"Soldering" during the breeding season is a harsh month in which a large number of demons are born in a dungeon.
During this time, the demons born in the dungeons flood out of the dungeons and attack those around them.
So during the breeding season, the Alliance sent adventurers to each village to protect those who could not fight.
By order of the Alliance headquarters, we have a small village escort of about thirty men on our way to the village.
While on the move, I was explaining the breeding season to Dan, who was going through his first breeding season.
"Mr. Label, is it our job to protect villagers from demons during that breeding season?
"Oh yeah. It is also because the Alliance headquarters is allowed by the state to monopolize the trading of demonic stones, protecting the people during the breeding season. All guilds included in the lower organization of the Alliance Headquarters will be obliged to obey the orders of the Alliance Headquarters."
"Oh, yeah."
"You're new here, so you don't have to know. How did Lion spend his breeding season last year?
"I guess I was escorting a merchant on the move or backing an understaffed guild."
"That's common. Adventurers who are not part of the Alliance are removed from their reproductive escort duties. But I can't dive into a dungeon during the breeding season, so I'm spending some time backing up guilds and ordering private requests."
"But come on, the breeding season is only for a month, right? If you attack all the dungeons before it starts, you don't have to protect them, do you?
"Whoa. That's a good question in there. What Dan said basically fits. But not all the dungeons. You know why?
"Hmm."
Dan was thinking hard but didn't get an answer right away.
"Because the C-level dungeon will reappear within a month?
I was listening in silence, Lion answers the right question.
"Exactly. Only Class C will be revived within a month. Besides, the place to resurrect is random. What happens if a dungeon appears near a thin spot?
"Probably can't protect you?
"That's right. That's why I only keep the C-class dungeons. And in the vicinity of the dungeon, let them escort with many adventurers, and vice versa, in a safe place, with small numbers. That's how we balance it."
"Heh - Mr. Label. Very well, sir."
"All right, you just have to remember a little bit. Yeah, and one thing... Shall I tell you about the emergency quest?"
"Urgent quest?
"That's right. When a situation arises that cannot be handled by the adventurers belonging to the Alliance alone, an emergency quest is activated from Alliance headquarters."
"I've never seen an emergency quest before."
"That's right. It's not a frequent quest, but it's a delicious quest for wild adventurers because when it's done, it pays a lot more than it usually does."
"I explained it on the run, what do you say? You got that somehow?
"Somehow I figured it out. Okay?
"Yeah. That was a very straightforward explanation. I don't understand. I'm sorry Dan."
"Lyon, that's not true."
We went for the village we heard from Alliance headquarters after that while we chatted and stuff.
The Alliance headquarters officials told me that there were no dungeons near the villages we defended, and that if demons appeared, they would be a handful of demon positions flowing from the dungeons far away.
Then you won't have much to worry about.
We had arrived in the responsible village at noon three days before the beginning of the breeding season.
Lyon and Dan have the same gear as usual, but I was a little different.
The backpack is more than twice the size of a regular backpack filled with porter-only items that I carry.
This is the result of packing items to fight through a long period of one month.
It's a little hard to move because it weighs more than twice as much, but it wasn't too heavy to move.
"Chi Chi - It's a village. Mr. Label, do we protect this village?
"Dan, don't say that."
In exchange for energetic weather Dan, Lion looks a little nervous.
"Dan, Lion's right. Any village is an important place for the people who live in it. Never make fun of it. And don't be alarmed. Sometimes the villagers lose their lives because of our alarm."
"Oh well. I'm sorry, Mr. Label."
"It's fine if Dan figured it out for me. When we get to the village, let's say hello to the village chief and show him what's going on around the village."
"Yeah. Got it."
"But the breeding season is in three days, right? Mr. Label, aren't we coming a little early?
"No. I think I need to be there at least three days ago."
"Come quick. What are you gonna do?
"Dan, think about it. There are only three of us. We have confirmation around the village, and we don't know where demons come from during the breeding season. Installation and reinforcement of protective fences with safety in mind. After that, I have a lot to do with creating items and stuff. Dan's resting, too. Think we don't have time."
"Hih. You got so much to do?
"Of course not. Grasping the terrain around the village before the breeding season arrives is effective both when fighting and when fleeing. If we reinforce the protective fence, we will be able to protect the village at our leisure. It's all about protecting the villagers."
"Huh... I'm just getting tired of listening to you."
"Dan is a boy. So we have to work hard."
"Heh."
Lion was treating Dan like his brother.
Dan also admires Lyon properly as a senior adventurer and creates a good atmosphere within the party.
When we got to the village after noon, there were about ten houses built, and as you can tell, it's really like a small village.
We spoke to the villagers nearby and visited the village chief's house as we were meeting.
The village chief was an old man about sixty years old.
"My name is Guild [Oratorio] and I have been seconded by Guild Headquarters. Thank you for your patience."
"No. I really appreciate you coming to such a small village. Thank you very much."
"Well, I'd like to check around the village first, but could you put one person familiar with geography?
"I understand. We will arrange it immediately."
"And I'd like you to lend us a place to rest."
"Then we have an empty house, please feel free to use it"
After we packed our bags in the empty house where the village chief showed us, we asked the guide man to show us around the village.
We joined the guide villagers, and while we were quickly guided around the village, I made a detailed map of the village area.
The village was surrounded by deep woods.
There are also creeks near the village with sufficient water, so there is no shortage of water.
Numerous animals also live in the woods, and meat is obtained by taking animals.
The villagers went into the mountains and made dried meat by tailoring animals with vegetables, nuts and traps.
I sell it to merchants who visit regularly, and they seem to live.
"Mr. Label, what are you doing?
I threw the rope with the hook first everywhere.
Dan, interested in my behavior, asked.
"This is measuring height. The rope is marked at regular intervals. Where you want to know the height, use this to find out the height."
"Heh. But what's the point of checking the height? Can't it just be a map?
"I don't know at this stage which information I need and which I don't need. Well, if you don't have a lot of time to find out, you should take a measurement, okay?
"Don't waste a little time?
"That's the thing. With more experience, Dan will find out. Now watch what I'm doing."
"Yeah. Okay."
I wrote down the survey figures on the map I was working on.
"This is..."
When we say we can almost grasp the surroundings of the village, we find something extraordinary.
"Mr. Label!! This is the entrance to the dungeon!?
Lion screams with a pulled look.
I realize at the same time, what do I do in the future?
Thoughts began to spin in full.
"Anyway. Let's go back to the village once and tell the villagers to flee immediately. There's no way the three of us can protect the village during the breeding season."
We immediately turned back to the village and told the village chief about the dungeon.
The sun is already setting at that point.
"What!! There's a dungeon near the village..."
"Yes, demons crawl out of the dungeon if you put them in the breeding season. The three of us alone cannot protect all the villagers. So we should evacuate the city once."
"Okay. Let's tell the villagers as soon as possible and get ready to leave the village. I was wondering if it would be tomorrow morning to leave the village, even if all the villagers were informed and then rushed for support."
"It's okay. That fits for ten minutes. Because the breeding season starts in the early morning the day after tomorrow. Don't worry, we'll escort you out of the village."
"Please... thank you. Please help us. It's bad luck to say it's a dungeon that the village moisturizes when it's not breeding."
"Still, if you're going to evacuate, it's a little far away, but I suggest you go to Alliance headquarters. Guild headquarters also has a large hall, so it will provide you with a place to live for a month free, as well as generous protection such as meals"
"Oh, that helps. Then we're headed to Alliance headquarters."
We're done talking to the village chief. We'll move on to the next move.
"Dan, Lion, I'm gonna dive into the dungeon we found now."
"What, Mr. Label, are you willing to attack the dungeon by the beginning of the breeding season?
Lion looked surprised.
"What are you talking about? You have no reason for me to do such a dangerous thing. We just need to find out what level the dungeon that emerged is. Fortunately, I know most of the demons, so if you look at the demons that appear in the upper echelons of the dungeons, you'll have an approximate idea. Now it is possible to dive because the breeding season has not yet begun. Find out now and tell Alliance HQ to match it as information."
"Yeah. Got it."
We explored only one or two levels of the dungeon.
As a result, I was able to know that this dungeon was a C-level dungeon and the demons that emerged.
"Dan, I'm sorry, but I need you to do everything you can to get back to the city's guild headquarters and tell them about this C-level dungeon. That way, the backup adventurers will rush."
"Yeah. I got it."
I gave Dan a map to the village and a piece of paper with information on the villagers' escape route, the dungeon, etc.
Dan also properly understands the situation of competing for a moment, and runs straight to the city without resting.
"If Dan has fast feet. I know we'll be back in the city in five hours, but even if the backup adventurers gathered took a carriage for us as Alliance HQ activated the emergency quest... this is really critical. I didn't know we had to travel while the two of us were protecting thirty villagers."
It's been a pretty nasty phase.
I have crossed several dead lines, but until now, the subject has been myself and my fellow adventurers.
Like this one, travelling dozens of kilometres while protecting ordinary villagers who cannot fight from demons is far more challenging.
Lyon takes my hand when he sees me with a bitter look on my face.
"Mr. Label will be fine. I'm sure I can get over this. I'll do anything, too."
Nearly twenty years old was also comforted by the younger girl.
Was I in a hurry by then?
But thanks to Lion, I was able to regain my composure.
We can only do what we can.
Then change your mind that you will have to do everything you can.
"Thanks, I'm fine now. Let's move on."
"Yeah. I'll take care of anything"
I've got my motivation back. I'll get right to it.
I don't have time to prepare, and I won't be able to sleep much today.
But I was full of energy.