Chapter 11 - The Wheat Fields and the Fortress Settlement
On the fourth day, we continued walking the path through the forest. Around noon, we reached a field of wheat. About two hundred meters ahead was a small hill. There was a stone wall, and inside it stood several wooden houses. A wooden watchtower was also visible, making it look like a small fortress.
"Three families and their serfs live there."
"A farmstead, then. Different from the village I was imagining."
The wheat fields spread out from the hill. We walked towards it. I didn't know anything about cultivating wheat, but the fields looked to be in rough shape. Weeds were starting to grow.
"Master. The smell is strange."
Fam stopped in her tracks.
"Yeah, I have a bad feeling about this too. Let's not go any further."
It wouldn't be strange to see people working, but there wasn't a soul in sight. It was eerie.
"We are being watched."
I followed Fam's gaze. Someone was watching us from the watchtower. They hadn't been there a moment ago.
"A goblin. Let's pull back for now."
Following Aidan's words, we retreated back into the forest. After walking for a bit, we slipped into some bushes on the side and held our breath. Aidan began to ready his bow.
"I hope they don't follow…" I muttered to myself.
"The quest was to exterminate goblins that were raiding the village's fields, right?" I asked Aidan in a hushed voice.
"Aye. The villagers had found the goblins' lair. There were about five of 'em living there. The plan was to raid the place, but the situation has changed."
"The fields were starting to get overgrown. It seems some time has passed," Fam said anxiously.
"We should assume it's a goblin nest now."
Fam and I both nodded at Aidan's words.
"Someone is coming."
Fam said. We stopped talking. A moment later, a goblin pursuit party appeared. Six of them. They were equipped with iron swords and wooden shields. One of them even had a bow.
"Lure them closer and I'll shoot the leader. On that signal, jump out and attack. No, just feign an attack and focus on defense."
Fam and I switched to one-handed swords and shields and waited for Aidan's arrow. The weapons Aidan had given us were sharper and had more attack power—they were probably made from tamahagane steel. But I couldn't hold a shield with a katana, and Fam's attack range would be too short with a shield and knives. The goblins stopped just out of my stone magic's range and froze.
"Tch, they spotted us."
Aidan cursed under his breath, stood up, and loosed an arrow. It flew true, piercing the forehead of one of the goblins.
"It can reach from here?!" I was more surprised than the enemy.
"There's no point in hiding in the bushes if they know we're here. Let's get out on the road."
We emerged from the bushes with our weapons drawn and faced the goblins. It was an awkward distance to charge from. I was worried they might pull back. If we pursued too aggressively, we could run into an ambush and get surrounded. The goblin archer fired an arrow, but it fell short. Aidan returned fire. His arrow reached, but it was dodged.
"Let's try pulling back. Run at a slow pace and count to twenty-five."
Fam and I nodded. We turned our backs to the goblins and ran. The goblins followed, but they didn't close the distance.
"Are they wary of us having an ambush?"
"Doubtful. The goblins probably won't initiate a fight. They'll want to lure us into the village and fight on their own terms. I want to lose them, get close to the village again, and figure out what's going on."
Aidan said.
"We should go back to town. We need to call for reinforcements. You call it a village, but that thing's a fortress. We'll need numbers to attack it."
The farmers who lived on that hill must have built their homes like a fortress in that location to avoid monster attacks.
"Aye, that's true. I'll stay here and gather information. Ye two head back to town, report to the guild, and have them call the knights."
I struggled to reply. Aidan was right. We wouldn't be much help in a fight. So we should return to town and get reinforcements. But what would happen to Aidan? Even if he was an A-rank adventurer, should we really leave him behind when we didn't even know the enemy's numbers?
"Master!" Fam shoved me, and I stumbled. An arrow flew through the spot where I had been standing. I'd let my guard down. Before I knew it, the goblins had closed the distance to where their arrows could reliably hit a person.
"We can close the distance from here! Aidan-san, please provide cover!"
Fam broke into a sprint, instantly closing the gap between her and the goblins. The goblins, realizing their mistake in getting too close, tried to retreat, but Fam's sword reached them first. The blow made the enemy cry out in agony, but it wasn't enough to kill it. The goblin immediately tried to counterattack. An arrow from Aidan pierced it just as it moved, and I, following up as reinforcements, landed a slash of my own. The goblin struck by the arrow vanished, leaving two others wounded.
"I'll take the injured ones. Fam, go for the archer!"
"Yes, sir!"
Fam charged towards the archer. I used my shield to shove one goblin, deflecting its attack, and then brought my sword down on the other. The goblin vanished. The one I'd knocked down was shot and killed by Aidan, and Fam took care of the archer.
"Careful. One is missing."
"It is alright. It does not seem to be here."
"It's gone back to the village."
Aidan said. Did it go to report back? So they had numbers, weapons, and intelligence. My body was trembling.
"Master, there may be survivors in the village."
It seemed Fam wanted to head for the village to rescue people instead of turning back to town.
"Yeah, maybe. It's hopeless, but there might be survivors. Aidan can do what he wants, but you'd just be a hindrance, Fam. You're not a combatant. I'm useless too."
I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. Ideally, all three of us would return to town. It would take time, but we could take down the goblins occupying the village with minimal casualties. Rescuing any survivors was impossible.
"What if we just observe the village from the forest?"
"Don't. We'll just be spotted and they'll heighten their alert."
Fam seemed to give up on persuading me and looked to Aidan.
"Hmm, they're probably already on alert. But I want to get a grasp of the village's state while it's still light out. On the condition that we don't get close to the village, I say we split up and investigate."
Aidan proposed.
"Wait, not Fam. I'm sending Fam back to town."
"Master, I am staying with you."
Aidan nodded at Fam's words. Fam's level had gone up. She could probably make it back to town on her own while avoiding combat. I wanted to let her escape at least, but now my back was against the wall.
"I'll circle around from the left. Ye two investigate from the right."
The road passed through the village and continued on the other side. We agreed to rendezvous at the stone pillar barrier at the end of that road.
"Do not, under any circumstances, enter the wheat fields. Do not enter the watchman's line of sight. Also, there's a chance that any spot with a good view of the village has been booby-trapped. There's no need to disarm traps just to get a look. If we can't meet up, or if it seems impossible to proceed, turn back the way you came and return to town. Got it?"
Fam and I nodded.
"See you later."
We parted ways with Aidan.
Fam and I pushed our way through the pathless woods in the direction of the village.
"…Um, are you angry?"
Fam asked. She must have known I wanted to turn back to town.
"Yeah. But then I remembered, not a single woman has ever listened to a word I've said."
Memories of being ignored and casually dismissed by the women of my old world flashed through my mind.
"Don't tell me the reason, okay?"
"Yes. I… I was reminded of when my own settlement was attacked."
"I figured as much. I had a feeling that was it."
Remembering my own unpleasant past was making me angry, and I wanted to tease her, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Back then, I was powerless to do anything. But after meeting you, Master, I have become a little stronger. I cannot simply overlook this."
"Neither you nor I are heroes, Fam. We're just playing at being adventurers, dragged along by Aidan. Know your limits," I warned her.
"I am sorry."
She apologized so sincerely. I placed a hand on her head and pressed down firmly.
"Let's go. Let's get this over with quickly."
I started walking.
"W-Wait, please!"
Fam called out, stopping me. She had removed her leather breastplate. Was it hurting her?
"Master, we are alone. Let's play the game."
As she said this, she pressed her arms inward, pushing her breasts together to emphasize them. She looked up at me with an embarrassed expression. The nipple-finding game. It seemed this was Fam's way of trying to calm me down. Come to think of it, this was supposed to be a ritual for me and Fam to get closer.
"P-Please, find them today."
Fam said, looking down.
"You're telling me to prove the fruits of my journey right here and now, are you?"
I slowly raised an index finger and poked Fam's bright red cheek.
"No, I do not think this will prove the fruits of your journey."
"Fine. I accept your challenge. You do realize I'm on edge right now, don't you?"
"…Yes. I want us to get along."
"I will absolutely win. And then, I'll bare your chest for all the goblins to see!"
"Eek! Please enjoy my chest all by yourself!"
I focused all my senses on the tip of my index finger. People of the world, lend me your power for this one thrust. With two index fingers, I poked both of Fam's mounds at the same time. A soft sensation. I bent the first joint of both fingers slightly and felt a small, firm nub.
"Auh! Y-You did it."
I wiggled my fingers like a waterfowl's tail, sending vibrations through them. Her nipples began to slowly harden.
"I did it. I've done it. The purpose of my journey has been fulfilled."
It was hard to pull away, but with a lingering sense of reluctance, I removed my fingers.
"Fam, I am satisfied. Let's return to town."
"W-Wait, please! The objective has changed!"
"Right. Damn it. I don't want to go, but it can't be helped. Let's get this investigation over with."
"Um, do you not wish to see my chest?"
Fam asked shyly.
"I don't trust myself to hold back if I look. I'll take you up on that offer when we get back to town."
"I-I see."
I helped Fam put her leather breastplate back on. Just as I started to walk, she hugged me from behind.
"I will definitely show you. So please, make sure you look, okay?"
She buried her face in my back. Her arms, which had been wrapped around me, released me a moment later. It was a promise for the future. She had been anxious, too.
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