Volume 4 Chapter 18 Preparation For Infiltration
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
From the vantage point of a lookout tower atop a small hill overlooking the battlefield, I observed Kondrad’s Estfort army engaging with the enemy.
Kondrad, leaving the more dangerous mid-sized ‘Another World Monsters’ to the Monster Hunters, while assigning squads of ten soldiers each to tackle the smaller monsters.
The silver bees, a unique Another World Monster resembling giant bees, were no match for the soldiers, who skewered them with their long spears.
With each monster defeated, cheers erupted from the troops.
Word had it that successful squads would be rewarded with alcohol and special bonuses upon their return.
The Estfort soldiers’ morale was sky-high.
”Look, another squad has taken down a monster. Seems like some are even daring to take on the mid-sized ones with just 2 squads.”
”A 20-to-one advantage… Kondrad’s got this figured out. With the Monster Hunters thinning their numbers, even the mid-sized monsters won’t pose much threat.”
Milly, watching the battle alongside me, was impressed by Kondrad’s command skills.
”When faced with multiple enemies, even the strongest can’t afford to be careless. Numbers are a powerful weapon in battle.”
”I can’t believe this is the same army that slaughtered ten thousand monsters with barely a hundred and 50 men.”
”We just had a strong wall and everyone’s support.”
But it was a close call; one wrong move could’ve meant annihilation. Even now, thinking about it makes me break into a cold sweat.”
I’ve never wanted a soldier as much as I did back then.
I think if there were 100 people there, they wouldn’t have been in that hopeless situation.
”I’m sure Kent is a deciding factor that won’t die. Would you like to aim for the next Demon Lord?”
”Demon Lord… what a hassle… I’ve got my hands full with my wife, concubines, and the people of my domain. I can’t deal with any more trouble, sorry. By the way, it seems the squad facing the Medium-sized monster is holding their own.”
I turned my attention back to the two squads attacking the Silver Bear.
The two squads were comprised of the new recruits under Akebus’s command.
They were sandwiching the Silver Bear from the front and back, taking turns thrusting their long spears while holding their shields in a tight formation, deflecting the bear’s claws.
The Silver Bear was roaring in pain, almost like a scream, as it was being pierced by spears from both sides, its blue bodily fluids flowing.
The new recruits are doing well to keep the Silver Bear’s aggro, it’s impressive that they’re able to disorient it with their coordinated attacks… as expected of Akebus’s training.
”Akebus’s squad isn’t moving like new recruits. They’re like skilled Monster Hunters. It seems Akebus’s teachings from the Southern Region have proven to be the best training material.”
Milly was also impressed by the disciplined movements of the squad led by Akebus.
While they watched, the Silver Bear was repeatedly stabbed from both sides, eventually falling forward and becoming still.
”Oh, it looks like they’ve successfully taken down the Medium-sized monster. Those 2 squads deserve an extra reward…”
”It’s surprising that new recruits were able to take down an Another World Monster. What a remarkable achievement. Giuliana would be so jealous if she heard about this.”
Just as Milly said, Giuliana has recently become more interested in strengthening the Hunting Group members rather than herself, often engaging in mock battles with Akebus’s training squad.
However, the quality of the Red Valkyries has declined since some veterans were pulled away.
That’s why they weren’t included in the Crack of Time and Space monster hunt this time.
”Indeed, Giuliana has been frequently training with Akebus’s squad. If she heard that they achieved such a feat, she’d be so envious.”
”Next time when we go to hunt monsters, how about I take a selected team from the Red Valkyrie with us?”
”Yeah, if the PL class gets stronger, the overall quality will improve too.”
I focus on strengthening the Red Valkyrie while observing the ongoing hunt in front of me.
Ane’s cavalry squad, minus the injured, consists of 15 members.
They are heavily armored, carrying lances, and their horse-mounted charges have torn open the silver beetles’ exoskeletons, causing them to spray blue bodily fluids.
”Ane’s squad is doing well… I wish the cavalry could achieve more.”
The reason I want the cavalry squad to perform better is because my mother-in-law’s civil official group opposes the cavalry reinforcement plan due to cost-effectiveness concerns.
I could push through the reinforcement plan using my authority as Lord, but I’d rather prove the effectiveness of the cavalry’s achievements myself.
That way, I believe the civil officials will be convinced and approve the reinforcement plan.
”The cavalry is expensive… My mother says she’d rather have 5 soldiers than one cavalry. But if General Gertroud’s protection and the achievements in the monster hunt are recognized, the reinforcement plan might get the budget it needs.”
”A cavalry squad with both mobility and attack power is useful…”
”Expanding the army can’t be done overnight.”
”I know. Let’s take it step by step.”
* * *
Soon, the sound of a horn reverberated, signaling the completion of the army and hunters’ control over the surrounding area of the crack in time and space.
Around 50 of the ‘another world monsters’ remained, but they were all defeated, drained of blood, and then disassembled for materials.
After that, we helped to disassemble the ‘another world monsters’ that the southern squad had defeated.
When lumps that seemed to be human bodies came out of their stomachs, I almost threw up.
”When they’re eaten, their bodily fluids are squeezed out… Like mummies, only skin and bones remain.”
The bodies that came out of the ‘another world monsters” stomachs were like mummies, drained of all fluids, leaving only skin and bones.
”I only know from books, but ‘another world monster’ can only absorb nutrients from bodily fluids. So when they prey on someone, they suck out the bodily fluids, leaving the corpse like this.”
Lina, who had been covering her mouth beside me, started to speak.
”Only bodily fluids?”
”Yes, they seem to only be interested in bodily fluids. They insert a tube into the prey’s body and squeeze out all the fluids, then discard the body.”
As Lina explained, there were 5 intact corpses lying around with holes in their chests, dried up like mummies.
”As Lina said, large-sized ‘Another World Monsters’ absorb living beings into their bodies for reproduction. Humans and animals become breeding grounds for medium and small-sized ‘Another World Monsters’, and if they absorb a monster, they become breeding grounds for beast monster larvae. It seems that a large ‘Another World Monsters’ that came out from a massive crack of time and space a long time ago was overlooked, and it resulted in a massive reproduction in Darvis Forest. That’s why we mustn’t let even one of them escape this time; otherwise, the already dangerous southern region will become even more dangerous.”
Hearing Milly’s explanation, I once again realized the harmful nature of the ‘Another World Monsters’.
”We can’t let even one of them escape…”
”Yes, but since the crack of time and space seems to have formed recently, there shouldn’t be that many of them.”
”I see. In that case, it’s fine. But we must make sure no more ‘Another World Monsters’ come out of the crack of time and space and send in the blockade team to seal it.”
”We should quickly gather the blockade team and seal it off.”
”Alright, let’s do that. It doesn’t seem like waiting will bring any good news, so it’s best to close the lid on dangerous things quickly.”
We headed back to the field camp to prepare for the raid.
* * *
After some time, the parties from each Hunting Group gathered in the courtyard of the field camp, ready to enter the crack in time and space.
Each Hunting Group was an elite team, and for this Crack blockade, ‘Silver Wolf’ had 4 parties, ‘Hand of Glory’ had 3 parties, and ‘Golden Apostles’ had 2 parties.
Our ‘Crimson Bride’ and ‘Black Bullet’ each had 2 parties participating.
In total, there were a hundred Monster Hunters ready for the hunt.
”Almost all the famous names from Abyss Vena are here. Everyone’s been idle since the great invasion. I made a decent profit from the previous hunt.”
Matthew, the leader of the Silver Wolf Hunting Group, led his party to hunt ‘another world monster’ to earn compensation.
They hunted a few medium-sized and about ten small monsters.
Matthew showed no signs of fatigue and was looking for an outlet to release his overflowing energy.
”Mr. Matthew has to make money, or it’s tough for him. If you’re struggling with the compensation payments, next time, let’s hunt together in the southern region with my Red Valkyrie.”
”Haha, Kent, you’ve become quite the talker. Is it because you’re now a Lord? Are you planning to hire us as your escorts?”
”Is that not okay? Red Valkyrie is like a precious girl to me; it’s a Hunting Group I can’t help but overprotect.”
Thelma, who was behind him, thrusts Matthew’s stomach into the stomach.
”Ms. Thelma, Kent is like family to Beatrice, he’s her husband. But he’s still a Noble, so we should maintain proper etiquette.”
”Ms. Thelma, I don’t mind. I was also unemployed until recently, so the title ‘Noble’ doesn’t really mean much to me.”
”If Kent says so… By the way, I definitely want to take on that joint extermination mission. There’s been a lack of quests lately, and I’ve been bored.”
Ms. Thelma sighed, sounding troubled.
”Is that because of the Great Onslaught?”
”Yes. With the Great Onslaught, the monsters near Abyss Vena were wiped out, leading to a surplus of materials and a continuous drop in prices. There was talk of an expedition to the southern region’s depths, and now this crack of time and space appears. Plus, I’ve heard that a huge reward is being offered to the sealing party, and everyone’s getting excited.”
”Haha, the ‘Hand of Glory’ and the ‘Golden Apostles’ didn’t fight during the Great Onslaught, so they probably didn’t expect their work to decrease this much.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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