Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: A Golden Opportunity
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Captain, what happened?”
“Did the garrison bastards spout some more nonsense?”
The Neokalitz Unit was filled with a fundamental distrust for the Erkal Garrison.
After all, they were the ones who dumped all the real work in Erkal onto them.
Tarone had taken a part of the Black Bear carcass from the forest to meet with the Erkal Garrison Commander.
He intended to show him the corpse and raise the suspicion of demonic energy that Demian had mentioned.
Of course, even if it wasn't demonic energy, the priority was to understand the abnormal phenomena currently occurring.
Tarone spoke.
“First, we seal the Bronserian Forest. For the time being, not only the herbalists but we too will refrain from entering the forest and observe the situation.”
“What? Does that mean there will be no operations for a while?”
A strange look of joy appeared on the face of squad leader Aaron.
The Neokalitz Unit's main mission was to subjugate the monsters in the Bronserian Forest.
But if the forest was sealed, that meant they had nothing to do.
Tarone nodded.
“We’ll have to deal with any monsters that come out of the forest, but for now, it’s safe to say there are no operations.”
“Hooah!”
“It’s a break!”
Watching his delighted subordinates, Tarone simply turned away.
It was a break, just as the men said.
‘But if that really is demonic energy…’
He had no idea if they could handle it with their own strength.
It felt like walking on a frozen river covered in thin ice.
Tarone let out a small sigh.
This news quickly spread throughout the entire unit.
“The forest is sealed?”
“So no operations for a while?”
“That’s right. We’ll handle any monsters that come out of the forest, but other than that, we’ll just be training within the unit.”
“Hahahahahaha! So a day like this can come!”
“Phew… that’s a relief. I was worried because so many people have been getting injured lately.”
“I don’t know how long we’ll be resting, but I think it’s important to treat our injuries during this time.”
The unit members discussed the situation among themselves.
But the common thread was their joy over the forest being sealed.
Ah, with the exception of one person.
“…It can’t be.”
Demian sat down, his face looking as if the sky had fallen.
Kyle approached and asked.
“Why the long face?”
“…It’s nothing.”
He couldn’t very well say he was sad that there were no operations because the forest was sealed.
As the unit members said, many were injured.
They needed time to heal.
‘Fine, that’s all well and good… but why now of all times…’
The forest must have been sealed to investigate the abnormal situation occurring within.
To go as far as sealing it…
‘It means they mentioned the demonic energy.’
There was a chance that priests or mages would get involved.
But regardless, the situation was bound to worsen with time.
Even if a search party moved in, without a subjugation force, they couldn't possibly go deep inside.
‘Ultimately, they need clear evidence of a monstrosity imbued with demonic energy…’
Was there nothing to do now but wait?
Demian remained silent, observing the situation.
It seemed he would have to wait and see what happened after the initial search party entered the forest.
‘If I move rashly, I might just draw strange looks.’
In times like these, it was best to just stay put.
Though it left him with a sense of regret.
“…Sigh.”
Demian could only let out a sigh.
But just then.
“Huh? Who are those guys?”
“What? Hey? Why are the garrison guys here?”
The Erkal Garrison was visible outside the barracks.
A dozen or so garrison soldiers entered the unit’s grounds and headed for Tarone’s office.
The unit members in the barracks watched them with puzzled expressions.
What were those lazy bums doing all the way out here?
“What can I do for you?”
“The temple has agreed to cooperate following your report. They say they can actually feel a malevolent energy from the carcass.”
“…”
Tarone’s expression hardened at the Erkal Garrison Commander’s words.
Was it really related to demonic energy, just as Demian had said?
But the garrison commander shook his head.
“Nothing is certain yet. It’s just a suspicion. So, the temple is dispatching a priest to enter the forest with us for a reconnaissance mission…”
“Surely you’re not asking us to conduct the reconnaissance mission?”
Tarone preempted him.
Something about the way things were going felt off.
But fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
The garrison commander said.
“It’s not that. It’s just that this is such an unfamiliar situation, and we’d like to bring along the soldier who knows about demonic energy.”
“Hmm…”
A slight furrow appeared on Tarone’s brow.
The garrison commander’s request was not unreasonable.
It was a special situation, and they were requesting the help of the soldier who had detected it.
Normally, he would have to accept.
“However, that soldier is a new recruit who just arrived. I’m a bit reluctant to send a rookie with no field experience.”
“But he is a soldier, is he not? Besides, didn’t he discover this because he went into the forest?”
“That is…”
The garrison commander had the justification on his side.
Refusing was possible, but there was no telling what disadvantages might follow.
Tarone silently looked at the Erkal Garrison Commander.
And…
“Bring me Demian.”
Tarone said quietly.
He intended to ask for his opinion before making a decision.
‘If he deems it dangerous and refuses…’
He was determined not to send him, no matter what.
Patrolling and scouting the forest was the garrison’s job, after all.
“Glory to the Kingdom!”
Demian saluted as he entered the office.
Tarone explained the conversation he’d had with the garrison commander to Demian.
“If you don’t want to, you can refuse.”
This short sentence.
It gave the young man the choice.
However.
“I’ll go!”
“…Huh?”
Demian answered without a hint of hesitation.
Tarone’s eyes widened in surprise.
“If I can be of help, I would very much like to go.”
Demian made his stance perfectly clear.
* * *
It hadn’t been long since the Erkal Garrison had entered the commander’s office.
Suddenly, an administrative clerk ran into the barracks and said.
“Demian. The commander is calling for you.”
“…Me?”
“Why’s he calling you?”
“How should I know?”
Demian shrugged at Kyle’s question and followed the clerk to the office.
“Glory to the Kingdom!”
Normally, he didn’t bother with salutes.
The atmosphere in the unit was relaxed.
But with an outsider(?) present, he couldn’t show a lack of discipline.
As Demian saluted, Tarone smirked and lightly placed his right fist over his left breast.
“Demian, the Erkal Garrison has requested your assistance in the upcoming reconnaissance mission.”
Tarone summarized his conversation with the garrison commander for Demian.
“It seems they need the help of the one who noticed the abnormal situation… A priest will be accompanying them, so if you don’t want to, you don’t have to go.”
‘I can go into the forest?’
In that instant, a strange light shone in Demian’s eyes.
He had just been feeling disappointed about the forest being sealed.
Demian thought.
‘A chance… a golden opportunity!’
If he let this chance slip by, he would surely regret it for a long time to come.
“I’ll go!”
“…Huh?”
Demian knew.
He knew Tarone didn’t want to send him.
He was a rookie, and Tarone must have judged the forest to be dangerous right now. But…
‘If I don’t go now, it might be too late.’
The countless potent medicinal herbs in the forest.
‘And if I go, there’s a higher chance of finding the monstrosity imbued with demonic energy.’
If so, they could form a subjugation force and quickly clear the Bronserian Forest.
‘Once safety is secured, I can immediately contact the Hamel Merchant Guild and secure a stake here.’
If they were the type to read the future political landscape, they would catch on even if he just dropped a few hints.
Demian grinned and said.
“If I can be of help, I would very much like to go.”
With that, he sealed the deal.
Unlike the smiling garrison commander, Tarone’s eyes wavered.
With Demian himself saying this, any grounds for refusal had completely vanished.
“…Is that so.”
Tarone, letting out a small sigh, nodded.
“Then so be it. You may return. I’ll inform you of the schedule once it’s decided.”
“Yes, sir.”
Demian calmed his pounding heart and returned to the barracks.
‘…I did it.’
This was enough.
However, after the Erkal Garrison left, Demian was summoned by Tarone once again.
* * *
The front paw of a monster with long, sharp claws.
Decomposition had already begun, and a rotten smell started to emanate from it.
“…It is imbued with a malevolent energy.”
“How could this be…!”
“Don’t tell me a black magician has appeared?”
Black magicians were thought to have been wiped out in the kingdom.
Of course, everyone knew.
A small number of surviving black magicians were still carrying on their lineage.
But that was all.
They no longer kept a check on them, as they were incapable of doing anything.
“…Could it be that they are trying to make a comeback?”
“That, we do not know. But if they truly are trying to return… then this time, we must pull them out by the roots for good.”
A priest’s robe of white cloth, embroidered with golden thread.
Wrinkles born from the passage of time, and a white cap atop shortly cropped hair.
The priest, wearing a necklace with a cross, spoke resolutely.
He then looked at the priestess before him.
“Priestess Claire.”
“Yes, Archpriest.”
Neatly tied platinum-blonde hair.
Brown eyes and snow-white skin.
The Archpriest looked at Claire and spoke softly.
“Go and find out the source of this malevolent power. May the grace of God always be with you.”
A staff with a cross inscribed within a circle.
Claire, holding the staff with both hands and touching it to her forehead in prayer, finally raised her head.
“I will find it without fail.”
She would surely vanquish the evil power.
Claire’s eyes filled with determination.
* * *
Preparations for the Bronserian Forest reconnaissance moved quickly.
Tarone, who had come to the forest entrance with Demian, asked.
“…Are you sure you’ll be alright on your own?”
“Yes, I’m actually better off alone.”
Demian replied.
The day Demian agreed to join the Erkal search party, the unit was in a complete uproar.
Tarone had declared he couldn't send the rookie Demian alone and was going to dispatch ten senior unit members with him.
However.
—*I think it would be better if I go alone.*
Demian had persuaded Tarone.
His reasoning was that if his seniors accompanied him, they would be forced to fight if a dangerous situation arose.
—*If things get dicey, I’ll run away on my own.*
Demian’s abilities had already been proven to some extent through training.
Tarone judged that he was more than capable of escaping on his own.
“Remember, combat is absolutely forbidden.”
“Don’t worry. And I’ll be smart about it and gather plenty of herbs too.”
He had also persuaded Tarone by using the excuse of gathering herbs for the injured unit members.
Faced with Demian's persistent persuasion, Tarone eventually allowed him to join the search party alone.
Nevertheless.
“…Hoo.”
Seeing Demian actually heading off with the search party by himself, he felt uneasy.
Tarone let out a small sigh and urged Demian to be safe, again and again.
Demian saluted and said.
“I will return safely.”
And with that, the search party departed for the forest.
Tarone was left behind.
“…It seems we’ve gotten a very peculiar rookie.”
The squad leader, Aaron, said from beside him.
Tarone nodded silently in agreement. He then stood there, gazing blankly in the direction the search party had gone.