Chapter 78. The Executioner of Westfalen (3)
“Arguinata, can’t you use some kind of shamanic ritual to find where the orcs are?”
“If I knew such a great ritual, we would have won our war against the orcs.”
“Tch. Is there any method at all?”
“There is a way to steal the eyes of a bird. However...”
“However?”
“It requires many materials.”
Arguinata held out his palm.
He wanted valuables.
“I have some gold and silver.”
“Bring several pieces of those, along with copper. I melt them during the ritual.”
“You didn’t have those materials during the war?”
“Gold and copper are precious, and silver is difficult to separate.”
Do goblins not know cupellation?
Wait.
I should first confirm whether this world even has cupellation.
I hurriedly stood.
“You are leaving already without eating?”
“I have too much work.”
Arguinata called after me as I left.
“Lord of the Western Land, at least be careful today. Your luck is terrible.”
“Hehe. Got it.”
Raul stood outside with his nose covered because of the smoke.
His face brightened when he saw me.
“Are we finally leaving? Ugh. That tobacco smell.”
“Your nose is extremely sensitive.”
“Obviously. I’m a wolf beastman. I can smell Martin farting from a hundred steps away.”
“...You two are very close.”
“What? What? Why would you say that?”
The return route went downhill.
We led our horses and slowly descended.
After walking for some time, the road toward the goblin trading post appeared.
Maybe I should teach Bixby a little swordsmanship while we pass through.
Thinking about Bixby possibly becoming my first disciple made me smile.
Then,
“Hm? My lord. I smell blood.”
“What?”
I was about to spread my senses.
Bang!
Something suddenly tore through the air.
Raul shouted at the same moment.
“My lord!”
Thud!
“Ghk!”
A dagger buried itself in my left shoulder.
* * *
At the construction site for Omar’s mansion,
Martin was discussing security with his father, Pierre.
They were deciding what might obstruct the guards and where the security personnel should be stationed.
Pierre’s experience as a veteran knight was helping them decide where to place guard posts.
“Father, if we build a post there, won’t it be too obvious?”
“A guard post is not designed to capture assassins secretly. It does not matter if it is visible.”
“Hmm. Then the third post should...”
“Martin. Someone is riding toward us.”
“What?”
Pierre suddenly pointed.
A man on horseback was charging toward them at full speed.
He was screaming something while riding.
The distance was too great to understand his words.
“Probably a messenger.”
Galloping through crowded streets was strictly prohibited.
That meant whatever news he carried was urgent.
“Martin, something happened.”
“Just in case, prepare the knight order.”
“Understood.”
Pierre ran toward the knight order headquarters.
Martin remained and waited for the horse.
When it finally arrived, its legs collapsed.
Splat.
The exhausted animal fell face-first into the ground and died.
The rider rolled from its back.
His wound reopened.
Blood and even part of his intestines spilled from his stomach.
Still, he screamed.
“His Lordship! His Lordship is in danger!”
“Sir Orian? What happened...?”
“Sir Martin! Where is His Lordship? Send knights immediately!”
“Fine, but first receive treatment. Father already went to the knight order.”
“There are five knights stronger than you! Hurry!”
“What?”
Martin felt his vision go yellow.
Among all the knights currently serving Marcel, only one Upper-rank Sword Expert existed.
Pierre.
* * *
“Golem Creation!”
Crackle!
As I fell, I grabbed a tree and immediately transformed it into a golem.
Thanks to [Intermediate Golem Creation], the Wood Golem was now fifteen meters tall.
“Golem, carry me uphill!”
Kuuu.
The Wood Golem wrapped its arms around me protectively.
Then it began sprinting.
With its enormous stride, a running Wood Golem was faster than horses.
Even knights would struggle to catch it.
At the same time, I spread my senses.
Four Upper-rank Sword Experts. One Mid-rank. They’re spread out. The route toward the lord’s city is blocked. Damn. Am I dying today?
Trying to break through while riding the golem was too dangerous.
One of the enemies might be extremely fast.
My best chance was probably to defend the goblin village and search for another solution.
“Raul! Back to Arguinata!”
“Yes!”
Raul also immediately realized the enemies were powerful.
He ran like a madman.
Being a wolf beastman and talented knight helped.
He focused aura into both legs and nearly matched the golem’s speed.
“My lord, what about the soldiers?”
“......”
The thirteen soldiers who had waited farther down the mountain were probably already dead.
The blood Raul smelled had likely belonged to them.
Even if they were alive,
we could not save them.
If I stopped to create more Wood Golems and attempted a rescue, the enemies would catch us immediately.
“We make a defensive line at the goblin village! Run as fast as you can!”
“Yes, my lord!”
* * *
Brock stood and watched the retreating golem and wolf beastman.
“What the hell is that wooden monster?”
“Probably created using a magic item. Must have cost quite a lot.”
“Didn’t Eric get hit by my dagger? Damn it. Why is he still alive?”
“Brock, maybe your skills became rusty. Hehehe.”
Just like Orian,
Eric had dispersed the mana inside the weapon at the moment of impact.
The technique he had secretly copied from Orian had saved his life.
Brock looked toward Ziegler.
Ziegler was the fastest of the group.
“Ziegler. Can you catch that monster?”
“By myself? Easily. Want me to go now?”
“No. If they try to escape toward the lord’s city, intercept them. For now, I can’t accurately read the level of that wolf beastman. There is no reason to take unnecessary risks.”
Raul had used Aura Focus on his legs.
That confused their estimate of his actual level.
Normally, only excellent Upper-rank Sword Experts used Aura Focus so naturally.
“Spread out. Move uphill slowly. As long as they cannot escape toward the lord’s city, we’re fine.”
Even if Eric made a large detour,
