Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: The Scouting Party
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This wasn't even worth considering.
“How do I get back to where I was?”
Asad’s brow furrowed.
“Hmm… so you’re refusing my offer?”
“It would seem so.”
“Why? Did you not understand me? Have you become a fool again?”
“……”
This guy, seriously.
He meant no harm, but he wasn't the type of person I wanted to talk to for long.
“I understood.”
“And yet you want to return to that hell.”
I replied with a smile.
“We’ll have to see whether it’s hell or not.”
“Hmm…”
Asad stroked his chin.
“So you have your own rational reasons… Very well. If that is your decision, I have no right to interfere.”
He pointed behind me.
“I’ve created an exit behind you. Just open the door and leave.”
At his words, I turned around to see a door that definitely hadn't been there before.
“Before I leave. I assume you won’t tell me who came up with this crazy plan, even if I ask?”
“Correct.”
Then, as if a funny thought had suddenly occurred to him, he chuckled to himself and said.
“But I could probably pass on a message for you.”
“A message?”
“Yes. Is there anything you’d like to say to that person?”
“…You old bastard.”
“Hm?”
Asad tilted his head.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“I see. But did I ever mention their age?”
“No, you didn’t. But I doubt the Family Head would be swayed by a mere snot-nosed kid.”
“Precisely.”
Asad affirmed my words.
Of course, that affirmation itself could be a trick, but I didn't think Asad would bother with such tedious mind games.
So, his answer was probably a hint he was pretending not to give.
It was likely one of the old fiends who had been hiding behind the curtains of the Bednicker family for a long time.
“Alright. I’ll pass it on if I feel like it, so be on your way.”
Asad waved his hand dismissively.
Just as I bowed my head and gripped the doorknob.
“Ruan Bednicker.”
“Yes?”
“I hope you survive.”
I glanced back to see Asad smiling warmly.
“I mean it.”
* * *
“He’s, he’s back!”
“Ruan! Are you alright?”
“Did you meet with our father? What did he say?”
“…Just a moment. I’m dizzy.”
I feigned a stumble to collect my thoughts.
Expectant faces surrounded me.
Even Caron, huddled in the corner, was sneaking glances my way.
‘Should I tell them the truth? Or should I just hide it?’
If I told the truth now, the Bednicker family’s prestige would plummet, and things might get much bigger than I anticipated.
The other families weren't fools; they wouldn't just stand by after their precious children were left to die.
Not that it was my problem, but Asad’s attitude bothered me.
There was no way that brilliant man was unaware of this butterfly effect, yet he had told me the whole story without reservation.
‘Does he just not care what the other families will say?’
One wrong move could lead to the worst possible relationship with the other families, and even sanctions from the Imperial Palace.
Watching the Bednicker family burn in the flames of their own making would certainly be a delightful sight.
“…I was moved to some strange room, but no one was there.”
But I hid the truth.
Not for the sake of the Bednicker family, of course.
It was simply because I didn't think these immature kids, who could hardly be called heroes yet, could handle the truth.
Of course, even my words, “We’re not getting help anytime soon,” made their faces fall as if the sky was collapsing…
But how much more would they despair if they heard they had become bait to catch a High Priest?
That was just my personal opinion, of course.
“…So what do we do now?”
“We have to hold out, I guess…? The Bednickers will surely realize what’s happening eventually.”
They were right about that.
In fact, they had known from the very beginning.
Watching the Young Lords discuss their options, I casually announced my next move.
“I’m thinking of heading to the camp.”
“…The camp?”
“Yeah. The fact that there’s been no response from the instructors is bothering me. I’m going to go see what the situation is.”
“B-but it’ll be dangerous…”
“No risk, no reward.”
“Ah, aha… W-well then, I’ll stay here and guard the place…”
The timid dwarf, Basil, said in a shrinking voice.
His attitude made it clear he had zero intention of coming along.
“I never planned for all of us to go. It’s too dangerous to move as a large group. So, I’m only taking volunteers. Who’s in?”
I said it like that, but…
I was fine moving alone.
Well, with one exception.
“Caron, you’re coming with me.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, ‘why,’ you bastard? Do you want a beating first, or are you just going to come along?”
“……”
For some reason, my words always turned harsh in front of Caron.
Was it because of his appearance?
He looked just like a mercenary, reminding me of those days.
In any case, Caron shut his mouth.
The reason I chose him was that he was the most useful one here…
But that wasn't the only reason.
I was the only one who could control him here. If I let him out of my sight, he might pull some crazy stunt again.
This was the madman who was trying to deal for points even when a demon appeared. What wouldn't he do?
“…I was planning to go even if you didn’t ask.”
Caron threw out a remark, a minimal act of defiance.
I was ready to beat him up if he didn't listen, so he saved me the trouble.
“I’m going too.”
I nodded at Hector’s words.
I knew he would say yes.
So far, the exploration team I had in mind consisted of the three of us…
I looked at the still-hesitant Young Lords and said.
“If you’re not confident, just stay here and guard the place. That’s better than being a burden to others.”
I made it clear.
The forest today would be incomparably more dangerous than it was yesterday.
This was not a situation where we could afford to carry dead weight.
“…I’ll go, too.”
And, perhaps unexpectedly…
Evan Helvin expressed his intention to join.
Wondering what he was thinking, I watched him closely… and saw that Evan’s gaze was fixed not on me, but on Caron.
‘Does he feel a rivalry with Caron?’
It seemed he still hadn't gotten over his crushing defeat in our last sparring session.
Normally, a competitive spirit, if not excessive, leads to positive growth…
But in a situation like this, I wasn't so sure it was a good thing.
“Evan, if you act like you did yesterday, I’ll send you back midway.”
“…That won’t happen again. I swear it.”
If he was going to declare it so firmly, then fine.
“Then the reconnaissance team is formed.”
Me, Caron, Hector, and finally, Evan.
The four of us would go to check on the camp.
“You guys wait here and secure some food if you have the chance. And if by some chance you have to abandon the cabin, leave a sign.”
“Understood. But why food…?”
“We have to assume the worst. If demonic energy invades this land, everything from the forest to the springs will wither and die. We need to secure as much as we can before that happens.”
“Um… I understand.”
Finally, I looked at Mir.
From his dazed expression, it seemed he still hadn't fully grasped the situation.
“Mir.”
“H-huh? What is it?”
“I’m counting on you while I’m gone.”
Mir stared at me with a blank face.
“Counting on me?”
“Yeah. You protect these guys.”
“Me…”
He seemed too nervous, so I intentionally made a joke.
“Protecting the weak is what heroes do, right?”
“…Who are you calling weak?”
Charl grumbled.
But my words were half-joke, half-serious.
Mir’s potential was on par with Caron’s and Hector’s.
If he could just overcome his fear, the low-level demons swarming the area would be no match for him.
“Got it! I’ll protect them, so don’t you worry! Be careful on your way back!”
In any case, he was a simple-minded fellow, so my non-encouraging encouragement worked well.
I patted Mir’s shoulder a few times as he clenched his fists.
“So, are we heading to the camp first?”
“That’s the final destination. But I plan to help any Young Lords we meet along the way.”
I hadn't told the others yet, but…
There was one Young Lord I absolutely had to meet.
Seren Goodspring.
The girl who had acted as if she knew about this situation in advance.
How did a Goodspring, not a Bednicker, know about the Dark Cult’s plan?
First, I needed to find that out.
* * *
The map of the forest provided by the instructors was not highly detailed.
However, it was drawn well enough to easily determine general locations.
“The camp isn’t that far. If not for this situation, we could reach it in two or three hours.”
“And now?”
“We should expect at least two days, maybe three or four if it’s long.”
Hector pointed to a spot in the forest and said.
“So, rather than heading straight for the camp, I think we should make the stream that cuts through the forest our first destination. We can replenish our water supply while we’re at it.”
The stream was where our team first encountered the monstrous spider.
Our water supply wasn't abundant, so we agreed.
Just then, Caron, who had gone to scout the surroundings, returned silently and said in a blunt tone.
“I’ve scouted the area. It’s crawling with demons. They were in pairs or trios.”
“It’s just as Ruan said, then. The demons have been summoned in droves.”
Moving in pairs and trios meant that a surprise attack would be too risky.
In other words, the best course of action was to take a long detour, even if it meant avoiding contact with the demons.
Caron became our guide.
He roamed the demon-infested forest as if it were his own backyard, all while perfectly concealing his presence.
Hector was well-versed in the forest's geography and features.
I didn't know if he had been here several times or if he had been briefed beforehand.
In any case, his knowledge would be valid until the forest was completely corrupted by demonic energy.
‘Better than my team.’
Caron and Hector were both among the top talents of the Young Lords, so it was only natural.
Regardless, we moved forward, slowly but steadily.
Our advance was surprisingly smooth.
There were too many variables to be certain, but if we maintained this pace, couldn't we arrive by tomorrow?
…Or so I thought.
“Hmm…”
I took out the hourglass from my pocket and checked it.
A considerable amount of time had passed since we set out.
It wouldn't be strange to see the stream by now, let alone a clearing.
Just then, Caron spoke.
“…This is strange.”
“What is?”
“It doesn’t feel like we’re making any progress.”
“What do you mean…”
“Wait. Haven’t we passed this spot before?”
At Hector's words, Caron paused and asked back.
“We’ve passed here before?”
“Yes.”
“Proof?”
“That tree over there, it looks exactly like one we saw earlier.”
Caron looked at the tree Hector pointed to but showed no sign of agreement.
So I chimed in.
“I think he’s right, Brother.”
“Really…? I can’t really tell them apart.”
Evan said, tilting his head.
“……”
“……”
And then, as if something had passed between us, Hector and I looked at each other at the same time.
“Brother.”
“…Yeah.”
The fact that only Hector and I realized it meant, in other words, that only the Bednickers had realized it.
One of the characteristics of the Butterfly Forest.
Anyone other than a Bednicker gets lost in this forest.
“Has the forest’s barrier been broken?”
“It’s in the process of breaking. If the barrier had completely fallen, the family would have responded immediately.”
“……”
Hector knew a lot about the Bednicker family…
But it seemed he hadn't anticipated that they were crazy enough to sacrifice the Young Lords to take down the Demon King.
He would find out eventually, but not now.
I said nothing and kept my mouth shut.
It was at that moment.
—Aaaaaah…
A piercing scream echoed from somewhere.
“…Did you hear that?”
“Yes. It was from the west.”
“The opposite direction of the camp.”
“We still have to go.”
Evan, who seemed to still be on awkward terms with Hector, said, maintaining his formal tone.
“Ruan said before we left. We have to save any Young Lords we meet.”
“He did. But what if it’s not a Young Lord?”
“What?”
“It could be a Banshee.”
Hector said.
“A demon that mimics human screams. It’s also a low-level demon, but it’s more troublesome than a beast.”
“So it could have been summoned along with the others.”
“It’s not impossible.”
The group's eyes turned to me, and I wore a reluctant expression.
I could understand Evan, who was in my team, but why were the other two also treating me like the decision-maker?
I spoke curtly.
“We have to go save them.”
I couldn't ignore it now that I knew.
Even if we were still young and immature…
We were aspiring heroes, after all.