Chapter 64: Crisis?

“The carriage Amel prepared was much bigger than I expected.”

Made of sturdy wood with strong wheels, the carriage looked reliable for long-distance travel.

The interior was well-furnished, making it seem comfortable even for an extended journey.

I stared at it in surprise.

“Wow… How did you manage to get such a large carriage?”

Sua spoke excitedly.

“This is amazing! Now we can all fit in!”

Amel smirked.

“If we’re heading north, we need to be properly prepared. This much is basic.”

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

“But you weren’t expecting us to come along, were you?”

Turning my head, I saw Uncle Alex and Ellie standing next to the carriage, travel bags in hand.

“Uncle Alex? Ellie? You’re coming too?”

I asked in shock.

Ellie crossed her arms and nodded.

“Obviously. You think we’d just let you go without us? Besides, if I don’t come along, Amel might end up dozing off while driving.”

“Hey! That’s so exaggerated!”

Amel protested, but Ellie ignored her.

Alex chuckled and added.

“Plus, I’d be worried if you kids went alone. Every good journey needs a strong tank like me, don’t you think?”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“I didn’t expect you two to join us… But having you along will definitely be reassuring.”

Once everyone climbed into the carriage, the interior turned out to be more spacious than expected.

Liel and Harp settled in a corner, organizing supplies, while Sua claimed a window seat.

I sat down next to Uncle Alex and asked.

“By the way, Amel, where exactly are we headed? Do we have a set route?”

Holding the reins, Amel answered.

“Normally, taking the village roads is the safest and fastest route. The forest path is dangerous, and the terrain is rough, so I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Just then, Ellie raised her hand.

“Even so, the forest path would be the better choice.”

Amel turned to her, looking surprised.

“The forest? But the village route is easier and safer. Why?”

Ellie simply smiled and replied.

“There’s… a reason. Village roads can sometimes bring unnecessary trouble.”

Sua nodded in agreement.
“She’s right! The forest is quieter, and there are fewer monsters compared to the roads near villages.”

Harp, ever composed, added.

“…There are too many people on the village road. We’d attract unwanted attention. The forest path is more advantageous for us.”

Uncle Alex crossed his arms and smirked.

“Besides, with a carriage like this, we can handle a forest trail just fine. Amel, think of it as a chance to test how well your carriage performs.”

Amel glanced around at everyone, baffled.

“Okay, this is weird. Why is everyone so eager to take the forest path?”

But with the majority favoring it, she eventually sighed and nodded.

“Fine. We’ll take the forest route. But don’t complain later if it gets tough.”

“Of course not!”

Ellie grinned widely.

And with that, the carriage turned toward the forest path.

Sunlight filtered gently through the leaves, casting a warm glow inside the carriage.

The breeze was cool, and the birds chirped softly, providing a peaceful background melody.

Yet, beneath this tranquil atmosphere, there was a slight tension among us.

Sua stared out the window, lost in thought.

Liel quietly opened a book and began reading in a hushed voice.

Harp lazily waved her fingers in the air, as if practicing magic.

Amel, still unconvinced, tilted her head and asked.

“I’m just saying… taking a carriage through the forest isn’t exactly easy. Are you sure this is a good idea? What if someone gets motion sickness or—”

Ellie, looking completely confident, cut her off.

“This carriage can handle it just fine. Amel, you built it. Trust yourself.”

Amel still looked unconvinced but didn’t argue any further.

The carriage steadily ventured deeper into the forest.

The road gradually became rougher, uneven with tree roots and small dips, but the carriage barely shook.

It was clear that Amel’s driving skills were impressive.

Just then, Uncle Alex suddenly spoke up.

“Eve, what do you think about this trip?”

I stared out the window for a moment before answering.

“To be honest… I feel a little nervous. But I’m also excited. We don’t know what’s waiting for us in the north.”

Uncle Alex smiled and nodded.

“Yeah. But don’t worry too much. You’ve got me, remember?”

I let out a small laugh and nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.

Then Sua suddenly turned away from the window and said.

“Since Teacher is here, I don’t feel worried at all. No matter what happens, I think we’ll be okay.”

Her sincere words made me smile.

“Thanks, Sua. As long as we work together, we can handle anything.”

“Yep! Because we’re Woong!”

“That’s right, all of us are Woong.”

With that, the carriage continued moving through the forest, filled with warm conversation and an underlying sense of tension.

But then.

The carriage suddenly stopped.

The abrupt halt sent a jolt through the interior, nearly knocking everyone off balance.

“What’s going on?”

I turned to Amel, who was holding the reins at the front of the carriage.

“What’s going on?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she raised a hand, signaling for silence, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.

“Shh. Stay quiet. Something’s not right.”

Her voice was low but tense.

Everyone inside the carriage held their breath.

Liel pressed her lips together and curled up slightly in her seat.

Harp peered out the window, carefully observing the forest.

Sua, for some reason, clung tightly to me.

“This… feels really bad.”

I wasn’t sure why I was the one being hugged, but given the situation, I decided to let it slide.

Then.

The carriage suddenly rocked slightly.

A deep, ragged breathing sound came from outside, followed by the unsettling noise of something slithering through the trees.

“What is that? What’s making that sound?”

Ellie leaned out of the window, trying to get a better look.

And then.

A massive figure emerged from between the trees.

A creature far too large for any normal beast.

Glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, sharp fangs gleamed under the dim light, and its entire body was covered in coarse fur.

Its overwhelming presence was…

A hamster.

“…What the heck?”

Sua muttered in disbelief.

Liel’s eyes went wide as she stammered.

“Is that… a monster?”

I, too, leaned out the window, blinking in confusion.

“That’s a monster, right? But it really just looks like a giant hamster.”

However, the rest of the group reacted very differently.

Ellie leaned further out, her voice filled with awe.

“Its pressure is incredible! I’ve never seen a monster this big before!”

Uncle Alex unsheathed his sword.

“Monster or not, size doesn’t matter! If it’s dangerous, we take it down! Stay ready!”

Harp calmly began tracing a magic circle in the air and murmured.

“It’s not just a big animal. I can feel the aura of a true monster.”

Despite everyone’s tense reactions, I still sat in the carriage, looking utterly dumbfounded.

But a monster was still a monster.

No matter how cute it looked, the moment its massive front paw started swinging down toward the carriage, the situation was no longer something to laugh about.

BANG!

The entire carriage shook violently.

Amel quickly gripped the reins and shouted.

“Everyone, get out! Prepare to fight!”

“Huh? We’re fighting that thing?!”

Liel asked, clearly flustered.

Sua didn’t hesitate—she leaped off the carriage.

“There’s no other choice! If we don’t stop it, we’re in serious danger!”

Harp followed, already preparing her spells.

“Teacher, you can stay inside. We’ll handle this.”

Uncle Alex drew his sword and jumped down as well.

And just like that, the battle began.

The air was thick with tension at the start, but the fight ended surprisingly quickly.

Sua darted around, throwing quick punches to draw the giant hamster monster’s attention.

“Hey! Over here! Fight me!”

She dodged its massive claws with nimble movements, skillfully keeping its focus on her.

Uncle Alex held the front lines, using his shield to absorb the monster’s attacks.

“Sua, don’t go too far ahead!”

Each time the monster’s enormous paw struck his shield, a deep thud echoed through the battlefield.

Harp swiftly completed her magic circle, freezing the monster’s legs in place.

“I’ve restricted its movement. Now, attack!”

As the monster struggled against the ice, Sua didn’t waste the opportunity—she swung her axe down with all her strength.

Liel stood at the back, supporting everyone with healing magic.

“Don’t overdo it! You need to conserve your stamina!”

Thanks to her sacred power, the team was able to keep up their attacks without losing momentum.

Eventually, the monster—its massive body now sluggish—collapsed under its own weight.

With one final strike, Sua roared.

“This is the end!”

Her axe crashed down onto the monster’s head, and with a loud, pitiful cry, the giant hamster monster fell.

From the sidelines, someone muttered in awe.

“Whoa… so this is the power of the Hero’s party…”

I watched their seamless teamwork unfold and let out a quiet murmur of admiration.

Of course, one of them was a (former) Hero, and the rest were just kids…

But still.

Since we had a Hero among us, that made us a Hero’s Party.