Just as I left the Amazons’ village, I encountered new enemies.
I spoke to the approaching Dog with Human Head.
“Do you need something?”
“Heh, you seem to know us. Did you hear about us from those female beastmen? They told you to pass along the cliff, didn’t they?”
It was as if they had known we were coming here beforehand. I don’t know where they were scouting, but they didn’t seem to intend to let us escape.
“We have no intention of fighting, nor of trespassing on your territory.”
The Dog with Human Head, who appeared to be the leader, licked his lips.
“Hmm, well, you’ll have to pay a toll. Leave all your luggage behind. And then, the boss wishes to meet with you guys.”
Do I have to hand over all my luggage and go into the enemy’s camp unarmed? There are three enemies, no, that’s not right. Looking closely, there are three more behind us, and two lurking in the bushes. I see, so that’s why they’re so bold. I chose this road to avoid being surrounded, but it’s made it harder to fight. It’s a stroke of luck that I can at least tell where the enemies are.
“Come on, walk with me.”
Just as the Dog with Human Head man was about to move, Cecilia stepped forward.
“No, I have no intention of following you guys. Don’t get full of yourselves, you’re just a disorganized mob with superior numbers. You just have human faces, but your thoughts are still like a dog’s.”
Her provocation made the enemies’ eyes change. Cecilia drew her sword as if to deflect it. At that moment, one female Dog with Human Head leaped out from the bushes.
“Wait, don’t move on your own!”
“Shut up, we’re being nice to you guys, and you’re being insolent! It doesn’t matter if we die, does it!”
Ignoring the leader’s restraint, the short-tempered woman attacked Cecilia. Her jump, delivered from her slender legs, reached her in a single leap before anyone could react. Even Cecilia, who was accustomed to battle, widened her eyes and stiffened for a moment at the surprise attack from her blind spot.
“I won’t let you!”
Then, Karubene tackled the woman from the side with tremendous speed. Her goat legs provided a burst of speed comparable to Nina’s and the team’s best jumping ability. At first, I thought the Satyr race was not suited for combat and not much different from humans, but they are indeed different from humans.
While everyone else was frozen, I felt a natural athletic ability that made her seem unbound by constraints. However, this time, her athleticism backfired. She tackled the female Dog with Human Head and in the ensuing struggle, they both tumbled down the cliff.
Cecilia ran to the cliff faster than I did. She seemed ready to follow her all the way.
“Hey, Karubene! Karubene! Answer me! You’re not saying you fell, are you?”
“Cecilia, Cecilia, calm down. You’ll fall too.”
I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. She was looking for the fallen Karubene, heedless of the enemies nearby. At that moment, the Dogs with Human Heads, who had also lost a companion, approached us.
