Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta ore wa Meikyuu o Samayou
Author: Hiru Kuma
—
The sunlight is quite harsh today. The discomfort of the inside of the Hunters Association continues to increases, but the terrace door was opened and wind magic was used to circulate the air so it was somehow bearable.
It's dangerous to leave the terrace door open, but it seems that it's way too hot so the monsters have also lost their vigor and have no energy.
The frogman demons are particularly weak to dryness, so I can only see unmoving individuals near the areas in the community with wells, merely pouring water over their heads.
Amongst these circumstances, the few elites selected for the squad to escort Suori stood on the terrace.
First are the ones who excel in enemy detection from the Big Eaters Brigade, Mikene and Shote. Their sense of smell and hearing are sharper than humans', and they're quick on their feet. They've also gone investigating through the community once before. They're talented people we can't do without for this time's plan.
Mishael is also participating. The reason for his selection is simply because his combat power is high. President Bear was also a candidate, but it was pointed out that his body size was too big so he'd stand out, and he was rejected.
So far, all of the personnel have been suitable with no surprises, but there is also someone who is participating after electing herself. And that is … Sherry. According to the person herself,
"I know all of the pathways within the community. The backroads and the places without much pedestrian traffic, too."
Is how it was, and there's also no problems with her combat capabilities, so she became a companion.
What's left is Ramis and me. I thought my size also stands out, but it seems the reason is so we won't have to worry about food in case we run into some trouble and can't return.
And finally, with Ramis' super strength, if the mansion has been turned to rubble, she's suitable for removing the debris, it seems. I can understand that much.
These are all the selected participants, but naturally Suori is also participating. And along with her is a single black-clothed individual responsible for guarding her.
He's a young man wearing a black suit and sunglasses, and he doesn't have many identifying characteristics other than that. With an average build and average height, you wouldn't realize it's him if he was wearing normal clothes, walking around; a type you can find anywhere.
"Everyone, please take care of Milady and me."
"Umu, I'm counting on you to escort me."
It's the normal, prideful Suori, but she's not in her usual flutter, expensive dress, she's wearing trousers with lots of pockets that emphasize ease of movement and a light brown, short-sleeved shirt.
Altogether, the squad of seven people and one machine are aiming for the mansion.
"Umu, you've all assembled, it seems. Then make this flashy!"
As originally planned, Grandfather invoked grand wind magic, hiding the Association in a giant tornado. Within the whirling debris and sand, we raced through the only place with a gap in the wind and went out.
Proceeding within the windstorm, we slid into a residence that was just barely still standing. It seems to have ended without any enemies spotting us, fortunately.
"We're going to check the surroundings for a bit. Let's go, Shote."
"Aa, got it."
The two from the Big Eaters Brigade have small bodies and their footpads also erase the sounds of their steps, so it was decided that the scouting would be left to them.
The place we're hiding is a one-story bungalow with a hole in the wall, so anything can come in as they like.
Mishael stuck to the window, watching the situation outside. His eyes are narrowed and his gaze is sharp; seems like he switched over to ikemen mode.
"There are a lot of alligatorman demons around here, but they seem to be weary from the heat. Their movements are sluggish, so we might be able to proceed without alerting them if they're like that."
If they've had it with the heat, they might be taking cover in the shadowed alleyways and in buildings. So we'll have to be careful when moving, huh?
"We're back-. There aren't very many enemies in this direction. I'd like to stealthily take out a few of them, though."
At the words of Mikene, who returned, everyone silently nodded.
With Mikene at the head, we proceeded single file between the residences that had become ruins. This is the opposite direction from the giant hole in the wall, so there are comparatively more buildings that had retained their shapes. That said, there aren't any houses that are livable.
"Stop. There's a single frogman demon on the right at this upcoming crossroad. It's keeping cool by the wall of the residence."
We're in an alleyway with a width that would make it difficult for two adults to walk through side by side, but certainly, if you looked far ahead, there's a crossroad.
"Any other monsters near?"
"I think none, right, Shote?"
"Yeah, there's no sound or scent. At least, there aren't any near here."
Shote replied with confidence to Ramis' question.
"I also can't sense any more than one presence."
So Mishael can sense presences. If that's the case, if we get rid of that one then we'll be able to secure our safety for a while.
"Then, excuse my arrogance, but I'll take it down with one blow."
"Won't you please wait a moment? I'm aware that you have more than enough strength to do so, but if we want to deal with it silently, then please leave it to me."
In place of Mishael, who had first stepped forward, Sherry went ahead.
She's just walking, but somehow, her presence is faint. Even though she's definitely there, there's an uncomfortable feeling like you're only looking at her reflection.
"Splendid, isn't it … she's completely erased her presence."
At Mishael's admiration, the Big Eaters Brigade also nodded in agreement.
"Un, her scent's still there, but she isn't making a sound."
"No one would be able to tell if she was hidden in the dark, right?"
She's getting rave reviews. If I look carefully, that way of walking is also peculiar. The placement of her shoulders is level without any up and down movement, so you fall into the illusion that she's sliding smoothly along the ground.
So it means she's not just some ordinary person, huh?
Continuing to cling to the wall at the intersection, she detached the whip from her hip, and swung once, only stretching her arm out. And then, when she casually leapt out from the spot where she was watching the right passageway, she threw something sideways with her left hand. That was it.
She turned to look back at us, and with an alluring gesture, she beckoned to us.
When everyone rushed over to her side without any hesitation, a frogman demon rolled out from the alleyway ahead. There were traces of a whip wound around the neck so it couldn't make a sound. An iron skewer was buried deeply into its forehead.
So she was able to end it instantly without the enemy raising a single scream. Looks like I'll have to look at Sherry differently from now on.
From then on, Sherry dealt splendidly with the few enemies we discovered. When there were several of them, Mishael and the Big Eaters Brigade cooperated with her, and we've come this far without being found one way or another.
This type of fighting doesn't suit Ramis at all, so she hasn't had a turn yet.
"We're here in the area now, according to the map, but where is the mansion?"
"That's right, it's a spot further northeast of here."
Mikene peered at the map he took out, and Suori used her finger to trace the way from our current position to her home.
It seems there's still some distance, but it seems like we'll reach it sooner than expected if things continue like this.
"If we go straight from here it would be a shortcut, but there's enemies crowded together. Since there's a fountain in the town square."
They'll probably be bathing there in the water the entire time.
Theses members are enough if we just wanted to defeat them, but we want to avoid having them call for reinforcements. We'll have to make a detour, huh?
"Then it would be better to proceed by this road."
Sherry proposed a different route and nobody objected, so ended up going along that road.
Although there are monsters within the community, they don't do any scouting, and there are some that move around as they wish. Come to think of it, I wonder if these monsters have something like a leader.
None… is something I can't say easily, I guess. For them to aim persistently at the Hunters Association means there's probably some sort of order; and anyway, if there's no one as a leader, the monsters would begin to fight each other, and they should start killing each other.
Frogman demons, twin-snake demons, and alligatorman demons don't get along, and it's common knowledge that they're natural enemies. Even so, they're co-existing without any strife.
It might be better to find and defeat the leader than fix the hole in the wall. When we return, I'll try suggesting it.
"I know this area."
Suori looked around the area, muttering somewhat sadly.
She's probably thinking that even though it's the usual sight she's familiar with, it's abandoned without even the shadow of a person.
This entire area is high class residences, so whether it's this one or that one, there are splendid mansions that look like rich people live there all over. The people living in these mansion would naturally have had guards, and we can see traces of resistance.
Traces of blood and broken armor, and destroyed gates. There aren't any bodies; does that mean the monsters ate them?
The previously elegant lifestyle was cruelly laid to waste; while looking at the traces of splendor, we proceeded further inward.
While heading towards our goal we simultaneously searched to see if there were any survivors, but whether it was Mishael's presence detection or the Big Eaters Brigade's sense of smell and hearing, there wasn't any signs.
Everyone was probably thinking it but no one said anything, instantly killing the monsters that wandered around alone or in small groups as if we were venting our anger.
"After coming out of this alley, we'll be where the mansion is."
When the black-clothed man spoke in a low voice, everyone's footsteps became a little faster.
Suori appears as if she's constantly controlling herself not to rush forward, staring straight ahead with sharp gaze, matching her paces with the people around her.
Even though she's still a child, she's quite commendable. After this is over, let's treat her to whatever she'd like. As a vending machine, this is all I can do.
Leaving the narrow alley, we leapt out after confirming there weren't any signs of monsters, and the cruel sight of a mansion that had been laid to waste was revealed.
"Our mansion is … Father, I'm sorry."
I couldn't find the words to say to Suori, who was biting her lips as her tears flowed.
Ramis quietly hugged Suori from behind.
"U-, u-, u-, ueeeee"
Showing her childish side for the first time, a girl was sobbing.