1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

92. The Archer (1)

A pitch-black smoke obscured the path ahead.

To an ordinary person, the shapes would have been indistinguishable.

Yet Limberton’s vision was sharp enough to discern even the slightest variations in light.

Thanks to this, he could see the scene before him as if it were a painting rendered in black and dark gray.

Cough.

He saw the dust stirred by the wolf’s cough, and with every movement of the beasts, the dark clouds writhed, leaving traces behind.

Limberton cautiously navigated through the currents flowing between the wolves.

Just then, a gentle breeze swept through, revealing the smoke in a dome-like arc.

‘It must be a barrier, right? By my rough estimate, it should be around here.’

As he reached out to touch and confirm, the barrier vanished at that moment.

Limberton sprayed a mist of perfume towards Sila.

“What, what is it?”

“Shh.”

Limberton took Sila’s hand and pulled her to her feet.

Sila obediently closed her mouth and nodded.

After all, she probably didn’t think a wolf would be holding her hand.

Now, all that remained was to rely on the compass needle, weaving through the gaps in the pack of wolves to escape.

But then, he felt the hand that held Sila suddenly jerk.

“Gah!”

Sila lost her balance.

Thanks to her quick footwork, she didn’t fall completely.

However, her footing was poor.

On the tail of a trampled wolf.

Grrr!

The wolf let out a fierce growl, expressing its fury at the unwarranted disturbance.

The wolves, their senses heightened from the obscured vision, were on edge.

The wolf, wrongfully accused, growled at the beast, and like a plague, chaos erupted around them.

Thud!

In the midst of it all, Limberton, who had been passing through the wolf’s walls, was jostled by the bodies of the creatures and dropped his compass.

‘Huh?’

He had to escape this place, and fast.

Finding the compass was impossible with the frenzied wolves all around.

Moreover, the smoke screen had its limits; there was no time to linger in blissful ignorance.

‘If I don’t want to die, I need to get out of here!!’

Limberton hoisted Sylla onto his back.

He had been training his body all this time.

With a rudimentary grasp of one of the Aura’s powers—strength amplification—he could, if only temporarily, spring forth with surprising agility.

Tatata-tak!

As a result of his full-speed dash.

“Haah, haah…”

He had lost his way.

Limberton panted, tearing through the underbrush.

His aura was thin, and his leg muscles felt as if they might tear apart.

“Ugh, I’m going to die.”

His body was already exhausted.

Behind him, Sylla was making irritating sounds.

“Why did it have to be you to ruin my mood? I didn’t even know I was holding your hand.”

Sylla leaned against a crude splint made of cut wood.

“…Whose fault do you think this is?”

At Limberton’s words, Sylla’s eyes widened.

It seemed she had never dared to think of retorting.

“What?”

“If you hadn’t stepped on my tail, none of this would have happened. This is your fault.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What was I supposed to do about falling from a height and injuring my leg? It was already hurting because of your big boss.”

Now she was playing the victim.

“What did Hershel do wrong? You were the one who hit me, so he was just punishing you in my stead.”

—

When I logically countered her, Shira ground her teeth and spoke.

“…You, a mere pigeon, have been chirping back at me since earlier. If only my leg were whole, you’d be dead by now.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s just splendid.”

Limberton grumbled, quickening his pace.

Behind him, Shira shouted urgently.

“Hey, hey! Slow down a bit!”

“The reason I said it’s splendid is that I might not have to hear your annoying voice.”

Shira furrowed her brow, then fell silent.

It seemed she grasped her place.

Limberton adjusted his pace to match hers once more.

“But where are we going now? Is it fine to wander about without a compass?”

“We’re heading to the highlands. That’s the safest spot we’ve got. The wolves are focused on the lowlands. We can wait in a secure place until help arrives.”

Shira’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Wait a moment. You want me to climb a mountain on this leg?”

Limberton narrowed his eyes.

“If you had just carried it with you, you wouldn’t need to climb. But why aren’t you carrying a compass?”

“Because Bell always took care of that sort of thing.”

Shira was unapologetic.

Limberton stared at her, speechless, his expression blank.

It seemed she still had the habit of offloading all bothersome tasks onto those she deemed beneath her.

“…Don’t come crying to me later when you’re too tired to walk. You’re heavy, you know.”

Shira flailed in protest.

“Heavy? Do you really want to die? And I don’t want to touch your disgusting back ever again!”

Having heard this so many times, he didn’t bother to respond.

As they pushed through the underbrush, his eyes suddenly widened.

Limberton urgently grabbed Shira’s arm and threw himself down.

Crackle—

Something was nearby.

* * *

Four of them formed a search party and decided on their direction.

—

The destination was the highlands.

Of course, there were questions from Belman and Leana, but it was easy to convince them.

“It’s a simple guess. With the wolves’ attention drawn to the lowlands, I thought the highlands would be the place where we’d have the least chance of encountering them. Plus, from a high vantage point, it’s easier to spot the enemy’s position. Especially if one has keen eyesight, they’d naturally be inclined to do so.”

Yet, the notion of safety was but an illusion.

What was the very reason for building a fortress halfway up the mountain?

It was because the highlands were the most perilous.

I asked Belman, “How long until your mana recovers?”

“To wield any useful magic, it’ll take about thirty minutes,” he replied.

Had he grasped the intent behind my question?

Belman’s expression turned grave.

“…If you’re asking such a question, it seems the highlands aren’t safe after all?”

I nodded in response. “That’s right. It’s where the leader resides.”

“I’ve seen two of the leaders. They didn’t seem to venture into the highlands…”

“There are three of them in total. One has made that place its territory, so you likely haven’t seen it.”

The wolf factions were divided into lowlands, midlands, and highlands.

Three distinct groups.

As one ascends the mountain, the area shrinks, making encounters with the leaders exceedingly likely.

Belman pondered aloud, “That’s strange. Then why didn’t that one participate in the joint attack?”

“We’ll explain as we go.”

What mattered was rescuing them as swiftly as possible.

According to Belman, Sylla had been injured.

The only one capable of fighting was Rimberton.

“We’ve already lost too much time. Don’t slow down.”

As I quickened my pace, Belman added, “But if Rimberton manages to win in the boss fight, who knows what might happen?”

What a fortunate thought.

It was merely the confidence of one who could take down a three-headed wolf alone.

If he has that level of skill and the conditions of a duel, he might win.

But Limberton…

“…that guy can only handle a bow.”

Limberton’s stats were among the lowest of playable characters.

In a world where swords and magic reigned supreme, the place of arrows was meager.

He was weak in close combat, and his long-range destruction was pitiful compared to magic.

Thus, he was always overlooked in user choices, and even when used as a party member, he remained at the level of a mere supporter.

No matter how much he had trained recently, unless the blessing of the ‘Wind Hermit’s Favor’ revealed itself, he was just as weak.

“And you’ve been thinking since earlier that the wolf is the most dangerous to them, but that’s a delusion.”

“A delusion?”

I glanced at Belman and explained what I had been holding back.

“Didn’t I ask earlier? When they ambushed the Shulafe Crown, why was one of the leaders missing?”

“Right.”

“The leader of the highlands has already been captured.”

Belman and Leana swallowed hard.

“…Captured? You mean by a person?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

That place was no longer the domain of the three-headed wolf.

That meant it would have been better if it were the wolves instead.

“The highlands have been taken over. By just four people.”

I checked the black stick.

The blinking speed had quickened since earlier.

“This way.”

I quickened my pace to save Limberton before he encountered them.

* * *

Limberton stifled a gasp, covering Sylla’s mouth.

Voices of men drifted through the thicket.

“Ugh. Disgusting. Why bring that up when you’ve already had your fill?”

“Heh heh, I’m just curious about what the little one in your belly looks like.”

It was the sound of life in a dire situation.

—

Under normal circumstances, it would have been a welcome sight.

But if the ones holding the squirming fetus of a wolf like a toy were involved, the tale took a darker turn.

‘Those b*stards…’

Limberton furrowed his brow, a wary expression etched across his face.

The two were notorious lieutenants of Lethe, infamous for their cruelty.

If they caught him, it was clear he wouldn’t come out unscathed.

“Ah, even mere beasts find a mate, yet here we are, what’s our excuse?”

“Right? It’s been months since I’ve had a proper go at it.”

“What a pity. If it had just grown a bit more, it might have been worth it.”

Limberton’s eyes trembled.

In the other’s hand dangled a fairy, its delicate form caught in a cruel grip.

The man tugged at the fairy’s wings, mocking it with a twisted grin.

“But it feels like we’ve lost our way, doesn’t it? We keep circling back to where we started. The branches of the trees look familiar, too.”

“Could it be that the fairy’s curse is real?”

“A curse?”

“Oh, you know the tales. Hunters who ventured deep into the enchanted woods after hearing rumors of fairies, only to vanish without a trace. If that’s the case, this is all your fault?”

“A curse? Ugh. That gives me the creeps.”

The man forced a laugh, gently setting the fairy down on the ground.

“Sorry about your wings. I hope they can grow back. Now, what are you waiting for? Go on, get back to your family.”

The fairy shot him a glance, then fled without a backward glance.

But the man’s smile vanished abruptly, and without hesitation, he crushed the fairy beneath his boot.

Crack.

He dragged his foot, scraping the blood from his shoe into the dirt.

It was a chilling display of indifference to life.

Limberton thought again that hiding had been the right choice.

“I knew it would come to this. You’re not the type to do anything good.”

“Hey, curses are for fools. What good does it do if the trees block the path? Just chop them all down, that’s all there is to it.”

The two men vanished, swords in hand, as they began to fell the trees.

The trunks were thick enough that it would take several blows with an axe to bring them down.

Limberton broke into a cold sweat.

“Are you saying you can slice through that thickness like paper?”

As the presence faded, Sila shoved away Limberton’s hand that had been covering her mouth.

“How long are you going to keep it shut?”

Sila scrubbed at her lips with a handkerchief.

“Honestly, seeing you grovel to that kind of scum just shows you’re still scared, doesn’t it?”

“…You saw them wielding swords, too.”

“What’s so impressive about that? As long as my legs work, I could do it too.”

“Right, you’re so great.”

Limberton lowered his head and moved cautiously.

“Anyway, let’s go down. This place feels more dangerous.”

“Ugh, I knew it would come to this. I’m the fool for trusting you.”

“…Just keep moving quietly.”

“Don’t give orders like you’re some kind of genius.”

Irritation laced Sila’s voice.

Of all the misfortunes, she had to be stranded with a human she regarded like a bug, so it was no wonder her nerves were frayed.

But Limberton was just as on edge.

“Oh, really? Have you already forgotten who saved you from being devoured by a wolf?”

“The situation hasn’t changed, has it?”

“You agreed to come along, didn’t you? So how about you keep quiet and follow?”

Sila’s emotions flared even more.

“Twice you want me to trust your choices? But do you know why you’re called a fool and why women despise you? It’s because everything you do makes people frown and want to retch. Even now. If you had just followed the path from the start, we would have joined the squad ages ago.”

As Sila unleashed her words like a rapid-fire barrage, Limberton sighed, thinking that a broad-minded person like him should endure.

“Yeah, yeah. To you, everything I do must look foolish… If you want to move separately, go ahead.”

For someone who claimed to dislike it, Sila followed silently behind.

Limberton pondered what to say, then decided to keep his mouth shut.

He didn’t want to engage in anything that would drain his spirit unnecessarily.

Swoosh—

Just in case, he had been applying perfume as they moved.

Thud.

A drop of water fell from the sky.

“Is it… blood?”

But the liquid was a deep crimson.

From behind, I heard Sila’s horrified voice.

“Hey, you fool. Look up.”

As I raised my head, my heart sank.

A man, stripped to the waist, sat perched on a tree, drenched in blood.

“I caught the scent of a wolf and came to investigate, but it seems I found a man instead.”

He wiped the blood on his wolf pelt and threw his body down to the ground.

“Lu, Luon…”

The moment I unconsciously uttered the name, a dull pain throbbed in my head.

And just like that, Limberton lost consciousness.

* * *

Splash!

Water poured over my head.

With the damp sensation, Limberton opened his eyes.

Whistle—

A piercing sound that stabbed at my eardrums.

Luon had stowed away his canteen and gestured around.

“How do you find our base? Quite well-decorated, wouldn’t you say?”

The place was a clearing, thickly surrounded by trees.

Yet, hanging from every branch were the carcasses of three-headed wolves.

The vibrating stench of blood made Limberton wrinkle his nose.

“What… what do you want?”

There were no bindings on my hands or feet.

I was kidnapped, yet this felt like a strange kind of freedom.

Luon stepped aside, revealing what he had been blocking with his body.

“Is that girl your girlfriend?”

Limberton’s eyes widened in shock.

Sila, captured by two men, was bound by chains, her mouth gagged with cloth.

One man gripped her chin and licked her cheek with his tongue.

“…This isn’t the time for that. Besides, you asked me earlier. What do I want from you? That’s why you brought me here.”

Luoan replied in a soft voice.

“I don’t wish for much. Just that you join in the game?”

“A game?”

“Look to the left.”

Limberton turned his head.

A three-headed wolf, its neck bound by chains to a wooden post.

Each head was covered with a sack, yet one horn had pierced through, jutting out defiantly.

“The leader?”

“Correct. It was trying to establish its territory, so it ended up here. I didn’t want to kill it right away, so I thought I’d raise it a bit, but I’m starting to get bored.”

In an instant, Limberton understood what this man desired.

“…You can’t be serious. You want me to catch the leader all by myself?”

Luoan smiled gently.

For a moment, Limberton wondered if it was a jest, but the murky depths of his eyes revealed sincerity.

Just as he resolved not to let his guard down, Luoan spoke again.

“I found something among your belongings. You carry interesting things, so here, take this.”

Limberton, caught off guard, grasped the bow and four arrows that he handed over.

Luoan spoke in a slightly excited tone, as if explaining the rules.

“Do you see the circular line drawn on the ground? That marks the range of the chained wolf. From now on, you’ll step inside and hunt with that bow. What do you think? It’s not a complicated game, is it?”

“T-this is your idea of a game? You’re insane.”

Luoan paid no mind, pointing at a woman nearby.

“If you want to save her, it’s best to listen carefully. Everyone’s been under the professors’ watch, and their desires have been piling up. If they don’t relieve it even a little, they might just go mad.”

Even under threat, Limberton couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.

Even if this was a cursed place, the professors were here too.

It was clear they were watching, ensuring the students couldn’t escape.

“The professors must know what you’re doing. If you don’t want to end up in the punishment wing, you’d better stop right now. Before the professors show up.”

But Luoan’s question silenced him.

“Is that so? Then why didn’t they impose any restrictions when they dragged you here?”

“…”

“Like you said, they must be watching from somewhere. They need to keep an eye on whether you try to escape. But it’s strange. If this were the academy, they would have intervened immediately. Why are they just standing by?”

Luon blinked as he answered.

“This is my personal guess, but isn’t it better to receive the punishment by going back?”

Rimbutton swallowed hard.

The fact that there was no one to stop them was a different story.

If it turns out as he said, it would be after the deed was already done.

What does it matter if the culprit is punished after I’m dead?

“From the beginning, these kids weren’t even afraid of punishment. That’s why they commit such acts…”

To them, only pleasure mattered.

Luon whispered in a calm voice.

“To be honest, I don’t find this situation amusing at all. It’s all things I’ve done before. Now it feels like a child’s prank, doesn’t it? Actually, those guys will be somewhat understanding as long as there are women around. So, if you don’t like it, you can leave now. Of course, you have to leave the woman behind.”

Rimbutton’s ears perked up.

“Can I leave now?”

Luon grinned.

“Well then. If you had said you didn’t like it from the beginning, I would have let you go. Did I even tie you up as evidence?”

Rimbutton coldly replied as he returned the items handed to him.

“You’re mistaken. You and the others like you all look the same to me.”

Rimbutton moved his foot.

Perhaps overhearing the conversation, two men sandwiching Sila wore sinister smiles.

“Oh, you’ve been rejected. Should I comfort you?”

“Well, you seemed hopeless anyway. Shall we enjoy ourselves now?”

Sila’s eyes twisted in terror.

“Please no!”

With all her might, she slapped one of the men’s faces.

The man wiped his nose and chuckled.

“Ouch. Strong, aren’t you?”

“I noticed earlier that you seemed to be in pain when touching this leg of mine. Wait a moment.”

With rough resistance, the man grasped her injured leg.

“Ahh!”

Her screams grew louder.

“Seems like you enjoy causing pain, huh?”

“Indeed. Shall we start by stripping off the armor?”

Tears dripped from Shilla’s eyes.

Yet, Limberton continued to walk.

Thud.

It was only when he halted that he found himself before the line, where the leader was bound by chains.

Limberton grinned as he nocked an arrow.

“But, unlike you lot, I am a woman.”