Volume 2 - CH 30

While we were in the middle of training, the sounds of disorder began to come from the village gate, so I put training on hold for the time being. I looked towards the uproar. There was a werewolf coming towards us borrowing someone’s shoulder.

Looking closer, they were the goblins and werewolves who were particularly good at hunting. I’d never expect them to be the ones coming back injured.

“Are you okay!? What happened!” Shouted the first werewolf to run up to them. When I looked at the werewolf’s injuries I couldn’t help but squint. …Their injuries looked to have been made by a weapon.

It was a sword, or a similar bladed weapon.

“O, Orphe… We went west from here… to where our old village was, and there were werewolves there.” He managed to squeeze out. I looked to the other werewolf as I passed him a potion.

He frantically began speaking. “…The northern werewolves were there. Three of them. …Though we do have our own grudge against them, we didn’t really want to bother you guys here Crest, so we ran away. However they caught us.”

“…And then you were wounded? But good job getting away.” Orphe folded his arms and knit his brow. No, well they probably didn’t get away. They had enough strength to do one of us in like that.

Whatever the case, we can’t ignore this.

“Orphe, Livia, let’s head to the west gate.”

“…W, What is it Crest?” Confused, Orphe followed behind me.

“They probably let our guys escape. Likely to find our hideout.”

“…No way!” Exclaimed Orphe in surprise before immediately turning his nose up in the air. When I activated detection technique, there were three responses outside of the village. …They felt like monsters, but not quite monsters. They were definitely the northern werewolves.

We immediately moved outside the village through the gate. The enemy werewolves seemed to notice and started to flee northward. …They weren’t really that fast. We could probably catch up to them eventually.

“…Good job noticing them, lord Crest.”

“It’s thanks to perception technique. Let’s follow them carefully.” We proceeded onwards while making sure it wasn’t a trap. …If I felt any other monsters in the surroundings them we would turn back. After chasing them with that plan, they suddenly stopped moving.

The three of us came face to face with the werewolves. They were three monsters with large muscular physiques.

“Oh, if It isn’t the leftover king.” The werewolves’ mouths curved into smiles. Orphe twitched in response. But when Livia put her hand up to him, he made a small nod and let out his breath.

I took a step forward and called out to the werewolves. “…So you guys are the northern werewolves then.”

“Yeah, that’s right. What about it, human?”

“Did the leftover king become a human’s pet?”

“That’s really funny.” The werewolves laughed in ridicule, but Orphe just folded his arms in silence. …He’s a lot calmer than I expected him to be.

“I do not intend to quarrel against you guys. If possible, would you consider an alliance?” …I don’t intent to be forcibly antagonistic towards them. Although there is everything with Orphe and the other werewolves, it would still probably be best if we could resolve this peacefully.

Orphe also watched the werewolves in silence. When they heard me, a werewolf burst out into laughter. “Do you think we’ll join a team with a human as their boss?”

“Don’t joke around like that.” The moment after the werewolf laughed out, he kicked off the ground and launched himself towards us.

He’s quick. He was no slower than I expected. The moment before the werewolf’s sword came down on me, I dodged out of the way. Simultaneously, I drew my own sword. The other two werewolves were also coming to attack.

I wasn’t alone though. Leaving those two to Livia and Orphe, I focused on what was in front of me.

I dodge another swing of his sword. I swung my sword up to counter, but the werewolf had already dodged out of the way. But his face seemed to be rife with impatience. I slashed my sword again and the werewolf couldn’t seem to dodge it again. I lightly cut into his leg, and the werewolf jumped back as he let out a cry to control his pain.

I glanced back and saw Livia and Orphe were also overwhelming their opponents.

“…What is this!? We should be the stronger ones here!” Shouted the werewolf in shock.

I took a step forward before asking once more, “…So you have no intention of joining our alliance?”

“…Of course not! We are going to kill you, and bring you back to our chief as a gift!!” As soon as he said that he pulled out a stone. …A magic stone, huh? He tossed the stone into his mouth and swallowed it.

“W, what are you-”

“Gu….aaahhhh!?” The werewolves began yell out like they were screaming. It was like they didn’t know what was happening inside their own bodies.

Soon their voices became incoherent, and their bodies began to pulsate. The next moment, power began to surge within them. Their muscles began to swell as if they would burst. All signs of reason disappeared from their eyes.

“…Hey Orphe, do you know anything about this? What are those magic stones?”

“…No, I’ve never seen this before. What are they-” If Orphe doesn’t know about it, then I guess it can’t be some secret art of the werewolf tribe.

“Gaaaah!” Having fully turned into monsters, the werewolves approached us. …They’re faster than before. I stopped the werewolf’s sword with my own.

…It was definitely a lot heavier. We exchanged several blows. …It was still at a level I could handle, but it would be unwise to give them much time.