The Man Who Bears an Undying Resolve — His Name Is Reios – Chapter 99

I am Dotops, the Party Leader and .

This is a requested extermination mission from the .
The target is “something” that has been killing D-rank and C-rank s.

We received the request yesterday.
Another party, comprised of B-rank s, received the same extermination request.

It was already late in the afternoon.
So, we decided to take half a day to prepare and set out this morning to exterminate the target. But…
There was a party that decided to leave before the even rose.
I didn’t particularly care, but…
Someone suggested we all start at the same time, even though it’s a first-come, first-served job.

“It’s fine, isn’t it?”
“No good! Because of you all, others will be put in danger.”

“It’s not our fault!!”

And so, at the starting point.
From the town’s , everyone headed to the destination simultaneously.
It’s a first-come, first-served job.
Half of the parties went ahead.
We’ll just swoop in when the ones ahead have chased it out of the and snag it ♪

“Gyaaaaaaaaah!”
“Hoaaaaaaaah!”

Were those the screams of the parties that went ahead?
I thought there were quite a few of them. Is “something” that strong?
This means we can’t just go in and snatch it.
We need to switch to a serious mindset, preparing to face a formidable enemy.

“Stop! Everyoooone!”

… Is that the morning party?
Sharing their camaraderie again, huh.

“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Leader.”

The parties that had gone ahead came running back.
They said “something” was a trap… no, it was a double, triple trap set up, and the forest where the target was located was full of them.
I heard from those carrying companions whose injuries weren’t healing well, even with antitoxins and healing magic.

“This is troublesome.”
“Leader. Even if there are traps…”
“We’ll advance, right? ♪”

“Ah, of course. The previous groups already triggered the traps for us. Besides, the target might show itself ♪. In that case, stationary traps are useless. We’ll just focus on the extermination without worrying ♪.”
“Alright!”
“Alright!”

At the ‘s .
The triggered traps included pit traps and sharpened wooden branches.

“They’re coated in poison, so don’t touch them.”

We proceeded down the path where traps had been triggered.
We stopped when we saw a completely unremarkable path.

“Beware of traps. Don’t approach the bushes.”

I warned my companions.
And took the lead to go first.
By taking the initiative in the most dangerous tasks, I wanted my companions to feel at ease and perform at their usual strength.

“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Hiiiiiirrrrrr!”

Those who didn’t follow the path into the forest, but went off-road, began their death cries.

“There are more from the left…”

Is “something” on the left?
Or is the left just filled with the cries of those caught in traps, and the real threat is on the right?

I asked my companions for their opinions.

“I think it’s the left.”
“It’s the right.”
“Maybe we should check the left first?”
“Alright, let’s go check the left first.”

We left the path.
Checking for traps in the bushes as we went, we proceeded in the direction of the voices.

Rustle, rustle. We arrived at the of a dead man’s .
The smell of blood was intense.
My companions aren’t backing down, are they?

“Watch your surroundings.”
“Yes.”

The traps were pendulum-like logs with wooden stakes driven into them.
There were corpses crushed between a large tree and a log.

Nearby, a corpse was impaled on wooden stakes at the bottom of a pit trap.

Did the other parties flee?
Or were they snatched away, eaten by “something”?

Rustle.
Rustle.

“!”

I adjusted our positions to judge whether it was an or “something,” readying our formation for an ambush.

*Plop* ♪

A translucent liquid, the !

“A magical beast that destroys equipment.”
“Even with a magic-infused sword…”
“We can only clash a few times at most.”
“We can’t even clash properly, and it’s liquid.”

I understood what my companions were thinking.
s are artificial creatures created by s and other summoners.
s melt weapons and armor.
They can be defeated if their core is crushed.
But the that appeared was massive.

“Let’s return to town!? s are better dealt with by s.”

*Squish*.

The grew tentacles.
It’s in an attack stance.

“Hurry!”
“Yes!”

*Fwwoosh!*

“!”

*Clang!*
*Hiss*…!

I blocked the tentacle with my shield, wrapped in magic power.
But the magic was stripped away in a single blow, and the surface of the shield melted, emitting steam.

“Leader—!”

“Don’t worry about me and go quickly!”

I urged my companions who had stopped, worried about me.

*Fwwoosh!*

“Ngh! Wall! Gyah—! It’s heavier than before. You jelly-like bastard…”

*Jiggle*.
*Slither*.
*Sway*…

The way it moved its tentacles slowly, shifting the timing of my blocks, I didn’t like it.
Moreover, the thrust of its tentacles was heavier than before.
If I dodged or took these while retreating, I’d fall.

“Hah, they should be near where they can see the town by now… oops.”

*Bang!*

Did it hit me the moment I looked away?
This . What kind of high-level… It’s something scholars created.
But, s are subjects of control.
The master is behind it.
It must be somewhere I can’t see.
And it’s giving the instructions.

(What to do… 1 vs 2)

The odds are too bad.

“…Haa. I can save my companions. As a , this is my pleasure ♪. Come on! I won’t run away ♪.”

*Wobble* ♪
*Swish swish*!!

“Gaaaaah—! You brutes—!”

Damn it. Don’t come back without using your heads to avenge me…