Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 480: Slow and Steady Wins the Race
It was the second day of the Saint’s entourage’s journey to the Halagoura Marquisate.
Tauro and his companions rode in one of the carriages near the front of the procession.
The road crossed uneven terrain that limited visibility. Dense forest pressed in on both sides, and the road itself was poorly maintained.
The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Sart, who was serving as guide and supervisor for the Saint’s journey, had chosen the shortest route to Marquis Halagoura’s territory.
The better-maintained main road required a considerable detour and would have extended the journey to roughly two weeks. Hoping to recover some of the time already lost, the Crown Prince had followed his retainers’ advice and selected this shortcut instead.
The Saint’s entourage was large and heavily protected by Sart’s elite Royal Guard, so bandits were unlikely to attack it. Other threats, however, cared little about the strength of its escort.
Monsters.
The movement of such a large procession through the forest disturbed the local wildlife, and the commotion inevitably attracted nearby monsters.
“Monsters are approaching… Sir Knight, five werewolves are coming from the front left, approximately eighty meters away. Please be ready.”
Tauro called through the carriage window to a Royal Guard knight riding beside them.
“Confirmed. Werewolves? They’re nocturnal monsters, yet… Royal Guard, halt and prepare for battle! Five werewolves approaching from the front left!”
The knight possessed a detection ability and quickly verified Tauro’s warning before alerting his comrades.
The warning traveled down the procession, and the carriages carrying the Saint and her entourage stopped one after another.
“Twenty ogres are also approaching from the right rear. Be careful!”
“From behind as well!? Confirmed! Messenger, report twenty ogres approaching from the right rear! Fourth and Fifth Squads, form up to intercept them!”
The captain of the Royal Guard issued orders immediately without waiting for the Crown Prince’s approval.
He evidently judged that seeking confirmation would waste precious time.
It was the correct decision for a commander in the field.
Meanwhile, Tauro climbed onto the carriage roof and readied the Bow of Artemis.
The werewolves raced through the forest at high speed, zigzagging among the trees and making themselves difficult targets.
Tauro remained calm and infused an arrow with [Light Arrow]. White light enveloped it as he took aim and released the bowstring.
The glowing arrow threaded cleanly through the narrow gaps between the trees.
Its target was the werewolf leading the pack.
The arrow struck the edge of a tree trunk.
In the next instant, it tore away part of the trunk without losing momentum and continued straight ahead.
At that precise moment, the leading werewolf emerged from the foliage.
The glowing arrow struck between its eyes and passed completely through its skull.
Still shining faintly, it continued onward and pierced the throat of a second werewolf behind it.
“Gyaa-uun!”
Two of the five werewolves died instantly, but the remaining three continued their charge.
Tauro had already nocked a second, ordinary arrow.
Even without magic, an arrow fired from the Bow of Artemis and strengthened by Tauro’s enchanted equipment carried tremendous force.
“Gyaaaah!” A sharp cry sounded from deep in the bushes as a third werewolf fell.
The remaining two burst from the undergrowth and lunged at a nearby Royal Guard knight.
As the knight raised his shield, an invisible barrier repelled the werewolves’ attacks. At the same moment, a visible blade of wind swept past him.
Ragune’s [Area Protection] had blocked the attack while Ankh launched a flying slash from his magic greatsword.
The wind blade cut diagonally through one of the attacking werewolves, which yelped and collapsed.
Recognizing the danger, the last werewolf abandoned its attack and tried to flee.
Aeris cast [Paralysis], freezing it in place.
A black shadow flashed past the knight—Zion, moving at extraordinary speed. She drove a fist directly into the immobilized monster.
Because the werewolf had turned its back, the blow struck its spine and hurled it into a tree with a sickening crack, killing it instantly.
“They defeated C-rank werewolves that easily…!”
The nearby Royal Guard knights stared in astonishment.
The Royal Guard didn’t specialize in monster subjugation; its training focused primarily on fighting people.
Even so, the knights understood the general threat ratings used to measure monsters, particularly those in the C- and B-rank bands.
These young adventurers, led by a boy who had just displayed remarkable archery, possessed combat power capable of overwhelming C-rank monsters.
That placed them on a level comparable to—or perhaps even beyond—the Royal Guard.
“The world truly is vast… To think people so young could possess such strength.”
The Royal Guard captain responsible for the escort was deeply impressed by Tauro and his companions.
“Captain, we should assist the units facing the ogres at the right rear.”
Tauro called down from the carriage roof, bringing the astonished captain back to the situation at hand.
“Right! First Squad, hold this position! Second Squad, move to reinforce Fourth and Fifth Squads!”
Tauro jumped from the carriage, nodded to Aeris and the others, and followed the knights rushing toward the rear line.