Общий файл / Does Force Bind to Responsibility?: Глава 7

Chapter 7

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:23

*** Daimon's group***

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:28

When Era awoke, she looked around and wondered aloof. The rest of last night was a blurry memory. She remembered only vaguely what had happened to her. Somehow there was no pain, and there was no sensation in her soul that she would have expected. It was as if she had been dreaming.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:36

Daimon sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed, his lips were compressed painfully, and sweat beaded on his pale face. Era examined herself and understood everything. She's covered in blood, but not a single scratch on her body.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:38

He had an ability that they preferred not to talk about-an ability to take away any diseases and injuries, as long as the creature was still alive. This ability was not to be used unless it was critically necessary. Such as it is now.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:40

Era couldn't hold back her tears and hugged him. She had no idea what he was going through. Gratitude for taking such a step, guilt for the pain he was going through because of her, compassion - it all came out in tears. And when Daimon smiled at her and patted her on the head, with his usual 'it'll be all right, don't worry,' the stream turned into a full-flowing river.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:51

Finally she more or less calmed down and gently pulled away.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:52

"Where's Bryce?" He wasn't in the cabin, though his backpack is in the corner.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 06:54

"He went to find out about the situation." Daimon said tiredly. "When he gets back, we can figure out what to do next. I'm not sure I'll be able to walk properly for the next couple of days, we don't have any more potions."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:21

"I don't care about potions, we can buy more. But we won't be able to find a new you anywhere else."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:25

"And there's no need to seek, I'm the one and only."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:38

Era was piercingly sad that Daimon, in such a deplorable state, was trying to make a joke. She was just about to say what she thought of it when he raised his hand warningly.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:39

"Era. Before you start pitying me and suffering the way we've all been treated, I'll remind you of one important thing. Yes, it was a very bad day, but it was not the last. We are professional adventurers. Our life is a constant risk and a struggle for life. I need your shoulder to lean on, not pity and guilt. Leave it to the commoners."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:41

Of course, he was right, she understood that. The higher an adventurer's rank, the less space there is in his life for useless feelings like pity or fear. Those who cannot understand this simple truth have never risen above copper or iron, or perished.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:57

But even knowing this, she couldn't accept the fact that they would just have to accept what had happened and go on living as if nothing had happened.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 17:59

Daimon, you're... You're right. Thank you for what you did. But I can't just accept what happened and your sacrifice. I'm gonna get back at those bastards, no matter what it takes.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:00

Daimon snorted.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:01

"That's a good mindset. And believe me, you're not the only one who wants revenge. But there's a problem. We're too weak against such an enemy, you know? Trying revenge now would only amuse him."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:02

"So we're going to get stronger. Remember when I said we were taking too many risks and that I doubted we had a future? I take it back. I'm not going down that road, and I won't let you. We'll get stronger, we'll find this asshole and he'll pay for everything."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:04

"Oh, that fire in your eyes, I've missed it for the last year. It's good to see you like that again." He wiggled his leg and grimaced. "Back to the point. There's blood all over the house, and while it's hot and we need to get it cleaned up before the flies and the heat do their work. I told you before, we're here for a couple of days at best."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:07

Eira helped him to lie down on the bed and began scraping the floor. It wasn't easy, the blood didn't wash off the chopped wood, and she had to go outside to the well several times. The well was literally ten paces from the house. The people she met avoided her, tried to disappear at her sight, and that was a good thing. Not that she blamed them for not intervening to help them yesterday. But she didn't want to see or talk to them at all.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:10

Bryce came in at dinnertime when only a few dark stains on the floor and a door that had been torn off its hinges reminded of what had happened. Era was just changing Daimon's bandages and wiping him with a damp towel.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:16

"Hearing those groans, I thought there was something more interesting going on..." He dodged a bloody rag. "My bad, that was a bad joke."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:17

"What did you find out?" Era looked at him angrily.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:17

"Quite a few things. First of all, those guys who gave us trouble. Turns out they've been at it for years. Slave hunters. Once every six months, they go through the villages and take one or two people they like, mostly girls, but sometimes young boys too. No one ever hears from them again. I guess things aren't going well for them. The locals aren't enthusiastic, and even seem to have tried to put up resistance. In that village where we were supposed to go out first. It ended sadly, good thing they got the kids out of there first."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:23

"So we're even lucky." Era stated gloomily.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:25

"Sort of. I don't have the guts to say it myself, though."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:26

"Is that all?"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:26

"Oh, no, that's the preface. The fun part is next. Anyway, this Akuro, or whatever his name is, drove on this morning. Picked up, by the way, that girl that woman was worried about. And about an hour ago, that girl returned to the village, in the company of almost two dozen other girls from other villages."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:33

"What?" Daimon and Era asked in chorus.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:34

"I tell you, here's where it gets interesting. Anyway, Akuro and his men were attacked by a gang of goblin-like creatures, only as tall as a human, or even larger. The prisoners don't know the details. They did not see anything from the cages. But they remembered that first the carts stopped, and then there was fighting and shouting. When the tent was pulled down from their holdings, they saw our old friends tied up. These goblins dragged them out of their cages, piled them up, and then just left them alone. The poor girls expected anything, any kind of horror, but they simply dismantled the carts on a plank, the cages on a twig, and left. They took the captive soldiers and the horses."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:45

"That sounds a bit fabulous." Era snorted a bit skeptical. "So a gang of overgrown goblins overpowered Akuro and his men, freed the slaves, and left without charging for their rescue."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:48

"For what I bought, for what I sold. This is the version all the girls adhere to. Not word for word, but in general they all say the same thing. And that little brat they asked us to take away from here, she also talked to their ringleader. His name is Jay-Gul, something like that. When he tried to get her out of the cage, which, by the way, he broke with his bare hands, she bit him in fright. He did not seem to take offense. She said that Jay-Gul was a great man and a noble knight. And that he had a boss of his own."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:51

"It doesn't even make sense." Daimon hummed thoughtfully.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:52

Goblins are small, vicious creatures. In general, they can be considered intelligent, they even have their own primitive culture. Among other aspects, this culture includes ritual torture and the eating of other sentient beings. And assuming that these creatures have gathered enough strength to overpower Akuro and his soldiers, it is still possible. But... Released prisoners?

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:56

"They're definitely not goblins, I think the girl must be mistaken." Said Era. "Maybe some other kind of monster, I don't know. If goblins had the power to fight that bastard, they'd have killed all the people here a long time ago."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 18:58

" That's what I thought, too." Said Bryce. "Anyway, monsters like that are a real threat. We don't know anything about them, except that they're strong enough to overpower the swordmaster and his underlings. Who's going to hold them back if they decide to be the bad guys?"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:00

"I'd like to talk to that girl myself." Daimon stretched out thoughtfully. "I need more information. If there really are monsters out there, then the Guild must send a cleanup party to wipe them out before they become a real threat."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:07

"Well, we promised to take her anyway, so I don't think there will be a problem with that. Mind you, the kid sees the situation differently than we do. If she understands that we're not going to be friends with suspicious monsters, she might not want to help."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:11

"How did the locals take the news?"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:12

"Differently... Some are glad that Akuro is gone but are afraid that he'll come back and it'll be worse. There are those who don't like the fact that new mouths have arrived, though no one is going to push them out. One old man blurted out that Akuro was defending these lands and everyone would be fucked without him, and he almost got beaten to death. I can tell that everyone is worried about the rise of a new unknown force."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:16

All three of them were silent, pondering.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:16

"It's all bullshit, leader." Bryce interrupted the silence. "I'll get the girl and you figure it out yourself. I'm thinking of going to the scene to see if I can find any clues. How are you?"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:21

"I'll be fine. I just need a couple of days to rest."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:58

"Era, what about you?"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 19:58

"I'm fine, Bryce. It was a bad adventure, but I'm okay now. Now we have to patch up Daimon, get to the Guild, turn in the job, and get a new one."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 20:15

"You aren't going to retire already, huh."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 20:16

"Not until I've gutted the bastard."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 20:17

"Ha, I'll be holding him at that moment. Well, guys, then I'll go get Annika and run over to the 'battlefield'. It's not too far away."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 20:18

"Okay." Daimon waved his hand.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.21 в 20:18