Invincible
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#91
🕑 Added 2024-08-29 12:07:15 +0000 UTCPurple Forest (3)
From the watchtower, I lifted the telescope.
A man and woman were visible, isolated in mid-air among the leaves.
And below them, wolves swarmed, drooling profusely.
"Is that Belman’s unit...?"
"Hey, it looks like there's someone down there?"
Limberton pointed downwards.
When I aimed the lens downward, a woman isolated within a green barrier amidst the prowling wolves came into view.
A question arose here.
Wasn't Riamon supposed to be part of Belman's unit?
Originally, Riamon should have joined that group and wouldn't have been in such a dangerous situation.
But there were only three people visible.
I began to get a rough idea of why things had gone wrong, but now wasn't the time for idle speculation.
We had to act before Belman's magic ran out.
"We're going to rescue them."
When I said that, Limberton was startled and asked.
"R-re-rescue them? Through those wolves?"
The number of wolves was roughly sixty.
Honestly, it was close to a mad act.
The moment we approached, we’d be torn apart and only bones would remain.
"So, I'll explain the method now. Listen carefully, I'll only say it once."
Still, it wasn’t an impossible task.
We had the scent-confirming potion and the emergency smoke bombs distributed to all trainees.
『Smoke Bombs - They block vision with black smoke. Pathfinder is a very dangerous profession. A typical crisis is being surrounded by monsters. Hence, there were a few magical tools for escape, one of which was a smoke bomb.』
"First, we'll mask ourselves with the wolf scent. Then we'll use the smoke bombs to obscure their vision and proceed."
Tri-headed wolves perceive their kin if you mask their scent. But they weren't dumb enough not to distinguish between a human and a wolf right in front of them.
"...But if we use the smoke bombs, we won't be able to see either."
At Limberton's point, I squinted my eyes.
This guy clearly didn’t study properly.
It was likely a question that even appeared on the exam.
"Limberton, that's what compasses are for in such situations. Looks like you'll need to study again when we return."
"Ugh."
"Everyone, take them out."
Limberton and Aslay grasped the compasses they each carried.
"The needles and the direction plates are painted with a dye that glows in the dark. Even if the smoke blocks our view, we can identify it by holding it close. The precision is incomparable to the ones available on the market, so remember the units accurately."
Seeing Limberton and Aslay nod, it seemed they thought it was feasible.
I raised the compass and precisely aimed at where Belman's unit was.
Northwest 292.5°
"Their position is at 292.5 degrees northwest. Our fortress is at 112.5 degrees southeast from there. I'll take Leana and Belman back. Limberton, you rescue Silla."
Limberton looked distressed.
"Me?"
"Whether you like it or not. Silla has the most wolves around her. This is the best scenario for you, with your small body, to weave through. I'll give you this entire bottle."
I handed a perfume bottle to Limberton.
It was a backup scent-confirming potion.
"The wolf scent is already applied. Spray it thoroughly on Silla and return quickly. Aslay, you’ll have to throw me up there."
I pointed at Belman and Leana, floating above the barrier.
Aslay blinked.
"Is that possible?"
"I'll cast a lightening spell on myself, so I won't be heavy. Your strength should suffice."
Any trajectory errors could be corrected with telekinesis.
"Be cautious of your footing as visibility will be blocked."
The problem was visibility.
Limberton had excellent eyesight, so the compass would be very clear to him.
Additionally, his small size would help him navigate through the wolves.
‘Donatan, you need to be my eyes, guiding me through the wolves.’
Donatan had that ability.
During the interview, he must have said something like this.
- Honestly, I wasn't particularly remarkable with a sword. Compared to other ego swords the master had, I was just insignificant. My only other abilities were sensing someone nearby and serving my master's rest.
The skill of sensing someone nearby relied on distinguishing objects through currents.
- It shouldn't be difficult.
We hurriedly armed ourselves and opened the fortress gate.
"Then, let’s begin."
***
The education of the Gers family is quite pragmatic.
While others read fairy tales to children, instilling in them the beauty of the world, the head of the Gers family was different.
He always forced his children into moments of choice.
Even on mere outings in a carriage.
-Here is a coin. You’re planning to give it to one of those two beggars. So, tell me, which one would be more efficient?
An old woman on the left.
A young girl on the right.
'My brother and sister responded like this.'
-I believe it’s right to give it to the young girl. The old woman will die soon anyway. Considering future labor, that's the correct choice.
-I disagree with my brother. The old woman has a lot of knowledge. She can spread beneficial knowledge to the young buds. Besides, she’ll die soon if not now. It’s better to give her charity so she can do something beneficial before she dies. The young girl has a higher chance of receiving charity, so we can wait for the next opportunity.
They always coldly suppressed their emotions and analyzed.
This was the educational policy of the Gers family.
-Lastly, Belman, what’s your opinion?
-I...
-Don't hesitate, answer.
-Yes. With this coin, I can buy bread. I would split it in half and give it to both. They wouldn’t be full, but it would solve their immediate hunger.
The head chose Belman’s opinion.
And, the next day,
They heard the news that the old woman had died.
The culprit was the young girl.
The girl was executed for her crime, so both died.
This fact was known thanks to the indifferent father.
-According to the young beggar's confession, she killed to snatch the remaining bread. This is the result of your choice, Belman. If you had chosen one beggar and thrown the coin through the window, the other beggar wouldn't have known. Develop the habit of considering everything next time.
It all happened because bread was chosen.
In the process, the coachman had to get off the horse to enter the bakery, and unlike the coin, the bread was too large to conceal in a pocket.
It blatantly showed that they had shared the bread.
Belman, who had to bear the consequences, was just five years old.
And now,
Grrr-
Wolves swarmed below.
Belman sweated coldly and hesitated.
At best, they might take down one each.
He didn’t even have the courage to fight.
'Damn it...'
He had already sent a distress signal.
But no one showed signs of coming to help yet.
Because he had circled around for a surprise attack, the distance from the camp was too far.
"Belman, it seems they’ve spotted us over there."
As Leana said, Schlaphe Hall's men were pointing and shouting from afar.
They seemed willing to help.
But calculating the time it would take for them to reach here, it was clear they would run out of magic before help arrived.
"...They can't help us. The timing is off. So,"
Another choice time approached.
"We have no choice but to move the barrier to a safe place."
If he squeezed out the remaining magic, he could move the barrier as a stepping stone.
Leana’s face turned serious.
“That means leaving Silla...”
“Yes, right. If the distance increases, the barrier on Silla will dissipate.”
The range to maintain magic wasn’t long.
But there was no better option.
It was more reasonable for two to survive than all to die together.
'Realistically, this is the right choice.'
It was just a matter of erasing emotions once.
His family had done so, and Belman had grown up under their influence.
Belman tried to move his trembling hand.
But Leana just watched.
"...Aren't you going to stop me?"
"You want me to stop you, don’t you?"
Belman shut his mouth tightly.
Coming to Frost Heart was also because of his father’s pressure to develop cold-bloodedness.
This was an opportunity to prove he was a member of the Gers family.
...But then a foolish decision slipped out of his mouth.
"I don’t know anymore. Let's trust the rescue team. I don’t know if we can hold out, but I'll give it a try."
Looking back, he was lacking as a leader.
He hadn’t assessed the condition of his unit, and his greed for points had led to a wrong outcome.
Ultimately, he had to take responsibility.
As he placed all his hopes on a sliver of hope,
"?!"
Belman’s eyes widened.
Whoosh-
Suddenly, black smoke began to engulf the ground.
"Smoke bomb?"
“Someone’s coming.”
Belman was bewildered.
There seemed to be a unit nearby, but their number would be significantly small.
Moreover, merely blocking vision wouldn’t avoid wolf attacks.
How could they deceive those identifying by scent?
"This is suicidal! A foolish choice!!"
Belman shouted towards the ground.
"Retreat immediately!!"
Then, through the black smoke emerged a blond head.
"The suicidal act was yours."
Hersel swung his staff and stepped onto the barrier.
Tap!
Then he waved his hand.
"Make some space for me."
Belman instinctively stepped back and made room.
Hersel greeted them.
"Hi? Nice to meet you."
Leana squinted her eyes.
"...Why are you here?"
"Because I received the signal."
Belman asked in a slightly urgent voice.
"Are you here to rescue us?"
"That depends on your answer. What are you willing to pay for being saved?"
Leana showed a flustered expression.
"Pay...?"
"We used up all our smoke bombs. Naturally, we expect you to replenish them. It’s like charging a fee."
Belman thought Hersel's request was reasonable.
It was written in the manuals that Pathfinders demanded compensation when assisting other units.
Moreover, coming here risked their lives, so it was only fair.
"We’ll comply with your conditions as much as possible. So, what do you want?"
Belman asked, and Hersel held up two fingers.
"Two days' worth of food."
"Alright. We’ll give you all the smoke bombs we have and two days' worth of food."
Handing over the smoke bombs, Hersel grasped them and took out a compass.
"How many soldiers are there?"
"Two. By now, Aslay should have returned, and Limberton is waiting below to rescue Silla."
"What?"
Belman’s heart sank.
There was no doubt about his exceptional combat power.
Defeating Emeric had proven he was the top first-year student.
However, he was still just one person.
"What are you trying to do? We know you're strong. Maybe you can survive among the tri-headed wolves. But we can't. The moment we go down, we'll be devoured."
Belman frowned and asked, and Hersel took out a perfume bottle.
"That’s just your unprepared thinking."
"What is that...?"
"A perfume with tri-headed wolf scent. Stop talking and hold out your arms. You too, Leana."
Hersel sprayed the perfume on them with a hiss-hiss sound.
"They won't attack you. Now, take this."
He handed them a rope.
"Our fortress is halfway up the mountain. I’ll lead, so hold onto this rope tightly and follow. Be careful not to trip over anything."
Belman admired the perfume bottle internally.
'It's definitely a scent replication potion.'
A potion widely used against monsters with developed senses.
Though it was likely a stroke of luck to have it, his preparedness was commendable.
‘Even the alchemy club didn’t have such a thing. Where did he get it?’
Belman observed him closely.
Hersel threw another smoke bomb onto the ground and brought the compass close to his face.
"Lower the barrier. I'll signal you when, so release the barrier on Silla then."
Belman gradually descended the barrier.
When his feet touched the ground, Hersel spoke softly.
"Now."
Belman released the barrier, gripping the pulled rope tightly as he ran.
Occasionally, wolf fur brushed against his cheek, but miraculously, he wasn’t attacked.
After running for a few minutes without looking back, Hersel said.
"Stop."
The wind started to clear away the black curtain.
Leana, with a surprised voice, exclaimed.
"This is..."
Their fortress was hidden among the dense trees.
If Hersel hadn’t led them, they wouldn’t have noticed it.
Belman silently admired Hersel's back.
...Preparedness, power, decisiveness.
In terms of objective evaluation, he was an ideal leader worth emulating.
Hersel stopped and turned her head swiftly.
"Oh. Wipe the dirt off your shoes before coming in."
Inside the fortress, Aslay approached.
Hersel asked.
"Hasn't Limberton returned yet?"
"...No."
"That's not good. I'll go up to the second floor for a while. You guys rest here. Prepare to leave once it’s calm."
Hersel climbed up the ladder.
Aslay, sitting cross-legged, shook a necklace made of animal teeth.
Rustle rustle-
Curious, Belman asked.
"What are you doing?"
"Praying for Limberton's safe return."
It seemed to be a tribal ritual.
Having nothing else to do, Belman looked around the fortress.
He had thought there would be a lot of tri-headed wolf tails, but there was only one.
The location halfway up the mountain and not collecting tails meant...
"So, you guys were planning to earn points through treasure hunting."
When he guessed, Leana retorted.
"Did you plan to gather while we fought the wolves?"
"...Probably. If their attention was drawn, the forest would be quiet."
"While others are suffering, how selfish..."
Aslay glared at Leana.
"My boss is like a chieftain to me. And the wisest sage in the tribe. Do not insult him."
Leana stepped back awkwardly.
Belman whispered softly in her ear.
"They worship him as a god. Don’t provoke him."
"...I know. That's why it's creepy."
***
The question of why Riamon hadn’t joined Belman's unit would have to wait.
I moved the telescope from the watchtower.
The wolves, losing their prey, started to disperse slowly.
Thanks to that, I could clearly see where Silla was.
"This..."
A single shiny object lay on the ground.
It was a compass.
Apparently, Limberton had lost his compass.
I took out three signal rods.
At that moment, the black rod glowed.
It was a distress signal.
"This guy, always startling people."
Limberton and Silla were alive.
