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Chapter 35: That Was Just Bad Luck! Don’t Sweat It!

We crested the hill and saw the enemy’s main camp spread out below.

I raised my voice toward the eighty-strong main force of our allied Barbar Mercenary Force.

「Go! Charge down the hill in one sweep! This is payday!」

My shout was answered by the Barbar tribes, who roared their war cries.

「Woohoo!」

「Oorah!」

「Lalalalala!」

Each tribe let out their own unique cries and dashed down the slope all at once.

Leading the charge, I used the skill 【Sma-ho】 to locate the enemy general, Bartlett.

He’s in the center of the main camp… That big pavilion, huh!

I locked eyes on it and shouted to Rosso of the Giant Lizard tribe and Jessica of the Elf tribe running beside me.

「Our target is that central pavilion!」

Their replies came back sharp and full of spirit.

「The center! Got it!」

「Understood! I’ll clear the way!」

Jessica, the Elf, notched an arrow while running.

Without a care for her swaying aim as we charged down the hill, she loosed two arrows in quick succession.

I saw the enemy lookout drop.

「Direct hit! As expected, Jessica!」

「Let’s keep it up!」

We stormed the main camp in one go.

With the campfires lit, visibility was good.

Skirmishes had broken out all over.

We made for the central pavilion.

Just as we were nearly there, a finely dressed swordsman emerged from the shadows beside the pavilion.

「You lowborn scum!」

The enemy swordsman shouted as he raised his sword and charged at me.

I started to slow down to deal with him, but Rosso from the Giant Lizard tribe sped up even faster.

「Raaahhh!」

With his massive body and shield held in front, Rosso barreled forward.

The enemy swordsman swung down at Rosso, but the blow was deflected by the large shield.

Rosso didn’t stop.

Without losing momentum, he slammed his shield into the swordsman in a body-check.

Splat!

A dull sound rang out as the enemy swordsman was sent flying.

「Guhhehh!」

「Take a nap!」

The swordsman Rosso launched spun with his neck twisted grotesquely in an impossible direction.

Then three more enemies emerged from the shadows of the pavilion, shouting.

「Enemy sighted!」

「Gabriel’s down!」

「They’re skilled! Be on guard!」

Tch!

They’re starting to gather!

And we’re so close to General Bartlett’s pavilion!

「Raaahhh!」

Rosso of the Giant Lizard tribe roared.

He charged at the reinforcements and went wild.

The newcomers pulled back from Rosso.

「What is this thing!?」

「He’s a beastman! He’s strong!」

「Damn it! Take him down, Gwah!」

Jessica shot rapidly with her bow, one arrow piercing a thigh.

Then she cast a spell.

「Idiot Rosso! Get back!」

「Shut up! And drop the ‘idiot’!」

Rosso leapt backward, and Jessica’s spell crossed past him.

The explosion spell landed squarely on the three newcomers.

Boom!

For an instant, it felt like night turned to day.

Then a searing hot blast engulfed us.

I instinctively ducked down, shielding my eyes with my right hand.

With my left, I grabbed the guide by the waistband and pulled them down with me.

「Waaahhh!」

The guide next to me groaned from the blinding light and heat.

Looking up, I saw Jessica and Rosso standing boldly amidst the flames.

「Gaia! Go! We’ll hold their attention!」

「Gaia! We’ve got this! Go for the head!」

Their figures made a shiver run down my spine.

「I’m counting on you!」

No time to hesitate or waver.

As soon as I heard them, I grabbed the guide by the collar and bolted.

「Keep your head down!」

「O-okay!」

We snuck along the pavilion’s shadow, creeping slowly.

The enemy soldiers rushed toward the chaos Jessica and Rosso had caused.

There! I saw our target pavilion!

No guards.

They must have run toward the commotion Jessica and Rosso stirred up.

I exchanged glances and nods with the guide, and we slipped into the pavilion.

「Wh-Who’s there!?」

It was in the Ring Kingdom language.

A man in thick, white, loose pajamas challenged us.

There was no one else.

I glanced quickly at the 【Sma-ho】 screen.

No mistake.

This man is General Bartlett!

He looked at the iron sword in my right hand and began screaming in desperation.

「Someone! Is anyone there!? Intruders! Help!」

I spat in Barbar tongue.

「Trying to seize a noble title like this, huh…」

「W-What!?」

Wearing pajamas and lounging around the battlefield without armor…

That’s far too careless.

You’re the scoundrel who murdered your young nephew to steal the title.

Act like the villain you are!

The guide swallowed hard and pointed.

「Sir Gaia! No doubt about it, that’s Bartlett!」

「You! You’re one of Rion’s men!?」

The guide readied his saber, but the blade tip trembled, he had probably never killed a man.

I waved my left hand to hold him back.

I leveled my iron sword straight.

The tip aimed precisely at Bartlett’s throat.

The air grew heavy under my killing intent.

Bartlett broke into a sweat, trembling at the knees.

「I am Gaia, general of the Barbar Mercenary Force! Lord Bartlett! I’ll be taking your life!」

「S-Stop! Please! Spare me!」

「Forgive me.」

I stomped hard with my left foot and slid forward on my right.

I passed by Bartlett, and as I did, I thrust the iron sword into his throat.

The raw, fleshy sensation shot through my hands.

But I felt no guilt for taking a life.

Without hesitation, I swung the iron sword with both hands.

「Fweee…」

The air escaping from his slashed throat sounded like a devil’s cry.

A thin, eerie high-pitched whistle echoed within the pavilion like a broken flute.

「Haaah…」

I exhaled slowly and looked into Bartlett’s lifeless eyes.

For some reason, it felt wrong to just silently take the head, so I spoke to the corpse as I worked.

「Sorry. Just doing my job.」

I used my iron sword to sever the head from the body.

Lifting it up, I made a mocking face at Bartlett’s severed head.

「Man, you really drew the short straw! Don’t sweat it!」

The guide, who’d been standing in a daze, suddenly rebooted.

His mouth opened and closed a few times before he muttered one sentence.

「You’re nuts…」

With the death of enemy General Bartlett, the enemy forces scattered, and we won!