Chapter 65 - Brunhilde Graywarden's Adventurer Team Reaches the Northwest Forest
In the dead of night, unable to clear up the misunderstanding about my gender, I drifted off to sleep. In the northwest outskirts of the central region of the Krantz Empire, beyond a dense forest, the adventurer Brunhilde was grumbling after confirming that the undead horde had been cleanly wiped out.
"They were supposed to be here! Why is there nothing left! At this rate, I can't even get a meme-worthy shot for the gallery!!" she vented her frustration at the fact that someone else—not her—had taken care of the horde.
"Sigh... Hilde? Isn't it a good thing that the undead horde is gone? How about thinking a bit more rationally?"
Perhaps finding her reaction absurd, her teammate, the mage Viola, chided Brunhilde.
"She's right, Hilde. This was the most annoying forest, wasn't it? Thanks to this, we can skip the hassle. Let's rest up properly here today."
The team leader, Helga, chimed in agreement.
"Eek..."
Brunhilde understood logically. But staring at the updating gallery screen, she just couldn't calm down.
It was because she couldn't post her exploits in the morning concept thread. Maybe because all her previous posts had made it to concept status? Brunhilde couldn't accept not being the center of attention.
"Hilde, stop looking at the gallery. It's amazing that everything you've posted so far hit concept. Sometimes you strike out— that's just how it is."
Seeing her stomping her feet with tears welling up, Helga offered some comforting words—while suppressing the urge to call her a crazy attention-whore gorilla deep in her mind.
"Hehe. Lady Helga is right, sister. How about thinking of it this way? Taking a break today to save up for two concept posts tomorrow."
The priestess Katarina's words perked up her ears. Two concept posts! Brunhilde's eyes sparkled as she looked at Katarina.
"Really?! There are tons of huge hordes around here like that?!"
"Um... sister? Even if there's no threat nearby, shouting too loud could be dangerous?"
"Oops...! Sorry... I got too excited..."
Someone whose inside matches her outside perfectly. Katarina thought that as she shared info on any remaining hordes nearby.
"Hehe. Thanks for understanding, sister. If the info's right, there's a magic beast horde in the mountains connected to the forest... west side, I think. Trolls and orcs."
Trolls and orcs. Perfect concept post material. Brunhilde was snorting excitedly, her body heating up at the news.
"Yeah, Hilde. You'll love it. So calm down a bit. Why's she extra uncontrollable today?"
No fixing an attention hog, but still a precious friend and teammate. Viola tried redirecting her to tomorrow's subjugation to calm her down. If not, there'd be no rest tonight.
Perhaps finding Viola's granddaughter-like efforts cute, Helga grinned slyly and teased Brunhilde—with barbs all over.
"Yeah, really. Hilde, you didn't sneak more of that tonic behind our backs, did you?"
The forced march was possible thanks to the Moderator's sold item. Without it, they wouldn't have reached the forest. The schedule advanced, so everyone was secretly glad—though their bodies ached.
But had she chugged several of those drinks enabling the march? Her teammates knew she'd snuck extras—they'd all caught her once or twice. She thought she'd hidden it perfectly, though.
Even assuming Brunhilde followed her instincts, they figured two extras at most. No way she'd guzzle unknowns.
The four teammates smirked and turned to her. Brunhilde flailed her hands, broadcasting her guilt.
"Gasp, no! I didn't drink much! For real!"
Classic overdoer behavior. Helga sighed and called it for the day.
"Sigh... yeah. More than two, got it. We'll camp here tonight, scout the forest interior at dawn. Understood?"
Brunhilde tilted her head. "Huh? Aunt Helga, why the forest interior? Nearby hordes are cleared, so inside should be safe too, right?"
Despite explanations before leaving, she kept asking. Helga felt her remaining lifespan ticking down but explained calmly again.
"Listen, Hilde... subjugating hordes is the main goal, but we secure surroundings too, remember? Something wiped out an undead horde nearby. So what do we do?"
Veins bulging, Helga continued. It was repetitive Q&A—last time with violence.
Feeling cold sweat down her back, Brunhilde snapped to attention like a recruit. "We confirm what it is! To secure total safety!"
Scared of Helga's wrath? She saluted stiffly.
Helga gave a wry smile and ruffled her hair wildly. "Right. Trust is an adventurer's life. It's not over at mission complete. Exceed always, then people trust us for the next job. Don't forget—your chosen path."
"Overtime for tomorrow! Got it, Aunt Helga!"
Is that how it works? Helga eyed Brunhilde's odd takeaway, then unpacked for camp.
Leader sets up, others follow. Brunhilde and two others gathered firewood branches in a flash; Viola lit them with magic.
Instant campsite. Simple cloth on dirt, bonfire aside—humble rest spot done.
Exhausting day. Bonus forced march left them drained. Four non-watch adventurers hit the dirt.
Snore—grrr—snore—grrr
Brunhilde's booming snores started immediately. Teammates chuckled dryly and rested. Hero's daughter Brunhilde Graywarden's team wrapped a grueling day.
Snore—snore— Morning in the bunker, still misunderstood on gender. Hero and Bigshot were out on dawn walks, nowhere in sight. I'd filled their bowls preemptively, savoring brief quiet.
"This is peace... happiness..."
I love silence. Noisy stuff? Hate it. Hero and Bigshot's living noise tortured me.
Maybe my bliss irked someone.
Mr. Rain. An interesting post has appeared in the gallery. I recommend checking it.
Sora gave me work. "Ah... yes, please, Sora."
Regretful, but duty calls. I shifted to the gallery screen.
"Huh?"
Super confusing title. Wondering Sora's intent, I glanced—snore—snore—vibrating away, ignoring me.
Not urgent, then. Just teasing. I pondered but accepted—Sora works hard for me, her prank's fine.
Speculation on Moderator's gender/race popping up, so I did mine too.
No known appearance, so traced actions backward—works from end for solid guess
1. Tonic sales - Last action: tonic sales. Kept us all up. Never-seen effect item? Alchemist or witch race possible.
2. Troll handling - Trolls trolls with auto-hunt. Punishes crime but educates? Priest possible.
3. Currency issue - Unseen material, anti-counterfeit cash. No race tops dwarves in mining? Dwarf possible.
4. Great food/booze sales & artist scout - Chicken pizza beer before. New foods again. Gotta eat tons for tasty makes? High status guess. Artist scout too—artistic talent confirms nobility.
5. Weapon craft tech - Remember special Silvaraes? Terror itself. Not OP attack but huge body/defense unbeatable. Moderator's weapon? Instant solve. Dwarves #1 continent weapon craft—dwarf very likely.
6. Gallery life improvements - Too many, lumped. Baguette, water, fertilizer—essentials provided. Bears moral duty of power without complaint. Wide range: empire nobles/royals (post-pig purge), elves sans old farts, high-status dwarf possible.
Too broad, concluding.
Conclusion: Moderator is badass human-dwarf-elf hybrid beauty witch noble priestess
Dizzying post, dizzying comments. Scrolling replies, I just closed it.
Calming down, I asked Sora, "Um, Sora? Is this interesting?"
Interesting, she said. What the hell is this brain-melter.
Is it not intriguing? Among recent posts, the most entertaining.
Right, Sora's a gallery addict too. Semi-forced, but. No way the brain scanning most posts is normal.
Hand over eyes, head back. Looks like I picked the wrong family to bunker with.