kscans

Chapter 11 - Wheat Fields and a Fortress Settlement

Day four. We continued along the forest path, and around noon, we reached a wheat field. About two hundred meters ahead was a small hill. There was a stone wall, and inside it stood several wooden houses. There was also a wooden watchtower, making it look like a small fortress.

"Three families and their serfs live there."

"So it's a farmstead. Not quite the village I was imagining."

The wheat fields spread out from the hill. We walked towards it. I didn't know anything about wheat cultivation, but the fields looked neglected. Weeds were starting to grow.

"Master. The smell is strange."

Famu stopped in her tracks.

"Yeah, I have a bad feeling too. Let's not go any further."

It wouldn't be strange to see people working, but there was no one in sight. It was eerie.

"We're being watched."

I followed Famu's gaze. Someone was watching us from the watchtower. They hadn't been there a moment ago.

"A goblin. Let's fall back."

We followed Aidan's instruction and retreated back into the forest. After walking for a while, we ducked into the bushes on the side of the path and held our breath. Aidan began to ready his bow.

"I hope they don't follow us..."

he muttered to himself.

"The quest was to exterminate goblins raiding the village's fields, right?"

I asked Aidan in a low voice.

"Yeah. The villagers had found the goblins' lair. There were about five of them living there. The plan was to raid it, but the situation has changed."

"The fields were starting to get overgrown. It seems some time has passed,"

Famu said anxiously.

"We should assume it's a goblin nest now."

Famu and I nodded in agreement with Aidan's words.

"Someone's coming,"

Famu said. We stopped talking. A moment later, a group of goblin pursuers appeared. Six of them. They were equipped with iron swords and wooden shields. One of them also had a bow.

"Lure them in, and I'll shoot the one in the lead. On that signal, jump out and attack. No, just pretend to attack and focus on defending."

Famu 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 higher attack power. They were probably made from tamahagane steel. But I couldn't use a shield with a katana, and Famu's attack range would be too short with a shield and a knife. The goblins stopped at a distance that seemed just out of reach of my stone magic and didn't move.

"Tch, they noticed us."

Aidan clicked his tongue, stood up, and fired an arrow. The arrow brilliantly pierced the space between one goblin's eyebrows.

"It can reach that far?!"

I was more surprised than the enemy.

"Since they know we're here, there's no point in hiding in the bushes. Let's get out onto the path."

We emerged from the bushes with our weapons ready and faced the goblins. The distance was awkward. I was afraid of what would happen if they retreated. We could be lured into an ambush and surrounded if we chased them too far. The goblin archer fired an arrow, but it fell short. Aidan returned fire. His arrow reached them, but they dodged it.

"Let's try pulling back. Run at a slow pace and count to twenty-five."

Famu 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?"

"I doubt it. The goblins probably won't initiate combat. They'll want to lure us into the village and fight where they have the advantage. I want to lose them, get close to the village again, and assess the situation,"

Aidan said.

"We should go back to the city. We need to call for reinforcements. You call it a village, but that'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.

"You're right. I'll stay here and gather information. You two go back to the city, report to the guild, and have them call the knights."

I didn't know how to respond. Aidan was right. We wouldn't be much help in a fight. So we should go back to the city and call for reinforcements. But what would happen to Aidan? He was an A-rank adventurer, but should we really leave him behind in a place where we didn't even know the enemy's numbers?

"Master!"

Famu pushed me, and I stumbled. An arrow flew past the spot where I had been standing. I had let my guard down. Before I knew it, the goblins had closed the distance to where their arrows would surely hit a person.

"We can close the distance from here! Aidan-san, please provide cover!"

Famu broke into a run, instantly closing the gap between her and the goblins. The goblins realized their mistake in getting too close and tried to retreat, but Famu's sword reached them first. The enemy let out a cry of agony from the blow, but it wasn't enough to take it down. The goblin immediately counterattacked. Aidan's arrow pierced it just as it was about to strike, and I, who was following up, also landed a blow. The goblin hit by the arrow vanished, and two others were wounded.

"I'll take the wounded ones. Famu, you go for the archer."

"Yes!"

Famu headed for the archer. I used my shield to shove one goblin, along with its attack, aside, and swung my sword down on the other. The goblin vanished. The fallen goblin was shot and killed by Aidan, and Famu took down the archer.

"Be careful. One of them is missing."

"It's alright. It doesn't seem to be here."

"It went back to the village,"

Aidan said. Did it go to report back? So they have numbers, weapons, and intelligence. My body was trembling.

"Master, there might be survivors in the village."

It seemed Famu wanted to try and rescue the villagers instead of heading back to the city.

"Yeah. It's a long shot, but there might be survivors. Aidan can do what he wants, but you're a liability, Famu. You're not combat-ready. And I'm useless too."

I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Ideally, all three of us would go back to the city. It would take time, but we could subjugate the goblins occupying the village with minimal casualties. Rescuing any survivors was impossible.

"How about we just observe the village from within the forest?"

"Don't. All we'll do is put them on higher alert."

Famu seemed to give up on persuading me and looked at Aidan.

"Hmm, they're probably already on alert. But I want to get a grasp of the village's situation while it's still light out. On the condition that we don't approach the village, you two and I will split up and investigate,"

Aidan said.

"Wait, not Famu. I'm sending Famu back to the city."

"Master, I am staying with you."

Aidan nodded at Famu's words. Famu's level had gone up. She could probably make it back to the city on her own while avoiding combat. I wanted to at least get her to safety, but now I couldn't back down.

"I'll circle around to the left. You two go to the right."

The path went through the village and continued on the other side. We agreed to meet at the stone pillar barrier at the end of that path.

"Absolutely do not enter the wheat field. Do not enter the watchtower's line of sight. Also, there might be traps in places where you can get a good view of the village. You don't need to go through the trouble of disarming them 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 the city. Got it?"

Famu and I nodded.

"See you later."

We parted ways with Aidan.

Famu and I made our way through the pathless forest towards the village.

"...Um, are you angry?"

Famu asked. She must have known I wanted to turn back.

"Yeah. But then I remembered, I've never had a single woman listen to what I say."

The days of being ignored and brushed off by the women of my old world flashed through my mind.

"Don't tell me the reason, okay?"

"Okay. It just reminded me of when my settlement was attacked."

"I figured. That's what I thought."

I was pissed off from remembering that unpleasant past, so I wanted to tease her, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Back then, I couldn't do anything. But after meeting you, Master, I've become a little stronger. I can't just ignore this."

"Neither you nor I are heroes, Famu. We're just playing adventurer, being led around by Aidan. Let's keep it in moderation,"

I said, driving the point home.

"I'm sorry."

She apologized so earnestly. I placed my hand on her head and pushed down.

"Let's go. Let's get this over with quickly."

I started walking.

"W-Wait, please."

Famu called out to stop me. She had taken off her leather chestplate. Did it hurt?

"Master, we're alone. Let's play our game."

As she said this, she pushed her breasts together, emphasizing them by squeezing her arms inward. She looked up at me with an embarrassed expression. The Nipple-Guessing Game. It seemed Famu wanted to calm me down with this. Come to think of it, this was our ritual for becoming good friends.

"P-Please win today."

Famu looked down as she said this.

"So you're telling me to show you the fruits of my journey here?"

I deliberately raised my index finger and poked Famu's beet-red cheek.

"No, I don't think this will demonstrate the fruits of your journey."

"Alright. I'll accept your challenge today. You do realize I'm on edge right now, don't you?"

"...Yes. I want to be friends."

"I will absolutely win. And then I will expose your bared chest to the goblins!"

"Eek! Please enjoy my chest by yourself!"

I focused all my nerves into the tips of my index fingers. Everyone in the whole world, please lend your strength to my single thrust. I thrust my two index fingers simultaneously into Famu's two mounds. A soft, squishy feeling. I bent the first joint of both fingers slightly and felt a firm little nub.

"Auh! Y-You did it."

I vibrated my fingers like the tail of a waterfowl. The bumps gradually began to harden.

"I did it. I really did it. The purpose of my journey has been fulfilled."

It was hard to part, and I was reluctant, but I removed my fingers.

"Famu, I am satisfied. Let's go back to the city."

"W-Wait, please. The objective has changed!"

"Right. Damn it. I don't want to go, but it can't be helped. Let's just get this investigation over with."

"Um, don't you want to see my chest?"

Famu asked shyly.

"I don't trust myself to hold back after I see it. I'll have you show me when we get back to the city."

"I-I see."

I helped Famu put her leather chestplate back on. As I started to walk, Famu hugged me from behind.

"I will definitely show you. Please make sure you look."

She buried her face in my back. The arms that were hugging me were quickly released. It was a promise that there was a future. She had been anxious too.