Shadowed
After a thoroughly satisfying day of rest, we set out straight for the dungeon.
The moment we stepped across the threshold of the Wyrm Mountains, a dizzying, garish riot of colors engulfed us, as if we had crossed into an entirely different realm. Dark and vivid hues clashed without the slightest hint of harmony, chaotically bleeding into one another like the aposematic warnings of venomous beasts—a sight that stirred an instinctive, primal sense of danger and dread.
"B-Brother..."
Vivian, who had spent the walk up exclaiming how beautiful the forest was, now clung to my waist with a trembling voice.
"Vivian. From here on, you can't go wandering off on your own. And don't touch a single thing without permission."
"Y-Yes... I wasn't planning on it anyway."
She shook her head vigorously as if the very thought were preposterous. I patted her on the back and turned toward Muriel, Rebecca, and Lira.
"Can you lead us to the coordinates I gave you?"
"...Lord Alzen. I have never visited the Wyrm Mountains myself," Muriel replied calmly. "While I did conduct some preliminary research, there are undeniably uncertainties. I would welcome your guidance."
Rebecca chimed in with immediate agreement.
"Same here. I've heard plenty of stories about the Wyrm Mountains, but I've never ventured into this area before."
"Is that so? Hmm... Well, fair enough. I'll point the way as we go."
As I took a swig of liquor and stumbled forward into the lead, Lira pursed her lips, her expression caught between doubt and disbelief.
"Will he really be all right...?"
Seeing Lira's worried face, Rebecca gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, don't worry so much. Lord Alzen might look like that, but he's dependable. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Don't let the rumors cloud your judgment. Just keep your eyes open from now on—you're in for quite a surprise."
Having apparently grown quite close, Rebecca and Lira were practically shoulder to shoulder, their hushed whispers carrying clearly to my ears. When I glanced back with a mild glare, Rebecca only offered a cheeky grin, while Lira flushed with an awkward grimace.
"Good grief..."
"Lord Alzen. The terrain is rugged; allow me to support you."
"Yeah. Much obliged."
Leaning lightly against Muriel's shoulder, I peered across the dense, sprawling forest, got my bearings, and slowly pressed forward.
The escort knight, Lira, lost count of how many times she had gasped in sheer astonishment.
"Skreeeech! Skreeee?!"
"Skrraaaa!"
A flock of bat-shaped monsters that had lunged down with ferocious intent suddenly let out panicked shrieks, thrashing their wings before fleeing even faster than they had arrived. It was all due to the strange, nameless white flower Alzen had ordered them to carry.
"Rebecca. You see that dark patch on the ground up ahead?"
"Yes. I see it."
"That's a man-eating plant. People call it a 'Headhunter'... Looks like we've entered the territory of plant-type monsters from this point on. Muriel, time for you to do your thing."
"Understood."
Issuing commands while leaning on Muriel, Alzen swayed slightly and gestured toward Rebecca.
"Wait, me? My Lord?"
"Yeah. You take over supporting me."
"Um... understood."
Rebecca tried her best to look composed, but Lira didn't miss it—the subtle flush creeping up Rebecca's cheeks.
Wait, could Rebecca actually be...?
Filing away this juicy tidbit to interrogate her with later, Lira kept her eyes locked onto Alzen as he strode forward without hesitation.
He spotted hidden plant-type monsters from an incredible distance, directed Muriel to sever spores and venom-spewing vines before they could react, and saw straight through deceptive illusions and disguised flora with effortless ease. Thanks to him, the entire party traversed the mountain slopes with tranquil, almost leisurely comfort, untouched by crisis.
I already knew he wasn't the monster the rumors made him out to be, but still...
Over the past few days of travel, Lira had come to understand Alzen Stanasila reasonably well—to the point where she had even developed a fond sense of familiarity toward him. His casual speech, relaxed demeanor, easygoing nature, and the considerate breadth of vision that extended care even to someone of her standing made it impossible to dislike him. His blunt phrasing was a trifle by comparison.
Even so, she had honestly remained skeptical of his actual competence—even after hearing his thundering declaration echo through the Duke's Castle.
Setting his personality aside, viewed objectively, Alzen was nothing more than an idle scoundrel who spent all day pickled in booze and tobacco smoke. During their travels, he had occasionally flaunted bits of trivia, but it had all been the sort of superficial knowledge one could pick up anywhere—hardly enough to impress an elite knight.
What he was demonstrating right now, however, belonged to an entirely different realm.
"Muriel. If you touch that vine, parasites will swarm out. Thrust from the opposite side."
"From this angle, My Lord?"
"Yeah. Right there. Perfect."
Thwack!
"Skreeeeaaak!"
"Kreeek! Skree!"
"Whoa..."
Look at that. He had just casually used one monster to neutralize another.
It was impossible not to be in awe. Rote knowledge and real-time tactical judgment on a dangerous field were supposed to be completely separate matters, yet he identified and turned the monsters' attacks and mimicry against them as easily as if he had walked these paths dozens of times before.
Even more staggering was the caliber of information tumbling casually from his mouth: the ecology, behaviors, distinct weaknesses, and even the mating cycles of indigenous beasts and monsters. These were high-value secrets an ordinary person had no business knowing.
To an adventurer, they were closely guarded trade secrets worth a fortune; to a magician, they were profound academic insights worthy of boastful lectures; to an alchemist, they were the raw inspiration for groundbreaking recipes. Though Lira had been raised a commoner before earning her knighthood—often mocked for a lack of aristocratic refinement—her years serving in the Duke's Castle gave her more than enough perspective to recognize the staggering worth of what he was sharing. And because she understood its value, her shock was magnified tenfold.
...A knower of past and future, a prophet... an avatar of the divine. Could those outrageous rumors actually be true?
A sudden shiver traced a path down her spine. Lira stared at Alzen with newly opened eyes, and within those brown irises, the seeds of genuine reverence began to take root.
After scaling the mountain slopes for several hours, we halted in the midst of a brilliantly vibrant, densely wooded grove to take a breather and grab a quick bite. Having long since cleared the territory of the carnivorous plants, no immediate threats lingered in our vicinity.
"Still, Dear Sister, I'm amazed you kept up dressed like that."
"Ha! What do you take me for? A stroll like this is child's play."
To my surprise, Weller—whom I had expected to suffer the most—looked as energetic as ever. Even her needlessly voluminous dress was pristine, without a single tear or smudge of dirt.
"Did you cast some kind of spell?"
"Hmph. The flora and beasts simply parted of their own accord before my peerless nobility and grace."
"......"
I stared at her with unadulterated contempt, but Weller merely tilted her chin up with shameless pride. How does one even acquire a mindset like that? Was this the average mental state of an aristocrat in this world? If so, I wanted no part of it.
"Whatever, that's not what matters right now. Muriel, what's the situation?"
"......"
Muriel, who had been nibbling on bread with quiet dignity, politely covered her mouth, swallowed, and only then spoke.
"They are still trailing us. They appear quite capable."
"I figured... What a pain."
Given how conspicuously our party had traveled, I had anticipated something like this, but now that a tail had actually attached itself, deciding how to handle them was a headache.
"I-I'm so sorry, Brother... It's my fault..."
Seeing my scowl, Vivian shrank back and offered a tearful apology.
"How many times do I have to tell you it's not your fault?"
"B-But... I spoke out of turn back in town..."
"Even if you hadn't, someone would've followed us anyway. Nobles don't hike into the Wyrm Mountains for a casual stroll."
"The young master speaks the truth, My Lady," Rebecca chimed in with a gentle smile. "Adventurers hunting for quick fortunes are like swarms of hungry ghosts. The moment they catch even a whiff of opportunity, they descend in droves."
With both Rebecca and me reassuring her, Vivian's expression finally softened a fraction.
"...Should we just slaughter them all? Muriel, can you handle it?"
"Speaking objectively... that may prove somewhat difficult."
"Even if Rebecca and Lira join you?"
"Yes. Their numbers are substantial, and they appear thoroughly accustomed to fighting in the Wyrm Mountains." Muriel paused briefly, meeting my gaze with a grave expression. "However, if we commit our full strength, defeat is not a possibility."
"Which means you're assuming we'd sustain casualties, right?"
"Indeed."
"Ugh, what a drag... Oh, right. What if we factor Dear Sister Weller into our combat strength?"
"...That would likely reduce our casualties somewhat."
So even if we threw every card we had onto the table, securing a clean, casualty-free victory was out of the question. Taking injuries right before conquering a dungeon—where being in peak condition was paramount—was the last thing I wanted, even if the dungeon itself was supposed to be a breeze.
"...Fine. Let's talk to them."
"Talk... My Lord?"
"If there's room to negotiate, that works out fine, doesn't it? It's not like we're short on gold coins."
"...Understood. I shall initiate contact."
"Can you bring back just their leader? Bring a couple of extra bodies along if necessary. Oh, and if they refuse to listen, kill a few to make a point. Slipping away shouldn't be hard for you, right?"
"Naturally. In fact, that is my specialty."
Ssshhk.
Muriel melted into the shadows, vanishing without a trace. The rest of us leisurely tore into our bread and dried meat, waiting for her return.
Just as everyone finished their meal, the darkness shifted.
"I have returned, Lord Alzen."
"Hm? Ahh... right..."
I gave a sloppy wave with a loose grin, prompting Muriel's brow to knit slightly.
"...You appear quite intoxicated. Are you well?"
"Yeah... no problem. Just a little buzzed. Urgh..."
Leaning heavily against Muriel, I dragged myself to my feet. A faint metallic tang of blood drifted off her, suggesting she had indeed put a few of them down, just as I'd instructed. The fact that an all-out battle hadn't erupted despite that meant they were wary of our strength as well. More importantly, it meant their cohesion was loose—they were mercenaries who didn't give a damn if their peers died.
It had been a selfish gamble on my part, but fortune was on our side. A very useful piece of information.
Rustle!
Right then, the dazzling, kaleidoscopic foliage parted, and a group clad in dark attire emerged into the clearing.
"To think an esteemed noble lord wishes to negotiate with the likes of us—what an immense honor."
The figure who stepped forward with an air of authority, projecting her voice to make her leadership clear, was surprisingly a woman. And what was more, she possessed an unmistakably familiar, striking face.
"Well, well."
...I certainly hadn't expected to bump into one of Origin World's signature villain heroines all the way out here.