第１７３６堀：集う仲間たち (Part1)
Chapter 1736: Gathering Allies
Side: Nina, Alias Adventurer Snow
"Oh? So you were actually concerned about this side of things, too."
"Naturally. The summoning fiasco is a headache, but that doesn't mean I can just leave your situation to rot."
I was genuinely surprised when Yuki contacted me and explained what was in store for us. After all, there was nothing I could do at the moment. I was technically acting under the guise of "searching," but since the kidnapped individuals were in the Kingdom of Oae, searching here was utterly meaningless. Or so I had thought.
"And there’s some worst-case scenario news."
"What is it?"
When Yuki calls something the "worst," it truly is. A man who usually laughs off any trouble and finds a way to handle everything wouldn't say that unless it was likely too late.
"I’ve received the roster of those who were kidnapped—or rather, those who were forcibly summoned—but the numbers don't add up."
"Huh?"
I could feel the vibration of my own voice dropping to a chillingly low register.
"I listened to the testimonies you gathered there. There was one person who didn't vanish right in front of everyone, wasn't there?"
"Tch... so you're saying they're in that forest?"
"Likely. It’s not impossible that the people on this side are hiding something, but..."
"The chances of them lying in the current situation are low. However..."
I cut myself off. Even if they were in the forest, that child had disappeared about two months ago. If they had been summoned, there might have been a chance they were being treated well and were still alive, but surviving in a forest known to be infested with monsters? I couldn't bring myself to call that anything but extremely difficult.
"I don't think they're alive."
"I agree."
I couldn't argue with Yuki’s assessment. It wasn't that anyone was at fault; people wandering into the forest and falling victim to monsters was a common occurrence.
"It’s strange to think that being summoned might have been the better outcome."
"Yeah."
"Regardless, it’s a fact that there is someone still missing. I need you to search for them, Nina, and compile a report on the fact that there are monsters attacking people in that area."
"What do you mean by that?"
The flow of the conversation had shifted.
"Like I said, Seraria and the Grand Master had a discussion over in Weed, and it’s been decided that the Adventurer’s Guild will act independently."
"I heard that much. You want me to cooperate."
I considered that a given. After all, I hadn't come to this remote village as a merchant, but as an adventurer searching for the missing. If anything, I was surprised they managed to mobilize the Adventurer’s Guild headquarters in such a short time.
"Right. You’ll continue your investigation under the alias of the adventurer Snow, but your current findings have brought a fact to light: there are people missing due to causes other than the summoning."
"That’s true, but so what?"
"You believe the missing people fell victim to monsters, right, Nina?"
"Yes. Or beasts. It makes no difference if they’re attacking people."
"Exactly. So, the Adventurer’s Guild is taking the stance that they are searching for and subjugating the monsters that have been troubling the merchants, based on the Commercial Guild's request."
"I see."
I had only mentioned "monsters," but how they interpret that is up to them. Or rather, they’re likely aiming for exactly that. Merchants are being victimized, and my testimony confirms that monsters are indeed the cause.
"In that case, what about Steve’s investigation team?"
"They’re focused on defense for now, right?"
"Yes. They were short-handed to begin with, and most of them have gone to the summoning sites."
Steve and his team were originally there to handle any trouble stemming from the summoning. Of course, they had planned to deal with anything strange in the depths of the forest, but since the summoning happened first, they were kept to the bare minimum in the remote village. Consequently, the deep-forest investigation had been put on hold, shifting the focus to perimeter security and vigilance. They were in a holding pattern, partly because it was wiser to wait until they understood the movements of the Kingdoms of Usano and Aae.
"So, you’re saying you’re going to attack now?"
"I don't know if 'attack' is the right word, but the Adventurer’s Guild is sending in reinforcements."
"Come to think of it, will those reinforcements actually be useful?"
The talk was that the Adventurer’s Guild would take the lead. I suppose it was a measure to avoid the blatant international intervention that Weed or other nations couldn't afford, but could these adventurers really coordinate with my movements? I was just thinking that they would need to hold back on deploying Weed’s own units, when...
"Ah, you don't need to worry about that."
"That’s right, you don't have to worry at all."
"Did you fix your bedhead, Nina?"
"Ah, I see. It’s Sia and the others."
I knew who it was the moment I heard the voice. They were members of the Holy Sword Users, just like me.
"And by the way, Leila, Neferi, and Fio are coming too."
"Wait, that’s almost the entire active squad!"
I was stunned. Difes was the leader and had all the paperwork and meetings to attend to, Alfin was running a cake shop, and I knew Claudia and Kaya couldn't go because they were Beastmen and would stand out too much. But was it really necessary to deploy the rest of the members?
"Well, the Adventurer’s Guild doesn't want the situation to be blown out of proportion or have rumors spreading, even if you can't call it 'covert operations.' So..."
"So you’re sending members who know the situation and can coordinate. Well, I’m grateful for that. If it’s Kishua and the others, they can coordinate perfectly and keep their mouths shut."
"Right? So, the Adventurer’s Guild is hiring the Holy Sword Users for this mission. Also, do you know a person named Kate who came to Weed from the Kingdom of Dosou?"
"Ah, I’ve heard the name. It’s that rare country on the Rogali Continent that turns monsters into military assets and incorporates them into their main army."
On the If Continent, powerful monsters didn't really exist. Well, maybe in the forest where the Lancer Magic Academy was, but there weren't enough monsters for a nation to turn them into a military force.
"Exactly. Kate is going to accompany the team this time to confirm the existence of a large Salamander."
"Ah, I see."
If we defeated it ourselves, there was always the risk that someone would claim we had just made it up. That’s why someone from headquarters like Kate was needed for verification.
"And does this Kate know about our situation?"
"She doesn't know that we’re the ones providing the large Salamander. She’s being sent under the pretense that there are monsters causing trouble. She intends to report the truth to the Kingdom of Usano. She knows that we’re pushing for an investigation and that they’re dragging their feet."
"That’s a delicate situation."
If we’ve come this far, I feel like we could at least tell her that we’re the ones setting it up...