The Reason to Fight
Monster "Ferregen".
It was a monster that Sarsa spotted from afar while we were exploring the river near the Eneito Base.
It looked like a crustacean with a humanoid upper body sprouting from it—tough shell, quick movements, and it even used water magic. A formidable foe.
The Ferregen arises from mutations of the man-eating crab monster. They sometimes emerge directly from spawn points, which seems to be the case for those in the upper reaches, though they're not very numerous. Otherwise, the factor is that man-eating crabs mutate into them.
Monster mutations are full of unknowns, but the general causes are often clear. For example, the Night Goblins we encountered before are known to mutate from regular goblins due to environmental factors.
Environmental mutation means they adapt to their living environment. Goblins that become active at night for some reason can mutate into Night Goblins.
So, what causes man-eating crabs to mutate? The leading theory is "ingestion mutation"—mutation based on what they eat.
So, what did the Ferregen, which takes on a humanoid form, eat?
...Needless to say, humans. If Ferregen are spawning in large numbers, it means a fair number of people have been devoured.
In some regions, it's no wonder Ferregen are feared like demons. Though the prevailing theory is that they become Ferregen even from eating subhumans, so it's not necessarily humans being eaten.
Word is, such a Ferregen has made a nest. Since it's called a nest, at least two or more have been confirmed, or maybe they found eggs.
Details like that aren't coming in.
The scout who found the nest was attacked right after discovery, and the unit retreated after half of them were wiped out. The scout died, so precise info is lacking. We don't even know how many died in the half-wiped unit or if it was just the one scout.
Either way, casualties from the Warrior Squad have the whole place in mourning.
This is a job where death is always close, fighting monsters and all, but these are pros with the know-how, who don't skimp on prep or countermeasures. Casualties don't come that easily in reality.
Our foe killed at least one from the Warrior Squad and forced a unit into half-retreat. ...I thought it was a lucrative job, but maybe I drew the short straw?
"We have almost no intel. The site's in chaos, and so's command. But you're the only unit that can head there now and handle it. Lend us your strength."
The captain said that, and the squad members responded as if it was a given. I watched with a bit of a cold eye but braced myself—I couldn't refuse anyway.
As we all prepped, small units that seemed like reinforcements arrived one after another, along with messengers. The shocking bit? One messenger rode a horse.
You might think "so what?" but it wasn't just any horse. It looked just like a horse from Earth.
I stared in blank dismay, and Sarsa explained it was called a "swift horse".
The form resembled Earth's horses closely, but it was a size larger—sturdier legs, really.
Trained for messenger duty, these military steeds could run flat out for two days without collapsing. Tough as nails.
Horses, but not horses, huh...
"Some say they're easier to ride than the ones we train," Sarsa added. With my Earth horse bias, maybe this one's easier too.
A military-grade swift horse could fetch not just gold coins but rare gold coins in trade. Rare gold was worth about ten gold coins—around ten million yen...? Insane price for one horse, but like a luxury car, or military vehicle. Makes sense then.
There are slimmer ones closer to Earth horses, but those excel in speed yet tire quick and are treated as fragile.
Anyway, horse talk aside—the messenger on the military horse reported the nest spot the scout found and the attack site were a bit apart.
Meaning Ferregen operate away from the nest. Hard to predict encounters, so we advanced slowly, full vigilance all around, toward the nest.
The small units we merged with—two tagged along in rear guard. The rest took over river scouting and watch. Our Armesian unit swelled to about thirty, following the captain's vanguard from the river eastward.
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A crack—a tree branch snapped underfoot.
Yesterday's path was rough too, but today we're completely off-schedule, no path at all. Dim surroundings, trees blocking sight, so the lead unit's hard to see clearly. I just focus on not losing sight of Senka's back right ahead and keep moving.
Deeper in, Senka taking command kept checking position with an unassuming guy from the regular squad. Seems he has some way—probably a skill—to confirm location.
Heading east, away from the river through forest. No path unavoidable, but easier routes exist; I recall the captains grimacing over route confirmation pre-departure.
Poor visibility slows our pace; scouts probe nearby as we go.
"!"
Senka notices something, raises right hand. Halt signal.
Regular squad ahead assumes defense. A big shadow lunges, stopped by the shield user.
"Dogumo. Fire magic—now."
Probably for me.
I prepped Wall of Wake for a sec but canceled, fired a Fireball from sword tip.
"Fireball!"
"Gyeeee!"
The monster groaned in agony. Looking closely, deer-like. Smaller antlers, but beefed-up deer body with mean eyes.
Deer-type monster, Dogumo.
Dogumo thrashed, glaring hatefully.
But before switching targets, the shield glowed, beams of light binding its body.
"Holds ten seconds—go!"
I conjured fire again, charged a bit, released.
"Fire Arrow!"
"Power Arrow!"
Next to me, Tsuburaka activated a skill simultaneously, it seemed.
Glowing arrow pierced Dogumo's neck, fire arrow hit face—boom.
"Finisher—take this!"
Swordsman charged the rigid Dogumo, sword aglow. Neck half-severed, it wailed its death cry and collapsed.
"Handled without issue?"
Captain appeared from ahead.
"Captain's safe too."
A regular squad leader-ish guy replied.
"Yeah, but one slipped by. Sorry."
"A herd?"
"Probably. Three hit us."
Captain's group fought up front too.
"Good for lunch. Found a clearing—let's eat."
A bit further to the clearing for break.
It's open-ish, but crowded with numbers, feels tight.
Processing fresh deer meat while eating yesterday's red beef sandwiches.
Simple: slice hard bread, stuff meat chunk. No veggies—manly grub, but luxurious wild camp fare here.
"Secured tomorrow's meat too."
The greatsword guy—cook?—grinned.
No time for fancy preservation, so eat fresh quick. No meat means preserved base rations next day. Bland, limited. So daily monster for meat? Welcome.
Break time, but ready to move anytime—sat in formation. Naturally, Firo squad clustered. Archer Tsuburaka took sandwich, brawler Torabutosu beside. Magic-user Kerusumeme boy, silent leader Senka stood apart munching. Firo whereabouts unknown.
"Slower than thought."
Tsuburaka muttered, brow furrowed.
"Off-route, no helping it?"
Torabutosu replied. Pure guard duty—no seen use of his knuckledusters yet. Ran messages a few times.
"Hey, couldn't we gather more intel and troops first? No forcing it?"
Kept voice low—not ops critique.
"Huh? Yeah, possible policy."
Torabutosu short. Tsuburaka elaborated.
"Not wrong. But delay risks unforeseen losses. Rash action risks fatal hits too."
"Risk either way."
"Yes. But one more thing you're forgetting."
"What?"
"...You really don't get it? Okay? Ferregen are monsters mutated from eating people."
"Yeah."
"They keep eating people post-mutation. Favorite food."
"..."
"If we bagged more prey than one night—say red beef?"
"Too much? Discard or carry."
"Right. Ferregen same. Lots of humans? Eat some, carry excess."
"..."
"No salting wisdom. Get it now?"
"To keep fresh, captives taken alive?"
"Exactly. Rescue chance only if we move now. Risk same either way? Pick comrade rescue—special reward. Natural, right?"
Makes sense. I'd retreat, but Warrior Squad? Rescue only.
"But no intel on casualties or captives?"
"Yeah. Chaos. Waiting loses rescue window."
"...Got it."
Squad risk equal either way, but personal safety? All risk here.
No authority or guts to refuse. Left behind? Trouble too.
Have to. Knew it, but resigned anew.
"One add,"
Silent Torabutosu spoke.
"Big squad losses, humans dragged to nest? Eaten man-eaters mutate more Ferregen. Worst loop. Waiting riskier than you think."
"Ah, missed that angle."
How many humans to mutate? Unknown, but logical.
Maybe this mess from that loop already.
"...If multiple Ferregen already, why unnoticed till now?"
"Yeah. Nest day's march away?"
"Bad timing. Expansion phase, cut patrols."
"Maybe."
Tsuburaka and Torabutosu debating. I glance back, eye contact with waiting Sarsa.
"Sarsa, condition okay?"
"Yes."
"Ferregen weaknesses, anything recalled?"
We review monster docs together, but her memory's sharper. She's pointed out stuff I missed once or twice.
"Ferregen..."
"High-alert monster, skimmed records."
"Yeah... Past subjugation notes said water/earth magic resists..."
"Hm."
Was that there? Probably.
Water affinity image fits, hard shell resists earth too.
"Will my Fire Arrow work...?"
Unleash magic gun? Fire's iffy but safer maybe.
"Records note fast dodger of magic. Flip side: weak attributes might land decently... I think."
"Gotcha."
Hope so. Ugh, don't wanna fight—thinking pessimistic.
"Sarsa, hand."
"Ah, yes."
MP check excuse to recharge Sarsa essence.
To clueless Warrior Squad? Just flirting.
Hmm, same old... Huh?
"Sarsa, MP max rises without levels?"
"Eh? Yes. Some grow a bit with development."
"Hmmm..."
If memory serves, max MP up by 1.
Recent heavy MP skill use?
"Time to move."
Captain's call—everyone up. Reform lines, deeper toward Ferregen nest.
Sorry Chapter 2's slow-paced...
So, aiming for twice-weekly updates as much as possible.