kscans

Chapter 191 - A Strange Morning

The next morning.

I woke up as usual and ate breakfast. My gear was in order, and I felt great. No complaints.

"Alright!" I said. "How about you, Tina? How are you feeling?"

Tina stretched a little. "No problems here. Same as always."

With our preparations complete, we headed for the main gate. The other adventurers were already gathered there.

Some still looked tired, while others were oddly energetic.

One of the energetic ones boasted, "Alright, I’m in top form today. I can fight to my heart’s content. It’s all thanks to that damn leader not being around."

He mumbled the last part.

An adventurer next to him added, "I know how you feel. Fighting under his command, you’d run out of lives in no time. But we couldn’t defy him or quit. Well, now that he’s dead, my debt to him is a moot point."

He let out a small laugh as he whispered the last part.

The adventurer who had been listening silently extended his right hand. The other man understood and shook it. I guess they had something in common, a shared experience.

Tina commented, "Well, everyone has a problem or two. Let’s not worry about it and just go."

I felt the same. Other people’s problems were for them to solve. Sticking my nose in would only cause more trouble.

Just then, a voice called out from behind us. "Well, well? The A-rank masters are here early. So diligent of you."

It was Alumi, approaching with her usual sarcasm. Her three party members were with her.

Tina replied calmly, "Of course. We are here on a job. Being late is not an option."

Alumi sneered. "Hah. The elites are so serious."

She shot a nasty look our way and walked past. As always, Mimi followed her, agreeing with her leader’s combative tone.

Loose came up to us from behind. "I’m sorry. Our leader is just frustrated because she didn’t get a satisfying fight yesterday. Please think of it as just idle talk."

She bowed her head. Dord did the same.

"Don’t worry about it," I said. "But you two are surprisingly polite. You weren’t like this a year ago when you were with that other guy."

As I tilted my head in confusion, Loose explained, "She was the only one who would take us in. After we left him a year ago, we applied to several parties, but no one would hire us. It makes sense. We were with that shady noble, after all. It’s only natural they’d be wary of us."

"When we were at a loss, she was the one who reached out. We knew her reputation, but she just said, ‘I don’t give a damn about that. I say you’re good,’ and extended her hand. We were so happy. That’s why we plan to support her so her reputation doesn’t get any worse. Now, if you’ll excuse us."

She bowed and walked away.

To think people can change so much depending on who they meet. It’s a good thing.

In that case, I have to protect this life. These mundane moments of happiness are the real treasures.

"I’m feeling motivated now," I said. "Shall we go, Tina?"

Tina grinned. "We’re on the same page. I was thinking the same thing."

Even if a colleague is sarcastic, if they’re a good person, it doesn’t matter. A sharp tongue but a good heart, as they say.

The gates to the main front opened, and the adventurers stepped outside. The area was filled with fences, catapults, and Edgesons. There were no monsters in sight.

I activated `Detection` just in case, but there was no enemy reaction within a fifty-meter radius. Were they not here yet?

Tina observed, "Are there any enemies? I was about to ask, but from the look on your face, it seems not."

She had read my expression.

"That’s right," I said. "Nothing at all. Did they oversleep?"

I tried to make a joke, hoping it meant we had some breathing room.

Just then, the platoon leader arrived. "Shinsuke-dono! Where are the monsters?"

"There’s no sign of them. They’re not invisible, either. They’re just not here."

"I’ll report to the general at once. You two, please remain on standby."

The platoon leader rushed back into the base.

An adventurer who didn’t seem to grasp the situation said, "Maybe they’re hiding like yesterday. Let’s throw some rocks to scout them out."

He and his party grabbed a handful of stones and moved forward. Other adventurers followed suit.

Tina tried to stop them. "Wait. There are no monsters in this area. You shouldn’t waste your energy."

A female mage replied, "But they might have learned from yesterday and come up with a countermeasure. Please leave this to us."

They ignored her and proceeded.

"Are they just trying to claim the glory?" I wondered aloud.

"I don’t think so," Tina said, her expression complicated. "Their eyes are completely serious. I don’t sense any ulterior motives. They probably feel indebted to us for yesterday’s battle and want to repay the favor, even just a little."

If that was their reason, we couldn’t really stop them.

In the commander’s office, the general received the platoon leader’s report. "Good work. Continue to maintain your guard at the main gate."

The platoon leader saluted and left.

Chevre, who was standing next to the general, asked, "Do you think they are planning something?"

"It’s the only explanation," the general replied. "We’ve received similar reports from the other posts. But for now, we have no way of knowing what it is. All we can do is stay vigilant. Chevre, I want you to make regular rounds to each post and check for any abnormalities. I will report to Her Majesty."

Chevre saluted and left the room.

Alone, the general picked up the wireless transceiver.

In the Empire’s throne room, Emperor Yorune was listening to the general’s report.

"Understood," the Emperor said. "I’m leaving things in your hands. Contact me immediately if anything happens."

He ended the transmission and summoned a knight. "Go to the main gate at once and confirm the situation. Then, tell Captain Magnes to send a messenger immediately if anything changes."

The knight saluted and headed out.

At the main gate, Captain Magnes was perplexed. The monsters that had been visible from a distance had vanished the moment the sun rose.

A knight next to him asked, "Do you think they ran away?"

"I wish that were the case," Magnes replied to the optimistic comment. "But for now, stay on high alert. Do not leave this post for the entire day."

The knight saluted.

Seeing that the monsters were gone, the other knights, soldiers, and adventurers seemed to relax, some even lounging around. There were even a few who were celebrating, declaring a complete victory.

Magnes thought to himself, You fools, celebrating too soon. To be happy in a situation like this… Are you insane?

He clicked his tongue internally. He would only be convinced of victory when he saw a mountain of monster corpses or watched them flee with his own eyes. This sudden disappearance was just creepy.

Just then, a knight from the castle guard arrived. "I have come to receive a situation report on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor."

He saluted and explained his purpose. Magnes gave him a detailed account of what had happened at the main gate.

"Understood," the knight said. "His Majesty has ordered that a messenger be sent immediately if anything happens. Captain, is the battle over?"

Magnes could only offer a troubled look in response to the personal question. "I wish it were."

The knight seemed to understand and returned to the castle without another word.

Magnes roared, "All of you! Do not let your guard down! Stay alert for the entire day!"

At his command, the knights and soldiers saluted. As the various squads went about their duties, an adventurer approached him. "Captain? Don’t be so tense. Let’s have a drink together, shall we?"

He was already drinking.

Magnes looked at him with disgust. "Fine. If you want to drink, then drink."

He turned and walked away. At his words, the C-rank adventurers immediately started drinking. However, a few adventurers, D-rankers with little experience, did not join them and instead helped the soldiers. They saw this as an opportunity to gain some experience.

Magnes thought, It seems not all adventurers are idiots. Still, I need to rethink our strategy with this fighting force.

He began to rework his plans.

These events were not unique to the Empire. The same was happening in every nation. In the Kingdom, the monsters that had been there all day vanished at sunrise. In the Republic and the Church, they simply did not emerge from the forest.

Some celebrated victory, while others remained vigilant. The ratio was three to seven in the Kingdom and the Republic. In the Church, it was zero to ten. The people of the Church revered Altorine, and they moved as one at her command.

At the border, the sun reached its zenith. The morning passed without incident. The soldiers stood watch, the knights made their regular reports, and the adventurers played games inside the base. Those with duties, of course, did not slack off.

Amidst all this, Tina and I were outside the main gate, in the desolate field.

I stood with my arms crossed, thinking. Tina asked, "What is it? Are you lost in thought?"

"No, it’s just… this pattern. I feel like I’ve seen it or know it from somewhere."

They weren’t showing up as usual. Where had I seen a situation like this before?

Tina replied, "I wouldn’t know. It’s from your world, Shinsuke. Maybe it was in a manga?"

"A manga… Yeah, that’s possible. It’s just so similar to something I’ve seen before… hmm…"

As I was thinking, a voice came from next to me. "Well, well? The A-rank masters are so serious, even at a time like this."

It was Alumi and her party, who had casually strolled up to us.

Tina asked, "What is it? Is it alright for you to leave your post?"

Alumi scoffed. "Hah. The monsters aren’t coming anymore. I’m free to go wherever I want."

Mimi beamed at the laughing Alumi. "That’s right, Big Sis. The monsters must have given up in the face of your power. As expected of you."

At her words, something clicked in my mind. "Given up? Make us think that to throw us off guard… No way."

Just as the thought crossed my mind, a black mist began to spread out about two hundred meters in front of us. And from within it, an army of monsters appeared all at once.