Chapter 157

Taking a break for a week.

Chapter 1/5

Side Story. Rosaria Quest (4)

"Alright. We'll follow the chief's instructions and scout from the inn. Is that okay?"

Larksper nodded his head.

He wanted to tell the kids to stay out of it, but he decided to compromise as this was their last line of negotiation.

Larksper hid under a pile of straw and waited quietly.

The chickens were restless, clucking anxiously due to his intrusion into the henhouse, but it didn't last long.

As if to prove that they weren't called birdbrains for nothing, they seemed to forget Larksper's presence and started pecking feed off the ground.

"Hmm."

Larksper glanced up to see the location of the inn.

Two tiny silhouettes flickering in the candlelight were leaning against the window, looking down at this place.

They were waving their hands eagerly, but he couldn't respond, so he remained silent.

As the night deepened, Larksper, who had been lying in ambush, sensed a presence.

A large object, unlike the dozing chickens, was approaching.

'A wolf?'

Its silhouette was barely visible in the dark night.

It was large and, more importantly, walked on two legs like a human.

It also clumsily chased the flapping chickens.

Wondering if he had mistaken the thief for a wolf, Larksper decided to observe a little more.

When the opponent turned their face, he saw a long snout and was convinced.

'It seems to be a werewolf.'

Then it wasn't strange to mistake it for a wolf.

Larksper cautiously raised the axe he was holding.

He slowly approached the werewolf catching a hen in the henhouse, making sure not to make any noise when coming out of the straw pile.

'Just a little more...'

That's when it happened.

A twinkling light from the inn momentarily blinded Larksper's vision.

The light reflected off the well-sharpened axe, drawing the werewolf's attention.

He was caught.

Larksper hurled the axe with all his might without hesitation.

The sharp trajectory enveloped the werewolf.

Whoosh!

It missed.

The werewolf dodged the attack with an exaggerated movement.

The werewolf, who had been catching chickens, took off on all fours.

Larksper took out the spear he carried on his back.

"Hmm..."

However, Larksper couldn't easily throw the spear.

It was the middle of the night when he couldn't even properly see the target, and there was also an uneasy feeling.

There was something unsettling about hunting it down one-sidedly when it seemed to have no intention of fighting Larksper while clumsily catching chickens.

'Besides, if I chase it now, it might actually escape.'

Undoubtedly, the werewolf must have a hideout.

Since the footprints were clearly left, he just needed to find the place and devise a strategy.

Then today is over.

Larksper returned to the inn and took a bath first. After washing his filth-covered body thoroughly, he returned to his room.

"Hey, orc."

At that moment, someone called him without any warning.

When he turned his head, a small water elemental appeared in front of him.

"The two little ones are leaning against the window, sleeping. They should be put to bed properly."

"...Is that so?"

"I don't want to contract a genius who can't even pronounce properly because of their twisted mouth, so do it."

Why would she ask him to do it instead of doing it herself?

Thinking there must be some reason, Larksper entered the room where Rosaria and Yuria were.

"Kuu... Kuu..."

It was just as she said.

Rosaria was drooling while leaning against the window, and Yuria was sleeping with a snoring sound.nove(l)bi(n.)com

"Hmm..."

Larksper carefully laid each of them on the bed so they wouldn't wake up.

And he found out the source of the light that had disturbed his hunt.

It was Rosaria's mirror.

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Dream big tl dot com

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"I fell asleep yesterday."

"Me, me too, I fell asleep..."

Although breakfast was in front of them, Rosaria and Yuria hung their heads as if they were ashamed.

If anything, the only difference was that Rosaria's hand was ripping the bread and bringing it to her mouth.

"Young ones need to sleep a lot. It's natural."

Since it was a natural outcome, Larksper didn't have high expectations for them.

As Larksper continued to encourage them in his own way, Rosaria and Yuria finished their breakfast.

"That should be enough."

Larksper led the way into the depths of the dry cave.

As Yuria and Rosaria accompanied him, he carefully checked the surroundings to avoid being ambushed.

About halfway into the cave, Yuria felt something poking her back.

Annoyed, she scolded Rosaria, thinking it was her prank.

"Rosaria, stop playing around. It's hard enough to concentrate in a cave."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Rosaria, who had been in front, asked Yuria.

Yuria, who had been looking at the back of Larksper's head, blinked when she saw Rosaria.

"Huh? Rosaria, when did you go ahead?"

"I've been in front the whole time."

"Then who's behind me..."

Yuria turned her head slightly.

A large wolf's face appeared.

"Ahhhhhh!"

As Larksper turned his head, he threw an axe towards Yuria.

"Ouch!"

The wolf's head screamed.

If it hadn't pulled its head back belatedly, the axe embedded in the wall would have hit its head.

"I'm out of practice."

As Larksper frowned and prepared to throw the axe in his left hand as well,

"Wait, let's talk in our language, Orc brother!"

Everyone looked at the Lycanthrope with surprise as it fluently spoke their language.

"The wolf talks."

"Of course I talk. I used to be a human! So put down your axe and let's talk!"

The Lycanthrope raised both hands, showing that it had no intention of fighting.

"Sob... I don't want to be caught... I don't want to be eaten."

"Ah, ah, young lady, I didn't mean to catch and eat you..."

"Eek! Go away!"

Yuria burst into tears.

The wolf, who was trying to explain, backed away.

Rosaria hid behind Larksper with Yuria.

Larksper moved the axe to his right hand and said,

"Even if you speak human language, you're still a beast."

"I'm not a beast! I've never hurt anyone!"

"But werewolves open their eyes to their wild instincts on full moon nights..."

"I know I've turned into a dog-like creature. But I've never been drawn to my wild instincts because of the full moon or anything! I've even helped when I could! Please believe me!"

With sharp claws on both hands, it pleaded with tears in its eyes.

It looked pitiful, even with a fierce wolf's face, and its emotions were conveyed to Rosaria.

"It looks pitiful, doesn't it?"

"Master, there's no guarantee that it's telling the truth. Wicked creatures can be like that in front of us but hide a dagger behind our backs."

"A dagger?"

"It means... sob, that they could harm us."

Yuria, still crying, gave a prompt answer.

Rosaria nodded, sticking to Larksper's side, and asked.

"Why did you steal from the henhouse?"

"Try walking around like this, young lady! If I go to the village, the guards will come after me for being a monster, I have no way to make money, and I had no choice but to eat wild animals and fruits. If I'm really hungry, I can't help but steal livestock. But I've only done it a few times! Please believe me!"

Upon hearing his words and looking at the ground, a few mountain berries were rolling on the floor.

There was no one else in the cave, so it must have been something he brought for himself to eat.

"Why did you become a werewolf?"

"Well... there are some circumstances."

"What kind of circumstances?"

"It's literally adult circumstances. This is... complicated to explain."

Yuria could feel it.

He was hiding something.

That's why she approached Rosaria and whispered.

"That werewolf is hiding something. I don't think we can just leave it be."

"Is that so?"

"He must have hurt someone."

Yuria glared at the werewolf with teary eyes.

"I don't think that's the case."

It was Larksper who responded to Yuria's words.

"Are you sure?"

"Larksper is sure. That werewolf has never killed a person."

He had felt it since the werewolf sneaked into the henhouse.

The clumsiness in trying to catch a chicken was similar to a human hesitating many times before taking a life.

Rosaria looked at him and then came out from behind Larksper.

"If you have any difficulties, Rosaria will help you."

"R-really?"

"Yes!"

Rosaria said, hitting her chest.

"Despite appearances, Rosaria is a hero!"