Episode 12
Episode 12
Given the size of our mercenary group, I pride myself on having encountered nobles more frequently than the average commoner.
After all, large mercenary groups often receive requests from nobles.
Maintaining security within the city, providing support in territorial disputes, large-scale magical beast subjugation around the fortress.
We typically handle such requests.
I've even seen dukes from a distance, but this is the first time someone from the royal family has come to us.
'Would the royal family have any reason to summon mercenaries?'
It's not entirely unheard of. But that's only in cases close to conscription where the Empire calls upon all mercenary groups when facing dire danger.
Even this hasn't happened once since I became a mercenary, and the Guild Leader said it happened only once when she was a rookie.
In short, it means there's no need for it in peaceful times like now.
I asked the member walking beside me.
"Did you happen to hear why they came?"
The member walking ahead shook their head vigorously.
"I didn't hear either. They suddenly came in asking to see the Guild Leader, and when I said she wasn't available... they showed me this and insisted they had to meet immediately."
The member pulled out a small card from their pocket.
I took the offered card. On the palm-sized shimmering card was written 'Royal Administrator Admin'.
"This is an identification card."
An identification card used by the Empire.
Even those who cannot use mana possess mana within them.
They use this characteristic to create a kind of otherworldly resident registration card.
"A royal administrator is quite a high-ranking person, isn't it? Did you verify it with mana?"
"Yes, I did. But it was genuine, so I guided them to the VIP room and came to get you."
"This is troublesome... It's ambiguous for me to judge alone."
If someone comes directly from the royal family, it's highly likely that Harmony's Flame would need to mobilize entirely.
But we can't just send someone from the royal family away either.
I decided to meet them first.
"I'll return the identification card."
"Ah, yes. Well then... I'll be going back now."
"Yeah, thanks for your work."
At the VIP room entrance, the member left to attend to their duties.
When I opened the door and entered, an elderly-looking man was sitting there flipping through papers.
Not wanting to disturb him, I quietly sat down opposite him first.
'He's really focused.'
Even with me sitting right in front of him, he didn't notice, only occasionally lifting his glasses perched on his nose bridge with his index finger.
His furrowed brow suggested he was quite concentrated.
I eventually initiated the greeting first.
"Hello. I'm Mia, the vice-leader of Harmony's Flame."
The man finally looked at me when I greeted him.
"Ah, I was so focused I didn't notice you'd come in."
Whether he genuinely hadn't noticed my entrance or not, he startled and stood up, extending his hand to me.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Royal Administrator Admin."
After a brief greeting, when I sat down opposite him, the administrator also took his seat.
"Did you receive the identification card? I gave it to another mercenary earlier..."
"Here it is."
When I handed over the card, it glowed and disappeared.
'This is undoubtedly genuine.'
Commoners who can't properly use mana carry their identification cards with them, but mana users are different.
If you know how to use mana, you can convert the card into mana and store it within your body.
Moreover, you can't do this with someone else's identification card due to differing mana signatures.
Thus, it's the most reliable method of identification verification.
"So may I ask what business the royal family has with Harmony's Flame?"
"Ah! About that..."
The administrator handed me the paper he had been reading until just moments ago.
I carefully accepted the paper and checked its contents.
It began with information about the Forest of Temptation.
"You're aware that the Hero Party went out to subjugate the Demon King, correct?"
"Yes, well... being a mercenary, I've naturally heard about it through the grapevine."
"This request is related to that Hero Party."
"...Pardon?"
Flustered, I stared at the administrator for a moment before reading the paper again.
"Hero Party missing in Forest of Temptation. Knight order attempted rescue twice but... failed. Accordingly, we entrust this request to each mercenary group."
Forest of Temptation.
It's a forest notorious in Bluna for being vicious.
If you only go to the entrance, leveling up goes well and essential materials drop frequently, but once you pass the midway point, quite strong monsters appear.
The deep areas required reaching the game's max level of 99 and having a properly composed party to farm comfortably.
And at its center was a hidden boss, making it one of the endgame contents.
The administrator nodded upon hearing my voice.
"It's exactly as you read. Currently, the Hero Party went to retrieve the Hero's Sword from the Forest of Temptation and has gone missing."
Ivy came to mind, and my hand tightened.
The paper crumpled slightly, but I placed it down as calmly as possible.
"For the Forest of Temptation, don't they usually bring guides?"
"They did. But... according to the knight order's report, the paths have changed, and the guides can't find the way."
"You mean veteran guides couldn't find the path?"
The administrator nodded and added an explanation.
"We tried dispelling it with magic, and used all available curses and divine power. Even the second search party had the Imperial Knight Commander with them."
"The Imperial Knight Commander would be... Sir Rex, right?"
"Yes, that's correct - the one called the continent's greatest swordsman."
"If even he couldn't do it... doesn't that mean there's no solution? It doesn't seem to be a matter of military strength."
Rex is a max-level NPC by Bluna1 standards.
There are master NPCs for each class, and the swordsman class master NPC is Rex himself.
In short, he's disgustingly strong.
"That's why we decided to increase the search personnel. Currently, people from the royal family have gone to all three major mercenary groups."
"So that means it's not quite conscription yet."
"Yes, that's correct. Particularly for groups like Harmony's Flame whose forces are significantly dispersed, they said it's acceptable to go after the remaining forces return."
"They said... was that His Majesty the Emperor's words?"
"Yes, His Majesty the Emperor said not to force it but to make it clear. He said he would help the Empire's three major mercenary groups become the continent's best if successful."
If the Emperor himself speaks like this, it's true that the reward would be substantial.
Actually, the reward section on the request form is vaguely written anyway.
Full support from the royal family.
That's all it says.
'If I raise unnecessary questions or express dissatisfaction here, they'll probably make an issue of it.'
They could arrest me for insulting the royal family by questioning whether I don't trust the Emperor's words.
Given our mercenary group's size, they probably wouldn't go that far... but pressure would come later.
This feels more like conscription than a request.
I returned the paper to the administrator and answered.
"Guild Leader Karen is absent, so I'll contact her and then decide. Even as vice-leader, I can't accept such a major matter on my own authority."
"Ah, I completely understand. Your forces aren't all here, and entering the forest isn't an easy decision."
"Yes, I'll give the royal family our answer as soon as Guild Leader Karen arrives."
"So I've brought an alternative related to that."
The administrator took out a sheet of paper and a round glass orb from the bag he brought.
"I think you should read the paper first."
I slowly unfolded the handed paper and read it.
After finishing reading, I placed the paper on the desk and looked at the administrator.
"In short, this means the royal family will resolve everything regarding this request. The rewards will also be paid to Harmony's Flame as is."
"Yes, that's correct. That's how much the royal family currently desires support for the Forest of Temptation."
As I looked at the glass orb on the desk, I belatedly realized.
"And this is a magic communication orb. You're not suggesting I speak with His Majesty the Emperor through this, are you?"
"No. This is a means to communicate with someone else."
"Who would require such..."
Just then, the orb glowed faintly.
The transparent communication orb shone blue, and a bright screen appeared in the air.
And Karen's face appeared on that screen.
"Guild Leader."
"Mia, I just received this and got the explanation too? We'll head to Mihok Village right away. Gather the necessary things and come with the members."
"Ah, yes. Then I'll prepare and move out today."
"Okay, I'll leave it to you. See you at Mihok Village."
It seemed the royal family had firmly made up their mind.
The administrator who heard Guild Leader Karen's words from beside me nodded.
"It seems the decision has been made. Then I'll consider Harmony's Flame as having accepted the request."
Instead of answering, I nodded and signed the contract.
*
Less than an hour after the contract was completed, rumors began spreading throughout the capital.
The three major mercenary groups, high-ranking adventurers, knight orders.
The Empire decided to mobilize all available forces to rescue the Hero Party.
Clearly, the royal family had directly exerted its influence.
Since the Hero is the hope of all races, they wouldn't give up.
By spreading rumors in this manner, they announced that the Empire was putting its full effort into the Hero's rescue.
'They're making quite a spectacle. If it's going to be discovered anyway, they'll announce it first... is that it?'
The mercenary groups and knight orders that departed first set out amid thunderous cheers from the citizens.
We who finished preparations relatively late followed after them.
"Vice-Leader, by any chance... couldn't we just completely eliminate the Forest of Temptation?"
"Eliminate the Forest of Temptation? Uh... probably not."
Actually, I don't know well.
In Bluna1, it was only mentioned that attempts to burn it were useless.
Imperial history only records that there were three large-scale elimination and conquest attempts, but all failed.
"The history books say it's a place that doesn't burn, disappear, or expand. In the past, a united races alliance tried once but failed."
"Is it like a Demon Realm? Like the Forest of Night in the west or..."
The Demon Realm is where demons live, and the western forest is a forest of unknown origin where not even a handful of light remains once you enter.
Both are merely managed as danger zones on the continent.
This is because multiple attempts at subjugation, conquest, and elimination have already failed.
"Something like that? They've attempted to conquer those two places several times too."
"Is that so... Ah, I can see it over there now."
Following the member's words, I looked ahead and saw Mihok Village.
The village itself was ordinary.
It was larger than the village I lived in, but not exceptionally outstanding either. Just many inns and restaurants due to the transient population.
'The forest behind the village is the real deal.'
I could see the forest spread out behind the small village.
The trees soaring high enough to touch the sky were overwhelming by themselves. They seemed like walls warning us not to enter.
"Let's hurry too."
"Yes, we can rest once everyone arrives, so let's push on with strength!"
With the members' vigorous cheers, we arrived before the village and began setting up tents.
While supervising this, someone approached.
A large-built man with blond hair.
A man with a stern impression, carrying a giant greatsword on his back.
"Ah, Knight Commander Rex. Have you been well?"
"It's been a while. You were just a young child when we last met."
"Well, time has passed."
"That's true too. I know you just arrived and must be tired... but would you attend a meeting first?"
"I suppose I can't refuse?"
"Not really."
I let out a deep sigh and followed Rex.