Chapter 239 – Penance.

“I really got kicked out.”

Usher opened his mouth after confirming that the people who were chasing them were not chasing them and were only watching. At first he was taken aback by Krikaliev’s offer to deal with them, but nothing to worry about happened. He wondered how he was able to drive out so many people alone, but when told to stay away, he didn’t see the details, only that he used a sling.

“But if this is going to happen, wouldn’t it have been better to do this a long time ago?”
“Sir, it’s easy to talk. What did the nug master say when he met many people in the past?”

Usher pondered for a moment whether he had ever heard anything similar from Donar, then recalled having heard such a story during training while fighting with Pavel and other children.

“I remember when I said that if there were 3 people, look at the opponent, if there were 4 people, try to evade, and from 5 people, look for an opportunity to avoid, and if there are more than 8 people, run away unconditionally.”

At the time he couldn’t understand it.

“But sometimes there are people who have won against more than 10 people.”

It was a common phrase in the story, and there were times when I accidentally overheard children saying that it was natural. Though Medea, who heard the words together, glanced at her children as if they were pitiful.

“A story is just a story. Even if it really happened, you should know the details.”
“What’s the situation?”
“Yeah, even in gang fights, the alley captain and the centurion are separate.”
“…What does it mean?”

Although I remember hearing the word centurion as if it were a lower rank than a knight when I went to combat with Donard for a while.

“Fist fights and wars are two different things.”

A simple alley fight may be possible depending on individual discretion, but it is said that war is decided by head and number fights rather than individual capabilities.

“Especially, even with armor, the sling is the most common and powerful weapon. Do you think you can survive fighting alone in a place like that?”

Usher shut his mouth. She was embarrassed just to deal with one person because she didn’t think she could survive in a place like that.

“But what if I have to fight like today?”

However, what he was most worried about was when he had to fight with many people like today. He clearly realized that no matter how much he ran, there was a limit to avoiding those who relentlessly pursued him. Besides, the traps that seemed to inform the location that they encountered on the way back would have been caught long ago if Krikaliev hadn’t noticed and removed them in advance.

“Of course I’d say running away is the best, but I still have to fight.”

Krikaliev touched his chin, seemed to think, then opened his mouth.

“Do you remember what I said about the most useful thing when hunting humans?”
“Could it be that it was real?”
“Then it must have been a lie.”

He said it insignificantly, but Usher was suspicious no matter how much he thought about it.

“I said fear.”

That’s right, he said that the most useful thing to hunt humans is their feelings, not any other tools or skills.

“Of course, the overwhelming advantage in one-to-many is the majority. That’s an unchanging fact. But people like to imagine.”
“What do you mean?”
“How would you feel if something you thought was impossible actually happened?”

It seems impossible. If it’s impossible, isn’t it just impossible?

“For example, what if an opponent appears who can really take down several people like you said? Or what if an invisible opponent starts killing them one after another?”
“It sounds scary, but it has to be possible in the end.”
“Yes, but sometimes you can confuse it to look like that.”

In fact, no matter how favorable the circumstances, they begin to question their mates when their comrades start to suffer or go through what they thought was impossible.

“And doubt means the unknown. You don’t know how the opponent will kill you. Can you attack such an opponent?”
“…No.”

It was suicidal, even in Usher’s eyes, to run at the opponent without knowing how to attack him.

“The unknown tends to become fear. Once you start imagining it, countless thoughts come to mind, and eventually your hypertrophied imagination ends up thinking the worst.”

Many are easy to unite, but fear is contagious quickly. Especially if you can plant that feeling in their boss. When hunting humans, fear was the reason why it was the best weapon.

“Even if you don’t know it well, remember it roughly. It might be useful someday.”

Usher chewed over his words so as not to forget them. If it’s something that doesn’t matter even if you don’t know it, if it’s helpful even if you don’t know it, you have to know it unconditionally. Then, what caught their eye was the Svadilferries leading the raft they were on. The people who were chasing them were tying them together using a rope to lead them, who seemed to have come on board. Although the raft was made to float on water, the land of Lagado was wet, so it was moving smoothly without getting caught on rocks or bottom.

“Why are all those people riding the Sbadil Ferry?”

Thanks to that, they were able to give rest to their weary exhaling words, but only Svadilferry led them.

“Why is it unfortunate? Isn’t this the nature of a net thief?”
“It’s not like that! It’s just because it’s strange that there aren’t any Hildis Beanies.”

It was because I had heard that Hildisbini was more useful than the Svadil Ferry as a mount. Starting from his size, he had the stamina to run for a long time, and even the power to become a weapon in case of emergency. Moreover, Svadilferry running around with his stocky-looking legs surrounded by a protruding dog-like muzzle, lower molars protruding from between them, beaky eyes, and spiky, rough-looking hair was not very cool.

“In the first place, you can’t take Hildisbini away.”

Because Hildisbini allowed her back only to the owner who tamed her. However, Svadilferi was leading them without incident. In many ways, there was nothing to say that it was an advantage compared to Hildisbini, so there was a feeling that it seemed lacking, but they all came only by Svadil Ferry.

“Hildisbiny doesn’t have only strengths. Not to mention his personality, and because of his size and strength, the price of food is no joke.”
“…I can’t grow them here.”

This place called Ragado didn’t seem to grow well at all. To the extent that I wonder where the hell to get food.

“Compared to him, Svadilferi is small and timid, but requires less food and is easier to tame.”

In short, it was a matter of efficiency.

“And it’s not that these guys aren’t without friendliness.”

Come to think of it, the speed at which Sbadilferry was leading them was slower than expected. Still, they were faster than horses, but they couldn’t hide their drooping appearance, perhaps because they had left their masters alone.

“What should I do? I can’t leave them behind.”

It was a Sbadil ferry that was fortunately obtained during misfortune. She thought she could get up to speed, at least comparable to Hill Dis Beanie. It was difficult to see them without any intention of running properly.

“Don’t worry too much. Unlike Hildis Beanie, these guys are more like prey, so you’ll soon forget them.”
“Then I’m glad.”
“And if you hear that sound, the energy you didn’t have will rise.”
“What are you talking about?”

But I didn’t have to listen to his answer. Usher was afraid to ask! Because there was a sound coming from it. When I forcibly turned my head back, creaking at the sound I heard somewhere, I saw a group of karambisks, beetles clad in turquoise armor, approaching them.

“That’s not aiming at us, is it?”

No matter how you look at it, they are coming towards us.

“Didn’t you bring a karambisque earlier?”

Come to think of it, no matter where he looked, he couldn’t see that Karambisque.

“Did you miss it?”
“Oh, it seems that he had a habit of calling his colleagues.”
“I don’t think it’s something to say casually!?”

One alone was threatening enough, but if so many things rushed at once, there was no answer.

“Don’t worry. Being eaten by Karambisque is the same as falling asleep?”
“…For reference, where?”
“Among the many shredders?”
“It’s not at all safe!!!”
– Kwii Iik!!

Eventually, the Svadilferries also started running with all their might, screaming like screams, as if they had noticed the presence of a group of Karambisks approaching from behind.

So they were moving towards the Holy Land.