The forest was dim, but it didn't pose much of a problem. We had hunted in this forest countless times. We weren't about to hesitate over a little gloom at this stage.
We headed toward the location indicated in the reports. Uncle Gratz's unit had gone ahead and left trail markers, so there was no risk of losing our way. While the three of us—Gol, Bron, and I—were moving together, they weren't right beside me. I had them move through the treetops.
It was the same formation we used for hunting rabbits back in the village. I acted as the decoy, while the other two served as attackers and lookouts. If anything, the lookout role was the more vital of the two. When you were focused on a rabbit, the most terrifying thing was being ambushed by some other monster or Magic Beast.
We all carried matching swords. Uncle Gatto had forged them for us before our departure for the academy. They were unusually ornate for his work, but that was because he wanted us to be able to sell them for coin if we ever found ourselves in a dire financial pinch. I liked mine too much to part with it, though, so I wouldn't be selling it unless things got truly desperate.
As I pushed forward with my sword in hand, Gol signaled me to stop from the canopy. We held a silent conversation with our eyes. Apparently, there was something suspicious a short distance ahead. I waited for Bron to circle around from above before I moved straight in.
At the suspicious spot, I found... a person. He seemed to have been hiding there after escaping from a Magic Beast.
"W-Why a kid? You're not the rescue team? Dammit."
From his appearance, he looked like one of the adventurers hired by the academy students. He had an injury on his arm.
"Spot on. I'm sorry, but you're not the one I'm here to save. My objective is the students who hired you. If you're an adult, please manage to save yourself."
We had been exterminating every monster and Magic Beast we encountered on the way here. He should be able to make it back relatively safely now. I relayed this to him and prepared to move on.
"W-Wait..."
"What is it?"
"Take this with you."
"Hm?"
A bell?
"Our employers had several magic tools."
"Magic tools?"
"Yeah. One of them is a tool for concealment. In exchange for hiding you completely, you can't see or hear anything from the outside while it's active."
"Which means they won't hear us calling out to rescue them? That's a problem."
"Yeah. But they can still hear the sound of that bell. Three short rings is the signal that it's safe. I'm counting on you."
"I understand. I'll do my best. What other magic tools do they have?"
"Eh? Ah, the ones I know of are one that shoots fire and one that temporarily freezes an opponent's movement. They had about three others, but they didn't use them, so I don't know what they do."
"Freezes movement? For how long?"
"The employer said it lasts for a count of ten, but to me, it felt more like three. It was over in a heartbeat. It's a piece of junk."
No, no... if you can move unilaterally for a count of three, I feel like you could win against almost anyone. Isn't that actually an incredible magic tool? Regardless, we would have to make sure we didn't get caught in its effects.
"Thanks for the information. Well then."
"Yeah. Sorry for calling you a kid. I hate to ask, but please look after my employer."
"I don't mind. Anyone would see me as a child given my stature. I'd do my best for your employer even if you didn't ask... but what about your companions?"
"The employer is the priority. If you have the leeway, look after my friends too. Give my regards to your buddies in the trees."
"Understood. There's an army unit just outside the forest, so make sure to cooperate with them."
"Right. Oh, wait. I'm Cokes. What are your names?"
"Sil. The ones above are Gol and Bron. See you."
Thirty minutes after parting with the adventurer, we drew close to the reported location. Traces of a large monster having gone on a rampage came into view. There, we encountered a group that stood out.
It was the unit led by Uncle Gratz that had gone ahead. They were in light equipment suited for forest travel, armed with swords and machetes. Most seemed to favor the machetes. About forty men were spread out appropriately through the woods.
"Oh, if it isn't the Meal Brat."
I thought they might be wary of me, but I was relieved to find a familiar face. Still, I really wished they'd stop calling me "Meal Brat." You guys just happen to only see us when it's time for a meal, right?
"That's true enough. It's reassuring to have you here, brat. Where are the other two?"
"Above."
"Hm? Ah, I see. Sorry, but have them keep up the lookout."
The soldier I knew was the one coordinating the four units that had entered the forest.
"It's a temporary post, but I'm technically a Company Commander. I'm a big shot, you know."
The self-proclaimed big shot shared what they knew.
"We found signs of amateurs moving. Those are likely the academy students. The numbers match. We think the ones who looked like pros were the hired adventurers, but..."
"Ah, wait. I met one of the hired adventurers on the way and got some information."
I showed him the bell and explained the existence of the concealment magic tool.
"Kids these days have such convenient toys."
"I don't have one. I'll leave this bell with you. Ring it in any suspicious spots you find."
"Got it. What are you brats going to do?"
"We'll track the Magic Beast. If we run into it... we'll manage somehow."
"Are you sure about that?"
"If it looks impossible, we'll run."
"Make sure you actually do. Don't even think about trying to buy time for us."
"Ahahaha. Understood."
We parted ways with the Company Commander's group and moved on. While exterminating various monsters and Magic Beasts, we searched for the War Bear, but we couldn't find it.
Or rather... just how many War Bears were there? The traces were everywhere. Unless a single one was running in circles specifically to confuse pursuers, it felt like there were at least ten of them. Yet, we hadn't encountered a single one.
What was going on? Something was wrong. Gol and Bron felt it too from the trees, but we couldn't pin down what was off.
An hour passed. We crossed paths with ten of the Company Commander's subordinates. It seemed they had come looking for us.
"We found four of the students and the adventurers. Some are injured, but they're safe. We've secured them and are escorting them out of the forest."
"Four students?"
One was still missing.
"One student is unaccounted for."
"Why weren't they together?"
"Apparently, he's the one who suggested coming to the forest in the first place. He felt responsible and acted as a decoy. Since he has magic tools, they say there's still hope."
"Which way did he go?"
"North."
"Further in, then. Understood."
"Do you mind if we come along?"
"I don't mind, but will you be alright?"
"We have the Company Commander's permission. Our primary objective is the student's rescue."
"Understood. Glad to have you."
I really wanted to avoid the worst-case scenario.
We eventually discovered the remaining student. He was alive. However, to the student's right were five War Bears. And to his left were three Lovers Beasts.
It seemed he had been spared only because the War Bears and Lovers Beasts were locked in a stalemate, glaring each other down. He was incredibly lucky. Or perhaps it was the effect of the magic tool he held?
The student noticed us.
Not good! Don't let your guard down!
The War Bears and Lovers Beasts that had been staring each other down suddenly directed their bloodlust toward the student. It seemed they wouldn't allow their prey to escape.
I dashed forward. Gol and Bron moved from the trees almost at the same instant. They were as reliable as ever. I headed for the Lovers Beasts, while Gol and Bron went for the War Bears.
The plan was for me to buy time. In the meantime, Gol and Bron would deal with the War Bears, and then the three of us would drive away the Lovers Beasts together. The War Bears looked tough, but Gol and Bron wouldn't have an issue. They could probably handle twenty of those on their own.
The Lovers Beasts in front of me were so aggressive it was annoying. However, it helped that they were entirely focused on me. Before I knew it, the Company Commander's men had picked up the student and were making their escape. Perfect. That was a huge help.
As planned, Gol and Bron handled the War Bears. They killed two and drove off the remaining three. They joined me to face the Lovers Beasts, but then... an emergency occurred.
A creature resembling a black mist emerged from behind the three Lovers Beasts. It was massive—about the size of the inn back in our village. The moment the three Lovers Beasts were enveloped by that black mist, they were gone.
They must have been eaten. I knew this because the black mist monster grew an entire size larger immediately afterward.
What was this thing? Danger signals were screaming throughout my body. It was the same feeling I got when Urza or Gral was truly furious—no, it was even worse than that. I understood instinctively that this was a foul existence. And that we couldn't win.
If anyone could win, it would be Instructor Hakuren or the Village Head. Neither was here.
We needed to retreat immediately. I made the call, but I was too late. The three War Bears that Gol and Bron had driven off came running back. I thought they were being persistent, but I was wrong. The War Bears were also being hunted by the black mist.
Was it a different one? No. It was just stretching out its form.
"Sil, swords are useless! They'll just be eaten!"
I know! One of the War Bears tried to fight back, but it was consumed instantly. The other two tried to flee into the trees, but the mist pursued and devoured them there. The black mist monster could apparently handle vertical movement just as easily.
This was bad. Extremely bad. We were completely surrounded by the black mist.
"Gol, Bron, any ideas?"
"How about magic?"
"We'll unleash fire all at once and run through the gap!"
"Right. Let's do it. Three, two, one—now!"
The magic we unleashed was simply absorbed by the black mist.
Give me a break. This wasn't fair.
Tendrils of black mist that looked like hands reached out for me. I dodged, but there were too many of them. Was this the end?
No, don't give up. Resist until the very last moment. That's what we were taught in the village. So what if there were too many hands? I'd dodge them with sheer grit. Fire magic was the only thing that had been absorbed so far. I'd try every other spell I knew. There were still things I could do. I wasn't going to roll over and die!
As we steeled our resolve, the black mist monster seemed to laugh. Or perhaps I just imagined it. There was no way to be sure, because the black mist monster was suddenly eaten by a new intruder.
This new arrival was a spider about the size of a large boulder. It appeared out of nowhere and lunged into the black mist, sucking it in and devouring the monster with incredible momentum. The spider was only boulder-sized, while the black mist was far larger. How could it eat that? Since it was a mist-like entity, maybe it didn't take up much space in the stomach? But what about the War Bears and Lovers Beasts it had just swallowed?
I decided not to worry about the details. More importantly, this spider... it was a species I had never seen in the village. And yet, I felt something familiar.
"Zabuton's child?"
The spider raised a single leg, waved it left and right, and then vanished from our sight.
I exchanged a long look with Gol and Bron.
"That was one of Zabuton's children—the ones who set out on their journey this spring."