Chapter 46
The plateau, nestled high in the Kain Mountains.
Currently the base camp of the Adel Kingdom's Mountain Survey Team, it bustled with tents and people.
And, there was a dedicated tent for the Mountain Search Team.
Stepping inside, I saw the team members lounging around in comfortable clothes.
“Yo, Rain~ Done resting?”
“Yes, I’ve rested well.”
It's been a while since I joined the 1st team, so these faces are familiar.
They're all relaxed before departure, but they’re seasoned veterans, through and through.
Having fought alongside them, I know how skilled they are.
Furthermore, having faced life and death together, we’ve become quite close.
Especially with….
“You alright?”
“Yeah, I rested well.”
I’ve become closest with Locke, the original 2nd squad leader. We've been together since the beginning of the investigation, to the point where we now speak informally.
Well, there’s more than a twelve-year age gap between Locke and me, but he’s pretty chill about it.
“I’ll give a quick briefing on this operation, so memorize it before we leave.”
Anyway.
Now that I’m at the Mountain Search Team tent, I first listened to the explanation of the upcoming operation.
“You know we're working with the Royal Knights on this one, right?”
“I know.”
“The Knights will be bringing a considerable number of soldiers.”
The army has been involved in the mountain survey for a while now.
The more we investigated, the more the number of Demon Worshippers and hidden Transformed Monsters became excessive.
Apparently, the Mountain Search Team and the Knights lacked the manpower, so elite Capital Soldiers are currently stationed on this plateau.
The tent we're in was also built by those soldiers.
“In addition, the Magic Support Unit has arrived, so we….”
The operation Locke explained was a textbook strategy.
To summarize, after reconnaissance, a strike team divided into a vanguard and main force would go straight to the point and attack.
An extermination operation relying on overwhelming power.
Our Search Team's role, of course, is reconnaissance.
We're small in number and we know these mountains well.
After hearing the entire operation plan, I took out my equipment and started maintenance. Then, a commotion arose from outside the tent.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
We had to get to the point faster than the main force, so we immediately left the tent.
And then, I saw the plateau teeming with soldiers.
Their armament was light for traversing mountainous terrain, but they were disciplined, as expected of elite troops.
"Everyone! We embark on the operation today!"
And.
In front of those soldiers stood Knights clad in gleaming silver armor.
Not only the Royal 3rd Knight Order that I saw last time, but other Knight Orders were also present.
I've seen the Knights fight a few times, so it's reassuring to be working with them.
“Alright, orders received. Let’s move out.”
Following the Search Team Leader’s words, we were the first to depart from the plateau.
“Rain, you said you rested well.”
“Yes, Captain.”
As we left the plateau and headed towards the strike point, Aslan, the Captain of the Mountain Search Team, spoke to me.
“You talk casually to Locke, but you’re still formal with me?”
“Locke’s a fellow squad member now, isn’t he?”
“You were casual with him even when he was the Squad Leader.”
“...The age difference isn’t that big.”
“The age gap between you and him is bigger than between me and Locke, you know?”
Aslan is a middle-aged woman in her 40s.
Despite being a woman, she’s a tall veteran Search Team Captain, only slightly shorter than me.
I heard she's been traversing the Kain Mountains for over 20 years.
Thanks to that, she can navigate the mountains even without a map.
“You know the Knight Commander is here too, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Didn’t get a good look earlier, did you? Take a good look when you get the chance. That person is an Aura Master.”
“Ah, yes….”
Aura Master.
The next stage of an Aura User, I only know them as superhumans who have gained unique enlightenment regarding Aura, surpassing the basics.
“It’s not easy to see an Aura Master. There are only a handful on the continent.”
“...Understood.”
Of course.
One of those handful is Lowell.
That monstrous old man.
I wonder if I can become an Aura Master?
Even seasoned Aura Users who have mastered the basics often fail to become Masters even after decades of Training.
I'm confident in my talent, but I'm not so sure about enlightenment.
Well, anyway.
Afterwards, we crossed the mountains with the other Search Team members and…
“Around here, I guess.”
We soon arrived in front of our targeted point.
“It’s big.”
“Yeah, it seems like it’s crawling with Demon Worshippers.”
The place we arrived at was the entrance to a massive cave complex located in the deepest part of the Kain Mountains.
It’s located slightly downhill from the higher altitudes, quite a distance from the Adel Kingdom's Capital.
If we cross the next mountain from here, isn't it the Lunaria Great Plains?
It was so far from our previous point that we set up a base camp on the plateau.
“I don't sense much around here for now.”
Saying so, Aslan stood in front of the entrance to the massive cave complex. Peering into the enormous entrance, it appeared to be a cave descending underground.
I can't even fathom how deep this goes.
“Even if they are here, they’d be inside, right?”
“Yes, it looks like a good hiding place for Devil Worshippers.”
“I heard a dragon used to live here. It's a perfect place for those sinister bastards to scheme.”
Aslan pulled her usual lantern from her pocket and shone it inside.
An unbelievably bright light fell downwards, but only the endless cave walls continued on.
“Haah, the thought of going in is daunting. Kale, what did the main force say?”
Aslan let out a deep sigh and pointed to a team member behind her.
Kale.
A detection agent from the magic academy, capable of using simple magic and deciphering magic circles.
“Ah yes, checking.”
Kale was holding a large crystal ball.
Apparently, that thing lets him communicate with the Magic Support Unit back at base camp.
“Uh, hmm… They’ll send support, but they want us to go in first and confirm the location.”
“Ugh, great. So we’re the cannon fodder again.”
Aslan grimaced, clearly displeased with the order, but started pulling out his gear.
“Alright then, let’s get ready to go down.”
“We’re really going in?”
“Well, are we not? Just make sure the escape route is prepared.”
He tossed a rope onto the ground.
“Tie it to the entrance.”
“Squad Leader, isn’t it a bit short for the size of the cave?”
“We’re not going any deeper than this.”
Apparently, since the cave sloped downwards, we were going to tie the rope and rappel down.
Just in case the ground suddenly gave way.
“Kale, can you detect anything?”
“Yes, I can.”
So, after the rope was secured…
Kale stepped forward and activated his detection magic.
A blue magic circle glowed in his hand, and a blue line flowed downwards, spreading into the cave. The same basic detection magic I've seen many times.
Even though it's basic detection magic, the precision and color of the magic circle... eh.
It seems the magician's skill makes a big difference.
Maybe it's a problem comparing him to Lorenz?
Well, what can you do? The only magicians I've seen use detection magic are those two.
“For now, all I detect are small creatures.”
“Yeah, like always.”
Honestly, even though we use detection magic as a formality…
Everyone knows it’s practically useless against the Devil Worshippers.
Lorenz couldn’t find them before, and even the magicians from the support unit probably won't fare any better.
That’s why they send us in first.
The good news is, their estimated remaining forces are really low now.
From the start, the only reason those underpowered bastards were able to keep up this guerrilla warfare for so long was because of the Transformed Monsters they created.
Because of that, recently they’ve only been hiding and ambushing us after battles using Monsters as shields.
So, the higher-ups who dispatched the Investigation Team figured their forces were depleted and planned this kind of extermination operation.
Anyway.
After finishing our preparations and waiting, the support troops from the main force arrived.
“We’ll be counting on you.”
“Yessir, the Knights have arrived.”
There were only three of them.
But each one was a Knight of the Royal Knights, exceptional Aura Users.
They sent us the good stuff.
With this, even if something happens inside, we should be able to make it out alive.
“Alright everyone, tie your ropes so you don’t get lost, and let’s head down.”
After the Knights also secured their ropes, we finally stood at the cave entrance.
“Let’s move.”
And so, we stepped into the large entrance for the official reconnaissance.
“It’s slippery! Everyone, be careful.”
We entered the cave in a single file, keeping our distance. Aslan, the Squad Leader and Aura User, took the lead.
Locke took the rear, guarding our backs.
And I'm in the middle, providing support for both sides.
This time, however, the Knights who came as support were positioned one each at the front, back, and middle.
“I’ll be counting on you.”
“Yes.”
A taciturn Knight was positioned next to me.
More importantly… Isn't wearing that clanking silver armor uncomfortable?
Well, being an Aura User, I'm sure he can manage.
We walked through the large, windy entrance of the cave.
“It keeps going down!”
Just like Aslan said, the cave continued to slope downwards.
If a fight breaks out, we’ll have to be mindful of this incline.
It’s also slippery in places due to moisture, making it quite difficult terrain for combat.
Seeing this path, it really feels like the Devil Worshippers’ main base.
Usually, the underpowered ones prefer making the playing field dirty.
Just then, as we were descending, wary of any hidden enemies…
“Retreat!”
Aslan’s booming voice echoed from the front.
“Retreat! Retreat!”
And then.
Since everyone ahead of Aslan was yelling the same thing…
I immediately stopped descending and backpedaled.
And soon.
“Hurry! Run!”
Aslan, who had gone ahead, appeared, dragging the other team members with him.
“Why are we retreating?”
After confirming the others had retreated, I asked, and Aslan pointed behind him.
“Fucking three-headed Mutated Ogre up ahead.”
“Aha.”
This is definitely their main base.
No wonder the Knight who was with Aslan was sweating as he ran.
Then.
GRROOOOOOOOOOAR–!!!!!
At the resounding roar, I ran towards the entrance without looking back.