With Katie finally receiving her magical armor delivery, our companions' and viewers' curiosity turned to the combat abilities of the two n driving our carriage.
5★ 'Blue Beast of the Archipelago' Jacob
5★ 'Binding Avenger' Mills
Jacob practically advertised "I'm a fighter!" just from looks alone. His 2m muscular fra, scarred forearms, and stone-like fists with calluses like brass knuckles suggested he could demolish most things with his bare hands.
...Plus his title was similar to a certain character from that ninja manga about eye battles.
While Jacob was one thing, I couldn't get a read on Mills the rcenary. Except for his heavily calloused large hands, he looked just like an ordinary neighborhood uncle from his slight belly to his build and muscles.
But Mills' record in the docunts was far from ordinary. True to his "Avenger" na, he'd handled many jobs dealing with humans, and quite impressively at that.
Bandits who raided pioneer villages during monster waves. rcenaries who betrayed their employers and plundered rchant groups. Human traffickers trying to kidnap children, possibly dealing with witches or dark mages... Seems the Empire's vast territory and weak law enforcent led to more violent criminals than the Kingdom.
"This rcenary Mills uses rather unique weapons. Rather than sticking to one weapon... he uses things like ropes."
"Not ropes exactly, but rope-like things?"
"Yes. He uses ropes, chains, thin silver wire... that sort of weapon depending on the situation."
Ah, so that's why his title was 'Binding.'
While Jacob was a frontline fighter just as he appeared, Mills was more like a scout and assassin. Living up to his 'Binding Avenger' title, he seed specialized in secretly tracking and picking off marked targets one by one.
They'd chosen well for tracking a witch. A scout modeled after special forces would be more helpful than the sword instructor or squinting priest. Han Se-ah and her viewers seed to agree, praising it as a good choice.
In this atmosphere, Katie's eyes sparkled as she suddenly turned to .
"Roland! Have you seen anyone else who uses strange, unique weapons like Mills? What's it like fighting with chains?"
"Hmm, never seen soone fight with chains before. Though there were plenty of guys who used unusual weapons in the rcenary business."
The unique weapons of chains and silver wire had apparently stimulated Katie's - our kid's - chuunibyou sensibilities. As she asked her question with sparkling eyes, everyone's attention naturally turned my way.
Small heads one, two, three, four, five-- plus the cara made it hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions. Pretty creepy when you thought about it that way.
With gazes pouring in from front and sides, mories quickly surfaced. Like novice adventurers who died wearing capes, most rcenaries who used unique weapons were idiots, so I could recall them easily.
"Both adventurers and rcenaries are desperate to make nas for themselves. So so choose unique weapons... but most aren't choosing weapons because they're skilled - they're using weird weapons just to get famous."
"Oh, so?"
"Many died stupidly trying to build reputation with unusual weapons."
Take the sword breaker for example, which shows up decently often in fantasy. Despite the na, it's not 'break' as in destroy, but 'break' as in interrupt and stop.
It literally uses jagged saw teeth on the back to catch and interrupt enemy sword blades, but the problem is it can only 'interrupt.' In other words, since it can only interfere, you need another weapon to actually kill the enemy after interrupting them.
This ans becoming a dual-wielder... and splitting your focus is often a symbol of certain defeat.
"Most knights wouldn't try wielding weapons in both hands."
"It's tough. No reason to take another weapon over a good shield. If you're going to block swords, just use a shield."
"Ah, so even in Heroes Chronicle, splitting focus ans certain death?"
-For so reason I'm reminded of the King in the Storm, sob... if only he hadn't split his greatsword
-Stop acting like dual-wielding is cool... you baby...
-That's why Teacher Roland uses a shield, git gud and be born 6★ if you're jealous lol
-Dagger going swoosh swoosh vs shield bonking
-Shield is just way stronger lol getting hit by one makes your soul leave instantly
The chat filled with dual-wielding hate and rogue hate, showing these attitudes were common in this world too. I sympathized with the viewers, being soone who'd rather use a heavy two-handed weapon than dual-wield in both my past and current life.
After all, my weapons were a warhamr and shield.
There were plenty of other examples too - like the guy who used a whip as his main weapon but died getting tangled in tree branches because he hadn't considered a backup weapon, or the one who died in cave levels using a military-style pike that wasn't ant for individual combat.
As I rambled on with stories to ease the boring carriage journey, there was a knock on the wall.
"What is it?"
"Village ahead! Sun's setting, think we should stop for the night!"
Before we knew it, day was ending as we chatted.
※
The small village in the Empire's east had the typical countryside appearance.
And I an that in the bad way - truly dieval.
"An inn? Well, we have empty rooms but the facilities aren't very good."
A tiny village surrounded by shabby wooden fences that could barely stop a starving, weak orc. Seeing an obviously luxurious carriage approach and a 2m muscular giant ask about rooms, they couldn't help but be scared.
People with dirty appearances from lack of magitech benefits tried hiding their children just in case, while those sa children peeked out from alleys to observe our massive carriage and beautiful companions.
Even among the grimy children and won, those with cute or beautiful looks seed to be 2-3★.
"The poor conditions don't matter, but you have two separate rooms for n and won, right?"
"We have that much. The ladies can stay at the chief's house, and the n at the shepherd couple's place... Um, about the lodging fee..."
"Who do you think we are! We won't skip out on paynt."
While I was looking around, Jacob pulled out a pouch and pressed a handful of silver coins into the chief's hands. The chief, who'd been trembling in fear of not just going unpaid but having to hand over money or won, started trembling for a different reason.
For Jacob, head of the archipelago's Adventurer's Guild branch, it wasn't much since mid-rank adventurers earned silver coins daily.
But in a tiny rural village, this was what a shepherd might earn over years herding livestock, and only then if they had enough basic assets in animals. For rural farrs barely growing enough grain for the village, silver coins were worth their weight in gold, to exaggerate slightly.
"Um, er, no, would you like ale? We have so grain alcohol stored!"
"Listen here, old man."
Knowing too much money could be a curse rather than a blessing, the chief frantically tried to offer sothing in return, but Jacob glanced my way before whispering sothing in his ear.
Though I could hear it clearly anyway.
"You can tell from the carriage we're escorting important people. We don't want any ale, won, or tribute - got it?"
"Yes, yes yes."
"We'll handle our own als too, so just keep the rooms empty, don't worry about us, and don't approach. Understand?"
"Yes, of course, I'll spread the word."
Jacob lowered his head to whisper to the bent-backed chief. His whispers ca out more like growls, making him seem truly beast-like, matching his title.
But the chief nodded gratefully. Whether because he clearly understood what the silver coins in his hand were for, his color actually improved despite trembling at Jacob's growls.
What concerned more wasn't Jacob's negotiation-or-threat conversation with the chief, but Mills who had vanished and was now circling the village periter. A 5★ character wouldn't act like this without reason - was it professional habit, or had he already found so clues?
I wasn't the only one with such excited expectations - Han Se-ah had already attached her cara to him and was anxiously watching his movents.
Enjoy the chappy!
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