Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 11. After the Dungeon. (1)
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Viola's stomach was in knots. Not only had she lost Leader Allen, but her loyal Alex had vanished too. On top of that, the mercenary corps had suffered heavy losses from the ambush, and sorting it all out was giving her a splitting headache.
...I shouldn't have given that order...!
She regretted not going herself, but it was too late to turn back. In one moment of error, she'd lost two precious people, and the mission had plunged into uncertainty.
They'd recovered as many bodies as possible, but they didn't have the manpower to carry them all. Of course, for those in the corps who wanted to retrieve their comrades' remains, they did so. ...But in a dungeon where just protecting yourself was a struggle, no one was dragging around someone else's corpse. They might end up the same way.
The mercenaries placed a gold coin in the mouths of their close comrades who'd died. For them to use as fare on the road to the afterlife. That was how mercenaries prayed for the dead.
Viola decided to get some sleep first. She needed to recover her strength. She lay down on her own bedroll and closed her eyes.
The group woke from their brief slumber to witness the gruesome scene from last night all over again. The floor was still littered with unremoved entrails and bits of flesh, blood pooling in spots here and there.
Viola rinsed her mouth with a sip of water, then gathered the remaining leaders. She wanted their opinions on what to do next.
"We no longer have the ability to continue the mission. We should head back."
"I agree."
With only two leaders left besides herself, they both suggested turning back immediately. But Viola couldn't decide easily.
This was a mission involving ten top-rankers. Even with the damage from the ambush, if they retreated without even sticking to the plan, how much would it tarnish their reputation? ...She could already hear the endless mockery from those top-rank leaders who couldn't stand seeing others succeed.
"...We're scheduled to return starting on the third day anyway. So let's push on just one more day, and if it feels off, we pull back right away. We might even run into the missing group. What do you think?"
It wasn't as if they couldn't continue the mission at all. They had to show they'd done all they could if they wanted to save face with the marquis's house.
The other two leaders seemed to grasp her situation and nodded in agreement.
And so, the group decided to proceed with the original plan. Of course, everyone grumbled inwardly, but no one dared voice it openly in front of a top-ranker.
They started down the passage again. ...But they encountered something completely different from anything before.
The monsters they'd fought fiercely just yesterday were all limp and lifeless. No visible wounds upon inspection. It wasn't just one or two; the scene repeated everywhere. It felt like stumbling upon a mass suicide site.
...What is this...?
Even Viola didn't grasp the meaning right away. Then a thought flashed through her mind.
Could the queen be dead—?
Allen had said they just needed to take out the queen, and the rest would handle themselves. ...And this must have been what he meant by that.
Who killed the queen, though? Naturally, the group that had been torn apart at the passage entrance was the most likely. ......The chances that the missing squad had pulled it off were slim to none.
It was an incredibly remote possibility. Normally, Viola would have dismissed it outright as nonsense, but for some reason, this time she didn't want to deny that faint hope.
It was a strange feeling. Somehow, she had this odd sense that Squad 522 hadn't died—that they'd survived to the end. She, who should have stuck to reason, was swayed by emotion.
...But a feeling was just a feeling, after all.
They never encountered the missing group. Viola let go of any lingering hope that they might be alive. ...Even if they were, they wouldn't meet.
In any case, the third day's mission was over. Return march started tomorrow.
"We're camping here tonight. We head back first thing tomorrow, so keep that in mind."
Everyone's faces lit up as if they'd been waiting for those words.
Viola felt a lingering unease, but she shook it off and lay down.
- Knight! Knight—!!!
The mercenaries jolted awake at the clamor.
The watchman who'd raised the alarm pointed down the passage and shouted to Viola, who had grabbed her sword and stood.
"L-Light! There's light down there—!"
Light—?
It was true. Faint, but flickering light was visible, heading straight toward them.
Definitely not a monster. So one of two options: Allen's missing group, or the one they'd split from. If the passage looped like a ring, they couldn't rule out meeting the split group again. ...Though they should be asleep by now.
Viola ordered the other corps to hold position and prepared only her own squad to move out.
"Let's go."
Viola's Mercenary Corps hurried toward the light. The two lights rapidly closed in.
The opposing group slowly came into view. ...And Viola was struck speechless by a blunt shock to the back of her head.
It was truly, genuinely, the Allen squad she'd thought dead. The ones who'd vanished without a trace—they'd come back alive. For real.
"Captain...!"
And there was even Captain Alex, who'd gone to rescue Allen.
Viola's corps rushed toward them. Leader Allen tossed a casual greeting her way, but he looked in rough shape. ...No, the whole squad seemed on the verge of collapse.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when several members crumpled to the ground. The mage holding the magic wand fainted, and the light snuffed out.
"Support them all. Bring them back. Hurry—!"
A miraculous return—.
Viola felt
the miracle of Squad 522.
After their long ordeal, the group finally returned to the city and spent a restful night. Viola rose early the next dawn, bathed thoroughly, and greeted the rising sun.
Gazing at the blazing red sun, she felt deep in her bones that she was truly back.
She'd been a mercenary for over a decade, exploring plenty of dungeons, but this one's difficulty easily ranked in her top three. Sure, with a proper first-tier corps, the rating might differ, but it was undeniably tough.
...Anyway, we made it through safe and sound. That's what matters.
As she soothed her stomach, rested overnight, with some tea before breakfast, someone knocked on her door. She thought it was a maid announcing food, but it was an unexpected visitor.
"Leader."
It was Captain Alex. After rejoining and coughing nonstop until they reached the city, a good night's rest had him looking perfectly fine again.
"How's your body?"
"All good now. Sorry for worrying you."
"No need to apologize. I gave the reckless order."
"No, it wasn't reckless at all."
The captain seemed eager to say more. Viola had her own pile of questions she hadn't dared ask her ailing subordinate.
"Sit there."
She nodded to the seat across from her. He sat promptly, clasped his hands, and rested his chin on them atop the table.
"What the hell happened? Why'd you disappear? What was that hole?"
"They said it was a feeding chute. Larva monsters shove food in there, and it flows down to the queen's chamber."
"And you killed the queen there."
"Yes."
Alex nodded vigorously without hesitation, pride shining on his face.
Viola had heard in the dungeon that they'd killed the queen. She just hadn't known the details. ...And now they were coming to light.
"It was filled with slime up to our knees. ...To put it bluntly, like falling into a latrine. Sorry, that's the only comparison that fits. ...Anyway, there was this massive queen monster. And we killed it. ...Well, mostly the magic did the work."
"...Hard to picture from words alone."
"Even I, who fell in and got out, wonder if it was a dream."
The faint smile on the captain's face faded. Something important was coming.
"Leader."
"Yeah."
"Capture Leader Allen. No matter what."
"...What?"
His eyes held conviction bordering on fanaticism.
"Going to rescue that man was the best choice I'll never regret. Even if I'd died in the process."
Viola stared at him, momentarily speechless.
"You have to bring that man into the fold. Absolutely."
"...That good?"
The captain nodded with utter certainty.
"He'll definitely become the greatest leader."