kscans

Chapter 16 - Monster Uproar.

The next morning, I woke up. Bardos was still asleep, scratching his belly. His sleeping posture was terrible. I couldn't just let him sleep.

We had to get to work, so I decided to wake him up.

"Bardos, it's morning. Get up and get ready. I'll make breakfast."

I said, slapping his body hard.

He was a muscular giant; a gentle nudge wouldn't wake him. My hand hurt a little from hitting his hard body.

Bardos turned his half-lidded, sleepy eyes to me. "Yo, Shinsuke. Mornin'~. You're up early."

He greeted me in a low voice.

He said it was early, but it was seven o'clock on the dot. On Earth, office workers would have long been up and eating breakfast.

Well, there's no set wake-up time in this world, so I guess everyone is free to do as they please.

Breakfast was light: hard bread and water. The work of a hunter and adventurer is tough, so eating too much can upset your stomach. After breakfast, we set out.

Bardos wore the equipment I'd made, and I wore the Japanese-style armor that had been on display. We were both ready.

Seeing me in my armor, Bardos commented, "...I dunno. Putting on that intimidating-looking armor has made you look even more imposing."

That was his impression.

Well, armor is also meant to intimidate the opponent. I was still wearing the gauntlets and greaves my master had made me, so the overall look was a bit unbalanced. But in a world that didn't know Japanese-style armor, it was convenient in a way.

We were stopped by a guard before entering the town.

He let us through easily once we showed him our faces. Well, of course. It was no wonder he didn't recognize us in different attire. I figured the same thing would happen at the guild.

However, there was a commotion around the guild.

Adventurers were gathered outside.

I asked a nearby adventurer. "Apparently, the Guild Master has an important announcement, so everyone's outside. Hey, who are you anyway?"

An important announcement? What could it be? I showed him my face to put him at ease.

A short while later, the Guild Master came out with some other staff members. "I've gathered you all here today for a specific reason. Yesterday, we received a report confirming a horde of monsters in the southeast. We predict that the 'Monster Uproar' has begun."

The Guild Master's words sent a stir through the crowd.

'Monster Uproar'? I'd never heard of it.

I asked Bardos. "It's a phenomenon said to happen once every two years, where monster activity becomes abnormally high. There are various theories... like it's close to their breeding season, or a strong monster is leading others on a rampage. The circumstances are said to be different each year. Basically, when there are too many monsters, it's called a 'Monster Uproar.'"

What a year. And what perfect timing.

To think that on the very first day I wear my armor, I'd be faced with a battle worthy of being called its first real test. It's a classic trope in anime, but experiencing it firsthand was unpleasant.

The battle maniac next to me, however, had a huge grin on his face.

The Guild Master continued. "Quiet down. I know some of you think this is sudden, but we've received multiple reports from previous investigations that the monsters have been agitated. Because of this, we at the guild held a strategy meeting yesterday to resolve this situation."

"I'm about to explain that plan. If you have any questions, I'll take them after I'm done, but keep them brief. Now, for the plan. The monsters we've confirmed so far are Goblins, Orcs, Slimes, Anacondas, and Wolves."

"E to D-ranks will be in charge of subjugating Slimes and Wolves. If you're confident in your combat abilities, you may fight Anacondas and Goblins, but you are forbidden from fighting Orcs. The level difference is too great. Those who are not confident in combat will be in the rear, rescuing the injured and transporting supplies."

"C-rank adventurers will subjugate Orcs and any as-yet-unconfirmed monsters. And A-rank 'Beautiful Sword' will conserve their strength while commanding the front lines. We've received a report that there is a powerful monster in this uproar."

"Its identity is an Orc King. It's a monster larger than a normal Orc with self-healing abilities. We will be sending 'Beautiful Sword' to subjugate it. Any questions?"

At his words, a C-rank adventurer raised his hand. "Um, what about Bardos-san? He's a B-rank adventurer and he's pretty strong."

The Guild Master replied to the timid adventurer, "No matter what we say, Bardos will want to fight on the front lines, and if there's a strong monster, he'll go there on his own. It's better to let him fight as a raiding unit than to give him orders. Besides, he's with Shinsuke now. It's fortunate that we have someone who can act as a brake on him. Shinsuke, please keep Bardos from running wild... wait? Where's Shinsuke?"

The Guild Master looked around. Right, he didn't recognize me because I was wearing armor.

I took off my helmet and showed him my face.

The Guild Master said, "Oh, there you are. And what's with the armor? Did you come here expecting this?"

To that I replied, "No, I just came to work wearing my new armor, and this uproar happened."

To this, the Guild Master said, "I see. I can't tell if your timing is good or bad. Anyway, please take care of Bardos. And you, don't overdo it either. The more level-headed people we have, the more of an advantage we'll have on the battlefield."

"The same goes for the rest of you. Anyone who charges in without thinking for reasons like wanting to achieve great deeds or become a hero will surely die. Remember that your life is your greatest treasure and act accordingly."

"If anyone disobeys this advice and dies acting on their own, I won't be held responsible. Remember that."

As he said his final words, he released a wave of killing intent.

That was some serious killing intent. Even at his age, his presence was still very much intact. The adventurers flinched for a moment, but they quickly steeled themselves and stood at attention.

Seeing this, the Guild Master said, "Alright, since there are no other questions, head out immediately. The staff and I will follow with supplies. I wish you all good luck. Move out!"

At his command, the adventurers departed.

To the southeast, a typical landscape of plains and forest. On that plain was a number of monsters I had never seen before. Not only the monsters from the report, but also giant mantises, giant lizards, and ferocious monkeys.

Seeing them, Bardos said, "Nice, there are a lot of them in this uproar too. This is thrilling."

Bardos said excitedly.

Come to think of it, he did say it happens once every two years. Does that mean he participated in the last uproar? I asked him.

"Yeah, I was still D-rank back then. And it was just a breeding season, so there were no strong monsters. The strongest ones were just Orcs. But this time, there's a strong monster, an Orc King. He hasn't shown himself yet, but I guess I'll save the fun for later."

Bardos chuckled, nihihi.

He really does love to fight, I thought. But I wasn't scared even seeing this number. Normally, a beginner would hesitate at the sight of this many. In fact, the less experienced E- and D-rank adventurers had fearful expressions. But I was grateful for my current composure.

If I lost my cool, I wouldn't be able to do my job as a hunter.

'Beautiful Sword's' leader, Tina, stepped forward. "We will now begin the monster subjugation. By order of the Guild Master, I will be taking command. Is everyone ready?"

In silent response, the adventurers drew their weapons.

Bardos and I did the same.

Seeing this, Tina raised her longsword. "...Charge!!"

At her command, the adventurers let out a war cry and started running.

The monsters, seeing us, showed no fear and met our charge with bared killing intent.

The battle, in a word, was fierce. Adventurers hunting down monsters with weapons and magic. Monsters devouring their prey by any means necessary.

We killed a great number of monsters, but we also suffered casualties. The injured were carried to the rear by those on standby and were being treated, but it was unlikely they would return to the front lines. I abandoned such thoughts the moment I was faced with monsters—Goblins and giant lizards.

I drew my two swords, dodged a Goblin that swung its club at me, and killed it with a single slash. A lizard's long tongue came at me in a horizontal swipe. I dodged the attack by dropping to the ground.

I could have jumped to dodge, but that would have thrown me off balance and made it difficult to deal with the next attack. I quickly got up and ran towards the lizard's side.

I imbued my sword with lightning, and at the moment of contact, I shouted, "Thunder Sword Strike!!"

I slashed the lizard, then thrust. At the same time I thrust my sword into the gash, lightning spread throughout the lizard's body. It shrieked and collapsed. It was immobilized, but I cut off its head with my katana just to be sure.

After defeating it, more monsters came at me. Wolves, Anacondas, Goblins with clubs and stone axes—ten or more of them charged at me, filled with bloodlust. It was too inefficient to deal with this many one by one. I stuck my sword in the ground and pointed my left palm at them.

I conjured a ball of fire there. "Burning Machine Gun!"

Balls of fire shot out randomly from my left hand, up, down, left, and right. The monsters hit by the flames were engulfed and fell. The ones that dodged couldn't avoid the next flame and were hit and burned. After I finished firing, I confirmed the monsters were dead, and the wave was over.

I immediately pulled myself together and looked for Bardos. We'd gotten separated shortly after the battle started. I was about to use 'Detection,' but I heard a familiar war cry and headed in that direction.

When I found him, Bardos was surrounded by monster corpses. He was swinging his great axe wildly, cutting down multiple monsters that got close with a single sweep.

He really is amazing, I thought with admiration. A Goblin slipped past his guard and thrust a stone sword at his stomach, but the iron belly wrap blocked it.

Seeing this, Bardos grabbed the Goblin's face with his right hand and crushed it.

I approached Bardos. "Bardos, are you okay?!"

Seeing me, Bardos said, "Yeah! I'm fine! Thanks to this thing you made me. Thank you. This armor is great."

He said, lightly tapping the iron belly wrap.

I was glad. Bardos's equipment had been far too light, and I'd been worried. The conversation about armor yesterday had given me the chance to make it for him. Come to think of it, I wondered how 'Beautiful Sword', who had given me that opportunity, was doing.

But a monster approached, and I stopped thinking.

Meanwhile, 'Beautiful Sword' was fighting monsters while commanding the front lines. Milfy the magician was subjugating monsters with all kinds of magic.

"Fireball! Wind Cutter! Thunderball!"

She cast magic of three different elements in rapid succession, hitting her targets one after another.

Rumily the scout held her daggers in a reverse grip. "Activate 'Acceleration' skill."

She whispered, and her figure vanished in an instant. The next time she appeared, she was behind the monsters. The monsters that had been facing her gushed blood from their necks and died.

The monsters charged at Leona the shield knight.

She readied her spear and shield. "...Don't think you can defeat me so easily. Rock Spear Strike!"

She touched her shield to the ground and activated her earth magic. Countless earth spears shot up from below, impaling the monsters. Three Goblins that escaped were skewered and attacked Leona with their clubs. She blocked them with a cool expression and swept them aside. She then stabbed the fallen Goblins repeatedly with her spear, finishing them off in one blow.

The leader, Tina, commanded, "A pack of wolves is charging from the right! Form a defensive line! Break their formation, then begin an all-out attack!"

Under her precise commands, the adventurers moved, and they successfully wiped out the monsters without any losses.

She faced a group of five Goblins and Anacondas that had gotten close. "Water Slash!"

She imbued her sword with water magic. The condensed water became a blade of sorts, and she extended its length. She mowed them down with a single horizontal sweep.

Seeing this, the adventurers said, "She's amazing. That beauty and strength... she's truly a valkyrie."

"With her here, this uproar will be over in no time. Victory to our beautiful valkyrie."

"Exterminate the monsters that dare to tarnish Tina-sama's beauty!"

The adventurers fought with renewed vigor, shouting 'Ooh'.

Seeing the adventurers fighting with such enthusiasm, Tina felt conflicted. "...It's good that they're motivated. But to think that they're this excited because of my skill's influence... it feels like I'm manipulating them, and it's an unpleasant feeling."

The leader Tina's skill was 'All-Round Perfection,' a constant activation type.

This skill gave her an aura of pure clarity and allowed her to get along with anyone harmoniously. As a result, it increased the physical abilities and morale of her allies. The stronger their desire to protect her, the more their morale would rise. However, this skill was close to brainwashing, and there was a tendency for people to fall in love with her regardless of their own will. It also raised the physical abilities of those of the same sex, but not their morale. Even if they felt a desire to protect her, being of the same sex, they were not subject to the morale boost.

Additionally, the skill did not increase the user's own abilities, and it could not be controlled by turning it on or off.

Tina had wished for this skill because, in a word, she was unpopular.

Her outstanding swordsmanship, her skill with water magic, and her leadership as a commander—she was an excellent talent in every respect. The reason she was unpopular was because of that very strength. Men revered her as a valkyrie for her noble character and combat prowess, and women adored her, calling her 'big sister.' But reverence and affection are different.

Reverence is close to faith in a god, and no one falls in love with a god. That's why Tina had wished for it. A desire not to be an object of reverence, but for someone to fall in love with her.

The skill she obtained as a result was 'All-Round Perfection.'

After acquiring this skill, men began to feel affection for her, not reverence. But all of it was due to the influence of her skill. There were no men who fell for her without the skill's effect.

She regretted it. She was filled with the guilt of manipulating people's hearts because of this skill. When she first acquired it, she was active as an A-rank adventurer in the Harg Kingdom.

But she felt that if she stayed there, she would end up brainwashing the prince or the king, with whom she had occasional audiences, so she left the Redorum Royal Capital.

Her companions agreed with her decision and went with her.

At that time, she also changed their party name from 'White Sword' to 'Beautiful Sword.' Changing a party name required going through the renaming procedure at the guild, which she did, and then she headed for the regional city of Alum.

She had decided to continue her adventuring career quietly there and never return to the royal capital.

She had changed the party name out of regret and as a form of self-punishment. The iris flower emblem they wore was a design they had adopted in the hope that 'happiness will surely come,' which was the flower's meaning. In the hope that true love would come.

And so, the tide of battle slowly turned in the adventurers' favor. From deep within the forest on the plains, two red eyes were watching.