Chapter 152
The journey would be with a caravan, with me accompanying them as an escort, just like last time. It was much more convenient in many ways to travel with a Caravan than to procure a carriage myself and cover such a long distance. Of course, that meant traveling with many people, but I could tolerate that much now.
Perhaps because something had completely broken out there this time, there were quite a few merchants moving, having caught the scent of money. Of course, there would be risks, but risk was how money was made.
Thanks to that, we were able to quickly find a group to travel with, though we were briefly suspected because of Neria...
“Hmm? Is this person an Adventurer too?”
“She is. Doesn't she have an Adventurer Card here?”
“No, she looks a bit young... and her build is small. She doesn't look like she could even hold a sword.”
“She's a Mage. I guarantee her Skill.”
“Well, if that's the case... you're welcome.”
Still, we passed without much difficulty. Anyway, they wouldn't know she was a Manifestor just by looking at her face. Honestly, Adventurer Cards were very easy to forge. In the Middle Ages, the *ad hoc* way things were handled was quite helpful in times like these.
As we entered the procession of carriages, countless people became visible around us: coachmen driving horses, porters moving goods, and adventurers escorting them.
There were quite a few people casting furtive glances at *This Place*. It was a gaze I had grown accustomed to, because it was rare for a *man* to be involved in physical labor...
Just as they observed me, I also looked around, observing the people. Then, a familiar face caught my eye.
“No... so, my broadcast might be infrequent for a fortnight. What is there to see anyway, when we're just traveling? Can't I take a break too?”
It was Shin Hanbyeol. She was visible in a corner of a carriage, having a staring contest with her Viewers. Perhaps sensing my gaze, she turned her head towards *This Place*. Immediately after, our eyes met.
“Huh?”
*
...After a brief silence, Hanbyeol naturally joined the carriage we were in.
From what I heard, she was also participating in this Extermination Squad. As a Solo Player, she happened to have no companions.
So, quite naturally... she somehow ended up in our carriage. How she managed to join so smoothly, I couldn't fathom.
Chaerin, seeing her, asked with a bewildered expression.
“Oh...? Ms. Hanbyeol, you're participating this time too? What about the Imp Hunt?”
“Well, I've been hunting them so much that my growth has stalled again. My viewers are getting bored seeing the same scenes for months now.”
“Ah, I see. Indeed, exterminations like this are great for attracting viewers.”
As expected of people in the same line of work, the two quickly broke the awkwardness. In the meantime, I glanced at Haneul.
What if they start arguing again like last time? Honestly, their relationship didn't seem very good.
But Haneul merely stared at Hanbyeol in silence, saying nothing. Though still awkward, she wasn't picking a fight like before.
'Phew...'
What was that all about? I let out a *sigh of relief* inwardly.
“So... who is she?”
After a moment, Hanbyeol looked at Neria and asked. As the stranger's gaze fell upon her, Neria instinctively hid behind me.
I gave Neria a look that said 'it's okay,' then opened my mouth to explain. After all, I had intended to tell her ever since I asked her to turn off her broadcast before getting into the carriage.
Even if she had a somewhat prickly personality, she was still a fairly trustworthy person. So, I gave her the *Full Story*. I told her that I had taken in a Manifestor due to various circumstances, and had brought her along because I thought she might be helpful.
I conveniently omitted the part about losing a bet. No matter what, that was a bit embarrassing.
“Anyway, please keep it a secret.”
“A Manifestor...? Hmm, all right.”
Hanbyeol nodded indifferently. As expected of an Otherworlder, she didn't seem particularly surprised.
“...Uh.”
Neria, whose identity was suddenly revealed to three people, looked utterly dumbfounded. Their indifferent reaction must have been quite perplexing to her.
Indeed, for Manifestors who live with the mindset that being discovered means death, such an indifferent reaction would be very unexpected. I chuckled and patted her back. And so, we set off with this rather peculiar group.
*
A fortnight passed. Fortunately, this journey proceeded smoothly. Although there were many Adventurers, just like last time, none approached me to pick a fight.
It seemed that my past activities as an Adventurer were quite helpful. Even though the Adventurer Group was run in an *Ad Hoc* manner, word of mouth spread quickly there.
Anyway, thanks to that, we were able to reach our *destination* relatively comfortably. Our primary *destination* was the *Split Plains*, located before the *Burning Plains*. The interior of *this place* was not easy for *human*s to live in, so the plan was to gather a sufficient number of *personnel* here before proceeding.
“Welcome!”
As soon as we arrived at our *Destination*, a middle-aged woman with bronze skin welcomed us. Judging by her clothes made of more luxurious fabric than that of others, I wondered if she was a *Noble* of *This Place*.
“I am Carson Margaret of the *Shamar Kingdom*.”
She introduced herself briefly, then continued speaking with a pleasant smile.
“Are you Adventurers? Please come this way quickly. We have already prepared an *inn* and food for you. You just need to rest comfortably and conserve your stamina, *everyone*.”
It was an extremely enthusiastic welcome. The way she spoke respectfully to the Adventurers, and her appearance, made her seem more like a hawker than a *Noble*. Honestly, it felt almost excessively welcoming. I thought to myself, *'Does this mean they consider this matter that important?'*
After all, if that thing were left alone and revived, this small *Kingdom* would be utterly destroyed. If with such small favors they could reduce the cost of their efforts, it would be a profitable business for them.
In any case, it was a good thing for us too. So, following Carson's guidance, we rested from our journey inside the *Inn* for several days.
A few days later, a general meeting of the Extermination Squad was held. Enough *people* had gathered, so they intended to get acquainted with each other. We kept Neria separate for now.
“Rest at the *Inn*.”
So many *people* would be gathered, and it seemed too dangerous to bring her along. As we exited the *inn*, Chaerin asked with a worried expression.
“Leaving her out now is one thing, but what will you do when we go on the Extermination later? We'll have to go together anyway.”
“Don't worry about that. There will be so many *People* that they won't remember everyone anyway.”
I'll just have her join subtly later.
The meeting was held at the *Inn* in the *Village*. Since this *Inn* was the largest *building* in this small *Village*, it was chosen as the temporary meeting *place*.
Indeed, upon entering, countless *people* were already gathered: Mages with brownish skin, Knights from the *Empire*, and Adventurers gathered from various regions.
Most were unfamiliar faces, but I did catch a glimpse of some I knew.
“W-we've gathered at *This Place* to at least get acquainted before we depart...”
Notably, there was *3rd Knight Commander* Vivian, nervously opening the meeting in the *Center*. It seemed the *3rd Knight Commander* was leading this operation. Come to think of it, I hadn't really done anything with her before...
The last time I saw her, she seemed timid and lacking confidence, and she was no different this time.
“How did she become a Knight Commander?”
Seeing things like that sometimes made me wonder.
Nevertheless, the meeting did eventually begin. The content of the meeting was simple. As mentioned, it was for everyone to step forward and briefly introduce themselves. Calling it an “introduction ceremony” would actually be a more fitting term than “meeting.”
The first to step forward were the mages with brownish skin.
“We are the *Mages affiliated with Shamar*. We've come to cast the necessary *Buff*s for *Everyone* before you depart for the Forbidden Land.”
“Huh, you're not even fighting with us, you're just here to cast a single *Buff*?”
It was an Adventurer, not I, who spoke. As expected of *Human*s whose profession was combat, their tone was quite rough from the start.
One of the mages nodded and replied curtly.
“Yes, it seems to be very hot beyond *This Place*... But you won't have to worry about getting burned on the *Ground*.”
The mages sat back down after that. Introductions continued after that. *3rd Knight Commander* Vivian timidly stood up and spoke, while Adventurers came forward one by one to state their names and professions.
Strangely, there were far more *Gaian* Adventurers than *Otherworlder*s among those gathered this time. It seemed that since the standards had risen, most *Otherworlder*s had been cut. Even if the *Otherworlder*s' Skill levels had risen significantly, the proportion of *Powerful Individual*s was still higher among *Gaian*s.
Indeed, as expected of high-ranking Adventurers, they all looked like they could hold their own. Judging by the reactions, there seemed to be a few famous ones among them.
“Hey, look over there... it's *Storm Lancer Eloi*.”
“Ms. Jane, the *Magic Swordsman*, is here too. What an impressive lineup...”
Of course, hearing all that, I wondered what they were talking about. Well, since they were famous among themselves, I just nodded for now.
As I watched the Adventurers introduce themselves one by one, a certain fact suddenly dawned on me.
*'...Huh?'*
Among all these countless *People*, I was the only *Man*! This was true no matter how tough the Adventurer profession was.
“Out of all these people, there”s really not a single one...?'
There were almost 100 <F1>people</F1> gathered here. It seemed that as the Adventurer standards rose, <F1>Human</F1> Adventurers were naturally filtered out. I realized anew how much of a special case the <F1>4th Knight Commander</F1> or <F1>4th Branch Leader</F1> was. And so was I, standing here.
'...'
Suddenly, the gazes from around me began to feel very sharp. Still, I stood calmly, not showing any particular reaction.
As the introductions continued, a certain moment arrived. A woman pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, a familiar woman with white skin, golden bobbed hair, and blue eyes...
The sharp aura flowing around her seemed to proclaim her as a *Skilled Person* herself. But I widened my eyes for a different reason.
Soon, she introduced herself indifferently from among the crowd.
“*Nikki Tanesia*, *a swordsman*.”
Startled, I asked her inwardly.
“Why are you here...?”
She, who should have been with *Lemegeton*, had suddenly appeared among the Adventurers.