Chapter 74. It's Not 'How'
A few days had passed since Xiao Ming and the Aviot mercenary team had crossed the Hameln Great Forest.
The Hameln Great Forest was truly raging.
Was it because they were delving deeper and deeper into its heart? Or was it because the influence of Destrue was intensifying?
Fierce roars echoed from all directions, and the frequency of encountering monsters was increasing.
It wasn't just the frequency.
"Form up! Chain squad, move forward!"
Before reaching the first base camp, the worst they had encountered were Goblins.
They occasionally ran into Orcs, but large-scale monsters were rare.
'Now, the norm is Trolls and Ogres.'
Monsters that could truly be called 'beasts' were starting to appear.
- It will be very helpful. It will also significantly shorten the journey.
Raeley's words were indeed true.
The sound of metal rang out simultaneously.
With a whistling sound slicing through the air, chains quickly wrapped around the enraged Ogre's limbs.
Finally, they entangled its waist and neck.
The Ogre, which had burst forth with the intent to tear everything apart, was instantly deprived of its freedom.
It tried to twist its limbs and body, but the Aviot mercenaries were even faster.
"Forward, disposal squad!"
"Hit it well, hit it well!"
About five or six mercenaries moved forward.
One held a mace as big as a man's head, another a scythe.
A few others advanced with long spears.
What followed was a scene that was utterly terrifying from the Ogre's perspective.
The mercenaries leaped high and smashed the Ogre's eyes with their maces.
The scythe, imbued with ether, cut through the Achilles tendon and the tendons in the wrists.
A long spear pierced its neck.
A shorter spear thrust upward from below, piercing the Ogre's chest.
It took only about five minutes to deal with one Ogre.
"That scene... I really can't get used to it no matter how many times I see it. Isn't it impressive?"
I nodded slightly at Raeley's words.
"Definitely... beyond expectations."
Objectively speaking, it wasn't strange for the Aviot mercenaries to capture an Ogre.
Each one was a veteran mercenary.
With twenty-three such mercenaries, an Ogre was nothing.
However, considering this was the Hameln Great Forest, it was quite astonishing.
First, the size was different.
While Ogres outside the forest averaged about 3 meters in height, the Ogres here were about 5 meters tall.
What about their strength?
They could tear off parts of a large tree with their bare hands.
Just seeing that was enough to understand.
How could one not be amazed?
'I thought they would at least struggle...'
Not only did they not struggle, but they handled it like skilled butchers, cutting off its breath.
"Hey! Scythe guy! Did you lose your touch? Damn it. I told you to just cut the tendons, kid!"
"Oh, geez. You're so picky. Then you do it. It's been a while since I've held a scythe, and I think I did pretty well."
"Hmm... You didn't completely pierce the heart. It seems you really did lose your touch."
They even exchanged such remarks, seemingly regretful.
As I watched them, a shadow approached.
"Give them a little understanding. They haven't caught a creature in a while, so they haven't found their rhythm yet."
"Yeah. The veterans mainly handle the chains. The disposal squad is the young ones' job. Anyway, it won't affect our schedule."
With that, Pixer turned around.
The people handling the chains looked incredibly skilled.
No, they were more than just skilled.
'At this level, they could be called experts.'
It was an Ogre, after all.
The Ogres in the Great Forest, with their monstrous strength far surpassing those outside, were incomparable.
Could a human, weighing less than 100 kg, even if they were adept at ether, really restrain an Ogre's limbs with chains?
Even if two people held each chain, it was still a stretch.
However, the chain squad managed to subdue the Ogre's movements.
- These chains... are more expensive than gold of the same weight. They're made from some kind of ore found in the Great Forest.
First, it was the equipment.
To withstand an Ogre's strength, the chains had to be incredibly sturdy.
'Experience and coordination.'
The arms, legs, waist, and neck.
Each chain handler didn't act independently.
They moved as if they were one body, adjusting their center of gravity as the Ogre moved.
"Damn it! Why am I a chatterbox!"
"Because you talk too much! Shut up and come help clear the path! Where did this one come from?"
Raeley, who had been fooling around, quickly approached at the Aviot mercenary's call.
Though he grumbled, he seriously examined the Ogre.
After a brief inspection, Raeley had a conversation with Pixer, and I recalled what Raeley had said a few days ago.
- Honestly, this is a dream team.
- Yes. The best compass and the best ship. For navigation, there can't be better conditions.
While it was a bit pretentious to call himself the best compass, seeing this, it wasn't entirely wrong.
"Is anyone injured? I can do simple healing magic..."
There was even a somewhat clumsy mage.
It wasn't a bad combination.
Thus, the journey proceeded quite smoothly.
"Sir Mage, we need your help."
There were a few times I had to step in, but the obstacles weren't significant.
"At this point, I think we've found our rhythm. We can take the shortest route."
"Yes, I've also found my rhythm. I'll try to navigate according to the Aviot mercenaries' level."
Just as we were about to accelerate our journey,
An Aviot mercenary, who had been on guard, discovered something.
"Chief! You need to see this!"
A mercenary rarely called Pixer out loud.
"Hmm, are you coming with me?"
Pixer, sensing something was off, asked me.
I followed Pixer nonchalantly, and there was a person I didn't recognize.
"A human... and he doesn't seem to be dead."
But his condition was terrible.
Soaked in blood, whether it was from a monster or himself, he was barely breathing.
"Hmm. How did this one..."
Pixer muttered, his face hardening.
"First... let's take care of him. Hainser, tell the others to rest for a while."
Pixer personally tended to the blood-soaked man.
The man's condition wasn't too bad, as he was still groaning.
Pixer, carrying the man on his shoulder, said, "Ah," and then looked at me.
"What did you say just now?"
"You asked if I knew him."
At my question, Pixer nodded slightly.
"Sort of. Do you remember? Before we set out, I asked you to persuade someone."
"Halig. And didn't I mention another one?"
Pixer spoke with a stern face.
"This is that Phlen. Even if we bypass the second base camp, he was essential."
I frowned and looked at the man named Phlen.
"Wasn't he a squad leader?"
"Yes, it seems something has happened at the second base camp."
With that, Pixer moved towards the main camp where the mercenaries were waiting.
I looked at Pixer and then turned my head.
I kicked off and leaped onto a thick branch of a giant tree.
The dense shadows created by the lush foliage.
I pulled out a hidden rat and curled my lips.
"Didn't you find it annoying?"
The rat, who kept sending familiars to spy on us.
I had let it be, not knowing its intentions, but it had the nerve to come close and reveal itself.
"Come on, now. Let's hear your intentions."
"H-How... how did you..."
Did he not believe that his hiding place had been discovered?
His pupils were constricted, and his eyes were trembling.
I shook my head slightly.
"No, your question should be 'what.' That's the right order. Because it will be less painful for you."
My hand, wrapped in a collision spell, loomed over the rat's face.
Aster returned to the main camp after some time.
"What about the one you brought back?"
"He's badly injured, but not critically. He just lost consciousness due to exhaustion. He seems to have been tormented by monsters for a few days."
Pixer neither confirmed nor denied.
Considering the current state of the Hameln Great Forest, it was fortunate, but it still felt like a silver lining in a dark cloud.
"Anyway, he's not in mortal danger, right?"
"Yes, but... what were you doing?"
Pixer looked at Aster with half-open eyes.
Or rather, his eyes were fixed on Aster's hand.
The faint smell of blood.
He tried to hide it, but a mercenary who had smelled blood all his life couldn't be fooled.
"There was a rat. We'll talk about it later."
"There is one. Anyway, if he's not dead, we should set off immediately."
" Hmm. Alright, I'll prepare everyone."
Aster, though skeptical, didn't press further.
After a few days together, a certain level of trust had been established.
"Prepare! We're setting off now!"
Aster took the lead, walking alongside Raeley.
The subsequent journey was a forced march.
Pixer looked at Aster, who was walking ahead, with a deep gaze.
"Definitely, something is up."
Aster's face was hidden behind a mask, but he had maintained a calm demeanor.
- Troll! It's a Troll. A Fallen Troll. We need to cut off its head in one go...
The Troll's head exploded before the mercenaries could act.
He hadn't lost his composure, but his attitude was somewhat reckless.
- Sir Mage, about the path...
- I'll handle it if I can. Just find the shortest route.
Actually, this wasn't a good approach.
While Aster's strength was well-known, the Hameln Great Forest was a realm that couldn't be navigated by strength alone.
A Pathfinder saw not just the monsters but the entire ecosystem of the Hameln Great Forest.
- This area is a patch of poisonous plants. We should go around...
He burned the entire patch of poisonous plants.
- Hmm... There are signs of a Drake. We should probably go around.
He didn't care about any monster.
When they actually encountered a Drake, the way he brutally tore off its scales and burst its heart...
"Ugh, what's gotten into that guy?"
Raeley, sensing something was off, approached and asked Pixer.
"Well, it is easier for me..."
With the Aviot mercenaries, Raeley had much less to worry about.
But since Aster took the lead, it was more than just easier.
It felt like having a battering ram that would clear the path as soon as a direction was given.
Pixer's stern command came at that moment.
"Hey! Don't get lazy just because it's easy. Be on your guard. Come on, stop talking and go check the path!"
Raeley, startled by the sudden outburst, shrank back.
"What, what's this all of a sudden..."
"This chatterbox, what? You're not going forward. Why should I drag you along?"
"Ugh... It's embarrassing. I'm going, I'm going."
Raeley grumbled and moved forward.
Pixer watched him for a moment, then turned to look at Aster.
"No, no fooling around. Just an old fart being unreasonable... Ahem, a bit sensitive."
"Then, do your job well. Got it? There's no better bug repellent, got it?"
Aster, teasing the embarrassed Raeley.
His usual serious demeanor was nowhere to be seen...
'Hmm. I can't figure this out.'
Pixer sensed an inexplicable discomfort from the scene.
Like someone who feels itchy but can't pinpoint where.
Just as Pixer thought this,
The scout, who had gone ahead, returned.
Aster, who had been walking steadily, suddenly darted forward.
"Take your time. I'll go ahead."
Pixer nodded slightly and then raised his voice to the group.
The Aviot mercenaries followed the scout to the second base camp.
And when they entered the open gate of the second base camp,
The first thing he saw was the masked mage standing still, gazing at the scenery.
The mage stood silently, showing no signs of disturbance, with a colorless expression.
However, the scene beyond him was far from something that could be taken lightly.
The central square of the second base camp.
Even the seasoned mercenaries vomited.
Even Obern, who had seen the carnage created by Destrue's undead at the fourth base camp, turned pale.
The word that flashed through Pixer's mind was one.
The imaginary world that ancient theologians always mentioned when explaining religion.
It was right there in the second base camp.