章 21: Mount Watchtower (2)
"An undead mountain tiger.", Kate assessed the monster from far away. "It's blocking our way up."
"How are you sure that it's an undead?", Allen asked.
"Half of its body parts are missing.", Kate answered. "Any ideas on how to take care of it, Allen?"
"Well, they're just like normal tigers, eating meat, lunging on the prey, toying with their prey, etc. But if it's undead, it might be more ferocious in its attacks.", Allen analyzed. "But its senses are already dull, because it's already dead."
"It's senses are already dull. Hmm...", Kate muttered and prepared to close in to use flicker.
"Don't use your flicker just yet, there might be more dangerous monsters along the way.", Allen stopped her.
"Okay, do you have a plan then?", Kate asked.
"Yes.", Allen then looked over at Drake.
...
Time passed...
The undead mountain tiger was circling around the area, sniffing the air for prey, even though its senses are almost just the same as a human's.
-whoosh-
"Hey! Hey!", a voice called out to the tiger.
The beast looked at the direction of the voice and saw Drake.
"Yes, you! Try to catch this piece of meat!", Drake waved over a piece of raw meat.
The undead mountain tiger's interest was piqued, it then roared and sprinted towards Drake. Even though it's already dead, probably due to the curse, it became faster.
"Whew!", Drake activated his Speed Amulet and ran away. The tiger's speed might have become faster when it died, but it can't reach the speed that a Major-Inferior Speed Amulet can give!
When Drake and the undead mountain tiger left the vicinity, Allen and Kate immediately rushed up and passed the location where the beast once was.
"We're really not going to kill that monster?", Kate asked. "We might go again by this path when we come back and we'll meet that beast again."
"There's no need to.", Allen shook his head.
Several minutes later, Drake regrouped back with Allen and Kate and continued their journey.
...
By night, the trio reached a cliff where there weren't many monsters in the area and began to setting up their camp.
As there was a forest at the northeast direction from Mount Watchtower, cool breeze could always be felt almost around the mountain.
"Everything we really need are in these satchels.", Allen took out what seems to be like the materials to set up a tent.
"There's even flint and steel and firewoods.", Drake took out the said items and placed them on the ground.
"I have those too.", Kate said while inspecting her satchel.
In just a few minutes, they had already set up their camp.
Kate looked up the starry sky by the bonfire while eating roasted meat, "The sky looks beautiful."
Allen and Drake also looked up, the latter yawned in exhaustion as he finished his meal.
"How far have we climbed up the mountain?", Allen asked.
Kate took out her map and inspected it. "Probably seven to thirteen percent of the mountain."
"So it's going to take a few more days of climbing. I hope we don't always meet more monsters, specially undead ones.", Drake noticeably shivered. It was unknown if it was due to the coldness or something else.
"What kind of treasure do you think there is inside that mountain?", Allen curiously asked.
"Other than expensive metals and gems, I hope we get something else that suits us.", Kate said.
"Let's say, if we're already splitting up the treasure, what will you go for? I'll probably take boots.", Drake said.
"I'd probably take a new weapon or something.", Kate said.
"I'll probably just take the expensive metals.", Allen blew his roasted meat to cool it down.
Kate and Drake looked curiously at Allen, the latter asked, "Why those things? They're just useless pieces of metal with prices."
"Well you see... I think it's better if I tell you much sooner." Allen scratched the back of his head, "Aside from Mr. Sanchez threatening me, the reason why I'm here is because I need money for my family
Kate rolled her eyes, "What a cliched story." She then blew the piece of meat again.
"Ehh, I don't care, even if I die, it's for my family, after all.", Allen shrugged and happily ate the roasted meat.
After a pause, he asked, "What about you two? Why did you become assassins too?"
"None of your business.", Kate snorted.
"Hehe, sorry, sorry!" Allen slowly backed away from her.
"It's for my family too.", Drake said, but he didn't get too specific.
Silence then reigned for a moment until Drake broke it, "I already finished my meal, I'm going to sleep now, see you tomorrow." After which, he entered his tent to sleep.
Meanwhile, Kate and Allen stayed by the bonfire until it burnt out, then they entered their own tents and started their rests.
...
Next morning...
They continued their journey and picked up some of the rare plants that was on Lord Levine's list along the way.
"Hold on, stop!", Kate pulled Allen and Drake down.
"Ow, what is it?", Drake he held his stomach area in pain. "Ugh, I think I accidentally hit a sharp rock when you pulled me down.
"Shh! Just look.", Kate pointed.
The two boys looked towards the direction where Kate's finger was pointed at and saw a herd of mountain goats with green, glowing eyes.
"Cursed mountain goats?", Allen figured out why they had to hide.
As the name said, these mountain goats died due to the curse of the necromancers but resurrected as undead beings, making them dangerous.
For example, before they were cursed, one could easily pass through the path without any hiccups; however, now that they were cursed, their habits most likely changed and one might get attacked by their whole herd.
Even if Drake used his Speed Amulet to run away, he might not be able to escape because the beasts were much better treckers in this rocky terrain. The reason why Drake could only outrun the mountain tiger earlier because it wasn't that steep and dangerous on that part of the mountain where they encountered the said beast.
Kate took out her map and signalled Allen and Drake to follow her to detour pass the herd.
Due to them avoiding the herd of undead beasts, they strayed off from their original planned path and stumbled upon a tunnel and could see a light at end of the it.
"This tunnel would lead us back at our original planned path.", Kate looked at the map that she was holding.
"Are you sure that we should enter that dark place?", Drake asked.
"Of course, why would it be on the map then?", Kate retorted.
Drake looked at the map and pointed out, "But it's marked as unexplored!"
"We should still enter it, do you want to come back to that herd of goats and try to outrun them in their own habitat?", Kate sarcastically asked. She took out a magical burning torch from her satchel and returned the map then entered the tunnel.
"Damn it!", Drake had no choice but to take out a magical burning torch from her satchel and looked at Allen, who has a blank look on his face. "Hey, aren't you going to take out your torch?"
"Oh.", Allen snapped out from his stupor and took out his torch. Drake nodded and entered the cave.
Earlier, the reason why Allen had a blank look because he felt some sort of resonance from the Erchian Dagger that there was something inside the tunnel that it caused the said weapon inside his consciousness to suddenly reacr. However, he doesn't know if it was due to its excitement or fear.
As soon as he entered the cave, the cool refreshing air disappeared and was replaced by humid dry air while the resonance of the Erchian Dagger became stronger.
***
Yesterday at Riverboard City...
A merchant that was wearing a hat that shadowed the upper half of his face casually entered the grounds of a villa with his cart. There were guards stationed at the gate; but it was as if the guards didn't notice the merchant!
Of course, the villa was owned by Lord Levine.
The merchant stopped his cart near the door of the villa, after which he entered through the door by his own accord. He inspected the main hall and walked upstairs, going towards the balcony.
There at the terrace were Mr. Sanchez and Lord Levine drinking tea while gazing at the numerous buildings in the city and the horizon. When the merchant entered the balcony, the latter said without looking, "Going inside my place without knocking, how rude."
The merchant just smiled and sat by them, "Well, it's as if I still need to knock on the door to get noticed by the both of you."
Mr. Sanchez and Lord Levine first looked at each then just offered the merchant a cup of tea for refreshments.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット