Chapter 99 – Some Help Is Fine.

“That’s a lot of noise and a lot of people…”

The night erupted into chaos as the camp scrambled to defend itself. Rusty remained still, his mind trying to adapt to this unexpected twist. Gleam perked up beside him, her antennae twitching with unease. The merchants shouted to one another, their voices strained with panic.

“ ( ˶°ㅁ°) !! “

“Stay down Gleam, they probably don’t know that we are here… if I understand people’s behavior correctly, then they are here to steal the goods so we might be safe in here if they just don’t find us…”

Rusty communicated silently with Gleam, compelling her to stop moving even as a few arrows pierced through the wagon’s canvas. His life-detection skill was picking up numerous signals outside, but he couldn’t distinguish friend from foe. This was supposed to be his shortcut to Ferndale, his new area of operations. Yet, just as they were about to sneak through, disaster struck, leaving them stranded.

“Rusty.”

Aburdon’s voice cut through his thoughts, urging decisive action.

“If those bandits find this cart, you’ll be in a worse position. Do you really want to sit here and hope they miss you? I say we get out while the adventurers and merchants are still keeping them busy!”

Aburdon’s argument made sense. Amid the chaos, most of the bandits would be preoccupied with fighting humanoid opponents, giving a monster ant like Gleam a chance to slip away unnoticed. Gleam was rested enough to cast a silencing spell, making stealth a viable option.

“But what about the merchants? Are we just going to abandon them to their fate?”

“Hah! You expect Rusty to risk his life for some random merchants? That’s absurd! Our survival comes first,”

Aburdon retorted his tone rough. Alexander was maddened at this suggestion. His protest revealed the good-hearted nature he couldn’t suppress. He wanted to help, but Rusty wasn’t convinced it was a wise idea. Without Albert’s body stored in his inventory, he couldn’t convincingly pose as an adventurer. While he could shift into his armored form to resemble one, that guise came with a critical drawback – he wouldn’t be able to speak.

Then there was the matter of odds. It seemed clear that this small merchant caravan had gravely underestimated the dangers of this treacherous route. Rusty weighed the options as the camp fell into further disarray. The muffled clanging of swords and the crackling of flames reached his metallic ‘ears’ through the canvas of the wagon. The merchants’ terrified shouts mingled with the bandits’ battle cries. He could feel Gleam trembling slightly beside him, her sharp instincts picking up on the growing carnage and chaos.

Alexander’s voice chimed in again, this time in a more pleading tone.

“Rusty, listen. Perhaps you can help these people. With your skills, we could…”

“We could what? Involve ourselves in the petty squabbles of these insignificant people? What have they ever done for us? If any of them see Rusty for what he truly is, they’ll kill him on the spot! And what about Lady Gleam? Her form could be exposed during the chaos of a fight. We must flee instead! Don’t listen to this fool of a hero!”

Rusty sat silently amidst the clamor, his mind a battlefield where Alexander and Aburdon waged a war of ideology. The life-detection signals from outside painted a vivid image of the chaos unfolding. Merchants scurried for safety, their movements frantic. The guards were outnumbered, their efforts barely holding the line against the bandits.

“Gleam… get ready, we will use the chaos to retreat!”

“Hah, I knew you would see it my way!”

“No… you can’t be serious, we have to help them.!”

Aburdon gloated, reveling in his argument, while Alexander desperately tried to convince him to reconsider. Rusty, however, knew that fighting was highly disadvantageous for him. As an unknown third party, he had no idea how either side would react if he revealed himself.

For a moment, he considered hiding and waiting for the battle to end. But waiting wasn’t always the safest option either. If the bandits won, they would undoubtedly search every wagon – or worse, take them all to their hideout. Once there, Rusty would be trapped in yet another prison, just like the one he had barely escaped from when dealing with the cultists. That harrowing experience was still fresh in his mind. No, waiting was too risky. Using the chaos of the battle and the cover of the dark night, Rusty resolved to run. It was his best chance at survival.

“ ٩ ( ^ᗜ^ ) و “

Gleam didn’t seem to care one way or the other and began casting the silencing spell. There didn’t appear to be any mages on either side, so no one would be able to detect her use of mana. Soon, a soft white light enveloped both of them, signaling it was time to move.

“Rusty, maybe if…”

“Be quiet, you two! We need to focus on escaping from here!”

With the command given, both Alexander and Aburdon were forced to become silent. Rusty’s glowing eye sockets dimmed as Gleam began her careful movements, sneaking out from the fabric she had been hiding beneath. Her sharp mandibles made quick work of the material, cutting an opening to slip through. She skittered across the cart with silent precision, heading toward the rear. Rusty, still perched on her head, surveyed the scene as they reached the back of the cart. From there, they could see the full scope of the chaotic battle raging in the darkness.

What they saw was quite gruesome. The camp was ablaze with chaos. Fires crackled, their light casting eerie, dancing shadows over the battlefield. The merchants and their guards, overwhelmed and underprepared, fought desperately to defend their lives and goods. Bandits surged like a tide, wielding crude weapons and overwhelming force. Some wagons were already on fire, and scattered belongings littered the ground – an unsettling mosaic of panic and despair.

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Rusty’s life-detection skill painted a grim picture. The camp’s defenders were outnumbered three to one. Merchants cowered behind crates, while their guards formed a shaky line against the bandits. The attackers were well-coordinated, their movements suggesting a seasoned gang accustomed to raids. The odds for the merchants seemed slim. As Rusty and Gleam slipped from the wagon’s cover, they paused behind a thick stack of crates.

“See? Look at this mess. And you wanted to help these fools, Alexander? They’re already finished. Rusty, we’re wasting precious time just standing here.”

Aburdon’s voice broke the silence but they continued with the escape, even as the two guides continued barter.

“Even so… This is wrong. We could turn the tide. Rusty, if you distract the bandits and give the merchants a chance, they could probably escape or perhaps launch a counter attack.”

“Did you miss the part where they’re outnumbered and outmatched? A distraction would only expose Rusty! Don’t let your misplaced nobility get us killed.”