Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 59: The Festival Of Dark Mages (5).

Group Leader Allen became worried after the Blind Saintess left, wondering if it was a mistake to send her away. Although she was said to be a very powerful character, he still hadn’t felt how strong she actually was…. Moreover, her opponent was a necromancer.

‘……Fuuuck, Pleeease……!’

As the Blind Saintess, who had been one of the pillars of the mercenary group, left, it was clear that the members were struggling. The milk-jug mage was occasionally launching big spells, but that wasn’t enough to turn the tide of the battle.

Just as Allen’s nervous penis was shrinking in real-time, the ghouls and corpse monsters that had been fearlessly attacking the members suddenly retreated and started running somewhere.

‘…What’s going on…?’

It was clearly not a retreat. It was as if something urgently called them….

“Ah—!”

“The fuck… What is this? What happened?”

The members, gasping for breath, expressed their confusion about this sudden and inexplicable situation. …Still, it was a relief to be able to catch their breath for a moment.

Not long after, dark energy was seen soaring into the sky from afar, and the ghouls collapsed forward powerlessly like toys with their power switched off.

There, Group Leader Allen realized that the Blind Saintess had somehow managed to kill the necromancer. Otherwise, how could all those ghouls have fallen at once?

‘She did it. Damn, she really did it. Ordnung really did it!’

Worried about her well-being, he quickly moved with his team members to the place where that dark energy had surged. Along the way, hundreds of ghouls lay scattered, reverted to corpses. The team members, worried that these creatures might be feigning death to lure them in, poked at them with their weapons, but as expected, there was no response. They were certainly dead.

‘Ah.’

Allen saw that silhouette standing nobly atop the sand dune. The way the moonlight softly poured down on her like a halo made her seem almost sacred at first glance.

‘To think she took down a necromancer all by herself. Of course, I had sent her off because I had faith in her, but still, the pride and admiration simply won’t fade. ……This must be what it feels like for a gamer to have an incredibly strong character.’

The group leader energetically leaped up the sand dune. And then he stood tall in front of the saintess, who was smiling contentedly.

“Group Leader…!”

Allen couldn’t contain the emotions welling up inside him and hugged her tightly, peppering her cheeks with kisses.

“You did well. Really. You did really well, Ordnung. You’re truly a saintess. You saved the people.”

“…No. It was something I had to do.”

“What do you mean something you had to do? It’s your sacrifice. No one’s sacrifice is a given. …You did it. You saved everyone.”

“Thank you…”

The Blind Saintess smiled shyly.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m not. I’m fine. I’m okay.”

…Monsters are indeed monsters.

To have broken through that enormous horde of ghouls and even to have taken down a necromancer alone, without a single injury.

Allen felt suddenly suffocated. The thought of having to let go of such an incredible woman was too regrettable… Of course, after expanding the size of the mercenary group to a certain extent around the middle of the progress, it was possible to recruit her again. However, still, the time between in the meantime was so regrettable that it made his heart tremble.

‘…Is there really no way?’

Although this world was based on Guild Master, not everything moved along a predetermined system-like route. The process of recruiting the Blind Saintess was proof of that. There was no justice-driven Blind Saintess eager to defeat the dark mage, just a woman blinded by money—!

Wouldn’t there be a possibility if a lot of money was offered?

It seemed quite possible with her, who was crazy about money. There was already one precedent.

Of course, Allen didn’t shower all his praise on the Blind Saintess alone. He went to each of the members who had endured deathly hardships, commending and comforting them one by one.

While the members sat briefly on a sand dune, looking down at the stretch of corpses below, Allen and the Blind Saintess examined the spot where the dead necromancer lay.

“…So, it moved even though its head was blown off?”

“Yes. Where the heart should have been, there was something like a bead. Of course, there was no heart.”

Allen, squatting in front of the remains where only some ash-like black dust was left, rummaged through it, his mind whirring intensely.

‘…Has he already begun lichification?’

There had indeed been too many ghouls and corpse monsters to be the work of a human necromancer. Perhaps it was that confidence that had led them to fight against the mercenaries firmly planted in the village.

While pondering various thoughts, Group Leader Rudra climbed up to the sand dune with several of the other group leaders. They seemed quite taken aback by the unexpectedly powerful offensive of the enemy.

Allen, who had been crouching, stood up and immediately gave a brief explanation to the representative Rudra.

“This friend here took care of the necromancer herself. It seems he was already undergoing lichification. There’s nothing left of him, not even his corpse.”

“……Is that so.”

The group leaders peeked out and alternately looked at the spot Allen had pointed to and the Blind Saintess. Only scraps of the ragged cloth he had been wearing were scattered around where the necromancer had died.

“Everyone, gather around.”

Group Leader Rudra called all the other leaders together. Originally, there were ten, but one was missing. Probably dead or severely injured.

“Let’s start with the damage report.”

Thus, the leaders took turns reporting the current damage to their mercenary groups. Except for the Allen-Mercenary Group, all the others had a few casualties.

The Rudra-Mercenary Group also had one dead and two severely injured. Then, it was Allen’s turn.

“There are no casualties.”

Everyone looked surprised. To have not a single casualty amidst such a fierce offensive. It meant that the ability of his mercenary group was superior to anyone else’s present here.

At the same time, they remembered the scene when he was running for the representative election. ……Those words were not just empty boasts, after all.

“…I see. Well done. Your mercenary group has made a significant contribution. Even taking down a necromancer.”

Group Leader Rudra seemed to have a bitter taste in her mouth, but fortunately, her ability to judge the situation objectively wasn’t clouded. It’s a great relief that she didn’t have [Narcissism] or [Jealousy].

“I will make sure to report this matter to the baron so that you can receive additional rewards commensurate with your contributions.”

“…Thank you.”

Honestly, it wasn’t exactly done with that in mind, but if they’re offering more, of course, he should accept it—!

“So, what should we do going forward? What are your thoughts?”

Everyone was silent, merely glancing at each other, unsure of what to do next….

That’s when Allen stepped forward as if he had been waiting for the moment.

“Once a comrade has died, the dark mages won’t easily attack us. But chasing after them would take too much time and is too uncertain.”

“…So?”

Allen scanned the leaders once and then spoke in a solemn tone.

“The situation is already spiraling out of control. Naturally, we can’t just stay put here.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s already been clearly proven that the village cannot stop the necromancer with their strength alone.”

The leaders listened intently to Allen’s words.

“Therefore, by evacuating the villagers, we must face the significant challenge approaching us.”

“The significant challenge?”

“Do you think the dark mages would just watch idly as hundreds of people gather in an open field without any barriers?”

—!

“They’ll come after us to eat us up by any means necessary. It’s not us chasing them, but making them chase us.”

“…It’s not going to be easy. It’s not just one or two, but hundreds of people. Can you really protect them all?”

“We can’t just abandon them and leave, can we? That’s our mission, isn’t it?”

Group Leader Rudra was at a loss for words. Allen slightly loosened the leash he was holding.

“Of course, we can’t save everyone. Sacrifices are inevitable. But isn’t it a wise choice to sacrifice a few to save the majority? In the end, if we don’t, everyone will die. And that would only make our enemies stronger.”

There was absolutely no way to argue against that. It was all an undeniable fact.

In fact, Group Leader Rudra was not without thoughts of evacuating the villagers. The same would be true for the other leaders. …But they must be scared.

Allen scoffed at the leaders, hesitating like mute bees. A clear sneer was hanging on the corner of his mouth.

“…What is this mess? Although mercenaries move for money, at their foundation lies trust. Are you acting like this because you’re afraid the people will become a burden?”

Suddenly, something surged up in Allen.

“Damn it, if you’ve taken the money, you should stake your life on the job. Isn’t that what a mercenary is? You came to fight against the dark mages, and you didn’t have this resolve? If you took the money without knowing your place, you should die. That’s exactly what a mercenary is—!”

Allen fiercely snapped, glaring at the group leaders with a deadly look. Everyone awkwardly coughed, swallowing their discomfort and slightly averting their gaze.

“Decide, Group Leader Rudra. …After all, there’s no other way. Our mission is to defeat the dark mages and save the people.”

Rudra, looking straight at Allen, declared solemnly.

“We evacuate the people. Our mission is to protect them. It was a bit tough, but fighting the enemies was unexpectedly manageable. Though there might be some sacrifices, that’s something beyond our ability, so it’s only right to accept it. …Do you all agree?”

“…Yes.”

Only then did Allen’s fierce expression soften, and a faint smile appeared.

“A wise choice, Group Leader Rudra, and everyone.”

Allen, desperate for money and honor, did not want to retreat in vain.

The more dramatic the situation, the more inflated the rumors become.

As long as that monstrous Blind Saintess stood firmly in the Allen-Mercenary Group, their achievements were as good as secured.