「Takato──」
「──It’s fine. Shall we head to Plando Village?」
I agreed before Kainzel-san could say anything.
「Ladarion. It will be a night battle. Make do with what is in the fridge today」
「Got it. Can I eat all the fruit sandwiches?」
「Leave the mango ones. Miriel muttered that she wanted to eat them later」
I was glad she had gotten hooked on fruit sandwiches. One whole fridge was filled with them, about sixty percent of the space. There should be enough for tonight.
「……Takato. Are you sure? We will not earn anything」
I smiled at the confused Kainzel-san.
「That is true. We will not earn money. But it will give us experience. You will command us, Kainzel-san. I am still worse than a rookie adventurer when it comes to anything but goblins」
If you cannot help when others are in trouble, no one will help you when it is your turn. That is what it means to rely on each other as companions.
「……Forgive me」
「There is no need to apologize. Let’s finish this quickly and toast our victory. With a well-chilled beer」
Wait. Is this a death flag? No. It is a victory flag. The one leading us is a former captain who survived to this age. There is no future where he fails.
「So, is Plando Village far?」
「With the Pioneer, it should take less than twenty minutes」
「Then we can arrive before dark. We can change gear once we get there. With only twenty of them, our current gear is enough」
We had no idea what would happen, so I had brought the VHS-2 and the Aport pouch was equipped on me. If Kainzel-san and I held them off, Ladarion would have time to change gear without any problem.
「Yes. Let’s go」
We headed outside, got into the Pioneer and drove toward Plando Village.
I left the driving to Kainzel-san, took a headlamp from the backpack in the back seat, put on my tactical helmet and attached a light to the VHS-2.
「Takato. May I put on my glasses?」
「Yes, that is fine. But are Mogutan nocturnal?」
「Not nocturnal, but I have heard they often attack at night. They rely on their sense of smell more than their sight」
「Their sense of smell, huh. If it comes down to it, we can use bear spray or tear gas. I will take out the gas masks. Ladarion, keep yours ready to put on right away」
Still, how can she eat with all this shaking? Does she not get sick?
「Okay. Get me some orange juice.」
「You might want to get to the toilet later then」
「I’ll go to the toilet once we’re at the village」
She really has no sense of tension. I am so nervous I cannot even feel hungry.
I said something cool earlier, but facing an unknown monster is nothing but terrifying. If I were alone, I would already be running away with snot dripping down my face.
Just as Kainzel-san said, we reached Plando Village in less than twenty minutes.
「Terraces?」
Behind the village was something that looked like the terraced fields I once saw during a trip to Nagano. Do they grow rice here?
「They grow a vegetable called Kono. It is mainly used as feed for livestock, though when simmered it makes a good snack for drinking」
I see. A simmered dish. It might go well with hot sake. I should buy some later and try it.
「Takato! I smell beasts! There are many around us!」
「It is Mogutan! Give me the glasses」
Ladarion, who had been wearing the glasses, handed them to Kainzel-san, then got out of the Pioneer and raised his VHS-2.
The area before Plando Village looked like pastureland, but strange, twisted trees grew here and there.
It was past five, yet since it was summer there were still nearly two hours before sunset. If the number was small, we could finish this without trouble. I tried to think only positive thoughts so I would not mentally collapse.
「……So that is a Mogutan……」
It was definitely a humanoid boar. Its appearance was so close to an orc that I wanted to yell at someone to use the proper name already. It even had enough intelligence to wield a club.
「Takato, Ladarion. Mogutan have high vitality. Aim for the legs and stop their movement!」
「Got it!」
「Understood!」
Each Mogutan was around two meters tall and not particularly fast. They looked down on us because there were only three of us.
Four of them were coming toward me. That was more than enough to justify a tactical retreat, but I had no choice. If I did not kill them, I would be the one to die. It was either me or the Mogutan. So it should be you.
When they came within ten meters, I flashed the light attached to the VHS-2. As they faltered, I aimed at the Mogutan’s precious parts and pulled the trigger. I had no interest in witnessing a real version of that infamous scene.
I swept them with a rapid volley, then immediately changed magazines. I swept them again.
Even though I had aimed for their precious parts, the four of them were not dead. They screeched with high-pitched piglike cries.
I changed magazines again. I switched to single fire and aimed for their heads to finish them.
I glanced at Ladarion. She was also finishing her targets and had already taken down five.
I still had ammunition, but I swapped in a full magazine and turned toward Kainzel-san.
There were nearly ten on his side and he had not finished them all, but the G3 used 7.62 mm rounds, and the damage to the Mogutan was heavy. Four in the back were still standing after being shot in the legs. To keep them back, I punished their precious parts as well.
「……You are more ruthless than I expected……」
「I cannot be gentle with enemies. Refill your magazines while you can」
We did not have enough ammunition for a long fight. Ladarion and I had only five magazines each, and Kainzel-san had four. We had to restock before the next wave came.
We left the empty magazines in the Pioneer and retrieved loaded ones from the apport pouch.
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