kscans

Chapter 284 - A Howl in the Snowy Plains 4. Footprints on the Snow

"Oh, they found footprints?"

Having arrived at the village nearest to the site before nightfall, the search party received a report from the villagers about the discovery of tracks. The party’s appointed leader, Adventurer’s Guild Submaster Saba, along with the main adventurers, listened to the villagers’ story, and they in turn would relay the information to the remaining adventurers. Faced with thirty people, twenty-one of whom were D-class adventurers or higher, five guild staff, and three of the young master’s servants, with Yuri joining as an observer, and most of them looking intimidating, the villagers were understandably nervous. Such considerations were necessary to smoothly extract information. Kudol from "Lucky Footsteps" was present and was now relaying that information to Yuri and the others.

"Yeah. They apparently found the footprints from when he entered the mountain. But… the villagers didn’t follow the tracks deep into the mountain… or rather, it seems they couldn’t."

"They might be able to handle a bear or a boar, but if a Tyrantbot is involved, it’s difficult if you don’t know the ropes, isn’t it?"

Watching Yuri nod in agreement, the members of "Lucky Footsteps" doubtfully wondered if a Tyrantbot was an opponent that could be dealt with just by knowing a few "ropes." He had casually mentioned "a bear or a boar," but he was probably referring to a Monocorn Bear or a Mudderboar. For the record, both were monsters for which a C-class or higher "party" was recommended, not opponents that "ordinary" villagers could handle.

"So, the young master and his party arrived at this village about five days ago, but they were delayed by a blizzard and preparations, and apparently entered the mountain the day before yesterday."

"The day before yesterday… that’s a tricky timeframe."

It seemed the idiot master was not a complete amateur, and his companions were apparently quite experienced as well. In that case, they would likely have prepared enough food for three days, and it couldn’t be assumed they were currently in distress. Which meant…

"At worst, they could complain that we interfered with their hunt…"

"This has become a troublesome business…"

By a stroke of fortune, good or bad, the next morning dawned clear, and Yuri and the others split into parties to search for the missing person. The plan was to immediately use a smoke signal if they encountered the target or the Tyrantbot. They were currently gathered at the point where the villagers had been able to follow the tracks, or rather, where they had given up the pursuit, and were receiving instructions on their assigned search areas. Yuri and "Lucky Footsteps" were assigned to the northernmost section.

"Hey, doesn’t being at the edge mean our search area is practically limitless?" grumbled the beastman Fray. As a scout, he was an essential part of the search, and he likely couldn’t shake the feeling that they had been saddled with a troublesome location.

"The terrain is also very uneven. That means there are a lot of hiding spots."

"In other words, it’s a terrain well-suited for animals and monsters to hide in."

"Yeah. That’s probably why the guild folks pushed this place on us… or rather, on Yuri."

Kudol’s tone was one of understanding, but Yuri felt nothing but apologetic. Because he had taken on the search for the Tyrantbot, which in Yuri’s mind was always the primary target, not the missing idiot, he had ended up involving "Lucky Footsteps" as well.

"Don’t worry about it. We knew we’d be roped in the moment a Tyrantbot was involved. In fact, ‘Red Sandstorm’ is handling the southern end."

It seemed the guild had positioned the two parties with experience encountering a Tyrantbot on opposite sides of the search area. A reasonably logical decision.

"You got dragged into this too, Yuri. No need to feel any strange guilt."

"That’s right. The one at fault is the reckless young master."

"Let’s just make sure to charge him a hefty fee."

"Ah… by the way, his name is apparently Walter. I hear he’s called Wally."