Chapter 8 — The Caravan and the Demon Tribe
After parting ways with Frieren's party, Lain continued alone along the forest avenue.
The Northern Highlands' cold wind cut across his face like a razor. Each gust carried a sharp, biting chill that seemed to slice through even his layered clothing. The air was thin and dry, making every breath sting in his lungs.
His destination was the next town marked on the virtual blue map by the statue of a Southern Hero: Glayate. A journey of at least a week lay ahead.
Traveling alone through a forest teeming with monsters was never easy. Lain tightened the edges of his thin cloak and walked with steady, measured steps. Though his innate talent, Sturdy Body, made him more resilient than ordinary travelers, even he could feel the gnawing cold settling into his bones.
From behind, the distant sound of hooves and the creak of wagon wheels gradually grew louder. Lain glanced over his shoulder and saw a small caravan approaching, its three wagons moving at a cautious pace.
On the lead wagon, a middle-aged man wrapped in thick furs leaned forward, his sharp eyes taking in Lain before calling out in a booming voice:
"Hey! Young man up ahead, stop for a moment!"
Lain halted, watching as the caravan slowly rolled to a stop a few meters away.
"You're traveling alone in a place like this? Are you out of your mind?" the man said, jumping down from the wagon. Surprise and concern lined his face. "It's not safe around here lately. People keep disappearing…"
Lain studied him calmly. "I'm a traveler, heading to Glayate."
The man's face brightened immediately. "Glayate? That's just along our route!" He straightened, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I'm Bart, the owner of this caravan. If you don't mind, join us. Traveling together is much safer."
He gestured toward the next wagon, where three figures sat, poised and ready. "I spent a small fortune hiring three powerful adventurers as guards. Ordinary monsters won't even bother us."
Lain's eyes followed his gesture.
A burly warrior, his muscles bulging beneath heavy armor, scrutinized him with a piercing gaze. Next to him, a young girl with purple hair and a simple wooden staff blinked curiously, her wide eyes reflecting cautious interest. On her other side, a woman in flowing white priest robes remained silent, silver hair cascading around her shoulders, her expression cold and unreadable.
"Thanks," Lain said with a slight smile. He knew traveling together would save his energy for unforeseen events.
Bart laughed heartily, clapping him on the shoulder. "Out here, helping each other isn't charity—it's survival!" He led Lain toward the wagon with the adventurers. "Sit with Sare and the others."
Lain leapt into the wagon and settled into a corner. The warrior shifted slightly, his broad shoulders brushing the space beside him.
"You puny thing, wandering alone here?" the warrior said gruffly. "Might as well be feeding the monsters."
The purple-haired girl giggled softly. "Hello, I'm Anna, a second-rank mage. He's Sare, a very strong warrior. And this is Veil, also a second-rank mage who uses cleric magic. Don't mind Sare, he talks like that sometimes."
Lain inclined his head politely. "I'm Lain."
Veil barely glanced at him, her deep blue eyes momentarily flicking in his direction before she closed them again, exuding an air of quiet detachment.
The wagon resumed its slow journey through the dense forest.
"Lain," Anna leaned closer, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "The Northern Highlands are treacherous. Even experienced adventurers rarely risk traveling alone. Why are you venturing by yourself?"
"My companions and I have different destinations. We separated along the way," Lain replied evenly.
"Hmph," Sare grunted, wiping the edge of his massive axe. "Even so, traveling alone is reckless. Mark my words, kid—you're small, and sooner or later, you'll end up as monster food if you keep this up. When you reach the next town, hire some reliable teammates."
Despite his gruff exterior, Lain could sense a reluctant care in Sare's tone. He smiled faintly, turning his attention to the forest's depths. Something stirred there—a faint hint of danger—but even his Future Sight couldn't predict what lay ahead.
"What is it, Lain?" Anna asked, noticing the subtle shift in his expression.
"Nothing," he said with a small shake of his head.
Seeing he didn't wish to elaborate, Anna let it go and turned to chat with Sare about monsters.
"I heard there's a cunning demon in these parts," she said seriously. "Skilled in magic. Several caravans have already been completely wiped out by her."
Sare waved dismissively. "A demon, huh? Doesn't matter. One swing of my axe, and her head comes off."
Anna frowned. "They say her magic is strong. No one can even get close. I wish first-rank mage Riel-sis were here."
"Don't worry," Sare said confidently, patting his massive chest. "With me around, you're perfectly safe."
For the next half hour, the caravan wound its way through the forest. The air grew colder, the sky dimmer as clouds thickened overhead. The silence was broken only by the clatter of wheels over frozen ground and the distant howls of unseen beasts.
Veil, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Her gaze sharpened instantly, alert and calculating.
"Magic fluctuations," she whispered.
At the same moment—
BOOM!
A tremendous crash split the air. The lead wagon and the horses pulling it were pinned to the ground by a massive black spear that had plummeted from the sky, embedding itself with a deafening impact.
"Enemy attack!" Anna shouted, gripping her staff tightly.
Sare's face hardened. He seized his axe, his stance shifting to full combat readiness.
Bart went pale, stumbling back behind the wagon wheels, trembling in terror.
Lain's eyes narrowed. He leapt down with quiet precision, moving to intercept the threat.
On a nearby snow slope, a figure gradually emerged from the swirling wind.
A woman. Long, unnatural purple hair flowed behind her like a living shadow. Curved, elegant horns sprouted from her head. She wore revealing black garments that shimmered faintly with magic.
A demon.
Her magical aura was immense, almost rivaling that of a great demon.
"Oh my, what a coincidence," she said, licking her lips, her tone dripping with malice.
"Everyone, don't act rashly," Lain muttered, gauging the gap between them. At his current level, he could only hope to avoid serious injury—but with careful timing, he could strike back if needed.
"Damn demon!" Sare bellowed, muscles coiled like springs. Without waiting for anyone else, he charged forward like a battering ram.
His giant axe whistled through the cold air, aimed straight for the demon's head.
She barely moved. Raising a single elegant finger, a refined black beam of energy shot out. It moved faster than the eye could follow.
Psshhh!
Sare froze mid-swing. His axe hovered helplessly in the air as the beam struck, piercing his right shoulder. Blood instantly stained his armor, and a transparent hole revealed the terrifying precision of her magic.