The worst didn't happen to me. Perhaps they appeared because I was here, but they behaved naturally and attacked those who were closer or posed a greater threat. And both of these parameters were now concentrated in Viziliy, whom I had mistaken for a feeble old man on the road just a few hours ago.
Now this old man, turning slightly to the left, stood easily holding a long sword in one hand. The blade was pointed down and back. He was attacked simultaneously by two. To their misfortune.
I barely caught the movement, but the blade flashing in the torchlight described an arc, cut through the first wolf and, almost without slowing down, slashed the second across the muzzle. The whine immediately turned into death rattles, and the old man was already jumping on the next beast.
In general, there was no need to worry about my new acquaintance, and it was time to take care of my own safety. Especially since the rest of the wolves had appeared and were just jumping over the palisade.
I stood last, but was one of the first to enter the fight. A growling beast leaped over the fence, and the young guy with a lisp standing in its way behaved quite unlike his more experienced comrade. He swung his sword almost without looking and jumped back, resulting in me seeing a snarling muzzle right in front of me.
"Shit!" escaped me, while I instinctively took a step forward and thrust out the torch.
The beast, ready to pounce, growled and recoiled. Another step, and my sword blade rose...
"Take this!"
That same guy flew into the frame again and brought his sword down on the wolf's neck. Well, let's assume that's what he initially intended.
"Kid!"
The shout was unlikely to be directed at me, but it was so desperate that I turned my head. Damn it! Right behind the lisping guy, an opponent ready to attack landed and turned sharply.
"Take this, bitch!"
There was no time for other actions, and I threw the torch. I hit the side and flat, but the shower of sparks scared the wolf, and it jumped aside with a squeal. I didn't have time to rush after it, as I noticed a low shadow very close by from the corner of my eye and heard growling.
I struck almost blindly, simultaneously jumping back. A yelp of pain confirmed that I hit, and quite well, right on the nose. The whimpering beast darted to the side and rammed its muzzle into the palisade with all its might.
Meanwhile, the lisping guy who had become my uninvited partner grabbed the torch and, waving it, was pushing his wolf towards the fence.
Making sure that no one was after me for the moment, I switched the sword to my other hand, approached, and threw two knives in succession. I missed with the first one, but the second one crit and went into the dangerous beast's side up to the hilt.
The wolf recoiled at first, but suddenly jumped sharply at the guy. The wound hindered it, and it only slightly caught the villager with its paw, but it landed right in front of me. And I, without thinking long, slashed with the sword right between its ears.
Hmm... After all, skulls splitting like rotten pumpkins or ripe watermelons are not about a first-level person who took a crappy sword in his hands for the first time... Although, to be honest, I hit well for my parameters, and the stunned wolf stretched out on the ground. Realizing this wouldn't last long, I raised my sword again and this time struck at the neck.
[You have killed a level 4 wolf.]
Already understanding that an attack could come at any second and from any direction, I jumped back and only then looked around. Several more people had come to help, and the remaining opponents were distributed relatively evenly. So now my task was to help those whose situation was worse.
And this, strangely enough, turned out to be the big guy. Right before my eyes, he slashed at a jumping wolf, but didn't hit very well. But the beast in flight caught the man's wounded arm. He fell with a cry and dropped his sword. The fanged one got up with a growl, turned around and... Got hit from me on the nape. And again. Damn, it's tenacious!
The bloodied sword rose again and came down sharply.
[You have killed a level 5 wolf.]
I had almost no strength left, but I still dove to the side, got up, and looked around again.
Victory! Only a few wolves remained alive, but the villagers were already pressing them. Characteristically, according to all the laws of wild natural nature, the remaining members of the pack should have turned to flight long ago. But nothing of the sort: they threw themselves on swords and spears and died. Apparently, they had their own quest, some other motivation, or consciousness altered by the system... And it's very important to remember this — the logic of our world will not always work here.
[Congratulations, task completed!]
[You receive experience, 1 gold coin. The attitude of the inhabitants of the village of Kipen has increased by 10 points and equals 20/100.]
There should be my boxes from the wolves somewhere here... Ah, they've already been snatched! Well, to hell with them...
People continued to run from the depths of the village, late for the quest. Cries and groans of the wounded were heard from everywhere. It seems we managed to avoid fatalities.
About five people got away with scratches. The big guy's arm was badly damaged, but they weren't providing him with help yet, as two men were wounded much more seriously. It was over them that people were now crowding.
I wonder if there are life mages, that is, healers, here? Surely there are in the world, but in this backwater?
To avoid getting in the way, I walked over to the house. And here the adrenaline finally left, and a terrible weakness engulfed my entire body. My legs were especially affected. They literally buckled, and I sank onto the cool grass. Fortunately, the wooden wall was nearby, and I managed to lean against it.
Damn... It looks like the continuation of the conversation will have to be postponed.
Due to the unusual exertions, my body was on the brink, and my head was already overloaded. Of course, it's extremely interesting to know: why the old man needs me and what he can give me, how levels are gained. And there's a hell of a lot more interesting to learn... About this test again, and...
"What's wrong with him?"
Viziliy's sharp voice pulled me out of sleep.
"Why are you yelling? The kid's sleeping," the big guy's quiet voice sounded very close.
"Ah..."
"I'm not sleeping."
I raised my heavy head. Everything was swimming before my eyes, and I felt slightly nauseous. I probably didn't sleep for more than ten minutes... And it would have been better if I hadn't. After waking up, it got even worse...
The old man squatted down opposite me and examined me for some time.
"He saved my life," the big guy said quietly.
"I saw," Viziliy nodded and turned around. "Slas, Tisha, carry the kid to my place. Wait for me. If he passes out, don't wake him."
Something strange was happening to me. Understandably, weakness, understandably, unprecedented exertions for me... But the body was different too. There was clearly something else here, related to the transfer to another world, restructuring, the system...
The end of the evening merged into a ragged delirium, in which I couldn't distinguish reality from dreams and hallucinations.
The night village, my house in the Moscow region, wolves, a literary agent, blood, a paralyzed body, sales graphs of my first bestseller, Sini's face, the naked ass of a red-haired bandit and the hard logs of the porch, whispers... A faceless reflection in river water... And a soft blanket covering me...
***
The window above the bed was hidden behind a thick curtain, but crafty sunbeams found a way and, reflecting off something on the table, hit right in the eyes.
Damn it! Today I'm supposed to upload a new chapter, and I haven't received it from the editor yet. Well, to hell with it, he can wait! I reached out, trying to find my cell phone and snooze the alarm, but my hand hit something hard. The headboard... But my bed doesn't have a headboard...
Suddenly memories flooded in, and I got up with a jerk.
A village house, modest furnishings, a narrow bed.
"Damn," I whispered and carefully lowered my feet from the bed.
"Damn!" I shouted and laughed.
Literally a few seconds later, hurried steps were heard on the porch, and Viziliy entered the house.
"Good morning!"
Seeing my joyful face, he smiled too.
"The best in my life!"
"I hope you're not going to cry?"
"Never again!" I jumped to my feet. "I want to eat, I want to take the test, I want to level up!"
"Ha!" Viziliy closed the door tightly behind him. "We'll provide the first now, and we'll discuss the rest over lunch."
"Lunch?"
"Well, yes. You're quite the sleeper. It's already noon."
Ah, yes. There's no electricity here, plus it's a backwater. Probably, they get up at dawn and go to bed at sunset. And in general, it's not a fact that they eat even three times a day... Oh! How many wonderful discoveries await us!.. And how interesting all this is!
"I'm ready!"
"Then get the food out, it's in that cupboard."
If you think you're going to test me again, old man, then as much as you want. If it will help me become here what I've dreamed of all my life, then I'm ready to go out with a plow at five in the morning!..