Chapter 206

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A Farewell Beneath the Tree

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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?”

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.”

“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…