Otaku Translation: Lone Adventure V2C5

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

I think I’ve mentioned before that Swordtooth Mountain is a jagged, treacherous peak. At its base lies only one winding path leading to the summit—a narrow trail barely wide enough for six or seven people to walk abreast. To the left of the path rise sheer cliffs like towering walls, while to the right plunges a steep precipice. As we climbed higher, signs of human activity became more frequent: crude railings along the edge of the cliff and deep ruts carved into the ground by wagon wheels.

Since we began our ascent, traces of wild beasts had noticeably diminished, replaced instead by creatures known universally as “Swordtooth Bandits.” These were burly, ferocious criminals, typically ranging from level eight to ten. Unlike the other foes we’d encountered, hovering above their heads was a soul mark reading "Swordtooth Bandit," followed by the ominous notation "(Frenzied)." When I first saw them, I suspected it might be similar to the "(Leader)" tag next to Rabid Hound Kaplan's name—indicating some distinct characteristic. Indeed, these bandits were far fiercer than beasts of equivalent level, with both greater strength and swifter movements. In a one-on-one fight at the same level, victory would not come easily to us.

Fortunately, these unruly bandits seemed disinclined toward coordinated attacks. They roamed the mountain road in small groups of two or three, aimlessly wandering until we drew near. Then they'd shout things like, "Leave your coin purse, fool!" or "This ain’t no place for you, reckless idiot!" before charging at us with weapons swinging. Most often, they fought alone; sometimes in pairs, rarely in threes.

Despite being outnumbered, their raw, audacious fighting style still posed a challenge. If they attacked en masse like the beasts below, we would have fled long ago. But for some reason, they didn’t seem inclined to do so—not even when witnessing their comrades being beaten to death did they bat an eyelid. I guessed they were a band of madmen imbued with chivalry, believing it immoral to interfere in another’s battle, oblivious to how this mindset could lead to their doom.

Using Block, I parried a bandit’s blade aimed at me, then countered with a swift "Slash," draining twenty-seven points of his life. As we passed each other, I delivered a timely "Bash" to his head. While he staggered dizzily, I thrust my sword straight into his abdomen. He let out a cry and collapsed dead. By now, my stamina was nearly depleted.

Through continuous combat, I gradually gained experience in using battle techniques effectively and found my rhythm. I realized that relying solely on instinct without adhering to skill combinations, though flexible, wasn’t as effective as utilizing skills strategically. Combining various skills allowed me to take control of battles and defeat opponents more effortlessly. For instance, facing a desperado of equal level, I managed to kill him after losing only half my health. Had I relied on brute force exchanges, victory wouldn’t have been so easily achieved.

If I could continuously use different skills, my performance would undoubtedly improve significantly. However, these specialized techniques couldn’t be used endlessly. To reuse a skill, I needed time to regain balance and apply force correctly—a period known as the "skill cooldown."

Moreover, using skills required consuming stamina—an inherent ability within everyone, latent in our bones, muscles, and bloodstreams. Through training, we could harness it to produce extraordinary strength beyond ordinary capabilities. Powerful warriors could even condense it into tangible forms, using pure stamina to injure enemies.

Like the "magic" gathered within spellcasters, "stamina" wasn’t an inexhaustible resource. Once depleted, a warrior’s body couldn’t sustain complex techniques and would fight like any common brute until rest allowed stamina to regenerate. With my meager stamina reserves, releasing five or six basic skills drained it completely.

"Don’t push me out! I’m about to fall off!" Elegant Strings wailed behind me, his shriek nearly bursting my eardrums.

When we were at the foot of the mountain, surrounded and attacked by a horde of beasts, Elegant Strings’ "Rapid Fire" skill created impressive results —in such close quarters, accuracy wasn’t an issue. His unconventional ranger abilities for close-range damage were astonishing.

But upon ascending the mountain, his crippling acrophobia rendered him utterly unreliable. Now, despite ample space between him and the cliff—enough for a buffalo to gallop through—he looked as pale as an ink-sprayed squid, limbs trembling and expression despairing, as if already plummeting to his death.

"Shut up! Keep screeching, and I’ll shove this down your throat and kick you off!" Mage Fei Yin instantly conjured a thick, sharp icicle in her left hand, threateningly waving it at the elven ranger.

Elegant Strings’ lips quivered weakly. He glanced at Fei Yin’s menacing glare (or rather, a blurry, irregular polyhedron) and then back at the cliff. Swallowing dryly, he said nothing.

In the contest between the beautiful mage and the abyss, the mage triumphed overwhelmingly, becoming the object of Elegant Strings’ greater fear.

Elegant Strings’ diminished attack capability made Fei Yin the sole effective ranged attacker in our party. Though priests had some ranged abilities, Longbow Sunshot preferred playing the berserker role. Fei Yin was our highest-level member, but her damage output remained modest. Despite mastering many area-of-effect spells, she favored the basic ice magic "Ice Arrow." Like "Fireball" and "Lightning Bolt," it was a simple spell every mage learned early on. Though not highly damaging, it slowed enemies with freezing cold.

She could certainly use higher-level spells but had sound reasons not to: "Magic potions are expensive!"

...

The bandits’ lair stood on a clearing near the summit, facing the mountain road and backed by the peak. A sturdy wooden wall made of tall fir trees shielded the side near the cliff. Inside, scattered wooden houses dotted the area, with numerous bandits roaming outside.

Besides the familiar "Swordtooth Bandits" wielding daggers, there were "Swordtooth Rangers" with bows, "Swordtooth Mages" in robes holding staffs, and "Swordtooth Assassins" lurking in shadows with daggers—all marked with "(Frenzied)." The assassins were particularly troublesome. We often spotted their stealthy figures only up close, and their sudden appearances during battles disrupted our rhythm, putting us in grave danger several times.

Finally reaching the inner part of the bandit stronghold, we cautiously peered into a large wooden house from afar. Inside, a massive figure sat prominently, taller and bulkier than regular bandits. Above him hovered the text "Swordtooth Bandit Leader Ridatis (Leader)," our target. Several bandits guarded him, preventing us from getting too close for a clear view.

"You stay here; I’ll scout ahead," volunteered Long Triangle, the orc rogue. Drawing his dagger, he slowly approached the house. After two steps, his hefty frame mysteriously dissolved into thin air. Only careful observation revealed a faint, rounded misty figure stealthily drifting inside.

Though familiar with our orc companion’s skills, his flawless vanishing act under eight pairs of watchful eyes left me in awe. Considering his size, executing this trick was twice as challenging for him compared to ordinary rogues.

When he successfully infiltrated the house, my admiration turned to reverence—how did this hefty fellow avoid getting stuck in the doorway?!

Soon, Long Triangle reappeared outside the house. Spotting us, he hurried over, wiping cold sweat and looking relieved. "That was close..." he panted. "He kept staring at me before I even reached him. Thought I was caught, but luckily I slipped away quickly..."

As we knew, rogues’ "Stealth" techniques, though clever, weren’t foolproof. Often, they left subtle clues detectable by enemies. Higher-level opponents increased the chance of detection. Thus, seasoned rogues avoided lingering in one spot, moving constantly to evade detection.

"There are six inside..." Long Triangle relayed his findings. "One bandit each by the entrance wall and the center, two assassins in opposite corners, and a mage standing beside the leader. The leader is a level twelve warrior, and seems difficult to deal with."

His report left us exchanging worried glances. This wasn’t good news. Despite leveling up—me and Elegant Strings to nine, Longbow Sunshot to seven—we were still at a disadvantage. Even five-on-five battles were tough; now outnumbered, our chances dwindled further, especially with a high-level leader.

Mage Fei Yin pondered silently, then asked, "Any suggestions?"

"I’ve got a great idea..." boomed the gruff voice of Longbow Sunshot, the bold dwarf priest. "We charge in and slaughter them all!"

Of course, that was typical. Throughout the journey, this battle-obsessed zealot hadn’t proposed anything else.

Fei Yin furrowed her brows deeply, veins subtly appearing on her forehead.

"Sounds wonderful..." Her voice was sweet, almost delighted, as if embracing the plan. But knowing her volatile nature (don’t call her "female mage" to her face), such sweetness masked brutal intent.

"...Tell us, how do you plan to execute it?" she asked Longbow Sunshot.

Unaware of impending danger, he thoughtfully replied, "Two steps: First, we charge in. Second, we kill them all!"

Silence, dangerous silence...

Anger visibly emanated from Fei Yin, palpable and sharp against my skin. Though ignorant of magic, I sensed the surrounding air grow unstable.

"Ahh..." A piercing shriek broke the silence, startling me. The emotional mage found her outlet:

"...You idiot! Of course you’d say that! Making jokes while others think seriously is unforgivable! We know you’re deranged, but this takes it to another level! Let me punish you in the name of the moon, you psychotic murderer, ahhh..."

Her hands rained down on Longbow Sunshot’s face, nails showcasing the lethal potential of female-exclusive weaponry. Though his health bar didn’t drop much, blood splatters and pitiful cries suggested otherwise.

"What’s going on?" Elegant Strings, unable to see clearly, tugged at Long Triangle curiously.

"Hmm... How to explain? Banned 1201 maiden masher, True · North Star Hundred Crack Fist, Platinum Star · Ora Ora Burst Punch... Figure it out yourself!" Long Triangle covered his eyes, lowering his head meaningfully.

"Oh..." Their deep-seated understanding baffled me. Elegant Strings sighed knowingly, clicking his tongue and shaking his head mournfully.

Seeing my confusion, Long Triangle remarked, "Jeff, don’t understand what I mean?"

I nodded honestly.

"Ah, young one, much to learn..." He patted my shoulder earnestly, gazing at distant clouds, eyes brimming with complex emotions. "Alas… Generation gap, generation gap..."

A final scream erupted from Longbow Sunshot, who lay prostrate, face bloodied, a pitiable sight. Though minor wounds healed quickly, his plight left us trembling.

"Little Strings, any ideas?" Mage Fei Yin planted a foot on the dwarf priest’s head, pointing at the elven ranger.

"I..." Inspired by Longbow Sunshot’s plight, Elegant Strings thought carefully. "Sunshot’s idea errs on the side of reckless adventurism, which must be opposed. We should strategically underestimate the enemy while tactically valuing them. Given our disadvantage in frontal combat, strategic retreat to regroup and choose the right moment to reengage is wise. So... perhaps retreat today and return tomorrow?"

"Hmm..." Fei Yin nodded slightly. Relieved, Elegant Strings exhaled, wiping sweat. Just as he thought he was safe...

"Nonsense! Criticizing others for recklessness while advocating outright surrender. We came all this way empty-handed? What did I teach you? Thieves leave nothing behind, understood?" Fei Yin kicked the presumptuous elf aside.

The fallen ranger rubbed his sore bottom, muttering, "But we’re not thieves..."

"I suggest..." Before Fei Yin could ask, Long Triangle, having witnessed everything, spoke up. "We lure the bandit by the door out. He moves around inside, nearing the entrance at times. A ranged attack might not alert others. Killing him leaves five inside. I can knock out the leader with a sap; you handle the rest, ideally eliminating one or two. The remaining might be manageable."

Fei Yin considered, finding flaws. "We can kill only the weakest, the mage, in that time. If the leader wakes, we’re still in trouble. Stun duration is too short; prolonging it would help."

The orc rogue shrugged. "Can’t help it. Sap cooldown exceeds stun duration and works only in stealth. Unless he kills me, buying more time."

"Then we’re stuck..." Long Triangle’s response frustrated Fei Yin. The mage reluctantly glanced inside, stomping her foot angrily.

Seeing plans thwarted, I recalled something. "If restraining the bandit leader suffices, I might be able to help."

"You?" Fei Yin’s eyes lit up, questioning. Being stared at by this temperamental, gold-loving mage unnerved me.

"I learned a skill—shield bash—to stun opponents for roughly..." I estimated using Planewalker units, "...five seconds."

"Perfect! Perfect!" Long Triangle cheered before I finished. "Meanwhile, I’ll use Refraction Potion to turn invisible again; sap cooldown should end."

"But..." I hesitated. "For a shield bash, I need to reach the leader. Many inside make rushing difficult..." I looked at Long Triangle. "...Unlike rogues, I can’t stealth..."

"Not a problem..." Surprisingly, Fei Yin assured, "...Leave it to me..."

TLN: I've noticed my translation mistake regarding minotaur. It should be tauren. Earlier mistakes have been corrected.