The half-elf archer, Leiah, was the one who led the treatment. She used the herb combination she always had and gave some to her teammates.
"Thank you," the big man said as he wiped the blood on his face. As the attacker, he was quite heavily injured.
The female black-haired assassin just thanked her. "Keep it for later," she said. "I’m not too injured anyway." She gave a look at Frago’s back. "We don’t know what can still happen."
The two women had solemn expressions on their faces, silently guarding the heavily injured men in their team.
Durgan just patted his long beard and smiled. "Honestly, after this, I think I really will retire. I’m getting too old for this."
His three teammates turned and looked at him with pitiable looks on their faces.
"We will kill enemies better so you’d feel less of a meat shield!" Marcus said, tactless as always. Nona slapped the back of his head.
"Ow!"
The two women were a bit more empathic. This lifestyle...was indeed tiring. Once upon a time, they were filled with hopes and dreams and the enjoyment of adventures.
But after so many acquaintances died and the person who caused it lacked remorse, remaining arrogant, they couldn’t help but feel so disillusioned. At least more than how they already were. "Well, we’ll talk about it later."
It was around this time that the shameless culprit of everything abruptly stood up. They flinched, guarded, but he just sneered at them.
He ignored them and strode to the mouth of their small cave. He had a bright expression on his face as he looked at the sky.
"Satio!" he yelled, raising his hand, and everyone followed his line of sight. Soon, they saw a flying beast with a person on it hovering near the cave.
The group watched as Frago jumped over and stabilized there, ready to leave. The rest of them headed to the mouth of the cave, wondering what to do next.
They didn’t consider getting on the birdbeast, which wouldn’t be able to lift more than two grown men, anyway. They were hoping that there would be backup coming too.
At the very least, they were expecting that the newcomer would clear out the mob below them, so that even without backup, they could still get out of the place.
However, before they could ask, a large fireball headed in their direction, shooting down from the sky!
BANG!
Everyone’s pupils constricted, seeing that the large fireball came from the newcomer. They glared at them, including Frago and the arrogant smile on his face.
THESE BASTARDS!!
BANG!
Durgan managed to raise his shield in time, with Marcus helping reinforce it. The two girls were hidden behind them, and they were blasted to the back of the cave.
BANG!
"What is the meaning of this?" Marcus screamed, coughing, eyes red in anger.
Fargo grinned, and those at the other side couldn’t help but feel cold. "I can’t have anyone know what I’ve been doing here, you see."
He smirked, signalling at the person next to him, who promptly created another ball of fire as big as a person’s head.
"Why don’t you finish your jobs here? Literally?"
Whoosh!
However, before they could shoot, two sharp projectiles suddenly flew directly at the mages’ faces, one arrow straight to each one.
"AH!" Frago gasped in shock, but fortunately, a fireball from beside him appeared and dissipated the attack. This was from Satio, of course, and Frago immediately regained confidence.
"That surprised me, a!" he said, touching his chest, before a disgusting grin graced his face. "My beautiful Leiah is as feisty as always!"
Then, his face morphed to one of vindictiveness. "Attack again and another fireball will be thrown at you. This time, it won’t be as weak as before."
This made them all pause. The man next to Frago had a much stronger aura than them. They couldn’t tell his exact level, but they knew they were no match in their current condition.
As the flying monster hovered above the mouth of the cave, Frago looked at the half-elf again. "Leiah, my dear, I think you can fit in," he said, gesturing to the area next to him. "Just agree to be my mistress. Unless you want to die with these
The beautiful half-elf sneered at him. "No, I’d rather wait here than see more of your face."
"Well, suit yourself," the man said, shrugging. "Let’s go."
As the monster turned, Frago looked at the injured adventurers in front of him, and then to the mob of monsters below, which would eventually start attacking again.
No matter what, they had no escape this time. "Don’t worry, we’ll make sure to send your bereaved the money you deserve. Aren’t we kind?" he said, flying away.
Marcus and the others gritted their teeth in anger.
Obviously, his family always had a good reputation in his territory that they were well-known even in their Town next to it! It was why they didn’t think too much about the mission. What is this now??
In retrospect, they should’ve questioned why a powerful family would hire adventurers from another town rather than from their hometown, which was technically richer!
At the time, this guy just said that they already sent them to other missions, and they were stupid enough to believe it!! Who told most adventurers to be simple-minded fools?!
They watched as the beast flew away, but...when it was far enough, a large fireball really headed straight at them! This time, it was a few times bigger than the one before!
That bastard!!
"Watch out!!!" Durgan yelled, with the men covering their teammates in a protective stance.
BOOM!!
The small cave exploded, loose rocks flying out, and thick smoke billowing out of its mouth.
"That should do it," Frago smiled. "Even if someone survived..." he looked down on the sea of Brootrats at the foot of the cave. "They’d just end up being cooked meat to feed the ugly critters anyway."
He absolutely despised loose ends, after all.
He then looked at the intricate ring on his finger, emanating a special energy that made him high.
He was so close...