Chapter 218

Unending Sighs

I held the spear behind me so it wouldn’t get in the way as I ran. It was crazy how fast I could run now. I would have been able to catch all the shoplifters had I been able to run like this back at the convenience store.

But that was hardly where my thoughts should be. And before I knew it, I had arrived at the spot that Daniela was standing.

There was a purple goblin between us.

“So, that’s the poison goblin…?”

I continued to have Presence Block activated as I got close. My eyes met Daniela’s.

“Do it!”

And so I moved. I used Legs of the God Wolf to jump into the air while holding the spear downward. And then I fell. Platinum and green wind helped control my trajectory as the spear plunged into the poison goblin’s head. I quickly let go and moved away. The thick, purple blood that gushed out of its head looked like it could hurt. Who knew what it would do to my body.

The spear was now covered in ice. Its temperature was below zero, and anything it touched would freeze instantly. Ice of stomach-churning color was falling to the ground.

“Well, that was educational. This thing is a lot more dangerous than it looks. Its breath and the poison. Even the claws. Even the grass is burning because of the blood.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No. Thanks to you.”

We bumped our fists together in celebration.

□ □ □ □

Still, the corpse in front of us left us with one problem.

What should we do with it…

“I bet burning it would create toxic fumes.”

“It will definitely damage our blades if we tried to dismember it.”

“It would contaminate the soil if we buried it.”

“Then there would not be much point in freezing it in ice.”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm…”

No burning. No cutting. No burying. No freezing. No. No. No. No. What an annoying monster. No wonder Daniela was so cautious.

“Well, they do say poison can be turned into medicine. It would be a bit of a waste to just leave it here.”

“So you want to put it in your bag and take it to the guild?”

“Ugh… Right, I would have to put it in my bag…”

My vintage bag deserved better than that…yes. But then again, I didn’t have much of a choice. And so I opened the bag with a very heavy heart. Daniela used a tree branch to lift the goblin’s arm and move it towards the bag’s opening. And like that, the corpse was sucked into the bag.

“Hahh…”

“We can only hope that it is worth something.”

“Yeah…”

Damn it. What a terrible monster to encounter…

But there was no point in standing there sighing. And so I switched gears and lifted my heavy feet towards the east mountain once again.

□ □ □ □

“What about using the power of the wind to parry attacks?”

“Good one. So you would instantly envelope yourself in as they strike.”

“Wind doesn’t have any shape. So I thought it would better to make a path to have it escape rather than a shield to block it. Besides, it sounds easier.”

“I agree. We can practice doing it tomorrow.”

We sat around a fire and discussed ideas for ‘defense magic.’ I had made some soup out of left-over vegetables, which we now drank. It was much better to talk about this with someone else. We could choose the idea that was best.

“What about earth?”

“Hmm…earth. Does that include sand and pebbles?”

“Pebbles are sand once they are crushed. And the earth contains sand. It is all the same when using magic.”

“Soil does have a lot mixed in it other than sand.”

Yes, I thought as much.

“Those who are advanced in magic are able to remove substances from the soil. For instance, they can take out the sand and then harden it as a rock. This means that earth magic allows you to create rocks.”

This advanced form of earth magic was known as ‘ore magic.’ Daniela said. I wondered just how much work it would require to get to that point. It wouldn’t be possible for me. I didn’t even use earth magic.

“You’ll probably get there one day, Daniela. Seeing as you’re going to live for so long.”

“Yes. But you might not be around when that happens, Asagi.”

“Haha. I’d love to be able to see it, though. If you could just hurry up.”

It was hard deciding to live the rest of your life with someone whose race lived so long. One would have to go on and leave the other behind. Still, it didn’t change my resolve. It was something I had wholly accepted. If anything, I couldn’t complain if there would be a time when I was old and she still looked the same. It would be hard, but not tragic.

“We should get some rest now. I’ll take the first watch. You can go and sleep.”

“Then I will do just that… Goodnight, Asagi.”

“Mmm…goodnight, Daniela.”

Daniela kissed me on the cheek and then disappeared into the tent. I was glad that we were together.

“I remember watching a cartoon a long time ago, where there was this guy who could freeze time…if only I could do that… If I could use dimension magic that affected time and space at the same… Wait, I don’t even…hmm?”

I was sitting by myself and thinking of other magic defense methods, when something entered the area. Four lifeforms were detected. And they were from the east side. Monsters…no. These were human.

“I suppose I should…”

I picked up my one-handed sword and the Glampanzer and moved in the direction of the intruders while also activating Presence Block. Of course, I first made sure that there were no others in the area as well. I couldn’t leave our campsite if there was a danger.

We were in a clearing surrounded in rocks and with a small river close by. It was the perfect spot to camp.

And now four humans were approaching us in the dead of night. It clearly meant that something was about to happen…

“At worst, someone’s going to die…”

I muttered with a sigh. If they were bandits who were after us, then this could end no other way. I sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day and pulled my hood down over my face.

“Hah… Damn it… The boss sure is rough with us.”

“Where there is fire there are people. And people mean food. And so here we are.”

“Still…we can eat while we’re there, and no one would be any wiser. I say it’s a good deal.”

“Well, maybe you’re right. Benefits, benefits…”

“And there may be a woman there as well.”

“Surely you would not get away with that?”

“As long as they don’t live to tell…”

I could hear them from the shadows. …So they were bandits.

“Well, the boss has been prickly of late. We shouldn’t do anything to test him.”

“He escaped from Nicora, didn’t he?”

“Aye. I heard it was a town of bandits. Some great bandit leader was ruling it.”

“And who wouldn’t be prickly after being driven out of such a haven?”

“Haha. You’ve got that right.”

Indeed. Their boss was a bandit from Nicora. In that case, should I kill all but one and then find out where their hideout is…so I could destroy them completely? No, it wasn’t my job. I would protect myself, but the rest was the military’s job. …Well, I could at least learn the location.

“We’re almost there. Don’t let your guard down.”

“Understood.”

“Aye.”

“…Eh? Are we missing…? Aghh!?”

“What-what…gaaah!!”

I was going to pick them off one by one from the back, but they caught me by the second man. I wasn’t the best at sneaking.

“Damn it. You bastard!!”

“You’re dead!!”

“…”

As someone with a weak will, talking just made me less decisive, and so I ignored them and swung my sword. This was the Demon Armor Sword. It easily shattered their weapons. I love a strong blade.

“Ha, hah…! No…!”

“…”

Three down, one to go. I raised my sword. …Ahh…

“Crap, I almost killed you. Now, where is your boss hiding?”

“What…uh?!”

“I need to know where your hideout is.”

“Ah…uh…halfway up the east…mountain.”

“I see.”

“Wa-wait…ah-”

Yes, this was good. I swung down. Now it was over. We could tell the guards when we returned to the city…

“Hahhh… Still, what a bummer.”

Unnecessary killing was evil. But this was necessary. I told myself this, but the sighs kept coming. Things were just getting worse now that it was night. And so my feet felt heavier than ever as I trudged back to the tent.