Episode 13
Episode 13
I followed Rex to a restaurant in Mihok Village.
Due to the Forest of Temptation, mercenaries and adventurers frequently visited, so there were many unusually large restaurants and inns relative to the village's size. This was the largest among them.
As I entered, a flood of gazes poured toward me.
From curiosity to blatant hostility. All sorts of mixed emotions were present.
"Oh, look who it is. It's the famous Vice-Captain Mia."
"Women being captain and vice-captain... tsk."
"She's really short."
Mainly mercenaries, dwarves, and beastkin muttered such comments.
Most were emotionally honest and direct.
I didn't particularly mind.
Among nobles, there were cases where they refused to hire Harmony's Flame because they believed women couldn't be trusted.
The elves and knights silently observed before withdrawing their gazes.
'Come to think of it, I'm the only one who came alone.'
Since tents were being set up and everyone seemed tired, I came alone, which made things look a bit awkward.
The representatives from other factions had come with their deputies or equivalent personnel.
Had I known this would happen, I should have brought someone.
Rex seemed to notice this and immediately gestured to the seat right next to him.
"You may sit here, Vice-Captain Mia-nim."
Since it was an official meeting, Rex also began using honorifics with me, and I took the indicated seat.
Only after I was seated did the meeting begin.
"Well then... I will first explain the plan the knight order has devised for the Hero Party rescue operation."
Rex, the most famous and simultaneously the strongest person present, spoke first.
All eyes turned toward him at his dignified voice.
"Naturally, we don't plan to recklessly group everyone into one team. That would undermine each faction's strengths."
As he said, each mercenary group had different characteristics, and even knight orders varied.
With different races present, this was only natural.
"Instead, we will assign specific investigation zones to each faction. This will minimize wasted time and manpower. Does everyone agree?"
While everyone seemed to accept this reasonable explanation, one elf spoke up.
"How do you plan to divide the zones? Will it be in a way that utilizes each faction's strengths?"
"We intend to do so if possible."
The elf nodded at Rex's response.
"So we will proceed with the zone distribution as discussed earlier with the elf search team leader-nim."
As he said this, a knight standing beside Rex unfolded and held up a massive map.
The paper fluttered, revealing the complex layout of the forest.
Rex first pointed to Mihok Village, located before the forest.
"This is our current location..."
He then continued, pointing to the complex central area of the forest.
"And this is the area we need to investigate."
What followed was a general explanation, which everyone listened to quietly.
Since the plan was created by the knight order who had actually been there, there wasn't much to refute or question.
The fact that Rex, famous as a war hero, was personally leading this also played a small part.
After the explanation ended, the zone distribution finally began.
"Well then... now that the operation explanation is complete, we will now divide the zones."
The assisting knight handed small maps to each faction representative.
I received one of the arbitrarily divided twelve maps and examined it.
It was divided into twelve sections like a pizza slice, from the entrance to the center.
'I guess we'd prefer the most frequently traveled path.'
Some areas of the Forest of Temptation had been partially developed.
Not to the point where people could live, but areas where some investigation had been completed.
For example, identifying the monsters, plants, and general ecology of that zone.
'But is this meaningful? The guides said they couldn't find the way either.'
In the Forest of Temptation, people often got lost even with maps, so guides were used for navigation.
All guides were specialists in search and navigation.
These people periodically entered the forest to memorize changed features and characteristics, then guided occasional visitors like us.
Eventually, I was the first to speak up.
"I heard the guides can't find the way, so will this be useful? Since we don't know the paths, there will likely be frequent zone encroachments between groups."
"That's a sharp question. First, it's not that the guides can't find the way at all. They're accurate up to the entrance, but start making mistakes beyond the mid-section."
"Do we only need to investigate up to the entrance then?"
"That's not the case. We need to check at least the mid-section, even if not the deep or central areas."
"Then how do we handle navigation?"
Rex nodded at that question.
"That's what we'll explain in this meeting right now."
He immediately pulled a small compass from his pocket.
It looked like an ordinary compass but was unusual with blue magic stones attached around it.
"This is a compass hastily manufactured by the Magic Tower. When we enter, the Magic Tower will simultaneously spread a special type of mana."
He showed us the compass needle.
The needle was spinning round and round without pointing in any particular direction.
"Right now it's just spinning... but contact the Magic Tower, please."
"Understood!"
At his request, the knight beside him immediately used a magic communication orb to contact somewhere.
In less than five minutes, I could feel a new wavelength of mana.
"This is just crudely using mana to find the way, isn't it? Or not?"
One of the elves, sensitive to mana, frowned as he spoke.
The sudden intense mana seemed to bother him.
Rex showed us the compass.
The needle, which had been spinning aimlessly, now pointed toward the direction where the mana was emanating.
"It's slightly different. I believe you're aware that simply strong mana doesn't help with navigation inside the Forest of Temptation."
An elf listening nearby muttered quietly.
"It's inevitable since the place itself distorts mana to make people lose their way."
Rex smiled faintly at the brief explanation and set down the compass.
"That's why this is a special mana that the Magic Tower has been researching for a long time. A unique mana that can exert its influence even within the Forest of Temptation."
After speaking to the knight beside him again, the strange mana disappeared shortly after.
"So each group will enter up to the entrance on their own, and right before entering the mid-section, the Magic Tower will spread that mana. One week is the maximum, so complete your investigation and exit within that time."
After the explanation, Kazha, captain of the Red Tide mercenary group, raised his hand.
He was a man with a thuggish appearance, characterized by his bare upper body revealing rugged muscular physique.
A red band fluttered on his right arm.
"So we just investigate for exactly one week and come out? However we each have our reasons for being here... nobody came risking their life."
"Yes, one week is sufficient. And we plan to recharge for another week after that."
"So we'll be conducting investigations every other week, essentially. Then during our stay, provisions and such should be provided by the imperial family, correct?"
"That hasn't been decided yet. Is it absolutely necessary? Mercenary groups should have considerable funds."
"Of course it's necessary."
Kazha's question was reasonable.
At his words, all the mercenary group members nodded in agreement.
Arpagoseu, captain of the Blunt Club mercenary group who was listening nearby, also voiced support.
"I also think support is needed. Money keeps getting spent... being stuck here generates no income whatsoever."
"Ah, it's been a while since I've felt such understanding with these frustrating folks. Does the Harmony's Flame youngster agree?"
Kazha's tone changed as if they were in a mercenary group meeting.
Both Red Tide and Blunt Club were in agreement.
Naturally, the gazes turned toward me.
"Hmm..."
Honestly, receiving support would be better.
If we really ended up stuck here for an extended period, the mercenary group itself could collapse.
After all, holding out here generates zero income.
'If it were the captain-nim... she would definitely have requested support.'
Even for the sake of the nation, we can't just help blindly to the point of our own destruction.
That's probably why the imperial palace only sent 3 out of 10 knight orders. They need to protect the empire or imperial family if something happens.
"We also believe support is necessary. Without support, a month at most would be our limit."
Actually, we could survive about half a year without commissions.
However, that's only possible because all members would return home, meaning the mercenary group wouldn't have expenses.
In a situation like this where regular food expenses are needed, it's essentially all outgoing money.
Before Rex could respond, a beastkin grumbled.
"Humans demand money even for saving the world. No wonder there's no unity despite your numbers."
Kazha chuckled at that remark.
"The defeated beast cubs have plenty to say? Should I put a collar on you after all this time?"
Provoked, the beastkin extended its claws.
"Human! I'll put a hole in your neck right now!"
Not to be outdone, Kazha also clenched his fist and glared at the beastkin.
"Try it if you can. But if you lose, I'll put a collar around your neck."
Just when I wondered why it was so quiet, the psychological warfare immediately began.
Mercenaries typically don't hold back, and beastkin are naturally honest and aggressive, so this level of confrontation was routine when they met.
When working together, actual fights were frequent.
At that moment.
"That's enough."
An immense energy pressed down on the entire restaurant.
The noble elves, boisterous dwarves, confident beastkin, and unruly mercenaries—all fell silent.
Overwhelmed by the dominant power, they naturally closed their mouths and focused on him.
"Regarding support, I will arrange for meals to be provided. Will that suffice?"
The mercenary group representatives briefly looked at each other before nodding in unison.
*
I left after finishing the remaining meeting and meal at the restaurant.
The zones were divided more smoothly than expected, and the actual entry would be decided after Captain Karen arrived.
The people inside walked off in groups with those they were close to, beginning to plan how to approach their assigned zones.
Amidst this, I quietly left the restaurant alone.
"I'll handle things once the captain-nim arrives. Until then, I should rest a bit..."
As I stretched lightly and prepared to move, something warm and fluffy wrapped around my waist.
Coiled around my waist was a black tail.
As soon as I saw the tail, I recognized its owner and looked behind me.
"Long time no see. Have you been well?"
A woman with cat ears, about two heads taller than me, approached.
She even had breasts large enough to rest two of my heads on.
"Likewise. Long time no see? You still smell nice."
"Smell? I haven't washed all day and was just about to clean up... Anyway, have you been well?"
Black hair with brown skin.
It was Nero, deputy commander of the Beastkin Alliance's mobile unit.
True to her name, her eyes were yellow, making her look exactly like a black cat to anyone who saw her.
Was this a point the developers blatantly aimed for?
And she always dressed so scantily, as if barely wearing clothes.
"By the way, you came too? I thought you wouldn't."
"I came after hearing Mia was coming. You haven't visited once since that previous commission."
"The Great Plains are too far to visit frequently."
"What a pity~ I want to see you often."
Nero naturally pulled me into a hug, holding me like a doll.
Without resisting, I asked her while being held.
"Which area did you guys get?"
"We got the side with the fewest trees. That area is easier for us to move through."
"Really? As a cat, wouldn't you prefer higher places?"
"You know that's a terribly speciesist remark, right? If you said that to another beastkin, you would have been resisted."
As if punishing me, Nero repeatedly stretched and released my cheeks.
"By the way, where are you going, Mia?"
"We also got the most straightforward path. The usual route we always take when entering the forest's mid-section."
"Ah~ Picked the comfortable option? The other factions all seem to be thinking about pioneering new paths to make some profit from this opportunity."
I would have thought the same if I had the luxury.
With this level of combat power, exploring the forest would allow handling most situations, making it a good opportunity for development. But since half our force is exhausted, choosing the easier path is correct.
"Everyone's tired, so there's no choice. More importantly, how's the mood among the beastkin? You guys don't usually like this sort of thing."
"Surprisingly, everyone seems understanding... Probably because we suffered greatly in the previous war against the demon tribe."
"That's fortunate then."
Nero gently lifted me up and buried her face in my neck.
In that position, she sniffed a few times before asking.
"By the way, still haven't mated? Is it because there aren't any strong enough males to make Mia feel safe enough to get pregnant?"
A somewhat vulgar term came through, but I understood.
Beastkin vocabulary tended to be quite direct, so I was accustomed to it.
"Probably, as you said? I don't know much about beastkin."
"That's probably right. Originally, beastkin enter estrus when a suitable mate appears. But Mia has never had it come."
"By the way, did you learn anything about wolf beastkin characteristics?"
"Ah, about that, I looked into it a bit..."
Just as Nero was about to answer. She stopped speaking and frowned with displeasure.
"Mia, go quickly. Commander Leo-nim is coming out."
Nero urgently tried to send me away first, but the man approached faster.
Leo, the lion beastkin commander of the mobile unit, blocked my path.
"So when are you planning to marry me? You'd be my thirteenth wife, you know."