Chapter 70

"Is it about an hour now?"

This is the third time I’ve heard this.

Are they tired of asking, or is it that no one even says, "Not yet"?

While Loki is hunting, we just have to wait.

I didn’t expect this time to feel so long.

That’s why I end up thinking about all sorts of unnecessary things.

Monsters gather near water.

It’s something that has been said for a long time.

Using this information, some people in the Palmera Great Forest would willingly go to the water’s edge.

But in the Ruru Forest near Bezart, where the strongest monsters appear, no one had the idea to specifically target the water’s edge.

Just being surrounded by orcs is enough to make you feel the specter of death.

I doubt there was anyone, either in my surroundings or in my father’s generation, who would willingly go to a place where monsters are densely packed, as if they had a death wish.

It’s only natural that no one besides Mars knew about this place.

And yet, he went alone...

I know that the guild keeps records of the amount of materials.

I often heard rumors mixed with the envy of the younger ones.

But no one here has actually seen him in battle.

He looks like a boy, and he could easily be my child’s age.

Was it right to let such a child go in alone?

After letting him die once, I couldn’t bring myself to let him die again—

But when I felt that strange confidence, I couldn’t say anything.

Besides, I had no right to refuse Loki’s proposal...

"The sun is directly overhead. It’s about time for the hour we’ve been waiting for, right?"

When Mizuru said this, everyone got up.

I’m just the temporary leader.

It’s probably easier for everyone to follow Mizuru’s instructions, as he is the original party leader.

But I’ll do what needs to be done.

I don’t want anyone to die, and I’m not ready to die either.

"Let’s go then. As planned, I, Mizuru, and Enz will carry the baskets first. When the rear group’s magic power runs low, switch to carrying the baskets. If we can manage it, we’ll return once to switch the baskets."

During this hour, we made various arrangements because we had nothing else to do.

I’m not saying I don’t trust Loki, but we don’t know how many monsters are left on the way.

So, we decided to leave three of the six baskets here.

No one comes to this place.

Leaving the baskets here shouldn’t cause any problems.

And thinking that three people can move more freely without the baskets, this decision has many advantages.

Initially, the close-range group, with Enz as the main carrier, will carry the baskets.

When their magic power runs low, the rear group will take over the baskets, and the close-range group will become the main guards.

It’s the first day.

We’ll see how it goes for now.

"Well, well, what’s the forest like inside?"

"Leader, don’t be careless. There might be a flood of monsters."

"You always think the worst, Mars. It’s more fun to dream, you know?"

"You know that many hunters die from those dreams, right?"

"Yeah... but if it turns out to be a nightmare, we’ll run away quickly."

"Then that boy won’t survive..."

"That’s unavoidable. Loki proposed it himself. As a hunter, you must always be prepared to die."

"But there’s not even a corpse of a monster, let alone a monster?"

"Maybe it’s because we’re still near the entrance?"

Indeed, it just feels like a regular forest, but that’s probably because we’re too close to the entrance.

Should we go deeper along the river, or leave the river and enter the forest?

But the river will serve as a landmark and make it easier to escape if something happens, so it’s best to determine the direction quickly.

—Then.

"Right, let’s go a bit further. If we don’t find anything, we’ll leave the river and enter the forest."

"Ah... maybe there’s no need. I can smell blood."

"Huh? Really?"

"Leader, your nose is as good as ever."

Mizuru licked his fingertips and checked the wind direction on the spot.

"It’s not wrong. This way straight ahead. The smell of blood is coming from that direction."

"I hope it’s not Loki’s blood."

"Hey, Alba, don’t say such unlucky things. If Loki dies, we won’t be able to make money."

"That’s a strange way of thinking... Wait, what? ... A mountain?"

"Huh? ... Ah... This is... worse than I expected..."

...It’s no wonder Mizuru is surprised.

At first, I thought, why is there a mound of earth here?

But as we approached the small hill of earth, I saw about 7-8 monster corpses scattered around it.

"All Small Wolves... Is it possible for so many to attack together?"

"Normally, it’s at most 4-5. Maybe this many near a water source?"

"There doesn’t seem to be any monster presence—Zalsa! Go ahead and check the other side of the mound!"

"Got it."

"Alright! Since there are so many, Zalsa and Mars, you two will guard for now. The rest, let’s start the dissection."

Just as everyone was preparing, a voice called out to stop them.

"Wait, wait a minute!!"

"What is it! Is it a monster!?"

"N-no... it’s not that..."

"Zalsa, that’s not like you... Did you find Loki’s body...?"

Mizuru, who noticed Zalsa’s change, was also speechless.

Could it be—

"Is, is Loki dead!!?"

"Haha... Hahaha...! ...This might be a big catch... We’ve drawn a dangerous one!"

"What are you talking about?"

As he said this and approached the back of the small hill, there were even more Small Wolf corpses than before.

And to top it off, there were three orc corpses as well.

Noticing the small amount of text, I’ll post another chapter today, regardless of the time.

Please enjoy it at your leisure.