The Second Quest

We quickly passed through the goblin cave and entered the Green Skin layer. The circular staircase we descended disappeared immediately behind us.

“Where could this be?”

I took out the map from my bag and unfolded it. Inis and Isabella approached closer.

“Hmm.”

We looked at the map together, but it was such a shoddy item that it was embarrassing to even call it a map. This was because it had been roughly created based on the entrance.

“…Can either of you make sense of this?”

“I have no idea at all.”

“I don’t understand it either. I wonder if this can even be considered a map?”

At that, I sighed deeply and folded the map. Well, what could I expect from a 1 silver map?

“Let’s just start moving.”

In the end, I rolled up the map, put it away, and began walking. There was no point in just standing still.

As we were walking endlessly through the Green Skin layer, Isabella suddenly grabbed my shoulder.

“Master. Look over there.”

Looking where she pointed, I could see something moving. It was so far away that I could barely make it out even when looking very carefully.

“I can’t see well, but are those orcs and goblins?”

“Yes. Orcs and goblins are moving together, and the goblins are carrying women tied to poles.”

“Women? Let’s follow them. Inis will track them, and Isabella will keep watch around us. If any other groups appear, warn us. Understand?”

“Yes.”

We began following the orc group that had suddenly appeared. Since we were in open terrain, tracking the enemy wasn’t too difficult. However, they could also see us, so we had to move cautiously.

“Master. An orc rider is approaching us.”

Isabella shouted while we were following them. I turned my gaze in that direction but couldn’t see anything. I wondered just how good her eyesight was.

“Isabella. Can you handle it?”

Since they hadn’t blown their horn yet, it meant they hadn’t discovered us. If we could deal with them before they found us, we could continue tracking the captured adventurers.

“Just leave it to me.”

Isabella shouted confidently. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and nocked it. Red magical power erupted from her body. The magic flowed from her arms to the arrow.

Whizz—!

The moment she released the string, it flew with magic concentrated at the tip. She then fired three more arrows in succession.

Isabella watched the direction of her shots with sharp eyes. Then the corners of her eyes turned up. She turned her head to me and said in a bright voice.

“All of them hit!”

Her sparkling eyes made her look like a puppy wanting praise. If she had a tail, it would probably have been wagging excitedly from side to side.

“Well done.”

When I stroked her hair, she closed her eyes tightly in delight.

“Hurry up!”

At Inis’s shout, we hastened our steps again. As I moved to her side, I saw she was pouting.

I smiled slightly and continued walking. After walking for a while, different scenery gradually came into view.

A wall made of wood. It wasn’t very high, so we could easily see what the orcs and goblins were doing.

“Isn’t that essentially meaningless?”

“Maybe they just did it to feel like they’ve done something?”

Still, they had built watchtowers, pretending to be a proper tribe. It was difficult to approach any closer because of the goblins scouting from above.

“The reason they took women is probably for breeding, right?”

“Yes. Monsters in the labyrinth can’t breed with each other, but it’s possible to use human bodies. They say monsters born this way become stronger than those born in the labyrinth?”

“So the women taken prisoner are forced to continuously give birth to monsters?”

Isabella nodded heavily. Inis’s expression also darkened.

“That’s why female adventurers would rather take their own lives if they’re about to be captured by monsters.”

“I guess death would be better than suffering that fate.”

I bit down hard on my lip.

To be honest, I didn’t really care much about other adventurers going through hardships. They chose to enter the labyrinth, and they were captured because they were weak.

However, thinking that Inis and Isabella could suffer such a fate made me feel nauseated. I realized we absolutely must not lose.

“Master. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Inis was concerned about me. I answered calmly and retreated slightly from the tribe.

“The place we’ve found is likely the orc tribe, right?”

“Yes. Seeing how they captured adventurers and brought them here, that’s highly probable. The fence is also quite high for something made by goblins.”

“Then it would be better to wait for the goblins to return to their own tribe. The problem is what to do if they don’t return…”

“If we use the map well, couldn’t we find the goblin tribe? It was marked on it.”

I took out the map from my bag and unfolded it. The goblin tribe did exist on the opposite side of the orc tribe. However, the direction was only approximate, so it wouldn’t be easy to find.

The certain orc tribe, or the uncertain goblin tribe? I was contemplating what to do.

“Um… Master.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Isabella glanced around nervously and spoke up. Our gazes naturally turned to her. Isabella hesitated.

“Isabella. Answer.”

At Inis’s urging, Isabella spoke in a small voice.

“…Could we rescue the adventurers?”

“The adventurers who were just taken?”

“Yes. It’s bothering me…”

At those words, Inis and I let out small sighs. Hearing this, Isabella flinched.

“Isabella. Are you serious? You want to rescue the adventurers?”

“…I’m sorry. It’s just weighing on my mind…”

“I understand that you’re uncomfortable about the adventurers. Master and I feel the same, don’t we? But do you know why we didn’t voice such thoughts? Do you think we’re bad people?”

“N-no…”

Inis scolded Isabella without me needing to step in.

“It’s because realistically, it’s not easy. What if we encounter the orc tribal chief while trying to rescue them? What would you do then? Would you face it, Isabella?”

“……..”

Isabella remained silent, her lips tightly sealed.

“Don’t be selfish. Don’t put Master in danger just to ease your conscience. Do you understand?”

“…Yes.”

“And let me give you one piece of advice, Isabella. You are no longer a noble. You are Master’s slave. Always be aware of that and remember it. Understood?”

“I understand! Master, I’m truly sorry!”

Isabella bowed her head deeply. I did not respond that it was okay. This was definitely an issue that needed to be corrected.

『Quest Generated!』

Just as I was about to speak again, a quest appeared before me.

‘Suddenly?’

『Defeat the Corrupted Orc Tribal Chief.』

『Quest Completion Conditions』

-Defeat the Orc Tribal Chief who has grown stronger through a deal with a demon!

-Rescue the captured adventurers! [Optional]

『Quest Reward: Divine Power Enhancement and Magical Power Increase. Isabella’s Affection Increase.』

I moved my eyes to read the quest in front of me. The content wasn’t particularly difficult. However, I was curious as to why this suddenly appeared.

Was it because Isabella wanted to rescue the adventurers? Or because the Orc Tribal Chief had made a deal with a demon?

With still too few examples, I couldn’t immediately tell why it appeared. However, it would be good to remember the circumstances.

As I remained silent, the atmosphere became heavy. Trying to bring up the Orc Tribal Chief in this situation was quite uncomfortable.

“Inis. Can we talk privately for a moment?”

I called Inis while glancing around discreetly. She got up from her seat, though puzzled. Isabella gasped “Huh” as she inhaled.

“Master. You’re not planning to expel Isabella from the party, are you…?”

After we had distanced ourselves from Isabella, Inis urgently asked.

“No. I’m not garbage. Would I expel her just for saying something like that once? I’m not that bad a person.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that you were that kind of person… It’s just that such things happened when I was in other parties…”

“She’s a child abandoned even by her family. How could I abandon her again? Besides, we’re like family now, aren’t we?”

“Family… Yes. That’s right.”

Inis smiled brightly and nodded.

“Then why did you call me?”

“I want to try capturing the Orc Tribal Chief.”

“The Orc Tribal Chief?”

She asked, startled. Her eyes were round. She seemed completely unprepared for this.

“Just to be clear, it’s not to rescue the adventurers. Of course, if possible, we will, but there’s no need to take risks for it.”

“Then what’s the reason?”

“Lord Egun wishes it.”

“Ah….”

Inis immediately understood. Knowing the relationship between a demon and its contractor, she understood without further explanation.

“The reason you called me separately was to prevent me from misunderstanding. You spoke to me first, lest I think you made this choice for Isabella’s sake.”

“That’s right.”

She bowed her head.

“Thank you for your consideration. There’s no reason for you to go to such lengths…”

“We’re family. We should care for each other. Don’t you agree?”

Inis smiled broadly.

“So that’s settled. Please understand it that way. I’ll explain to Isabella myself.”

“Yes.”

After finishing our conversation, we returned to Isabella. She was trembling and visibly nervous. When our eyes met, Isabella jumped in surprise and approached us.

“Isabella.”

“Y-yes!”

She was extremely tense. She swallowed hard, waiting for me to speak. Her appearance was so cute that I wanted to tease her more, but I decided against it.

“Let’s try to rescue the adventurers.”

“…What?”