Giant-winged Bat

"Tch... A half-orc from the mountains actually came all the way here." Vales snorted.

"Aren't you two the same? Why are you so hostile toward him?" Gray raised an eyebrow.

"Who's the same as him?"

Vales widened his eyes. "I'm an elf. He's an orc!"

"You're both mixed-bloods. What's the difference?" Gray asked with interest.

"There's really no talking to someone like you!" Vales was too angry for words.

"Why are you two arguing again?"

Marcus returned after registering the task members and tossed a gold coin each to Zeliel and Vales.

"This is compensation from the Administration Hall last time. Three gold coins in total, split evenly between us."

"The Administration Hall is pretty generous." Zeliel slipped the coin into his pocket.

"How much money did you guys make while I was gone?" Gray's eyes went wide.

"We were better off without you." Vales shot Gray a sidelong glance.

After confirming the task, the group once again gathered at Blackstone Town's checkpoint the following morning.

Because this commission placed considerable pressure on Marcus, who had to withstand the frenzied Giant-winged Bat's attacks, he had specifically replaced his shield with a superior composite shield.

Its base consisted of several layers of laminated toughwood. The shield face was no longer ordinary wood, but a single steel panel reinforced with rivets.

Its protective power was several times greater than that of his previous buckler and one-handed shield.

Naturally, the shield had also been quite expensive, costing Marcus a full gold coin.

The Giant-winged Bat's nesting grounds were located in the western part of Graywood Forest and were clearly marked on the map.

But to be safe, Marcus did not head there directly. Instead, he first went to Creek Valley Village, which had been harassed by the Giant-winged Bat.

It was always best to learn the details before taking action. What if the intelligence was wrong?

Creek Valley Village.

True to its name, it was a village nestled within a small valley, with a babbling stream flowing nearby. The scenery was rather pleasant.

Yet before Zeliel and the others had even entered the village, they sensed its oppressive silence.

It was broad daylight, but there was hardly anyone in sight. No one worked in the fields either, and the whole village carried an eerie, sinister air.

"This is seriously creepy," Zeliel said quietly.

"Normal enough. When ordinary people encounter a monster disaster and have no means to defend themselves, all they can do is hide."

Marcus had long since grown used to it.

"Especially against a flying monster like a Giant-winged Bat. Forget children—even adults can be snatched away in a single dive. Everyone else can only watch helplessly."

After they entered the village, a house finally showed signs of movement.

A half-closed wooden door opened, and an elderly man leaning on a cane hurried over to greet them.

"Thank the gods... Are you the adventurers who accepted the commission? You've finally come!"

The old man tightly gripped Marcus's hand. "I'm Bart, the village chief."

As Chief Bart moved, people gradually emerged from the other houses as well.

The moment they stepped outside, the villagers instinctively looked up at the sky, their faces filled with terror.

"Adventurers!"

"They're adventurers! Our village is saved!"

"Kill that filthy bat!"

Faced with the noisy crowd, Marcus found himself overwhelmed and could only press his hand downward.

"Please quiet down... Before carrying out the task, we need to confirm the details."

"Chief Bart, when did that Giant-winged Bat appear?"

"About five or six days ago..."

Chief Bart began to recall the events.

"It swooped over the village, and quite a few livestock suffered. At first, we thought it was some kind of eagle, so we had several hunters shoot at it with bows. But it suddenly went berserk and dove straight down."

Chief Bart's face was filled with fear. Even recalling the scene now left him shaken.

"The people in the village were no match for it. John had his head torn off by its claws... The others were injured too."

"Ever since then, it circles above the village for a while every day. The moment it sees someone, it attacks immediately. We only managed to send someone to Blackstone Town with a message while it was away..."

"How large is the Giant-winged Bat?" Vales asked.

"When it spreads its wings... it's about five or six meters across."

A hunter from the village spoke up. "And it has bony claws on its wingtips. They're extremely sharp, and so are its teeth. It can even launch attacks like wind blades!"

"Are you sure it's the same one every time?" Vales asked again.

"Absolutely!" the hunter answered firmly.

After clarifying everything, the four exchanged glances.

What the villagers described was more or less the same as what was written in the commission.

"Adventurers, when do you plan to make your move?" Chief Bart asked tremulously.

"Right now. Noon is when its energy is at its lowest," Marcus said.

Before they set off, a little girl hugged Zeliel's leg and looked up at him through tear-filled eyes.

"Adventurer sir, please avenge my father..."

Zeliel crouched down and gently patted her head.

"Don't worry. We will."

The party left the village and headed straight toward the valley exit. After crossing the narrow log bridge over the river, they reached the entrance to the dense forest.

Even as a monster, the Giant-winged Bat was naturally drawn to darkness and avoided light. The forest here was far denser than elsewhere, and even during the day, its interior was somewhat dim.

Combined with the fact that the Giant-winged Bat's diet included all manner of large animals, this was practically the perfect habitat for it.

"Zeliel, use Illumination to scout ahead. You and Vales stay ready to attack at all times. Gray, provide support. Once I draw the Giant-winged Bat's attention, try to destroy its wings first so it can't fly!" Marcus said.

"Understood!"

A ball of light slowly rose and floated above their heads, illuminating the surroundings.

Vales raised his head and surveyed the area.

The trees here were exceptionally tall, their dense layers of canopy nearly blotting out the sky. Massive roots twisted across the ground like crouching pythons.

Many branches had also been violently broken, while claw marks scarred the trunks.

From the moment they entered the dense forest, the party remained on high alert.

The surroundings were unusually damp and stifling, like a steamer. A faint fishy stench hung in the air, likely caused by the decay and fermentation of dead animals.

Every member of the party had a vague premonition.

They were getting close.

"Everyone, watch above," Marcus said softly.

He no longer strode forward in great steps. Instead, he carefully made his way between the roots while raising his shield above his head.

Vales's pointed ears twitched constantly as he caught every faint sound and warily scanned the sky.