Chapter 196
I came back alive . That alone was some kind of miracle for the people of this town, or so Saragi insisted . Indeed, most Adventurers would not have survived an encounter with an abnormally evolved being . I myself thought I was going to die when I first met Beowulf .
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But unlike that time, I did more than survive . In fact, I was completely unharmed . Well, it was because I used my skills . Daniela also helped me . The thought of fighting it alone sent chills down my spine .
“So, where is the corpse of the Loup-garou?”
“Down this path . We were attacked on our way back from the abandoned village . ”
“I see…I’m glad you were alright . You are the savior of Yukka . We can now reopen the south and east gates . ”
“You exaggerate . We just happened to come across it and had to fight it . ”
Though, I had gone out with the intention of meeting it .
“Even still . It caused us much trouble . It seemed strangely smart enough not to come close to the town . But then again, it kept being sighted and being the object of rumors, which guaranteed that Adventurers continued to search for it . And they all died . But now it is finally finished . Yukka will have peace again . ”
Said Saragi . Well, it was good that they could reopen the gates . After all, had the rumors spread, more and more people would have continued to challenge the beast and died . It would affect the reputations and business of the town eventually . And that was how towns disappeared .
I was now moving through the forest with a team of soldiers behind me . Basically, the gate had been opened more for the purpose of letting them out than letting me in . For a second I had wondered if I was going to be arrested when I saw them marching out . Saragi laughed and apologized .
They were in charge of the security of the south gate . Saragi was the captain . He had been on watch that night as one of his men had fallen ill .
“Bah, that was some ill-luck… But it’s always been the case . ”
He said as he slapped his leg .
“Well, at least I met a crazy Adventurer because of it . You have to take the good with the bad . ”
I guess he was right . After all, I had been stabbed in the stomach but was then sent to this world instead of dying . People ridiculed me as the Black Rabbit at first, but then I met Daniela . We had encountered a dangerous monster called Beowulf, and then I been given an odd gift . Good things often followed the bad . It made me think that I was fine with it all in the end . Humans were strange creatures .
However, just as good things could follow the bad, bad things could follow the good .
I remembered this and felt it . It was always like this . After arriving in this world, I was chased by forest wolves . And I never reconciled with the Adventures who called me Black Rabbit .
There was always something bad after the good . And something good after the bad .
“Daniela…Daniela!”
I realized that the body of the Loup-garou that we were supposed to have killed was not there . And at the same time, I saw in despair that Daniela was on the ground . She was covered in blood .
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“Hey, hey…Daniela…Daniela…!”
I frantically pulled her up, but her face was pale under the streams of blood . I put my ear to her mouth and confirmed that she was still breathing .
“Someone…give me a potion! A potion!”
“Do it! Quickly! You!”
A woman in white armor came running . She took off the large backpack and produced a small bottle . Green liquid . A potion to recover your strength .
“Here!”
“Thank you…Daniela…can you drink…?”
I opened the bottle and slowly poured it into her mouth .
“…Uh…gggg…! Ghha!”
“Daniela…!”
I quickly pulled the bottle away . It was no good . She coughed and blood flooded from her lips . A liquid potion would not go down her throat like this .
Was…wasn’t there any other way…!?
“Asagi, you must start from the outside . Close her wounds or the blood will not stop!”
“Ri-right…damn it…these are bad…”
Her clothes were in tatters as well . The once beautiful one-piece was covered in blood and dirt and shredded . Wounds riddled her body . I poured the potion over the worst parts . The guard gave me more and more bottles as I poured them over her . The blood washed away as I poured . After a while, the once wide-open wounds began to close .
“This is just an emergency measure . I had the soldiers pitch a tent over there . We have to move her and have her treated properly . ”
“Thank you, Saragi…”
“It’s too early to thank me . Wait until we know she’ll make it . ”
“Ah…”
How had it come to this… I looked at the spot where the Loup-garou should have been . There was blood gathered there . But there were also other traces to suggest the fight had begun anew . I could tell . The traces of wind blades .
But I was sure that I had killed it . But then again, I hadn’t taken off its head . But how could it be alive… And Daniela…
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What if she died… I was so worried that I didn’t know what to do . I could feel it, it was as if my mind were shutting off . Why hadn’t I cut off its head? I was overwhelmed with regret .
I would kill to protect her .
Yes . Hadn’t that been what I learned in Nicora?
Daniela was barely alive, and it was possible that she would not last long . If it happened, it would all be my fault .
Why . Why . Why… I couldn’t stop asking myself .
Just then, I heard the sound of hands clapping together . I turned around in surprise . Saragi was standing there .
“You’re back then . Good . ”
“What…?”
“You were sinking into a pit of regret, weren’t you? Humans always become so pessimistic . But you’re back now . And there is hope . ”
“Hope… But Daniela is so…”
“I told you, it’ll be fine . My men know what they are doing . Don’t be so quick to despair . ”
It was easy for him to say it, but I had seen the wounds… I could not help but look down .
“Listen to me, Asagi . I may have had to quit being an Adventurer after taking an arrow to the knee, but I used that experience to have my men train in medical treatment as well . And it is because of that that there are no doctors in Yukka . Do you see why?”
Saragi crouched down to my level and smiled .
“It’s because we are too good at what we do . ”
“Saragi…”
I wasn’t sure if I should let myself hope . Then a soldier’s voice called . It was the same woman from earlier .
“Captain! Captain!”
“Don’t call me that . I’m an Adventurer! So, what is it?”
“The injured Adventurer has awakened!”
I got up abruptly and grabbed her by the collar .
“Daniela’s alive!?”
“Ye-yes!”
“Thank you!!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, I hugged her tightly while thanking her . Then I ran towards the tent .
Daniela . Daniela .
She was all that I could think about .
“Daniela!”
“Uhh…Asagi…”
“Yeah… God, I’m so glad…!”
I knelt down by her bed . I didn’t know if there was a god, but I offered my thanks repeatedly .
“Asagi…I am sorry…I let my guard down…”
“No, it was me…! If I had only cut off its head…”
“I could have done it as well…ggghh…”
“Daniela . ”
Her wounds must have been hurting her . I tried to move closer but a guard stopped me .
“Asagi…that thing is no longer an ordinary Beowulf…after killing it…it evolved…its intense hatred caused it to change…”
“Ah…”
“Be careful…its wind…it was stronger than yours was when you were a thrall to Beowulf…”
Daniela said this before falling unconscious . I became frantic, but the guard assured me that she was not dead .
They said that they would continue to treat her and that I had to leave . Outside, Saragi had his men regroup and stand in formation .
“We’re going, aren’t we?”
“Yes…But just me alone . ”
“You can defeat it by yourself?”
I shook my head .
“It’s not a question of whether I can or not . I will defeat it . No…I will kill it . Him . With these hands . Make no mistake . ”
“I must advise you . Don’t let hatred rule you . Open your mind and see the whole picture . Your chance of winning and your future are always hard to see . ”
“Thank you, Sargai . ”
“Don’t mention it . Well, you’re an Adventurer after all . I know what it’s like . It’s in our blood . ”
He laughed heartily as I bowed . I was glad that he was here .
“But this is also a problem for Yukka . I will report this to my superiors and a hunting party will be formed . ”
“I understand . I may die in the process, but I will deal a lethal blow . ”
I had no intention of dying, but the good followed the bad . Who knew what would happen .
“Don’t die . Still, kill it . That’s what being an Adventurer is about, right?”
He said seriously . Yeah . I would really have to try and come back alive…
“You’re right… By the time you all catch up to me, I’ll be taking a nap on its head . ”
“Haha! I look forward to seeing it!”
He turned around and barked out orders to his men . And with that, they turned on their heels and headed for the south gate . The tent had been pulled down and Daniela was being carried away on a cart .
“We’ll follow you shortly . Don’t die . ”
“You be careful as well, Saragi . ”
We bumped our fists together .
We had promised to meet again . And so I too turned on my heels and looked at the forest . I needed to return the favor . For Daniela’s wounds . I would .
“…But first, I better put on my armor . ”
I chuckled as I looked down at myself . The ridiculousness of it at least calmed my nerves a little .