Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 114: Overwhelming (2).

The path, where mining had ceased and people had long since stopped treading, had transformed into something that felt untouched by human hands for ages.

Leading the way, the Allen-Mercenary Group walked cautiously along the path, keeping a vigilant watch. The faintly lingering malice permeating the entire Demon Lands clung to their bodies like sticky burrs. Despite having been hardened by countless missions, Allen’s body never got used to such malice. Perhaps it was because he was inherently timid, with neither strength nor prowess.

…I remember the first mission…

As they walked, Allen recalled the early days when he first started the mercenary business… Comparing those days to now, it was astonishing how much had changed.

Of course, while it was a result of relentless effort, luck could not be ignored either. Right after Chapter 1 ended, he managed to hold onto the Blind Saintess who was supposed to leave, and easily recruited the Itty Titty Swordsman due to the demonic disease, which would have been unimaginable otherwise.

While the Group Leader was momentarily lost in his memories, a monster seemed to have appeared stealthily, as the Blind Saintess sent the agreed signal. At the same time, the Allen-Mercenary Group formed a circular formation as trained, pushing Milk-Jug Mage Elena and the Group Leader to the center to protect them.

And soon after, the monsters appeared. It was a pack of demon hounds often seen in the Demon Lands.

They seemed to be scouting the mercenary group for a moment, then suddenly charged at the mercenaries fiercely, as if they wouldn’t let anyone else have the delicious prey.

However, even if it were a southern mercenary group, to the Allen-Mercenary Group or the Pharos-Mercenary Group, a demon hound was nothing more than a mere appetizer.

They literally took down the demon hounds that dared to challenge them in the blink of an eye. When more than half of the monsters were instantly killed, the rest fled in panic.

Only then did the southern mercenary groups realize that the two mercenary groups from Vermandois were on a completely different level from themselves… To be honest, they hadn’t felt much of a difference until then.

Of course, the Charlotte-Mercenary Group had also grown to the point where they could easily handle demon hounds, but the two mercenary groups from Vermandois were truly on a different tier. You could say they felt that the big money they were getting wasn’t for nothing.

Normally, they would fight the monster and then take a brief rest, but since the battle ended so quickly, they didn’t feel the need for a break. Thus, Group Leader Allen signaled for immediate departure without any rest.

The mercenary group reformed their ranks and began walking again. Fortunately, they arrived at the mine fortress around noon without any additional monster attacks.

Of course, the fires in this place had long since gone out. Moreover, unlike the fortress at the entrance of the Demon Lands, there wasn’t even a guard here. Perhaps due to this neglect, the fortress had become a ruin, resembling an ancient relic.

“The monster seems to have been here too.”

“Are there any traces?”

“Yes. There are a few left.”

This meant that the monster wasn’t too far away. Fortunately, this was good news for them. They no longer needed to comb through the Demon Lands like searching for a needle in a haystack to find the monster.

Charlotte declared a long rest at the mine fortress. They needed to eat and take a nap to relieve the tension that had been built up all morning.

The group took out a couple of flat jerky pieces, ate them, then laid down for a short nap. When the hourglass was halfway down, they got up, left the fortress, and began their exploration in earnest.

Allen moved, trusting in the Blind Saintess’s tracking ability. Since there were no eyewitness accounts, it was the only method available. Otherwise, they would have to wait for it to come to them… However, for Allen, whose time was money, simply sitting around and waiting was not an appealing option.

Fortunately, there were traces indicating it had passed through the fortress, making it much easier to catch its trail than expected.

Of course, as much as Ordnung focused all her attention on tracking, her vigilance was almost nonexistent. However, Itty Titty Natasha filled her absence admirably. Although Natasha became endlessly lewd in front of friendship, she was an almost flawless female swordsman during missions.

The day in the Demon Lands was short. As it gradually got darker all around, the murderous intent increased exponentially. No matter how southern it was, the Demon Lands were still the Demon Lands.

“We’re gonna suffer like hell again!”

The very fact of spending an indefinite night in the Demon Lands was already a highly difficult task. Even though the Allen-Mercenary Group was a very powerful group, they couldn’t overcome sleep or fatigue.

Since the Demon Lands was a place where you never knew what might pop out, it was decided that instead of assigning turns, one person from each part of every mercenary group would be assigned as a night watch.

The bonfires were made to match the number of the mercenary group, totaling five. Each person took one and sat around, finished a simple dinner, and then lay down on their mats.

Hoo.

As soon as Allen lay down on the mat, he let out a long breath. He was doing this for money, but the Demon Lands was hellish nonetheless. It felt like a murderer was standing right next to him with a knife; who could sleep comfortably with that kind of feeling? He was forcing himself to sleep.

Of course, tossing and turning without sleep was the same for Group Leader Charlotte. Before the monster incident, she occasionally patrolled the mining fortress in the Demon Lands, but she could never get used to it. Especially at night when the murderous intent grew stronger, it was hell itself.

…If possible, I hope nothing comes out at night…

Still, when they were on patrol, at least they spent the nights in a fortress with walls, but now there was nothing like that. Sleeping on bare ground, where at any moment and from any direction monsters could suddenly spring out, was an impossible task for anyone with a modicum of courage.

However, even the terror of death was ultimately powerless in the face of extreme fatigue.

Charlotte, who had been tossing and turning, eventually fell asleep as if she had fainted.

…She had a nightmare of being chased by a terrifying monster.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

At the loud sound of the bell, people woke up startled.

It was still deep night all around. That meant the enemy had appeared.

Group Leader Charlotte, who had been sleeping uncomfortably on a mat, also woke up startled by the sound of the bell. At the same time, a horde of monsters pounced on the mercenary group.

It was such a sudden night raid that a few mercenaries who had just woken up got tangled up and ended up allowing the monsters’ attack.

“Stay sharp and respond! Group leaders, take a deep breath and hold the formation!!”

At that moment, Group Leader Allen shouted clearly and loudly to the mercenary group. Group Leader Charlotte, who was feeling dizzy, found some stability after hearing his shout.

There were four monsters with slimy skin emitting a terrible stench. They were three or four times larger than demon hounds and wielded multiple long, thin tentacle-like arms. The tentacles were covered with countless sharp spikes, and even a slight touch would cause paralysis.

Of course, the mercenaries who didn’t know this collapsed forward, convulsing. Naturally, most of them were members of the southern mercenary groups.

As two members of the Charlotte-Mercenary Group fell helplessly, a gap quickly formed. Ah… She instinctively realized that the barbs on those tentacles were dangerous and shouted to counter carefully, but with two members already down, they were barely able to fend off the swiftly moving tentacles.

At that very moment, the Allen-Mercenary Group made a stylish entrance and swiftly dealt with the tentacle monster that was confronting the Charlotte-Mercenary Group. Group Leader Allen approached the panting Group Leader Charlotte and kindly asked if she was hurt.

Of course, for him, it was an instinctive kindness towards an employer, but she couldn’t help but find it a bit strange. At least during missions, he was a man stronger and more vigorous than anyone else. He couldn’t tolerate even the smallest mistake.

“…Ah, um, yes…. For now, I think I’m okay.”

“That’s a relief. That thing had paralyzing venom on its tentacles; it’s a bit dangerous.”

The Allen-Mercenary Group quickly assessed the situation and began immediate follow-up actions.

After laying the paralyzed mercenaries flat, they made incisions where the tentacles had touched to quickly drain the blood and expel as much of the paralysis poison as possible, then fed them a slightly diluted potion.

One mercenary, severely affected by the paralysis poison, almost died, but fortunately, emergency treatment saved his life. However, since this tentacle monster preferred to suck the fluids of living prey, the paralysis poison itself wasn’t very potent. With plenty of potion and a good night’s rest, they would soon recover.

Not only the group leaders of the South but also Charlotte were taken aback by the sudden ambush, yet the two group leaders of Vermandois seemed unbothered.

Charlotte kept glancing at Group Leader Allen… It seemed he wouldn’t slap her anymore.

-You fucking bitch!!

Eyes full of reproach.

A hand slapping the cheek without hesitation.

A hand gripping the collar.

A voice shouting fiercely.

The blonde Group Leader finished tidying up and lay back down on the mat.

…Haaa…

She couldn’t understand why that scene kept replaying in her mind like a refrain.

Charlotte fell asleep again, exhausted.

In this dream, she saw Group Leader Allen shouting while gripping her collar.

-You fucking bitch!!!

And then, a hand slapping her cheek mercilessly.

Ahhh.

…A mysterious thrill quietly blossomed in her chest.