Ch.34Chapter 34. A White, Sticky Liquid With a Fishy Smell Sprayed From the Lower Body.

As the sunset faded and night gradually approached.

After barely dealing with the monsters and salvaging the damaged carriages, I sat in the carriage with my tired body and took time to assess the situation with Merilyn.

“It’s fortunate there were no casualties.”

“Yes, well. It was dangerous, but everyone defended well.”

Of course, even the Adventurer’s Guild ensures minimum combat capability through measures like class assignments.

No matter how inexperienced the adventurers attached to the merchant group might be, if they stay focused, they can somehow handle monsters appropriate to their level.

“Damn, were there no clerics to support us?”

“Would high-value personnel like clerics ride in cargo holds? They all went with the high-ranking adventurers!”

Right, the problem is that this isn’t a game world where you can move perfectly fine even with just 1 HP remaining.

Even if you win a battle, injuries remain, and if those injuries aren’t treated, you’ll soon die or be hindered in your next actions.

“We’ll find clerics later. For now, let’s use potions for first aid.”

“Injured people, come over here and show me your wounds.”

One fortunate thing is that we’re escorting a merchant group, and they need to care for the adventurers’ condition for their own safety.

While we were able to receive expensive potions free of charge, the faces of the adventurers confronted with these potions showed what could only be described as terror.

“Aaaagh! Get away! I-I don’t need any potions!!”

“What is that crazy guy saying while bleeding profusely!?”

“All uninjured people come here! Grab that guy’s limbs!!”

“Gaaaah! D-don’t do this! I-I’m still…”

“Don’t worry. It only hurts at first.”

The scene became chaotic as injured and uninjured people tangled together.

You might wonder why they’re making such a fuss about getting treatment, but having been around this world for a while, I understood exactly why they were acting this way.

So… the potions in this world are comparable to…

Iodine concentrated about 50 times.

“Keeeeeeek!! Keeeeeeeeeek!!”

“Aaaagh! What did I do wrong to deserve this torture?!”

“Gaaaah! The resistance’s secret base is in the cave north of the empire aaaaaaagh!!”

“Just kill me instead!!”

That’s something the Knight of Death would be troubled to hear.

Still, seeing their overflowing energy reassured me they’d soon be able to fight again, but the merchant leader’s expression remained grim.

“So, what are we going to do now?”

The adventurers hired for the mission and the merchants belonging to the group.

They were all expressing anxiety about the current situation.

While monster attacks on merchant groups were expected, they only anticipated either one large monster attacking or occasional small fry appearing.

Though damaged carriages could be repaired and run again, no one could guarantee that such incidents wouldn’t repeat.

“I think we should go back and regroup.”

“No, we’re not far from the garrison area. Isn’t it a waste to turn back now?”

“But there’s no guarantee we won’t be attacked again. If we go to the garrison area, we might be completely wiped out…”

“Do monster groups that move in packs appear that frequently? Isn’t it excessive to think they’ll come in groups again?”

“Think carefully. There were no deaths this time, but we could have died if things went wrong!”

Whether to proceed to the garrison area or retreat temporarily considering the possibility of another monster attack.

As opinions were fiercely divided, the merchant leader caught between them frowned and sighed.

“…Ugh, this is troublesome.”

From his position, neither option would be easy to choose.

While life is precious, for merchants, reputation is often even more important.

If they couldn’t reach the garrison by tonight to supply goods and replenish adventurers, it might cause difficulties for the garrison…

“…Hyoseong, are you okay?”

As I was watching the serious situation, a cautious question reached my ears.

After organizing my thoughts briefly, I quietly put on my mask, stood up, and patted Merilyn’s shoulder.

“I’m fine. Somehow, we’ll manage.”

Having faced countless dangers like this, I didn’t find the situation completely hopeless.

Though I’d heard from Irie that I would die on this mission, I had brought Merilyn along as a solution.

Yes, whatever awaits us, there’s a way to survive.

“This is my opinion.”

With that confidence, I prepared to suggest what I thought was the best course of action.

Wearing a mask to prevent confusion from anyone who might recognize me.

“I think we should head toward the garrison area.”

“You want to go to the garrison? Are you sane?”

“I understand your concerns. With the garrison so close, it’s reasonable to wonder if the garrison isn’t functioning properly if monsters are appearing nearby.”

Yes, the danger isn’t just on the path.

The areas around garrisons are regularly cleared of monsters.

The fact that monsters attacked in groups like this means the situation must be bad enough that they couldn’t conduct monster subjugation for at least half a day.

“But everyone, if the garrison had fallen, they would have sent messengers or carrier birds to inform us. No matter how dangerous the area outside the empire is, a place established by the empire for defense and reconnaissance wouldn’t fail to take such basic precautions.”

“W-well, if there’s been no such attempt, it might not be extremely dangerous…”

As people began to waver at my reasoned persuasion, I quickly moved to solidify my argument before anyone could object.

“Moreover, having encountered monsters moving in groups, there’s no guarantee we can safely escape even if we turn back.”

“Why is that?”

“Usually, when monsters move in groups like this, it means either the area is a monster nest, or there’s a tamer nearby leading the monsters.”

A nest is a naturally formed environment where monsters are born periodically.

But the garrison wouldn’t allow such a thing to form naturally, so that possibility can be ruled out from the start.

“If something can command monsters… could it be!?”

“Yes, the Demon Lord’s army might be gathering near the garrison area for some reason. We may have unfortunately stumbled in when the garrison and the Demon Lord’s army are facing off.”

The Demon Lord’s army.

Beings who appeared decades ago by tearing through dimensional gates, turning everything into wasteland, and reigning as humanity’s main enemy.

Although the birth of monsters isn’t directly related to them, the number of monsters increased dramatically after the dimensional collapse, and some demons were naturally adept at controlling such monsters.

The reason these instinct-driven monsters move so collectively is essentially only due to the Demon Lord’s army’s interference.

“However, the fact that monsters are roaming this area rather than right near the garrison likely means the Demon Lord’s army hasn’t properly attacked the garrison area yet. The tamer leading the monsters is probably scouting the area for attack points or spreading groups indiscriminately to block external entry.”

“…That does make sense.”

“If monsters are indeed spread throughout the area, there’s no guarantee we can escape safely even if we flee.”

“And it’s nighttime in a forested area…”

Yes, people from the opposition are starting to agree with me.

With several injured people, if we retreat and encounter monster groups again, we won’t get through as easily as before.

If we’re taking risks either way, joining the still-standing garrison to get supplies and reinforcements might help our survival.

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

A shout came from the group.

Approaching us was a black-haired woman dressed in typical adventurer attire with leather belts and a cloak.

“You’re saying we should head to the garrison area that might be facing off against the Demon Lord’s army because retreating is dangerous too? Do you realize we might get swept away along with the garrison?”

“Certainly, if they’re facing the Demon Lord’s army, it’s dangerous, but we came here on a mission, didn’t we? That level of risk is necessary to earn our pay…”

“Hah, someone might think we came here risking our lives.”

Her voice sounded more irritable than persuasive.

She then frowned and glared at me angrily.

“I took this mission thinking it would be easy reconnaissance with some good pay. It was supposed to be a mission even low-ranks could handle comfortably. Having to face more dangerous battles than before is clearly a contract violation!”

“No, it’s not a contract violation. The garrison exists for such purposes, and our safe passage assumes nothing goes wrong…”

“Who’s talking about that?! What matters is that I, who accepted the mission, didn’t anticipate this situation!”

She shouted, glaring at me with murderous intent.

Her fierce attitude conveyed her belief that her opinion was absolutely correct.

“If you want to commit suicide because of some sense of duty or whatever, I won’t stop you, but don’t include me! Unlike you, I value my life more!”

“Th-that’s right. It’s the guild’s fault for not explaining this!”

“I’m going back!”

As more people began to side with her, even the merchants seemed to weaken, showing apologetic expressions to the merchant leader.

“We’re sorry, leader. We came here to make a living, and taking such a big risk…”

“…I understand. I have my mission, so I can’t go with you, but I’ll provide the necessary supplies and carriages for your journey.”

Seeing that the two opposing opinions couldn’t coexist, the merchant leader reluctantly agreed.

After some discussion, those led by the woman who had shouted at me prepared to return the way they came, loading minimal supplies onto carriages.

With the number of people reduced by more than half, the remaining ones were veteran adventurers with mission experience, but the numerical advantage had faded, making the situation less positive.

“Wh-what should we do? If we leave them…”

“Don’t worry about them and depart!”

The one who shouted firmly among the hesitating adventurers was none other than me.

“L-leave them behind…?”

“They’re already surrounded and have lost significant strength from the surprise attack. If we try to help now, we’ll suffer heavy losses too!”

If we had taken the same path, we might have stood back-to-back to survive, but having already separated, it’s neither feasible nor obligatory.

As harsh as it may be, we must leave them behind.

Otherwise, everyone here will die too.

“…Damn it, let’s go!”

Agreeing with my opinion, the merchant leader reluctantly gave orders to the merchants driving the carriages.

Soon, the carriages carrying the survivors, including myself, began to race roughly through the forest path.