CHAPTER 45: THE PURSUIT

　As I walked down the slope with Cerullo, one of the three people attacked by the Bronze Wolf was barely breathing, and he was bleeding badly and his face was an ashen color.

“Stand up, Pendam. You’ll make a name for yourself by defeating the Bronze Wolf, don’t die in a place like this!” (Adventurer)

“Ah… gah…” (Pendam)

“What, what do you want to say?” (Adventurer)

“Gaha… Guu… I’m sorry…” (Pendam)

“You idiot don’t apologize. Starting now you, starting now, hey… you idiot… hey! Uuuu….” (Adventurer)

　The oxkin adventurer named Pendam drew his last breath while being held by the surviving dogkin adventurer.

　He doesn’t even look like he is twenty years old.

　It was short, but adding to my past life, he should have lived longer.

　I witnessed an adventurer being taken by the Bronze Wolf on the way back from sending out a subjugation request to Ibouro, but this is the first time I’ve seen the moment when someone loses their life like this.

　I could only stand there, unable to find the words to say, while Gad, using earth magic, dug three deep holes large enough for a man to fit in.

　Laius calls out to the weeping surviving adventurer.

“I know this is hard for you, but if you are an adventurer, you too must gather the belongings of your friends and prepare to mourn them. You don’t want your friends to be eaten by monsters and beasts, do you?” (Laius)

　The dogkin adventurer nodded his head a couple of times and began to collect his companions’ belongings.

　Hair, mementos, and guild cards.

　It is said that when a person loses his or her life while on a mission, it is rare to be able to bring the body back home.

　In most cases, they have no choice but to gather up their belongings like this and bury them on the spot.

　It is said that without someone who can use earth magic, they may not be able to get a deep burial like today.

　While we were mourning the three, another adventurer party showed up.

　A bearkin man who appeared to be the leader, carrying a large sword, ran up to Laius.

“Laius, who got hurt… Kirtland, isn’t it? Don’t tell me Jonales, Pendam, and Todd…” (Bearkin)

“Mr. Jill… everyone was killed, uuuu…” (Adventurer => Kirtland)

　Laius didn’t seem to know him, but Jill, who came later, seemed to be familiar with the attacked party.

　Kirtland, who survived, was hugged by Jill and began to sob again.

　Most of the people who had gathered to subjugate the Bronze Wolf this time were adventurers based in Ibouro.

　They were competing with each other, but most of them were probably acquaintances or friends.

　The adventurers who came later comforted Kirtland, buried their friends and offered prayers.

　While the adventurers were praying, Jill asked Laius about the situation.

“Then you were caught by surprise and had no way to deal… Was it like that?” (Jill)

“We were climbing while examining the slope over there, and Serge was barely able to hold it back with arrows.” (Laius)

“What are you going to do after this?” (Jill)

“Hmm, we still have some time before nightfall. I’m going to try to follow the trail…” (Laius)

　Laius looked in the direction from which the Bronze Wolf had fled, then turned his attention to the adventurers.

“Kirtland seems to be physically okay by the looks of it, so our party take him in and let we will follow it.” (Jill)

“I see, we’ll be following its tracks, so we won’t be going at a fast pace, so we should be fine.” (Laius)

“Ah, I’m more worried about him getting too excited and moving ahead of us.” (Jill)

“Because the opponent is his target, you’ve got to watch him, make sure he doesn’t run off.” (Laius)

“Got it.” (Jill)

　When Jill, who nodded back, returned to her friends, I was beckoned by Laius.

“Nyango, is there any place beyond this that the Bronze Wolf could hide?” (Laius)

“There’s a rocky overhang just past one pass, and behind that, you can keep out of the rain, but you can’t hide from the outside. If you want to hide, there’s a cave just beyond the other stream…” (Nyango)

“I see. …I’d like to check them both out, just in case. Please take us to the one closest here.” (Laius)

“I understand.” (Nyango)

“Also, just like before, if you can move above the trees, please check the area ahead while guiding from the top of the trees. (Laius)

“I got it.” (Nyango)

　In the formation, Laius and Jill lead the search for traces of the Bronze Wolf, with Gad holding up a shield behind.

　Gad will probably come forward if we encounter the Bronze Wolf.

　Behind, Gad would be followed by two shield-user from the party that came later.

　Behind them are the swordsmen and spearmen, with the archer Serge and Kirtland in the rear.

　I am moving along a branch just above Laius and Jill, guiding them and scouting.

“Nyango, do you see it?” (Laius)

“No, I can’t see it at the moment.” (Nyango)

“What direction?” (Laius)

“Straight ahead.” (Nyango)

　The bronze fur of the bronze wolf stands out in the sun, but it is surprisingly less noticeable in the green foliage.

　However, this area is like my garden, where I roam all year round.

　Since I started going into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs, I have always been aware of my surroundings so that I can detect any signs of monsters or beasts before they attack me.

　That is why there is a sense of discomfort that I notice.

“Mr. Laius, the way the bushes on your right fell seems strange…” (Nyango)

“Where is it? Oh, surely this branch must be broken.” (Laius)

“There’s another place up ahead that looks just like it.” (Nyango)

“Any sign of it?” (Laius)

“No, I can’t it.” (Nyango)

　Whether it fled in such a hurry, or whether it wasn’t willing to hide its existence in the first place, there were traces left that seemed to belong to the Bronze Wolf.

　However, the distance between the tracks was about 10 meters, and it sent chills down my spine to wonder what kind of physical ability it had to jump that distance in one bound.

“Laius, who is that kid? I don’t remember seeing his face in Ibouro…” (Jill)

“Ah, Nyango lives in Atsuka. I heard that he usually goes into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs, so I asked him to guide us around today.” (Laius)

“I see, he’s a temporary Seeker.” (Jill)

“That was the plan, but…” (Laius)

“What, is he useless… He doesn’t look like it, though.” (Jill)

“Well, what drove Bronze Wolf away just now was Nyango’s fire attribute magic.” (Laius)

“Really… I didn’t know that a catkin could use such powerful magic…” (Jill)

　No, no, it’s not fire magic… I’d like to say, but adventurers are not supposed to show their hand, so I’ll keep quiet.

　After this, we continued to follow the trail of the Bronze Wolf, but contrary to our expectations, it began to turn its course westward from the halfway point.

　When we reached a rocky northern stream, the trail disappeared.

　We could not find any trace of the trail because of the lack of bushes and trees, whether they climbed upstream or descended along the stream towards the village.

“Jill, let’s go back to the village. It would be bad for us if we started tracking too late in the day. Besides, if we don’t inform the Knights of the Bronze Wolf’s movement, it might enter the village.” (Laius)

“Yes. Let’s start over.” (Jill)

“Nyango, show us the fastest route back to the village.” (Laius)

“Okay, this way.” (Nyango)

　When I pointed in the direction away from the steam, Jill asked.

“Can’t we go down along the stream?” (Jill)

“Yes, there is a sheer cliff on the way down, so we will have to go around it.” (Nyango)

“Oh, I see.” (Jill)

　With Bronze Wolf’s physical ability, I was worried that it might have jumped over even the sheer cliff of the stream and descended to the village, but fortunately, there was no sign of it appearing in the village.

　Our group returned to the encampment, and I went with Laius to report to the knight order.

　Warren, the captain of the Knights of Lagart, came out to respond to our report.

　He seemed to remember me because I was a catkin with a scarred left eye.

“You are the boy who came to the fort to inform us, aren’t you? Now you’re guiding adventurers. …Don’t be too reckless.” (Warren)

　The two-meter-tall, muscular Warren must have seen me as unreliable, being only about as tall as his waist.

“Captain, you shouldn’t underestimate Nyango too much.” (Laius)

　When Laius told him about the battle with Bronze Wolf, Warren looked at me differently.

“Oh, it’s not obvious with his body…” (Tigerkin)

“The way he attacked it without spreading the fire around and hitting it exactly where it didn’t want to be attacked, that’s quite a feat.” (Tigerkin)

　The two people who are looking at me like they are sizing me up are of the same race as Mr. Zeol.

　As soon as Laius reported the battle and where we had encountered and left traces using a map, the knights immediately began to rearrange their positions.

“It would be nice if it could just head north and leave the village…” (Warren)

　Warren stared at the map with the Bronze Wolf sighting locations scrawled on it, his expression clouded.

　The markings on the map were marked in a circle around the village of Atsuka.

“Is it going around the village?” (Laius)

“Yes, when Bronze Wolves attack a village, they often circle the perimeter to see what is going on, and then come in to target areas that seem less defended.” (Warren)

“Well then……” (Laius)

“Ah, it’s almost finished going around. The real thing starts now.” (Warren)

　After the Bronze Wolf appears on the west side of the village, which has not yet been marked, they may finally come charging into the village.

　The time left until then does not seem to be very long.