episode_0107

I too was feeling the sense of discomfort that Anton had mentioned.

The fact that the hero’s tomb came from a forest that had nothing to do with the hero, and the fact that the tomb and the warrior’s sword, for which there had been no clues or rumors, suddenly appeared at this time.

Although the ‘Scholars of Alundel’ made a statement saying it was highly likely to be real, I continued to have doubts.

Max said that there are no people who could or would have a reason to do something on this scale, but I know.

The existence of an ‘organization’.

I thought that a group whose power was unknown could easily create a situation like this.

Although there was no evidence for that, it was just a simple feeling.

Of course, there is a good chance that this is not what the ‘organization’ did, but I need to assume the worst and act.

What if this is a trick pulled by the ‘organization’?

What if they spread the rumor with some kind of intention?

So, what on earth are they aiming for?

“… … .”

I racked my brain, but I couldn’t easily find the answer.

The purpose of an ‘organization’ is still difficult to guess accurately.

Sheryl predicted the destruction of the continent, but I don’t know if that was the organization’s goal in itself, or if destruction was the result of their pursuit of that goal.

However, it was clear that I had a bad feeling.

“Andel, what do you think?”

At that time, Max spoke to me while I was quietly thinking.

I immediately stopped thinking and opened my mouth.

“Yes? What is it?”

“The warrior’s tomb. What do you think?”

It was a somewhat sudden question.

However, it wasn’t that difficult to answer.

“… I also think it’s a bit suspicious.”

All I had to do was just say what I was thinking a moment ago.

“What? Why are you there again?”

“There are a lot of things I don’t understand, right? Just as Mr. Anton said.”

“Hmm… … .”

Max looked at me quietly.

“I thought about it before, but you don’t seem like a newbie.”

“Uh… Is that so?”

“Yes. Normally, in times like this, newbies don’t know what to do and just stick their heads in.”

Max, who was looking at me intently, soon sighed softly and shook his head.

“Somehow I have no ambition, no ambition. It’s a warrior’s tomb? Isn’t it normal for men to first think about wanting to go there?”

I was hesitating about how I should react to the admonition that was not a discipline that suddenly started.

“Don’t get carried away.”

Anton interjected.

“Anyway, it’s clear that the feeling is not good. If you want to go, I won’t stop you, but don’t drag him into it. Because he’s still a rookie.”

“… Those words are very reassuring.”

At Anton’s reaction, Max pouted.

“I really didn’t intend to trick you in the first place. Considering the location of the warrior’s tomb, getting there is a task in itself, but it’s still too early for this guy. But to see you react so sharply, disciple of Bulcho, I am beyond sad.”

“I’ve never had a student like you.”

“… … .”

Max’s stern attitude turned his gaze to Nina, asking for help.

Nina was looking at Max with a strange smile.

It was definitely the soft and gentle smile she usually wore, but something was different.

An unknown pressure was flowing from that smile.

Nina said while smiling like that.

“Max and Andel are not allowed.”

“So I think so─”

“No.”

“… … .”

Max must have realized that Nina’s condition was unusual, and he kept his mouth shut.

“… Okay, okay. This was originally brought up as a joke. I won’t even mention the grave to that guy from now on─”

“Still, I plan to go to the grave.”

“… … .”

Max stopped speaking midway and looked at me with a bewildered face.

“Mr. Andel?!”

And, Nina reacted in surprise, raising a loud voice that she rarely used.

“What?”

Anton also looked at me with a frown.

It felt very burdensome to open my mouth as the attention of both of them and Max was focused on me, but I had no intention of stopping because of that.

“I too will go to the grave as a warrior.”

“… What, I heard it was suspicious at some point.”

“It does seem suspicious. but… Apart from that, I plan to go there.”

It doesn’t make sense, but it can’t be helped.

Since there is a possibility that an ‘organization’ is involved here, I have no choice but to go.

However, looking at Anton and Nina’s reactions, I felt that it would not be easy to convince them.

***

I stubbornly maintained my intention to go to the warrior’s grave, but Anton and Nina’s opposition was also stubborn.

The problem was where the warrior’s tomb was located.

The place where the warrior’s grave was found was deep in the forest.

It was a place where we had to go much further than El’s previous destination.

El’s destination was located outside the entrance, in a quite dangerous place, but in fact, considering the entire forest, it could be said to be a relatively safe place.

But deep in the forest, it’s a completely different story.

In other words, it can be said that this is a place where the true value of the danger of the forest is revealed.

Although it was unusual for me to receive a request outside the initial level before, it made absolutely no sense for me, a mercenary no better than a rookie, to go deep into the depths.

In fact, it’s to the point where you can see it as going to die.

So it was not strange for them to react that way.

Honestly, I felt grateful for their reactions.

Of course, that didn’t mean I would just give up my opinion.

Because I was in a position where I absolutely had to go there.

In the end, our conversations ran along parallel lines, and the differences in opinions could not be narrowed down.

But in the end, the ending was decided.

Because Anton and Nina had no right to stop me.

I can only express my opinion.

Anton, who knew this fact well, had no choice but to give up his opposition in the end.

However, with conditions attached.

That condition is… … .

“I never thought things would turn out like this… … .”

Acting with Max.

That was Anton’s condition.

Max, who muttered in a somewhat confused manner, opened his mouth again.

“… Well, if you get something, you have to get something. I think the time has come for me to work hard to train the next generation like you did.”

Max’s eyes finally turned to me, as if he had cleared his mind after a long talk to himself.

“Okay, how much do you know about forests?”

“… Do you tell me everything you know?”

“Yes. First, tell me everything you know.”

It was a somewhat endless request, but I decided to obediently comply with it.

I literally told him everything I knew about the forest.

Everything I knew before and everything I learned from Anton.

After listening to me talk for quite a long time, Max stroked his chin with an expression on his face that I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Hmm… At this level, the basics are well established. Did you say you learned it from your teacher?”

“Yes, well… Rather than saying that I learned something, I feel like it just gave me some necessary knowledge.”

“Maybe that’s why the foundation is well established. But now I will have to learn something completely new. Because deep in the forest is a completely different place than the forest you used to know. Well, you won’t be separated from me, so there’s no need for you to think about it, but you never know.”

With that said, Max began to instill knowledge about the forest in me.

What to watch out for, how to respond when a specific phenomenon occurs, etc.

It was truly a vast amount of knowledge and information.

Max had no hesitation in teaching me the golden information that only the most skilled among skilled mercenaries knew, and that people willing to pay to learn would line up to learn.

Yet, there was no sign of regret at all.

Anyway, after strengthening his knowledge, the next thing Max cared about was equipment and supplies.

“Hmm. It would be better to buy a new one.”

Max looked at my equipment and after saying that, he actually bought all my equipment and supplies new.

I paid for all the expensive equipment out of my own pocket that I would never have thought of.

“Well, this should roughly be enough. I feel like I would like to improve my skills a bit… I don’t think there will be time for that.”

Max said that with a regretful look on his face.

“Well, you won’t have to step forward, so there’s no need.”

What appeared on Max’s face as he said that was clear composure and confidence.

A firm confidence that I will never be in danger if I’m by his side.

On the journey deep into the forest, there is not even the slightest trace of anxiety, even though it takes with it a seemingly novice person like me.

If you were someone who knew the forest well, you could call this behavior arrogant, but if it was Max who was saying it, it was a different story.

It is true that Max’s career as a mercenary was quite long, but in fact, there were quite a few others with longer careers than him.

However, it was clear that among them, there would be few stronger than Max.

Among the mercenaries I met in Darbil, the strongest one was Max.

There is a clear basis for his confidence.

Anyway, the preparations for heading to the tomb went smoothly, and time passed and we arrived at the day of departure.