Chapter 206
206
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Previous post: Realist Demon King – 55
POSTED 3 HOURS AGO
A Farewell Beneath the Tree
PAGE 2
It was nearly midday when I woke up . I had fallen asleep while sitting .
“Though, I don’t feel like I got much sleep…”
I stretched my neck and heard it click . My entire body felt haggard as I got to my feet . It had been a while since I last had such a rough night…
I scanned my surroundings while rotating my shoulders . Hardly anything had changed since I was last awake . Even the merchants were still sleeping, they had probably been kept up all night anyway .
Well, there were a few people who moved around now . Some of the Adventurers were cutting the tails off of the blood apes . It was probably the proof of the hunt . I did not feel like joining them . Besides, we had enough money for now .
Ahh, damn it . We humans always tried to run from the hard work once we felt satisfied .
I should think back on when I first came to Fhiraldo . Asagi Kamiyashiro . Remember? You used to carefully pick each herb so you didn’t damage the roots .
“It is good to stay diligent…I suppose…”
My current status was a result of that . My current bonds and financial situation as well . They may just be tails . But in a way, they were more .
I took out Ashikirimaru and began the job of cutting off the tails . Now that I think of it, I had never used Ashikirimaru to cut legs… Maybe I should try it .
“Oomph!”
I thrust the sword into a blood apes leg . And the blade of the Ashikirimaru turned black .
“Huh?”
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I could feel the hilt of the sword began to beat like a living heart . It was a little terrifying . Like it was a demon blade that thirsted for blood . But only from a leg? Because of its name? Did it like chopping off legs?
It was so eerie that I decided to pull the sword out . Then the blade returned to its normal silver color . However, to me, it looked brighter and sharper than before . I don’t know .
“Maybe it’ll get stronger with the more legs I cut . Heh . ”
Whatever . It was kind of typical . I was surprised that such an overused cliche of a sword was in my possession .
Still, it was a bit creepy, so I would avoid cutting people’s legs with it . It seemed that it was fine with any other body part, so I would be careful there . Now, to cut some tails .
“Phew…”
I stretched my aching back and looked up at the sky . It was maybe around twelve o’clock . I had cut off fifty tails now . About an hour had passed since I started . It was simple work, as it was just removing one part . Grab the tail and cut it off at the root . Rinse and repeat .
Daniela also started moving after about thirty minutes had passed . She had been sleeping too, and her eyes looked tired as she helped me . Then we put the tails in the hollow bag .
When Daniela and I had carried the tails back to the tent to put away, we discovered that the tent had been crushed and torn to shreds . I was so shocked that I dropped the armful of tails . Daniela and I had used this tent since the beginning of our travels together . It was more damage than a needle and some thread could fix…
There was nothing we could do, and so Daniela gathered up the fallen tails while I searched for the hollow bag inside of the wreckage .
Everyone also finished gathering their proofs of the hunt within that hour . I could see that they were counting them .
“Alright, let’s go . ”
“Yes . ”
I picked up the hollow bag and we walked over to where the other Adventurers had gathered together .
A large table had been set out and the tails were lined up on top of it . It reminded me of some kind of early morning market .
“Excuse me . We brought the blood ape tails . ”
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“Hmm…ah, you two . ”
I approached the man who seemed to be in charge . He was the silent guy who had guarded the merchant’s tent . His expression seemed a lot softer now compared to when we first arrived .
“There really is no need to make a report . ”
“Well, we’re comrades who fought the same battle . Besides, I wanted to thank you for protecting our merchant . ”
“That’s very honest of you…”
The man of few words chuckled and offered his hand .
“I haven’t introduced myself yet . I am Albrio . ”
“I’m Asagi . Thank you for everything . ”
“Asagi…Asagi…Asagi?”
He repeated the name as he cocked his head to the side .
“Silvergreen, I presume . ”
Said a woman who now approached . She was the one who had guarded the tent with him .
“Aldeberan . You mean, ‘that’ Silvergreen?”
“Not entirely… But I’ve never heard a worse exaggeration . ”
“But the rumors at the port…”
“You can never trust them . ”
“But where there is smoke-”
“Sometimes smoke just means a signal . ”
There wasn’t even a small fire in my opinion . Aldeberan looked at me with a puzzled expression . Was she the type who took such rumors seriously?
“In any case, let’s count . ”
“Thank you . ”
“Don’t be so formal . We spent the night together after all . ”
“I don’t much like your wording there . ”
Hahaha! Albrio laughed heartily . Perhaps the ice had finally broken .
I put down the hollow bag and took out the blood ape tails . There were about fifty .
“Hmm… Fifty . So that means five hundred and ninety-four in all . That’s more than I expected . ”
“Yes, I had heard it was five hundred at first . ”
“Aye, so did I . But they stopped counting after five hundred because there were too many . ”
I knew what he meant…there really were too many . It was as if there were multiple colonies in the tree and they attacked travelers like us . The numbers were so overwhelming that I wondered how many people had died in hopeless battles up until now . We had really been lucky . A large caravan and their escorts . If it had only been us that camped here…the idea made me shiver .
“Now, this should be all of it… How do you think we should divide them? Asagi . ”
“We don’t need any . ”
I had really just cut them off to contribute to their rewards .
“We just helped you a little . Think of it as a show of gratitude for letting us stay here . We don’t need anything . …Daniela agrees with me . ”
“That may be, but…”
“It’s already decided . Just take it . ”
We took a hefty pile of gold from their master, anyway . Karma would be cruel if we took anything else .
“Well, if you insist . Thanks . ”
“Don’t thank us . You all fought until dawn . Share it with everyone . ”
“I will . Thank you . ”
Albrio bowed politely . As did Aldeberan and the other Adventurers . These situations always made me feel uncomfortable .
“Well, we’ll go on ahead to the capital then . Our boss has a tight schedule . ”
“I see . We will be going soon as well… Perhaps we will meet again . ”
“Yes . Don’t be afraid to call on us if you can . ”
“Aye, I will . Farewell, Asagi . ”
“You guys be careful . ”
We shook hands and said farewell . Daniela and Aldeberan also shook hands . In a way, we were a similar pair .
When we returned to our own camp, preparations to leave had already finished . Well, there wasn’t that much to do . There was no tent…damn it…
“Mister Asagi . Are we leaving now?”
“Yes . Let’s go . ”
Daniela and I entered the wagon . There was some folded up cloth next to me . It was our tent .
“…I didn’t want to throw it away . ”
Mister said from the driver’s seat . That was a kind gesture .
“Thank you…it was really important to us . ”
“I’m glad I saved it then . ”
He smiled gently as I bowed . I picked up the folded tent and put it away in the bag . It was ruined but it could still travel with us . Always . I told the tent . And thank you .
“Of course . The one who wears silver and green clothes, wraps wind around his feet and destroys his enemies with the speed of a god… Am I wrong?”
She made me sound like some ancient legend…