Chapter 18:

Just One Problem After Another

The Female Leads Have Eyes For Only Me


We faced off against the second werewolf the same way as the first.

Ophelia aimed her staff.

“Rock Volley!”

And shot a number of rocks towards the werewolf.

Seemingly prepared for Ophelia’s spell, it ran away.

Flying through the air, the rocks were tracking the werewolf, but could only connect with the ground and nothing else.

August puffed her chest out and roared. It was a skill that she used to get a monster’s attention, though I didn’t know the name of it.

The werewolf glared at August, but then it started darting its eyes in all directions.

A chill ran down my spine.

This doesn’t feel right.

It was searching for something.

Or someone.

I swung my arm to get Mia’s attention.

“Mia! Don’t go for it! It knows you’re attacking from behind!”

But it was too late.

Mia was already running on its back legs.

The werewolf turned, swinging its long arm towards Mia.

Though it wasn’t able to slash at Mia’s skin. In fact, the attack didn’t even reach Mia.

Because with a clang, the werewolf’s claws ran along August’s shield.

August glared at the werewolf, their faces inches away from each other.

“You were supposed to keep your eyes on me, you dirty mutt!”

With her shield, she pushed its arm away and struck her sword straight at the werewolf’s stomach.

“Hrk!”

The stab was shallow.

August pulled away, but the werewolf swung at her. At the last moment, she raised her shield, but got blown back.

“August!” Mia and I yelled.

Her arm was cut badly.

Taking the time to attack again, the werewolf jumped towards Mia, its jaw wide open, ready to clamp down and tear her apart.

“Mia, no!” Maya yelled.

She and I ran towards Mia.

I didn’t know what I was going to do. My body was moving on its own.

Lucky for us, we had Ophelia.

With another flurry of rocks bashing against its head, the werewolf raised its arm to block its face.

Leaving it wide open for Frank to attack.

Raising the large and sharp rock in his hand, he smashed it against the werewolf’s side.

Mia didn’t waste any time either. She slashed the werewolf’s leg before jumping up and stabbing it right in the back.

The werewolf dropped on all fours, but wasn’t dead just yet.

It swung its arms from side to side, howling desperately.

When Mia and Frank jumped away from it, the werewolf took the chance to run down the street.

Only to run into steel as a group of people armed with spears, swords, and daggers, surrounded the werewolf and finished it off.

Maya, who I was running along with, slowed to a walking pace and brought her hands to her chest, tearing up.

“We’re saved!”

As the others went over to thank the fighters who killed the runaway werewolf, I ran over to August and healed her.

We watched as the cuts along her arm closed and regained skin.

“Amazing,” August said with awe. “It’s back to normal just like that.”

“I’m surprised too.” Magic was just too cool. “But I’m glad you’re not bleeding anymore.”

I stood up and extended my hand.

“Are you dizzy or anything? Need help getting up?”

August smiled and took my hand.

“I’m a bit tired, but other than that I’m fine.”

She got up and lightly bumped my shoulder with her fist.

“Thank you, Tai.”

My body shook. Man, she was pretty.

“You’re welcome,” I said back.

We walked down the street and met up with the others.

Mia ran towards August and bear-hugged her, thanking August over and over about how August had saved her.

She did the same with Ophelia, or at least tried to. When Mia ran to Ophelia, she tried taking cover behind August.

“Why are you running from me?!” Mia yelled.

“B-because your hugs are too stimulating! And they hurt!”

“It only hurts because it’s charged with love! Now come here!”

“N-noooooo!”

Ophelia kept on running, making it a crazy game of cat and mouse.

There were 9 people in total around here, including us. We scanned the area for any monsters. Luckily, we couldn’t find any.

Guess we were in the clear.

At least for now.

It was best to stay cautious.

Frank and Maya took a seat on the cold stone floor after thanking everyone in the group.

I was going to the same when a familiar large man strutted towards me. That’s when I saw his sword hilt peeking out from his back.

I pointed right at him, the memories all flooding back to me.

“You’re the buff guy from the Guild Tavern!”

The guy who tried recruiting me to his party!

The buff guy laughed and outstretched his hand.

“The name’s Arnold.”

I shook his hand. Man, did he have a strong grip.

“I’m Tai. Thanks for helping us out.”

He waved dismissively at me.

“Oh, it was no big deal. We adventurers gotta stick together after all. Especially with everything that’s going on now.”

Arnold’s expression darkened.

“About that, I’ve been meaning to ask what’s going on?”

The once-constant screaming was dying down. Smoke slithered into the air as houses in the center of the city burned.

How could so much destruction take place in what feels like minutes?

Arnold shook his head.

“Sorry, but I haven’t got a clue on what’s going on. Neither do my party members. All we know is that weird monsters are popping up and attacking any person they come across.”

His eyes started shaking, his face hardening and turning grim.

“My friends and I were lucky to fight off these monsters, but I can’t say the same for the people in this neighborhood.”

That look of grief on his face. And the way he clenched his fists. I was certain that Arnold had lostt someone dear to him.

I frowned.

“I see. It sucks to hear that.”

Arnold nodded and clenched his teeth.

“That’s why we’re out here right now. To avenge those who were tortured and killed.”

“But what about running over to the Guild Tavern? We can always meet up with more people there and have them fight alongside us.”

Arnold shook his head.

“We can’t. The tavern has been destroyed.”

“Destroyed?!”

Everyone was tuning in to our conversation now.

“What do you mean, destroyed?” I asked Arnold.

He turned around and pointed towards the rising smoke.

“The Guild Tavern was one of the main buildings to be targeted. Me and my friends ran over there for the same reason you just said, but when we did, an unnatural amount of monsters swarmed the area and burned the building to the ground.”

Arnold clenched his teeth and shut his eyes. It seemed as if he was reliving the whole event.

“There were other people like us that gathered around, but…Damn it!”

He swung his clenched fists down onto his thigh.

“The guild employees, the guild receptionists, the bartender…and so many of those adventurers…they couldn’t make it.”

Arnold’s buddies went over and placed their hands on his shoulders, doing what they could to comfort him.

“My friends and I were lucky to make it out of there unscathed. But we only escaped because I gave the order to run while I watched those monsters distracted as they feasted on others.”

His body trembled. I can see what he was going through.

Guilt. Guilt for running away while others died. Guilt for not standing by to fight. To help out when people needed it the most.

I may not have gone through it myself, but I know that going through that sort of situation would weigh heavily on anyone.

“I’m ashamed to call myself a fighter,” Arnold said.

“I get it,” I said. “But you did what you had to in order to save your friends.”

“Yeah,” his friends said. “If it hadn’t been for your call, we wouldn’t know what would have happened to us.”

Arnold didn’t say a word. He remained still and continued trembling.

“Still…” he said after a beat of silence, “I wish I could’ve done more.”

“I know,” one of his friends said. His voice was gentle and comforting. He was short with a bit of meat on him. If I had to guess, he must’ve been Arnold’s right-hand man.

“But right now there are bigger things to worry about,” his stocky friend went on.

“He’s right,” Frank joined in. “If there're monsters roaming all over the city, then we’ll never be safe no matter where we run or hide.”

“What are you suggesting?” the stocky man asked.

Franked raised his head towards the walls that surrounded Isle City.

“I suggest we leave through the city gates.”

“Leave the city?” Arnold asked. “But what about all the remaining survivors here? We ought to help them out!”

Frank lowered his head.

“I’m sorry son, I know you want to help others, but before we do that, we need to help ourselves first!”

He swung his arm towards the starry sky.

“Look, the situation is grim. The city is being attacked in the dead of night; all of us are tired, and we don’t know how many monsters there are out here. We need to head somewhere safe! We need rest!”

“And what, leave the others here to die?!” Arnold snapped.

“That’s not what I’m trying to say.”

“But that’s what you’re implying!” Arnold yelled.

He took an angry step forward, causing Mia and the others to step in while Arnold’s buddies held him back by his arms.

“Stop it!” his stocky friend said. “This isn’t the time to be arguing!”

Arnold’s archer friend—a girl with braided red hair—nodded along to Stocky’s words.

“Bertram is right! Collect yourself, Arnold!”

They continued to hold him back until Arnold loosened up.

The large man sighed.

“You’re right, guys. I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head to Frank.

Not knowing how to respond to the situation, Frank awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Look, son, I know you mean well and are just trying to help others, but we got to help ourselves first.”

Maya leaned against Frank as he continued speaking.

“I got a family too, you know. I can’t have them continue roaming the city, especially since we put off adventuring a long time ago. I got to get them to safety.”

Arnold nodded.

“I understand. And once again, I’m sorry for lashing out.”

Frank waved away his apology.

“Oh, there’s no need for all that. Look, if you’re really sorry, then help us out of here.”

Arnold bowed his head to Frank once more and smiled. He looked more determined than ever.

“I will!” Arnold said.

His friends nodded along.

With that, we got together and walked down the ruined street.

Stretching his arms towards the sky, Frank groaned.

“My back is killing me!” he said. “Hey, Tai, do something about this will you? Cast a heal or two.”

I sighed.

“I’ll do it if you stay still for a moment.”

Frank laughed.

“I’m just joking with you, son!”

Maya and Mia chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?” I asked Mia, who was walking besides her parents.

“Nothing.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to press any further.

It’s nice that we can laugh in such a serious situation, but I couldn’t.

Especially with all the bodies lying on the street.

It was gut-wrenching. I wanted to look away, but my eyes were glued to the various corpses.

The mood went down when I realized that all of us were staring at the same corpse.

And in front of us was the runaway werewolf that Arnold and his buddies killed.

The stench of‌ blood was sour and powerful.

I pinched my nose.

“Aw, what an awful smell,” Mia said. She pinched her nose as well and said what everyone was thinking.

She skipped ahead of everyone else. It was the best move to make if I’m being honest.

Guess I should follow in her footsteps.

I was about to run past the lying werewolf when something twitched.

It was only for an instant, and I caught only a glimpse from the corner of my eye, but that was all it took for me to stop and eye the thing.

Ophelia and Bertram—the stocky guy—stopped right in their tracks as well.

Mia turned to check on us.

“Hm? What’s going on with you three?”

Our eyes were focused on the lying werewolf.

What was this tingling sensation? Was it magic? Is that why Ophelia and Bertram stopped as well?

“Something’s wrong with this creature,” Bertram said.

Ophelia nodded.

“I-it has something to do with magic.”

“Is that what I’m feeling right now? Magic?”

Bertram and Ophelia nodded.

We continued staring at the werewolf’s corpse. At least it should’ve been dead, right? But if that’s the case, why were we sensing magic from it?! And why could we only sense it right now and not earlier?!

Bertram reached for his short sword.

“Aw, screw it!” he yelled, raising his sword. “I’m not gonna stay around to see what happens!”

He dug his sword right into the werewolf’s back.

There was no resistance to his blade.

And no reaction from the werewolf.

Not one scream or twitch of pain.

The werewolf remained motionless.

Still…

“Something still seems off…” I said.

“Glad I’m not the only one who thinks that!”

Bertram continued stabbing the werewolf. Blood splattered onto his shirt and cheeks.

It was better ‌to be safe than to be sorry.

But man, this was hard to watch.

Ophelia turned away.

“Come on, Bertram, that’s enough!”

Arnold ran towards his short and stocky friend. He grabbed onto Bertram’s arm before he could land another strike.

“I’m sure it’s dead now, so come on! Let us get out of here!” Arnold said.

And that’s when I felt something sharp on the back of my neck. It was like a needle poking me repeatedly.

Ophelia squealed and dropped to her knees.

“Ophelia!” I yelled and knelt by her side.

Arnold turned to us.

“What’s going on? Is she okay?”

I turned to Ophelia.

“Are you alright?” I asked gently.

“I-I don’t know…” she said. Her voice was shaking.

Did she feel that sharp pain as well? I asked her about it and she nodded.

“So you felt it too?” she asked.

“Yeah…” I said. “I don’t know what’s going on exactly, but it can’t be anything good.”

“Look!” Bertram yelled.

His eyes widened as he pointed towards the werewolf’s back.

The many cuts along its back were stitching themselves back together, and the pool of blood beneath it began to evaporate, despite it being a cold night.

Ophelia held onto my arm. She was shaking like crazy.

“Just what in the world is going on…?” I whispered.

Bertram shook Arnold’s hand away and raised his sword.

He gave me the answer to my question.

“This werewolf is healing!” 

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