Episode 103. missing (1)
It is already the third day of the journey back to Meirium.
The party was camping in the forest without stopping by the village on the way.
It was because of the riches loaded on the wagon.
“… … Did you live in the forest before becoming a priest?”
“Not like that.”
“Then how… … ?”
The Cretan old man marveled as he caressed the deer that Carl had caught from the forest.
“I was quite impressed when I first heard why you didn’t stop by the village. I mean, if you look at the treasure chest, there will be trouble with the villagers. But I wondered if it would be necessary to camp in a forest full of dangerous beasts and monsters. I was also worried about eating.”
“I see.”
“But looking at your hunting prowess, I don’t think you asked to camp for nothing. What a wonderful thing.”
“thank you.”
One big deer is enough food for everyone in the party.
Of course, there are food prepared by the godmother, priests of Noon Church, and citizens when leaving Derdrang, but most of them are food for travel.
Even if you ate only the dry amount, you could survive until Meirium, but it would probably turn into a skinny skeleton.
In particular, Tirana, who loves to eat, and Hanson, who are so big that they get tired quickly if they don’t eat much, will be more serious.
So Carl set up camp and went hunting alone while setting up camp.
The result is things like deer, rabbits, and sometimes big wolves.
Thanks to that, the party was eating as much as they did when they were in Derdrang.
“knife! Is it a deer dish today?!”
“I’m debating whether to boil the stew or bake it.”
“Bake it! I got some fresh fruit nearby!”
“oh.”
Carl nods.
Soon after, he started trimming the deer with the dagger he brought from Derdrang.
‘For these priests, camping in the forest, where they risk their lives, is like a picnic.’
The night forest became more dangerous after monsters started appearing.
However, Carl and his friends are calm as if they are going on a trip to a nice place.
Soon after, the venison was grilled and the delicious smell began to vibrate.
“Who will be the first lookout today?”
Maysa asked.
“It would be good if the last person on duty yesterday would be on duty first.”
“It’s a one-time job… … Then it is my turn.”
The Cretan old man, who was eating the grilled meat with fruit juice picked by Tira, said.
Everyone nodded.
And I admired it inwardly.
‘I can’t see in front of me, but that kind of thing is possible.’
After the Old Man of Crete joined the party.
When we met the first night in the woods, the party was a bit taken aback.
The blind old man of Crete volunteered to stand guard duty as well.
Everyone except Carl stopped him.
Because it was impossible in the first place.
Hanson, in particular, spoke with a nuance that seemed to disparage the Cretan inspiration.
-We will protect you. Rest in peace for the elderly.
Of course, the Cretan old man was not alone.
-Oh, you look down on me quite a bit.
-… … ?
-Hey, your voice is booming and your footsteps are thumping, so you’re pretty big. Will the power be good?
– It’s kind of like that.
-If you fight me, can you win?
-… … Are you arguing with me?
Now, Hanson becomes Carl’s apprentice and lives a solid life as a combat priest.
However, he was originally the leader of the Meirium gangster.
Hansson reacted immediately when the blind man came up with a dispute.
In the immediate situation, Tira asked Carl if he should stop it, but Carl also knew that the current fight was necessary, so he stayed silent.
-Since a new party has arrived, it must be organized.
-ah… … .
The confrontation between the Cretan old man and Hanson started soon after.
Surprisingly, Hanson couldn’t even brush the hem of old Crete’s clothes, and one eye went blind.
Old Crete smiled and said to Hanson, who had a blank expression on his face.
– Half the fight is the eyes. A person with a good eye can overcome a person with strong power.
-Can’t you see the elderly?
– Instead, I have good ears. Especially a big, thumping footstep like you can never beat me. heh heh heh
-… … You are amazing. I lost.
-Are you a quick-witted friend? will develop in the future
– Ask for guidance often.
– Heh heh, that would be nice too!
After that, the Cretan old man became the next in line after Carl through everyone’s tacit consent.
Meisa also seemed to want to fight, but she endured it because she couldn’t bear to fight with her uncle.
Tyra originally had no interest in fighting order or anything like that.
Thanks to this, the Cretan inspiration naturally melted into the Meirium Temple party and settled down.
Another amazing thing happened that night.
-That guy!
Poof!
A stone thrown by a Cretan inspiration.
That’s what knocked off the head of a small vampire bat that was hiding in a tree and was aiming for Tira who was sleeping.
Everyone was startled.
-how… … ?!
-Heh heh, bats have a distinctive flapping sound. In particular, those who have food in front of them in a hungry state make a louder noise.
-Ahh… … !
-Now, would you like me to join tonight’s night shift?
-… … It seems to be enough.
After that, there was no need to consider Crete’s uncomfortable vision.
Because he sees the world more clearly than he can see with his own two eyes.
rain, rain.
The sound of eating a whole roast of venison spreads around the campfire.
Tira and Hanson eat with their mouths full of grease.
Knives and Meisa, who dignifiedly cut and eat each piece with a dagger.
Old Man Crete, Brand, and Terence were eating leisurely while chatting with each other.
“Sir, please tell me something funny.”
“also? You did it last night too.”
“I keep wanting to hear it, the elders’ stories are really, really, very interesting… … .”
“hahahaha. The young cannot turn a blind eye to the wisdom and experience of the old.”
Cretan inspiration had another advantage.
As much as I have lived a strange life, I have had a lot of special experiences.
And he knew how to dramatize that experience so that younger people could hear it better.
Thanks to this, Meisa, Terence, and Tira begged old Crete to talk to them every night.
Even Hansson pretended not to hear, turned over and pricked up his ears.
The proof was that whenever the story reached its climax, his big muscles twitched.
“Then, today I will tell you about the mermaid I met in the underwater cave.”
“Mermaid… … ?!”
A group of young people gathered around Crete’s old man before he knew it.
they listened
But at that moment.
“… … There must be a secret guest.”
“okay.”
It was Carl who got up from his seat.
Carl placed his hand on the steel sword at his waist and spoke toward the dark woods.
“Come out.”
But a bush that doesn’t even move.
Carl spoke again.
“If you don’t come out, I will cut down the bushes.”
“oh! Wait!”
Something popped out of the bush.
She was a girl of about 10 years old, not only her face but also her whole body was scruffy.
“Eh?”
The brand was taken aback.
So did the other companions.
“How can that little girl… … ?”
This is a forest where scary beasts and monsters roam.
It’s okay because Carl’s group is so powerful, but for others, it’s a place where you have to risk your life.
However, everyone was surprised when a little girl popped out of such a place.
Rather, it is a suspicious situation.
It was Tyra who stepped out then.
“oh… … You are very hurt.”
Tira took off the blanket she was covering and approached the child.
And covered the body of the child who was shivering, and treated the scratches on the child’s skin.
“ah… … .”
A child who was very tense and stiff.
When the light of the warm divine power touched his body, he collapsed onto Tira.
“What is it?”
“A girl jumped out from among the bushes, old man.”
“Girls?”
“In this dangerous forest?”
“yes.”
“It’s a crab with a story.”
“Um… … .”
Carl slowly approached the child.
The knife was unsheathed and left near the campfire in case the child might be startled.
As Carl moved closer, the child poked his head out of Tira’s arms and looked up at him.
“Are you lost?”
Shaking my head.
The child shook his head.
Then, he got out of Tira’s arms and stood up.
“Find my brother!”
“Brother?”
“yes! My brother just disappeared! By the way, but… … .”
“… … ?”
The girl cried and took something out of her bosom.
A fairly large roll of parchment.
The expression of the knife that received it and opened it was unusual.
“Carl, what’s going on?”
companions who have arrived.
They, too, were astonished to see what was written on the parchment.
“Eh, what is this… … !”
“Such a terrible thing… … .”
When Crete, who couldn’t see the contents, was curious about it, Terence told me.
“The appearance, age, and physical condition of both adults and children are written. And at the end there is a price.”
“I see what it is, the newsletter from a slave trader’s auction.”
“… … It seems so.”
The crying girl reached into her pocket again and pulled out something.
A few crones glistened in the light on the girl’s two small palms.
“I heard from a merchant from Derdrang who visited our village a few days ago that great priests will pass by this area soon.”
“So you waited for us in the woods?”
“… … Yes, please save my brother. Please.”
“… … .”
There was a moment of silence around the campfire.
The one who broke the silence was the Cretan inspiration.
“Originally, kidnapping or auctioning of slaves is prohibited in villages under the influence of Derdrang. But these days… … .”
“The dispute with the Sea Lizard Clan seems to have weakened their influence.”
“I guess that’s what it is. In the meantime, it seems that vicious slave traders from other regions are in full swing. What a terrible thing.”
Slave traders who abducted orphaned children and sold them to places of need.
Slave trade is prohibited by national law in the empire, but slaves are always in demand, so slave traders also acted in secret.
In particular, small towns outside the reach of large cities were easy targets for slave traders.
Perhaps the girl’s younger brother had suffered that way.
“The number five on that parchment is my sister, please… … .”
Tira embraced the crying girl.
And he hugged me and said.
“We will definitely help. don’t worry. Will you do that, Carl?”
Tira and everyone in the party stared at the knife.
Carl nodded.
“There are many things to do in Mayrium. However, if you look at the difficulties in front of you and pretend not to know, then you cannot be called a priest. I will save the child’s brother, arrest the slave traders, and bring them to Meirium. Anyone dissatisfied with the change of travel itinerary?”
“doesn’t exist!”
Everyone in the party responded loudly.