Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: First Expedition (3)
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The first night at the mining fortress passed without incident. Aside from the two emergency bells that rang out in the middle of the night...
The bells had gone off because the night watch spotted suspicious movements.
Because of that, Allen, who had barely slept, kept yawning even as the morning sun rose. His head throbbed with fatigue... And he wasn't the only one—most of the others looked the same.
After breakfast, Charlotte gathered the leaders again. She scanned the faces of the other seven once over and spoke.
"From now on, we'll take turns scouting the surroundings, one team at a time. Someone felt the presence of monsters last night, so if that's true, there should be traces left behind. But don't go too deep. Just a quick look around. If a monster ambushes you, we'll come running right away."
"Got it."
With the plan set, the four mercenary corps drew lots for order. Charlotte Mercenary Corps went first, followed by Allen Mercenary Corps.
In turn, Charlotte Mercenary Corps headed out from the fortress first. The subjugation force leaders made a show of escorting them a short way out, eager to impress the lord's granddaughter. Allen joined the escort too, but he didn't fawn over her.
Watching from afar, the mercenaries snickered and gossiped among themselves.
"Bet she'd drop her pants if you asked."
"Like that bitch needs low-grade dick. Nah, she wants the high-end stuff."
"What about the Captain's dick?"
"...Who knows. But those two don't seem that close. The vibe's all wrong."
The mercenaries, quick to read the room, could already sense the stiff air between the two nobles.
"So the Captain's dick is mine then?"
"Dream on, you sloppy cunt."
"Baby dick, get lost."
The gossip ended as Allen and Aiden returned. Maybe because of the topic, everyone's eyes flicked to the captain's crotch before looking away.
Allen warned them not to drop their guard even in broad daylight. You couldn't rule out a monster attack, day or night.
He slowly patrolled the fortress again, checking every corner for anything missed.
Before long, Charlotte Mercenary Corps returned. They'd checked the eastern sector, but found nothing notable.
Next up was Allen. He had his corps gear up and head for the southern sector.
"Report anything suspicious right away."
Walking through the perpetually dim demon realm took guts, day or night. Even Allen felt a chill, half-expecting a monster to lunge from the shadows, but he pushed through.
Showing weakness here would make his men look down on him. For the sake of his mercenary business, he had to hold strong.
"Fuck, this place gives me the creeps."
"My asshole's tingling."
"You shitting yourself?"
"Smells like ass crack over here."
The banter died quick. They didn't have the energy to keep it up.
Then Captain Aiden spotted something and whistled sharply to get Allen's attention. The captain trudged over through the muck. Aiden was crouched down, nodding for him to look.
Ugh.
A foul stench hit as he got close. A massive pile of shit. Still soft, not hardened.
"...Monsters were here."
"Still mushy. Looks fresh from last night. So the watch reports weren't bullshit."
The night watch sightings confirmed real. Allen's hunch hit too.
Demon hounds prowling nearby, watching them—
"These bastards know human flesh now. They'll come back for sure."
Allen had his men count the footprints roughly.
"Looks like about six or seven."
At least that many then. Demon hound packs usually numbered around ten, so it fit.
"Got it. Let's head back."
They had proof the monsters were still lurking. No need to waste energy risking more.
Allen Mercenary Corps returned to the fortress. Allen went straight to Charlotte with what they'd found.
"Captain Charlotte. We found monster shit nearby. Fresh from last night... They're probably still prowling around."
"...I see. Good work."
Charlotte brushed it off and looked away. Allen stifled a laugh at her cold shoulder.
Thought she pissed herself again? Nope. Just disliked him.
Soon the third corps headed out. Bald Dolkin climbed the stone walls for watch.
The sun, high at noon, began its descent. The third returned, passing the baton to the fourth.
Allen's body was getting used to the demon realm's harsh air; he felt calmer than yesterday. But he kept tension high.
Even if only from the game, he knew the demon realm's terror better than anyone.
How many times had he wiped out from one careless moment—!
Sunset came quick. The demon realm dusk felt ominously eerie.
Before dark, the fourth corps returned from their scout. They'd found shit too, making a fuss reporting to Charlotte.
Cooking fires rose, and the subjugation force ate hearty before settling in.
The demon realm night, more alive than day—
Mercenaries could sleep anywhere, anytime. Even after daytime naps, they dozed, ready for alarms.
They'll come. No doubt. They're coming.
Allen was certain. Tonight or tomorrow, but they'd come.
Demon hounds were like that. You know it's hot, but you touch once anyway... And they'd tasted human meat successfully before. No quitting till burned bad.
Gazing at the darkening sky, the noble youth rolled onto his side. Beyond the crackling campfire, he saw the lord's granddaughter's small tent.
...She'll handle it. Yeah, this is for watching and learning. First real fight. Observe. Learn. Don't panic. You can do it. Yeah. You got this...
Staring at it, Allen's memory cut off.
···
Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong!
- Kieeeeeek, kiiiiieeeeeek!
Charlotte bolted awake in her fluffy wool bed from the clamor.
Ah—
Before her thoughts connected, eerie screams pierced her ears from everywhere. Her tent flap flew open as her captain burst in, frantic.
"Captain Charlotte, we're under attack—!"
She couldn't scold him for barging into a lady's tent uninvited. ...No, she didn't have the mind to.
Shed gone to bed resolved, but the real monster assault blanked her mind.
"Captain—!"
Her captain called again. Snapping to, Charlotte scrambled from bed and rushed outside.
Chaos outside. A hideous, terrifying monster tore into people. Its victim: an unarmed porter in cheap leather.
Crunch. The torso ripped open. She never knew human bodies tore so easy, held so much blood and guts.
...Ah...
Her confidence, brimming to the top, devoured by horror in an instant. Her head, packed with strategies, froze solid.
The subjugation force clustered together. Non-combatants shoved in the center, fighters circled them, battling the beasts.
"Kill them, huff huff, kill these fucking dogs—!!"
"My arm, my aaaarm—."
"Snap out of it, you fucks—! Flank, the flaank—!"
Mad howls from crazed mercenaries, screams of torn limbs, porters' deranged sobs... In the hell of cries, Charlotte crouched trembling among the porters, useless.
Nasmun demon hounds outnumbered expectations. Thought ten max, but nearly double—twenty. Even with thirty subjugators, they struggled. Command broken too, no quick turnaround.
Then Allen Mercenary Corps started shining, pushing back slowly. Allen, the famed coward youngest of Pomwell Traders, unlike other non-fighters, stuck near his men, barking orders.
"Dolkin, hold the front—! Olga, cover Dolkin from behind—! Don't take 'em all at once—! One by one, steady—! One at a time, take 'em out slowww—!!"
He wasn't gung-ho from the start. Early on, like Charlotte, he panicked, fumbling. Prepared, but monsters way scarier than imagined.
But death too close snapped him clear. So near it vanished from sight.
Not fully rational though. His mind spun wild with adrenaline.
"Borger, Borger you fuck—! Get your head straight—?! That fucking mutt just jumped from the side aaaah—! Wanna see us all die—?!"
Under Allen's lead, hounds dropped one by one. But too many. Picking off slowly, not enough for reversal yet.
Mercs tiring, mistakes mounting. Time critical.
Allen Mercenary couldn't win alone. Whole force needed to repel together. Before worse—fast—
Rage-red eyes scanning, Allen swept the chaos. Subjugation force flailing obvious. But Charlotte, who should direct from back, missing.
That fucking bitch, what the hell is she doing—!
Spotting her huddled shaking among porters.
"Fucking, shit, arm...!"
Jihu lived decent on Earth, but this idiot sight made curses spill.
He charged over, grabbed the bitch's collar, yanked her up. Shook her hard, spitting in her terrified face as he roared.
"You fucking cunt, snap out of it—?! We're all gonna die like this, you stupid bitch aaaah—!!"
Honestly, covering his own corps stretched him thin. No bandwidth for others. Sprawled like that? Rage boiled.
"A, ah, uh..."
Charlotte whimpered. Allen, fury peaked, slap! backhanded her hard. Head whipped.
Thwack.
"Move your ass, you whore—?! Go grab those fuckers nowww—!!"
He shoved her toward her corps, then bolted back to his. Urgent as hell.
The slap seemed to reboot her. Her mind flickered back.
"E, Em, Emily, Emiiiily—! Pollack's rear exposed! Pollack— rear— open—!! Cover it—! Don't you know your role—?!"
With their captain reading and directing fast, Charlotte Mercenary steadied. Subjugation force finally breathed.
Hounds, half dead, finally tucked tail.
Woooor... They ebbed away like tide. Mouths full of corpses, of course.
The sudden fight dragged long, then ended abrupt.
Subjugation force won. Repelled the assault.
...But no cheers for the bloody victory.
Just ragged breaths, sobs, and relief at surviving.