Published at 15th of December 2020 03:11:08 PM
Chapter 67
Translator: SFBaka
Editor: Thor’s Stone
–One day prior–
After dinner, Alan gathered us inside the Clan leader’s office for a meeting . It was most likely going to be about what transpired during the Clan gathering this afternoon .
“Recently, it seems there have been rumors of strange happenings within the depths of the Great Demon Forest . The Adventurer’s Guild is worried these incidents might be precursors to a stampede . ”
“A stampede!?”
Stampede… I think the last time something like that happened in the Starveek Kingdom was a century ago . Thousands of monsters went amok and attacked villages and cities, causing casualties of more than a thousand five hundred people .
If a stampede occurs in Gantz, which was close to the Great Demon Forest, I’m sure the damage will be more than several times worse .
“But this still hasn’t been confirmed . Or rather, according to the information I received, the danger of a monster stampede occurring is actually quite low . ”
Ah, well, if Alan says so, then a stampede may not really occur after all . However, can scanning magic detect something like that? No, if Alan says he managed to get a hold of information from his personal source, I’m sure he must have been referring to the spirits .
It seems that a request was put forth by the Adventurer’s Guild . It entailed culling the monster numbers in areas assigned to each Clan . The risk of a stampede is quite low, but I think we should still do what we can as well .
“Understood . Shall we split into the A and B Teams this time as well?”
“No . Having fifty or so people hunting monsters together is too inefficient, don’t you think? I plan to divide the Clan into five teams composed of two squads each . The leaders for each team will be me, Sharon, Selena, Elna, and Cleria . ”
After Alan declared his plan, everyone’s gazes gathered toward me . I could not believe my ears either . Alan said each party member of Shining Star will lead a team . I was going to lead a team as well?
It was but natural for Sharon and Selena to lead . In addition to their mastery of scanning magic, their offensive magic skills, and precise, decisive orders impressed me while acting under them on the A Team .
Their skills in swordplay and magic already exceed mine . To be honest, I felt quite frustrated, but I’ve witnessed the two of them working really hard, so I couldn’t complain even if I wanted to . It just meant that I’m still lacking in talent and effort .
Elma has also led a squad before when she was still part of the Royal Guard, and she was the best wind magic user in the Guard as well . I think she’s quite suitable as a team leader .
However, I never thought Alan would judge that I was fit to lead a team as well!
I think Alan places importance on one’s ability above anything else . This is clear from the fact that Sharon and Selena were appointed as the leader and vice-leader of A Team . And that Alan has just said I would be leading a team as well .
The moment I understood that I couldn’t help but well with pride . Ah, Alan has really acknowledged me!
I will absolutely fulfill my role well!
After the meeting, we decided to continue discussing the monsters present within the Great Demon Forest with the sub-leaders in the dining hall . It seems they wanted a clearer picture of the overall situation of the Great Demon Forest near Gantz .
“The most common monsters within the Great Demon Forest are Gray Hounds . Next would be Goblins, and probably Orcs . Also, monsters called Kobolds are present as well, although their numbers are fewer than the rest . ”
“If I remember correctly, aren’t Kobolds monsters who are like Goblins with dog heads?”
“That’s right . However, we’ve only managed to encounter them once . They were just slightly stronger than Goblins, so I think you don’t have to worry about them too much . ”
Sharon explained things about the Great Demon Forest to everyone . The monsters in the areas near Gantz didn’t have much variety . But I did hear from the guild that the deeper you went, the more variety of monsters you would encounter .
“But the important thing to note is that the deeper you go, the greater the number of monsters you would encounter . The maximum number of monsters the four of us managed to encounter while training was 26 Gray Hounds . ”
“By the Goddess! You managed to fight off that many Gray Hounds with just the four of you?”
“Yes . It would have been worse if they attacked all at once, but they attacked haphazardly so we managed to eliminate them . ”
“I see… As expected of our Clan’s main party . ”
Ah, we really were put in a bit of a tight spot during that one time . What should I do if we encounter something similar in the subjugation operation tomorrow? No, I will get through it somehow . Most adventurers manage to handle such situations anyway, so there’s no reason we won’t be able to do so as well .
After exchanging some more information, the meeting was adjourned . I decided to call out to Selena and Sharon while we were heading for our rooms .
“Selena, Sharon, do you have a moment?”
“What is it, Cleria?”
“Um… It’s my first time to lead a team on my own like this, so I was wondering if you can give me some pointers…”
“…I don’t think you have to worry too much . As long as you act the same as always, you’d be just fine, Cleria . ”
“I think so as well . And also, our Clan members are all pretty experienced veterans, so they actually don’t need to be commanded by us to do well . I also think you would be just fine if you act like usual, Clerisan . ”
“Act like the usual me?”
“You don’t panic no matter what danger you’re subjected to, right? You always finish off the most dangerous-looking monster before the rest of us make a move after all… So I really think you’ll be fine!”
Really? I really have such a tendency? I didn’t even notice… I’m glad I asked for advice! I feel like I can really do this now .
“Thank you! I think I’ll be fine now . ”
“Yes, you’ll be just fine . And even if you encounter a monster you can’t handle on your own Cleria, we’ll be sure to rush to your aid . ”
Ah, I really managed to meet such wonderful comrades…
“I will be counting on you then . Thank you, Selena, Sharon . ”
I went up to the fourth floor together with them until we entered our respective rooms . Come to think of it, Elna didn’t say anything about me becoming a team leader as well .
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“Elna, do you think I’ll do well as a team leader?”
“Of course you will, Risama . I am also not worried just like Selena and Sharon . I do find it a little unfortunate that I won’t be able to accompany you like usual though . ”
“I see… Let’s sleep early tonight and have a good rest then . ”
My confidence has been built up thanks to everyone . I’ll do my very best tomorrow!
The next day, everyone departed from the Clan Home together . We walked all the way to the area assigned to our Clan . After two hours of walking, we finally reached the assigned area .
“Yosh . Separate into your respective teams as planned and begin the operation . When it’s time to return, I, Selena, and Sharon’s teams will make sure to regroup up with Cleria and Elna’s teams, so we’ll go back to Gantz together . ”
Finally! Alan told us a general direction of where we should head to and departed . Ah, to think not having scanning magic at our disposal would make me feel so uneasy… I once again realized how amazing scanning magic was .
Would it be better if I sent some scouts ahead first? No, the speed of Gray Hounds when they rush in to attack is considerable . When the scouts get attacked, there is no guarantee we would make it in time to assist them .
My role right now is not to hunt lots of monsters but to make sure that I bring back all my men alive and well .
“Risama, how about sending some men out for scouting first?” Captain Dalshim suggested .
“No, let’s not do so . Rather than that, is there a method we can use to lure monsters toward us? Like a loud sound, perhaps . ”
Alan said that monsters would generally always opt for an attack once they notice the presence of others in their territory . Since we don’t know the positions of the monsters in the area, it would be more efficient to have the monsters come to us instead .
We did bring a bell with us, I think . So I decided to ring that as we traversed the forest .
After walking for about twenty minutes, a Gray Hound suddenly jumped out of the bushes . No, there seems to be more rushing behind it .
“Defensive circle!”
When Dalshim bellowed his command, everyone formed a defensive circle formation and surrounded me . Some of the men slashed at the Gray Hounds that jumped in to attack and killed them . There were still three Gray Hounds left .
I had already finished preparations for casting attack magic, but everyone was blocking my line of sight . I could barely see the Gray Hounds through the gaps between my men, but can I really hit them by sending my spell over everyone’s heads?
There’s no choice but to do it! I cast a single Flame Arrow by imagining myself pulling a bowstring and sending out a projectile in an arc .
The Flame Arrow spells flew in an arc and went past Captain Dalshim’s head . It then successfully bored through a Gray Hound’s head .
I hit it! I fired two more Flame Arrow spells and finished off the remaining two Gray Hounds .
“Oooh!”
“Amazing!”
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This was a technique I recently became able to perform . I prepared enough magic power for three shots in advance and consumed each shot one by one . Alan, Sharon, and Selena could all do it . I finally learned to do it myself .
“That was splendid, Risama!”
“Dalshim, let us quickly collect the magic stones from the corpses and move on . And also, I think there’s no need to form a defensive formation around me as well…”
“Forgive me for being presumptuous, but you are the main commander and core of our team, Risama . Forming a defensive circle around you in order to protect you is only natural . ”
…It might really be so . I’ve also learned the importance of protecting the commander while in battle, and I am also the one most adept in magic among the team . Alright then . Let us go with this arrangement for the time being .
After we finished collecting the magic stones from the Gray Hound corpses, we continued on .
There’s still quite some time until we come back, so I better conserve my magic power first . Ah, I wish I could replenish magic power through magic stones like Alan and the others… I will definitely learn that technique in the future .
After an hour of walking, we encountered a group of five Goblins . They suddenly appeared from the bushes, and when they saw us, they immediately turned around and attempted to run . The three team members nearest to them chased them down and finished them all off .
That’s quite strange . The Goblins living in this forest were an extremely cautious bunch . It was my first time witnessing them suddenly popping out without warning like that .
“Be careful everyone! The Goblins might have been chased out by something else!”
The men started forming a defensive circle immediately, and those who could use magic all gathered together in the center of the formation . Most of the members of my team can use magic .
Ten seconds after forming the defensive circle, Orcs appeared in front of us while making a racket . There are multiple monsters!? There seem to be five of them .
This is bad . Everyone isn’t ready to cast their spells yet . They should need about ten seconds more . I will keep the monsters at bay until they’re ready!
I slammed a Flame Arrow inside the mouth of the first Orc to discover us as it opened its mouth to roar . I then launched another Flame Arrow at the brows of the other Orc who saw what happened to the one in the lead and rushed in .
“Wind Cutter!”
“Flame Arrow!”
Magic spells were launched out one after another after the ones who finished their preparations immediately cast them out . The remaining three Orcs got struck by magic consecutively and collapsed on the spot .
Fuu, we were able to manage somehow . It might have also been possible to fight them with swords or spears, but since defeating them with magic was safer, there’s no reason not to choose that option .
“As expected of Risama . To think you’ll be able to predict the appearance of the Orcs…”
“The state of those Goblins was strange after all . The Goblins within this forest are especially cautious, so there was no way they would suddenly rush out like that for no reason . ”
“I see… This is my first time hearing of such vigilant Goblins, but I guess that’s just how it is within the Great Demon Forest . Even the Goblins are cautious in order to survive here . ”
We then collected the magic stones and proceeded further . As expected, without scanning magic, our hunting efficiency was comparably poorer since it wasn’t as easy to encounter monsters .
We continued hunting after having lunch, but we only managed to hunt down two more groups of Gray Hounds afterward . One group had six while the other had four .
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As Alan said, there doesn’t seem to be any indications of a stampede . I felt that our encounters were too few .
We continued on with our search for some time until I heard a voice calling out to me from a distance .
“Hey, Ria! It’s me, Alan!”
It’s Alan! I guess it’s about time to return to Gantz . Alan was as prompt as always . I first thought he carried a magic tool for telling time with him, but it looks like he didn’t . The spirits might be the ones telling him the time .
“Nice work, Ria . How was it?”
“There weren’t a lot of monsters after all . It was definitely harder to hunt without scanning magic…”
“No, we also didn’t encounter a lot of monsters as well . It looks like the area assigned to our Clan has fewer monsters lurking in it . ”
When I asked Alan how many monsters they managed to hunt, we still came up short, but the difference wasn’t much as I expected . That’s great .
“You didn’t encounter any problems, right?”
“Yes, we don’t have anyone injured . I feel like I’ve successfully managed to do my part . ”
“No, it was more than that, Alan-sama . Risama’s leadership was absolutely superb . She managed to care for and protect the ones under her command without sacrificing efficiency . I dare to say even Alan-sama would find it difficult to emulate her accomplishment . ”
“Oh, so she did really great, huh! That’s quite impressive, Ria . ”
I couldn’t help but smile in delight after hearing Alan praise me like that . But Dalshim sure was exaggerating my accomplishment .
The other members of my team praised my actions as well .
“I see . That’s really impressive for your first time in command, Ria . Well, I expected as much though . ”
Mou, I’m already at my limit . My smile widened into a silly grin .
After regrouping with Alan’s team, we met up with Selena, Sharon, and Elna’s team as well .
Without me noticing, I was already rushing toward Selena and Sharon .
“Selena, Sharon! I managed to serve as the team leader without any problems!”
The two of them had surprised expressions on their faces .
“Well, isn’t that just a given? You’re probably the only one who thought you wouldn’t be able to do a good job, Cleria . ”
Eh? Really!? I didn’t think everyone held such trust in my abilities!
Today was the day I’ve felt most proud of myself in my entire life to date .