第１７９２堀：勇者と魔王相対する時 (Part2)
Our unit—or rather, the detachment centered around Tori tasked with both defending the southern town and constructing the fortress—had been fighting monsters near the town, but once we pushed further south, the sightings dropped off completely.
"I heard as much in the reports, but they were swarming northward in huge numbers, weren't they?"
"That’s right. There were plenty near the southern town. Though, whether you could call them 'enemies' in the traditional sense is another matter."
To us, they were nothing more than small fry. We slaughtered most of them for food and materials, keeping only a few specimens for research.
"I see. So, it’s like they just suddenly vanished?"
"Who knows? I haven't conducted a thorough investigation. It’s not like they’re guaranteed to be gone. We did encounter and defeat a few groups along the way."
"Ah, so the size of our unit might be the reason we aren't running into them anymore."
"Exactly. Besides, the caliber of the people in this unit is absurd. It’s possible the monsters are instinctively avoiding us."
"That sounds plausible."
Indeed, monsters are acutely sensitive to the hierarchy of power. My own ability to lead them in the past was largely rooted in that very strength. However...
"Well, only high-level monsters can truly grasp that kind of hierarchy. I don't think the creatures we’ve encountered so far had the capacity to gauge our true power."
"Could there be some ability unique to this land?"
"If that were the case, we wouldn't have had those battles near the southern town, would we?"
"True enough."
The fact remains that they *did* engage us in combat. Which means they lacked the insight to recognize who they were dealing with.
"Sigh, so in the end, we don't really know anything."
"Precisely. But we’ve secured the land, so we’ll see how it goes from here. Tori and the others plan to send out survey teams as soon as the fortress facilities are ready. Let’s see... the monster survey team, was it Naya and the others? They’re scheduled to arrive on-site soon."
"Naya and her group, huh? Hivia and Wazfi are the experts there. Oh, speaking of which, where is Agil stationed?"
"Agil will be doing surveys, but it seems she’s also handling unit command. She was a general in her own right, wasn't she?"
"That she was. A magic sword user and a researcher, to boot."
"She’s quite versatile."
"Well, isn't that true for you too, Holly? With your work on monster modification and all that?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, I suppose so."
Taiki’s remark brought it all back. Ever since I came to Weed, I’ve barely touched that kind of work. I’ve been asked about it here and there, but my days are mostly spent helping the sisters at Lilishe’s church.
"You’d forgotten, hadn't you?"
"Well, I was an enemy, after all. I’m technically under house arrest."
"That’s true. And yet, here you are, being dragged into the thick of it."
"Indeed. Isn't it just that we’re critically short on people?"
"Well, it started as a secret investigation, and then the New Continent incident happened. You can't just leave this to amateurs. You need real power. They want to keep things within the inner circle, and that naturally limits the pool of available people."
"I suppose that’s true."
It all began with investigating the missing persons cases, which eventually led to this New Continent summoning incident. Naturally, the available talent would be spread thin.
"The fact that I’m out here on assignment is proof enough of that."
"That’s a compelling argument. Though, it’s a bit late to ask, but is everything alright back in Ranks? I know I’m one to talk, but don't you have to deal with the reconstruction of the Ioa Kingdom and the like?"
That was a country I had brought to the brink of annihilation. I hadn't heard any progress reports since then, but I knew full well it wouldn't be an easy task.
"Things are just being maintained over there. We’re providing supplies and the bare minimum of support. It’s definitely busy, but Ranks isn't exactly in a state of emergency. Coming here, of course, is partly to help Weed, but there’s also plenty of profit to be made."
"As long as you’ve calculated the risks, that’s fine. Still, to think you’d go through all that trouble just to save them."
"Well, I’ve heard the history of your situation, Holly. If we end the fighting too clumsily, we’re the ones who end up with a headache later."
"That, I cannot deny."
The people over there are rotten to the core. Ioa is slightly more decent, but even then...
"Now, could you tell me about the road conditions through the wilderness?"
"Understood. Let’s sit down and talk it over."
And so, I began discussing business with Taiki. Taiki and Holly are neither enemies nor anything of the sort. To each other, they are simply colleagues sharing the sentiment of, "It’s tough, isn't it?" After all, in Weed, titles like "Hero" or "Demon Lord" carry no more weight than any other job description.