Chapter 149: Suspicious Movement 4
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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An elderly man with wrinkled skin and a few young men following him, concerned, burst through the inn's door.
The innkeeper, startled by the abrupt entrance, sprang to his feet with wide eyes.
However, the old man, disregarding him, dashed toward us.
More precisely, toward me, clad in armor.
"Oh dear, kn-knight sir!"
"I am not a knight."
Whether it's due to his advanced age or some psychological shock, the old man, clings to me, mistaking me for a knight.
The young men following him anxiously circle around.
They want to stop him but can't seem to bring themselves to physically restrain him.
Perhaps its a given considering that, as a village chief in such a small settlement, he would likely hold nearly absolute power among the residents.
Moreover, seeing the chiefs face, it seems something significant must have happened in the village.
-Is this the linked quest or an added side quest?
-Are there Wolf Riders around this village too?
-Really LOL, every time we come to a small village, it's being threatened by orcs.
-It's like always being told to pick herbs in RPGs.
-waahh wahh, oh great hero, please collect some firewood from the mountain behind...
Even the viewers, observing via the stream, speculated that he'd offer a quest under the guise of a request.
Han Se-ah, perhaps sharing this expectation, began to film the chiefs face as if conducting an interview, with the camera zooming into his expression.
The elderly village chief, trying to kneel and cling to me, the youths, restless yet unable to separate him from me, and my party, standing beside and behind me, trying to listen to the chiefs words.
The peculiar standoff between the two groups ended when the chief truly knelt, grabbing at the hem of my garment.
"Please, accept our request!"
"Sir! These people are merely guests traveling west..."
"Silence, all of you!"
Contrary to his frail and slight physique, the chief bellowed, making the inn echo with his roar.
He shoved aside the youths trying to restrain him, and again latched onto me.
With gleaming eyes and a foamy, shouting mouth, he had on a bizarre appearance.
Like someone inflicted with rabies.
Instinctively clenching my fist, the quick-witted village youths rushed back, forcibly dragging the chief away as he resisted.
As if being wrongfully arrested, his arms held, being dragged away, the elderly chief continued to cry out desperately.
Straining his throat, hoarsely yelling so we could all hear.
"Our people, the young ones, they've disappeared! Im sure it's the work of orcs! Those creatures, they are coming back!"
"Sir! Ben and Paul went to the neighboring village for trade, remember?"
"Ah, Im so sorry. Hes not usually like this... Hes just anxious because his son, who went trading, has not returned."
Instead of the dragged-away chief, a fair-skinned, stout, and simple-looking youth bowed his head, explaining the situation to us.
Being a small village, the chiefs son worked as a peddler, traveling to procure goods and was considerably late in returning, he explained.
Village residents seem unbothered, having never seen monsters, let alone wild beasts, in the vicinity.
They casually speculate whether there's been a delay due to how busy it is or duet to hitting the jackpot.
Glancing around at our party as we each exchange glances, Irene steps forward, swallowing nervously.
"I, I want to help..."
Her gaze is fixed on a small wooden statue, previously hidden by the burly innkeepers physique.
...A statue of the Goddess.
Apparently, this stout innkeeper is a devout believer, with a prominent symbol of the Goddess hanging boldly behind the counter.
Upon closer inspection, something resembling a rosary is wrapped around his plump wrist.
Our saint candidate, unable to ignore the suffering of ordinary citizens, couldn't refuse the innkeepers request.
"Oh, thank you so much, Sister!"
"Well, although I said that..."
"If you want to, then of course!"
And Han Se-ah, of course, isnt brave enough to refuse the request of a 5 healer.
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Raei Translations
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Exploring around the village isnt difficult.
Just like when I found the girl who disappeared near Grace's village, all I had to do was run around quite wildly.
Moreover, today, while not quite to my level, the firm-footed Lily is also joining us.
Two senior adventurers stepping out just to search for orcs is quite an overkill.
However, if there were to be a problem, it'd be this annoying camera that's like a thorn in my side.
"So, Roland and Grace will..."
"No, it's best if all four of us get involved to wrap this up quickly. Lily, Grace, Katie, and I will spread out in all directions to look for traces of them."
"Is that okay?"
"If the orcs didnt raid the village, it means they are likely few in number. Plus, since I killed dozens of wolves, this area should be relatively safe."
"Really? ...Well, if Roland says so."
I refute Han Se-ahs attempt to naturally pair me up with Grace again and push my opinion forward.
Grace, who progressed from 3 to 4, has enhanced detection abilities and should be able to sense and flee from the orcs before they notice her.
Similarly, Lily, despite also being a 4, has spent several years training with me in the tower and being a senior adventurer, shouldnt fall victim to orcs.
What's somewhat concerning is Katie, who has the talent equivalent to a 4 but lacks experience.
Attaching Irene to her should resolve that issue.
"I'll take the most dangerous, the north. Lily will take the west, Grace will handle the east, and Katie and Irene will take care of the south for our search."
"Is Grace okay on her own since shes an archer?"
"Hanna? You know that I learned the skills of a ranger, right? And since the east is the direction we came from, I don't think its particularly dangerous to search for traces there."
"Ah, right."
"Ah, right? You, seriously..."
"Hey, sorry. I was just worried, so...what about me?"
Han Se-ah, taking a light jab from Grace, tilts her head and asks me, ignoring the chat nominating her for Forbes and other industry rewards.
"I'll take you with me. The north has the highest likelihood of having traces, and I'm thinking of going much farther. If theres a shaman, you should be able to notice, Hanna."
"Huh?"
Of course, its because of the quest window and mini-map... but I'm planning to run at an absurd speed while carrying her like luggage.
Although her blushing cheeks tell me what she's thinking, it'll be completely different from what she's imagining.
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