Chapter 25: Assault
Chapter 25: Assault
Two days have passed since then. Weve completed the Hunting request with no problems, and since every day we take requests that can be completed in a day, were slowly saving up on money. A days earnings is about three days worth, and so repeating that for three days, we now have about nine days worth.
My life in another world is going relatively well. For now the goal is a stable livelihood, and since I need money for that, with how were currently saving up, I think that things are turning out really well. Though with my Magic, earning money and stuff is pretty simple, dont you think? As long as theres Magic, theres nothing we cant do. Thats what I thought.
Thats why, I think, this is definitely the punishment for letting my guard down.
Were in The Abyssal Forests middle layer. This place has large foliage mostly blocking the sunlight and were in the middle of drizzling rain. But right now, Im thankful for that.
Haa, haa Lily! Get a grip!
In contrast with me, whos gasping for air, Urania earnestly talks to me while were moving. Even though running while lending me who cant walk by myself her shoulder should have been pretty tiring for her, as expected of Urania, she doesnt let it show on her face at all. Is she being considerate of me?
So, rry, Ura, nia.. Its fine, just rest for now.
Finding a huge tree with a cavity on it, Urania pushes me in and then enters inside. Due to the Mana inside the Dungeon, the tree thats grown to a normally unthinkable size seems to have more than enough space to shelter two little girls, so we were finally able to lay down our bodies and rest.
Why did we end up like this? Lets look back on what happened earlier this morning.
This morning, Urania and I took a Hunting Request as usual and entered The Abyssal Forest. This times hunting objective was the large wolf Growleu. Its meat tastes really bad, but its hide is pretty durable, so Im told that its quite useful. Just selling one is cheap, but since its also a Monster designated for subjugation, the more you hunt, the bigger and better the reward.
The Growleu was a delicious prey we encountered even on our first day, and defeated with ease too. After consulting Urania if we should just hunt the ones we encounter before sunset as usual, without any particular excitement we decided on todays prey.
Nnh? Whats wrong? No, well, somethings just a bit
Shortly after we entered the Dungeon, for some reason, it seems like my stomachs a bit unwell. Its not something I can call pain, but I feel somewhat uncomfortable. That time I thought of it as no big deal and just ignored it. In reality, it didnt really pose any problems. Urania tracked down the Growleus, I support her while making sure that they dont get away, and we took down several of them as usual.
Nnh Are you alright? No, I dont really feel so good, I guess
The hunt itself is going smoothly, but my conditions a bit bad. I tried using Cure and Heal, but they dont seem to be working, so its probably not some poison or disease. Healing without knowing its cause is useless, so even though we have only hunted a few for today, should we end it here and rest up for today? Just as we were discussing that, I suddenly slipped on the muddy ground and ended up clumsily falling over. And at the same time, an arrow was shot from somewhere, grazed my right shoulder, and pierced the ground.
!? Lily! Where did it-!? Hehe, finally dropped your guard, damn ?????!
The assailant started talking to us and came out themselves. Four men. I feel like Ive seen them somewhere before, but I cant quite remember. However, it seems like Uranias different.
Gale Viper? Why are you people here? Your Guild Cards should have been confiscated. Hehe, the Abyssal Forests pretty big, see? There are tons of ways to get inside.
They seem to be those guys who started some trouble with us at the guild. Why are they in a place like this? I wondered, but well, guessing what these kinds of guys are thinking is pretty simple.
Because of you ???????, were not adventurers anymore. Well have you pay for that. That was your own fault. Its misdirected of you to blame us for that. Who the ???? cares about it being misdirected! After having fun with the two of you, were gonna sell you off to some slave traders!
Ahh, they really are idiots beyond saving. They shouldve learned our difference in strength after what happened that time. Something at the level of Bind wasnt enough of a punishment, huh. In the case, I have no choice but to show them some pain. Deciding on what Magic I should use to punish them, This should do it, I thought and moved my mouth, starting to recite a fake chant like usual, and then I noticed.
Lily?
My voice wont come out. No, more importantly, I cant move my body too. Is this paralysis?
Hah! Its a poison that can paralyze even a Marguhlus with just a scratch! You cant move your body or even speak, right?
Probably coated on the arrow that grazed me earlier, the paralysis poison corrodes my body. But well, the chants I use arent real, so I didnt really need them from the start. As I was about to operate a Magic that can easily cure this kind of paralysis, they moved all at once.
Its just a Mage that cant even chant and a Dog Ear-kin that cant muster up strength! Crush them in one go! Yeah!
An arrow probably coated with the same poison was once again shot. Urania avoided it with ease. But unable to move my body, I obviously couldnt avoid the arrow, and it hit me on my thigh.
Ngh! Lily!?
Reflexively groaning, I got Urania worried, and she runs over to me. Catching up behind her are the members of Gale Viper brandishing their swords. I reflexively cast Magic. A Magic that will allow me to protect Urania and will allow even me who cant move to get away. Levitation. I chantlessly cast it on us and used rapid fire Burn Magic for propulsion.
Levitation itself is originally a Magic that can only make things float, and when moving using that, precise Magic Power control becomes necessary. Since I cant do it well in my current condition, I used Burn Magic to make up for it. Burn itself is just combustion Magic, but by firing it without control, I can cause a small scale explosion.
With that explosion as the driving force, we managed to successfully put distance between us. As bonus, I hit them with the rapid fire Burn, but whether or not the wild shots will cause them any kind of damage, I dont really care. In the meantime, since weve put some distance between us, running away now should be fine, but the direction were running towards is bad.
The direction theyre at is where the Dungeons exit is, and the direction were running at faces towards the middle layer. After somehow taking a roundabout path, the rain started falling too, making Uranias nose ineffective, so we decided that heading for the exit right now is too dangerous.
If my condition doesnt get any better, we probably dont have any other choice. I somehow walk while leaning on Uranias shoulder, but it only made it worse.
Im sorry, Urania. Its fine. The rain washed away our footsteps too. They wont catch up for a while. Isee Sorry, let merest
Not good, Im starting to lose consciousness. I still havent removed the paralysis, and my bodys feeling a lot worse too. I hope a short rest can make me even a little better, though. I closed my eyes and passed out.