WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: HidingTurtle

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Became the Ophidian of the Apocalypse ◈

Chapter 78: Subjugation of the Green Forest

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“Bandits?”

“They must mean us.”

“Heh heh, we really have fallen low.”

The men who were obviously bandits snickered.

In the meantime, a merchant beside the dead Jackson crawled backward.

Was he trying to run away?

Maybe he thought they couldn't see him.

“That’s right, the bandits have arrived! Hand over your money and your lives!”

A bearded man kicked the merchant.

“Aah, please spare me! I-I’ll give you everything!”

The merchant immediately begged for his life.

It was the right choice. The moment he was hit, he pulled a coin pouch from his clothes and flattened himself against the ground.

The bearded man picked it up.

“Bah, it’s barely anything.”

“I’ll give you the goods in the carriages too!”

“Any beer among them?”

“No beer, but...”

“Then I don’t need it!”

The bearded man swung his sword without hesitation.

With a chop, the merchant’s head flew off.

Roil covered Amaen’s mouth before he could scream.

They were used to killing.

They didn't hesitate in the slightest when taking a life. Roil was just as afraid, but he couldn't stand there trembling with his son beside him.

Step by step, he backed away with Amaen.

Of course, they had no intention of letting them escape.

“Hey, mister with the kid.”

“...”

“Who do we look like to you? Do we look like bandits?”

Roil’s back bumped against a cargo carriage.

Could he somehow let Amaen escape, at least?

“Y-you look like heroes.”

“Heroes? Bwaha ha ha!”

The men burst into laughter as though Roil had told a hilarious joke.

Roil forced a smile.

“M-my carriage is full of ale. I was planning to sell it in Kalea City. Since this is an opportunity, I would like to offer it all to you heroes.”

“Oh? The beer delivered to Kalea City is always tasty.”

“That’s right. It’s premium ale worth one gold per barrel... I’ll give you all the money I have too. The cargo carriage and the mules as well!”

So please, spare our lives.

One of the snickering men suddenly turned serious and sneered.

“Why are you making such a show out of something that’s obvious? It sounds like you’re calling us bad people. That hurts.”

“I’m sorry. I misspoke. Of course, it all belongs to you gentlemen.”

Roil acted as humbly as though he would cut out his own liver for them.

His trembling son was in his arms.

“I’ll give you everything. Even my life...”

He was a little slow, but he wasn't an idiot.

He knew they were playing with them.

“So please spare my son. I don't mind dying.”

“Huh. That really warms the heart.”

Roil trembled as he hugged Amaen.

Then he whispered into the boy’s ear.

‘Amaen, run straight into the bushes. Right away. Don't look back. Count to three in your head first.’

Amaen flinched.

“You seem to think we're some kind of terrible villains. We don't kill people for fun, you know.”

“Yes.”

“But what if you spread word that you saw us? Ah, since you called us bandits, has word already gotten out?”

After counting to three, Roil would rush the bandits.

He would be torn apart and killed, but perhaps he could buy Amaen even a little time.

“I’ll never say anything. Never...”

Two.

One.

Just as Roil shoved Amaen aside and prepared to rush the bandits,

“M-master.”

Amaen cried out in a thin voice.

Roil froze.

Amaen, who had been told to run, placed a hand on the cargo compartment and spoke once more.

“Master, please help...”

Naturally, there was no answer.

“What’s with these bastards?”

The bandit tilted his head and drew his sword.

“Is someone in there? Or did he go crazy from fear?”

“That brat pissed himself.”

“Hey, he really did. Hahaha!”

The bandit laughed once, then frowned.

“Making fun of an adult?”

He swung his sword at Amaen without hesitation.

Roil leaped in and took the blow instead.

Thwack!

Blood sprayed.

Roil was startled by the blood splattering across his face.

It didn't hurt at all.

The bandit had frozen in the same stance he had taken to swing his sword.

“Gurk.”

Blood flowed from his mouth with a strange noise.

A dagger was buried in the center of his chest.

Only after the bandit collapsed with a thud did the others understand what had happened.

“W-what was that?!”

Then, amid the confusion, a clear sound rang out.

Shrrrit, shrit.

It was a snake's hiss.

A chill ran down Roil’s neck.

Something crawled out of the darkness in the cargo compartment and climbed onto his shoulder.

Shrrrit.

It was a snake.

A not particularly large snake covered in crystal scales, wearing a crown.

“A monster?”

The instant one bandit muttered blankly, the dagger lodged in the dead man’s chest pulled itself free.

Then another bandit’s throat was cut by the dagger.

“Aaaah!”

Hisss-

Whenever the snake made a whistling sound, another bandit died.

In an instant, three more bandits were dead.

“Crossbows! Fire the crossbows!”

Someone shouted.

None of them had the skill to hit a single snake accurately, but they aimed their crossbows at Roil anyway.

Pipipip!

“Aah!”

One bolt struck Roil in the thigh.

Another bolt flew directly toward the white snake’s head.

Crunch!

Something unbelievable happened.

The snake caught the flying bolt in its mouth and crushed it.

The sight completely shattered the bandits’ will to fight.

The snake climbed over Roil’s shoulder and dropped to the ground.

Then it slithered toward the bandits.

Amaen hurriedly checked his father’s wound when the book he always hugged opened by itself.

A pen floated into the air and scribbled something in an empty space on the page.

Amaen forced himself to calm down.

Then, in a trembling voice, he read the words written there.

“U-Urooros asks.”

It was clear that he was speaking for the snake.

“Are all the vermin gathered here the lot of you?”

No one politely answered.

“Chieeef!”

The bandits only cried out for their chief.

The moment the dagger Ashira lodged in that bandit’s mouth, someone rode in on horseback.

He wore strange clothing, with iron shackles around his wrists.

“Huh...!”

Roil recognized him immediately.

He was an escaped convict Roil had seen on a wanted poster.

Wild Dog Yatus, was it?

It was said that he had escaped prison with fellow inmates and vanished without a trace. Had he hidden in the Mountain Range, one of the Demonic Realms?

“What kind of snake is that?!”

Yatus drew a broadsword.

Aura gathered around the blade.

He rode toward the snake.

The snake didn’t take him lightly either and raised a dagger into the air.

Then.

Tick.

The dagger became enveloped in brilliant flames.

The prisoners and Roil were both stunned.

“A-Aura!”

Who could have imagined that was a technique a monster could use?

* * *

This was thrilling.

‘They say it’s Aura!’

-I heard them, you brat!

I had only come out because things were noisy outside while I was sleeping.

But seriously, bandits had shown up.

I never imagined there would be Green Forest bandits in this world too.

Isn't it standard for promising young martial artists making their debut in the martial world to start by hunting Green Forest bandits?

Instead of demanding a toll and letting them go, these bastards killed merchants the moment they appeared.

Villains of the worst kind.

A dagger filled with the sword energy of Flame Blossom Swordsmanship flew toward the bastard’s neck.

‘They say it’s Aura!’

-I heard you!

I had made imitation sword energy by attaching paper with a magic circle drawn on it to the dagger.

It must have looked like Aura to the other bandits too.

I didn't know who he was, but that guy seemed to be something like the chief of this place.

His broadsword collided with my dagger.

The result was a little disappointing.

Clang!

The dagger spun away.

The flame magic imitating Aura scattered, and the impact even dispelled Transparent Hand.

“What was that?!”

The bandit chief seemed just as dumbfounded.

He had swung his broadsword so hard that he nearly fell from his horse.

-Pfft!

Pelerian laughed at my dagger flying away.

Yeah, it couldn't be helped. It was just Aura that looked convincing.

I expected this.

“So you’re just a snake that uses weird tricks!”

The bastard rode at me as though he planned to trample me flat.

Still, the dagger and Aura had only been a distraction.

I could cast two Transparent Hands.

The pen that had been scribbling in Amaen’s book had already flown around through the darkness.

Swoosh!

The chief’s eyes, blurred by the flames, probably couldn't see it.

The sharp nib pierced the back of his neck.

“Gack!”

The chief fell from his horse.

This is how snakes fight, bandits.

*「You use Heart-Eating Leap Lv. 3.」

I stole the heart of a bandit loitering nearby.

Then I bit down hard on the ankle of the bandit who approached as though to save his chief.

No one here would make it out alive.

Today was Exterminate Every Last One Day.

The weaklings were all dead, yet the chief with a pen stuck in his neck suddenly sprang to his feet.

His horse had been startled and run off earlier.

He ran wildly into the darkness.

Maybe because his neck had been pierced, he couldn't even scream.

‘Hey, give me back my pen!’

That pen-stealing bastard!

He was incredibly fast.

He was already way over there.

Hmm, I had dealt with the other bandits too.

And my disciple and his dad had already discovered my existence, so whatever.

It was the middle of the night and there was no one around. If I didn't practice that skill now, when would I?

*「You surpass the limit of the skill ‘Giantification Lv. 0’ with Crown of Overcoming Lv. 2.」

*「‘Giantification Lv. 0’ temporarily becomes ‘Giantification Lv. 1.’」

This was actually a good opportunity.

*「You use Giantification Lv. 1.」

A huge amount of Mana drained away.

This time, I should try controlling my size.

Last time, I grew as huge as Dad and could barely control my own body.

“Uh, uhh!”

Roil screamed behind me.

My body grew larger and larger.

My scales gleamed transparently in the moonlight.

My viewpoint rose.

The guy running away in the distance looked back and screamed.

“Gyaaaaaah!”

I had Dark Vision Lv. 8.

This wasn't as densely forested as the Great Forest, so I could see all around me clearly.

It didn't look like anyone was hiding.

In that case.

*「You use Heart-Eating Leap Lv. 3.」

As large as my body had become, so had my leap.

I didn't even need to tear him apart. I crushed the chief beneath me.

Boom!

*「You have defeated Escaped Convict Yatus Lv. 30.」

*「Your level has increased.」

Yup.

I immediately canceled Giantification.

*「The proficiency of Giantification Lv. 0 increases.」

Once it reached Level 1, I could probably learn it completely.

I was startled.

The chief was so horribly mangled that his original form was unrecognizable.

‘My pen!’

Thankfully, the pen was unharmed.

I picked it up and returned to Roil and Amaen.

“Master!”

“Gyaaaah!”

Unlike the boy who welcomed me, his father screamed while trembling all over.

He had looked fairly brave earlier, but I guess that only lasted a moment.

Amaen, on the other hand, politely thanked me.

“Thank you for saving us.”

It was mature behavior, but his wet pants made him look less dignified.

“Uh, uhh. Uh. Thank... you.”

Roil looked back and forth between his son and me, then thanked me as well.

It was nothing.

I had received a lot of help from your carriage so far.

Considering all the jerky I had eaten, it was fine to help a little more.

When I approached Roil, fear deepened in his eyes.

I pulled the bolt embedded in his thigh out without warning.

“Aah!”

Then I took a potion from Subspace and poured it over the wound.

Sizzle.

Roil’s wound gradually began to heal.

“Wow... A potion.”

“Th-thank you for using such a precious potion...”

I smiled brightly.

“Eek.”

For some reason, Roil flinched as though he were afraid.

Well, I seemed to have paid more than enough for lodging.

“Saak.”

I called Amaen, my disciple.

As though he was used to it, Amaen took out a notebook and pen.

I wrote in it.

‘I'll be relying on you a little longer.’

“Relying on us... Oh, yes, of course you should. We owe you our lives.”

Roil nodded awkwardly and babbled.

Good. This was legal lodging now!

* * *

The next day.

The carriage safely arrived in Kalea City after all.

Kalea City was located halfway up a mountain, but it was a fairly large city.

Thanks to the resources from its mines, it even had proper walls.

Soldiers inspected everyone seeking to enter before those walls.

Roil and his cargo carriage were no exception.

“Go inside the cargo compartment and search it yourself.”

The man standing heavily before the city gate and giving orders was Kalea’s Guard Captain.

The line was long because inspections were especially thorough today, but no one complained.

Following the Guard Captain’s orders, soldiers entered the cargo compartment.

There were oak barrels filled with ale.

And...

“One box of jerky and five oak barrels!”

“Check the oak barrels too.”

“Check them?”

“Look inside and see what’s in them!”

“Ah, yes!”

The soldiers pushed the oak barrels and opened their lids to see what was inside.

“No problems.”

“Really?”

The Guard Captain’s grim expression softened.

He approached Roil and Amaen, who were seated on the driver’s bench.

“Sorry for being so strict. There have been reports of highway robbers lately. They say those bastards may be trying to enter the city.”

“Haha, it’s no problem.”

Roil smiled pleasantly.

Unlike before, he wore a thick coat.

And I was inside that coat.

I stayed completely still, wrapped around Roil’s waist like a belt.

“That coat.”

The Guard Captain suddenly pointed at it.

I had been secretly peeking outside, but hurriedly hid my head.

“M-my coat?”

“It’s a fine coat. It looks warm.”

“Yes, I get cold easily. Haha.”

“I see. You may enter.”

“Thank you.”

The soldiers let the carriage through.

I felt like I had lost ten years of my life.

From behind us, I heard the Guard Captain mutter.

“I thought I smelled blood for some reason...”

Why were Guard Captains in this world so competent?

As someone with the accomplishment ‘Guard Captain Slayer,’ getting away quickly was the best option.

I tapped Roil’s shoulder and praised him for doing well.

While I stayed in this town, I planned to rely on Roil and Amaen.

Since Pelerian’s Dungeon was definitely attached to the city, a monster couldn't wander around alone.

-Good, let's hurry to the Dungeon!

Pelerian urged me on, apparently impatient.

I wanted to find it quickly too.

Still, gathering information through Roil and Amaen came first.

There might be rumors about some strange cave.

Or someone could have already looted it and taken everything.

But it soon became clear that my imagination had fallen far short.

When Roil, after finding an inn, asked the owner, “Isn't there a large tree west of Kalea City?”

The innkeeper answered like this.

“Ah, you mean where Pelerian’s Dungeon is?”

“...What?”

The innkeeper spoke while wiping a beer glass.

“You came from out of town with a kid, and you don't even know that? This is your first time in Kalea, right?”

“Not my first. My second.”

“It’s a fairly well-known place. The biggest tourist attraction in this city. It’s famous as a good place to take children.”

Pelerian.

The owner of that Dungeon was foaming at the mouth.

Footnotes:

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