Chapter 150

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 150

Chapter Title: Sandwind Hill (4)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mentrus's adventure party had surprisingly all survived.

Not only that, but even the scholars from Issus Academy and the treasure hunters they'd hired for the commission had all made it through alive, which was quite the feat.

Even Mentrus was taken aback by that.

Considering how the Issus Academy folks and the treasure hunters bickered constantly, it seemed like infighting would erupt at any moment.

Right from the start, hadn't the treasure hunters suggested moving elsewhere because there were venom scorpions nearby on the day of the incident, only for the Issus people to ignore them?

With just that, you'd think they'd be hurling insults and coming to blows...

"This is fortunate! You're alive too!"

"Back then, I thought you were the unluckiest adventurer alive. Who could've guessed a dust sand rabbit would pop up there?"

Surprisingly, the treasure hunters didn't hold it against the Issus Academy people.

It was only natural.

Not even the treasure hunters knew about that dust sand rabbit's traits!

There were no casualties besides, and the sandstorm's ferocity had been far beyond expectations, leaving them with no real choices.

Hearing the story, Mentrus felt a bit unjustly treated, but...

'Either way, we can carry out the mission now!'

Could things really go this smoothly?

As Mentrus let out a sigh of relief...

"Hey, Captain. Who's this group that came with you?"

Seeing how impeccably clean they stayed in this sandy desert, they might be formidable experts. At the squad member's cautious question, Mentrus cleared his throat and replied.

"They're the ones who saved me after I got injured in the storm. Introduce yourselves. It's the White Whale Mercenary Corps."

"White Whale Mercenary Corps?"

"The famous ones?"

"The ones who blocked a Dimenson Reverse phenomenon twice in just their first year...?"

"Really them?"

Meeting the White Whale Mercenary Corps here of all places! The squad members were stunned, and the treasure hunters were much the same.

But the most shocked were others.

"Wh-White Whale Mercenary Corps!!"

"I-I never dreamed I'd see you here! Oh, damn you, God of Wisdom!"

The Issus Academy scholars dispatched with them rushed toward the White Whale Mercenary Corps, looking ready to burst into tears.

Their emperor-welcoming fervor left even the mercenary captain, Jun, flustered.

'What... why are they...?'

He was briefly bewildered, but Issus Academy people were always hard to fathom sober anyway.

These were the types who'd trust a prisoner who knew ancient tongues in ancient ruins and summon an orc lord's spirit!

"H-Hello. I'm Jun, captain of the White Whale Mercenary Corps."

"We're thrilled to meet you! We've heard so much about you at the academy! I've shared plenty myself!"

"Indeed! Meeting someone who was there for that glorious history firsthand!"

Schnaizer was there too, so why this reaction?

Though puzzled, Jun didn't bother trying to understand.

"Meeting like this is surprising and all... but Captain, what brings these folks here?"

The treasure hunters, ever sensitive about reward shares, asked.

Of course, with advance payments already made, it wasn't their concern...

Who knew what greed-blinded mercenaries might pull during the mission?

The treasure hunters weren't naive enough to trust fame alone.

A faint suspicion flickered in their rational gazes.

"That's settled. Besides, they're on good terms with the Altas Adventure Party too. No need to worry about their credibility."

"Ahem... if you say so."

The Issus Academy people caught the implication and bristled, but Jun stopped them.

"Calm down. Anyway, why are you all stopped here?"

They stood atop ruins half-buried in sand.

The very ruins where Jun and his comrades had sought the 'World Tree sapling' lay dormant.

"Ah... There's an Irregular down there coiled up."

A treasure hunter pointed below and tossed a nearby stone.

Suddenly, a massive maw erupted from the sand, swallowing the spot whole where the stone fell.

"It's a Rage Worm."

"Judging by the size, an Irregular."

The others nodded at Jun's mutter.

The standard way to handle a regular Rage Worm was for one to play bait, then strike all at once when it lunged.

But this one's size was the problem.

"So we were debating how to deal with it."

"Poison's the only answer!"

"No poison kills something that huge! And do you think any desert monster lacks poison resistance?!"

As shouts flew between Issus scholars and treasure hunters, Jun sighed softly.

"Maya. Handle it."

"Just lure it up?"

"Yeah. And Eleanor."

"Got it."

Judging showing was better than explaining, Jun sent Maya first.

Maya strode across the sand like well-tended earth.

As she reached where the stone had been thrown...

"Whoa!"

"Danger!"

The late-reacting scholars and hunters yelled, but the Rage Worm struck faster.

The Rage Worm's assault was nullified by Maya's skill, followed by Jun and Eleanor's magic striking like lightning.

Bolts crashed from the sky, and Eleanor's holy golden spear pierced the beast clean through.

A bombardment-like assault.

The creature writhed in agony, its scream echoing, but the golden spear kept it from retreating into the sand.

Aiden then dashed out like the wind, linking up with Maya who'd pulled back briefly for a combo attack.

Aiden's charging strike sheared off two-thirds of its neck.

Maya's flying kick then slammed down on top.

Crack...

Thus, the massive head separated from the body, spewing transparent fluids...

"Tch, no skillbook drop. Not that a Rage Worm's skills are anything special."

Jun's disappointed tongue-click echoed in the silence.

"I-Indeed..."

"Their reputation is well-earned."

Given time, they could've taken it too, but not nearly as cleanly.

The treasure hunter who'd eyed the White Whale Mercenary Corps suspiciously scratched his head sheepishly.

'Hope I didn't stir up trouble for nothing?'

May they live up to their fame honorably!

The other issue, the ruins' entrance buried in sand, was effortlessly resolved by Jun's [Dig].

The gathered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠folks anew realized how convenient collaborating with a mage was, mirroring Mentrus's expression.

"We'll take point. Mages, cover from behind."

"Then we'll handle the rear."

Seeing them volunteer for danger, Aiden recalled a year ago.

-Jun, you bastard! What're you doing, not moving faster!

-That sluggish worm!

-Hey! Healing potions are out here!

-Where the hell's that Jun punk at!

Back when White Whale's captain was someone else.

Jun, constantly the mercenaries' punching bag, had changed so much.

Remembering, Aiden alone felt a surge of emotion, his eyes reddening.

"...What's wrong, Aiden?"

Jun noticed and tilted his head, but Aiden shook his.

"Got some sand in my eyes..."

"Oh. Want some water?"

"I'm fine!"

They entered the ruins.

Jun asked Mentrus first.

"Any precautions in these ruins?"

"Doesn't react to mana much. Magic should be fine."

Jun nodded at Mentrus's answer.

He remembered visiting here in-game, knowing the ruins well.

'Better show strength now while they're friendly!'

Moving cockily on praise could draw glares fast.

One slip causing casualties would ruin everything.

"Ho... fascinating."

"Can you see it? Looks like ancient elf traces, per the records."

"What could they have stored here?"

"Must've been vital to the elves. See these marks? Built after desertification. They erected this despite hard times."

Issus scholars eagerly photographed pillar inscriptions; treasure hunters checked traps and eyed hidden treasures.

'No traps here by design, so safe... Best loot's potion recipes maybe?'

Ancient elf potion recipes aided farming or enriched soil—famous in-game.

Nothing else noteworthy.

'This desert field was always poor for rewards.'

Field boss maybe?

But not meant to be hunted.

More a type-attack monster.

Needed mobile folks for that content...

'No need to greed now.'

Could try later. Felt risky presently.

"Straight this way."

Some time in, an adventurer guided using Hermes's authority, [Dawn of the Pilgrim], lighting the path.

"Dead end here..."

"Hidden mechanism probably."

"Wait. I'll check."

Party members and hunters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠split to find the wall-opening device.

"Here it is."

"Seems right. Nothing elsewhere."

"Not a trap?"

"Hold on..."

A treasure hunter scanned with a monocle artifact that pierced traps.

"No linked traps. Just connected to the door; no other nodes."

"Good. Enter."

After Jun's display, everyone did their best in roles.

Rumble... The stone chamber door opened.

"That... a gem?"

"Wait."

Scanning again, the man frowned.

"Mage. Mana flows from that gem. Linked to those statues..."

"Golems, then."

"Figures..."

Faces soured.

Golems resisted magic, tricky for mages.

"Way to cut mana flow?"

The scholar shook his head at Mentrus.

"Impossible. Damage it, and the room collapses."

"Ugh..."

"No choice. Prep for battle..."

"Ah, hold up."

As one reached hesitantly for the gem, Jun halted them.

Not stopping there, Eleanor's holy magic unfurled too.

"I-Incredible..."

"What were our adventures even...?"

"Damn you, God of Wisdom!"

Power surging through them brought not fighting spirit, but shock and faint despair.

Living as the Mage of the Hero Party Chapter 151