< 157. Toward the Holy Land (4) >
#157
“He’s probably a rookie hunter. “It’s one of the sieves that filter out participants in the Festival of Swords.”
Nabirose sighed. The dry voice said ‘The dog next door ate a big bone today.’ It contained only a certain amount of emotion. Ronan shrugged.
“It seems to happen quite often doesn’t it?”
“yes. It has its own self-cleaning effect so just leave it alone. Usually they only end up stealing things and there are very few cases where they end up killing someone. “If you really want to help I don’t mind going.”
Ronan shook his head. Even he had no intention of helping idiots who couldn’t even take care of themselves. I should have been prepared to get robbed if I was weak. Then the scream rang out again.
“Ugh please don’t take my sword away! “I bought it with all my money!”
“No I’ll give you everything so just spare my life! Ugh! “The shield that my great-grandfather passed down to me!!”
They were all made by the same guy. Their voices were so loud that I couldn’t even hear the voices of those taking them away.
Judging by his high average tone he still looked like a child. Every time a scream was heard Ronan’s eyes twitched. Nabirose tapped his cheek with her index finger.
“Why don’t you just leave?”
“It’s okay. “Go back quickly.”
Ronan took Nabirose’s hand away. He walked away trying to look as cold as possible. It was the moment when I was just taking a step.
“Taaaak! That’s his father’s memento…! “No!”
“Fuck.”
Ronan stopped in place. pup. That voice is really loud.
“Didn’t I tell you this before? “Don’t be ashamed of your good nature.”
“…It’s noisy.”
“I’ll go back first. “Do whatever you want and come back.”
Butterfly Rose left those words and turned around. She raised her arms as if to say hello.
“Thank you for today. “But now that I’m talking about it it feels a lot better.”
“It’s okay.”
“Apart from my gratitude this is confiscation. “He’s still so young.”
Between Nabi Rose’s index and middle fingers there was a burnt cigarette in his hand. Eventually her figure disappeared beyond the trees. Ronan who was smoothing his cheek smiled bitterly.
‘I hope you recover.’
There was no way the wound could heal with something like this. As the saying goes even if an arrow falls out a hole remains her snake will still be dead.
Ronan decided to think as positively as possible. Because snakes are animals with strong vitality. When the weather gets warmer they may wake up and show their fangs as if they haven’t done so before.
“then….”
Ronan gathered his depressed mood and turned his head. No screams have been heard since. He narrowed his eyes and concentrated. My senses including sight and hearing slowly began to expand.
‘It’s not that far.’
It was at most a few hundred meters away. After finding the direction Ronan turned his back on the lake and ran out. phut! As the mana-reinforced legs hit the ground dirt and fallen leaves bounced up roughly.
‘Let’s see what kind of bird you are.’
He couldn’t forgive himself for bothering people for no reason. The cries of trees and mountain birds passed quickly by. Before long a light shining between the trees caught my eye.
‘Damn am I a step too late?’
Ronan frowned at her. The scene was already a mess. Equipment and miscellaneous items that appeared to be camping tools were strewn about on the floor.
Seeing that the firewood in the bonfire was still intact it seemed like they were attacked as soon as the fire was lit. A pounding sound was heard.
“You took everything you needed right?”
“okay. “It wasn’t a bad harvest.”
“Wow it’s getting a little quieter now that I’ve been hit.”
Ronan looked away from her. A few steps away from the bonfire three giants stood like stone statues. Judging by its long bones and textured core it did not seem to be a simple bandit.
‘Rookie hunter.’
They were carrying weapons as big as their size. Two of them had two-handed hammers and one had a great sword. The weapons were not common mass-produced items but rather useful looking ones.
“Ah…ah….”
Among the giants a weak-looking boy was lying groaning. As Ronan expected it was a kid who hadn’t even grown a beard yet.
Looking at his swollen face and his clothes that had become rags it looked like he had already been beaten up. The blood flowing from his broken nose formed a small puddle. He raised his head and appealed to the magnates.
“Ugh…what are you saying that I did so wrong…? Please stop…”
“What did I do wrong? “People like you are also participants and installers so aren’t we getting criticized too?”
“Go home thinking you had a good experience. “We will take good care of your things.”
The large man holding the great sword raised his foot. The foot which stayed in the air for a moment fell onto the sandwich placed in front of the boy. Kwajak! The bread was crushed and seasonings and vegetables flew everywhere. The boy with his eyes wide open let out a loud scream.
“Kwaaaaaak! “My mother made that!”
The birds took off again. It was a really loud voice. At that level I think even Marjana Braum would be able to take advantage of it.
“Wow it’s noisy. Big brother. Should I just kill this thing?”
“It doesn’t seem like a bad idea.”
The two guys holding the hammer grumbled as if they were fed up. I wondered why the three of them looked so similar but they seemed to be brothers. The other person who was adjusting the hilt of the great sword nodded his head.
“okay. “This is my first kill.”
“Oh no! “Help me!”
“Die while blaming that loud voice!”
The giant who raised the great sword slashed it vertically. The boy covered his face with his arms and screamed. The huge blade was about to split off the top of his head.
visor!! A sharp metallic sound rang out and the great sword stopped. The boy slowly opened his eyes to see that he was still alive.
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…! “Are you…?”
“Brothers get along well and steal which is something they do well.”
The giant he couldn’t see was standing with his back turned to him. In his strong hands he held a sword as thin as a dragonfly’s wing.
The sword which looked as if it would crumble at the slightest touch was in close contact with the rugged greatsword. The man holding the great sword widened his eyes at the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest.
“What are you?”
“That’s none of your business. “Anyway let me ask you something.”
The giant growled as if threatening. Either way Ronan continued.
“Is it true that it is your first kill? Then I am willing to consider him giving up his arms one by one.”
“Isn’t this completely crazy?”
The giant snorted. But his gaze was focused on the La Mancha Ronan was holding. The black sword body did not simply block the sword strike but penetrated into the great sword.
It was a great sword. Moreover the kid in front of him was blocking his sword strike with one arm. No matter how hard I tried he wouldn’t budge.
‘Where the fuck did this monster come from?’
Cold sweat ran down the giant’s temples. He quickly exchanged glances with his brothers. Everyone seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation as their expressions were not good. The giant took a deep breath and smiled at Ronan.
“hey. He seems like a good friend but I’ll stop here. “Don’t you think the Festival of Swords maintains its reputation because new hunters like us weed out idiots like that?”
“You suddenly became gentler. “Why did your balls shrink when you figured out the topic?”
“Rather I’m saying we shouldn’t see unnecessary bloodshed. I mean…Hyaaaap!!”
It was just a moment. The giant who was talking suddenly roared. The great sword detached from La Mancha flew towards Ronan.
“Tzuyap!”
“Die you arrogant bastard!”
At the same time the other two big guys who were watching also rushed in. The sword body and hammer head filled with mana flew in a bluish arc. Ronan sighed lightly.
“This is why pride is so scary….”
In an instant La Mancha disappeared from sight. Shirrick! A low whistling sound rang out. A red line was drawn on both of the big men’s forearms.
It was the moment when La Mancha who had made an exciting slash returned to his original position. Sigh! Six arms rose into the air at the same time. The giants’ eyes widened.
“ah?”
They did not immediately understand what had happened. I couldn’t feel anything below my shoulders. Patter. The arm which had been spinning several times in the air fell to the floor.
Blood was gushing out from the clean cut surface. The arms which were still full of strength were still tightly gripping the weapon. weird. I went all the way to the island to get that tattoo.
“My arm.”
The man holding the great sword muttered softly. Suddenly a pain that seemed to subside hit the three people.
“Hehehe!”
Screams of pain came from the mouths of the giants. The timing of everyone screaming that they were brothers was almost identical.
The giants who had been screaming and writhing for a long time ran away into the forest. They threw away not only the items they had taken from the boy but also their own luggage. Ronan who was watching their backs sighed.
“You idiots. So it could have ended with just one pair.”
Six paths made of blood led in the direction they fled. Still since they knew how to manipulate mana they wouldn’t die but they probably wouldn’t be able to swing a sword for the rest of their lives.
Ronan who had led the way looked back at the boy. He was drenched in the blood of the thieves and was looking up at Ronan blankly.
“hey.”
“…Hot!”
Ronan snapped his fingers. Only then did the boy come to his senses and staggered to his feet. He grabbed Ronan’s hand and said tearfully.
“Thank you so much…! really…! Thank you so much!”
“it’s okay. “How old are you?”
“Oh I turn fifteen this year!”
“Why did a kid who didn’t even have hair on his dick come here? Do you want to be fucked like that?”
Ronan growled lowly. He was more angry at the boy’s recklessness than at having stained his hands with blood.
Is it because I saw so many people who died even though they wanted to live? He couldn’t tolerate people who acted as if they had two lives. The boy shrugged his shoulders as if frightened and opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry… I had to go to Farzan no matter what.”
“So why? “Are you here to find a holy sword or something?”
“Oh no! I don’t even want that. “I just came… to deliver something to one of the people participating in the festival.”
“You’re giving me something?”
Ronan frowned at the unexpected business. The boy quickly nodded his head. Every time his bangs fluttered up and down drops of blood spattered.
“I’m sure you’re not lying. “What kind of idiot in the world would come to Farzan for that reason?”
“That’s not a lie. “He’s someone whose whereabouts I usually don’t know. Look!”
Suddenly the boy staggered his steps. He picked up a bundle lying on the floor. It was clearly an item taken by thieves.
It was a thick and long bundle almost as tall as the boy and it was surprising that he came all the way here carrying it. Ronan tilted his head.
“What is that?”
“This is something I have to deliver.”
The boy began to unpack the bundle with skillful hands. When his thick cloth was lifted a luxurious box was revealed. The boy who was stroking the outside of the box let out a sigh of relief.
“I’m glad this wasn’t taken away… really…”
Judging by the moisture in his voice again it seemed like it was a really important item. The boy carefully opened the lid. Paaaa – a bright light came out. Inside the silk-finished box there was a long sword emitting white light.
“This is…”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows in interest. I could tell without explaining it. This was a really good sword. Even if Doron had made it right now it was of reliable quality. No maybe it’s more than that.
“…It’s worth shouting loudly. So who are you giving this to?”
Ronan asked. The boy who was smiling brightly while looking at the sword opened his mouth.
“This is Sword Saint Zaipa.”