NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Escape
Chapter 57: Escape
“Bonus, we should rest soon,” Azir says in a hushed voice.
Indeed, driven by anxiety and fear, everyone has been walking non-stop since then.
For now, it’s still manageable.
But if we’re considering continuing to Savoia, we must take a break.
There are even some carrying children.
At least, it’s impossible to maintain this pace without resting.
“Let’s take a short break,” I suggest.
Everyone collapses, sitting down as if they’re drained of energy.
No one speaks up.
It’s a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, with rain falling in the darkness.
After a while, sobbing-like voices can be heard.
“Is our village… finished?”
“What are we supposed to do to survive from tomorrow?”
“It’s all gone up in flames…”
“As long as we’re alive, we can figure something out. The damn wolves are still nearby. Don’t let your guard down!”
“The Lord of Savoia is a compassionate person. He’ll surely come up with something.”
While many despair at the situation, there are also those trying to encourage everyone.
Even though the village chief may not be young, he’s doing a good job of boosting the villagers’ morale.
Maybe we can still make it…
At that moment, the howl of wolves echoes.
Unexpectedly close.
Everyone’s faces contort.
We’ve let our guard down.
It seems they’ve closed the distance without us noticing.
I force my heavy body up and grip the staff tightly.
Azir, Zamza, Kane, and others with weapons quickly assume combat positions.
“Quiet. Don’t make a sound,” Azir’s suppressed voice causes everyone to hold their breath and shrink down.
“Waaah, waaah,” the baby starts to cry.
The eyes of the villagers pierce the panicked mother.
Zamza speaks up.
“Let me consider it an honor to have protected the women and children of the Vaintz village to the end. Bonus… I’ll stay here and buy some time. I’m sorry I couldn’t fulfill my role of protecting you until the end.”
“Hey! Don’t underestimate us. It’s my village! It’s the babies of my village!! Do you think you can look good alone?!”
Zamza’s voice prompts other villagers to speak up.
He’s really starting to look like a hero.
Kane, Miles, Mil, and others raise their voices one after another.
I need to brace myself too.
“Miles, and everyone else. I appreciate that you’re staying, but you’ll guide the evacuation.”
“No! I’ll do it too!”
“You don’t have a weapon, do you? Then carry a child and lead everyone to Savoia.”
“…Got it. When you eventually want a house, I’ll build it for you! …Don’t you dare die!”
“You’re not really a skilled carpenter…”
“Shut up!”
“Well, I’ll attract them for a while, but I don’t think I can hold out long. Hurry up.”
“Sorry!”
The breathing of the black wolves can be heard.
It’s only natural with all this noise.
Miles and the other villagers quickly start to flee.
The only ones left are Zamza, Azir, Kane, and Mil.
“Everyone, make some noise!”
“Alright! Here we goooo!”
“I want some alcohol!”
“I want a wifeeeee!”
“I want to take a bathhhh!”
We need to attract the black wolves with the five of us somehow.
However, I’m different from Zamza.
I don’t want to become a hero sacrificing myself to save the villagers. Of course, it’s to efficiently execute Pink’s attacks while reducing the number of witnesses.
“Damn it! They’re here!”
Azir is already engaged in combat.
But it’s hard to grasp the situation in this darkness.
Something is moving at our feet.
Yellow eyes are visible.
I swing the staff, but I can’t quite grasp the distance.
The rough breathing of the wolf is heard very close by.
Suddenly, a grotesque mouth with saliva-covered fangs appears from the darkness.
Zamza promptly intervenes, kicking the black wolf away.
“Bonus, think of the next move!”
“Sorry, thanks for saving me!”
It’s not working.
It’s too dark to track the black wolves with my eyes.
I’ll support the fight to avoid getting in the way.
Zamza, Azir, and Kane still seem to have some room to spare.
Now, let’s focus on how to use Pink as efficiently as possible.
I want to strike where the pack is gathered as much as possible.
But I can’t make judgments in this darkness.
The biggest problem is not knowing where Kuro and the others are.
I can’t afford to make a mistake and hit them.
Are they all safe…?
Kuro and Shiro should be fine for now.
With Shiro there, Gisella should be able to escape too.
Marie might be in the most danger.
After all, she’s been dealing with black wolves since early yesterday morning.
It’s been almost a whole day of continuous fighting.
I hope she manages to survive somehow.
Originally, it’s not like her to struggle like this. I want her to quickly scatter the black wolves, appear stylishly as usual, and then complain about dragging her into such a terrible job. But I can’t grasp the situation well. If only it weren’t raining, I could see the movements of the black wolves and keep track of them. Making a mistake in shooting is unthinkable. Are we at a dead end…?
“Damn it, what are we going to do, Bonus!?”
Head for Hell’s Cauldron, huh? It’s supposed to rain only in the foothills and coastal areas. If we head to Hell’s Cauldron, the rain should stop. That way, it’ll be easier to aim with Pink. And if we throw Kidanakemo at the black wolves, it might be better than dealing with the large number of attacking black wolves. Kidanakemo, a powerful individual, is still more familiar rather than dealing with the enemy like the black wolves attacking in numbers. There’s no use enduring it here.
“Everyone, let’s fight while moving south.”
“South? What are we going to do heading towards Hell’s Cauldron!?”
Kane shouts impatiently.
Well, that’s what most people would think. I wonder how I can explain it…
“No, it might actually be a good idea,” Azir says, brushing back his hair stuck to his face.
“If we keep dragging the black wolf pack like this, I honestly don’t think Savoia’s gate will open. And if we’re unlucky, the damage might spread to Savoia City. If that happens, we might be held responsible and even killed. In that case, it’s more realistic to take a gamble and dive into Hell’s Cauldron with the wolves, aiming for a showdown with Kidanakemo.”
“Let’s go now!”
Covered in blood all over with a sword and axe, Mil, despite breathing heavily, responds firmly.
She no longer looks like a baker. She’s skillfully dealing with the black wolves trying to attack the large-framed Zamza. It’s quite a good combination. We crowd around Zamza, dodging the intermittent attacks of the black wolves and head for Hell’s Cauldron. The breath and growls of the black wolves chase us incessantly. Furthermore, the howls echo. Are they informing their comrades of our location? It makes me nauseous.
After a while, the rain stops, and gradually, the stars become visible. The situation hasn’t really improved, but a glimmer of hope begins to rise in the depths of my heart. Perhaps because I’m getting used to the darkness, I can see the surroundings quite clearly now. Everyone continues to run without slowing down, even while fighting the black wolves.
But still, the black wolves are faster. The number of black wolves we’re facing is increasing. It can faintly be seen that the pack of black wolves is spreading out in a fan shape centered on us. No one has any composure left. Many have been bitten by the black wolves. By the way, I’ve had my foot bitten once too. It doesn’t hurt much now, but I’m afraid of infection. Kane had part of his arm torn off. The bleeding is severe, and he can’t hold a weapon properly anymore. Azir has also been bitten a few times, but thanks to his excellent armor, he doesn’t seem to have suffered much damage. Mil is the only one unscathed, probably because she’s fighting skillfully with Zamza as a shield. However, she seems to be reaching her limit, drooling and staggering as she fights. And Zamza has no place on his body left without wounds. There are bite marks from black wolves all over him, and there are even places where their heads are still attached. He hasn’t recovered at all, bleeding profusely and looking pale. But his eyes are glaringly bright. Maybe he’s determined to die here. I look at the breast pocket of my shirt. My partner meets my gaze. The black wolves have been led quite skillfully. I manage to secure my field of vision somehow.
—Let’s do it.