Chapter 40
Around early lunchtime.
We arrived at Astra Trade, the same place we visited before.
“You’re here.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Unusually, Lorenz was right there on the first floor of the building.
All of his subordinates were also armed and waiting.
…Are these guys really a secret organization?
Well, if they were *really* operating in secret, they wouldn't have gotten permission from the royal family during that sewer investigation.
Guess they’re only secret to the public.
“Attach this to your coat.”
Lorenz handed me a badge as soon as he saw me. It looked pretty high-end, with an image of an open-eyed hawk etched on it.
“This is…”
“An insignia to distinguish you from other investigation teams on the Mountain Range.”
“Ah, yes.”
“And this time, you’re here as my assistant, so if you happen to meet another team, act accordingly.”
This time, I was here as Lorenz’s assistant, not Deputy Lowell’s, just as he’d said. Apparently, Lorenz’s side had requested it.
An assistant… Well, I guess it's the same as always—just listen to what Lorenz says.
Knowing Lorenz's personality, he's not likely to give useless orders or requests.
After I attached the badge to my coat, Lorenz handed me an outer garment.
“It's a Trade Company hood. It'll help on the mountain.”
He said as he put it on over his suit.
Looking behind him, I saw Lorenz’s subordinates were already wearing theirs.
I nodded and put the hood on.
“Then let's go.”
So.
After putting on the hood and badge, we immediately exited through the back door and headed toward the Mountain Range.
“What kind of investigation are we conducting?”
On the now-familiar road to the Kain Mountains.
Walking along the deserted road due to the blockade, I asked.
“We’re searching for traces of Devil Worshippers in the Mid-Region.”
“I see. Then the higher altitudes…”
“The Knights will handle that.”
“Aha.”
Right, even with Lorenz here, it would be tough to deal with a swarm of Transformed High-Tier Monsters.
With this level of manpower, it would be better to scour the Mid-Region.
Still, the Orc Champion *was* in the Mid-Region.
Even if I’m with Lorenz, I shouldn’t let my guard down.
So.
We started climbing the foothills of the mountain range, completely deserted because of the blockade.
“Have you been to the Kain Mountains often?”
“Ah, I've been here a few times.”
“Then there's no need for explanations.”
Saying that, Lorenz pulled out a map and pointed at a few points with a pen.
“The area we’ll be exploring today is here.”
“That’s pretty deep.”
As I’d heard earlier, it was the Mid-Region, but many of the marked areas were precariously close to the border of the higher altitudes.
This could be quite dangerous.
“That’s why I hired you.”
“Sounds like a lot of heavy lifting.”
“I'll pay you handsomely, so work hard.”
Payment…
It would be nice to receive something like the Buff Coat I'm wearing now.
It’s a very useful piece of equipment, along with Gareth’s Sword.
Anyway, so we began exploring the Mid-Region in earnest.
First.
We came to an area in the Mid-Region particularly abundant with rocky hills.
“This is Rock Wolf territory… but nothing seems out of the ordinary.”
“You’re right. It looks a little disorganized, though.”
“It seems the alpha who was rallying them recently has disappeared.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah, well, a new alpha will appear eventually.”
I have a pretty good idea who that alpha was.
That Alpha Wolf bastard, seems like he was dragging around every wolf-type creature he could find.
Considering he was killing High-Tier Monsters in the higher altitudes, it’s certainly possible.
“Next, we'll go to the nearby Rock Spider habitat.”
“Is it around here?”
“Yes, if we go down the hill here.”
From Rock Wolves to Rock Spiders.
It really hits home how many Monsters live in the Kain Mountains.
Well, considering there are Trolls and Ogres further up, this is nothing.
So, we passed through the Rock Wolf territory and descended down the hill.
Immediately, a musty, damp smell hit us.
“Definitely seems like Rock Spider territory.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, and it's probably their mating season, so they’ll be on edge.”
Lorenz said, then pointed to a cave at the bottom of the hill.
“Let's explore that.”
He extended his hand, conjuring a magic circle.
Just like in the sewers, blue lines ran along the ground and stretched into the cave.
“…It’s quite spacious.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, and there's a suspicious lack of presence.”
Lorenz, who continued to scan with magic, frowned.
“There are people inside.”
“…Devil Worshippers?”
“I'm not an expert in detection, so I don't know for sure. But there are definitely multiple living people inside.”
Lorenz thought for a moment, then called his subordinates.
“Spread out and call the nearest team.”
“Yes.”
Lowell’s single word sent the subordinates scattering immediately.
“We’ll guard the entrance.”
“Understood.”
It seems he plans to call in another team rather than rush in.
He’s so cautious.
Well, if the signals inside belonged to trapped mercenaries, it would be an urgent situation.
Even if that were the case, the chances of Demon Worshippers or Transformed Monsters being present were high, so this was the right call.
So.
I waited with Lorenz near the entrance for the other teams to arrive.
And then.
“We brought them.”
Lorenz’s subordinates brought a group of people.
The ten individuals wore thick coats of mixed gray and dark gray, leather hiking boots, and silver shoulder straps bearing the Adel Kingdom’s emblem.
Judging by their equipment, they looked like a specialized mountain search team.
“The Royal Mountain Search Team?”
“Yes, the 2nd Search Unit.”
And as expected, a man stepped forward and answered Lorenz’s question, confirming they were indeed the Mountain Search Team.
He had short hair and a sharp look with a scar over his left eye.
He must be the squad leader, stepping forward like that.
The aura he exuded was also unusual.
“Where’s the 1st Unit?”
“They went to the higher ground with the Royal Knights.”
“I see.”
After conversing with the man, Lorenz pondered for a moment and then pointed inside the cave.
“Multiple human signals were detected inside.”
“Are you going in right away?”
“Yes. My assistant and I, along with my combat-specialized subordinates, will go in.”
…Assistant, meaning me?
Looks like I'm going in after all.
Well, when else would he use me?
“Then, from our side, I, the squad leader, and two tracking specialists will accompany you.”
“What about the rest?”
“They’ll scout the vicinity and ambush in case of a raid.”
“They can join my remaining men.”
Just like that.
The two quickly divided the roles and then pointed inside the cave.
“Then let's go in.”
“Yes.”
Afterward, we all entered the dark cave.
The man who identified himself as the search team leader took out a lantern from his pocket and pointed it forward.
Then.
*Fwooosh-*
The light spread out, instantly illuminating the wide interior of the cave.
“That is…”
“A special lantern made by the Magic Tower. We borrowed it for this investigation.”
“Good.”
Lorenz looked at the lantern with interest for a moment before pointing forward again.
“Then let's go.”
The lantern illuminated its reach brightly, but beyond that, it was pitch black.
So, I drew my sword in advance to react to any sudden attacks and walked inside the cave.
*Thud- Thud.*
Just like that.
We made sticky footsteps as we went deeper and deeper inside the dark, damp cave.
“Hold on.”
After we had gone some distance inside.
Lorenz used his detection magic again.
“We’re close, right around here.”
He then pointed forward, having sensed something.
“Understood.”
At his words, everyone drew their weapons.
Then, illuminating the way with the lantern, we went further inside.
Then, something gray gradually started to appear on the cave walls and ceiling.
“This is…”
“Rock Spider webs.”
Gray spider webs, huh? Some kind of camouflage?
As if camouflage matters to things that live in a place where not a single ray of light enters.
“Go ahead.”
“Understood.”
I immediately went ahead at Lorenz’s command.
The lantern brightly illuminated the surroundings, but further inside…
I pierced through the darkness with Track, into the area still shrouded in shadows.
Then, I could clearly see beyond the reach of the lantern’s light, and…
“I see the captured people.”
As Lorenz had said, I saw people tied up and hanging from the webs.
“Anything else?”
“…Yes.”
And…
In the blind spot of the darkness, just beyond the lantern's reach.
I saw a bunch of things huddled together, looking like rocks.
No, they had something thin and long attached to them, so they couldn’t be rocks…
“Holy fuck.”
I cursed as soon as I realized what they were.
What I had mistaken for rocks…
Were giant spiders, huddled up with their legs tucked in, camouflaged as rocks.
“Prepare for combat.”
The sight sent shivers down my spine.
Ugh, he said there were only people.
I should never trust Lorenz's detection magic again.