"Sorry, I was sleeping and forgot to upload. (^^ゞ"
"Idiots, if you get caught, you won't be able to pass on the information!
And another hunter will have to start all over again with a new investigation request. If this keeps happening, we'll never save anyone!"
*Thud*
While the others were talking, Mavis, reading the atmosphere or perhaps not, stepped back from the bars and swung her sword. She expertly cut through the sturdy wooden bars.
"Oh!" Exclamations of shock and admiration rose, and Mavis blushed slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.
Rescuing the captives from the villain's lair—this was probably the happiest moment for Mavis, who dreamed of being a knight.
"Huh..."
The leader of the guards was also taken aback. No matter how wooden they were, these bars weren't the kind that could be easily cut by a woman's casual swing. Well, they weren't supposed to be. He had checked the strength of the bars to prevent any escape attempts.
"...Just so you know, I'm the weakest one here."
Mavis, noticing the leader's gaze, chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"No, I'm the weakest..."
Pauline interjected, cutting the chains off everyone's ankles with her Water Cutter. Following Mile's instructions, she narrowed the diameter of the water stream to increase the pressure and mixed in sand particles, significantly enhancing its cutting power. The leader of the guard gaped in amazement.
"There's no time to argue! If we get caught, we'll deal with it then!
Let's go!"
Nodding at Reina's words, the hunters, rubbing their freed ankles, stood up one by one. The leader of the guard also stood up, albeit reluctantly.
"We need to put out the fire so that light doesn't leak when we open the door. Use water magic..."
"Oh, we won't open the front side... but, just in case, let's put it out."
Following the leader's advice, Mile casually waved his hand, extinguishing the fire in an instant without using any water.
"Huh..."
*Whoosh!*
Mile's sword arm moved so fast it was a blur, and with a *click*, the sword was sheathed.
Then, he grabbed the wall and gently pulled. There, a hole large enough for an adult to pass through easily was revealed.
"......"
"Hurry up!"
Mavis urged the hunters, who had stopped moving, and they followed her through the hole, their mouths agape but silent.
Mile led the way. He had the best night vision, could detect monsters early with his detection magic, and could clear the way for the others with his sword. Behind him was Reina, the magic attack specialist.
Mavis brought up the rear to deal with any physical attacks from behind.
Pauline was in the center, ready to handle attacks from the sides and able to quickly move to the front or back as needed.
The rescued hunters, having had their weapons taken, couldn't fight properly with their bare hands. There were four mages, including two women, but only one of each gender could use attack magic. For now, 'The Red Oath' was in a position to protect everyone.
As soon as they entered the woods from the cleared area, Mile had the idea to attach pieces of wood coated with 'magic luminescent material' to everyone's backs. This way, they could follow by looking at their own feet and occasionally glancing at the back of the person in front. Of course, they were instructed to remove the luminescent pieces if they sensed any enemies. In complete darkness, ordinary luminescent materials wouldn't work, so it was either 'pre-charged luminescent material' or a type with a luminescent substance mixed in. Mile had left this to the nanomachines, so he didn't know which it was. As long as it didn't contain radium and cause radiation exposure, it wasn't a problem.
After they had moved a certain distance from the beastmen's lair, everyone took a break. Nighttime escape is physically and mentally exhausting, and fatigue would reduce efficiency. If someone fell and got injured, it would significantly slow them down. They probably hadn't been noticed yet.
While everyone was resting, Mile selected suitable trees and cut off good branches. Once he had enough, he quickly whittled them down. Of course, he did this in a place where no one could see.
Mile returned to where everyone was resting, carrying the completed wooden swords and spears.
"Everyone, please choose something that fits your hand!"
"......"
The hunters, seeing the large number of wooden swords and spears thrown down, were speechless.
"Where... where did you get all these?"
"Oh, I just made them."
"......"
After a moment of silence, the hunters began to quietly choose the ones that fit their hands. They were, after all, hunters who took on dangerous quests and had good adaptability.
Even though they were wooden, the swords and spears were made from hard, sturdy wood, so they wouldn't break or be cut in one or two strikes against iron swords, unless the opponent was a highly skilled swordsman with an excellent sword.
Moreover, the wooden weapons could serve as walking sticks, clear branches and tall grass, and drive away monsters and animals. The hunters, feeling vulnerable without weapons, would feel more secure with something in their hands, even if it was wooden. In fact, their expressions were already much more confident.
(Hmm, just as planned...)
*Groan*
A pair of eyes stared at Mile with a piercing gaze.
A teenage girl, the daughter of the Guild Master.
Why was she looking at him like that...
Was she thinking that being saved by someone her age or younger would damage her reputation as a guild employee? Or that it would tarnish her father's, the Guild Master's, name?
Maybe he should try to cheer her up.
Thinking this, Mile spoke to the girl.
"Um, we were asked by your father to take care of you..."
"Whaaaaat!"
"Shhhh!"
Everyone immediately shushed the girl, who had suddenly shouted.
"Sorry..."
Even though they were quite far away, shouting was a bad idea. The girl apologized sincerely.
"Anyway, did you... did you meet my father? Where? When?"
The girl, blushing and with slightly teary eyes, eagerly asked.
"Huh? No, we met at the Hunter's Guild in the capital. He said, 'Take care of my daughter'..."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Um..."
At that moment, a voice came from behind.
Mile turned around to see the fluffy-haired woman, the scholar's assistant.
"I'm the Guild Master's daughter..."
"......"
The members of 'The Red Oath' were stunned.
"Liar! There's no way a tough old man like that could have a daughter like you!"
Reina, the rude woman.
"...I hear that a lot..."
The woman hung her head, looking resigned and exasperated.
"Huh? So you're the scholar's assistant..."
"No, I'm not!"
"Huh?"
Then, who was this girl...
More confusion for Mile and the others, as another voice came from behind.
"I'm the assistant."
"The scholar? What, you mean...?"
"Yes! I'm Dr. Culeira, the 'scholar' you're talking about!"
The girl, hands on her hips, stood proudly, trying to puff out her non-existent chest.