Chapter 20: Raid?
"Oh? I see something that looks like a vilge."
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I continued heading east for a few more days, winding my way along the path I remembered seeing in the sky. I destroyed another source of miasma along the way, but I was getting bored of the unchanging desert scenery and started thinking, "I don't really want to encounter monsters, but I wonder if there's anything interesting out there." So I piled up some stone blocks and looked around the area from above with binocurs - I'd made them recently - when I discovered a vilge.
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"Is this another abandoned vilge?"
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"No, I saw what looked like a moving figure, so I think someone still lives there."
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When I went down and reported the situation, Uru expressed her doubts, but I expined the reasons why that was unlikely.
... Although it could be a humanoid monster, or maybe it's not a resident but a traveler or a thief. Well, for the tter, I don't think it's likely, as the risk is extremely high in these times.
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"So does that mean there's a miko-sama in that vilge?"
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Fricka asked, still riding on the dog-sled, or rather Uru-sled.
Since Fricka's stamina can not increase overnight I invented this as a simple means of transportation. And because I didn't have any magic stones suitable for a separate power source... I wonder if I can use magic stones like a series circuit to amplify the power? I'll try that sometime.
Fricka looked terribly sorry, but Uru has plenty of physical strength. In fact, even though the sled makes things easier for her, she's carrying a person and still less tired than me, so I wonder how much stamina she has.
... Maybe... It would have been quicker if I had gotten on it and let Uru run? No, no, no, I have to try to build up my physical strength as much as I can.
By the way, the idea of ??leaving her at the base didn't come up.
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"Hmm, I think that's not it...?"
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The Creator God said that there was a rge oasis. But I didn't see any rge bodies of water or greenery. From what I could see, the vilge was small and not very developed, so that also suggests that it's not it. Ah, maybe the underground area is developed...?
Well, it's been ten days since we entered the desert, but we're not going in a straight line, we still have a long way to go.
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"In any case, we can't just ignore it, and that person might know where the vilge where the miko is, so let's go and see."
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"Umu."
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"That's true."
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And so we continued to walk and chat for a while, and just before we got close enough to see it with the naked eye, Uru noticed 'it'.
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"Isn’t there a sandstorm?"
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"Hmm? Maybe the wind is strong?"
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"... No... That is..."
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Uru suddenly turned around and gred ahead with a grim expression. What is reflected in that line of sight?
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"... Tch. Rion, it looks like monsters are attacking."
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"?! We have to hurry!"
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In a full sprint... Oh no, maybe it would be better to have Uru lead the way?
In a situation like this, it would be a waste of time to even adjust to my speed――
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"Rion, get on!"
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"Ehh--"
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"Kyaa?"
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Just when I thought my body was floating up, I was dropped onto something soft.
The voice that I heard from quite close by was Fricka's.... Could it be?
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"Fricka, don't drop Rion!"
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"Ough!"
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"I-I got it..."
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At the same time, I felt as if someone was hugging me tightly, the ground――or rather the sled that Uru was pulling――began to move with tremendous force.
Yes, I was now on Fric--the sled.
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How many kilometers per hour is this? It isn't faster than a car, but when you consider that she was pulling two people, it was no longer something a human could do. Well, she's not a hyuman from beginning, right?
The scenery rapidly passed behind me. I'm used to this in cars and trains, but it was probably a first for Fricka. She is too scared to make a sound, but still kept gripping firmly on me and on the edge of the sled. Thanks to that, I couldn't change my position, even if I try to.
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"Ah."
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Uru's voice suddenly sounded out of nowhere.
What's going on?! But there was no need to ask, the answer was obvious and immediate.
It came with a floating sensation enveloping me.
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... Did she run over a small sand dune and we were sent flying by the momentum?!
Wait?! What about the nding?!
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Because I was being held by Fricka, I couldn't even take a defensive position, so I gritted my teeth to avoid biting my tongue, but the impact I imagined never came.
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"Sorry, but you can save your compints for ter."
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It seemed that Uru had caught us.
My relief was short-lived, the sled began moving again with incredible force.
After that there were several more small jumps, and I felt like I was on a roller coaster...
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"Whaaaaaah?!"
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"Damn it, why are there so many of them...!"
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Now that we were much closer, I could hear their voices and could see the situation clearly with our naked eyes.
There were defensive stone walls around the vilge, but they were overcome by Paralyze Scorpions and Land Lizards, who could climb walls, and they were almost useless. There were also some powerful Earth Ogres among the monsters, and some of the walls were destroyed. Not only were the people fighting outside the walls being attacked, but those inside were being attacked too.
They seemed to have a fair amount of skill, as they lived in such a harsh nd, but they were overwhelmed by the rge number of monsters, and several people have already fallen... We have to make time!
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"Uru, you just need to reduce the number of monsters! I'll protect the vilgers!"
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"Leave it to me."
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It would be better to help quickly rather than just entering the vilge.
After asking Uru, she charged into the horde of monsters like a bullet.
Suddenly, a loud bang rang out, and a ton of monsters were unched into the air.
... There were human screams mixed, but no vilgers were being unched into the air, right? Is everything okay, right?
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"Fricka, come over when you're able to move. I'm going ahead."
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"... I understand."
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Fricka's face is pale as she answers, holding her mouth. She must be nauseous... Well, the ride was the worst, so I can't bme her.
I sprinkled holy water around Fricka, who I was leaving alone for a little while, then I ran towards the vilge.
I threw holy water, stabbed and stomped on the swarming monsters, and entered through a broken wall.
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"I'll help!"
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"Oh, oh...!?"
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I called out to them before they mistook me for a monster and pointed their weapon at me.
They seemed confused, but I didn't have time to expin.
I looked around quickly, throwing LP potions at anyone who looked like they needed healing. The murmuring got louder, but I ignored that too.
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"Anyone else injured?"
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"O-Over here!"
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As I passed by, I stabbed a monster with my spear and ran in the direction I was called, and found a person caught in a colpsed wall. They must have been hit by a monster, there was a particurly rge ceration from which a considerable amount of blood was leaking.
Seeing their bright red body made my fingertips go cold. But this was no time to get cold feet...!
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"Heal!"
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I hold down my trembling hands with determination and quickly sprinkle advanced LP potions on him.
The boy who called me had his eyes wide open as he watched the wound heal. The wounds have healed too - in other words, this person was still alive, and I felt quite relieved.
No, I can't slow down here.
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"Put him somewhere safe! Next!"
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"Behind you!"
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I turn around after hearing another vilger's warning, but the monster is already right in front of me... Damn, was I too distracted by the injured man!?
I could see the monster approaching in slow motion, and soon it fills my field of vision-
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"Earth Spear!"
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Just before the monster's cws could reach me, it was impaled by several earth spears that rise from the ground.
... It goes without saying who did it.
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"Sorry, Fricka! Thank you!"
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"... No, I'm sorry for being te."
