotting this was only possible because these people went along with it. Do not hesitate in your hand. They are all enemies.”

It was true. If they didn’t fight, they would be beaten to death. Adele’s eyes gleamed ferociously once more, and Cara also pulled out her staff.

“D-Don’t be scared! Everyone together…”

Just as the middle-aged man was about to throw the hand hoe in his hand in response, Belloc’s gaze shifted. A dark shadow fell from the sky, and something zipped past. Soon, with a splat sound, the middle-aged man tilted and fell. His upper body was gone, and only his lower body remained. It was as if something had bitten him off and passed by.

Grrrrr…

The ground shook with a thud. The creature, which kicked up a huge cloud of dust a step too late, shook its head. ‘Fast.’ ‘What kind of bastards are these?’ As he raised his sword, a half-eaten arm dangled between its jagged teeth. However, the old face grimaced for a moment, then opened its mouth wider and swallowed the arm whole.

The creature’s human skin smirked. It seemed to like the taste of human flesh. As it turned its body, its lion-like torso, leathery wings, and spiked mace tail swayed.

“Could that be…”

As Adele opened her eyes wide, Cara spoke in a wary voice.

“Speak of the devil…”

A man-eating mythical beast. The epitome of cunning and cruel gluttony. The manticore folded its wings and scratched its legs. In response, the person riding on its back spoke. It was a person of slender build, shrouded entirely in a black robe.

“The sacrifices were late today, so I came to look myself, and what an unexpected uninvited guest we have here. Who are you guys?”

The three of them said nothing. This was because the surroundings were too noisy. Babbling that the Apostle had arrived, apologizing for not preparing the sacrifices, and blaming it on the intrusion of the outsiders, the villagers who had been burning with hostility toward the group fled while spouting all sorts of excuses.

Living sacrifices, sleeping pills, human hunting, monsters, a robed spellcaster. ‘Aha. So this is how things work here.’ ‘Look at these bastards. They’re spread quite widely.’ Yes. When Belloc finished his thoughts, the woman’s red lips curved upwards. She seemed to have immense pride in the power she possessed. She also seemed to enjoy a base sense of superiority based on the villagers’ worship. She spoke.

“Are you guys… mute? Why aren’t you speak—”

The woman’s words cut short. It was because a massive ray of light flew in. Her body shook slightly, and the manticore’s forepaw trembled. The wavy-patterned spear was caught in the monster’s grasp. As if a little surprised, the woman opened her eyes wide. Soon, she let out a smirk.

“Quite a rough man we have here. Action is faster than words…”

“I still have one shot left.”

Cutting off the woman’s words, Belloc drew upon his inner power. The moment he raised his arm, lightning crashed with a thunderous boom.