Volume 2 - CH 9

Riding the regular carriage that connects the towns, Eto and his party headed to the place where the attack took place. In addition to Eto’s party, there was also another adventurer’s party in the carriage, and he also saw some familiar adventurers run past them on horseback on the way.

That is understandable. Because the doubled reward that the Guild promised was extremely attractive for any adventurers. Besides, adventurers who completed an urgent request will be evaluated as someone with abilities by the guild staff and the client. That will lead to an increase in their credibility. And with their credibility increased, they would be able to obtain more profit in the future, and that’s what they wanted more than the reward for this urgent quest itself.

Having arrived at the destination, Eto got off the carriage. The caravan that got attacked by the Manticore has already been cleaned up, leaving no trace of it. There was a highway running from east to west, and thick forest continued on both sides of the highway.

“Looks like there is no trace of the Manticore.”

Kohaku said, while observing the surroundings. The adventurers who roamed around the place also didn’t seem to discover any trace of Manticore. Still, there were parties that went into the forest.

“I think if there were this many people wandering around with weapons, even the Manticore wouldn’t want to come out. Shall we also go into the forest then?”

“Eto, follow me for a bit.”

Saying that, Sorano looked at the entrance of the forest with a serious expression.

“What’s wrong?”

With Sorano at the front, Eto’s party began to step into the forest. Sorano just walked in silence, not explaining anything to them, until she suddenly stopped in front of a tree. There, they saw that the bark of the tree, which happens to be near Eto’s waist, has been stripped.

“I think this mark is caused by the Manticore’s tail. Actually, there was a habitat of Manticore near my village. And whenever someone saw this mark on a tree, the village would immediately be on alert. I also saw the same mark on the tree at the entrance of the forest.”

Hearing that, Eto and the rest opened their eyes in surprise, as they didn’t know that Sorano has such hunter-like skills.

“That’s amazing, Sorano!”

“Fufunn, that’s a skill!”

Sorano said, seemingly proud about it1.

“Yosh, let’s defeat the Manticore before the other adventurers could.”

“Ou!”

Like that, Eto and his party fired themselves up in a moderate voice, to not raise other adventurers’ suspicions.

After that, as they progressed through the forest with Sorano in the front, they clearly could see that there were marks on the trees they passed, like the ones they saw earlier. And then, they finally discovered the Manticore, drinking water from the river.

They also didn’t see other adventurers around. In addition, the Manticore was facing the stream, turning its back towards them. It didn’t seem to be aware of their presence.

Looking at that, Eto immediately cast a spell that strengthened one’s physical abilities ‘Battle Spell’, and layered it with ‘Haste’, which strengthened one’s speed. He then continues to cast another buff that strengthens one’s power, ‘Strength.’

At that moment, Eto felt that if he could defeat the Manticore that stood in front of them, he would be able to move on from his pathetic self when he was still in the Hero’s party. That way, he could also overturn the humiliation he received from those days when he was banned from using support magic.

Thus, Eto pulled out the brand-new Mithril Sword, enchanting it with fire magic and rushed towards the Manticore. At the same time, the cooperation between his party, which they had been practicing very hard, has completely disappeared from his mind.

However, just before Eto accelerated his speed, he could see something moving at the edge of his eyes. At the next moment, Eto suddenly felt a strong heat in his right thigh, and before he knew it, he was already lying on the ground.

“Eto!”

Eto heard Kohaku screaming, seemingly worried. But when he desperately looked around, he saw that another Manticore, which wasn’t the one they saw on the riverside, was looking down at him. On its back, he could also see its swaying tail.

That was the moment Eto knew2 that he was stabbed by its poisonous tail.