Chapter 12

After checking status

I was preparing for right chance to attack

When the forest hounds began squealing, one of the two guards a lanky

man, armed only with a long knife went around to the other side of the

carriage to quiet them. The guard who stayed behind was sitting on a fallen

log, fiddling with something in his hands while the other two traders were

sleeping inside the tent.

My first target would be the one who had gone to quiet the forest hounds. His

lean muscles were visible, but he didn't seem too strong. I dropped down

with a quiet thud behind him.

Startled by the soft sound, Lanky turned around, probably expecting a curious

weasel or rat. His face twisted into a mixture of surprise and amusement

when he saw me, a four-year-old child in ragged clothes.

But before he even had the chance to speak, I lunged upward toward his

neck. I infused mana into the blade of my hand, turning it into a sharp edge.

I use my skill [focus][swordmanship lvl 2 ][Blink] at a same time to

more accurate to call it a wind attribute technique.

He flinched back reflexively, his hands coming up toward his face to guard

against my blow.

It was too late.

I took a quick swipe at his jugular, taking his larynx out along with his

carotid artery. A stream of blood sprayed out of his neck as I landed behind

him, supporting his lifeless body and gently placing him down to avoid

making noise. As I had expected, the forest hounds Lanky had just calmed

down were sent back into a frenzy at the stench of blood, and they resumed

their howling and barking.

"Oy, Pinky! Can't even calm the hounds? What the…"

I had already retrieved Pinky's knife and was waiting for the second man at

the back corner of the carriage.

.

While the second slave trader's attention was on Pinky's corpse—currently

being eaten by the forest hounds—I jumped out from behind him and stabbed

him in the neck.

After some snarling, the hounds quieted down to devour the two corpses. I

headed toward the tent to dispatch the remaining two in their sleep, but a

shrill cry ruined my plans.

"Help! Mommy! Someone! Anyone! Please!"

Son of a… why now, of all times?

As if on cue, I heard the rustle of the tent as the two remaining slave traders

came out. "Pinky! Deuce!" one of them barked, still half asleep. "The kid is

awake! What the hell are you—"

I swallowed down the inappropriate urge to laugh at the slave traders'

ridiculous names, and hid myself behind a tree next to the carriage. While I

waited, I infused mana into Pinky's knife.

Sensing something was amiss, the two slavers carefully stepped around to the

other side of the carriage. Their eyes bulged as they witnessed their two

former companions being eaten by the forest hounds.

.

.

I was about to seize the opportunity to attack the nearest one when his gaze

whipped back to me, and he instantly swung his short sword at my face.

Dodging the slash, I dropped low and dashed toward him, trying to get in

range with my knife. I swung, reinforcing even more mana into the knife, and

landed a clean blow, slicing the Achilles heel of his right leg.

He let out a pained howl and dove desperately out of my range before I could

do any further damage, crying, "Danton, be careful! I think this brat is a

mage."

I turned my attention to Danton, who pulled his sword from its sheath and

lowered into a defensive stance.

"You see all sorts of crazy things these days, George. Looks like a huge sack

of gold just showed itself in front of us! I bet he'll get us almost as much as

the elf," he said, with a crazed chuckle.

These bastards didn't even care that I had just killed their party members.

Danton's body glowed faintly as he reinforced himself with mana. He

advanced toward me, his lips curling into a confident grin on his square face

.

With that crippled leg, George was out of the fight, but this augmenter was

going to be trouble.

The augmenter, Danton, suddenly sprung at me, his right arm poised to throw

a punch. I could only assume he chose not to use his sword so as not to

damage his "goods." While I'd normally have been offended, in this case his

overconfidence made it much easier for me.

I jumped back in time to avoid the blow, which was strong enough to leave a

small dent in the ground. I threw my knife at him, using the same trick as I

had with the conjurer I'd dragged over the cliff, but this mage was more

careful. He disrupted the mana string with his sword and grabbed my knife

with his free hand.

Shit.

I was in a bad position. Danton wasn't tall, but his reach was still a good bit

longer than mine. He also had a sword, which he now deemed it necessary to

use, and that further increased his range.

Wasting no time, Danton dashed toward me, throwing the knife that I had just

launched at him. I easily dodged, but not in time to react to his next move as

he swiped at my leg with his sheath. As I stumbled, trying to regain my

balance, he grabbed hold of my ankle and flipped me upside down.

His confident face crumpled as I concentrated mana and punched the hand

that gripped me. I used a fire attribute technique, releasing all the mana

focused on my fist, and aimed for the weak joints of his wrist.

A loud crack, followed by howled profanities, proved that the attack was

sufficient.

He could no longer grip my ankle with his broken wrist, so I fell, landing

awkwardly on my back. Quickly jumping up to my feet, I picked up Pinky's

knife and charged toward the wounded Danton. Still preoccupied by the pain

in his wrist, he cursed, "You're dead now, you piece of shit! I don't care if I

can't sell you anymore!"

His left wrist was useless, leaving a gap in his defense. I willed more mana

.

into my feet and came within range. I was about to land a solid hit to his side

when I saw him furiously swinging his sword down.

He fell for it!

I quickly pivoted with my left foot in place, spinning to my right. Dodging

the swing by a hair's breadth, I brought my knife within range of his right

side, which was now open because of his last desperate swing.

He immediately tried to jump back, but I placed my right foot behind his leg,

throwing him off balance. With one quick thrust I jabbed my knife up under

his armpit, through the gap between his ribs, and into his chest.

I finished him off easily while his lung collapsed from the wound.

I was now left with the immobile George. The poor fighter couldn't really

defend himself or run away with his useless leg. I couldn't use Danton's

sword—it was too large and heavy for me—so I made use of Pinky's knife

one last time and swiped George's jugular. He died with a look of disbelief,

and I fed him to the hounds.

Judging by the eerie quiet, the elf girl seemed to know there was fighting

going on. I climbed up onto the back of the carriage where she was locked

and spotted her shivering in the corner, her once lavish clothing caked with

dirt and grime. She studied me with an expression of surprise and doubt, her

eyes seeming to say, 'He can't have been the one who saved me, can he?'

She remained silent as I untied her, her swollen turquoise eyes never leaving

my face.

Tired and feeling gross, I helped her up and said simply, "You should go

back home now."

She probably hadn't known until now whether I was an enemy or friend, but

when I said the word 'home,' a look of relief washed over her tense face and

she broke down, hiccupping and sobbing.

"I was so scared! They were going to sell me. I thought I was never going to

see my family again!"

I sat quietly next to her, offering silent comfort as she wept.

[Ding]

[Quest completed]

[Quest Rewards: 20System points+1000exp ]

Author note

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