It did not take long for the investigation team departing from Gilm to reach the vicinity of the Treant Forest.
Traveling by carriage to avoid even the slightest expenditure of stamina could certainly be considered a stroke of luck for the adventurers.
Even so... as the Treant Forest drew closer, their expressions grew increasingly serious.
There were some who appeared to be fooling around, but more often than not, they were merely putting on that front.
...Of course, there were also those who were genuinely fooling around.
"Hey, you're that Crimson, right? Is it true you can take on an entire army by yourself? I mean, yesterday I got to see the power of your Item Box, but that was all it amounted to."
The young Adventurer Man who had boarded the carriage alongside Rei and the Crimson Lotus Wings was one such person.
He was an adventurer who had only come to Gilm this spring, possessing considerable skill at C-Rank.
Being a solo adventurer on top of that made him, in a sense, a remarkably rare existence.
"Raznig, was it? You seem pretty excited, but you do understand we're heading into the Treant Forest, right?"
"Hm? Ah, obviously. But even so, I've got a decent amount of confidence in my skills. If something happens... well, at the very least, I can protect myself."
Raznig's expression brimmed with confidence as he rested his hand on the sheath at his waist.
The fact that he didn't believe his own strength was the absolute best was likely a testament to him being a C-Rank adventurer.
Of course, there were those who possessed excessive confidence in themselves as the greatest adventurer regardless of their rank.
Fortunately, among the adventurers participating in this Treant Forest investigation, there were none of that sort.
At the very least, no one was making it blatantly obvious in their attitude.
What they truly thought inwardly, however, remained uncertain.
This Treant Forest held great significance for Gilm's expansion—in other words, for Gilm's future development.
Knowing this well, Worker must have carefully selected the adventurers allowed to participate in this investigation.
"I see. Then... make sure you properly demonstrate that ability on this quest."
Feeling the carriage come to a halt upon arriving at the Treant Forest, Rei addressed Raznig.
"Heheh, leave it to me. Whether they have Magic Stones or not, they're still Treants, right? Opponents of that level are no problem. Besides, I've promised to have drinks with Mizuna-chan at the bar after this job is done. Something like this is nothing."
"I see. Good luck, then."
After calling out to Raznig, Rei stepped down from the carriage.
Worker must have been putting considerable effort into this investigation as well. Five carriages had been prepared from the Guild.
Adventurers disembarked from each of the five carriages and once again turned their gazes toward the Treant Forest before them.
Most of the adventurers participating in this investigation were the same ones who had come here yesterday as escorts for the Woodcutters' logging operation.
Yesterday, they had engaged in what was nominally escort duty but was actually tree-felling work in this forest.
As a result, they had received greater rewards than expected.
Compared to the trees felled by the Woodcutters, their payment was somewhat lower due to their rough cutting method. But even so, as compensation for a request with no danger to their lives, it could be considered quite a good deal.
However... things that seemed too good to be true usually had a catch.
This forest they had entered so casually became a place where monsters roamed at night, and above all, the fact that those monsters lacked Magic Stones was more than enough to make the adventurers view the Treant Forest as something eerie.
"Looking at it like this, it just seems like an ordinary forest."
"Hey, is a forest with no signs of animals, let alone monsters, an ordinary forest?"
"It's got berries and fruit and stuff, so I thought it'd be a good place to gather food."
"Putting this season aside, it's sufficient as a supply source for winter firewood, isn't it? After all, no matter how much you cut, the trees never diminish at all. The area where we were working yesterday is pretty much filled in already."
The adventurers gazed at the Treant Forest while talking among themselves.
True to their words, the area where the men had relentlessly felled trees yesterday was already completely without a trace.
Even so, the fact that they could barely recognize it as the place they had worked was likely because, compared to the surrounding area, the forest had a slightly concave shape.
Even if the forest's spreading speed was constant, differing starting points would naturally distort the forest's shape.
Of course, if it had been just a few people cutting down a small number of trees, the forest's spreading power would have been stronger, and it would have recovered effortlessly.
But the Treant Forest's regenerative power was not high enough to restore an area where a large number of Woodcutters and many adventurers had concentrated their felling efforts.
The fact that the Woodcutters and adventurers had been able to focus purely on felling—without having to transport the cut timber or trim branches—also played a large role.
Even with that level of concentration, the traces of logging remained only barely visible to the eye, demonstrating to those around them just how much of a threat the Treant Forest truly was.
"Alright, we will now begin the investigation of the forest. Everyone, please split into the groups you were assigned in advance!"
The voice of the person overseeing the investigation team echoed through the surroundings.
If this were an ordinary forest, it would have been fine to have only adventurers conduct the investigation.
But this Treant Forest was different. It was a place that could by no means be called an ordinary forest.
Considering Gilm's future, there was no way they could leave the investigation solely to adventurers.
As a result, Alchemists, magical Researchers, scholars—such individuals had been requested to join, which was why they had come here for the investigation.
Besides those affiliated with the Guild, those living in Gilm, and those dispatched as Daskar's subordinates—since they were such individuals, there was no doubt they were capable.
However, it was only natural that many among them did not possess high combat ability.
Given those circumstances, and the fact that they possessed different perspectives from the Researchers, the Researchers and adventurers were to act together.
"So what should we do? Nobody's told us who to team up with either."
They had joined the investigation team that Lenora had told them to prepare for and come straight to the Treant Forest.
Compared to the other adventurers whose partners had been decided in advance, they had been completely left out.
The Plain Man who had been issuing instructions to the other adventurers must have noticed Rei's situation. He approached and spoke.
"Rei-san's party is B-Rank, and your abilities are a step—or two—above the other adventurers."
At those words, the adventurers nearby who had been listening wore slightly displeased expressions.
They understood that Rei's party's strength surpassed their own, but having it stated outright was naturally unpleasant.
However, the man was thoroughly accustomed to such reactions.
As a Guild Staff Member dealing with adventurers, becoming used to such things was only natural.
Ignoring the surrounding gazes, he continued.
"Also, I know you've been carrying out various activities in this Treant Forest. If we carelessly had someone accompany you, they would undeniably become a hindrance. In that case, I believe it would be more effective to have Rei-san's party act on your own. ...You're an Item Box User, after all."
Even without someone accompanying them, as an Item Box User, Rei could bring back as many items requiring investigation as needed—without having to worry about deterioration from the passage of time.
It was a Magic Item that Merchants, adventurers, and soldiers alike wanted so badly they would reach down their own throats to obtain, but being able to collect research specimens without degrading them was also an item of exceptionally high value to Researchers.
That was why he wanted Rei's party—accustomed to operating together as the Crimson Lotus Wings—to move on their own and investigate deeper into the forest.
...Of course, that also brought the concern of whether they would not overlook rare items and bring them back, but it was equally true that attaching an unnecessary companion had a high probability of causing extra problems.
Furthermore, the presence of Marina, a Dark Elf, was likely a significant factor.
For Marina, who possessed extensive knowledge about plants, spotting something suspicious in the Treant Forest would not be difficult.
(And besides...)
The Plain Man speaking with Rei felt a strong sense of discomfort from Vihera's outfit, which stimulated one's desires so directly, and from Marina, who was clad in a Party Dress.
Especially when people became uninhibited out in nature, or were on edge due to being in an unknown location, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't harbor strange ideas.
If that happened, it was certain to become troublesome in various ways.
"What do you think? Would that arrangement be acceptable?"
"Yeah, that'd actually help us out."
Rei nodded readily and accepted the man's proposal.
He judged that moving with just the members of the Crimson Lotus Wings would be smoother than acting alongside unsuitable individuals.
Whether Marina, Vihera, or Byune had any objections to Rei's words, they showed no sign of speaking up.
"Then it's settled. Please try to return by evening, if you would. The investigation at night will be the main event."
"Yeah."
His brief reply was likely because he had experienced the Treant Forest at night.
The monsters' strength was not particularly formidable, but monsters that lacked Magic Stones were extremely problematic.
That was precisely why he understood they were conducting this investigation with such a large number of personnel.
(Fortunately, looking at the other members, there's no one who would be an extreme hindrance or act purely selfishly.)
Of course, Rei did not know every adventurer, and it was possible some were merely playing innocent.
Even so, compared to someone who would act selfishly without any thought, this was decidedly better.
(No, in this case, would I be the one classified as that sort instead?)
The thought crossed his mind fleetingly. He immediately shook his head and focused his awareness on the Treant Forest.
"Alright, let's go. ...We're clear to head in, right?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. Of course. Um... I don't think I need to tell Rei-san this, but please be careful. We don't know what's in there."
"Yeah, I know. ...No, rather, wouldn't I be the one who understands that best among everyone here?"
"Ahaha. That might be true."
At Rei's joking words, the man offered a smile.
However, Rei caught sight of Thresha talking with what appeared to be a scholar and several other adventurers alongside Luno, and thought his earlier words might have been insensitive.
In the truest sense of understanding the Treant Forest's danger, Thresha—who had lost her entire party—was the most fitting candidate.
...Not that Thresha would be pleased to be told such a thing, by any stretch of the imagination.
"Rei?"
Marina called out to Rei, who had been looking toward Thresha.
What's wrong? Marina asked with her eyes, and Rei silently shook his head.
As if to comfort him, Set rubbed its face against him.
As Rei stroked Set's face in return, the man who had been speaking with him gave a small bow and walked away.
Whether he could no longer bear the atmosphere between Rei and his companions, or whether he was unaccustomed to the presence of Marina, who until recently had been their superior—either way, the only ones remaining nearby were Rei and his companions... the members of the Crimson Lotus Wings.
Looking around at the others, some were consulting like Luno's group, while others had already entered the Treant Forest.
"No, it's nothing. Looks like the others have already headed into the forest too, so let's get going."
"Sure. ...I'd be happy if there were some strong monsters, though."
Rather than Marina, it was Vihera who replied to Rei's words.
For Vihera, whether monsters had Magic Stones or not was irrelevant; as long as she could fight strong enemies, either way was fine. That was her honest feeling.
In that sense, the Treant Forest—where completely unknown creatures were likely to exist—was a place beyond compare.
...Of course, the opponents she fought yesterday had ultimately been nothing but Treants.
Their strength was nothing particularly noteworthy—perfectly ordinary Treants, apart from the fact that they lacked Magic Stones.
Because of that, she had undoubtedly found it somewhat boring.
That was precisely why she held hopes of encountering a powerful enemy during this exploration.
Pulled along by Vihera, Rei entered the Treant Forest alongside Marina, Byune, and Set.