The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 14 – Eastern Ruins (6)

“Phew, it’s over,” Luchi said, sheathing his sword and surveying the area.

Roughly three hundred gnoll corpses littered the ground.

It hadn’t been easy, but it wasn’t particularly difficult either.

The gnolls, led by their leader, had fought with strategy. Armored gnolls drew attention at the front while crossbowmen harassed from behind. Spears thrust, rusted swords swung, arrows flew, and maces crashed down. Claws, teeth, fists—even rocks—their attacks never ceased.

Anyone else would have been torn to shreds.

But Luchi and Heinzel were different. And so was I… heh.

They bantered casually while slaughtering gnolls. Heinzel even split the gnoll leader in half with a single strike…

They were definitely platinum-ranked adventurers on the verge of becoming masters.

Could I beat them if I fought all out?

I replayed the battle in my mind, strategizing.

Hmm… If I went all out with pure martial arts, I might have a chance.

Yeah, with just martial arts.

But if they used their unique abilities… no way I could win as I am now.

Sure, I could say, “How could an 8-year veteran like me lose to anyone?!” But platinum is platinum for a reason.

In the game, hunting could only get you to gold rank.

To reach platinum, you had to pass a trial.

Passing unlocked each class’s unique ability, allowing ascension to platinum.

Reality might differ from the game, but Luchi and Heinzel have unique abilities.

I saw them in the game. They were so damn cool.

Luchi would go whoosh! then boom boom boom!!, obliterating monsters. Heinzel would go wham! and monsters would splat!!

But… it’s frustrating. I was a veteran too… I could do all that in the game…

I stabbed the ground with my greatsword, annoyed.

Of course, these two reached that level through relentless training and life-or-death experiences in reality…

Still… something about it…

Sigh—

As I sighed deeply, Heinzel approached, glancing around.

“So, Luchi, how many’d you get? I lost count halfway through. Must be getting old.”

“Looks like you lost your brains with your hair. I got about 90.”

Heinzel rubbed his shiny scalp. “I got a bit less, but I took down the leader. That’s gotta count for 20, right?”

“Hah! Not a chance. Do you know how much I’ve spent on drinks?”

“Fair point…”

“Weren’t we supposed to use aliases, Heinzel?”

“Ah, right… What was yours again? Ratcha?”

“It was Richie. Damn, things got messed up… Hermil—ahem! Our client’s gonna be pissed.”

“Might not even pay us properly…”

“Is money really the issue right now? This is such a headache.”

They chatted casually while cleaning their weapons.

I followed suit, checking my greatsword.

“Haa…”

It’s just a club now. A big, heavy club. No longer a greatsword…

The blade had practically disappeared. The handle was about to fall off…

My body wasn’t doing great either. Constant dizziness, blood rising in my throat.

I needed Aileen… my walking potion…

The pain made me miss Hermilla’s warm voice and Aileen’s comforting touch.

It hadn’t even been 20 minutes since I last saw Aileen, but still…

I slapped my cheeks, trying to focus, and looked around.

No greatswords among the fallen knights’ gear.

Oh well.

I grabbed some gnoll daggers and moved on.

North gate was done. West and south gates next.

“Where you headed, miss?” Heinzel asked, turning to me.

“The… west gate. They’re coming there too. If we don’t go now, it’ll be too late…”

“You’re gonna fight with that equipment? Come on…” Luchi clicked his tongue, eyeing my sword.

What else can I do? Can’t magically fix things…

That’s why I grabbed these daggers.

I patted the daggers at my waist.

“I-I’ll manage… You two take the south gate.”

“They’re hitting all gates?” Heinzel asked, looking south.

“Yeah. But only about 30 percent left… So…”

“We can handle it ourselves? Heh, those knights don’t even count,” Luchi sneered.

Heinzel laughed too, mocking the knights.

They weren’t useless, but they didn’t help much either.

Roughly… Luchi took out 90, Heinzel about 70, and I got around 60. Could’ve killed more. Shame.

We took down 220 total.

The nine knights? About 80… barely 10 each.

If they were cute rookies like Aileen, I might’ve smiled. But these guys were supposed to be in charge. Pissed me off.

If not for Luchi and Heinzel, Aileen would’ve been in danger.

I might’ve survived somehow, but Aileen… She would’ve died.

That’s why I hated these knights.

Couldn’t even look at them. Well, my eyes were closed anyway.

They could go to hell. Ugh.

“A-anyway, please take the south gate. I’ll handle the west.”

Luchi, who’d been watching silently, spoke up.

“I’ll go with you. Baldy can handle himself.”

“You one-eyed bastard…”

Luchi coming with me… that’s a relief. I’d been hoping for it, honestly.

Could’ve managed alone, but it would’ve been tough. Heinzel should be fine solo too.

No reason to refuse Luchi’s offer.

“T-then… bald uncle takes south, and Luchi uncle and I go west—”

“Noah. Where do you think you’re going?”

A familiar voice cut me off from behind. The voice I wanted to hear most. Aileen!

Excited, I turned with a big smile… Wait…? Aileen looked furious.

“A-Aileen…?”

She approached, hood pulled low.

S-scary…

“Noah.”

Aileen’s voice was calm but low. I felt cold sweat.

“Y-yes…?”

She stood right in front of me, nose-to-nose close.

Is she canceling the mission…? I got paid 15 gold… Should I return it…?

It hasn’t been long, but I’ve grown attached… I just risked my life for her…

My body hurts, equipment’s ruined, now I’m losing money…

Thinking about parting ways made me feel even worse.

“Noah.”

“Y-yes, sniff—yes…”

I hung my head, waiting.

“What… what do you look like? You’re a girl, for heaven’s sake…”

“Huh…?”

Contrary to my fears, Aileen hugged me gently, stroking my back.

W-what…?

“I’m sorry, Noah… I should’ve come sooner.”

“N-no, it’s my fault… I told you to stay in the room… B-but… you’ll get blood on you. And I smell… awful.”

“It’s fine. Just stay like this a bit.”

When I tried to push away, she hugged tighter.

I could force her off if I wanted… But I stayed still.

Don’t know why. Maybe… because her chest is soft.

As we hugged, Luchi and Heinzel turned their backs, glaring at the knights.

Why though?

“Uh… Aileen…? I really need to go to the west gate… so…”

Hearing this, Aileen gently pushed me away. I felt oddly disappointed.

Must be because… of her chest, right…? Big chests are the truth…!

“You’re saying that in this state? On purpose? Trying to make me obsess over you? Huh?”

Aileen’s words came like rapid-fire.

“Why do you keep doing this? Last time, I asked for a quiet place, you took me to a smith’s. I thought you were teasing, so I got mad. I’m sorry for that now. And sorry for saying your coffee was terrible… because it was. But! I thought you were rejecting me because of that! Turns out I was wrong.”

“Uh… wha…”

“Then you hunted a Black Bear alone at dawn! Covered in blood! You noticed it coming and fought alone, didn’t you?!”

“N-no… I mean…”

I was stiff and tired… First time sleeping with others, especially women… Couldn’t sleep… Saw that Black Bear sleeping there, couldn’t help but… provoke it…

“And today, you fought all those gnolls alone. So recklessly! Badly injured! Bleeding, burned! Your wounds haven’t healed, internal damage must be severe, the pain! And then, haaa… haa… breathe…”

“A-Aileen… breathe, breathe…”

“Then you bled from your nose, spit up blood, and told me what? To stay home and cook?! Wow! Noah! Are you insane?!”

“Uh… uh…?”

“You were hurt, struggling, and told me to stay back for the mission?! Did you think I’d say, ‘Sure, Idiot Adventurer, I paid you, so fight alone and protect me like a dog’? Did you? Answer me.”

“N-no, that’s not… what I meant…”

“What? We barely know each other, I tease you, so you think I don’t care? You think I dislike you? Not true. It’s not. Seeing you, small body full of scars, saying you’re fine… You think I wouldn’t care? If you hate me, say so! I tease you, so maybe you do… but I… I just… Noah… snifff…”

“A-Aileen… don’t cry…”

I reached out to wipe her tears.

“Don’t… don’t touch me! I’m not crying! I’m… not… But why… why fight like that? So desperately… when I’m here… someone worrying about you… Why…”

Aileen, so angry before… Hugged me gently… Then anger flared again… Yelled at me… Now crying.

Told me not to touch her, but didn’t push me away…

Uh… um…

I can’t keep up.

What’s… happening here?

Luchi and Heinzel still stood with their backs to us, glaring at the knights.

The knights looked lost, like puppies needing to pee.

I seriously don’t understand what’s going on.

I’m dizzy, might collapse, swallowing rising blood, clinging to Aileen…

Gnolls attacking south and west gates… Carpeng might wake if it smells blood. Incredibly dangerous…

Should I calm Aileen first…?

Best way to handle this…?

Hmm… from experience…

“A-Aileen… How about we go to the south gate together? L-let’s hunt gnolls. Make it a competition! Most kills wins! Fun, right…? Hehe.”

Grinding mobs is best. Fend off gnolls and clear my head!

Not a game, it’s reality… lives at stake… But with Aileen, I probably won’t die.

If things get rough, send Heinzel south, go with Luchi!

Proud of my idea, I beamed. Then heard a smack! behind me.

Heinzel slapping his forehead.

Ah, right.

South gate is Heinzel’s.

“A-Aileen. I guess we’ll go west… since baldy’s going south.”