Dream Life

September 4th evening.

With the adventurers who were asked to investigate Aquila, he is in a simple stronghold in the middle of nowhere.

Many adventurers had been wounded by powerful demons. All injuries that could interfere with future behavior, such as fractures, have been treated, but that's pretty much the end of me and Liddy's magic.

The simple base I built is underground and somewhat safe with sturdy stone doors. It is also 20 meters deep and five meters wide inside and manages to get in even close to fifty people.

Some bedding, such as food and blankets, are prepared by the luggage carriers (porters) brought in by the successor troops, while those who are relatively energetic prepare their meals, but who are heavily fatigued, keep their walls on their backs.

Eight groups of leaders, including me, will gather to discuss their actions after tomorrow.

Gladys, one of the leaders, cuts the tone of speech.

"It's a decision to withdraw, but in what way. I barely got raided when I came, but I can't help it today. As far as I'm concerned, we all have a better chance of survival."

We all recognize each other, including me, and snort silently.

"So are we, but there are many places where they do the avant-garde. I want to avoid fighting as much as possible."

A swordsman with a bandage around his head speaks.

I offered treatment where my magic recovered somewhat, but I said, "That's not a big injury. Keep your magic warmer than that," he says no. Several other minor injuries were offered treatment, but all have declined.

Veterans like you here know the importance of healers far from town and think you should keep them when you're here.

Do other leaders share the same idea or agree with the idea?

The flow of argument meant avoiding combat, but I raised my hand and asked to speak in order to make only a few amendments.

Everyone's gazing at me.

"I'm in favor of dodging the fight, but just bypassing where the demons are will slow you back to Rickadale"

"You sure do," one of the veterans agrees.

"So we'll get ahead and get rid of the demons. Instead, I want you to put out a scourge to avoid surprise attacks."

The leaders started discussing my proposal.

Split between those who agree with my plan and those who say we shouldn't leave the main unit. Ultimately, my opinion was adopted that we could go home the shortest possible distance.

After the meeting, Gladys spoke to me.

"The noon was really helpful. Let me thank you again. And for the equipment we dumped because of us, we'll have to make it up to you when we get back to Riccardale."

I couldn't see the first conversation, tilted my neck, but it seemed like they threw it away to rush because we weren't equipped with a backpack.

"I didn't have any big stuff in it, but I'd appreciate it if you could compensate me," he replied, returning to Liddy and the others.

At night, sleeping shifts take place, but we are removed. Me, the sorcerer, and Liddy, Sharon were told to give priority to restoring magic, and Beatrice and Mel were exempt on the grounds that they would be ready for tomorrow's battle. Because I'm grateful that me and Liddy are treating the wounded for free.

"You don't know, but there's a fine deal about healers being treated by a joint team. If I can't treat a member at my place because I'm out of magic, I'm in trouble..."

Even a predetermined joint team, Beatrice says, is rare for other party healers to do the treatment. They didn't if it was an emergency like this one, but it still meant it couldn't be free.

"Then you'll just be in trouble tomorrow," he said.

"That's right. An adventurer doesn't like to think about that. So we didn't make it a joint team this time."

"Right. I was told by Govi to treat other parties, but I think they were rare."

Looks like Liddy remembered when he was an adventurer with his grandfather.

Sometimes that happens. I was exempt from sleeping, but I've been attacked by demons several times at night, and I don't even get to the point where I get some rest. Still, his magic and health are fully healed.

Gladys called out to us like that, "You're fine."

"It's no big deal compared to fighting an undead army."

"No, you fought an awesome battle, you guys," I admire.

After a brief breakfast, Gladys gave the signal to leave. He's not the best of many veterans, but he's been given some kind of damage except for us and his party, so he's been entrusted with the command of nature and the whole thing.

"I really wanted to leave it to you, but you guys are ahead of the game."

It's not that he hasn't been damaged, Ronnie, the heavily injured swordsman, hasn't recovered from the effects of the bleeding, and Peter, the archer, has lost his main weapon, the bow.

We were supposed to be about two hundred meters ahead with that Peter and the other three scouts. I think it would be safer to have a little more distance, but the decision is that we'd better be able to rush when we're attacked from the side or behind.

Fortunately, the itineraries ahead are mostly in the woods and are unlikely to be attacked by the struggling flight type yesterday. For this reason, it seems that even this distance is sufficient.

Immediately after we left, the scouts found the demon.

The demon was a herd of orgasms. The number is ten. Twenty centimeters in diameter holds a round-the-clock stick that seems to be coming towards us.

"Sounds like you've been invited by the smell of blood. Probably noticed our scent on the way to the camp."

I snort at Peter's words, but I tell him he'll be wiped out soon.

"It's too dangerous to leave it alone. We'll take them down, so tell the squad to stop."

"You don't need backup?," so I was surprised.

"Yeah, I don't use magic, and it's no problem. You all stay back," he replies with a smile.

Turn off the grin where the scouts have fallen. I couldn't afford it as much as I told Peter, but I thought it would be easier to show our strength here.

In addition to that, consideration was given to the possibility that the Auga was being manipulated by the Demons. Since the demon clan called the Great Ghost Clan uses the Auga, it is dangerous to leave it in a situation where the demon clan's involvement is suspected.

"Liddy is covered with a bow. Sharon magically helps when it gets worse. Beatrice, Mel, let's go."

No one disagrees just because the voice "Copy" returns. In fact, an org of about ten bodies can defeat the three of us without even being alarmed.

As we approached, Auga ran out with a loud roar as she noticed the smell of a woman. Although I am disgusted by that behavior, it would be more convenient for you to attack me in disorder.

An orga comes running as he steps down the tree. It was so powerful that ordinary people would be unable to move because of fear in its loud footsteps. But as they run away from the big trees, the orgasms gradually line up.

Up to this point, as you think, signal Beatrice and Mel to scatter left and right with a hand sign.

The operation is simple. It's a magic trick, and I'm going in from the front to confuse the enemy.

Auga's on its way because it's simple. Targets me, but doesn't hit me with a less skilled auga attack with evasion specialization. Beatrice and Mel hit a frustrating aug and put a piece on it all at once.

He uses his bottom-up muscle strength with demon fighting, slashing and ripping the auga into it.

The stick wielded by the orga creates a strong wind. I feel that wind pressure on my cheeks, but I don't feel threatened at all by an attack that just swings to power. On the contrary, it took the form of beating each other by allies, which added to the confusion.

Liddy's unleashed arrow pierces the neck of the orga in front of her. Even though they are highly durable orgasms, if they are pierced through their throats, there is not a single clump.

Beatrice and Mel then join the fight, killing ten orgasms in just about five minutes.

While extracting the demonic crystal stone, he checked the body of the orga, but decided it was a wild orga, with no trace of it being manipulated in particular.

"I did hear you didn't need backup... but you guys really are out of standard," Gladys said coming for backup.

"It looks like a wild orga, so let's move on"

Thereafter, there was no major obstacle just because the quaternary equivalent demon attacked alone, and after 5 p.m., without missing anyone, he arrived safely in Rickadale.

He headed to the branch of the Adventurer's Guild in Riccadale to make a report.

This is because Randall Ogburn, head of defense for the city of Periclitle, is here from General Headquarters to take command of the crusade and investigation.

Heading for the report, they immediately pass under Randall.

I thought I'd be surprised to see the weary looking adventurers with worn out gear, but they've already received reports, and Randall was calm.

Gladys immediately replies, "Oh, I can't," to the phrase "Does it seem difficult to investigate?"

"I've been into the mountains many times before from Rickadale (here), but I've never been raided as often as this one. The whole mountain is killing me, or I feel like I'm trying to hold back an intruder. Without Zach and the others, half of us wouldn't have made it back."

Randall's expression clouds the word for the first time.

"Not so much... In the meantime, the investigation shall be suspended. Just get some rest today."

"Dealing with requests, but what happens? I think this is a guild chombo."

A leader who has lost his companion lowers his voice and profits from awesomeness.

"We have to talk to General Headquarters about handling the request, but let's not treat it as a failure. But now it's better to get some rest. Tomorrow, if you come back, I'll listen to you."

We pulled up with it.

Gladys invited me to do the launch, so I take it. It's just that the other parties haven't invited him out of the dead.

The launch took place in the inn where we were staying.

"First I thank the gods for surviving. Cheers!" Gladys lists a jock with beer.

We'll raise a jock and toast. Of course, my jock belongs to a misrill coating made by Beltram.

"That's Lockhart. Awesome jock," he laughs, "but soon we'll be talking about an investigation.

"What do you think, about this investigation," asked Peter, the archer at Gladys' party.

"There's definitely something going on in the mountains of Aquila. Even when our village was attacked, flying dragons (Wyburn) and winged lions (Griffons) were flying around the mountains."

"When it does, it's still the Demons," Gladys asks.

Talking about demons would be of concern because we're doing adventurers here.

The Demons strike mainly near Fort Thor in the Kingdom of Kaum. Others also appear in the northeast of the Kingdom of Lax.

That doesn't mean the Demons don't show up around here.

The same is true of the attack on the village of Thysek, the birthplace of Luna, but there have been many sightings of the Wingman before that, and the suspicion that there may be a way out in the Aquila Mountains has not been dispelled.

In fact, when I helped Professor Kitley Erbain investigate, I find traces of passages that appear to be east of the village of Rasmore. The passage was cut off along the way, but there has to be another way out.

"Regardless of whether the Demons are involved, I think there's a good chance that a powerful demon will show up"

"Right......" Gladys will have a sunken look.

"No dark stories," replied Beatrice's bright voice, "Right," and the launch turned into a cheerful atmosphere as usual.

The next day, I headed to the guild. I hear our party has another story to tell, and they're all calling.

Meet Randall with Gladys and other party leaders.

Everyone got right to the point with a tough look.

"Yesterday, I have a suggestion from my side regarding the fulfillment of the request. The request doesn't count as a success, but the reward is to pay.

Randall's suggestion was realistic. This time it was a request for nomination for the guild, something that was to be semi-compulsory. Furthermore, the lack of information is causing the failure. It's harsh to make this a complete failure, but it also means it's not successful, so it won't be used to judge promotion.

"The reward is the amount when you couldn't discover it. It's up to me to decide, so if you don't like it, go to headquarters and negotiate directly with the Alliance Commander."

The Gladys look at each other, but they seem to think it's better to drink this condition than negotiate with the guild chief.

"Okay. Let's drink that condition," Gladys stands for, "but lower your voice there.

"But this time it's the guild's fault. At least we don't get any nominations in the future. If you're going to force me to take it, I'm going to break out of my guild and become a mercenary."

"Me too," he says.

Certainly the guild's fault. Especially the party that lost its people has a strong distrust of Guild headquarters.

I hope it doesn't interfere with future operations, but there are some things I think about this guild's response.

I don't know that the Great Demon of Intelligence (Greater Demon) was trying to respond as quickly as possible because there were more victims and suspicious phenomena in the Aquila Mountains, but I would have to take an awkward sleigh.

With that in mind, the Gladys got up. I got up too and headed to the waiting room where Liddy and the others were.

After a while, the staff shows up and is led to the meeting room.

Unlike earlier there was a randal who loosened his expression.

"That's the Lockhart family fierce. I didn't expect to defeat all those demons in that short time."

We have already submitted the Demon Crystal Stone, which is unusual as the number of parties of five defeated in just five days, with eight secondary equivalents, 22 tertiary equivalents, 33 tertiary equivalents, and 22 tertiary equivalents.

"It's a reward for this crusade, but I'll keep it in five increments, as promised. In addition to that, you can decide that you have accomplished your crusade request. However, there are conditions."

"Is that a condition?

"As an exclusive to the Alliance, I want you to do a demon thingy here in Rickadale. Rewards are on the same terms as this one. That is, a five-point increment. All necessary expenses are held by the Alliance. I will accomplish only what I have crusaded against. How about this?

I immediately said no.

Randall gives a strange look as to whether the instant answer was unexpected.

"Why? This condition will get you up to level two in no time. Five years if you guys are good enough... you're not happy with the reward? Then I'll double it."

"I'm not talking about money. If you become exclusive to the Alliance, you will have to take dangerous requests like this one"

"Wouldn't it have been a problem if it had been a request that was dedicated to crusading, again just for you guys?

Sure, you're right, but I want to avoid the risk of being unable to move freely at all costs.

"Aquila is too dangerous right now. I don't want to be used exclusively."

"Right. Slow down, I wanted to know about the guild position..."

Looks like one of the purposes was scouting. I certainly can connect with the Lockhart family, and with that, I don't know because I can have a good relationship with the Blacksmith Guild.

Either way, we can't be tied up now, and that's the same in the future. I want to live freely as an individual if possible, so I'm going to say no to all of the confusing stories.

■ ■ ■

Randall sighs heavily after Zacharias and the others leave.

(I feel like something big is going to happen around here. Merely an inquiry, but through my adventurous, mercenary years, I had better follow this guy. With him, I can avoid directing the adventurers. That's what I thought, but just so you know, genius is a prospect of what I think...)

Randall called an official and ordered that "Zach's crusaded second-degree demons be treated as based on a request made by the General Headquarters".

"What should I do with the requisition?

"It's in this contract, so you'll have to follow it."

That's what I said and offered you a single contract.

"But this is a prerequisite for the Great Demon's crusade?

"Read it carefully. When the presence of the Great Demon could not be confirmed, it is written that in the case of the Great Demon or more demons, it will be treated as a request fulfillment. I haven't found the Great Demon this time. I mean, I brought a second-degree equivalent of Demon Crystal Stone, which means I can accomplish the request."

Officials read it again,

"It's hard to read, but it sure is. Were you after him from the beginning?

Randall did not answer that question,

"Call Zach and the others when it's afternoon. Please prepare the necessary procedures by then"

"Is it the youngest second-degree adventurer ever born," the official muttered after understanding.