Chapter 197: Chapter 124，Part1: 1 - A Certain Vacation ⑤

Chapter 124 A Certain Vacation ⑤

Part 1

That battlefield was the most gruesome thing Ruda had ever encountered in all her life as a Hunter.

Before she knew it, she got off the carriage and looked over the plains.

Countless piles of Monster corps and a strange smell of burned flesh was drifting in the air. Dozens of soldiers equipped with armored protective helmets were painstakingly collecting the corpses, but there were too many, so it didn’t look like they were progressing.

Only the area around the road was barely free, but this fact made the gruesomeness of the battlefield even more evident.

Most of the corpses were Orcs, but there were also some of them that were armed and even large size Monsters. Individually, most of their subjugation Levels were relatively low, but even so, the sheer number of them would have been overwhelming. First and foremost, Ruda and the others wouldn’t have been able to do anything against them.

“What on earth could have happened to create such a carnage……”

Gilbert was also looking at the destruction in a stunned manner.

According to the information obtained at Elan, the subjugation of the horde of Orcs was still far in the future. No, in the first place, this level of destruction was clearly not the result of a carefully planned ―― Multiple people against multiple enemy battle.

Some of them may have already been cleaned up, but from the corpses that were still left, this number couldn’t be taken on by an ordinary Party. Which means, an evident conclusion could be made.

This is ―― The power of a High-Level Hunter……?

Cry had hardly fought in the 【White Wolves’ Den】. So I didn’t really understand, but when you see this scene ―― I am convinced that he is one of 《Absolute Shadow》 companions.

Ruda repressed her agitation and gave a small cough.

“…… We-Well, he is a Level 8, so of course he should be able to do this much……”

“…… Right. Looks like we are on the right path…… Damn, let’s hurry up.”

With a somewhat mortifying face, Gilbert nodded at what Ruda had halfheartedly said.

§

The Town of Gula was full of life. In our investigation at Elan, we heard that a flag was raised, but we couldn’t even see a shadow of it.

Overall, there were many Hunters and mercenary-like figures, but there was none of the *piripiri* tense atmosphere peculiar to days before a big battle.

Everyone, including townspeople and merchants had a relaxed look on their faces. There were many stalls near the gate crowded with many people.

While looking at them, Ruda let out a small sigh.

“There are no flags……? After all, what we saw along the way was the end of the Orcs horde……”

“Hmmm…… But why did a battle happen in a place like that…… Didn’t they say that they had built a fort near Elan?”

“Who knows…… That’s something you should directly ask him…………”

Gilbert frowned at Ruda nonchalant words.

“…… What? You aren’t interested, Ruda?”

“It wasn’t like I was uninterested about it…… But right now, the priority is the letter.”

For Ruda, she is more curious to know how he managed to attract an horde of Orcs, who possess intelligence, to the plains. That knowledge might be useful in her future activities as a Hunter and opportunities to learn the technique of High-Level Hunters is valuable.

But first, I have to fulfill the request.

The request Ruda received from Gark, the Branch Manager, was to deliver a letter.

We had come this far based on the little clues we had, but Cry’s movement was very quick. If we don’t catch him quickly, he might end up going to another place again and if by chance we get caught up in another trial like that time in the 【White Wolves’ Den】, it wouldn’t be funny.

Sure that adventure allowed me to gain a lot, but I don’t think I want to ever experience it again. For that reason alone, Ruda felt sorry for Tino as she seemed to have been involved in a trial many times.

And then, Carmine Sayan, the Leader of 《Fire Gale (Crimson Flame)》, the Party Gilbert belongs to ―― Came back after going to check some information with the department that manages the town.

He was a young man of the same age as Ruda, but he looked older because of his calm atmosphere. Unlike the small Gilbert, he wore a large, dull-colored armor that seemed very durable.

Originally, Gilbert, who was the strongest, was the Leader of the Party, but it seemed that he gave up on being the Leader when they rebuilt the Party.

Carmine said to Gilbert as he approached him with a small run.

“Gilbert…… I went and checked it, but it seemed that no Hunter with his name had come to this town.”

“What?? Isn’t it some kind of mistake?”

“We have a letter of gratitude from the Explorer Association. They won’t lie to us…… They shouldn’t.”

The power of the Explorer Association is strong in Zebrudia. Moreover, the request this time involves a noble ―― Count Gladys. It is unlikely that the town of Gula would lie to us.

However, it would be one thing if he already left, but being told that he hadn’t come was unexpected.

“…… Then, where did Cry go? ………… No, wait a minute, then who defeated that horde of Orcs?”

I had assumed that Cry had defeated them, but if Cry didn’t come here, then someone else must have actually fought against them.

At Ruda’s question, Carmine folded his arms and nodded broadly.

“It seems that it was a Party called 《Lightning Dragon’s Mist (Fallen Mist)》. It is the Hero who, with just 1 Party, had defeated a horde of Orcs and rampaging Monsters saving Gula.”

《Lightning Dragon’s Mist (Fallen Mist)》……?

I looked into my memory, but nothing came out of Ruda’s mind after thinking of his name.

He is a Hunter who can defeat that number of Monsters, so he must have been a High-Level Hunter, but……

Gilbert frowned and said with a quizzical look on his face.

“…… I don’t know them. I should have looked up the names of popular Hunters and Party though…… Are they new here?”

“It seems that he is a Hunter who had recently come from outside the country…… It is said that he is a Level 7 with great skills.”

“…… Level 7, eh………… He is lower than 《Infinite Variety》, but he is not bad.”

For some reason, Gilbert repeatedly nodded in a pompous manner at Carmine’s words.

A Level 7 Hunter. I recently met a Level 8 Hunter (Moreover one who doesn’t look very strong), but I didn’t really understand it, but Level 7 is well within First-Class Hunter category.

Compared to Ruda who is Level 4, I would say there was a difference as high as the sky is to the earth.

However, that was not the important thing right now. Ruda’s purpose wasn’t a strong Hunter, but Cry Andrich.

I tried to act while believing in Tino’s words, but I have lost track of him.

“Aaaah, what should I do…… Even though Branch Manager Gark told me to deliver it before he enters Gladys territory if it was possible……”

Of course, Branch Manager Gark probably didn’t expect Ruda and 《Fire Gale (Crimson Flame)》 ―― A Party with an average of less than Level 4 to catch up with a Level 8 like 《Infinite Variety》. Moreover, when I received the request, Branch Manager Gark said that it might not be a problem even if he didn’t have it.

However, it was a painful failure for Ruda, who had hoped to promote herself by successfully completing the request.

Gilbert crossed his arms and said with a mysterious voice.

“But, does that mean that 《Infinite Variety》 didn’t stop at the town of Gula when they saw the flag raised…… No, maybe he didn’t notice it? It is hard to believe that the 《Infinite Variety》 didn’t know about it.”

“………… Right. Maybe there have been some circumstances……”

The fact that Gula was in a state of emergency was thoroughly spread at the town of Elan. It would have been easy to find out about it if he did a little search on it, it was hard to believe that a Level 8 Hunter hadn’t noticed it.

That means that 《Infinite Variety》 knew that Gula was in trouble and didn’t enter this town.

Rather than strange, it was more unnatural. Certification Level is not only a sign of strength, but also to indicate the Level of contribution one had to the country and the society. If he was just a Hunter it would have been fine, but it would be hard to imagine that a Hunter with a proven track record until he became Level 8, wouldn’t stop by to see if the town was in trouble. Even if he didn’t have time, he would have at least tried to listen to their story and this doesn’t add up with what Tino told me when she talked about 『Master’s Reputation』.

Gilbert almost opened his mouth, but looked at Carmine as if he had reconsidered saying something.

“What do we do, Leader?”

“…… Aaah, anyway, it can’t be helped if he didn’t stop by. There are no other clues. I guess there is no choice but to go to Gladys territory.”

Carmine looked at Ruda, then at his Party Members and finally at Gilbert with a frown.

There is a limit to how much luggage you can carry, and travelling outside of a town labeled as dangerous can be quite exhausting physically and mentally. The basic rule of travelling is to stop in towns along the road to rest and replenish.

However, if they hadn’t stopped in the town of Gula, then that would mean that Cry was more in a hurry than what I had imagined.

Not only was there a difference in ability, it would be difficult for Ruda and the others to catch up with them on foot.

If this happens, we can only go to Gladys territory at full speed, while praying that we can make it in time.

At that moment, a voice suddenly called out from behind me.

“《Infinite Variety》…… Did you just say 《Infinite Variety》, just now?”

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Looks like Ruda and Gilbert are on the right track. They went to Gula but as Cry didn’t leave his name they thought Tino’s theory (the one where wherever there is trouble Master will be there) was wrong.

Ruda if you really want to evade another Infinite Trial you better give up and run but it seemed Ruda went from level 3 to 4 because of this, aren’t you glad. XD

But who can be calling them!?

Tchao à plus!