"Man, this is a breeze. Usually, if we ventured into these mountains on our own, the usual rabble of monsters would have jumped us by now."
Phron’s satisfied voice rang out through the mountain air.
They had entered the territory where the harpies were said to nest several hours ago. During that time, they had only been attacked twice—a remarkably low frequency compared to a typical mountain trek.
There was a clear reason for this. While many monsters had approached with the intent of feasting on a human and a dwarf, most fled the moment they came within range of Seto. Sensing the presence of an A-Rank monster like the Gryphon, their instincts screamed at them to fear the overwhelming difference in their standing as magical beasts.
Occasionally, a wild animal like a Fang Boar—not a monster, but a beast of the forest—was foolish enough to charge them with tusks bared. Such efforts were naturally futile against Seto. With a single swipe of its talons, the Gryphon literally sent the creature’s head flying, and the meat became the party’s lunch.
"Ye said it. When it’s this easy, I find myself feeling like I'm on a sightseeing tour, I daresay."
Brasso spoke while admiring the scenery. A massive hammer was strapped to his back, but since they had entered the mountains—no, since they had left the City of Gilm—he hadn't needed to swing it once.
"Mm-hmm. Autumn really is something, isn't it? The foliage is magnificent."
Brasso was looking at the vast array of trees whose leaves had turned brilliant shades of yellow and red. Under the cloudless autumn sky, the crisp mountain air felt pure. Deciduous trees were scattered everywhere, their shifting colors blanketing the slopes in a vibrant tapestry.
"Hey, Brasso. It’s a nice view, sure, but don't get too distracted," Phron warned him, though she was clearly just as captivated by the scenery herself.
"Guruuu."
Away from the two of them, Seto let out a low growl. Rei followed its gaze toward the peaks. There, several shadows were circling in the sky.
At this distance, a normal person wouldn't have been able to make out any details, but with Rei’s Five Senses, identifying them was easy.
"You two, sightseeing is over. Looks like our targets have shown up."
"What!?"
The shadows circling the summit were monsters with the torsos and faces of women but the talons of birds of prey. They were the harpies, the objective of their Subjugation Request.
"Are they coming this way?"
Rei shook his head slightly at Phron's question.
"No. They're flying in the opposite direction. They probably haven't noticed us. Looks like they're off to hunt for food."
"Food... Tsk, revolting."
Phron’s admiration for the autumn colors vanished instantly. She knew exactly what the harpies considered prey, and she spat on the ground in disgust.
The reason they had accepted this Harpy Subjugation Request wasn't just because of the mine; it was because travelers, merchants, and adventurers heading for the City of Gilm were being slaughtered. The harpies hunted them for meat. The flock they had just seen leaving the summit was undoubtedly heading out to find their next meal.
"...Ye're right. This is no time for sightseeing."
Brasso’s mood shifted instantly. He gripped the massive hammer on his back, the gentle expression he’d worn just minutes ago replaced by the hard, focused gaze of a seasoned warrior facing a threat.
"Damn right. I'm going to teach those sky-rats the meaning of despair," Phron added, her own expression turning grim.
"Alright, then first... what’s the plan? We were going to launch a Night Raid on the nest, but we need a place to rest and get in top shape before then, right?"
"I’ve got that covered," Brasso said. "The blacksmith who hired us mentioned there’s a cottage near the mine where the miners used to rest. It's meant for large groups of workers, so the inside is quite roomy. Even Seto should be able to rest comfortably in there."
"Oh, right. I think I heard something about that too."
Phron recalled the detail as Brasso spoke. The dwarf let out a sigh at her slow reaction and began walking at the head of the group. Rei followed with Phron and Seto, pulling Death Scythe from his Misty Ring as they moved.
"...Whoa. So that’s the rumored great scythe? It’s huge."
Phron glanced back and was momentarily stunned by the sight of the massive blade and the handle that was longer than Rei was tall.
"It truly is a magnificent masterpiece. I daresay some legendary alchemist and blacksmith must have collaborated to forge a Magic Item of that caliber."
Even while keeping a sharp eye on the path ahead, Brasso couldn't resist stealing glances over his shoulder. His history as an aspiring blacksmith made the weapon impossible to ignore.
As they walked along the trail, which had been packed down by years of miners' footsteps, Rei gave his companions a wry smile.
"It’s a powerful Magic Item, definitely, but its size is a drawback in tight spaces like this."
"Ah, that makes sense. With all these trees around, it must be a pain to swing properly."
Brasso nodded, then looked down at his own massive weapon. "In that regard, my Tremor Hammer is in the same boat."
"...Which is why I've been telling you to trade it for a more manageable axe," Phron chimed in. "I have no idea why you're so obsessed with that oversized hunk of iron."
"Watch your mouth! My parents gave me this Tremor Hammer when I first set out. I'm not about to sell it unless it breaks. Besides, Phron, that hammer's magic has saved your hide more than once."
"...Tremor Hammer?" Rei asked, intrigued by the name.
"Aye. That's its name," Brasso said with a proud smile, stroking the handle. "It's a Magic Item. By channeling Magic Power into it, I can triple the power of a single strike. ...Though it has the flaw of taking three full days to recharge that much Magic Power."
Phron watched him with an exasperated look. "But Brasso, your precious hammer is still a nightmare to use in the woods. You should at least carry a backup."
"...I would have had a spare axe until recently."
Rei thought back to a certain knight who had been utterly devoted to his superior—though with the way he swung a Power Axe, he had looked far more like a warrior than a knight.
"Tsk, shame. ...Wait, there it is. That's the place."
Phron pointed to a large log cabin built from mountain timber. It was indeed as spacious as Brasso had described.
"It’s in surprisingly good shape, considering the harpies have been nesting here for a while," Rei noted.
There were no signs of monster damage or broken walls. It looked perfectly habitable.
"The miners didn't stop coming the very second the harpies showed up. It hasn't actually been that long since the place was abandoned. Though, that 'short time' has still been long enough for ore prices to skyrocket."
Rei looked at the door. It was completely untouched. Usually, an abandoned building in the mountains would be torn apart or occupied by monsters overnight.
"Why hasn't this place been destroyed? You’d think monsters would have smashed it by now."
"The miners aren't entirely sure either, but they think it has something to do with the specific ore found in this mine," Phron explained.
"Ore?"
Rei glanced toward the Mine Entrance nearby but didn't sense anything out of the ordinary. His ability to detect Magic Power was minimal; if there were a strange aura, he likely wouldn't have noticed it.
"Guruuu."
However, Seto noticed. The Gryphon, who usually stayed glued to Rei’s side, was pacing back and forth a few yards away, approaching the cabin and then retreating as if hitting an invisible wall.
"...I see. I forgot that since Seto is a monster himself, that repelling effect would affect him too," Brasso muttered.
"Ah... So what now? You two want to rest in the cottage while Seto and I wait out here?"
"...No, you and Brasso go ahead," Rei said firmly. "Seto and I will find a spot outside the range of that effect. We'll meet back up here at nightfall."
There was no version of this mission where Rei would leave his partner alone to go rest in comfort. He started walking toward Seto, but a voice stopped him.
"Hey, hold on a second."
Rei turned to see Phron and Brasso walking away from the cabin toward him.
"Did you forget something?"
"Yeah. You."
Rei paused, confused. Did he have something of theirs? "Oh, right. I still have your gear stored."
He was about to reach into the Misty Ring to pull out the backpacks he'd taken at the gate, but Phron let out an exasperated sigh while Brasso just chuckled.
"That's not what I meant. Don't go forgetting your party members."
"Aye. It won't do to go off and leave us behind, ye know."
The two of them stood beside Rei and Seto, turning their backs on the cottage. Rei looked at them, genuinely surprised.
"Wait, I'm only staying out here because of Seto. You two don't have to deal with the inconvenience just for us..."
"Don't be an idiot," Phron snapped. "What’s the point of being a party if we split up at the first sign of trouble? Besides, you and Seto are clearly the heavy hitters here. I’d rather sleep on the ground with you two nearby than in a cozy bed knowing we're separated. It’s safer this way. Don't overthink it."
"Exactly. And we've already seen that monsters won't dare come near us with Seto around. For a dwarf like me, the ground and a floor are much the same, I daresay."
"Ugh, this is why people say dwarves are made of stubbornness. This 'maiden's' soft skin is going to pay for this, I just know it."
Phron sighed, rubbing her arm through her high-quality Leather Armor.
"Bah! Maiden? Ye're past thirty and your wedding prospects are long gone. Stop talking rot."
"Excuse me? What was that, you old fossil? Do you want me to hammer that lumpy head of yours into a pancake?"
Brasso’s barb had clearly hit home. Phron glared at him with enough murderous intent to send a lesser monster running.
"Oh, terrifying! With a temper like that, no monster would dare approach. Come on, Rei. We’d better move before the effect starts bothering Seto too much. Besides, if we stay here, this old maid might actually kill me."
"A-Ah, right."
Brasso laughed heartily as he led Rei away from the cottage, with Phron following close behind, her eyes burning like an Ogre's.
(They’re actually giving up a comfortable rest area just to stick with us... They really are a strange bunch.)
Rei mused to himself, but he found he didn't mind it at all.