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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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His first party was formed in that manner.
Pichoni and Ronchevich, who had previously worked together on similar requests, and Iyerpol, the rising star rookie.
Plus Wagner himself.
The average age was quite young, but they were all proven in skill.
Under the leadership of Wagner, the party of four young adventurers was unstoppable.
They completed subjugation requests day after day, and people fixed their eyes on the emergence of a promising young party.
Monster subjugation was an extremely dangerous job, but at the same time, it brought great honor and wealth.
The four were satisfied with what they had gained and enjoyed it.
The problem began around the time their names started to become known.
As their reputation grew, the level of requests they undertook gradually increased as well.
Perhaps it was because the party members were too young?
They certainly had spirit, but they didn’t know how to restrain it.
By the time he came to his senses, they were already taking on reckless requests beyond their abilities.
No matter how skilled they were, they were still inexperienced young adventurers.
Faced with the constant dangerous situations, he felt a sense of crisis.
The problem was that they were already receiving targeted requests due to their reputation.
The party members couldn’t bring themselves to refuse out of honor and pride.
“Hey, Wagner. Are we really okay with this?”
To Iyer’s question, the only one who pointed out the issue, he couldn’t bring himself to nod or shake his head.
Whenever they faced heavy requests and dangers, it was the youngest member of the party, Iyer, who became their pillar of support.
Not just mentally.
When there were mistakes in party play, when they needed to avoid danger, and so on.
Iyer filled many gaps.
To the point where he gradually covered the roles of the other party members as well.
As the level of requests increased, so did the party’s reliance on Iyer.
As I mentioned before, it’s said that people often feel jealousy and envy towards those of similar age and talent.
He was one of the few who didn’t feel that way, but Pichoni and Ronchevich weren’t like him.
The party had no choice but to rely more and more on Iyer, but what the two felt towards Iyer was envy.
They couldn’t accept that their confidence and pride in their own skills were being defeated by Iyer, who was younger than them.
A strange, unseen atmosphere formed, and the party slowly fractured.
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After successfully repelling the Sandman, the party, having moved to a safe zone, chose to rest first.
Well, I was fine since I hadn’t encountered a single monster hair since getting separated, but looking at the condition of the other party members… it was a sorry sight.
They were covered in all sorts of dust, monster fur, and blood.
We had only been apart for a few hours, but it felt like they had been rolling around for three days.
Maybe I had it too easy? Hmm…
“So. Explain it to me, Iyer. What exactly happened?”
Wagner, sitting across from me on the rock I was squatting on, asked.
He must have had a lot of questions.
I wanted to explain it to him, but there are many things I couldn’t explain.
How could I tell him that I can actually communicate with monsters and negotiated with them?
It was obvious he would worry that I got possessed by someone while separated.
So I explained as much as I could, excluding the parts I couldn’t talk about.
That this cave was actually a living cave, and the reason I disappeared was because this living cave changed the paths.
Even as I spoke, I wondered if I wasn’t giving enough details, but Wagner believed my words at face value.
He really is a great guy.
“A living cave…”
“That’s right. Does it make a bit more sense now, considering what’s happened so far?”
“I’ve never encountered this type of monster before. But if that’s the case, the situation is more serious than ever. It’s no different than being inside a monster’s belly.”
At Wagner’s words, I clapped my hands inwardly.
That’s right, Wagner.
We’re in an extremely dangerous situation right now.
Then there’s only one thing we can do, right?
Contrary to my excited inner thoughts, I put on a serious expression and placed my hand on Wagner’s shoulder.
“Let’s forget about trying to conquer the cave. It’s beyond what a single party can handle. The best we can do is rescue Pichoni and Ronchevich. After that, let’s leave it to the Phailure family.”
“…You’re right, Iyer. Our goal was to investigate the cave in the first place.”
“Thanks for believing in me, Wagner.”
Things were going smoothly.
If we ended it by rescuing Pichoni and Ronchevich, this task would be very easy to complete.
Why? Because we have the best ally.
‘Cave. Bro believes in you.’
It did a great job earlier.
When I signaled the timing of the Sandman rising with an arrow, it immediately dropped the stalactite right above it, helping to collapse the Sandman’s body.
Now that the cave and I have joined hands, it was no exaggeration to say that this place was my field.
If I asked it to guide us to where Ronchevich and Pichoni are, this fellow would open the way for us.
As I was thinking that and smiling, Wagner hesitantly opened his mouth.
“Iyer. I’m sorry, I…”
For some reason, Wagner couldn’t continue his words.
Was he feeling responsible for me getting separated?
He was really a guy full of responsibility.
There was no need for Wagner to feel guilty about something that was almost an act of God.
“After that, I vowed not to be indebted to you again…”
I didn’t really understand what he’s saying, but Wagner looked down.
I punched his chest lightly with a smile, telling him to cheer up.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Iyer…”
You didn’t have to look so touched, Wagner.
I wasn’t not doing anything great for you.
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“Let’s forget about trying to conquer the cave. It’s beyond what a single party can handle. The best we can do is rescue Pichoni and Ronchevich. After that, let’s leave it to the Phailure family.”
“…You’re right, Iyer. Our goal was to investigate the cave in the first place.”
Thanks for believing in me, Wagner.
Seeing his friend and comrade smile as he said that, the emotions he had buried deep in his heart resurfaced.
The guilt of involving him in his own affairs.
The shame of having to rely on him for help again.
The gratitude for his brilliant performance.
Various emotions tangled together like a ball of yarn, becoming a complex feeling.
“Iyer. I’m sorry, I…”
Wagner swallowed his words.
There were endless things he was sorry to Iyer for.
After cracks formed in the party, the distance between the other party members and Iyer grew little by little.
The party still relied on Iyer, but their personal relationships no longer existed.
When a crisis had occurred due to Ronchevich’s mistake:
‘Iyer will solve it.’
When Ronchevich said that, he had a strong feeling that it was wrong.
While agonizing over what to do, unsure himself, Iyer had come to him.
‘I’m sorry, but I think I need to leave the party.’
Iyer said he no longer needed to do subjugation work, but Wagner had noticed.
That Iyer had decided to sacrifice himself and leave, mindful of the party’s fracturing.
Iyer’s face as he said that looked very relieved.
At that time, he couldn’t stop Iyer.
He couldn’t mediate between the party members.
He was the party leader, but he couldn’t do anything.
“After that, I vowed not to be indebted to you again…”
Feeling the guilt squeezing his heart, he muttered to himself.
He had made Iyer sacrifice himself… He had vowed not to trouble Iyer anymore, but he had made him lend a hand again. He had put him in danger.
Wagner didn’t know what to say about it.
If he were in Iyer’s position, he would surely be disillusioned with his shameless self.
Thud.
A gauntlet-covered fist lightly hit his chest.
Looking up, Iyer, who had hit his chest, was smiling.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Iyer…”
That smile seemed to save him, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.
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After the party had rested for a while, we started moving again.
As the scout, I said I would go ahead again, but Wagner insisted on stopping me.
He said we should stay together in case the paths split again.
That judgment was accurate, but I wouldn’t lose my way again.
As long as this fellow doesn’t betray me.
However, since I couldn’t say that directly, I ended up following Wagner’s words and staying in the rear with Guinness.
“Enemy appearance ahead!”
I had felt it for a while, but this living cave can move the cave itself, but it didn’t seem to control the monsters inside.
I asked it to take us to where Ronchevich and Pichoni were, but we occasionally encountered monsters along the way.
I could tell it wasn’t the cave’s intention.
I speculated that the deeper we went, the more monsters there were, so it might have been impossible to create a path that didn’t encounter them at all.
It was fortunate that the number of encounters with monsters had decreased significantly.
At this rate, we should be able to smoothly go and quickly rescue Pichoni and Ronchevich.
Around the time I was thinking that, an incident occurred.
After repelling a group of monsters, as the tension eased a bit after defeating the last one, Mr. Wolf growled and approached Guinness.
“Hey, lizard woman. Can’t you do it right?”
“…Huh?”
It was rare for Mr. Wolf, who always liked to tease Guinness flexibly even when she got angry, to get angry himself.
“Because you let two of them slip away, I almost got attacked from behind.”
“Were you spacing out, you bastard?”
The monsters that Guinness was supposed to handle must have aggroed onto Mr. Wolf.
Mr. Wolf was probably startled when two suddenly popped out from behind.
But who was his opponent?
It was Guinness, known as the most vicious in Tillasden.
Just because Mr. Wolf got angry didn’t mean she would say, “Oh, is that so? I’m sorry.”
Guinness, whose eyes instantly turned into hatchets, retorted, and Mr. Wolf’s expression also became grim.
“Wagner.”
As the atmosphere escalated, I looked at Wagner and our eyes met.
Well, it was natural for emotions to fluctuate while doing subjugation work, and it was common for those emotions to spark towards others.
At times like this, those around them should try to calm them down a bit.
It wasn’t good to have discord with teammates due to excitement caused by monsters.
“Even though I almost got hit on the back of my head because of your mistake, what are you so proud of?”
“I’m sure I called out that I missed two. Does the puppy have a good nose but bad ears?”
“You bitch…”
As Mr. Wolf got up from his seat, Guinness also stood up.
With grim faces, they approached each other, and it seemed like if no one stopped them now, they would really start fighting.
Until now, even when Guinness acted violently, Mr. Wolf would laugh it off and dodge, but Mr. Wolf’s face now looked like he was fully intent on fighting.
If the two of them, whose bodies were weapons themselves, fought in a place like this, it would surely lead to big trouble.
It would also attract the attention of monsters.
Just as Wagner and I were about to go and stop the two, Mr. Wolf, with a sneer on his lips, taunted.
“You’d better speak nicely before I break the handles on your head, handle woman.”
“…What?”
I, who was approaching Guinness, couldn’t help but stop in my tracks.
I heard a rumor that there was a word that should never be uttered in front of Guinness, and I’m pretty sure I just heard it…
I carefully looked at Guinness’s still face…
There was no Dragonian there, but an evil spirit.
“Say that again, you son of a bitch.”
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[FWI im kinda drunk r, so lmk if you found any issued with the chapter..]
dawg the wolf HATES guinness