Volume 4 Chapter 6 Report And Strange Events
As Al passed through the south gate, he entered a familiar hilly wetland where he often hunted Big-Mouthed Lizards. The 2-meter-tall (≈6.6-foot-tall) trees were lush and green from the rainy season, and the Holden River on his left remained swollen from recent heavy rains. Climbing slightly higher, he caught a glimpse of the caravan he had just seen off in the distance.
"Ah, good. They're not too far away."
Al murmured and glanced to the side. Leda was kneeling with her hands on her knees, breathing heavily. They hadn't run that far, but it seemed tough for her.
"Lady Leda, are you okay? Can I cast a spell to help you breathe easier?"
Leda looked puzzled but nodded at Al's question.
'Physical Boost'──Enhanced Stamina
The moment Al touched her shoulder, Leda looked at him in surprise.
"Was that... the Physical Boost spell? You can use such a spell?"
Al smiled brightly and nodded.
"It's not a strength boost, just a little overall stamina increase. It shouldn't feel too strong, so you might not notice it much. How about it? Do you feel a bit better?"
Leda seemed shocked and nodded slightly, her face still tense.
"Hang in there. We'll catch up soon..."
Saying that, Al started running again. Leda took a deep breath, and Al felt a bit relieved, thinking her breathing had improved.
"Yes."
She answered honestly and began to run after Al, her reaction lighter than usual. They quickly caught up with the last of the merchant carts, where adventurers on guard recognized Leda and waved. Leda returned their greeting with a smile, while Al raised a hand in acknowledgment.
As they passed the carts, they spotted the main group, which included the Internal Affairs Bureau, Eric's cart, and the surrounding guard team. Two men on horseback led the guard team, ensuring everything was secure.
"The one at the very front is Captain Jonas. He's a knight, but be careful not to call him 'Sir' or he might get angry."
Leda pointed to the man at the front of the line on his horse. He stood about 180 cm (≈ 5 ft 11 in) tall, with a sun-tanned, muscular build, clad in black leather armor and a helmet that obscured his face.
As a knight, he was likely a noble, possibly serving a higher lord and receiving a salary. While some knights might oversee small villages like Al's father, this one seemed different. Normally, he would be addressed as "Sir Jonas," but Al wondered why calling him that would provoke anger.
"Captain Jonas, this is Leda, under Eric's command. We came to check on the people following us."
As Leda and Al got closer, they called out to him. Captain Jonas didn't slow down his horse but lifted his visor. He watched Leda and Al walk quickly to keep their distance from him, with his narrow eyes.
"Is that the new face Lord Eric was talking about? Hm... Seems good enough. The young lady seems to be taking things a bit seriously. Impressive, impressive."
Though his tone was teasing, Leda didn't react much. This might explain her expression when she heard the name Captain Jonas. Leda continued to report that there were no particular abnormalities.
"Alright. Please let Lord Eric know that I understand."
The two of them, Al and his companion, bowed and were about to step back. At that moment, a flock of over a hundred waterfowl on the opposite bank of the Holden River suddenly became noisy and took off with a loud flapping of wings.
"What's going on?"
Captain Jonas looked around as the noise startled the horses, prompting the coachman to quickly stop. The guards and caravan members also scanned the area, and Al noticed the rain significantly reduced visibility.
'Sensory Boost'──Enhanced Vision: Zoom
Al focused on a small moving object to identify it. Sparrows and fleeing waterfowl caught his eye, but nothing seemed threatening. These timid birds might have reacted to something minor. After several checks, he finally spotted what he was looking for.
──Sheep-Eating Eagle
This magical beast has a wingspan of over 5 meters (≈ 16.4 feet) and is known for snatching sheep with its powerful claws. With a white head and feather tips contrasting its brown body, it often appears in noble crests. It was flying southeast across the river, gradually approaching.
"To the southeast, a Sheep-Eating Eagle. It's 1 kilometer away (≈ 0.62 miles)."
Al shouted this. A few people who heard his voice stared in that direction. The Sheep-Eating Eagle was getting closer, and its shape was becoming visible to the n*ked eye.
"Mac and Noel will intercept. The rest, hold the horses."
Captain Jonas swiftly ordered his subordinates to act, knowing that frightened horses could cause chaos if the Sheep-Eating Eagle swooped down. Most guards rushed to secure the wagons as the eagle approached, now just 500 meters away (≈1640 feet), its brown and white feathers clearly visible.
Al grabbed Leda's hand and led her to hide behind Eric's wagon. At that point, the eagle was only 100 meters away (≈328 feet) and let out a loud screech, sending alarm through the horses. The guards struggled to maintain calm amid the rising panic.
While the guards worked to keep the horses steady, the merchants created a commotion with their shouting and crashing sounds. This disturbance caught the attention of the Sheep-Eating Eagle, which shifted its focus toward the source of the noise.
"Now, shoot!"
Seizing the moment as it changed direction, Captain Jonas shouted. Two guards, who had their bows ready, released their arrows.
'Magic Missile'
Al also cast Magic Missile at the same time. Almost simultaneously, glowing arrows shot out from Eric and Fitz, who had somehow gotten outside the wagon.
"Squawk!"
Real arrows and Magic Missiles struck the Sheep-Eating Eagle one after another, eliciting a scream that resembled a cry of despair. The creature attempted to veer away and ascend, but blood splattered onto the ground, even reaching Al. As it climbed, it lost its balance, spun briefly, and then hovered in the air before gliding down, ultimately crashing into the Holden River.
"Yay!" "Whoa!" "Wow!"
Cheers of admiration erupted from the merchants in the back, though some lamented the loss of such valuable materials. The Holden River, teeming with Big-Mouthed Lizards and Lizardmen, made recovery impossible. Al sighed with relief as he watched the corpse drift down the river.
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