As the sunset faded and night gradually fell, after a tough struggle with the monsters and tending to the damaged carriages, I wearily sat in one of the carriages and reviewed the situation with rilyn.
Were lucky there were no casualties.
Yes, indeed. It was close, but everyone managed to hold their ground.
The Adventurers Guild had asures in place to ensure a minimum level of capability by assigning classes.
No matter how inexperienced the adventurers escorting the caravan were, as long as they remained alert, they could handle monsters of their level.
Damn, werent there any priests to lend a hand?
Do you think high-level personnel like priests would be in the luggage compartnt? They all went with the higher-ranked adventurers!
Of course, this wasnt a world where you could function perfectly fine with just 1 HP left, like in a ga.
Even if you erged victorious from a battle, wounds persisted, and without proper treatnt, it wouldnt be long before death ensued or the injuries impeded future endeavors.
Lets find a priest later. For now, well make do with first aid using potions.
Those who are injured, co here and show your wounds.
One advantage was that we were protecting a caravan, and the caravan had a vested interest in ensuring the well-being of the adventurers for its own safety.
We managed to secure so rather valuable potions at no cost, but the adventurers faces, as they approached the potions, were etched with what could only be described as terror.
Aaah! What have I done to deserve this agony?!
Kraaak! The secret base of the death squad is in a cave in the northern empire!
Just end now!!
Such exclamations could cause serious issues if overheard by a Knight of Death.
While it was reassuring to see them so lively that theyd likely be ready to fight again soon, the expression on the face of the caravan leader, who was in charge of the group, was far from cheerful.
So, whats our next move?
The adventurers who had been commissioned and the rchants belonging to the caravan all expressed anxiety about the current situation.
While they had anticipated monster attacks on the caravan, they had only accounted for the occasional large one or the smaller ones that appeared sporadically.
Although a broken carriage could be repaired and used again, no one could guarantee that such an incident wouldnt recur.
I think its best to go back and regroup first.
No, were not far from the garrison area. Wouldnt it be a waste to go back now?
But theres no guarantee that we wont be attacked again, right? We could be wiped out before we even reach the garrison area
Do groups of monsters really appear that often? Isnt it a bit much to think theyll co in a group again?
Think carefully. We might not have had any deaths this ti, but it could have easily gone wrong!
Everyone was arguing whether to proceed to the garrison area as planned or to step back for a while, considering the possibility of another monster swarm attack.
Amid the heated exchange of opinions, the caravan leader, caught in the middle, began to sigh, his face crumpled in frustration.
Ugh, this is a headache.
From his perspective, neither choice would be easy.
As much as life was precious, for rchants, credit was considered even more important.
If we didnt reach the garrison tonight and resupply with both materials and adventurers, it could end up causing trouble for the garrison
Hyo-sung, are you okay?
A cautious question ca when I was looking at the situation with serious eyes.
After organizing my thoughts, I quietly put on a mask, stood up, and patted rilyns shoulder.
Its okay. Itll work out sohow.
Having faced such dangers nurous tis before, I did not consider the situation entirely hopeless.
Although I heard from Airi that I would die on this mission, I brought rilyn as a solution to that.
Yes, at least there was a way to survive whatever lay ahead.
This is what I think.
With that confidence, I prepared to propose my best plan of action to them.
I put on a mask, fearing that people who recognized might beco confused.
I think its best to head toward the garrison area first.
Going to the garrison, are you out of your mind?
I understand your concern. If monsters appeared near the garrison, its reasonable to doubt if the garrison is functioning properly, especially since were about to arrive.
Yes, it wasnt only the journey that was dangerous.
The area near the garrison was usually cleared out periodically.
The fact that monsters had attacked in such groups suggested that the situation had been bad enough to preclude any clearing for at least half a day.
But everyone, if the garrison area had fallen, they would have sent a ssenger or a carrier pigeon to inform us here. No matter how dangerous it is outside the empire, a place established by the empire for defense and investigation wouldnt fail to take such a asure.
Well, if there has been absolutely no attempt like that, it might not be very dangerous
At that mont, as they started to sway under the reasoning of the argunt, I hurried to clinch my argunt before anyone could counter.
And most importantly, having faced monsters moving in groups, theres no guarantee that we can safely escape if we turn back now.
Why is that?
Usually, when they approach in groups like this, it ans either the area has a cluster of monsters or theres a tar nearby leading them.
A cluster was a place where an environnt for the periodic birth of monsters had naturally ford.
But the garrison area would not have been neglected long enough for such a thing to naturally form, so that possibility could be ruled out from the start.
If there are those who can command the monsters Could it be?!
Yes, perhaps the Demon Kings army has amassed near the garrison area for so reason. We unluckily stumbled upon them while they confronted the garrison.
The Demon Kings army.
Beings that appeared decades ago, tearing through the dinsional portal, turning everything to ruins, and reigning as humanitys primary enemy.
Although the birth of monsters wasnt directly linked to them, the number of monsters increased dramatically after the collapse of the dinsions, and so of the demons were born with the ability to control these monsters.
The reason these instinct-driven monsters move so collectively was essentially due to the Demon Kings armys interference.
However, the fact that monsters are roaming around this area, not just near the garrison, likely ans the Demon Kings army hasnt properly targeted the garrison yet. The tar leading the monsters might be scouting the surroundings for a point of attack or spreading the horde indiscriminately to block external entry.
That certainly makes sense.
If there really is a swarm of monsters spread throughout this area, theres no guarantee we can escape even if we run now.
Considering its nightti and were surrounded by the forest
Yes, slowly, those in opposition were starting to agree with .
With several injuries incurred, if we retreat and encounter another swarm of monsters, it wont be easy to get through it like before.
If retreating involved risk, joining the still-standing garrison for resupply and reinforcent might improve our chances of survival.
Dont talk nonsense!
A shout erupted from the group just as such an opinion was about to be voiced.
Then, a woman with black hair, dressed in typical adventurer attire like leather belts and a cloak, approached us.
Do you realize the risk of entering the garrison area, where we might confront the Demon Kings army, could an we might get swept away with the garrison?
Certainly, if we confront the Demon Kings army, itll be dangerous. But we ca here on a commission, right? We have to take so risks to get paid
Ha! Anyone listening would think were here risking our lives for fun.
She said in an irritated tone.
Then she scowled and glared at with angry eyes.
The only reason we accepted this commission was that we thought we could do so scouting and have it easy. It was supposed to be a task even low-rankers could handle comfortably. Having to fight more dangerous battles than before clearly breaches our contract!
No, its not a breach of contract. The garrison area was established for such purposes, and our safe passage assus nothing happens
Who do you think is talking about that now? The important thing is that I, who accepted the commission, never anticipated such a situation!
She yelled, glaring at as if she wanted to kill .
Her fierce attitude implied she was absolutely certain she was right.
Ugh! The the stench What what is this?!
The woman grimaced as she felt the liquid on her body.
Her eyes widened in horror when she saw it seemingly seeping into her flesh.
Ha A white, sticky liquid from its lower body Could it be?!
Indeed, it was just as she suspected.
Sizzle!
The monster had sprayed her with an acidic liquid.
Kyaaah!
She scread as her body painfully dissolved.
The acid, which had dissolved her clothes, quickly lted her skin and flesh, spilling out her insides.
As it all gruesoly lted and mixed on the ground, the monster, driven by hunger, opened its lower mouth to consu the remains.
Damn, more monsters! Theyve ambushed us!
Why did they have to co our way?
Just deal with it quickly!
Ah, no. There are too many Aaagh!
The monsters, hidden in the darkness of the forest, had sward them in an ambush.
If a proper defense line had been established, they might have responded well, but now their strength is half of what it once was.
If left unattended, their total annihilation was inevitable.
What should we do? If we just leave them like this
Dont worry about it and start moving!
The hesitating adventurers heard a firm voice among them.
It was I who called out to them.
No, to leave and go like this
Were already surrounded and have lost a significant number of our forces in the ambush. Trying to help now will only increase our own losses!
If we had all gone the sa way, we might have at least stood back to back to survive, but since we had gone our separate ways, neither standing together nor helping each other was feasible or obligatory.
Even if it seed heartless, we had to leave them behind.
Otherwise, we would all die too.
Damn, lets go!
The caravan leader, reluctantly agreeing with , instructed the rchants pulling the carriages to start moving.
Soon, the carriage carrying the survivors, including myself, began to race roughly down the forest trail.
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