Chapter 35

The Grindar extermination team moved westward across the grasslands, and began their search by splitting into squads, focusing on areas with numerous sightings.

"Is this really going to work?"

Ted looked up at the vast blue sky and said.

The group from "Morning Star of the White Night" was leisurely walking through their assigned search area, looking for any sign of the Grindar.

"Hahaha, yeah, I know. It’s ridiculous to think they’d challenge a monster with this... It’s laughable."

Norris laughed and agreed.

Norris wasn’t the only one who felt this way; Aldis shared the same sentiment.

The Grindar, which possessed power far surpassing even the Despair of the grasslands, was an overwhelming force.

The lord had prepared a force of about four hundred men, which wasn’t a small number.

However, against a monster—especially one that could fly—gathering a large number of inexperienced soldiers was almost meaningless.

"There are no mages, most of the soldiers are inexperienced young men, and there’s no competent commander. This is just a bad joke."

Ted shrugged, and Orphelia nodded in agreement.

"Really, they’re underestimating the strength of the monsters too much."

In battle, numbers are power, and this holds true even against monsters.

Even if each individual can only inflict minor scratches, the more people there are, the more wounds they can inflict.

However, numbers are only effective when the people involved have a certain level of skill.

No matter how many people there are, if they can’t even scratch the enemy, the damage dealt remains zero.

Worse still, they could hinder their allies’ movements, becoming a liability.

Not having mages accompany the group against monsters is the height of folly for mercenaries, and from Aldis’s perspective, there were too many new recruits without combat experience.

Attempting to fight a monster with such a composition would only increase the number of casualties.

"If they’re trying to make up for quality with quantity, they’d need at least twice as many. Given the quality of the soldiers, three squads attacking at once, accepting half the casualties, might be enough to stall the Grindar for a bit."

Ted said this, but Aldis had a different idea.

If Aldis were the commander, he wouldn’t arm the soldiers with spears. Instead, he would form a half-and-half group of soldiers with large shields and archers, and have them operate in units of at least fifty or in small squads.

Since the soldiers couldn’t even wound the Grindar, it would be better to focus on defense and deterrence. After discovering the Grindar, they should retreat while fighting to minimize casualties until other squads arrive for support.

The job of dealing with the monster should be left to experienced mercenaries. There’s no need to exhaust the soldiers in unfamiliar battles.

In fact, based on Aldis’s assessment, the soldiers were so inexperienced that they wouldn’t stand a chance against the Grindar, let alone the Despair.

"But the army seems confident they’ll win. One of the squad leaders even said they don’t need the help of mercenaries."

"Maybe they’ve trained too much and their brains are fried? With that kind of attitude, they’d be wiped out even against the Beast King!"

Norris spoke as if it were someone else’s problem, and Ted responded harshly.

"Well, the reason this is happening is because the number of Beast Kings has decreased."

Norris laughed with a carefree expression.

"Sure, sure. I understand your complaints, but we’ve taken this job as a request. Let’s fulfill our assigned roles properly."

"I know, Orphelia. Work is work."

No matter what they said, once they accepted the job, they had to do it properly.

Ted led the way, and Aldis and the others kept a watchful eye on the sky as they moved through the grasslands.

Even though the number of Despairs and Beast Kings had decreased, it didn’t mean the grasslands were completely safe.

Other carnivores like the "Green Knife," "Coyote," and "Grass Wolf" still roamed the area.

"Over there, Aldis!"

Ted’s warning rang out.

Aldis and the others were currently fighting a pack of "Coyotes."

The Coyote is a small carnivorous animal of the dog family. While it’s a lower rank than the Beast King, its sharp teeth and tendency to hunt in packs make it a different kind of danger.

Aldis directed his floating short sword at one of the approaching Coyotes and decapitated it before it could pounce.

Two more Coyotes circled around from behind, but before Aldis could turn to face them, Nere stood in front of the Coyotes.

When Nere waved her arm, ice needles formed in the air and pierced the Coyotes’ foreheads.

The Coyotes collapsed with a thud.

The eight Coyotes that had attacked were cut down by Aldis and the others before they could even realize the situation was unfavorable.

"Wow, just as I expected from someone Aldis vouches for. Good moves."

"This is child’s play."

Nere replied to Ted in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Huh, wait, wait a minute! You didn’t chant just now, right!? What’s going on!? Can you use magic without chanting like Aldis!?"

"Chant? What’s that?"

"Wh-what!?"

Orphelia and Nere exchanged puzzled looks.

Orphelia was likely surprised that Nere, like Aldis, could use magic without chanting, while Nere seemed to have no idea why this was a point of confusion.

Their fundamental assumptions were so different that it was inevitable.

While Orphelia was holding her head in frustration, Ted said in a good-natured tone.

"Having you as a temporary member is a real waste. How about joining our party with Aldis?"

"I follow my master. If my master acts with you, I will do the same."

"Hahaha, that master-servant dynamic seems pretty serious. Sorry, sorry."

Norris teased, and Nere glared at him.

From the moment they met, Nere had introduced herself with the unexpected line, "My name is Nere. I am the servant of my master, Aldis," and she had a presence that made it difficult for Norris to tease her.

Thus, while occasionally fending off attacking beasts, Aldis and the others continued their search for the Grindar.

"There really are only weaklings around."

After half a day of walking through the grasslands, they only encountered Green Knives, Coyotes, and Grass Wolves.

Not only had they not seen a Despair, but they hadn’t even seen a Beast King.

This situation highlighted just how unusual Aldis and Nere’s hunting prowess was.

"Hey, Ted, shouldn’t we take a lunch break soon?"

"Hmm? Oh, it’s that time already?"

So far, they hadn’t seen the Grindar.

It was possible that other mercenaries or the army had encountered it, but Aldis and his group had received no communication.

Without any communication, they had to assume the Grindar hadn’t been discovered yet and continue their search. They couldn’t leave their posts without permission.

In that sense, this extermination mission had several issues.

It was possible that a squad was currently engaged with the Grindar, but without knowing, Aldis and his group couldn’t provide support.

They were supposed to signal with a flare if they discovered the Grindar, but once a battle started, there would be no time for such formalities.

A squad composed only of regular soldiers could be wiped out in an instant.

Of course, Aldis and the others had no authority to voice their opinions.

Their job was to fulfill their assigned roles.

"Let’s take a break under that tree, then."

Ted pointed to a nearby tree.

Even in the grasslands, there were places where trees grew.

The shade of trees along the road served as natural resting spots, providing valuable comfort for mercenaries on hunts and traveling merchants.

"Hey, Aldis, can you get some water? My canteen is empty."

"Then I shall—"

Before Aldis could respond, Nere produced water from her delicate hands.

"Mmm..."

Orphelia watched intently.

For her, seeing another person, after Aldis, use magic without chanting was a shock.

"Here, Orphelia. Eat up."

Ted, oblivious to the magician’s internal turmoil, handed her a sandwich.

"My master, your food is warm."

"No, really. I can eat cold food, so you don’t have to warm it up."

"Even in the field, it’s a servant’s shame to serve cold food to their master. Isn’t it the mark of a proper master to accept it without complaint?"

"But no one asked for it..."

During the break, Nere diligently attended to Aldis.

She created a magical canopy to block the sunlight, handed him warm bread whenever his hands were free, and offered him cold water at intervals.

Her behavior was that of a devoted servant.

Ted, watching from the side with a sandwich in hand, muttered to no one in particular.

"Well, she does look like a servant in her actions..."

"But I’ve never seen a servant with such a brusque tone, you know."

Norris washed down a cold sandwich with water, then peered into his canteen, saying, "Hey, this water is delicious."

Aldis, being served, felt awkward about complaining but wished she would direct her efforts elsewhere.

On the other hand, it showed that they had plenty of leeway.

In fact, if they didn’t encounter the Grindar, this search mission would be no different from a picnic for Aldis and the others.

After finishing their meal, Aldis was about to take a nap when Ted and the others urged him to resume the search.

Even so, their task was the same as in the morning.

They walked through the grasslands, occasionally dealing with Coyotes and Green Knives.

Eventually, the road came into view.

"If we keep going to the road, we’ll turn south along it and then head east again, right?"

"Yeah, we’ll head east and meet up with the main force where the commander is, and that will be the end of today’s search."

Norris answered Orphelia.

"There are a lot of people on the road."

As they approached the turning point, Aldis noticed more people than expected.

"The rumors about the Grindar have been spreading. Maybe the merchants and caravans that were waiting in the city have all started moving at once? With the army’s soldiers scattered across the grasslands, bandits and robbers are less likely to move around."

Norris said this while looking at the map, and the members of "Morning Star of the White Night" chatted in a relaxed manner.

"Well, we’re finally halfway through. It’s not a big payday, but it’s nice to have a relaxed job like this once in a while."

"True. The weather is nice and it’s relaxing."

Aldis agreed on this point, but he had his reasons for not wanting to get involved with the army unnecessarily.

"I’d like the Grindar to show up soon. A day of this is fine, but being tied up for days is a no-go. And I’m sleepy."

"You’re always sleepy."

Orphelia said exasperatedly.

"Come on, Aldis. Look at this. Warm sunlight, a pleasant breeze, no troublesome Despairs or Beast Kings, a clear blue sky with drifting clouds, and the shadow of birds flying in the sky—wait?"

Ted, who had been draping his arm around Aldis and talking, furrowed his brow.

In the distance, a bird-like shadow was gliding high in the sky.

"Not a 'Killer Bird'..."

"Doesn’t look like a 'Watcher' either."

Nere, standing behind them, calmly pointed out.

"Is that the Grindar?"