28 - Blessings Equally to Humans and Monsters
When we arrived at the place where the adventurers had vanished, we climbed down from the horse carriage and looked around.
In Darion, remote areas usually meant places where forests had grown.
It seemed there had once been an attempt to establish a pioneer village, but it had ended in failure due to monster attacks.
Strangely, forests where monsters had settled could not be burned down.
Even if the trees were cut down, they would grow back immediately.
Because of this, the speed at which the forests expanded was staggering.
Many scholars believed that the cause lay with the monsters.
Monsters settle in, and the forest absorbs mana to grow rapidly—.
From a management perspective, it must be a truly troublesome forest.
However, the first and second generations had different opinions on this.
The first generation said—.
『If we built a village here, we could sell a massive amount of lumber!』
The second generation agreed—.
『We could make a fortune in forestry. What a waste... In my time, I couldn't do it because some person had already cleared out the forests where monsters had settled.』
Truly the opinions of a powerful generation.
One could say they solved the problem of expanding forests in a single generation. Though the second generation lamented that his income sources decreased because of it.
After unloading our gear, we set out to investigate the surroundings.
We left the management of the luggage to one of the drivers, and the rest of us split into our group of four and Rondo-san's group of three to guard the luggage and scout the area.
Zelfie-san gave us instructions.
"We don't know where the monsters are. If anything happens, run away and head to the place I told you before. Also, since there are people still alive, keep the medical supplies ready and make sure meals can be served immediately."
The driver nodded, seemingly accustomed to this.
Personnel who support parties like this aren't very popular, but they hold a quite important position.
Normally, it's said that a six-person party should have at least one support person.
Ideally, having two is preferred.
When it comes to mercenaries, the number of support... rear-guard personnel increases even more.
It was considered normal for there to be more rear-guard support than mercenaries fighting on the front lines.
"Maybe we should get some support too," Rondo-san said, but Larf-san shook his head.
"Hire support for a group of three? Our take-home pay would drop. Usually, you'd add one once you've hit four or five people."
Zelfie-san cautioned the two of them.
"Don't let your guard down. First, we confirm the situation around us. Rotate the lookouts frequently. If anything unexpected happens, think and act for yourselves. Got it?"
You cannot save someone else's life if you cannot protect your own.
I felt like Zelfie-san had said that at the very beginning.
I glanced at Novem and Aria.
"Are you tired?"
Novem shook his head, but Aria looked pale.
Perhaps she was exhausted from the swaying of the carriage.
The second generation gave me advice.
『Let Aria rest. She'll probably refuse, but persuade her to rest once before taking her turn as lookout. Just tell her something like, "If someone doesn't rest now, you won't be able to rest next time," and she'll likely accept.』
Aria was currently spinning her wheels from being too eager.
I squeezed the orb once and decided to persuade Aria.
But before that, the third generation spoke up.
『Whoops, seek the leader's instructions first, Riel. Zelfie-san is the leader of this party right now.』
That was true.
Thinking so, I looked at Zelfie-san. She was looking at Aria with a worried expression.
(If she's that worried, she should have just taken her under her wing herself)
I made a suggestion to Zelfie-san.
"Zelfie-san, could we let Aria rest? At this rate, it'll be too late by the time we take a break."
"W-Wait!"
Aria, not accepting this, spoke up and tried to approach me. However, Novem stopped her with his staff.
"Zelfie-san is the one who decides."
"B-But..."
To the frustrated Aria, Zelfie-san said,
"It's true that if you don't rest now, the lookout rotation will be tough... Aria, you'll rest. Don't think you're just being pampered. When the time comes, you'll be on lookout. Rest up so you can do your job when that time arrives."
Zelfie-san's gaze seemed to say that no objections were permitted.
Aria reluctantly accepted.
(She probably thinks she was sidelined because she's weak)
The second generation was cold toward Aria.
『There's no point in comforting them at times like this. They'll just find their own reasons and brood over it. Truly troublesome.』
To that opinion, the first generation, who was more soft-hearted than usual, shot back.
『She's still young, so it can't be helped! Give her a break and look at the long term!』
The first generation was blatantly biased toward Aria, but from my perspective—.
(...I'm actually a year younger than Aria)
There were parts I couldn't agree with.
When adventurers hunt monsters, the general approach to increase efficiency is to enter the forest.
By "enter," I mean waiting near the entrance.
They prepare a decoy like me, lure the monsters out, and strike them as a group.
This allows them to fight in a wide-open area and wait for the lured monsters, enabling efficient combat.
However, if the decoy isn't skilled, it results in casualties.
Heading toward the forest, we searched for traces of the missing adventurers.
Near the forest, there were signs that a horse carriage had visited.
Traces of a campfire remained, and only the horse carriage, without horses, had been left behind.
I used my skill to check the surrounding situation.
(...There are no monsters, but there's no one here either)
Checking the inside of the carriage from a distance, I saw signs that it had been ransacked.
"There seem to be no monsters," I said.
When I said that, Zelfie-san looked at my face intently.
"What is it?"
"No, I wondered if maybe... Riel, do you have a skill? A support-type one, specifically."
During the subjugation of the bandit group, I had acted separately from Zelfie-san.
This was the first time I had shown her using a skill. Moreover, I hadn't even declared that I was using one.
The second generation said,
『That was pretty obvious. Well, it doesn't hurt or itch even if it's found out. Just affirm it here. Oh, and make sure to say it in a way that can be interpreted either way.』
Told that, I nodded to Zelfie-san.
"It is indeed a support-type skill. It's quite convenient."
Novem looked at me as if wondering what I thought, but he continued to keep watch on the surroundings.
Zelfie-san only muttered, "I see."
"In that case, let's investigate the carriage. Actually, there are bloodstains on the ground."
As the three of us walked closer, we found bloodstains.
Novem asked,
"Could it be bandits? Like they were attacked here?"
Zelfie-san approached and crouched down, shaking her head.
"No. There's really nothing around here. It's especially difficult for monsters to settle nearby. The amount of blood suggests some time has passed, so it's hard to say... but it looks like the horses were attacked."
Bones and other remains were scattered nearby.
The guild had reported that only the male instructor had died.
If they had died before we arrived, we wouldn't know, but perhaps they had fled.
However, Zelfie-san looked around.
"There are no signs of a struggle. Moreover, the inside of the carriage... it's been horribly ransacked."
The barrels and wooden boxes inside had been destroyed. It seemed the contents had been taken.
Destroying these, which weren't even locked, to take the contents makes the possibility of bandits low.
Furthermore, monster materials had been left behind.
Bandits would likely steal those to sell them somewhere.
It would also be better to take the horses for themselves rather than kill them, and above all, they would take the carriage itself.
"If it wasn't an internal dispute, then monsters are the most likely cause."
Searching the area, we looked for anything left behind.
But nothing was found.
"So they stayed around here, approaching the forest and fighting repeatedly. But looking at this, it feels less like there was a battle here and more like the carriage was attacked afterward."
Based on her experience, Zelfie-san analyzed the situation.
However, it was all just speculation.
The possibility that some stupid bandits did this couldn't be ruled out.
Novem asked Zelfie-san about the next move.
"What will we do now? Go back, or try venturing toward the forest?"
Zelfie-san thought for a moment and checked the position of the sun.
"Let's try going near the forest now. But we won't enter until tomorrow or later."
Deciding to observe the forest from a distance, we left the spot.
But in the end, even from a distance, there was no change in the forest.
Zelfie-san seemed to have visited often, and said it hadn't changed much from before.
However, she felt it had expanded slightly more than before.
When I checked inside the forest with my skill, I noticed an abnormality.
The second generation also—.
『Riel, should I tell her... that a labyrinth has been born?』
Night.
Returning to the campsite, I finished my meal and rested until it was time to rotate the lookout.
Nearby, Rondo-san and Rachel-san were lying down and sleeping.
Basically, I rarely hear of adventurers separating by gender.
Or rather, not many parties can afford two tents at a campsite to separate men and women.
If they have money, they might do that, but rookie or poor adventurers sleep in the same tent regardless of gender.
(This is my first experience camping in the wild)
I had never gone far out to defeat monsters until now.
Most likely, it was because I was thought to lack sufficient strength.
Then, the first generation's voice reached me.
『Riel, listen while staying as you are. The people sleeping next to you are adventurers. If you speak, they might wake up.』
The third generation told me about the current situation.
『It's not uncommon for labyrinths to occur inside forests. In fact, it's general. Forests, caves, and even uninhabited mansions or forts can accumulate mana and become labyrinths.』
We concluded that the cause of this incident was that the entrance to the forest had become a labyrinth.
This was because when I peeked into the forest with my skill, I could confirm something like a corridor.
Perhaps because it had only recently formed, the labyrinth wasn't deep.
Relatively close by, there was a place called the "Innermost Chamber" where treasures were kept.
Since there was one particularly large room, the ancestors' opinion was that it must be the place.
Zelfie-san seemed to agree, thinking that they had either wandered into the labyrinth or encountered trouble.
The sixth generation—.
『My skill is meaningless unless I get close. With Riel's current state, he probably can't distinguish friend from foe from outside the labyrinth.』
I checked from the outside, but the inside was only vaguely discernible.
It felt as if a mist were covering it, and I couldn't sense things clearly.
The fifth generation also—.
『My skill is the same. There's a limit from the outside. Though, for the current Riel, it's different. Now, for our opinion.』
Finally, as always, it was the fourth generation.
『The first generation says there's definitely something dangerous in there. Something capable of defeating veteran adventurers... I'll allow entering, but it's better not to go to the Innermost Chamber.』
Hearing that, I squeezed the orb.
Morning.
Suspecting the labyrinth, we asked Larf-san to guard the driver.
The members entering the labyrinth were me, Zelfie-san, Novem, Aria, Rondo-san, and Rachel-san.
If we acted as guards, we wouldn't be able to rescue the adventurers who had become immobilized inside.
Moreover, we had to take Novem, who specialized in healing magic.
If there were injured people who couldn't move, Novem would be a great help.
As a result, the skilled Larf-san was chosen to stay behind.
He looked frustrated, but since there was no other way, Zelfie-san emphasized that he should return immediately if we didn't come back within the allotted time.
Stepping into the labyrinth, it was different from a normal forest.
In addition to corridors made of trees, it was truly a maze.
Unnaturally aligned trees and wide corridors—.
Above all, the air felt so heavy that I thought it was suffocating. Even though I could breathe without problem, it felt oppressive.
Rondo-san, seeing me, patted my shoulder.
"Steady your breathing. You'll get tired if you breathe that heavily. This is only my second time, but you'll get used to it soon, so it's okay."
I nodded and steadied my breathing.
Then, I used my skills.
[Full Over]
[Map]
[Search]
I used the skills of the first, fifth, and sixth generations simultaneously.
With my boosted power, I forcibly used the skills of the fifth and sixth generations.
Doing so allowed me to sense things much more clearly than when I looked from the outside.
As a detailed map of the labyrinth floated in my head, I sensed where the monsters were and where the adventurers were located.
(I really think the combination of the fifth and sixth generations' skills is almost unfair)
Rachel-san, holding her staff aloft, chanted a spell.
Then, the surroundings brightened.
"Sorry, but I need a break every two hours if I'm alone. Novem-chan, can you take over halfway through? Just for ten minutes is fine."
"Yes."
The two mages with staves were confirming who would illuminate the surroundings.
Novem needed to perform healing, but Rachel-san likely couldn't maintain her mana without breaks.
I spoke to Zelfie-san.
"Let's go straight, and then turn left at the dead end."
Hearing that, Zelfie-san put her hand to her chin.
"Is that also the power of your skill?"
"Yes."
When I answered with confidence, Zelfie-san nodded and stepped forward.
"Rondo, you and I will be the vanguard. Riel, stay at the very back and give instructions. Also, Riel, you protect the two mages."
It seemed I wouldn't be fighting in the vanguard.
"Understood."
Hearing this, the second generation also agreed.
『Using skills consumes mana. She intends to let him conserve it. Besides, there's no problem following the instructions of someone experienced here. Riel, use your skill frequently to constantly check the surrounding situation. We'll also keep our comments to a minimum.』
In that case, if the ancestors spoke up, it would mean the situation was dire.
I continued giving instructions, choosing to bypass areas where monsters were loitering and adopting a policy of only defeating groups that would hinder our retreat as we advanced through the labyrinth.
Being able to confirm the opponent's position gave us a significant advantage.
Thus we progressed deeper, aiming for the room where the adventurers were.
(Since there's a reaction, they must still be alive)
Avoiding attacks from behind, we fought under the most advantageous conditions possible.
During this, I noticed the skill of Zelfie-san and Rondo-san.
Zelfie-san, who fought while using magic, used a variety of combat methods: striking with her shield, thrusting with her sword, and blowing enemies away with magic.
"Blow away! [Fire Shot]!"
As she swung her shield sideways, small fire bullets were fired all at once from it.
The attack power of each individual shot was low, but it seemed to be a magic that attacked in a plane rather than a point.
(An enhanced version of Fire Bullet? If it's original magic, it might be a skill)
Among rear-guard skills, there are those that turn magic into a skill.
I had heard that the mana consumption and power differed, but I hadn't expected Zelfie-san to be able to use one.
Novem said,
"That's amazing, Zelfie-san. Is it original magic?"
Zelfie-san answered bashfully,
"That magic just popped into my head. It's just a skill where Fire Bullet changed its form. Terrible, right? But it's very practical."
It seemed she had sublimated it into a skill.
"You could use magic. You said before that you couldn't."
When I said that, Zelfie-san sheathed her sword.
"The only things I can use are my current skill and Fire Bullet. Since that's all I can do, I'm too embarrassed to say I 'can use magic'."
She meant that she couldn't call herself a mage if she could only use one or two spells.
Aria was surprised.
"You could use it since you were at the mansion? Then, your place of employment—"
Zelfie-san gave a wry smile.
"Since I became an adventurer. More importantly, it's not a good idea to chat too much in a place like this. Or talk about personal pasts."
Rondo-san nodded.
Similarly, Rondo-san was amazing.
He only carried a sword, but his swordsmanship was incredible.
Aria was looking at Rondo-san's sword.
"Is that a magic tool?"
Rondo-san nodded. During the short breaks where they steadied their breathing while keeping watch after a battle, they would have conversations like this.
In exchange, Novem and I would keep watch. As for Novem, he was illuminating the surroundings with magic instead of Rachel-san.
"It's a family heirloom and my partner. I have three skills, so I can produce these results even with just this. However, please don't mention it to others."
When Rondo-san winked at Aria and said that, Rachel-san hit Rondo-san's shin with her staff.
"Ow!"
"Stop flirting while she's right in front of you. Now, break time is over. Novem, I'll take over. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After glaring at Rondo-san, Rachel-san thanked Novem with a smile for the break.
Novem also gave a wry smile.
Zelfie-san asked me,
"Now, how much further?"
I used my skill to confirm the room's location.
We could defeat the obstructive monsters and avoid combat when retreating.
In the Innermost Chamber, a large reaction remained motionless.
And it seemed to be guarding the treasure in that room.
"If we turn there, it's the target room."
Pointing to the entrance visible from the corridor, I confirmed that we had reached the room with five reactions.
"Alright, let's hurry."
Zelfie-san headed quickly toward the room.
Entering the room, we confirmed five people collapsed in the back.
All were covered in blood, but they were still breathing.
However, they seemed quite debilitated.
"They're alive! They're still alive!"
Rachel-san, shouting happily, immediately approached the five and illuminated them with her light.
One of the five opened his eyes, perhaps noticing us.
"Hey, what happened?"
Rondo-san rushed over, handed him a water bottle, and slowly let the man who opened his eyes drink.
I also approached the five and checked their injuries.
"Many bruises. Some bones are broken."
As I said that, Novem began healing with magic.
The injuries were healed, but the debilitated five seemed unable to stand up.
Perhaps relieved after drinking water, the battered adventurer spoke.
"B-Because of us, the instructor..."
Hearing that, Zelfie-san approached. She seemed to be making sure she didn't miss a word.
"We could handle the monsters around here, so... when we said we wanted to go deeper, he opposed it. We just wanted to become full-fledged adventurers quickly."
Zelfie-san clicked her tongue at the adventurer who began to cry.
"That idiot... Hey, what kind of enemy was it?"
Looking frustrated, Zelfie-san tried to hear the details of the monster.
"An Orc. It was green... but it had a huge club."
A tough opponent for rookies, but not impossible to defeat if there are enough of them.
As a boss in the Innermost Chamber of a small labyrinth, it was relatively normal.
However, Zelfie-san didn't seem convinced.
"You're telling me that bastard was taken down by a mere Orc! Did you lot want the treasure so much that you—"
"N-No! It was just an Orc, but we couldn't do a thing... by the time he came to save us, he was already battered... and then, he told us to run first."
The adventurer spoke through tears, but there were few tears.
He seemed to be barely maintaining consciousness.
Novem informed Zelfie-san that the treatment was finished.
"Treatment for everyone is complete. However, I can't do anything about their physical strength."
Zelfie-san stood up and attempted to carry everyone out for retreat. But then, we noticed that the surroundings felt strange.
Aria said,
"Do you hear something? There's a vibration too."
Then, Rondo-san drew his sword.
"...It's approaching."
Then, the first generation's loud voice reached me from the orb.
『Riel! Check the surrounding situation immediately! Also... a big one is coming!』
Hurriedly activating my skill, my eyes widened.
Novem noticed me and spoke. At the same time, perhaps sensing something, he readied his staff.
"Riel-sama?"
I gasped and drew my saber.
"...It's coming. The boss of the innermost chamber has come this far."
On the map, there was no reaction of the monster that should have been in the Innermost Chamber. And the boss's reaction was rapidly approaching us.
Moreover—.
"It's fast," I muttered, and Zelfie-san also drew her sword and took a stance.
"I've never heard of a boss leaving the room! Tsk, everyone, get ready! Even if it's the boss, if it's just an Orc—"
Interrupting Zelfie-san's voice, the battered adventurer screamed.
"That thing isn't normal! Our attacks didn't work at all! That's why that man also... it's definitely not a normal Orc!"
Everyone was shocked by the battered adventurer's scream.
Attacks didn't work.
That's what he said.
"What on earth does that mean!"
As Rachel-san shouted, the room's entrance was blown away, and a monster appeared.
Looking at that monster, I muttered,
"This is my first time seeing an Orc... but isn't it larger than I thought and red?"
I think it was only natural for me to say that.
I had an image of an Orc with green skin and thick limbs, equipped only with a loincloth, but the Orc before me had red skin.
It wasn't just a loincloth. Coarse hair grew on its arms, and it looked as if it were wrapped in furs.
Its hair grew long enough to cover its back.
The tusks extending from under its chin were sharp, and its breathing was heavy.
"Whoa, it doesn't look like a normal Orc at all," Rondo-san said in a light tone, but his voice was clearly tense.
Aria seemed unable to speak.
Zelfie-san immediately stepped forward.
Then, she saw the weapon the red Orc held.
The Orc seemed to have a simple sword, but if a human held it, it would undoubtedly be classified as a greatsword.
Zelfie-san glared at the opponent.
"Did you steal that bastard's weapon? You've got some nerve... I had debts to him, and reasons to treat him. I'll defeat you and offer it as a tribute to him."
I squeezed the orb once.
Based on appearance alone, I felt that the opponent wasn't impossible to defeat.
However, I felt something eerie.
Not to the extent of Celes, but that strange sensation of possessing something—.
The second generation gave me the answer.
『It defeated adventurers and "grew." Moreover, it's a "skill-holder." Honestly... the first generation's—the old man's—intuition is annoyingly accurate.』
The seventh generation warned me.
『Riel, consider retreating. If it comes down to it, abandon the five who cannot run and prioritize the other living members.』
Correct.
A very correct opinion.
I looked at the five adventurers collapsed behind us.
(If I leave them, these five will certainly be killed. Besides, can we even escape?)
If I use my skills, I am certain we can escape.
I know. I know it, but I didn't want to choose that option.
The seventh generation said,
『Riel, sometimes you must be heartless. Otherwise, you will lose even more.』
He realized I was hesitating.
As I looked down, the first generation burst out laughing.
『Gahahahaha, you guys underestimate Riel too much!』
(First generation?)
While I was wondering, the first generation gave me an instruction.
『Isn't it time for your "Second Generation" skill to shine?』
When the first generation spoke to the second, I heard the sound of a click of the tongue.
I had heard that the second generation's skill only makes sense when combined with others.
『...It's too early. I wanted to wait for Riel to grow a bit more.』
While I was confused, the fifth generation cut in.
『That's fine, but check the surroundings. An irregularity like this exists. I wonder how the surroundings are moving.』
Told that, I checked the map, and red dots were heading this way.
"Zelfie-san, monsters are gathering rapidly."
When I said that, everyone reacted.
They probably thought my skill was support-type and was gathering accurate information about the surroundings.
"You only say unpleasant things. Can't you say something happy for once?"
I didn't know how to react to Zelfie-san's exasperated voice.
The second generation was also doing things at his own pace.
『Now, shall I teach you my skill?』
From my perspective, I hadn't expected to be told to use a skill on the fly.
I hadn't expected to be told to use it without any practice at all.
The first generation said to the seventh,
『We can't run anymore.』
『Tsk, Riel, survive no matter what. With the second generation's skill, that's possible.』
(No, even if you tell me that—)
As I thought that, skill information flowed into me from the orb.
(This skill is—)
While I was looking down and spacing out, Zelfie-san called out to me.
"Get a grip, Riel! What are you doing not showing some motivation here! You said you wanted to participate yourself!"
Then, the Orc before me let out a war cry.
I, who had been looking down, raised my face.
The one who noticed the change was Novem.
"Riel-sama?"
"...It's true that it's meaningless on its own. But I wish I had known sooner."
I slowly pointed my saber at the Orc.