kscans

Chapter 43 - To the Tree Sea Unarmed, a Desperate Defense Point

About five kilometers south of the barracks, there was supposed to be the base of the Tree Sea Defense Force.

...Or so he had been told.

I thought they'd at least give us something for defense, but we're completely unarmed. This is the Tree Sea. A Helkaarn appeared just one kilometer from the tower.

"Monsters of all sizes, from small to large, wander this area. But no one has ever noticed the Tree Sea's existence until now, right? That's because there's a recognition-inhibiting spell at the entrance. The citizens would become unstable if they knew monsters were here. Our job is to control the monster population so they can live in safety."

Leonhard kept saying this to prevent morale from dropping.

"Once we reach the base, I'll give you things to protect yourselves. So until then, stick together."

Leonhard secretly rang the monster-repelling bell in his pocket. That would keep them safe for three hours.

He breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to Mireille for giving it to him.

...No, no, surely there will be weapons at the base, right? They wouldn't be that cruel.

With that faint hope in his heart, he finally arrived at the base, which was...

"...A hole?"

There was just a large trench dug into the ground, with nothing resembling a building in sight. Everyone was thinking the same thing.

The stable was enclosed by iron bars, designed to keep monsters out. But it was completely in the middle of the forest. It would be pitch black at night.

At the entrance stood a single, forlorn-looking guard. When he noticed them, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh... you made it safely."

"Well, we were lucky enough not to run into any monsters," Leonhard replied, feigning coincidence.

"You were truly lucky. Just last week, some members of the Imperial Guard were attacked by monsters on their way here... one of them lost his life."

"...What?"

He couldn't believe his ears.

"Last week?"

"Yes. The Imperial Guard was supposed to come for an inspection, but the monsters around here have become ferocious lately."

"...Wait, then it's dangerous to return to the barracks too, isn't it?"

"Return? No one has returned for two weeks."

"Wh, what did you say!?"

A murmur ran through the unit members.

"How many members are there besides you?" Leonhard asked, trying to remain calm.

"There are only about five of us left. Since the previous captain went missing, many have died during missions. The alchemy supplies we were given have almost no effect, and we're about to run out of what's left."

Everyone was speechless at the utterly desperate situation.

Inside the hole, which they called headquarters, only the faint glow of an electric light was visible.

"For now, show me all the supplies you have."

The listless unit members gathered all the supplies they had at the base.

What remained were ten Potions and only one High Potion, and its color was pale. Other than that, there was a large pile of potatoes.

"Potatoes...?"

"We've been using an alchemy item the previous captain left for us, which makes food quickly."

"What kind of alchemy item is it?"

"It's a Growth Acceleration Kit. You plant seeds or saplings, and they become food by the next day."

That kit was the same as the one on the first floor of the tower.

"Is there nothing for repelling monsters or for defense?"

"The previous captain had prepared a lot, but we haven't received any new supplies since she disappeared."

Leonhard felt a headache coming on.

"What about the captain's office? Any handover documents?"

"There's a room. But it's completely empty."

"Empty?"

"Yes. By the time we noticed, all the documents were gone. Before the captain went missing, she told us to use the Monster-Repelling Bells and return to the barracks, but the Imperial Guard confiscated all the bells and ordered us to prioritize the mission..."

"When was that?"

"It was the day the captain disappeared. We've been here for two weeks since then."

"Why is the Imperial Guard, the royal bodyguards, coming and going here?" Kyle pressed.

"...I don't know the details. But the captain had repeatedly gone to the King to advise him that 'overhunting monsters will leave a legacy of disaster.' Shortly after that, she went to the royal capital and never came back."

"What were the Supreme Commander's orders?"

"We haven't seen the Supreme Commander either since around the time the previous captain disappeared. After that, we were told the Imperial Guard would manage the Tree Sea, but recently, after a series of monster attacks, Lord Julius said that new unit members would be coming...."

I see. The Imperial Guard, led by Julius, was active here, but they couldn't handle it and abandoned the place. So that's what happened.

"What was the previous captain's name?"

"It was Lady Ariel Sophia."

For a moment, Leonhard's face turned pale.

"Ariel... The same name as my master..."