Chapter 46

"Do not stop your feet or hands. If you want to see tomorrow, hurry up with the work!!"

Emrid, the commander of the infantry squadron of the Liberato Commercial Federation, raised his voice. He understood that his subordinates were working hard.

Still, Emrid urged them on to advance the work even by a second or a moment.

"The installation team has encountered monsters, they are in combat with over 40 orcs!!"

"Let Fil's squad handle it, the installation team should continue their work."

Various countries had entered the forest of the demon territory on the outskirts of Myard with battalion-scale forces, but the situation was worsening.

It was easier to attack the position guarded by the Haiselk soldiers. Emrid wanted to punch his pre-departure self for being so naive.

Even Emrid, who had led a hunting party in the demon territory in his home country, was now in a dire situation where the word 'hard-fought' was too mild. Overall, there were probably squads that had drawn the short straw and been annihilated.

Firstly, the number of monsters was not ordinary. The number of monsters encountered in a 1km advance easily exceeded 100. These were not just small creatures like goblins or kobolds, but at the very least orcs, and even ogres, lizardmen, and lamias, which are classified as B-class monsters.

"The shortest route is straight ahead, but it leads to the territory of giant birds."

The lead adventurer called out to Emrid, who was opening the map. Ah, Abyss Birds. No one is unfamiliar with them. The monstrous creatures of the sky that sometimes engage in territorial disputes with dragon species.

"A B-class monster, why are there so many of them? What about a detour?"

If it were an A-class monster, the entire squad would need to engage it, and even then, they wouldn't win. If there were multiple, even a battalion-level force would be in danger.

"There is one, but we need to pass through an area infested with insect-type monsters."

"What kind?"

"Primarily B-class equivalent spiders and ants. There are fewer worms, but if we're unlucky, we might encounter a Giant Centipede. We can drive them away with fire, but—"

The adventurer stopped speaking and looked at the barrels on the handcart.

"The cargo is the cargo. The order is to strictly prohibit the use of fire."

The contents were the extremely flammable and volatile black water of Liberato. If it caught fire, it could cut off their retreat in the forest of the demon territory. It was a very frustrating order for Emrid.

"We will take the detour. It's easier to handle than the Abyss Birds."

Compared to a creature that flies in the sky and only descends to attack, insect-type monsters, though numerous, have multiple ways to counter them. Just as Emrid decided on the route, a shout of anger rose from the rear of the formation.

"It's a Gigant Ghoul!!"

Among the ghouls that have a fixation on the living, it was an existence that failed to become a higher form like a lich, a rotting giant with regenerative abilities and a Cyclops-like swollen body, which appeared in Emrid's sight.

"Folk squad, come here. We're going to crush it."

Emrid's judgment was quick, having already used up his reserve forces. While it could be outrun on foot, it was a troublesome opponent that would track its prey endlessly to feed. It couldn't be left alone, and the installation team had not yet joined up, so they couldn't abandon them.

"I'll provide support. If you can stop its movement, I can finish it with wind magic."

One of the lead adventurers told Emrid. Emrid had doubts about whether it could be finished, but he had heard that the adventurers chosen as guides were all skilled, even if it was a red-haired girl.

"I'll stop it with my magic. Count on me."

The rear squad had already begun combat, and in front of Emrid, one was crushed in its enlarged arm, and another was bitten through the armor and upper body.

"You did this to my subordinates."

Several spears and arrows pierced the upper body, but they were ineffective against the undead. The wounds torn by Emrid's subordinates regenerated with a sickening squelch.

"Take this, you fool."

Emrid gathered his magic and placed his hand on the ground.

"Earth Crack."

A few seconds later, the ground split and rose. While experienced soldiers could easily avoid it, there was no way the slow-moving Gigant Ghoul could. Its rotting skin layered and oozed liquid as its feet were swallowed by the ground. The swollen ghoul writhed and tried to climb out. Emrid stopped a subordinate who tried to cut in to prevent it.

"Fall back. Don't get in the line of fire of the magic."

The red-haired adventurer, a generation younger than Emrid, released the gathered magic. A gust of wind blew through the forest, where there was little wind.

The wind blade released by the red-haired girl hit the Gigant Ghoul's head, and it vanished as if struck by countless slashes, head and all.

It was the wind-based skill "Wind Fang," which Emrid also knew.

"Get back, it's still moving."

The headless Gigant Ghoul swung its massive arms, but its movements gradually slowed and it eventually stopped.

The contents leaked out, and the stench of boiling sewage filled Emrid's nostrils. He couldn't imagine how many live prey it had eaten to grow so large.

"Even after dying twice, you're still a nuisance."

While treating the injured, Emrid checked the casualties. Two dead, one injured. Considering they had destroyed a monster equivalent to a high B-class, the casualties were relatively light.

"You're Reithia, right? Thanks for the help."

"I'm glad if I could be of service. This is for Myard."

The red-haired girl's eyes showed a look of hatred, which Emrid judged was directed at the Haiselk Empire that had invaded her homeland.

Emrid had heard that they hired adventurers for exorbitant amounts, but some joined to resist the Haiselk Empire that dominated their homeland.

Emrid couldn't understand the mindset of the two who had left their party to join the mission to strike against Haiselk, even with the lead scout Lefty, who was accustomed to reconnaissance.

Still, he was genuinely happy to have gained skilled allies.

"Adventurer, I'm counting on you for the guidance."

At the same time, a sense of unease passed through Emrid. What would happen if they burned the demon territory, where even B-class monsters roamed in the outer regions? Emrid felt a chill down his spine.

His rational mind told him to cancel the mission, but as a soldier and the commander of a squadron, he had no choice but to carry out his orders.

◆

In the farming village under the effective control of the Haiselk Empire, a sense of stagnation hung in the air. Yorgim, one of the village farmers, was worried about the village's future. In the Battle of Eidenberg, the young men were mobilized, and only one returned, having fled in defeat. According to Yorgim, the rest were either killed or captured.

There were rumors that if they were alive, they would be released in a few years, but Yorgim couldn't be optimistic. There weren't enough people for the farm work, and they were squeezed by the Myard and Haiselk armies to the point where they could barely survive. People and resources were almost non-existent.

Even the retired elderly and children were working in the fields. The villagers helping with the transport of supplies spoke of ongoing battles on the border with the Kingdom of Ferris, involving five countries.

Picking up branches that had fallen in the forest and putting them in a basket, Yorgim thought that if he could use even a simple magic, life would be more convenient. But he could barely use magic and had only average physical strength. He was well aware of his ordinariness.

"What's this? The forest is getting bright."

The deep, cursed forest connected to the demon territory was faintly brightening. The smell of burning carried on the wind. It must be a forest fire, Yorgim thought, scratching his head.

The Myard army had already been annihilated, and the firefighting would have to be done by the villagers. Yorgim would undoubtedly be chosen to help. As he headed back to the village, his steps naturally quickened.

Yorgim, an ordinary man, had one mysterious talent. It wasn't useful in peacetime, but when faced with life and death, his intuition was often accurate. It had saved his life when he was chased by a Horned Grizzly in the forest and when he fought against Haiselk as a soldier of the old Kanoa. His son, Moiz, had inherited this ability and was the only one to escape to the village as a Myard soldier.

Passing through the center of the village and reaching his home on the outskirts, Yorgim found his wife, Deborah, and son, Moiz, cutting potatoes and preparing a meal.

"We have to run!!"

Yorgim's voice was surprisingly loud.

"Is it the Haiselk soldiers in pursuit?"

Yorgim's wife's eyes sharpened, suspecting that pursuers were approaching.

"No, the forest is dangerous. I have a feeling it's about to crush us."

Yorgim, who might have been taken for a joker, was met with a straightforward response from Deborah.

"Moiz, hitch the cart to the horse and load only food and weapons."

"Mom!?"

"Are you stupid? Don't make me say it twice."

Moiz, who had momentarily stiffened, immediately ran to the back of the house.

"You and Moiz have the 'Intuition' skill. It's telling you to run now. Is the village doomed?"

"Mom, remember when the ogre horde attacked?"

"Yes, many Myard soldiers died."

"It felt like the mischief of children compared to this."

"…That's bad."

Yorgim's ears caught a scream.

"They're here."

Screams and shouts echoed from all over the village as people fled.

A wave appeared from the forest. It wasn't a metaphor; a torrent of monsters was surging in, a diverse and varied flood of creatures.

"A rampage, some country must have done this!!"

More than ten Silver Wolves, known for their speed, ran toward Yorgim. Yorgim didn't hate dogs, but he hated Silver Wolves.

Their jaws opened, drooling, as they found Yorgim's sinewy body appealing.

Just before they reached Yorgim, a Silver Wolf's head was crushed by a hand reaching out from the side.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing to a man?"

Deborah, Yorgim's wife, threw the limp body of the Silver Wolf at another, then pounced on it.

Her side was gouged out, her skull crushed, and the Silver Wolf was beaten to death with her fists. Yorgim's marital spats with Deborah were life-threatening even without weapons. A mere graze could cause a bruise, and a direct hit could obliterate his scrawny body.

Yorgim pulled out a fence post and faced the approaching Silver Wolves. He judged that they were easier to handle than his wife, who could manipulate "Brute Strength" and "Adamantine." While it was a correct judgment to choose Yorgim over Deborah, it was a mistake to overlook the option of fleeing.

Reading the feint and leap of the Silver Wolf with his "Intuition," Yorgim thrust the fence post into its mouth. No strength was needed. He fixed the post with his right palm and waist, and gripped it with his left hand.

The Silver Wolf impaled itself. Yorgim wanted to praise it for being a good dog. Another one, equally friendly, leaped at Yorgim's throat.

Yorgim embraced it. Wrapping his arm around the Silver Wolf's throat, he twisted his body and snapped its neck. Without the "Intuition" skill, Yorgim, a scrawny ordinary man, would have been no match, even if he had been an adventurer in the past.

"How long are you going to play? Let's go. …It's too late."

In the direction of Deborah's sad gaze, the massive bodies of the monsters invading the village were visible.

"Even a Tyrant Worm is here."

Farmers trying to counterattack with farm tools and self-defense weapons were crushed against walls by the mere thrashing of the Tyrant Worm. Even if Yorgim and Deborah fought with all their might, the village was beyond saving.

"Let's get out of here quickly. It's too much for weak farmers. It's just right to leave it to the Haiselk soldiers."

Yorgim left the village, which had turned into a hell of screams and cries, with his family. Out of 478 villagers, only three and one horse survived.