I returned to the lodging and had Reilly prepare everything.
“Um... Are the Abiot mercenaries coming with us?”
“What did you just hear?”
At my indifferent response, Reilly glanced sideways at Obern.
It seemed as if he had something to say, but he was hesitant, looking at Obern.
“Just say it.”
“Haha...”
Reilly gave an awkward smile.
I couldn't blame him.
'Sure, his condition is really bad.'
After yesterday's conversation with Pischer, Obern's state was the worst. No, it was even worse than that, a complete mess.
His eyes, which had never lost their light even in the harsh environment of the Hameln Great Forest, were now as dull as those of a dead goblin, and his once radiant skin was pale like that of a sick patient.
And there was a single serving tray in front of him.
It was the breakfast brought by an Abiot mercenary this morning, but he was just staring at it without touching it.
“Aren't you going to say anything?”
“That's...”
“Do you need me to stop you from speaking?”
Reilly glanced at Obern once more and then spoke cautiously.
“Well, actually... I think it's a good thing.”
“A good thing?”
“Yes, the Abiot Mercenary Corps is a rather prestigious mercenary group. I heard they've been guarding the First Base Camp for nearly two hundred years... Uh!”
“Are you giving a history lesson?”
I'm a man who doesn't even know the history of Dekulan, where I spent my whole life.
What's the history of the empire, and what's the history of the kingdom?
Hearing their ramblings won't change anything.
“Just get to the point.”
“...Damn.”
“What?”
“No, I mean... I was going to tell you about what happened 18 years ago, but I'll just share my thoughts.”
Reilly deftly covered up.
I heard him, but reacting to every word would be endless.
“Whatever, just spit it out.”
“Yes.”
Reilly, rubbing his aching head, continued.
“So, to cut to the chase, it means we've gained a pretty solid ally.”
“A solid ally?”
“Yes, have you seen the Abiot Mercenary Corps? I hear that a mage can tell the level of an opponent...”
“Level... Well, they're similar, I guess.”
I couldn't tell the exact level of an opponent.
I could only sense their presence through my senses.
Generally, presence and level are proportional, so Reilly's question wasn't entirely wrong.
But.
“Not that special, right? Apart from Pischer and a few others, they're just average?”
By mercenary standards, that might be impressive, but only to a certain extent.
“Well, from your perspective, maybe. But the Abiot mercenaries are special. How should I put it? They're... hunters?”
“Hunters?”
“Yes, monster hunters.”
“Hmm, hunters...”
Hearing that, I realized something.
Let's say there's a bear hunter.
Is the bear hunter stronger than a bear? Is his skin thicker? Is he faster?
‘None of the above.’
Hunters are generally weaker than their prey.
Yet, an ordinary person who hasn't mastered any special techniques can hunt bears and tigers.
“They know how to win.”
“...What?”
“Nothing, anyway, it will be helpful.”
Indeed, it seemed it would be helpful.
Dozens of hunters who have mastered Ether.
‘Well, maybe not as much if they're just the old ones.’
But with such people gathered together, most monsters wouldn't be a problem.
“Of course, what monsters would be obstacles for you, a mage? But it will be very helpful. Especially, it will save a lot of time.”
“Yeah, that would be nice...”
I said indifferently.
Honestly, it would be quite helpful in dealing with monsters.
‘It's better to conserve my stamina.’
The Swamp Lord we encountered in the swamp.
Who knows how many such creatures are lurking in the Hameln Great Forest.
According to Reilly...
- There are ancient species in the outskirts, not just the Swamp Lords.
These creatures might move to new habitats due to the recent changes and appear in front of us!
However, the shortened schedule...
‘The more people, the more potential problems.’
It could even extend the schedule.
But, I accepted the Abiot Mercenary Corps because I judged that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
Anyway, thinking about that.
“Hmm.”
I crossed my arms and looked at Reilly.
“But, aren't you packing?”
“Huh?”
I told him to prepare, but Reilly was empty-handed.
“Haha, I've already packed.”
“Well, you won't need luggage when you die.”
“No, that's not it. Didn't the mage give me a subspace? I put everything in there.”
I looked at Reilly, who spoke proudly and gratefully.
Suddenly, I thought:
“It's easier to run now.”
“I won't run.”
“Okay, then.”
“Instead...”
“Instead?”
I looked at him skeptically.
It was impossible for a guy who was always looking for a chance to run to suddenly change his mind.
But, hearing what he said next, I understood his true intentions.
“Could you take me with you when the job is done? I may not be good at much, but I'm good at odd jobs. I'm also quick on the uptake.”
“Ah.”
So, he's betting his life on this.
‘Good for him.’
Life is a gamble.
You can't achieve greatness by always taking the safe path.
In that sense, Reilly's gamble is a courageous and commendable act!
And...
‘He has good luck.’
Where else would you find a strong and reliable line like me?
None.
Of course...
‘He could die in Dekulan. He could get involved with the Golden Horse Knights or something. And...’
Destrue would be a tough opponent too.
‘But, if he can overcome these, who else could achieve greatness like me?’
None.
The risk of dying is overwhelmingly high, though.
“Alright, we'll see.”
“Thank you! I'll do my best! I won't sell my soul!”
Reilly bowed deeply, full of determination.
Pischer opened the door to the lodging and entered at that moment.
“We're all ready.”
He looked somewhat haggard.
I looked at him and said casually.
“Already?”
“What good would it do to prolong the farewell?”
“That's true.”
It seemed he had buried all his unspoken words in his heart.
“So, when do we leave?”
“We can leave right now. But...”
Pischer looked at me and made a suggestion.
“Can you persuade someone?”
“Persuade? Who? Bring them here first.”
The best persuasion is a punch.
Any tough guy will listen after a few hits. If he still doesn't listen?
‘Then you didn't hit him hard enough.’
Proper persuasion can move any tough guy.
Of course, I'm an exception.
Anyway.
“He's not here. He's at the Second Base Camp.”
“The Second Base Camp?”
“Yes, persuade Chief Halig there. He'll be a great help.”
“Hmm.”
I crossed my arms and looked at Pischer.
“So, you want to bring the Second Base Camp guys too?”
“If they're still there. Or, at least...”
“At least?”
“I'd like to borrow their commander. A guy named Flen. He's a bit rude, but he's skilled in strategy. A rare find in the mercenary world.”
“Hmm...”
Ultimately, what Pischer wanted was Flen's brain.
It seemed he anticipated that most of the battles against Destrue would be close combat with the undead.
“Alright, then.”
I agreed readily.
Having a good head wouldn't hurt.
“So, are we leaving now?”
“If you want. We're ready.”
“There's no need to delay.”
I stood up without hesitation.
But then, someone stepped forward.
“Um...”
“...?”
Obern, who had been looking dazed and dying a moment ago.
Everyone's attention was on him as he slowly bowed his head.
“I'm really... sorry for yesterday.”
There was no explanation.
But.
The sincerity in his voice was palpable.
Pischer looked at him silently and then gently placed a hand on Obern's shoulder.
“I'm sorry too. And don't worry too much. No one is perfect. What's important is learning from mistakes.”
“...Yes, I understand.”
It was a truly heartwarming scene.
“Ugh...!”
Except for Reilly, who was writhing and clenching his fists on the side.
Anyway.
“Let's go, then.”
We set out from the First Base Camp.
“Hey, mage.”
“...What?”
On our way through the Hameln Great Forest, Reilly looked at me with a bewildered expression and asked.
“Aren't you wasting your mana? Why do you keep killing those harmless bugs... Ah, again!”
Crack.
A bug crawling on a giant tree exploded and fell due to my magic.
I looked at the remains for a moment and shrugged.
“I just hate rats.”
“Where are the rats? That's a bug...”
“That's what I'm saying.”
Reilly tilted his head, completely puzzled.
* * *
Somewhere in the Hameln Great Forest.
“Hmm.”
Velok, who had been closing his eyes, opened them with a slight sigh.
“This... wasn't a coincidence?”
The masked prey.
I had placed familiars all over to monitor him.
But they weren't ordinary familiars.
They were extremely secretive familiars that I had carefully crafted...
- Snap!
How did he find them so easily?
They would be found and the connection would be cut within 10 minutes.
He must have definitely recognized them as familiars.
“Indeed, he's skilled.”
The old war mage from the Fourth Base Camp.
I was confident that no one else could find them.
‘Could he be that good?’
Velok thought and then chuckled.
‘No way.’
One of the black mages who had joined had identified the old war mage from the Fourth Base Camp. I hadn't asked him to do it.
It was just a matter of killing him.
But, after seeing the information the black mage brought, I thought it was a good thing to know his identity.
‘Could that old man be...? Damn. I almost had a close call. He's been hiding his identity well.’
Anyway.
No matter how skilled the masked prey is, he can't be that good.
But.
“Still, good. He's quite sensitive. That means I need a good knife...”
A creature with such a sensitive sense wouldn't be good to face directly.
Velok snapped his fingers at that moment.
‘Ah, right. I have this.’
Velok looked at the bracelet he was wearing. More precisely, he thought of the entity sleeping inside it.
Solion's toy.
It has a proper name, but to Velok, it was just a toy Solion played with.
Of course, its power wasn't a joke.
‘A creature that only dug tunnels, and only made three in its lifetime. How powerful must it be?’
Velok intended to use the entity in the bracelet for this hunt.
‘He said to use it only in emergencies...’
What could he do? The prey was too tempting.
Once in hand, how to use it was up to him. Solion must have anticipated such a situation.
He only made three in his lifetime, but they were mere failures.
Anyway.
‘I need to start preparing.’
Velok took a crystal ball from his pocket.
An ancient magic contained in the crystal ball. This was the real weapon for hunting the prey.
‘But I need sacrifices...’
Not just one or two.
Fresh humans.
I needed dozens of them, but finding humans in the Great Forest was nearly impossible!
“Hey, you.”
In the empty Great Forest, a voice came from Velok's shadow.
“Yes, Seer.”
“Find sacrifices. Humans. The more, the better.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The shadow rippled.
Velok, left alone, smiled.
“Just wait a little longer.”
His gaze was fixed on the direction where the prey was heading.