Chapter 421: Welcome to the Land of Struggle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 421: Welcome to the Land of Struggle
For George, who led a massive guild, daily life was quite ordinary. After finishing his indispensable morning training, he would spend time dining with the masters of small to mid-sized clans or other guilds. He had once considered it a waste of time, but after realizing how crucial connections were for climbing the ladder, he made a point of carving out time for it, even if it was a strain.
After a simple meal, he would discuss the guild's future direction with his executives or receive various reports before heading out for combat training once more. In the past, he had occasionally hunted magical beasts and entered dungeons, but since the guild had grown so large, it was more accurate to say he no longer had time for such things.
“So, it’s war.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. There will likely be much to prepare. Have you all seen the documents sent from the place where the Green Skins and the Koreans have formed an alliance?”
“Of course, I have. The filthy monsters are one thing, but those humans are just as disgusting.”
“Is that so?”
“I heard that the woman they call a queen, the one who rules a city over there, gave birth to a monster’s child. They also say that the sister of the queen who rules the North is involved with that same monster.”
“Disgusting whores.”
It was the same now. As he sat dining with the city’s clan leaders, the conversation flowed ceaselessly. After speaking, George quietly met the eyes of Tildara, who was watching him.
She was the master of a rapidly growing clan, and they shared an intimate secret. Seeing the look she was giving him, he figured it would be wise to keep his schedule free tonight.
“You’ll probably be able to see those whores for yourselves soon enough. By the way, how is everyone doing these days…?”
“Same as always. Those who have pledged to work for our homeland are heading out day and night.”
“George’s guild as well…?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
After rumors of war began to circulate, the continent grew a little more active. The supplies they had already stockpiled were not insignificant, but with this kind of thing, the more you had, the better. This wasn't a simple war; it was a clash between continents. The distances to travel were vast, and with no telling how long it would take, guild members were investing a great deal of time into hunting.
Another reason was likely that Maria, the ruler of the continent, was buying supplies—especially things like ore—at exceptionally good prices.
‘Weapons.’
They were exchanging supplies obtained from hunting for luxury goods like weapons, accessories, and jewels crafted by the dwarves themselves. Anyone who didn't seize an opportunity like this deserved to be called a fool, and that was all there was to it.
The accessories Tildara was wearing alone were of immense value. The ring on her hand and the earring in her ear were probably enchanted as well.
‘They’re damn good with their hands.’
Forming an alliance with them hadn't been a particularly appealing choice, but this mighty nation had certainly taken a step forward by accepting the dwarves. And, of course, their own lives had become more prosperous as well.
It wasn't just leaders like themselves, sitting at the top, who enjoyed this lifestyle. The quality of life was steadily improving, and even the lowest-ranking guild members and their subordinates were living relatively satisfying lives.
This is enough… I’m satisfied with this…
No human ever thought that way. The path to becoming more prosperous, more powerful, and being able to desire whatever one wanted was open everywhere.
‘The American Dream.’
If this wasn't the American Dream, what was? George took a sip of the wine in his hand and spoke again.
“Those with power have a duty. They say the elves and the Japanese in the Eastern Continent are being exploited together. How can we simply stand by and do nothing?”
“Come to think of it, it seems our country has stumbled into the role of world police, both on Earth and here. Haha. Shouldn't we be charging a hefty defense fee for it?”
“Lady Maria wishes to welcome the elves and other victims into the alliance without discrimination. So that probably won’t happen.”
“That’s Lady Maria for you.”
“However, those who have committed sins must pay the price.”
“That’s what this war is for.”
“Ah! And I’ve heard that the elves are exceptionally beautiful in appearance. Like seeing a fairy, they say…”
“Ahem… That’s something to look forward to.”
As all sorts of pointless conversations came and went, the door slowly opened, and a man began to walk in. It was a face he couldn't possibly fail to recognize. It was his adjutant.
“Sir George.”
“What is it?”
From his expression, it seemed something had gone wrong. He couldn't help but think that something had happened. George rose from his seat and muttered. He had no desire for the guild's internal affairs to be spread in front of others.
“Ahem… Please, continue your meal. I need to have a quick word.”
“Of course.”
If it were a trivial matter, he wouldn't have interrupted a dinner with influential guilds and clans. George entered a reception room not far from the dining hall and tapped his fingers on a chair, gesturing for the man to speak. The man immediately began to talk.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s been an incident. The members who went on an expedition to the dungeon are continuously sending distress signals. It seems things have gone awry.”
It was a large-scale expedition he hadn't participated in. More than half of the guild's entire force had been deployed. The problem was that the one leading this expedition was his own son. It was an expedition that had been in preparation since before the talk of war began, and just in case something happened, he had personally completed the final checks himself. It was only natural that his hands and feet began to tremble. He was worried something might have happened to his son.
“The rescue team…”
“We are forming one immediately.”
“I… I’ll go myself.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell the guests that something has come up and I must leave for the day.”
“Understood.”
It was probably nothing serious. If they were sending distress signals, there was a high chance they were still alive. It wasn't a dangerous dungeon, so it was more likely they were simply isolated. After quickly preparing to depart, George set off at once. Just as he was about to lead the large force out, another person came into view.
“Tildara.”
“I’ll go with you. You might need magic.”
She didn't seem to know exactly what was happening, but seeing the guild's rescue team assembling, she must have figured something was wrong. Naturally, having a magician like her on board would be a great help. George nodded.
“Do you know what exactly happened…?”
“It seems something went wrong during the dungeon expedition. It was the party my son was in… They’re sending distress signals now.”
“Ah… I see. It’ll be alright. Don’t you worry.”
“Thank you for the comfort.”
It was a simple consolation, but it gave him great strength. The city was briefly thrown into a commotion as a large number of troops suddenly departed, but he had no time to worry about that. The right choice was to get to their destination as quickly as possible.
“The distress signal?”
“It hasn’t been cut off yet.”
A silver lining in a dark cloud. At the very least, it meant those people were staying alive somewhere. The troops continued to advance through the massive forest. It was a forest located near the small city of Oakland. A considerable amount of time had already passed since they left the city. The troops were already deep inside the woods.
From this point, it was closer to the heart of the forest than to the city. It was a place where magical beasts spawned, and where both conquered dungeons and undiscovered ones coexisted. He hadn't visited much recently, but in the past, he had come and gone several times a day. It was a familiar place, a friendly one. But something felt different from before.
‘Was the atmosphere always like this?’
He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way. The sense of dissonance, when a place as familiar as your own home suddenly feels alien, is incredibly difficult to describe in words.
“…”
He turned his head and glanced to the side. Like him, the magician Tildara was also swallowing nervously. For her, someone sensitive to her surroundings, to react this way, it was safe to assume something strange was happening.
“Have the rangers scout the area… Warriors, advance to the front. Soldiers armed with firearms, prepare for battle.”
There was no harm in being cautious.
The sticky air, the ominous feeling from deeper within… if he weren't in a situation where he had to press on, he probably would have halted their advance. The forest felt that dangerous right now. What was strangest of all was that he couldn't hear the cries of any magical beasts. Come to think of it, they hadn't encountered a single one yet.
Everyone had simply failed to realize it. But once one or two people started thinking something was off, that thought became a signal flare, gradually exposing the hidden anxiety. In the strange silence, everyone began to swallow nervously, and more and more people started to scan their surroundings with uneasy eyes.
George shook his head for no reason and took another step forward.
“Sir… Sir George.”
“What is it?”
“The distress signal… it’s getting closer.”
“…”
“The rangers…”
“They haven’t returned yet.”
In truth, they still had a way to go before reaching the dungeon where the accident occurred. They hadn't even entered its vicinity. For the distress signal to be ringing out already was, of course, strange.
“It’s getting closer and closer.”
He could only think that something was terribly wrong.
“Battle, prepare for battle! Load! Load!”
A voice burst from his lips reflexively. It was the atmosphere. It was the strange atmosphere that dominated this forest. It might be his imagination, but the forest of the past and the forest of now were definitely different.
As the armed men suddenly grew restless, birds watching from the trees above took flight. The sound of the surrounding trees shaking began to echo continuously.
“The signal?”
“It… it stopped…”
Nothing was out of the ordinary.
It was at that very moment that a tremendous sound erupted.
“Uwoooaaaaaaah!!!”
Suddenly, green monsters began to swarm them from all directions.
“Kwooooooaaaaaaah!”
“Kwoaaaaaaah! Krakgarag! Krakgarag!!”
“Fuck!!!”
It was an incomprehensible situation. Why were they here, in the forest of Oakland in the southwestern part of the continent? Why were they attacking them? And why was a small monster holding the distress beacon that belonged to his son? He couldn't understand any of it.
George raised his sword and met the green monster.
“Prepare for battle!!”
The sound of the two forces clashing began to fill the quiet forest.