Chapter 9

I have a bad feeling, but I immediately turn around. However, bad feelings tend to come true.

The ones behind me are orcs. Three orcs, each holding a spear.

I was careless.

I had asked Metis about the time the gangptera would return, but I hadn’t asked about other monsters. I had let my guard down, thinking that other monsters rarely appeared in the white mushroom colony. The orcs had remnants of white mushrooms around their mouths.

Come to think of it, pigs do like mushrooms, don’t they? Go ahead and eat some truffles.

“Cybil, just asking… you were an adventurer before, right? Can you take down orcs…?”

“Do you think I can win? If I could, I’d still be an adventurer…”

I’m just a paper adventurer.

“I’m running!”

With Neon’s scream, we start running in the opposite direction of the orcs. Seeing us run, the orcs also chase us with all their might.

Aren’t you guys here for the mushrooms!?

‘Which way should we run?’

When I ask Metis, there’s no response. She only answers yes or no questions, and it seems she’s panicking from the sudden attack.

As we run, I see a cave ahead.

‘Should we go into the cave?’

‘No’

So we can’t go in there.

“Neon, don’t go in! It seems we shouldn’t.”

“Got it!”

‘Should we run to the left of the cave?’

‘Yes’

“Let’s run to the left!”

I give the instruction to Neon. In the forest with dense trees, we run down, pushing through the undergrowth. The orcs seem to be slightly slower than us.

We can escape!

Just as I think that, a voice comes from behind.

“Kyaa!”

Neon, who was running down, tripped on a rock and fell.

“Neon!”

Seeing this, I stop. But the orcs keep running at full speed without considering our troubles.

This is bad, as it is.

Neon is trembling, her face filled with despair as she looks at me.

My legs are shaking with fear. I want to rush to her aid, but I can’t move. I’m scared. I’m sure Neon realizes that we can’t win.

I grip my sword. I’ve held a sword many times before. I just didn’t grow. I was afraid of cutting people. I was afraid of being cut. I’m a coward. That hasn’t changed.

Could I have easily saved Neon if I had trained more? But that’s a meaningless assumption. My trembling doesn’t stop. However, I force my trembling legs to move and run to Neon. I pass her and stand in front of the orcs.

“Neon! Get up! Buy some time!”

Hearing my trembling voice, she hurriedly stands up. Blood is flowing from her knees, but there’s no time for first aid.

“Where’s Cybil?”

“She’ll catch up soon! If you want to live, go ahead!”

Hearing this, Neon starts running.

“Please, don’t die…!”

While we’re talking, the orcs are already close. I don’t need to ask Metis; I won’t win. I grip my sword and attack. I swing my sword at the orc.

The orc easily dodges and thrusts with its spear.

“Gah!”

I can’t dodge, and my right abdomen is pierced. But this brings us closer.

“Don’t underestimate the tools of civilization!”

I take a red ball from my pocket and throw it at the orc’s eyes. It hits perfectly.

“Gwooo!”

The orc falls to the ground, screaming in pain.

The red ball is a self-defense weapon made from spices bought at the guild. It’s an irritant that causes intense pain and temporary blindness when it hits mucous membranes like the eyes.

It costs 10,000G each, but it’s quite effective.

The other orcs are stunned by their comrade’s sudden transformation.

“Now, this!”

I smash a white ball on the ground, creating a cloud of smoke. I run to Neon while the orcs are blinded by the smoke.

‘If I go straight, will I find Neon?’

‘No’

‘A little to the right?’

‘No’

‘A little to the left?’

‘Yes’

I go a little to the left as I go down the mountain. After a while, I see Neon’s beautiful blue hair.

“Neon!”

Neon turns to me, and her face, which was about to cry, breaks into a smile.

“Cybil! You’re safe!”

“Yeah, somehow. We’ll talk later. Let’s keep going down!”

“Okay!”

Cybil keeps asking Metis about the positions of the monsters as we keep going down.

By the time the sun starts to set, we manage to return to Delcour, looking quite ragged.

“I, we survived…”

“Really. I thought we were going to die.”

Both Neon and I, overwhelmed with relief and exhaustion, collapse on the ground.

“I never thought we’d almost die from orcs, not gangptera…”

“I didn’t know orcs would be there either. We need to be more careful about other monsters from now on.”

“I’m going to the church to get treated. The bleeding won’t stop.”

“That’s a good idea.”

I go to the church and show my injury to the healer.

“You’ve got quite a serious injury. For this, we need intermediate healing magic, which will cost you.”

“Please do it.”

The church isn’t a charity. I pay 30,000G and receive the healing magic. I’m almost out of money, but at least the bleeding has stopped, and the wound is sealed. It’s not fully healed, but it won’t be life-threatening.

“This won’t be life-threatening. You should avoid strenuous activities for a while.”

“Understood.”

I leave the church, feeling sad about the sudden expense.

Outside the church, Neon is waiting for me.

“Neon, what about selling the white opal mushrooms? Should we go tomorrow?”

“No, we still have time, so let’s go today!”

Her eyes are completely focused on money. She must be low on funds too.

I’m led by Neon to the merchant guild.

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