Chapter 12 (1/2)

Translated by mranon

Edited by Xaga

Helium, 12th Chapter: A Transient Partner

After partaking of the a.s.sortments in the bar, s.h.i.+n, whose mind and body had healed, wandered in the forest from yesterday.

According to the barkeeper, the distance to the capital of this kingdom was equivalent to the distance a carriage could run in two days non-stop.

‘In contrast, if you walked to the capital of Revival Kingdom in the south, you would arrive in a day or two,’ he had added. Hence, s.h.i.+n decided to head there first.

The sun s.h.i.+ning through the interstices of the trees in the late afternoon was enthralling.

The vast forest that had not been trodden on by many was in some respects quiet—quiet to the point that it felt pure. If someone told him that this wasn’t Earth, he would readily believe them.

Suddenly, the growl of a ferocious beast pierced s.h.i.+n’s ears. And from the sound of it, there seemed to be several of them.

Then, as if a hard object was struck, a dull sound resounded simultaneously with the shout of someone strong, who seemed to be enraged.

Although it was only his second time in this forest, s.h.i.+n somehow turned his feet toward the centre of commotion while remembering about the beasts he had heard of back in the village.

“Haaaa!”

—Gurururururuvaa

Brandis.h.i.+ng a sword leaner than the one clad in flames wielded by the guy back then, and flipping as if performing dance steps–visible through the interstices of the trees was the silhouette of a woman striving.

Her long chestnut hair tied up behind, a lightweight silver plate clinging to her chest and crotch–a woman who gave the impression of a western knight.

She was none other than the woman s.h.i.+n saw earlier in the day.

The young woman who hit out at the rampaging men angrily and put them in place instantly. ‘If I remember correctly, she was called Frey,’ while thinking so, s.h.i.+n came out of the thicket.

As to why this place was relatively clear: it was likely owing to the woman’s long sword cutting the thin trees down and the wolves twice as big, which seemed to be attacking the woman, trampling on the vicinage.

The woman was confronting three beasts. She set her sword up again and repeated the slas.h.i.+ng motion.

Lying dead on the ground were similar beasts, with the roots of their necks cut and their tongues out.

Witnessing the swordplay that had no gaps and the repeated movements in such a rough place as this, s.h.i.+n could deduce the level of her ability, which she was exerting herself in the maelstrom of battles with, which the ability of the men he confronted earlier in the cave could never reach.

“It’s not strange anymore…”

Gazing at the beast that looked like yet was not a wolf, and thinking that such a creature would not exist even in Amazon, s.h.i.+n spectated the battle between the woman and the beasts.

Before long, all of the beasts were lying on the ground with their lives ended. The woman guided the tip of her sword into the scabbard on her waist. In the next breath, she turned her head toward s.h.i.+n.

“‘Isn’t a frail woman by herself, with such a refined aesthetic sense no less, supposed to have a hard time against a group of beasts?’ Or are you not good at complimenting?”

“…You had noticed me? My bad. You didn’t need a hand… I guess.”

At the woman’s suddenly calling out to him, s.h.i.+n was somewhat discomposed.

Although he was observing the development through the thicket with an intention of lending a hand if it by any chance turned grave, he once more ended up getting himself dragged into a needless dispute; therefore, he excused.

However, he was unnecessarily worried.

Nevertheless, s.h.i.+n was ill at ease for he had been noticed.

“Somehow, I sensed bloodl.u.s.t. Besides, that pack of Graze Wolves was preoccupied with your presence for a moment… thanks to that, I was able to dispose them off unexpectedly quickly.”

Upon hearing the word ‘bloodl.u.s.t’, s.h.i.+n felt like ‘well…’

Although he undoubtedly planned on killing the beasts without any hesitation if they rushed his way after having noticed his presence, he wasn’t a dangerous existence per se.

The instinctive olfactory sense of these kinds of animals was considered to be acute. However, why would the woman in front of him have the same sense? It was incomprehensible.

“So, how was it?”

“How was what?”

To the woman’s inexplicable question, s.h.i.+n replied with a question of his own.

“I have plenty of aesthetic sense, obviously. I asked you about my skills. You’re the Adventurer from back then, aren’t you? You were playing with us… those guys back in Wide Town as if you were playing with kids. I got to see your skills to some extent.”

Upon the woman’s saying so, s.h.i.+n compared the movements that took the five beasts out with merely a sword to that of those men’s. The difference was clear as sky. It was indeed inappropriate to mention the woman chatting with him and those men in the same breadth.