Chapter 43

After chatting a bit more with Camilo, I left his shop. All I have to do now is go home. It doesn’t seem like there’s anything I can do about Mr. Marius’s situation. I’m just a blacksmith, after all. I’ve already gathered everything I need from Camilo, so there’s nothing else I have to buy elsewhere. I can buy seeds and such for the fields after they’re properly set up.

It’s been two weeks since I came here, so I thought we had enough iron ore for two weeks, but perhaps considering that we only work one week out of the two, the iron ore and charcoal loaded on the cart are for one week. This kind of consideration is probably why Camilo is a successful merchant.

When I looked as I was leaving the town, the guard was the same person I saw in the morning. Well, it’s only been a short while since I went to Camilo’s, so it’s only natural. I nodded and passed by. Once on the road, the rest is the usual route, but I don’t let my guard down. The vast grassland stretches as far as the eye can see, and the wind passing by feels good on my heated body from pulling the cart. I almost feel like relaxing, but that would be meaningless.

"This nice weather makes you feel relaxed."

When I said that,

"If it were safe, it would be a good day for a trip, wouldn’t it?"

"Aizou’s feeling relaxed makes sense."

Rike and Sermia agreed. Yeah, that’s true. However, it’s frustrating that we can’t even take a leisurely lunch break here. At least let’s enjoy the nice weather while we’re on the way.

Just as we were about to enter the forest, Sermia stopped. From the way her round ears were moving busily, it seemed she heard something. I called out to Sermia.

"Bandits?"

"I don’t know. But it sounds like a fight. It’s a bit ahead..."

Sermia glanced at us, probably wondering whether to go or not.

"Alright, then Sermia, go ahead and check it out. If it’s bandits or wolves attacking someone, don’t hesitate to help. We’ll catch up as soon as we can. If it gets dangerous, run back here."

"Got it."

Sermia nodded, took off her boots, and ran. As a tiger beast person, she’s in her element. She’s fast and almost silent.

"Alright, let’s hurry."

"Okay!"

Rike and I pulled the cart with all our might. The vibrations increased, but it wasn’t enough to tip over. It’s good we’re on the road. We wouldn’t be able to go this fast in the forest or on an unprepared path. I believe the cargo is securely tied, so we rush along the road.

It was only a short time, but it felt incredibly long to me. I could hear the sounds of multiple people fighting intensely. Damn it, whatever.

"Rike, let’s leave this here for now. Follow me."

"Okay."

"However, when we get there, stay a bit away."

"Understood!"

Having traveled, Rike can protect himself to some extent, but anything more is tough. Even with my custom-made knife, it’s useless if you can’t hit. So, I’ll make sure he doesn’t get directly involved in the fight. Rike and I left the cart and ran towards the sounds.

Soon, the scene came into view. Three men were attacking Sermia and a woman. Sermia was using a bow and arrow, and the woman was using a longsword to fend off the men, but her movements were sluggish. She was about to take a hit. I drew my short sword from my waist and shouted with all my might.

"What are you doing, you bastards!!"

The men’s attention turned to me.

"Hey, take care of that guy."

One of the men said, and one of them came at me. I swung my sword down with all my strength. The man blocked my sword with his own, but the impact was greater than expected, and he couldn’t deflect it, freezing for a moment. I didn’t miss this opportunity and, using the momentum from my first strike, I delivered a second blow to his torso. The blade sank into the man’s midsection, and he spat out a mix of blood and foam.

I pulled my sword from the man’s torso without waiting to see if he fell and faced the remaining two. If they ran, that would be fine too. The numerical advantage had shifted, so normally they would.

"Damn it."

But the remaining two didn’t run; they just cursed and one of them came at me. The woman was exhausted, and Sermia, being a female tiger beast person, was also a woman, so they probably thought they could still manage if they took care of me. While the opponent was closing the distance, I drew a knife with one hand. I had a short sword in one hand and a knife in the other. Without showing any concern for the knife he drew, he swung a horizontal strike, which I caught with my knife at a right angle a bit away from my body.

No, to say I caught it is a bit misleading. The opponent’s sword was cleanly cut off where it touched my knife. Thanks to this, the impact was nullified, and I struck his exposed torso with my sword, just like the first man, the blade sinking into his midsection. Only one remained.

Hearing the sound of the man falling, the last one tried to run, but Sermia shot an arrow, which pierced his body, and he too fell to the ground. Normally, that wouldn’t happen, but those arrows are my special design.

I concentrated, but I couldn’t sense any other presence. If there were any stragglers, it would have been troublesome, but it seems there aren’t any. I sighed in relief, called Rike, and ran to Sermia and the woman.