11. Monsters Escaping from the Special Commission Ruins Site
Monsters were spilling out of the ruins in droves from the special commission site. Spotting this, I approached the group resting behind me. Herald and Hain were chatting about how the monster lord was a werewolf. I let them know monsters were escaping the ruins.
"Looks like the subjugation force is finally climbing up."
"So we're heading out now? Yo?"
More than that, Hain—what's with this sudden speech pattern? If you're gonna go casual, just do it. If polite, stick to it. It felt like he was treating me with exaggerated caution somehow.
"Yeah, seems like it. We should probably get moving soon. There are still monsters left, but we can handle that much, right?"
"What monsters are left? Yo."
"Uh... hold on. Let me check."
He replied, then peered through the scope of his crossbow at the ruins again, listing off the visible monsters one by one.
"Roughly five or six ogres, a dozen or so trolls, and a bunch of orcs."
"Monsters you see around here all the time."
"So total count? Yo."
"Around... two hundred?"
"...That's a fucking ton, insane."
Hain grumbled with a curse and asked,
"So what's the plan? Yo."
"Plan? No, more importantly, how long are you keeping up that weird speech? If you're going polite, go polite. Casual, casual. Just slapping 'yo' on the end doesn't make it polite, Hain."
"No, I... fine. So, the strategy. Even if we've gathered the strongest adventurers from each branch, those guys outnumber us big time. We can't just charge in without a plan."
"Yeah, you're right. Got something in mind? Ian-ssi."
"Well..."
I'd never really thought about plans or strategies. Sure, I wasn't dumb enough to think we could just swarm in and chop off the monster lord's head, but this caught me off guard.
For some inexplicable reason, from some point on the way up to this operation site, I'd ended up as the leader guiding these folks. Herald didn't show much expression, just nodded along amiably—maybe that's his personality. Hain had been subtly cautious toward me ever since that moment he ran into Bella on the way up. That half-polite, half-casual speech just now was a prime example.
Why the hell was I stuck with this high-pressure gig? It was a huge burden.
If I'd known, maybe I should've played some strategy games like Total War: Three Kingdoms. No way we could pull off some ridiculous 15-to-200 encirclement annihilation formation.
If it were just our party, we could've hunkered down in a corner and held them off. Bella and Cheong-ah plugging the flanks, Dina handling any breakouts... that would've been plenty. I'd stick to rear support, sniping occasionally with the crossbow while taking on the pain from their hits via my ability.
But I knew nothing about the other two parties, so judgment was impossible. I asked the two party leaders about their members first.
"Our party? Uh, well... we've got a mage, for one."
"Oh, a mage..."
At that, I glanced toward Hain's party. Two guys, two girls. Including Hain, a five-man party of two men and three women. A handsome guy and two pretty girls. Come to think of it, Hain wasn't bad-looking himself. Objectively speaking, of course. Compared to Cheong-ah or Bella? Nah... best not compare watermelons to pumpkins.
Anyway, I'd overlooked it since I wasn't interested, but there was a frail-looking guy among them wearing a typical mage's pointed hat. He was sprawled on the ground now, panting hard.
"That guy?"
I pointed and asked. Hain shook his head.
"Nah, that's our party's porter. The girl fanning him next to him? She's the mage."
"Uh... really?"
Not that guy, huh. Then why the hat? It's misleading.
I gave him a weird look, and Hain shrugged.
"Well, all five of us in the party, including that guy, were childhood friends. Kept him on as a teammate out of pity, but he's so damn weak, he's just dead weight. Planning to kick him out soon."
"Hmm..."
Kick him out... No idea why he's telling me this, but anyway—the girl next to him was the mage.
"What magic can that mage use?"
"Basic 1st-circle spells, all of 'em. A few 2nd-circle fire spells too. Not professionally trained, just picked 'em up casually. But mages are a huge help even like that, so she hit silver badge."
"Rest are all frontliners, then?"
"Yep. Minus the useless porter, anyway."
Useless porter. His thorny words toward the guy stung my heart a bit.
"Got it. What about Herald's party?"
"You mean ours? Nothing special. I'm the ranger handling scouting, others are frontliners. Typical adventurer setup."
"...Ranger? You?"
With that build, he looked like he'd charge in swinging a two-handed axe.
"Yeah. Told you my dad's a hunter, right? Learned a ton from him since I was a kid."
"Ah, right."
"So, any ideas?"
"Uh, yeah... sorta."
I said that, but honestly, still clueless. After a moment, I came to a dead simple conclusion.
"While our party handles the monster lord, have your two parties deal with the other monsters."
...Should've just said that from the start.
With the so-called strategy meeting over—more like a formality—we split into three groups, each party diving in separately.
Herald's and Hain's parties would hit the ruins' left and right flanks first to engage the monsters. Meanwhile, we'd circle to the rear where the monster lord was and take it down. Simple as that.
"Yeonja, so we just wait for the signal and go in?"
"Yeah, they'll send signals once combat starts."
"The others okay?"
"They'll be fine. They're not randos—they're branch reps, right? They'll handle it. No way they get mulched by orcs like noobs. Ogres and trolls mixed in? They'll figure it out."
Bella said that, tearing into some jerky she held.
"Hey, where'd you get that?"
"Huh? This? Your bag. Why, you stingy?"
When did she raid it? It was for sharing, sure...
"Nah, it was for us anyway."
"Yeonja, got some for me too?"
"Yeah, obviously. Hold on."
I opened my bag, pulled out a bundle of jerky, and handed Dina a big chunk.
"Here, big piece."
"Thanks!"
"Here, Cheong-ah, you too."
"Thank you, my lord."
"All done, Yeonja!"
"...Huh? Already?"
"One more!"
"Uh, sure."
...What? Felt like five seconds hadn't passed. With an awkward look, I handed her the piece I'd saved for myself and dug out another.
"Dina, chew thoroughly. Jerky's tough—gulp it down fast and you'll choke."
"I'm fine. Not so weak I'd choke on quick jerky."
"Still..."
"Drop it, Cheong-ah. That brat won't learn till she chokes. Glutton with no manners, geez."
"Brat? You calling me a brat again, beast bitch?!"
"...Both of you, quit fighting, please. Why are we so damn chill?"
The other parties at least looked tense. Ours? Zero tension, pure vacation mode. And we had the toughest job: monster lord.
"Tension? Monster lord's just a werewolf."
"Beast girl's right for once. Don't know what a monster lord is, but tensing up over a bipedal mutt insults the former Fist King."
"Don't worry too much, my lord. It'll be fine."
Cheong-ah smiled brightly, squeezing my worried hand.
...Only my Cheong-ah gets it.
"Cheong-ah."
"Yes, my lord."
"...Buff time."
"Pardon? Oh. Yes, got it."
I activated my ability and kissed her right away. Soft lips, faint jerky scent. Two pairs of eyes watched us...
"Why cover my eyes, beast bitch?!"
"Kids don't watch this."
"Who're you calling kid?! I know all about it!"
Dina struggled to pry off Bella's hand over her eyes, but...
By the time she did, Cheong-ah and I parted lips.
"...Thank you, my lord."
"No need... it's nothing."
"Hey, lovebirds. Enough mushy shit, make room. My turn, right?"
Sigh. Her mood-killing interruption had me and Cheong-ah shooting Bella cold stares in sync.
"What? Why the faces?"
"No reason. Just thinking maybe extend your alcohol ban another week."
"Sounds good to me."
"What?! No way!"
"Kidding. Dina, your turn—come here."
Ignoring Bella's outburst, Cheong-ah beckoned Dina. She approached without suspicion.
"...Huh? Why call me?"
"Bella said kids can't watch."
"Wha—no! Why's the tsundere girl treating me like a kid too?!"
While Dina bickered with Cheong-ah, I quickly buffed Bella.
"Hey, do me too."
"Huh?"
"That arm-around-waist thing you do with Cheong-ah. You never do it for me."
"Jealous?"
"...A little."
Dry lips from nerves. Stronger jerky scent this time. Arm around her waist, pat on the butt.
"Eek... hey."
"Don't get hurt. Dodge when you can. My power ain't perfect."
"Yeah... got it. I'll try."
Now, only Dina left—eyes sparkling up at me from my feet, having slipped from Cheong-ah's arms unnoticed. She said in an excited voice,
"Y-Yeonja. My turn now?"
"...Well."
This was awkward. What to do?