He had now become bait. Then Erend will behave like how the bait in general. Like someone who doesn't know anything at all. Completely clueless.
Erend returns to his room after the conversation with Saeldir and Aurdis. In his room, he saw Lt. Boartusk and Billy who seemed to be engaged in an important conversation.
"Hey, what's up?" Erend asked.
"What a coincidence that you're back," Lt. Boartusk said. "We're talking about exactly when we'll be in the Republic of Ascaria."
Erend felt a strange sting in his heart. 'That's right. I still have to go back home.'
Erend suddenly felt an emotion he never knew he had. Erend felt a little sad when he knew he was leaving this fantasy world.
That's so weird. Even though at first Erend didn't think anything about this world other than as a place for refugees from being chased in his own world.
But why did he now feel that his real world was this world? Since when did that feeling come? That's really weird.
"What's wrong, man? you don't want to go home?" Billy asked. He noticed the strange look on Erend's face. So he asked in a slightly concerned tone.
"No, I'm fine. Of course, I want to go home." Erend said.
"When are we leaving?"
"We thought that tomorrow we could go," Lt. Boartusk said.
"Tomorrow?" Erend still can't go tomorrow because he still has business to do here. He had to catch the traitor.
"Yeah, why?" Lt. Boartusk was also surprised at Erend's behavior.
Erend sighed. "Apparently, I can't go with you guys if you're planning on leaving tomorrow."
Lt. Boartusk and Billy exchanged glances. Their gazes hinted at astonishment.
"You still have something to do here?" Billy asked.
Erend nodded. "That's how it is."
"What's that?"
"I can't explain it," Erend said reluctantly.
Billy looked at Lt. Boartusk again. Lt. Boartusk also returned his gaze with the same feeling.
They had talked about this before. About how Erend felt different from his old self.
Of course, the two of them also knew about the power that Erend had. They know that power doesn't belong in their world.
It was a power that belonged to this fantasy place. Because of that, they also came to a pretty bitter and sad conclusion. Erend might as well belong to this world. Even though, it is still not certain.
"Alright, Drake," Lt. Boartusk said. "You do what you want. But I think you should still come back to see your family."
"Of course, I'll be back, lieutenant," Erend said. "I just can't come back if it's tomorrow. But I'll be back as soon as possible to catch up with you guys."
Billy and Lt. Boartusk smiled faintly. They don't express how they feel. Because they thought it would only lead to a bad argument.
The room was then filled with small talk. The three of them spent time talking about how their lives had gone so far.
Even though their life was a tough one, the three humans were used to it.
So, the conversation about war, betrayal, and death is not a problem that should be discussed with sadness.
~~~
Jan peeked out from behind the bush where he was hiding. Her green robes and brown clothes allowed Jan to blend in with the bush and soil very easily.
But apart from the clothes, Jan also has the skill to blend in with the environment. He was able to make his existence completely disappear behind the features of nature very well because he had practiced the skill by doing it since he was a child.
Up ahead, Jan saw five Gray Direwolfs herd eating a human. Or actually, the remains of a human being, because his body had been torn apart until it just looked like a lump of flesh on the ground along with a pool of his own blood.
Jan swallowed. 'Five Gray Direwolves, how come they are in this place?'
Jan was worried. Gray Direwolf is a monster that usually lives near the mountains to the north. It is located very far from the Qomore Kingdom area.
They needed to travel hundreds of kilometers to get to this place from those mountains. It was so unusual for these monsters to go this far just to forage for food.
But what was in front of his eyes right now was very clear. Five Gray Direwolves were eating the corpse of an unlucky human.
They also fought each other for that piece of human flesh. It was as if they were desperate for food.
Jan and his party got a mission to kill the Gray Direwolf because they were too close to the village.
Although the existence of monsters is quite mysterious and disturbing, the mission given to Jan and his party is clear.
They just have to kill them. As for the cause of how those Gray Direwolves came this far from where they came from, that could be investigated later.
After all, they couldn't possibly capture one of those Gray Direwolves and interrogate them.
'Everything ready?' Jan asked via a telepathic line that connected him with his party members.
'Yes! We're ready!'
Almost the same answer was heard from the three of them. Indicates that they are ready to act.
'Let's do it!' last sign out of Jan.
He raised his bow and then aimed. Jan flows the Magic he has into his arrow. Then, the fire appeared at the tip of his arrow.
*THIWSH!*
*SYUUUT!*
The arrow shot from an unknown place. With such a speed that they didn't have enough time to dodge.
*CRAAT!*
*BWOOOSH!*
The arrow that Jan fired hit one of the five Gray Direwolves and instantly burned his body.
Fire arrow is one of Jan's skills which is quite strong and can cause great damage to enemies. Although, of course, it's not as strong as the Magic that the Elf kind can cast.
The Gray Direwolf that was hit by his attack let out a howl full of pain. With Jan's signal out, now his party members will also start their move.
"HAAAAAAA!!!"
Hund came out of hiding while raising his sword and putting up a shield in front of his body.
He charged toward one of the Gray Direwolves and immediately slashed his sword.
*CRAAT!*
Hund's sword managed to slash through the Gray Direwolf. It let out a howl full of pain.
The Gray Direwolves were still in shock from the attack that came at him from the fire arrows. So they couldn't act quickly with a sudden attack coming their way.
Hund's attacks do not cause fatal damage. But that made all the Gray Direwolves pay attention to him. They growl showing their teeth which are full of the poor human's blood.
Hund stood in his position with a firm face and jaw clenched. He was ready to accept their attack.
The four remaining Gray Direwolves including the one that had been hit by the slash charged toward Hund with furious eyes and terrifying snarls.
Even so, Hund remained firm in its place. Moments later a golden light enveloped Hund's body.
He felt the warmth of the light. The light also made his entire body grow stronger.
The four Gray Direwolves surrounded Hund from all directions to prevent him from running. After that, they started attacking.
The Gray Direwolf who was on his left jumped at Hund with his mouth open. Hund raised his shield just in time.
*DANG!*
The Gray Direwolf crashed into his shield. Then Hund used his shield to bash its head.
*DUAGH!*
The Gray Direwolf staggered. Then Hund slashed his sword.
*CRAAT!*
The Gray Direwolf's neck was bleeding from Hund's slash. But the other Gray Direwolves didn't stay still and started attacking Hund simultaneously.
*SHUUUT!*
From behind the bush, a few arrows shot swiftly toward the Gray Direwolfs. The arrows pierced their backs.
Unfortunately, it's just an ordinary arrow because Jan can't continue to use fire arrows with his low magic energy.
The Gray Direwolf who was hit by the attack turned towards the bushes to see who had shot them. But they saw no one.
'Is it done?' Jan who was on his stomach behind the bush asked Esther.
'It's done!' Esther answered.
'Do it now!' Jan said.
Esther didn't answer. But suddenly a blue magic circle that emitted a thin white smoke and cold air appeared under the group of Gray Direwolves that were surrounding Hund.
Of course, Hund was also still in the middle. A rope that seemed to be made of light came out from behind the bushes and bound Hund's body. Then, the rope pulled Hund away from the Gray Direwolf's encirclement in an instant.
*CSSHHHH..."
The Gray Direwolves didn't even have time to feel confused because the magic circle below them had reacted.
A chill enveloped the Gray Direwolves in the blink of an eye and instantly froze them in blocks of ice.
The Gray Direwolf was no longer able to move. Jan, Esther, and Annette came out of their hiding place.
"Let's kill them," Jan said.
~~~
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