The Story Of A Certain Adventurer (8)
“Aaaa!”
“Don’t you get closer!”
I kick and send the zombie who was coming closer to me flying. Before the zombie that faltered after being kicked recover its stance, I thrust out my sword and stab its neck. Though the zombie whose neck was stabbed tries to bite me, I push ahead while making sure not to be bitten.
At the same time as that, arrows were released from the roof. I hide in the shadow of the zombie I’m pushing and uses it as a shield. Conveying to me from the body are the vibrations of the arrows piercing into it. That was close, I’m glad I was able to catch a glance of it though, a tad bit later and I’d have been struck.
“Lynk, are you alright!?”
“Aa, I’m fine!”
I answer while pulling the sword that’s stabbed into the zombie out. Following along behind Marie is Gand who’s protecting her from the townfolks and zombies who attack her.
I don’t know how long it has been since we entered this town. We’ve defeated quite a number of zombies and put to sleep not sure how many townfolks but, I think it’s quite a number of them. In exchange for that, Gand, me, and the others as well, have our fatigues and injuries piling up. Especially Gand who’s in charge of the shield. He probably has it rougher than me.
“Get blown away”
Amongst all that, a guy is chopping up the nearby zombies and sending the townfolks flying, rendering them unconscious. Arashi is walking in front of us. He clads his sword in a wind that isn’t inferior to his nickname and moves ahead.
Though our numbers have diminished by about a third in comparison to when we first came in, we were able to make it close to the middle of town. It’s just probably but, Mylene should be at where the mayor is.
We will be able to break through if we carry on like this. When I thought that, something came falling down. That thing that fell down with a loud ‘Dosun!’ is, looking around restlessly, and when it found us who are its prey, it lets out a cry.
“Wh, what’s with that thing!?”
“That is……is it using the townfolks!”
The new monster that appeared before our eyes. That thing was, a grotesque-looking monster that’s forcibly shaped into that of a human by piling up numerous human corpses. With its height about 3m and its arms being abnormally large. Naturally, its arms are also made using human corpses.
“HEL, HELP”
“IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS”
“KI, KILL ME”
And then, from the mouths of the corpses that shouldn’t be moving leak out all kinds of voices. My heart hurts and I feel unpleasant whenever I hear their voices. Wh, what’s this?
“uu! Those voices are curses! Keep your mind strong!”
From the back, I hear Marie’s voice. Keep my mind strong, is it. I will save her, I will save Mylene. Besides, I definitely won’t lose to a guy who toys around with the dead like this!
“Body Reinforcement!”
I activate one of the very few skills I can use, Physical Up, and approach the grotesque-looking thing. The guy who approaches at the same time as when I start running, Arashi also took a quick glance at me and approached the grotesque-looking thing.
The grotesque-looking thing who recognizes us who approach it as enemies, raises its large arm overhead. The arm that has a considerable mass swings down towards us but, Arashi and I split into right and left.
When its arm smashes into the ground, the ground splits and fragments fly all about but, we continue to approach as it is.
“Oraa!”
“Fhun!”
Arashi cuts off the hand that was slammed into the ground with his sword that was clad in wind, I went into the grotesque-looking thing’s bosom and sliced its flank. Though death agonies can be heard from the corpses, I pay it no mind, turn around and swing my sword upwards from below.
The grotesque-looking thing, I’m not sure whether if it’s in pain or what but it shouts, rotates in order to swing its remaining arm to drive us away. Both Arashi and I lower our postures in order to pass through the arm and cut off each of the legs respectively.
The grotesque-looking thing that lost its support collapses into the ground. When we thought about pushing on as it is now, the grotesque-looking thing raised a scream that’s different from anything thus far. It’s as though, it’s like a scream that’s requesting for help.
And then, that thinking was spot on. The zombies that heard the scream came gathering at the grotesque-looking thing. Ignoring us who are their enemies and jumping onto the grotesque-looking thing.
“R, reduce them to ashes, Flame Storm!”
Perhaps she thought that now is a chance, Marie released the strongest magic that she’s able to use. By the tornado of flame that Marie released, the zombies that gathered were burned.
“AaaaAaaa!”
However, the grotesque-looking thing that is being worked on by the zombies swings its arm and the tornado of flame got extinguished in an instant. Furthermore, the arm and legs that should’ve been cut off by Arashi and I have recovered. In addition to that, the arms increased by 2……perhaps, the reason it gathered the zombies just now was to heal its body?
“Tsk, what a troublesome enemy. Furthermore, the zombies have gathered over here because of the scream just now”
It’s just as Arashi has said, maybe because of the grotesque-looking thing’s scream just now, even the zombies that weren’t in the vicinity have gathered over here.
“uu! Lynk, dodge!”
When I was looking at such surroundings, Gand suddenly starts to shout. In front of Gand’s view was the grotesque-looking thing, and then grasped in its hands are zombies. Don’t tell me!?
As I had thought, in the next moment, the zombies were thrown. Furthermore, it’s a considerable speed. It’s thanks to Gand’s voice that I was able to avoid it right away but, the soldiers who weren’t able to avoid it in time were dragged into it and crushed.
An object with the weight of a person flew towards them. It’s probably outrageous. Shit, it’s really hard to deal with. In front of my eyes is the grotesque-looking thing that heals even when I cut it along with the zombies that are the source of that recovery. And then, the townfolks who are being manipulated. We’ll be completely wiped out if this carries on.
I don’t know how it is for the other places but, if this carries on, we will have to consider about running away. Shit, am I going to run away, again.
The grotesque-looking thing that’s hurling the zombies one after the other like balls towards us. It’s a considerable speed so I’m barely avoiding it but, it collides with the soldiers who weren’t able to avoid it in time and crushes them.
“Lynk, I’ll block that thing’s arm! In the meantime, defeat that thing!”
“But, if that’s the case then, you will!”
“We won’t be able to move forward if we don’t defeat it! Let’s go!”
Gand who said that, holds his shield up while charging towards the grotesque-looking thing. If it’s Gand who has the occupation of a Heavy Warrior then he may be able to endure the grotesque-looking thing’s attack as well. But……there’s no time to think about it. Gand is already in front of the grotesque-looking thing’s eyes. Since it turned out like this, I’ll just have to quickly defeat it!
“Marie! I’ll be counting on you for the support!”
“I get it! Speed, Defense, Power Enchant!”
My body was applied with Marie’s magic and enhanced. I whose speed has increased, follow behind Gand. The fist of the grotesque-looking thing swings downwards onto Gand. Gand puts up his shield and collides with the fist.
Loud noises that go, ‘Gan!’, can be heard multiple times and, at the same time, I hear Gand’s groan as well. However, I can’t falter now. For the sake of Gand who’s somehow holding on as well!
I pass through the side of Gand as it is and head towards the grotesque-looking thing. To me who appeared from behind Gand out of the sudden, the grotesque-looking thing’s reaction was also delayed.
“Let’s go, Occupation Arts『Eight Consecutive Flashes』”
I activate Occupation Arts, abilities possessed by the occupation that is different from magic. My occupation is Swordsman. Naturally, the Occupation Arts that a swordsman can acquire are all techniques related to swordsmanship. This is the strongest technique that I can use amongst them!
I who activated my Occupation Arts starts slicing into the grotesque-looking thing. Slicing off the 4 arms, a 十 sign to the chest, and a cross sign to the neck. A total of 8 slashes assail the grotesque-looking thing.
Though I was able to cut the grotesque-looking thing without it having the time to react, fatigue assails my body. Like how magic expends magic power, occupation arts expends physical strength. Not being able to use it consecutively is a demerit but, even with that, Occupation Arts are strong.
“That’s pretty good”
Looking at the grotesque-looking thing that has been decapitated and collapsed, Arashi says that to me while slapping me on the back. Haha, it’s an honour to be able to have something like that said to me by an A-Rank.
Gand was receiving treatment from Marie. Although not to the extent of Mylene, Marie is also able to use healing-type magic.
I want to let my physical strength recover but, I have to move forward. I forcefully push my body that’s crying out in fatigue to move forward. However, I wasn’t able to move.
The reason is right before my eyes. Gand is holding on to me and stopping me. Because two of the grotesque-looking that somehow we defeated has newly appeared before our eyes.
Even though it’s already a pain with just the zombies themselves, multiple of these grotesque-looking thing can be sent out as well!?
“With this, we have no choice but to retreat”
Arashi mutters slowly. But I can’t do that. Pulling back after coming so far. This is the limit on the number of people that the Feudal Lord is able to provide now, you know? If we can’t win even this number of people, then there’s no choice but to rely on the country. But, if we did that then Mylene will……I understand that this thinking is self-centred. But still, but still!
At that moment, a black shadow appeared on the ground of the space between the grotesque-looking things. Both Arashi and I are on guard against the shadow that suddenly appeared. From inside the shadow, ‘Katsun katsun’, sounds that seem as though somebody is walking up the stairs can be heard. And then, what appeared was a person wearing a black robe. You are
“The person who abducted Mylene huh!!”
I forcibly move my fatigued body and start running towards the robed person. The grotesque-looking things try to hinder me but, Arashi on one side with Gand and Marie on the other held them back for me.
I got my eyes set directly on the robed person. There was no indication of the robed person moving even when he sees me approaching. Someone like me is nothing? I’ll make you regret that!
“Occupation Arts『Thunder Strike』!”
I activate the Occupation Arts that swings the sword down from overhead in one go. I take aim above the robed person’s head and swing my sword down. It swings down with the force to smash him but, there’s still no indication of him moving. I swung down without knowing why but, I immediately understood the reason.
This fellow, it’s because he didn’t have to dodge. A barrier activates in order to block my sword. Because there’s that. Furthermore, this barrier looks familiar. This is……
“Holy Burst”
Bombardments of light were released from the back of the robed person. I make use of the barrier that blocked my sword and somehow avoided the bombardments but, the zombies and townfolks that were behind me were shot and exploded. What power.
Then, what appeared from the back of the robed person was, our precious comrade who’s wearing an entirely black habit with gold lines, it was Mylene who’s pointing her hands at us as she appeared.
