MEMORIES AND ABU HORMUZ

Episode 6 - A Slow Start

In the southern part of Atalante lies a series of steep and high mountains known as the Tenshun Mountains Cluster.Tenshun Mountains divide the continent of Hormuz into two parts. The southern part is land, while the northern region, including Atalante, is known as the border.

Or at least, "border" is the name given by men. The Main Continent, Atalante, the border region, the northern part of the Tenshun Mountains, all of it was within the human kingdom, Aravakia. However, about one hundred and fifty years ago, the border area was simply not worth mentioning the border. In the past, there were several human kingdoms, and humans were the dominant race in Hormuz.

However, everything changes after the arrival of the Wright King, a fearsome demonic magic-owning creature. Besides having military power and magic, he was also a capable politician. The Wright King gave birth to a new race called the Undead, then the leaders of the Undead did more cruelly than just colonization. He convinced the leaders of other races to recognize his authority, and formed a confederation of kings

together with them. They fought against the kingdom of man. Humans were easily defeated and forced to flee to the southern part of the Tenshun Mountains.

After that, Wright King was nominated by his fellow kings to become emperor, and thus the Undead Empire was born. Until Wright King's death about a hundred years ago, most humans were unable to set foot in the northern region of the Tenshun Mountains. But with the loss of the leader who united them, the Undead Empire fell apart. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Kingdom of Aravakia established Atalante as their northern stronghold. And this city has survived to this day.

And of course, all of this information had been obtained by Udin.

The land south of the Tenshun Mountains, Atalante, is mostly used for farming or raising livestock. There are also many villages that adorn the scenery. To the north, there is land

open and forest.

"And around here," said Vina as she rubbed her hands against the grass, "there are deer, foxes, and animals

othersmore. And since it is spring, then the bear will appear. Then, there is a small, hairy, round-eyed creature, with a long, thin tail. He was jumping around. She's cute, right? There are also pit rats that are as big as a cat, with super soft fur.”

"Really?" Marco asked as he crossed his arms and looked around. ”I absolutely did not

look at animals like that here."

"Nr .." Vina frowned.”But when Vina and the Guild Master went outside to practice, he made a

game by using his bow and arrow.”

"Maybe they are just hiding," Udin said as he pointed to the forest area to their right.”In the forest."

Haruhiro nodded.”You may be right. If I am a wild animal, I do not feel safe when out in the open, which is not a single tree or shrub to hide.”

Marco snorted in a mocking tone.”See it? They all knew that I was the one they needed to fear.”

"So, if we don't find any game animals, then it's all your fault."

"Shut up, Haruhiro! This is all THANKS to me! Everyone owes me!”

"You just shut up. Even though they are really around here, they will definitely run away after hearing your screams.”

"AND IT'S ALL THANKS TO ME."

"It's no use, the boy's no help ..."

"Ms." This was the first time Alice, who had been silent, had now begun to make a sound. ”Are we going to ... kill animals?”

Everything suddenly stopped for a moment.

Come to think of it, the job of the reserve army was to defend the city from the attacks of other races as well as the monsters. No one said that their job was to hunt animals, sell meat or leather.

"Master Guild Vina teaches the importance of thanking the animals we kill.” Vina frowned.”But Vina likes animals and doesn't want to kill them. They are very cute, and Vina will be sad if they are killed ..”

Marco scoffed with disdain.”Save your affection for your fellow sentient beings, O Princess. All living things will eventually die, and be in the shade of Skulheill. I have no sympathy for the creature I must kill so I can survive.”

"Well, then." Vina suddenly pulled an arrow, and aimed the tip directly at Marco.”It wouldn't matter if Vina killed Marco, so Vina could continue to survive.”

Marco stuttered and moved backwards.”B-B-fool! Don't say such stupid things, you busty washboard chick! Are you serious?! Stop, stop! What will you gain by killing me?!”

"Vina will feel relieved after killing you. Besides, you're mocking Vina as flat-chested."

"You said so yourself! Vina's chest is completely flat."

"Even if Vina says beitu, it doesn't mean that Vina will listen to those words from someone else's mouth. Especially from the man who hurt Vina.”'s feelings

"Pardon me! I'm sorry!” Marco jumps forward and prostrates on the ground.”Look, I'm sorry! My fault! Please forgive me! Vina's chest is not flat! Big chest! Huge! The giant! ANYWAY, AWESOME!”

"Marco." Haruhiro looked at the foolish man with a petty expression. ”You're not really sorry, are you?"

"How do you know ?! How did you know?! Don't I look like I'm apologizing? Where's your proof!”

Vina sighed, then lowered her bow and placed her arrow back into the sheath. ”Just waste the arrow."

Marco breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, then wiped the sweat off his eyebrows. ”Lagian, you will definitely escape even if you try to shoot arrows at me. But I'm sorry just in case, well you know ... Oye! Vina, stop! Don't pull that Kukri! This is a joke! Being cut by such an object is extremely painful! You're gonna kill me! I'm really going to die!”

"I'm sure that this is no different than killing wild animals" Udin said with a wry smile. ”Although I don't know exactly, I heard that we don't have to go too far from Atalante to find Goblins, Ghouls, and the like. They are creatures that may be handled by us, who are still members of training.”

"Goblin and Ghoul." Haruhiro tilted his head to one side. He had a feeling that he had heard those names before. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he imagined them like some kind of humanoid creature.

"So, that means ..." Alice began to speak in a quite strong voice. This was rare considering he always spoke softly. ”We will look for Goblin and Gholu.”

"Goblin and Ghoul." Haruhiro corrected a bit for the girl to pronounce it correctly.

Alice's face turned bright red, and she began to curl up again.

"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter to me." Marco agreed without a second thought.

"That's better than killing animals" Vina said happily.

Barto nodded loudly.

"Then let's go to the forest" Udin said.

Udin was the Priest as well as the leader, he directed Haruhiro and the others to head towards the nearby forest.

It was a wilderness, full of wild, and unforgiving creatures. Wide and thick-leaved trees covered the path under their feet, making it impossible to trace a trace. The land ranges from

hard as a rock, until it is rather soft and completely slippery. It was hard to find a footing, so they had trouble walking.

The rustling of the leaves rang out as the wind blew, and the song of the birds echoed around.

"Golin and Goli," Vina muttered softly.”Maybe they came out of the watery hole that is round.”

Haruhiro fulfilled his role as a corrector. "Goblin and Ghoul," again he corrected the incorrect pronunciation. ”You mean like a spring or a small river? Or maybe swamp area?”

"Then let's try to find a place like that" Udin said.

Udin just took the initiative, but given that this is a forest, Vina's skills should be needed more. He should have been the one to lead this Party when hunting in the forest. But, this is okay too.

The problem was, they couldn't find any watery spots. The living things they had encountered so far were only insects. The sound of birds surrounded them, but not a single one was seen.

Marco swallowed more easily. ”It's like... Deathly Forest.”

"It must all be Marco's fault" Vina puffed her cheeks and looked at Marco. Looks like, he now hates Marco for having called him the chest of the laundry board.”This was all because Marco's voice sounded so painful in their ears, so they didn't show themselves.”

"I am calm now! I'm not saying a word now!” Marco protested.

"No need to make a sound, you're here already a hassle."

"Thank you for your compliment! And that doesn't change the fact that your chest stays flat!”

Vina frowned and was angry.

"Eh, sorry. That was my fault. I just accidentally said a painful fact. I..." Marco suddenly jumped into the air.”Whaaat! What the fuck is this!"

Haruhiro blinked a few times. Marco lifted his feet up and down like he was dancing. There was something stuck to his feet, and the creature scratched and tore his shoes. The creature was as big as a cat, and its entire body was covered with thorny fur.

"A hole rat," said Vina. He started to glance at the area around him. "They usually attack in a herd. Maybe he brought his friends."

Alice screamed and tried to turn around to run, but she bumped into Barto's large body.

"Hurry up!" Udin pulled his short stick.”There's more!"

"What ?!" Marco moving backwards.”Help me, guys! Your priority is to save me! Help me! Anyone... Help me!”

"Fight, Dark Knight!" Haruhiro pulled his dagger.

Hole rats were swarming around their place with incredible speed. Haruhiro did not know how many of them were. The fighting techniques he learned from the Thieves Guild were meant to fight against humans or humanoids. He could not even guess what to do in a case like this, so he aimed and stabbed them with a dagger sporadically.

Haruhiro continued to search for the rat, but he did not find it at all. It turns out that indeed, ”They're too fast!"

Barto gripped his giant sword with both hands, raised it overhead, then swung it down while groaning. Marco leaped in screaming, then Barto's sword hit the ground right where Marco had just stood. The gigantic sword scattering the ground as it struck him, and made a huge crack in the ground.

"Barto is trying to save you! You should thank him!” it seems that Haruhiro's dagger doesn't help much, so he tries to kick the hole rat with his own efforts. They avoided his attacks easily.

"He didn't save me at all!" Marco swings his sword with a shout.”

[HATRED'S CUT]! This is my Dark Knight skill! But I can't hit them at all!"

"Stop wasting your technique'!" Haruhiro chose one of the hole rats and focused on it. That animal

running and disappearing behind trees.”Argh!" He snorted in a frustrated tone.

"Malik em trough ..." Alice drew an elemental letter that flew through the air using the tip of her wand as she cast a spell.

It was a [MAGIC MISSILE] spell. A ball of light the size of a fist exploded from the end of his stick.

"GOH!"

"Huh?" Alice opened her eyes. It seemed like the girl launched her spell with her eyes closed, then it was obvious that she was misdirected. "Pardon me! I-I………"

"DORNE! I'll kill you later!!” Marco rubs the back of his head, and he starts chasing Alice.

Without hesitation, Udin stuck his wand at Marco's feet. Marco stumbled and he fell hard.

"What are you doing!?" Udin shouted and scolded Marco, while stabbing one of the hole rats.

As far as Haruhiro knew, Udin had a short stick that could bring out quite a number of skills, but the staff was not worth using for a direct attack.

"A little more!" Vina swung Kukri in all directions wildly. Maybe that's why he couldn't get close to the hole rat and get his prey. ”Master Guild Vina said that they are just animals, so we only need to suppress them a little, then they will leave soon! Everyone, hang!"

Barto swung a giant sword, and it hit the tree trunk. The force of the punch caused the leaves and insects to rain down on his head directly. Barto, now covered in insects and leaves, could only howl.

"If this continues ..." Haruhiro gathered his determination and crouched low by piling one knee on the ground.

Without walking, and without moving, he waited in one of the holes for the rats to approach him. There! Directly in front of him. A mouse hole approached. The mouse was heading towards him. Haruhiro stretched out his left arm. Come over! Bite me. I challenge you! With such a big body, maybe he was like a cat that was afraid of rats. The rat hole is really terrible. They're fast. This is really bad.

But he waited, very patiently.

A crippling pain suddenly crept on his leg, and it made him scream.

The other hole rat had approached from behind and bit the right calf deeply. He was just about to try to stab the rat, but soon the other rat stuck his fangs in his left arm.”Uhh!"

"Haruhiro's! Don't move!” Udin ran to his side. He swung the stick with a quick movement.

There was a soft bang, and Haruhiro immediately felt that the pressure on his right leg and left arm was coming off. It seemed like Udin had managed to dispel the rats, and they immediately fled at high speed. And even as Haruhiro gawked at the other rats, the pit rat that Udin had previously struck, had now disappeared.

"Are you okay, Haruhiro?" Udin knelt down on Haruhiro's side, and examined his injuries.

"Yes. I'm fine ..” After he rolled up his pants and clothes, there were a few small holes in his flesh. There were also bite marks on his skin, and blood was flowing out of that hole. The injury is not serious, but it still hurts.

"Let me heal you." Udin placed his right hand over Haruhiro's forehead, with the middle finger between his eyebrows. Fingers form pentagram.”Oh light, under the grace of Lord Luminous ... [CURE].”

A warm light gushed from the palm of Udin. As the light flickered, Haruhiro's wounds began to close. Three seconds were needed to heal his right leg, and three seconds were needed to heal his left arm.

"Wow." Haruhiro touched the area where there had just been a hole caused by a rat bite. Blood was still seeping, but there were no more cuts or itching there. In fact, there wasn't even a single bit of scar there. ”Thank you, Udin. You are also the one who kicked them out of me ..”

“This is all because you used yourself as bait" Udin replied.

"I just intend to use my arm. I think I can handle it alone…"

"Everything has improved. It doesn't matter who did it.”

"Everything's improved!?" Marco sat on the ground slamming his feet, like a spoiled child. ”What has improved? We were suddenly attacked by some strange creature! Even if we throw them out, we don't get a dime of bronze. And look! I'm hurt too! Cure me now!”

"Ah, sorry" said Udin, rushing to Marco's side.

"Why should he apologize to Marco?" Haruhiro muttered softly, looking around.

Barto was also sitting on the ground, perhaps he was tired after repeatedly swinging his giant sword. Alice tries her best by hiding herself behind a large tree. Perhaps, he felt embarrassed for having been misdirected when firing a spell. Vina was the only Party member who still had high spirits, and she glanced here and there. Haruhiro looked at it, and Vina returned the gaze with a slight grin.

Haruhiro also replied to her with a smile, even so, this was not a good time to smile back at each other. Or maybe, they should always smile while they have time, because no one knows what will happen next.

"Marco was right that we didn't get any bronze at all, even though we did manage to get rid of them, "Haruhiro sighed. ”Maybe we are still not skilled enough to roam this forest.”

"Good! I'm ready to go again!” After recovering, Marco jumped up and swung his arm.”Alrighty! everyone, follow me!”

Barto flashing.”P-go? K-To where?”

"Stupid! You all said that we were going to find Goblins, right? You must be kidding if you stop just because of the attack of those hole rats! We won't back down just because of something like that!"

"He's right," Udin nodded, while slightly musing.”Just like Marco said. This is risky, but the hole rat must be a carnivorous creature, ‘kan?"

"I think they are omnivores" replied Vina.”But when they attack in a herd like before, they are better known as human attackers.”

"Well, that's right, they're attacking us" Haruhiro said. "So, the rats ate almost anything they were on

before them," Udin's eyes narrowed as he rubbed his chin.”If there are such animals here, then around here there are also other hunts.”

"Of course there is," Marco mocked him. ”Do you know now? I knew that from earlier. If there are any animals to hunt here, then other hunters are nearby as well."

Haruhiro glances at Marco.”You're just repeating what Udin said.”

"Shut up, you sleepy eyes! Go take a nap if you're sleepy, you midget!”

"I told you before! I was born like this! Not that I'm always fucking!"

"Haruhiro," Udin interjected with a faint smile on his face. ”The best thing for you is to ignore what Marco said.”

"Hey!" Marco interrupted Udin.”Don't say such a thing! Have you been acting like a good-ass, you traitor!?”

"Maybe?" Udin replied with a sigh, and he was not consumed by Marco's bait. ”Then, if you

willing, why don't we explore this area further?”

It seems everyone agrees. While being careful of other pit rats, they decided to explore the forest deeper. They continued to roam the forest until dusk, however

only a deer they found. Vina tries to shoot him, but the animal runs away when he escapes.

They also encountered flocks of birds and other rat-hole attacks. That's how they live.

Continuing the exploration after sunset was not an option, so Haruhiro and the others left the forest with heavy strides.

"What are we gonna do?" Marco groaning. This time, he had completely lost his spirit to mess up.

"We won't do anything" Haruhiro gave a sigh to reply. But he also began to feel desperate. It felt like something inside him was being snatched .”We're going back to Atalante.”

"It's like a tale of a Fattening Worker's Child's Adventure" whispered Vina.

Again Haruhiro tried to straighten out what his colleague said, "Who is that?" He had a feeling that ‘Ker’'s son was a figure whose fate was the same as theirs.

"But" Alice began to say as she lowered her head. As if, all of his energy had already vanished.”Forgetit. There's nothing."

Someone's stomach is rumbling. And Barto said”I'm hungry…"

"When we get back," Udin said, looking at all his colleagues in turn "let's stop by the market and get dinner. After that, I know a cheap place where we can spend the night. Near Nishima, there is an inn for the reserve troops. Official soldiers could show Red MooN contracts to stay for free, but the training members still had to pay. Even so, the price is cheap. One room for men and one room for women is only appreciated twenty bronze.”

Marco mocking.”We didn't get a piece of bronze today. We just have to camp in the open.”

"No, it was the last resort" Udin said clearly. "They share facilities, but this inn also

provide a bathroom and bathtub. It was much better than not having a place to stay .. especially for women.”

Alice clasped her staff tighter, and nodded several times.

"That's right." Vina also agreed.

"Bath and toilet are not everything." Marco murmuring. However, Haruhiro has a feeling that Marco will complain a lot if he does not get such facilities.

"I agree with Udin" Haruhiro said as he raised his hand. Alice, Vina, and then Barto also raised their hands.

Marco clicked his tongue, ck-ck, but he stopped his protest. And thus, the first day of working as a reserve army ended without any fruit.