Chapter 5: The Chain of Encounters – 04
After collecting the magic stones and the weapons and armor of the Terror Knight, the three of us pressed on further into the depths of the forest.
An unsettling feeling lingered in the air, and both Freinir and Larni insisted that something was amiss.
As we approached the area where the Terror Knight had suddenly appeared, I felt a sudden blurriness in my vision. Freinir and Larni, however, showed no particular reaction.
I blinked a couple of times and looked towards the forest. At first, I couldn’t focus, but gradually, the scenery began to come into view.
That said, what I saw was still just the forest. That much hadn’t changed, but—
“What is that… a castle?”
In the depths of the forest, I spotted a large structure with several spires. I could only see the upper part, but it resembled a Western-style castle.
“Souji-sama, what’s the matter?”
“No, there seems to be something like a castle deep in the forest, doesn’t there?”
“I don’t see anything like that,” Larni replied.
“There’s no castle in sight,” Freinir added.
“What…?”
I could see it clearly, but were they suggesting it was an illusion?
…No, that must be it. I possess Hallucination Resistance, but they do not.
In other words, if I can see it while they cannot, it means that an illusion spell is cast over this area to hide that castle.
“Alright, let’s head back for now. This place seems dangerous.”
“Wait, but there might be something deeper in!” Larni protested.
“We’ll discuss that later. First, we need to return to the village.”
With an eerie castle hidden in the forest and an extensive illusion spell covering it, there was no way an E-Rank party could handle such a situation alone.
As I hurried Larni, who kept glancing back, I couldn’t shake the feeling that another large-scale extermination mission was on the horizon.
Upon returning to the village, I informed the village chief about our successful defeat of the Terror Knight and warned him to stay away from the forest. After that, we made our way back to the city of Euron.
When I relayed the details to Mariane, the guild receptionist, it turned into a matter that required a direct report to the guild master, just as I had expected.
In the guild master’s office, the three of us faced him. Mariane was also present, seated in a chair of the reception set, just like us.
“Hmmm, you saw a castle in the forest, did you? Deciding to retreat at that point was indeed the right call,” the guild master said.
The man before us had a look reminiscent of an elite salaryman, with his blond hair styled in a neat side part. He wore a well-fitted suit, and his physique suggested he was quite muscular. Given his demeanor, he might have been an adventurer himself.
“I understand your report. I’ll consider this extermination mission complete and increase your reward. However, I may need to ask for more information later. For now, do you plan to continue your activities in Euron?”
“That’s the plan, but if possible, I’d like to explore nearby E and F-Class dungeons,” I replied.
“You seem quite eager. Just let Mariane know your destination before you leave, and that will be fine.”
“Understood, I’ll do just that.”
With that, our report concluded smoothly, but I noticed the guild master casting a somewhat meaningful glance at Freinir. It was almost certain that she had some hidden circumstances, so I resolved to brace myself for whatever might come.
I also needed to become stronger before the guild master’s mention of “something” came to pass. After all, it was bound to be something troublesome, just like the “Bad Luck” skill had caused during the encounter with the King.
“Souji-sama, do you think something will happen regarding that matter in the future?” Freinir asked, her expression tinged with concern as we dined in the inn’s dining hall.
“Perhaps. There was a large extermination mission involving goblins when we were in Tolson, and something similar might occur again,” I replied.
“Does that mean a large-scale extermination mission will be issued?” Larni’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Seems likely,” I answered.
After all, a castle appearing without permission in the territory was not something Viscount Barius could simply ignore. Especially if it turned out to be a castle of the undead.
Moreover, the very idea of constructing a castle without anyone noticing was terrifying. It was possible that some kind of fantasy element allowed for a castle to be built overnight.
“If a mission is issued, we will be fighting too, right?” Freinir asked.
“Since we’re all E-Rank now, that’s only natural,” I confirmed.
“Then we need to get even stronger,” Larni chimed in.
Freinir’s words made Larni perk up her ears.
“Indeed, as adventurers, we must grow stronger. It’s essential for our survival. Souji, you’re thinking of various strategies for that, right?”
“Nothing too elaborate. I just plan to train, delve into dungeons, and acquire as many skills as possible. I also want to complete extermination missions to gain experience.”
“That’s important. Oh, but we also need to upgrade our equipment.”
“Ah, right. Larni, is it time to replace your sword?”
“Hmmm, I’m not sure. I think I’ll wait a bit longer until I feel it’s lacking.”
“Freinir, your staff should be fine, but how about your armor?”
“Yes, there are no issues. However, it might be wise to stock up on potions.”
“Good point. Larni, given your combat style, you tend to get injured more often, right?”
“Yeah, it’s hard to avoid injuries completely. I was also kicked out of my previous party for using too many potions.”
Larni’s expression fell slightly. She was likely worried about being kicked out again, glancing up at me with concern.
“Then let’s prepare extra potions. Since we received a bonus with this reward, we shouldn’t skimp on that. Even minor injuries can lead to major accidents, so let’s make sure our party is well-equipped.”
When I offered some reassurance, Larni nodded, looking relieved.
“Tomorrow, we’ll head to an E-Class dungeon near Euron. After that, we’ll explore all the nearby F and E-Class dungeons. Though there aren’t many, to be honest.”
“I’m in favor of acquiring as many skills as we can,” Freinir said.
“Me too. It’ll make fighting much easier,” Larni added.
I was grateful that my two female party members were so motivated. As the older member, I needed to do my best to be their shield.