At the summit of the mountain where the harpies nested, almost no vegetation grew. The terrain was a desolate expanse of scattered, jagged boulders, looking every bit like a wasteland.
A cave mouth yawned at the peak. Three harpies were visible nearby. Two stood like statues, flanking the entrance to the left and right, while the third loitered a short distance away.
Rei and his party observed the scene from the cover of a dense thicket a short distance from the summit.
"Are those harpies... sentries?" Phron whispered, her eyes fixed on the three creatures.
Brasso nodded. "Likely so. As you can see, harpies possess human heads and torsos. They’re monsters with a fair bit of intelligence. The concept of posting sentries wouldn’t be foreign to ’em."
"I suppose that makes sense," Phron replied. "Even goblins do it, so it shouldn't be a surprise."
"Still, they're a nuisance," Rei muttered, scanning the area around the cave. "What should we do? I’d rather not spend all day dealing with them only for them to call for backup."
The area immediately surrounding the cave, particularly where the sentries stood, was devoid of plant life. Instead, the ground was littered with the bones of animals and monsters—and perhaps even humans—that the harpies had picked clean. Harpies were famously voracious, devouring not just meat but also internal organs and skin. Because they left nothing but dry bone, the area lacked the stench of decay, which was a small mercy for the group.
"I don't see anything flammable near the nest," Rei noted. "In this state, we probably don't have to worry about a wildfire. If that cave is where they're nesting, our best move is to silence the sentries quickly and then blast the interior with flame magic."
Phron looked thoughtful at Rei's suggestion. Initially, she and Brasso had assumed the harpies nested in the giant trees near the summit, which was why they had rejected the idea of using fire. However, if the nest was inside a cave, the situation changed.
Rei carried a massive Great Scythe. Brasso wielded a giant hammer. Seto was a monstrous creature over two meters long. While they couldn't be sure of the cave's exact dimensions, fighting inside as a group would likely be difficult.
(Still, if harpies are living there, there must be enough room for them to fly around.)
Phron gripped her longsword, glaring at the cave entrance.
"What do you think? Personally, I'd rather not charge into that cave if I can help it," Rei said, tightening his hold on the Death Scythe.
"I agree," Brasso said. "Phron, as Rei says, we don't need to worry about the fire spreading out here. Inside the cave, it's even safer. We might even be able to wipe 'em out in one go."
"Right. Without knowing the interior layout, charging in would be suicide," Phron admitted. "Harpies need room to fly, so there should be space, but that entrance looks narrow. If the ceiling opens up inside while the ground stays cramped, they'll have every advantage. Fine. We’ll go with Rei's plan."
Phron let out a sigh of resignation. Rei nodded and turned his attention back to the three harpy sentries.
"Now, about the sentries. If I'm going to use magic, a surprise attack is best, but those three are in the way."
"Rei, do you have any ranged weapons in your Item Box?" Phron asked.
"Hmm... let's see. I have some spears I can throw." Rei glanced at his Misty Ring. The extradimensional space held a significant number of spears he’d scavenged from the bandits he defeated during his Rank Up Exam. He had already proven their effectiveness during his dungeon crawl with Elena. "I have Wind Magic too, but the range might be an issue."
The thicket where they were currently hiding was about two hundred meters from the cave. It was a manageable distance for a thrown spear, but his power-focused flame magic—and the Flying Slash from the Death Scythe that he passed off as Wind Magic—were effectively out of range.
He could use large-scale flame magic from this distance, but that would undoubtedly alert every harpy in the cave.
"Well now, what's it to be? To think we'd be stuck so soon," Brasso grumbled.
"I have an idea," Rei said. "But it requires a bit of luck."
"Let's hear it. If it's a way forward, we'll take it."
Rei looked at Seto, who was crouching quietly. "The simplest way is for Phron and Brasso to throw spears as well, but..."
Both veteran adventurers shook their heads immediately.
"Unless you've had specialized training, hitting a target with a throw at this range is impossible," Phron said.
"Aye," Brasso added. "I've got the arm for it, but if you ask me if I can hit the mark, I'd have to say no."
(I managed it well enough from the start, but...) Rei thought silently. He knew his success was likely due to the physical capabilities of the body Zephyle had crafted for him, so he kept his mouth shut.
"In that case, here’s the real plan. I'll take one down from here with a thrown spear. Seto will launch a surprise attack from high altitude to take out the second. As for the third... either Phron or Brasso will ride on Seto's back and ambush it during the dive."
"What!?"
"Are you serious!?"
Both Phron and Brasso recoiled in shock. Being told to ride a gryphon into battle was a lot to process.
However, it was clearly the most reliable way to silence the sentries simultaneously. The two adventurers exchanged a long look, each trying to silently pressure the other into taking the role.
"The surprise attacker should be Phron," Rei said, settling the matter instantly.
"Wait just a minute! Why is it automatically me!?" Phron hissed, managing to shout in a whisper while grabbing Rei's shoulders. Beside her, Brasso let out a massive sigh of relief.
"Calm down. The reason is simple," Rei explained. "Between a dwarf and a human, you have the agility for this. Riding a gryphon into a dive requires the kind of reflexes you possess."
"Mmm... I suppose that’s true, but... I can’t say I’m happy about it."
"Do you want to switch with me? I don't mind," Brasso offered, looking entirely like he minded. "Wait, is Seto even okay with this? I’ve heard dragon knights are the only ones a wyvern will ever let on its back."
"Guruuu," Seto chirped confidently, as if to say, Leave it to me.
For Seto, carrying someone other than its master didn't seem like a big deal.
"So, I’m just waiting here with Rei, then?" Brasso asked.
Rei shook his head and pulled a spear from the Misty Ring, handing it to the dwarf.
"Rei?"
"Seto and I will definitely take out two. But Phron, this is your first time flying, right?"
"Of course it is! That's not exactly a common hobby!" Phron hissed again.
"Exactly. That’s why Brasso needs to keep this spear ready. If Phron’s ambush fails, he needs to take the shot to stop the harpy from calling for help. It’s a last resort."
"Hey, wait! You want him to throw a spear at a target right next to me? This is Brasso! He’s never thrown a spear in his life! Rei, are you trying to kill me!?"
"If the ambush fails, just move away from the harpy as fast as you can," Rei said flatly.
"Tsk... Fine. I get it. Brasso? If you hit me, you’re banned from alcohol for three months."
"Mu... muu..." Brasso winced. He wanted to argue, but saying anything might make it sound like he actually intended to hit her. To a dwarf like him, a few days without a drink was agony; three months was practically a death sentence. He grumbled but accepted the spear.
"My, this is a cheap piece of work for something you’re carrying," Brasso noted, running a hand over the spear. His experience as an aspiring blacksmith made the assessment instant.
"It belonged to the bandits from the exam. I know the quality is poor, but you don't throw high-quality spears if you're using them as disposables."
"Fair point. Usually, we'd use lighter short spears for throwing. Then again, if you want a ranged weapon, a bow and arrow is better."
"Bows take two hands. Besides, with my strength, I can make this a one-hit knockdown." Rei gripped his own spear and locked his eyes on one of the harpies. "Seto, you take the one on the right near the cave entrance."
"Guruu."
"Phron, you take the one on the left."
"Fine, fine! I’m doing it!" Phron said, bracing herself.
Brasso watched her and sighed. "Usually, veteran adventurers like us are the ones giving the orders."
"Don't start," Phron replied. "It was a mistake to think of Rei as just another rookie in the first place."
Steeling her nerves, she approached Seto. "Seto, I've never ridden anything like you before. I'm not... well, I'm not used to this. You okay with me?"
"Gurururuu," Seto trilled reassuringly.
"Alright. Seto and I are heading out. We’ll leave the harpy in the back to you, Rei."
"Got it. And Phron... remember, this is a surprise attack."
Phron gave Rei’s hooded head a light thwack. "I know that! I’m not so green that I need you to tell me. Kill them before they can make a sound, right?"
"Right... Sorry. You’ve been doing this longer than I have. I shouldn't have worried."
Rei had only been in Gilm for a few months. His career as an adventurer was just as short. Normally, he would still be struggling at F-Rank.
"Well, sit back and watch a veteran’s skill. Let’s go, Seto."
"Guruu."
Seto chirped and followed Phron back the way they came, moving to a spot where they could take off without being spotted.
Rei watched them go, then turned his attention back to the sentries, keeping low in the brush. After about five minutes, Brasso spoke up.
"Rei."
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing like that. It's just... well, if you're of a mind, how about staying with the Crushing Warriors after this job is done?" Brasso looked at him with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"You mean... permanently?"
"Aye. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders and your judgment is sharp. Your combat ability goes without saying, and you’ve got Seto. You can’t stay solo forever. D-Rank is one thing, but with your talent, you’ll be C, B, and A-Rank before long. You know as well as I do what happens to soloists at those levels."
Rei hesitated. It was true that he got along well with these two—setting aside the drinking. "I'll give you an answer after the quest," he finally said.
"Fair enough. Look... here they come."
Brasso’s dwarven eyes were fixed on the dark night sky. Rei looked up and saw Seto gliding high above, with Phron clinging to its back.
To a normal human, they would have been invisible in the pitch black, but Rei’s artificial eyes easily pierced the gloom. Brasso seemed to realize Rei had night vision too, but he stayed focused on the task, gripping the spear in his hand.
Rei readied his own spear, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Now!"
At Brasso's signal, Seto dived soundlessly. Its sharp front talons obliterated the head of the harpy on the right. Simultaneously, Phron leaped from Seto’s back, using the momentum to bring her sword down on the second harpy’s head.
She couldn't manage a perfect Vertical Cleave while adjusting her posture mid-air, but her blade bit deep, slicing from the creature’s neck down into its torso. The harpy died instantly, its death cry silenced before it could even begin.
"Kiii!?"
The third harpy, standing further back, sensed something and began to turn. In that split second, Rei threw his spear with all his might. The tip smashed through the creature’s skull, obliterating its brain and scattering fluids across the ground before it could make a sound.