The town bustled with adventurers participating in a preemptive attack on the King and his army, a lively and boisterous scene.
“You brought your healing potions, right?”
“Yeah, I did. The apothecary’s stock was almost gone, but I managed to get some.”
McGillis and the others, amidst the chatter and final checks of other adventurers, asked Phasis, “Huh? Should we also… have been preparing?”
“…By now, we can’t buy anything.”
Stock. Stock. Everyone’s complaining about the stores being out of items.
Healing potions were being bought up first, leaving nothing.
Next were smoke bombs, used to escape monsters.
Yesterday, at the Referral Office, the Director (Guild Master) had given instructions to gather at the gate.
Compared to yesterday, two more adventurers in the party were carrying heavy luggage.
Solo adventurers were equipped with spare weapons, exuding an intimidating aura.
“They’re really fired up…”
McGillis thought, watching them.
If they’re spending so much money, they should give it to the girls at the brothel.
More girls wanting to work there, so I can have my pick.
“I don’t want to die. Besides, if I perform well, the rewards will be more substantial.”
Phasis, taking McGillis’s remark in its most straightforward sense, explained the purpose and benefits of their preparations.
“Hmph~”
They weren’t on the same page. However, to the surrounding onlookers, Phasis was perceived as a kind adventurer who was patiently teaching a newcomer.
The one who could use magic was the child.
Phasis wanted to explain this, but McGillis (as the child) wouldn’t allow it.
“Gaaaaa…”
Phasis’s kindness and consideration were evident.
I definitely want them to join my party.
After we return from this subjugation, I’ll try recruiting them again during the operation!
Murmurs.
Hubbub.
“Quiet dooooown!”
The Director (Guild Master) raised their voice, drawing everyone’s attention.
They were using a magic item that amplified their voice.
Other staff members were having the party leaders and solo adventurers sign and receive their certifications for participating in the subjugation force.
“Are the two of you in a party?”
They approached McGillis and his group.
“Yes, this is our first time. We’re so happy to be participating in such a large-scale subjugation force! ♪!”
“…”
McGillis, pretending to be a child, was a perfect actor.
Phasis’s stomach began to ache.
“Your names are… Yes, thank you. Please take this certification (a palm-sized wooden tablet with anti-counterfeit magical treatment). Don’t lose it. And… no stealing other people’s certifications (in a low voice).”
“Yes. Thank you for everything! ♪”
“…Ugh”
Before even facing the King and his army, Phasis was already feeling exhausted due to McGillis.
“Leave it to us!”
“Uooooooh! We won’t let you down!”
The Director (Guild Master) finished their speech to rouse morale.
Most adventurers were simply hyped up.
“Let’s blow away those Kings! What are big monsters to us?!”
Woooh, woooh.
A wave of adventurers.
McGillis and the others, who were on the outside, were swept up in the current.
“Whoa!”
“Gyaaa!”
“Ooooh! Ooooh!”
McGillis and his group could barely keep from being separated.
Reluctantly, Phasis was also unable to break away.
If they let go of hands, they’d be engulfed by the adventurer wave and potentially crushed to death by dozens of people in heavy armor and loaded with luggage.
(Annoying! …Should I kill them?)
(I thought I could get away!)
The subjugation target was deep within one of the hunting grounds.
McGillis and Phasis held hands the entire way, trying not to fall.
They had to be careful not to trip over each other.
“Hn, hn.”
“Chupii.”
Upon entering the hunting ground, small monsters attacked the ground-shaking subjugation force.
” ” ” “Get out of the wayyyyyy!” ” ” ”
“I’ll kill them…”
“Eek!”
Adventurers surged forward past McGillis and his group.
Those in the rear also attacked, moving quickly towards any monsters they found.
The wave dispersed, and everyone began heading towards the subjugation target at their own pace.
“I can’t stand their damn faces…”
“Uh, excuse me…”
McGillis made a chilling remark.
Phasis gently admonished him to refrain from such talk of crime.
While they were talking, the others were rapidly clearing monsters and moving deeper into the area.
The only obtainable material, magic stones the size of sand grains, was left behind.
“Lucky.”
“Hmph.”
Even dust, when piled up, becomes gold.
McGillis signaled to Phasis that they should collect the magic stones, sheathed his sword, and they both crouched down to gather them.
Wooooh, Wooooh.
Uoooooooh!
From deeper within, the sounds of continued battles between adventurers and monsters not targeted for subjugation could be heard.
“Let’s take our time, shall we~~? Tra la la… ♪”
“Yes, it’s crowded in there… Hehehe… ♪”
To stop killing.
Collecting the magic stones was infinitely better.
Even if they were difficult to find, it was better than being classified as scrap.
“Ah, there they are.”
“Well done! ♪”
◇◇◇◇◇
Deep within a hunting ground other than the one the subjugation force, including McGillis, was heading towards.
“…Hmm? Jureka…?”
A large, intelligent monster that McGillis (and others) had provoked stirred awake, annoyed by the tremors.
The sacrifices… the adventurers (victims who had died) had generously fueled its possessed magic power (which had diffused into the atmosphere). It was still full.
If the disturbance was natural, it would have endured it.
However, when it placed its hand on the ground to check, it realized the tremors were not natural. They were man-made.
Were other members of its species (large monsters) running towards it, seeking prey?
“…Should I go there?”
It scanned its surroundings but saw no other monsters of its kind.
“Matsurika?”
Matsurika, a festival, was when humans, in large numbers, came to kill a lone member of its species.
“Should I participate…?”
It wasn’t hungry enough to eat more.
But even if it went back to sleep, these irregular tremors wouldn’t stop.
“…I’m undecided. Hmm.”
The large monster, for reasons unknown, dug lightly into the ground, piercing the clay layer.
It kneaded the clay.
Infusing it with magic power, it continued to knead.
Twitch.
Twitch, twitch.
The kneaded clay began to change shape on its own.
“…”
“Indeed. Go and see what’s happening over there.”
The large monster created a child-sized familiar (a Clay Golem).
It sent it to the festival site.
Nod.
The familiar, having understood its order, nodded and trotted off in the direction indicated, its destination set. How capable was its combat power?
Its autonomous core was not that large.
It could not use magic.
If its body was damaged, it would self-regenerate using the clay from the ground.
Its attacks consisted of punching, kicking, and using its soft body to bind and suffocate.
Being small, its suffocation technique would likely only cover the face.
Toko toko.
The familiar ran as fast as it could towards the depths of the hunting ground, leaving McGillis and the others behind.
