Chapter 80: Side Story 10: Logan’s Great Adventure – Final Part
『Garbo, go save the girl.』
『Roger that!』
Using high-speed movement, Garbo instantly reached Analda’s side. He gently took her by the neck, lifted her onto his back, and immediately withdrew from the battle area to return to the village.
『Stay at the village entrance to guard as a contingency.』
Logan, who had been running straight toward the largest Dark Python, quickly conveyed this.
『Oh, the leader’s here! Just me!』
『Hahaha! I need to keep my body sharp by fighting every once in a while.』
Leaving Garbo’s complaints behind, Logan leaped in front of the enemy and charged.
The first wave of goblins had already been wiped out by the Four Heavenly Kings’ Wind Fang, Thunder Fang, and Ice Fang. But more goblins and orcs were still being chased out of the forest toward the Dark Python.
『Let’s finish them all at once... Tear them apart! Vacuum blade forged in the atmosphere! 』
ZWOAAAHHH!!
Countless vacuum blades flew wildly and sliced through the monsters one after another.
『No need for the small fries.』
『Leader! Please leave the cleanup of these small fries to us!』
Wind Fang called out.
『Very well, leave it to you.』
And Logan stood before the Dark Python that had grown over 20 meters tall.
『Now, our Boss wants your head. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take it.』
Logan laughed fearlessly and turned his neck.
KSHAAAAA——!!
The Dark Python raised its head high and opened its mouth wide.
Dark Breath! Scatter!
Logan scattered his subordinates!
He himself stood in front.
From the Dark Python’s mouth came a black, viscous gas-like cloud of magic energy!
『 Wind Wall!』
The wind shield Logan fired dispersed the Dark Python’s !
KSHAAAAA——!!
The Dark Python, annoyed that its finishing breath hadn’t worked, thrashed and struggled wildly.
『How pitifully it thrashes...』
Logan felt irritated by the chaotic rampaging of the Dark Python.
『!!』
He crossed his front paws in front of his body and swung sideways.
ZUDON!
The crossing vacuum blade severed the Dark Python’s neck in one blow.
DODORON!
The giant body convulsed and writhed even after its head was cut off.
"Even with its head cut off it still moves for a while... How annoying."
Logan was genuinely annoyed.
『Aaaah, I finally took down the largest Dark Python in one shot...』
Garbo, carrying Analda and returning to the village entrance, was suddenly assigned as the reserve guard.
『Heh heh... Back when I was with the leader during the Labyrinth Stampede, we were always the rearguard... Maybe it’s because I didn’t get to fight much that I’m stuck doing the boring guard duty now...』
After bringing Analda home, Garbo sat there dejectedly. Analda stroked his neck and whispered thank you.
"Thank you for saving me. But your companions are out hunting monsters. Were you left behind to guard just for me?"
Analda stroked Garbo’s neck and spoke to him.
『It’s fine. Someone has to guard the village entrance anyway. And we can’t assume nothing bad will happen from other places either.』
Garbo somehow managed to convey the importance of the leader to Analda.
『We’ll take down the other Dark Pythons too! Can you handle this Wind Fang’s blow? 』
『This Lightning Fang will finish it off! !』
『Then this Ice Fang will have to show results too. 』
One after another, the monsters were hunted by the three Four Heavenly Kings.
『Wind Fang, entrust the mobile Boss to me. Collect the defeated monsters.』
『Hahaha!』
But Logan thought for a moment.
This village in Bahana had asked Boss for help against the Dark Pythons. When Boss received the request, he sent us ahead to handle it.
That means if we took every single Dark Python carcass back, there would be no evidence left that a Dark Python had been here. Worst case, they might suspect Bahana village was lying. Leaving even one smaller Dark Python behind might mean the size report wouldn’t match. In that case, future crisis reports might not be taken seriously.
『Hmm...』
『What is it, Leader?』
『Well, Lightning Fang. Actually...』
『Hahaha... I see. Then we’ll take the largest one and leave the rest.』
『Hey, Ice Fang, how are we supposed to report to Boss that we left the 20-meter-class top prize behind?』
『Lightning Fang, I understand Boss’s order was to defeat the Dark Pythons and save the village. When the leader asked for roasted meat, it wasn’t specified that it had to be the largest one. We can eat whatever we take.』
『I see. You’re ready to settle for less quantity because the village is saved.』
『Yes.』
『Very well. Lightning Fang, Ice Fang, Wind Fang — once you’ve collected the spoils, leave the largest 20-meter Dark Python carcass in the village.』
『『Understood.』』
『So that’s it. The largest Dark Python carcass will be left here.』
At the village entrance, Logan dragged the over-20-meter Dark Python’s head and body.
"Wolf, you can’t leave that here..."
Lona had watched the wolves hunt the Dark Pythons, but she never imagined they would leave the largest one.
"It’s a blessing! If we process it and turn it into meat, the village will be much richer!"
After hearing that monsters had been defeated and the village was safe, the village chief finally came out in front of everyone.
"Chief! This is the result of the wolves risking their lives to hunt. Thanks to them, the village has no casualties!"
"Yeah, that’s true. If those wolves hadn’t been here, every single person in the village would have been eaten by the Dark Pythons."
"But you’re the ones who saved us, aren’t you? And their master isn’t here. So there’s no reason to refuse what the wolves are offering!"
The chief was stubbornly trying to keep the Dark Python in the village.
It was understandable. No one knew how much money such a huge Dark Python was worth.
"Chief..."
"Hah?! Randall!"
Since no one else was agreeing with the chief, he grew irritated.
"This thing can’t be turned into money in this village."
"What are you saying!?"
"It’s an extremely rare monster. Buying it would require a major town that can handle large carcasses. Plus, it’s huge. Processing it would take enormous time and manpower. The villagers here couldn’t finish it before the meat starts rotting. That would attract monsters to the village."
"N-No way... Can’t we do something about it?!"
"We can’t. We have neither the people nor the technology."
"..."
The chief slumped.
"So that’s why the big snake goes with the wolves. Right?"
Logan listened to the villagers’ argument and answered with a cheerful "Woof!" He nodded, then had the mobile Boss store the carcass in sub-space compression.
『Alright, I’ll take it for now. Look forward to it.』
Logan winked and grinned.
Lona and the two girls were shocked.
Then Logan gently patted the heads of Lona and the two girls with his front paw.
"Fwaah~"
"Nee-hee~"
"Muu~"
After receiving the pats, the wolves left the village at high speed.
"They left..."
"Yeah, it’s a shame..."
"I want to see them again..."
"Maybe they’ll come visit again if they’re good kids!"
""Yes!""
After that, the village received large quantities of processed meat made from Dark Python and long-lasting dried meat.
And for the mother-and-daughter trio, an enormous amount of gold coins arrived — enough to live comfortably and safely for the rest of their lives.
