Return of the Fallen Nobleman With an SSS-Rank Talent-Chapter 72: A scream

The carriage continued along the dirt road.

The wheels creaked every time they rolled over loose stones, and the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves filled the afternoon air.

As they drove away from Arkham, the landscape began to change. The cultivated fields fell behind them, replaced by open meadows stretching to the horizon. Further in the distance, small woods appeared as dark patches among the tall grass.

Adam watched the landscape from the back of the carriage.

The cool evening breeze blew in through the opening, gently ruffling his hair. His mind, however, was far from the tranquility of the landscape.

Many lesser nobles hated Count Valentain.

He could approach them and propose alliances. But the idea immediately made him wary.

The nobles were like vipers in sheep’s clothing. Today, they might swear loyalty... and tomorrow sell their head if someone offered enough gold.

Adam couldn’t trust them. The only house that had already promised support was his fiancée’s: the Tubor family.

According to the agreement, they would arrive at the end of the month to help defend his territory.

Adam tapped the edge of the carriage lightly with his fingers.

Even so, a viscount’s house had a strength similar to that of the Hall family. Their help would be useful... but it wouldn’t really change the situation.

He needed something more.

The carriage jolted as it passed over a bumpy stretch of road.

Adam looked up and let out a sigh. He closed his eyes again for a moment.

If he needed to gather forces quickly, there was only one option that would really work.

The mercenary guilds.

Soldiers who fought for money.

The problem was that mercenaries switched sides easily. If someone paid more... any loyalty vanished.

Even so...

Adam knew of a different group.

More disciplined and more reliable than most.

But there was a problem... That guild was a ten-day journey away.

He wasn’t sure if he’d have enough time to go... and return before Baron Enmanuel laid siege to the city of Arkham.

Adam let out a long sigh.

Then he rested his head against the carriage wall as he gazed at the evening sky.

The journey was beginning.

And the decisions he had to make... would only get harder.

...

The carriage continued along the bumpy road as the sun began to sink slowly toward the west. The golden afternoon light bathed the open meadows, making the tall grass glisten like a sea of gold.

Adam sat silently inside the carriage, watching the landscape as his thoughts kept circling back to the same problem.

Mercenaries.

It was the only quick solution.

But it was also a risk.

The carriage continued for quite a while longer. The constant sound of the wheels and the horses’ trot created an almost hypnotic rhythm.

Then something broke that calm.

A scream.

Adam opened his eyes immediately.

The sound came from ahead, faint but clear.

Another scream followed.

And then the clang of metal.

Adam frowned.

"Stop the carriage."

The coachman pulled on the reins, and the horses came to a halt with a soft snort.

Adam stepped down from the carriage, sword in hand. The air carried a scent he knew all too well.

Blood.

He walked a few steps toward a small rise beside the road and looked across to the other side.

The scene unfolded before him.

A group of merchant carriages had come to a halt in the middle of the road. Crates of goods were scattered across the ground, some of them broken. Two armed guards were fighting desperately while several merchants tried to take cover behind the carriages.

And facing them...

Monsters.

Ten enormous creatures surrounded the convoy.

They were dark-gray beasts, covered in bony plates that jutted out like spines along their bodies. Their elongated jaws were filled with serrated teeth, and their claws tore at the ground with every movement.

Adam recognized them immediately.

Rock Rendors.

Rank II monsters.

One of the creatures charged a merchant wagon and overturned it with ease, sending boxes and merchandise flying through the air.

One of the guards tried to stop her.

It lasted exactly three seconds.

The monster’s claw hurled him to the ground as if he were a rag doll.

Adam watched the scene in silence. The merchants were completely overwhelmed.

Two more guards could barely keep the other beasts at bay.

Adam let out a sigh.

"What bad luck!"

Or good luck.

He turned his head slightly; if he helped them through this crisis, he could use them to his advantage, though he was reluctant to get involved. But when he saw that he could get something out of them, he decided to step in.

Besides...

The surviving merchants would surely know something about mercenaries.

Adam began walking toward the battle.

As he moved forward, his hand slowly rested on the hilt of his sword, channeling mana until it covered the blade.

The first monster raised its head, sensing his presence.

Its yellow eyes locked onto him.

Adam smiled slightly.

"Good."

And in the next instant...

The monster lunged at him with explosive speed, but Adam wasn’t the least bit frightened; he was grateful it wasn’t a Rank III monster—otherwise, he’d be in big trouble.

His body leaned slightly forward, and in that very instant, the Rendor’s claw swept past where his head had been a second earlier.

Adam twisted his torso, calmly took a step back, and swung his sword, which traced a short arc.

The monster’s head was severed from its body with a clean cut.

The corpse took two more steps before collapsing heavily to the ground.

Adam was no longer there.

His body moved fluidly, barely kicking up any dust.

The second monster charged from the right.

Adam lowered his center of gravity and spun on his heel; his sword slid between the bony plates of the neck; with a sickening sound, the blade sliced through the flesh.

The monster let out a piercing scream.

Adam yanked the sword free and spun on his heel.

The third Rendor was already upon him. Its jaws snapped shut violently.

Adam raised his sword to block the attack.

CLANG!

The teeth struck the blade. For a second, the monster tried to crush him with its weight.

Adam let out a small sigh. Then the Mana Dharma Wheel appeared above his head, spinning slowly.

Adam thrust upward.

The monster lost its balance for an instant.

That was enough.

Adam twisted his wrist.

The sword came down in a perfect line.

A single cut.

The Ripper’s body was split from neck to chest.

With no intention of resting, Adam lunged at the other monsters, who were also lunging at him, their eyes bloodshot and eager to devour him.