Sentinel Striders

After hearing about the Greye family's situation, I asked Olwen and Erlin to tell me about Otto's condition. They led me to the room where Otto was lying. The room contained a bed occupied by Otto, some adventuring gear, and two chairs positioned a bit away from the bed. I assumed these were for Olwen and Erlin to sit on while tending to Otto.

I could feel the cold emanating from Otto's vicinity. It was quite severe but not too extreme.

'Anetta, how is it?'

(The condition of the individual, Otto, is not too severe yet. It is likely still in the early stage of the second phase.)

While I analyzed Otto's condition from the cold air he was emitting, he turned towards me.

"Who is this, Father?" Otto asked with a slightly hesitant expression.

Olwen, noticing Otto's hesitation, quickly reassured him and approached, despite knowing the air around Otto was very cold.

"He is the adventurer who is helping us, Sir Darius Gallean," Olwen said.

"An adventurer?" Otto's eyes narrowed.

Then he continued, "Can he be trusted, Father?"

Olwen paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Sir Darius is the only one who dared to take on our request after knowing how unreasonable it is," Olwen said.

"That's right, dear. We can only rely on him for now," Erlin added.

I silently listened to the family's conversation. Otto, being reassured by the two, then looked at me. His tensed neck relaxed, and his head lay back down.

"What is his rank?" Otto glanced at Olwen.

"This..." Olwen glanced at me.

It was obvious that Olwen was confused about how to respond. Before Olwen could answer, I spoke from behind my helmet.

"Rank F," I answered in a flat tone.

At that moment, Otto's eyes widened. His neck tensed up again as he tried to sit up.

"Rank F?? A beginner adventurer?? Father! Erlin! Even the D-rank adventurer party that came here couldn't defeat that monster. And he... Rank F?? And you trust him?" Otto raised his voice slightly but did not shout.

Otto mentioned a monster in his statement. Of course, I knew well what monster he meant. The monster Otto referred to was the one roaming the area where Pyrothistle grew.

Olwen's face was confused. He looked between me and Otto in a panic. Erlin also tried to calm her husband.

"Dear! Isn't it rude to our helper?" Erlin said in a slightly angry tone.

"Otto, calm down first," Olwen added.

"No, an F-rank adventurer can't handle it," Otto muttered.

Then he continued, glaring at me with a disdainful look.

"You're still a novice. This mission is too tough for you. Go back," he said.

"Otto!"

"Dear!"

Olwen and Erlin spoke simultaneously.

I continued to stare at Otto from inside my helmet. I understood that Otto was concerned about my life if I took on this request. But somehow, I felt belittled. Or maybe he truly was underestimating me, despite his weakened condition?

Whatever the reason, I couldn't let it slide. So, I needed to show my strength. I think a light intimidation should suffice, right?

"Are you underestimating me, kid?"

The distorted effect of my voice became more menacing, and the floor vibrated as I exerted Arkium. Additionally, I amplified the killing intent I channeled through the Arrogant Aristocrat, maximized with Arkium.

This alone created a strong and terrifying impression of me. Olwen and Erlin reflexively backed away and fell to the floor, feeling scared and intimidated. As for Otto, well, what could he do? He was just lying there with a terrified face.

I didn't exert this intimidation effect as strongly as when I dueled with Lukas. After all, the three people in front of me were essentially ordinary people without mana training. I didn't know what the side effects might be. If it were just the Arrogant Aristocrat, they might only feel inferior and scared. However, with the killing intent, the side effects could be quite severe.

"S-Sir... please forgive my husband," Erlin was the first to speak against my intimidation. She knelt.

'A fascinating woman. Keep kneeling,' I smirked inside my helmet.

I realized that this thought was a result of the Arrogant Aristocrat. Especially since the person I was intimidating now was an ordinary person without power, particularly a weak woman. The Arrogant Aristocrat grew slightly stronger. There was a desire to dominate this weak woman as well. So, I controlled it again. It seemed the Arrogant Aristocrat was indeed designed to oppress the weaker.

As for Olwen, he only knelt and didn't speak. I assumed he couldn't talk?

"I-I am not underestimating you. I was just... worried. F-Forgive me," Otto, lying there, spoke tremblingly.

I maintained this intimidation for a moment, then dispelled it.

"This was the quickest way to prove my strength," I sighed internally.

I then looked at Olwen and Erlin, who were still on the floor. They hadn't stood up yet.

"You two, forgive my rudeness," I said flatly, activating Short-Range Telekinesis on them and seating them on the chairs.

Besides apologizing, I also used this power to demonstrate my strength further. And it worked. Otto looked shocked as I lifted his father-in-law and wife without touching them.

"His condition is not too severe yet," I said in a flat tone.

I looked at the three of them; they still seemed affected by the Arrogant Aristocrat mixed with my killing intent. Without waiting for anyone to respond, I walked towards the room's door.

"I will work on your request now. I might be back tomorrow. And, thank you for the drink," I said as I left the room.

Of course, when we were talking in the living room, I hadn't drunk the drink Erlin had made.

Therefore, as I walked out of the village chief's house, I also finished the cold drink in the living room.

...

"That was... terrifying," Olwen said, wiping his sweat.

Erlin just sat silently on the chair as Edward... Darius left. Meanwhile, Otto, his eyes seemed blank, still processing what had just happened.

Darius was likely an F-rank adventurer who had just registered. Since Otto had never seen him around Berkington.

The intimidation and killing intent earlier, and then the telekinesis-like power. Darius was clearly an adventurer capable of completing the family's request.

"Did I seem like I was underestimating him, Father?" Otto looked at Olwen.

Olwen just stared at Otto. And it was his wife who replied.

"Your expression clearly looked like you were underestimating him, dear. You need to be calmer next time," Erlin said firmly.

Olwen, who was about to answer, turned to Erlin and nodded.

"Let it go. What's done is done," Olwen added, holding Erlin's shoulder.

Erlin lowered her head. She remembered when she first met Darius at the door. Especially something under his hood and his strangely distorted voice.

"Sir Darius is scary. His mask and voice," Erlin said weakly.

Then she continued, "But, I think he is a good person."

Olwen and Otto looked at Erlin with bitter expressions. Then they glanced at each other. Darius was their only hope right now. And from Darius's initial appearance, he didn't seem kind. However, from his words, he seemed half-kind.

"Yes, let's hope so," Olwen murmured.

...

It was now 3 PM, and in the outer part of Mirfield Forest, I was standing on a Hoverboard, observing the forest. Everything looked like a normal forest.

I entered the forest slowly using the Hoverboard. In the outer part of the forest, there was still a path with easy terrain for the Hoverboard to navigate.

Slowly, I moved further in.

The place where Pyrothistle grew was deep within the forest. However, what I was looking for, the Aegis Sentinel ring, was even deeper. There would be some troublesome monsters there.

In 30 minutes, I had entered deep enough, but it was still farther in. At this stage, I could see some adventurers passing by. I didn't see them when I was in the outer part near the village of Mirfield. I guess they entered from another path.

If there were adventurers here, it meant the dungeon was close. For now, I didn't intend to enter the dungeon. So I ignored them and continued deeper into the forest.

The deeper I went, the darker and denser the forest became. The trees were different too. The trees here looked older. The atmosphere became more eerie and silent. There were no sounds of water or wind. Only the occasional sounds of birds and strange animals.

After a while, I stopped in an area with flat and fairly wide terrain. I got off my Hoverboard and set down my bag. I also took off my cloak and removed my helmet from my face.

Then I took out a tent I had rolled up on my backpack. Quickly, I set up the tent and put my belongings inside. I was quite skilled at this. After all, I used to be an outdoor enthusiast and often camped on alien planets just to relax.

After that, I gathered some fallen tree branches and twigs from around the camping area to make a campfire for the night. To make it easier later, I cut the branches and twigs first.

As an old habit, I always carried salt to sprinkle around the campsite. This was to prevent ghosts from bothering me while I slept. This was actually just a superstition from my old world, but I half-believed it so I could enjoy the atmosphere more.

Once I felt my campsite was ready, I headed back into the forest. I would return to this area once I had obtained the Pyrothistle. As for the Aegis Sentinel ring, I can look for it tomorrow.

I didn't use the Hoverboard or follow a path on the ground. Instead, I jumped from tree branch to tree branch like a ninja. This was safer and faster.

After a few minutes, I stopped. I could see a group of monsters with a terrifying appearance below me. They were gathered around a cluster of glowing red flowers.

'Is this it?' I thought.

The monsters were dark gray. They had the heads of wolves with alien-like faces and three pairs of eyes. They also had two pairs of small horns protruding from their heads. Their bodies were quite large and their backs were protected by carapaces that weren't very thick.

They had six long, strong legs with claws that could grip any surface, allowing for quick movement. Their tails looked strong and flexible, serving as both a balance tool and a weapon.

These monsters emitted sounds like laughter and a strange, disturbing rhythmic tapping.

'Sentinel Striders. But their back ... they're not fully evolved?' I thought.