Chapter 9

The Story of the Second Son of the Baron's Family - Chapter 9 (9/123)

< The Story of the Second Son of the Baron's Family – Chapter 09 – >

The expedition was composed of over a hundred knights and twenty mages. However, not long after leaving the Terra Wall, they split into ten groups, each consisting of twelve knights and two mages. The core of this expedition was secrecy, individual combat, and safe return.

It might seem safer to travel in a large group, but that's a naive thought. Monsters are more sensitive to sound and momentum than humans. With over a hundred humans moving together, it would be impossible for them not to be noticed. Ultimately, secrecy, the number of monsters that can be killed with concentrated power, and safe return would all become difficult.

A decent mid-sized monster could be handled by a single knight, but for something like an ogre, two or three knights would be needed. That's why it's 12-2. There was no guarantee that a large monster could be handled alone, and there was a risk that surrounding monsters might be drawn in.

"Are you nervous?"

"If I said I wasn't, it would be a lie."

Of course, it's impossible not to be nervous. In fact, I was so tense last night that I almost stayed up all night. If I hadn't inscribed the room and bed, I would have shown up with bloodshot eyes. This wasn't just my problem. Not everyone had experience, after all.

The land of monsters is vast, and the number of monsters is even greater. Whether we hunt large monsters or not, the burden on the Terra Wall wouldn't differ much.

That's why only one-third of the personnel were dispatched, not all. Many of the second and third-year members were on their first expedition. They weren't much different from me. Some seemed even more nervous.

Having been here longer and gained more experience, they knew better how threatening monsters were and how dangerous it was to approach them without the shield of the Terra Wall.

"Even you, Yild, are nervous, aren't you?"

Sixth-year. Yild, who is on his third expedition, may seem calm, but he is clearly on high alert, ready to respond to any sudden situation. The others are no different; they are all highly tense.

"Come on, everyone, relax. You all know that if you're too tense, you might lose it when you need to be focused."

Our leader was Yild. No one could match him in terms of age and experience. In fact, the relationship between knights and mages is not always good; in severe cases, they might call each other ignorant swordsmen and eccentric hermits. But here, they get along well. Or rather, they have to. Those who didn't get along are all dead.

Think about it. No expert is immune to mistakes. The key is whether they can recover from those mistakes. Mistakes here often lead to death, and that's when the help of comrades is needed. Who would willingly help someone who insults them as a swordsman or an eccentric?

Wouldn't it be easier to extend a hand to someone who, after a fierce battle, shakes hands and says "good job" and occasionally drinks with them, rather than to someone who constantly picks fights?

"That's true. Relax and look around. It's not hard to notice the presence of enemies even without being so tense. Take it easy. Appropriate tension can improve focus and reaction time, but excessive tension is worse than nothing."

"Huh. Huh."

Closing my eyes and focusing on deep breathing, it seems my heart rate is slowing down a bit? But as soon as I open my eyes, my heart starts racing again. Perhaps it's because the wall, which was always visible, is now out of sight, making me feel more tense than usual.

"You fought well inside the wall, but you're more of a chicken than I thought."

"It's you who's strange. Even though this is your third time, aren't you too calm?"

"Of course, it's because I trust the legacy of my seniors."

Why wouldn't Yild be nervous? He has been on expeditions twice before, once in his second year and once in his fifth year. He has survived several near-death situations and had to return with various trinkets as the only mementos of his fallen comrades.

In some ways, he had to be even more nervous. Unlike those who harbored vague hopes that everyone would return alive, he knew that no matter how hard they tried, some would not make it back.

But he maintained a calm demeanor. Because he was the leader of this group. Because he was the most experienced elder. If he showed signs of fear and tension, others would be even more anxious. Moreover, his experience had not only brought him the fear of inevitable death but also valuable lessons.

Since the autumn expedition began, numerous efforts have been made to reduce casualties. Knights have sought more efficient movements, and mages have worked together. The most significant progress has been made by the mages. In situations where direct combat was not necessary, mages could handle more.

They studied and improved spells. If a necessary spell did not exist, they gathered relevant materials to create new ones. This gradually reduced unnecessary losses outside of direct combat. They aimed to create a more comfortable environment for rest, to detect enemies earlier, and to minimize the noise of battle.

Casualties from direct combat were inevitable, but they aimed to minimize other losses. One of the results of this effort is the spell Yild is currently using.

They improved Invisibility. The original Invisibility spell made the user completely invisible but was a high-circle spell, so few mages could use it. To make it accessible to more mages, they reduced its effectiveness but increased its usability. They also modified it to affect spaces rather than individuals, allowing comrades to benefit as well.

They integrated High Mana Force. Mana is akin to life force, and some high-level monsters can detect the smell of mana. Knights and mages, who have several times or even hundreds of times more mana than ordinary people, are prime targets. To maintain secrecy, they needed to hide their mana.

This was a challenging research project, but with the combined efforts of dozens of mages, numerous innovative methods emerged, and the empire supported them. The research was ultimately successful.

"It took years and the sacrifice of many. So have confidence. The sacrifices of our seniors were not in vain."

This was a statement of confidence based on experience. It was also meant to ease the tension and boost the confidence of the group. It worked. Yild, the most skilled member after Wonder, had already survived two expeditions, and his confidence inspired others.

"Let's pick up the pace a bit. We need to find a place to stay before nightfall."

#

A high vantage point to observe the surroundings, a location with water for easy access to drinking water, or a place easy to defend against enemy intrusion—there are many factors to consider before setting up a base. However, with mages in the group, most of these factors can be covered.

"This place will do."

Finding a suitable corner, we dug into the ground and created a space deep underground. We made the soil thick enough to withstand the weight of a monster and created air holes in various places, quickly forming a suitable base. If we were to stay longer, we would build more extensively, but we plan to move to a new location after clearing the area, so this is sufficient.

"Everyone, let's eat."

Magic was not only useful for combat. We started a fire without kindling and placed a small air shield over it. This served as an excellent pot. We added water created by magic and the food we brought, and a stew was quickly ready.

Of course, given our status, none of us knew how to cook, so the taste was questionable, but the warmth of the food in the cold weather was enough to boost morale.

"As you know, our plan for the next month is simple. We will roam the land of monsters and hunt high-level monsters. The one thing to remember is to only engage in battles we can win. Killing high-level monsters is important, but it's not worth risking your lives. Everyone understand?"

"Yes!"

"Let's pray that we return without a single casualty."

There was no need for a watch. We were underground, where monsters couldn't easily intrude, and we had set up an alarm spell to alert us if any life form larger than a human entered within 20 meters. However, everyone seemed to be imagining the hardships to come and had trouble falling asleep. Fortunately, there was something I could do for them.

Sleep

Given its size, it couldn't last long, but it would be enough to help them fall asleep comfortably. One by one, the group members fell asleep, influenced by the inscription. I, too, surrendered to the approaching sleep. The days ahead would be quite challenging.

#

The next day, after the sun came up, we emerged from underground and began actively searching for high-level monsters. Orcs, lizardmen, and owlbears, which reproduce quickly and are of little use when killed, and which could draw in surrounding monsters, were avoided. We avoided them not because we were afraid, but because they were dirty.

"Quite a start on the first day, isn't it?"

"Will it be okay? You all know this isn't an easy opponent."

"Don't worry. It's just one, right? If we retreat at this level, there's no point in coming out here."

A massive body. A tail as long as its body and four short, sturdy legs. Its huge jaw could crush anything, and it continuously emitted poison from its nose. A monster among monsters, a giant compared to even large monsters like orcs and cyclopes. As we actively searched for prey, a basilisk appeared before us.

< The Story of the Second Son of the Baron's Family – Chapter 09 – > End