Chapter 347 – 347. Struggle, and Life (1)
– One –
Shashak, shashashashashak!
Estrus runs through the fields.
Goes in a straight line without hesitation.
However, there is no such thing as excitement and pleasure due to the awakening peculiar to a person who runs.
It was just full of urgency.
In her arms was Benison.
His lower body was crushed to such an extent that it was difficult to recognize his shape.
Unconscious with her pale face, drowsily in Estrus’s arms.
Patter!
Life leaks out of his body.
That was the biggest reason that fueled Estrus’ urgency.
Her eyes sharpen.
She carefully examines everything that comes within her super senses.
In a field of nothing,
“It’s Ada!”
Estrus shouted to the sky.
That moment,
Woo woo woo woo!
Light covers their bodies.
As Benison’s body recovers in an instant, his complexion gradually returns.
“Huhhhhh…”
Dump.
Estrus seems to have lost strength in his legs, and he sits down on the spot.
Not having the endurance of Benison, she was completely exhausted even after covering relatively short distances.
When she’s gasping for her breath,
Shrrrr!
Urmama’s basket lands beside her.
Dump.
Dump.
Ada and Margarita rolled out of it,
“Ook, booueeaek…!”
“Uuuuu…
Chuak, chwaaaaak.
Spilling vomit on the floor
As always, they were suffering from motion sickness.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha…”
Shiver.
Tick, drop, drop.
Ur Mama languishes inside the basket, gasping for her breath.
She was so exhausted that she didn’t even think to wipe the blood from her nose.
“Haaa…”
Dump.
Margarita lays her body beside her own vomit.
Lie down and look up at the sky.
Close your eyes soon
Lie down for a while, licking her lips.
He seems to be talking to Jose somewhere in the sky.
“Ah, ah… That’s right, I didn’t think of that.”
She opens her eyes and raises her body.
“Sister Estrus.”
“Uh, huh?”
“Can you leave some traces in the direction of the rebel stronghold? You’ll be tired and tired, but.”
“Sssssya~!”
Shasha shak!
Estrus raises her body.
Her clothes were all covered in blood, but her expression was bright.
New liquid, new liquid.
It was because Benison made sure she was exhaling evenly.
“Is it okay if I just make a rough run trace?”
“Yes. The Imperial Army witnessed Benison’s appearance vaguely. The pursuer will surely follow, so disturbance is essential. Honey, they say they will manipulate the traces from around the center of the explosion and come back.”
“Okay~! Please take good care of us~♡”
“Yes. Please come.”
“Yeah~♡”
Chuck, chung, chung!
Estrus kisses Margarita on the cheek.
He also kisses Ada and Urmama on the cheek.
They smile faintly with pale faces.
“Thank you both~♡ See you later~♡”
“Be careful and go home, Estrus-sister.”
“Yeah, don’t worry~! I’m Estrus~☆”
Leaving those words behind,
Shasha shak.
Papa papa papa pat!
Estrus starts running somewhere.
He deliberately leaves deep footprints and smokes up the dust.
Margarita looks at her back for a moment, then she turns her head toward the scattered people.
“Now, let’s go back, everyone.”
“Ugh… Can’t we just rest for a while, sister…? It’s too hard…”
Urmama makes a sound of pain.
Her face was still pale, as if she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“It’s okay to go slowly when returning, so let’s move first. If the Imperials use distant sight magic or telescopic magic, this is a place where the enemy can sufficiently spot them. So give me a little more strength.”
“Uh… Yes…”
Shrew, shruck.
Tup, Tup.
Whirly Rick.
Urmama controls the tree trunk.
Pick up others in the basket.
The basket flies along the stem as it is.
It was a dangerous movement, as if it was somehow staggering.
– 2 –
“How far do you think the Imperial Army found out, my love?”
“Umm… I’m not sure right now. Regal must have vaguely guessed our existence, but the Imperial Army thinks it’s a trace left by the rebels.”
“Well, you didn’t ask the fake rebels to do it~ You can be sure that we did it~”
“It could be.”
Except for Monohorn and Benison, who are resting, everyone gathers in one place and puts their heads together.
Because they were feeling a considerable sense of danger, they could not hide their anxious complexion.
“If you watch the Imperial Army’s next response, and if you observe their meeting a little more carefully, you will see how much they found out and how they judged it. And since Regal led the Imperial Army here under the excuse of rebels, we “
“Hmm… For now, let’s watch their response as Mosi said. By the way…”
Octopoda’s expression darkens.
He looked at Estrus and carefully opened his mouth.
“Participant recruitment hasn’t finished yet, but three of us have already lost their chance to transfer…”
“Iknow, right…”
Since Ada was not a participant in the first place, the opportunity for metastasis did not exist from the beginning.
According to Article 7, Paragraph 5 of the Rules, the remaining eight persons are guaranteed one chance of transition for each spouse.
But from Octopoda to Bennison and Estrus, these three squandered their only chance to transfer to save their spouses’ lives.
Even if they find themselves in the same situation again, they will make the same choice without hesitation.
And, in a way, it was an unavoidable choice, because otherwise they wouldn’t have been alive.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I don’t think it’s the worst.”
José steps in to allay the uneasiness that is prevalent among his colleagues.
“Excluding the three, the remaining five people have a chance to transfer, and even if Estrus and Benison escape on foot, the chances of them being captured by the enemy are remarkably small. And Octopoda is second to none in evasion, flight, and stealth. Isn’t that great?”
“But…”
“Yes.”
A little bit of concern disappears from the faces of my colleagues.
He showed the qualities of a leader unquestionably.
His profound voice and serious attitude were one of the effective devices to maximize trust in him.
“Even if there is a really urgent need to escape, transference is a last resort. Its presence will not be a breakthrough that will dramatically change the situation.”
“Honey, you’re right. For now, we have to pretend that there is no metastasis for everyone. Escaping with that is too risky.
Everyone nods.
Not all of my anxiety went away, but it was enough to temporarily dispel it.
“And the good news. Isn’t that right, Ada?”
“Yes.”
Margarita and Ada look at each other and smile.
Others tilt their heads or blink their eyes as if hearing it for the first time.
“Mother said it wasn’t long before Monohorn would return.”
“Really?!”
Rocking, rocking!
Urmama jumps up.
“Is the hero coming back soon?!”
“Yes, Urmama. I’ll be back within a month at most, or in 15 days at the shortest.”
“Wow♡ Waaaaa!”
Jump, jump!
Rocking, rocking!
Urmama starts to run amok.
But nobody stops her.
Everyone knows how much pain she has in her heart, so let her enjoy her joy a little longer.
“Hehe~♬ It’s good that Monohorn is coming back~ There won’t be time for sex if we go on like this~”
“I guess so…”
Hearing Estrus’ words, Ada’s shoulders droop slightly.
Perhaps because she suffered from severe anxiety, she missed someone’s warmth.
“But I guess she can be relieved just to come back.”
“That’s right. Is there anyone who can deal with a large army as efficiently as Monohorn?”
“In addition, if my sister returns, it is clear that the range of strategic options will be much more diverse.”
Just by saying that he would return, a spirit began to circulate within the community.
Everyone recalls once again how huge his presence was.
They had a lively conversation about the monohorn for a while.
When the topic fades away,
“Then, until Monohorn returns, there will be two issues left to be solved: Fraffin’s memoirs and Slammer’s plot.”
Democi clears things up.
Everyone nods.
“Yes. It’s safe to say that they’re the same problem. Our short-term goal is to pit the Imperials against the fake rebels.”
It was the first time he had spoken directly about the goal, although most of them had some vague idea as they took José’s instructions.
He was thoroughly providing psychological support for everyone.
“The fake memos written by Fraffin couldn’t be torn to shreds, they were completely crumbled. I can’t even find a trace of it, so I have no choice but to give it up.”
Margarita shakes her head and testifies.
“I don’t think it would be unreasonable to carry out a similar operation. The time itself to prepare something is running out. Besides, it seems that the Imperial Army observer witnessed the moment Ada-sama used her healing spell. Estrus was far away, I couldn’t see it properly because it was hidden by the terrain, but I think I definitely saw the moment of healing Benison this time. So I think I’ll have to be much more careful when I move from now on.”
“Well… If that’s the case…”
Octopoda can’t hide his dismay.
He wasn’t like that.
When things start to go wrong, others can’t hide their anxiety.
“Don’t worry, folks. For now, didn’t you leave a trail towards the rebels in order to respond?”
Jose comforts them again with a heavy voice.
“Um, um… Jose. You seem to be trying to confuse Regal and make sure the Imperials fall for his lies by making more and more evidence to support Regal’s claim. Is my judgment correct?”
“Yes. What is our end goal?”
“Safely passing the time until the Monohon returns, ah…”
Only then did Demosh nod her head.
She seemed to understand the situation too.
“Don’t panic if things go a little wrong. It’s okay. We’re moving within acceptable limits, so there’s nothing to worry about. Plus, in case something really gets out of hand, everyone has a safe way to escape. Even in the worst case, if we can save our lives, isn’t it our victory?
“Okay, Jose.”
Demosh nods her head with a firm expression.
Jose couldn’t help but complain.
The former vice-captain of the Marunarae Mercenary Corps.
Although his own origins and his own nature have always been a guarantee of perfect trust, they still cannot fully depend on themselves.
He wasn’t sure if the Monohorn’s shadow had been so great, or if they had gotten so used to it that they couldn’t appreciate it.
But it doesn’t show it.
I’m not even sad
In the midst of struggling for survival, such trivial feelings were nothing but luxury.
“Then, what’s left is Slammer… Wouldn’t it be dangerous to stay there?
“Wouldn’t it be nice to tell them to get out of their body and return?”
As the Octopodas express their opinions, José nods.
“What shall I tell Mr. Slammer, honey?”
Perhaps because of reading his bitterness, Margarita tries to cheer him up.
Looking into her eyes, Jose smiled.
Perhaps he noticed that she had read her feelings, but somehow his smile seemed to be a bit bland.
“To Slammer…”
– 3 –
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes. Why did you call me, sir?”
To the sergeant’s call, Slammer answers politely to the point of servility.
I bent my back and rubbed my palms together until my fingerprints were worn away.
His face was still burnt.
However, the imperial army seemed to have restored his vocal chords, and although he was begging, his words did not come out so mangled that it was difficult to understand.
“Tell me honestly.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you a rebel leader or not?”
“So, does the soin speak?”
Slammer blinks.
But he doesn’t even show a sign of fear or embarrassment.
“I got word that one of our reconnaissance units had spotted some supposed rebels, and as it happened, it happened right after you went there. I think you’re very suspicious,”
“Pu-hee-hee-hee!”
Slammer laughs loudly.
The moment the sergeant tries to get angry,
“Oh, sir. Can anyone say that someone will use an old hunchback like a small person?”
“As a ganja or informant,”
“Hee hee. He’s a peddler with good words, but in fact, So-in has lived his whole life begging for money, doing chores for the neighbor’s house on the periphery. If you ask me, everyone in the neighborhood points to a small person, even a three-year-old kid.
“Ke-h-h-h-hm… Did you?”
Buck buck buck.
The sergeant scratches the back of his head with an embarrassing expression at the thought of almost framing a useless person.
“That’s right. Do you know why the small man went out alone to find the elders?”
“Umm, isn’t it because you still have bright eyes?”
“Kihihi. He’s the only one who doesn’t mind if I just throw him away, so he’s probably pushed out.”
“Keuhm, kuhhm! Oh, I’m sorry for misunderstanding…”
The sergeant smokes something else.
Slammer’s eyes draw a round curve.
The servile smile still lingers on his face.
“It’s okay, sir. The small person is satisfied enough with not being stoned or beaten by Chidogon.”
“Keuheum. If that’s the case, I’m glad. But…”
Swoop.
The sergeant looks around.
At some point, the surrounding area is overgrown with bushes.
Suspicious
“Is this road correct? No, is there a road on this side?
Following Slammer’s guidance, where the soldiers came, it was difficult to find any human traces.
Hehe. The dwarf and the 17-year-old survivors must have gone into hiding to avoid the slaughter of the rebels. So, of course, wouldn’t it be safe to hide in a seemingly uninhabited place?”
Shock, shock, shock, shock.
Slammer rubs his palms.
His eyes widened even more.
“Now we’ll be there in an hour or two.”
“Is that so? It’s nice to hear that.”
“Puhihi. If you go there, there’s some liquor that the little man has soaked for a pastime. You’ll have to take a day off anyway, so why don’t you quench your thirst with it when you arrive?”
Klopp, Klopp.
Gulp.
Not only the sergeant, but also the soldiers who were walking together drool.
Their eyes are tight.
“Who said you were incompetent and worthless?! They must be the ones with useless eyes!”
“Puhihihi! Exaggerated praise is coming! Now, now. Let’s go quickly, sirs!”
Slammer takes the lead.
Sabakin, Sabakin.
Walking briskly through the grass,
Iron pudduck.
“Oops!”
Feet trip and fall
Grab your nose and roll on the floor.
“Oops. The road is rough, but if a person who is not well-behaved is in such a hurry, he will use it.”
Swoop.
Tok, tok.
The sergeant lifts him up with his own hands.
Slammer scratches the back of his head as he blushes.
“Huh, heuhuhh. The thought of taking a break makes me feel tired, so stop…”
“Okay. We’ll open the way, stick behind the ranks and give them directions.”
“Ah, I see…”
Sabak, Sabak, Sabak.
Slammer backs away with his head down.
As if the soldiers saw something bland, they sneered and laughed.
“Can we go straight like this?”
“That’s right, sir!”
“Okay.”
After hearing Slammer’s answer,
Visor!
Awesome!
Sabak, Sabak, Sabak.
The soldiers advance, led by the sergeant.
He draws his sword and cuts down the bush, moving forward, forward.
Sabak, Sabak, Sabak.
After going for a while,
Sabak, shureuk, sabak, sabak.
“Stop!”
The sergeant stops, tensed up.
I look around and look at his feet.
“Didn’t you hear something?”
“All I could hear was footsteps!”
“Okay…?”
The sergeant moves his gaze here and there without hiding his doubts.
Looking around, there was nothing but grass, grass, and bushes.
I don’t see anything particularly suspicious.
The sergeant decides to move forward again.
However, his steps will be more cautious than before.
Before taking a step,
“Hey! Is this the right direction?”
He turns his head back and shouts.
Ask the slammer,
“…”
“Hey…?”
No answer comes back
“Check personnel!”
When the sergeant urgently calls out,
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
The soldiers call the numbers in order.
“Eleven!”
“Twelve! End of numbers above!”
The expression on the soldier’s face when he finally called out the number is strange.
The color of the face was blue.
“No, he’s gone!”
“What?!”
The sergeant is perplexed for a moment.
“No, since when do you think he disappeared?”
“Mo, I don’t know! The bushes are so overgrown around me, I can’t tell at all!”
“Damn…!”
Bang, bang, bang!
Unable to hide his excitement, the sergeant stamps his feet.
Curse your own naivety and stupidity.
“Power bayonet!”
Serung, Serung!
Visor!
Thirteen imperial soldiers drew their swords in unison.
While looking sharply in all directions, he is reflexively wary.
“It could be a trap by the rebels, so slowly retrace the way you came and go back!
At that time,
Shrrrr
Hooked!
“Evil!”
He felt a sharp pain in the sergeant’s shin, as if he had been stabbed by a sharp needle.
As he lowers his gaze,
Shih!
Shaaaaagh!
A snake spewing air with its mouth open caught my eye.
“Ships, snakes…?”
His vision begins to spin.
Dump.
Darkens