"Onee-chan!"
"Big Sis! Good morning!"
I was greeted by the newbies
that I rescued from that night, I returned their greetings respectfully.
"Good morning, onee-chan! Goodluck with the raid!"
Two days had already passed and this is the aforementioned time that we are to set out to the Forest Of Scritz's depths. All in order to exterminate the army of orcs that's been threatening the safety of our comrades. By the way, I didn't inform those kids that I'm the same rank as them so they think I'm participating in the battle as a high ranker. I know I can't join but I have a plan.
During those two days, I learned one magic offense spell and also tried working out to raise my body physically. I feel slight changes already and it makes me happy just thinking of how much I improved. Are you confused how I can understand their language? It's because I also bought a translator magic device the day after Leyla and I said our farewells. I got the money by selling five golden lycan statues.
Various adventurers of different classes, ranks and appearances gathered in the guild hall. They numbered over hundreds and I was part of that crowd. Specifically at the very back because that's where we lower ranks were told to behave.
Finally, the man who we met last time, the Guild Master has appeared with his overbearing aura and presence of a king.
The room fell completely and utterly silent the moment he raised his chin to speak.
"As you all know, the orcs have built their base at the center of the Scritz Forest. Their goal is unsure yet but we are assuming that they were there to summon a 'monster from another world'."
Like bees in a nest, the guild hall was enveloped in the gossips and whispers of everyone present except the staff, Guildmaster and some high ranking adventurers aiming to keep a good image.
"They did not succeed."
The state of panic that everyone had was devoured by the Guild Master's words.
"Although these monstrosities are highly remarkable as they came from another world, wielding the power of their former world, they have a very low success rate of being summoned. If we take into consideration that we have had no reports of suspicious business whatsoever in the past few days of their first appearance, we can safely deduce that they have failed."
The adventurers including the staff members cheered and the whole building roared in jubilation. Looking from their side, it was like they already won.
I on the other hand watched like a regular bystander.
I'm not from this world so I don't know why I should be as happy as them. I can only be like them if I knew how dangerous an otherworldly monster is.
Everyone here other than me looked overjoyed. I can only conclude from this that it's a good thing I wasn't a dangerous monster.
But...
I wish I could be as happy as they are now. I feel so out of place, but I can endure that much.
While I was busy sulking, I felt someone grab hold of my hand. It was Hunter Arlet, the best information breaker of the guild. Who I have recently become very wary of.
She's a nosy individual who liked looking into people's backgrounds if she liked them. I was one of her victims. And obviously because I didn't come from this world, she didn't have anything to study on about me. The only thing she found out is where my inn was, what food I like eating and the lie I made about me being a parentless child from a far away cabin in the woods.
She said she was satisfied now but I'll still keep my guard around her. I, being exposed may mean I'll get hunted down and killed by the whole world.
"Good morning, Seven-chan."
Her bright beam was the first thing that caught my eye. She was wearing her usual delinquent attire that would have spelled disaster and expulsion at school.
"G-Good morning, Hunter-chan."
"Call me Arlet~ Hunter sounds too manly and it doesn't even sound like a name. Seriously, what are with my parents naming a girl like that."
With those remarks, I couldn't help but laugh.
"I can't say I don't agree... I shall address you as Arlet from now on then."
Arlet nodded to me in affirmation and suddenly held both my hands.
"Seven-chan, do you have a party for this raid yet?"
"N-No?"
"Tehe~ Well then! You'll be joining my group!"
"I can't even decline?!"
I was forcefully added to Arlet-chan's team. I wasn't able to go against it since I didn't have a team yet to participate in this battle. And to volunteer, we need a party of atleast four people. My party has 6 including me. We were all arranged as 3 magic casters and 3 sword wielders.
We are currently located outside the city gates holding a meeting about reward distribution and aggression control.
"...For each slain orc's head, a reward of 1 gold is guaranteed upon presentation! Furthermore, those who don't participate in battle and are not able to acquire even a single orc head will have no reward at all. This is not a mission anyone can leech on, it is either you prove your worth or not! Respect everyone especially those that rank higher than you if you don't want any problems."
The adventurers listened and overjoyed by the reward amount and way of distribution.
"Yeah! No leeching!"
One monk was even shouting, downgrading and insulting the existence of leeches. I can understand how he feels since there are alot of people like that in RPG games that would seriously tick you off. But to think he would go to such extents, he must really hate leechers. I can't help but laugh.
Even someone like me is being given the cold shoulders because I joined a group of C-Rank Adventurers despite being an F Rank. They only didn't oppose the idea because it's Arlet-chan who invited me.
"Who here is Seven Clavery?"
The one who called for me was the Guild Master. When I raised my hand, everyone's attention was diverted to me.
"I see. An F-Rank Adventurer should not join this quest. But as you were given permission by Nina Bluewater and Hunter Arlet, I will give you a chance."
This is the plan I mentioned earlier. I convinced both Nina-chan and Arlet that I'm strong enough to join. It's not really illegal for us F-Ranks to join as cannon fodder in this quest so there was still a chance to prove my worth without violating rules.
Without even a single warning, a javelin made of ice appeared instantly in front of the Guild Master and rushed at me as fast as a deadly bullet.
But despite that, I was able to parry it by summoning Bane Of True Evil in the nick of time. The ice shattered after it's been whacked to pieces. I dismissed Bane Of True Evil the exact moment I hit the target.
"You pass."
With a slight hint of a grin in his face, the Guild Master calmly gave me permission to join. I can clearly see Arlet had a smirk on her face.
"She was able to block that?"
"I didn't even see it coming!"
"What the hell did she use just now?"
"They were both so fast it happened in an instant."
"She has good reflexes."
"Why is she an F-Rank?!"
"She has a storage ring so maybe she's not actually one?"
"Not possible, the Guild Master just insinuated she is one."
I was praised by every party present. It felt a bit uncomfortable but this should make everyone acknowledge me, it would aid with this mission's cooperation.
"Now that there seems to be no problems anymore, get inside the cargos. We will depart in 10 minutes, pack your things before then."
The vehicles we were told to ride looked like military cargo trucks instead of the usual horse drawn carriages.
I heard that these are expensive and run on magic stones. Only rich merchants and a well off country can purchase these kinds of tools from the Magic Tower. This goes to show that the guild I joined isn't something to be looked down on.
Tent✓, Sleeping Bag✓, Fire Starter✓, Lantern✓, Pajamas✓, Soap and Shampoo✓, Dipper✓, Egg Sandwich 10x✓, Water Bag✓, Apple 10✓.
I brought food and water because I wanted to consume something even if I don't feel hunger or thirst. The apples were for my pet to eat.
I have confirmed that I didn't forget to bring anything and went inside our cargo truck. Each vehicle had two parties with 4-6 members to accommodate it. I was the only F-Rank that managed to join out of recommendation.
"Go!"
With the Guild Master's command, we set out on a journey in the direction of the Scritz Forest. The magic engines roared signifying that our bumpy journey began.
"Are you alright, Percy?"
The one person who's supposedly our party's healer was a man and his name was Ledge. He was comforting one of my fellow swordsman in the cargo who was getting car sick.
"H-Heal me again, Ledge..." Said Percy.
"I told you healing magic doesn't work that way." Said Ledge.
I found that people get car sick often in this world too. I guess there's no helping it whatever world I go. As for me, I'm already used to it since my parents used to drive me to the pool every week with our car.
I watched from inside the cargo as the trees and scenery swept by and away from sight. There were also magic vehicles following us from behind that belonged to other parties.
"Clavery~"
I was called by a seductive voice that came in front of me. It turned out to be Arlet who I was almost looking at, but she made it even more true by leaning closer to my face. Our noses were almost about to touch. But I was too embarrassed so I pulled away.
No way, is she teasing me?!
I'm not against it but, would Leyla get mad if she saw this? Maybe. Most likely. Yes, I'm assuming.
"Wh-What is it?"
What now? Is she going to extract data from me or something?
"Let me see your little companion."
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Arlet repeated what I said in innocent bafflement. She was eyeing One like a cute little child. My pet was resting on my right shoulder unawake.
Listening to her request, I handed her the sleeping squirrel who didn't budge at all. This is far better than being questioned and stuff.
Rather than playing with it, Arlet was looking at it from different angles.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm just admiring it's cuteness and it's body structure."
"Oh?"
So that's how observant she is. She even sniffed my squirrel to know it's scent which I find very weird. I'm having trouble knowing which of them is the animal now.
"You sure have talent to be able to befriend a wild animal."
She threw a compliment at me who was staring at an eagle looking bird at our attack mage's lap.
"Is it rare?"
"Not really. 1 out of 20 people can receive affection from wild monsters depending on circumstances. Feeding or rescuing them from danger are one of those."
I knew that much. That aside, she sure is talkative.
"...By the way, it's still a hypothesis but, an army of orcs and the summoning of an otherworldly monster means the Dark Lord's resurrection is close, right?"
She whispered to me enough so that only the two of us were to hear. She must have known it would be better not to make others worry. By the sound of it, the Dark Lord is some kind of villain which I can pretty much guess by myself.
"Our kingdom hasn't summoned a Hero yet. It's not confirmed that the Dark Lord had resurrected so it's not the time for our country to take risks. Hero summoning costs so much energy from the Mana Tree afterall."
Heroes... Dark Lords... This really is the typical isekai genre that I always read about in novels.
Our travel to the center of the Scritz Forest is by no means short. It will take half a day to reach the Orc Army's headquarters. Last time, it was decently close to the entrance but looks like those monsters moved it somewhere farther. It didn't pose much problem since our travel will be easy going. Not even the stupidest of monsters would attack a group of adventurers that number over hundreds.
Now let's talk about our party.
Aside from Arlet who's unexpectedly a mage, there was Ledge the healer and Aria the Wind Mage.
On the other hand, besides me who they classify as a swordsman; there was Percy a master swordsman who claimed he received delicate sword training with his dad, and then one strange guy who was said to have no weapons at all. Arlet informed me that people called him Shield Maniac Durian, he earned that name for wielding three shields at once during combat. He had a pretty robust build like a sumo wrestler and a shiny head that could blind someone with reflection when given enough light.
Durian waved at me with no ill intentions when he saw me staring at him. While Aria smiled at me innocently while caressing her pet eagle's head.
To pass the time, I pulled down my suit's hood to obscure my face and slept so that when I wake up, we'd have already arrived to our rendezvous.
We have finally arrived.
The area we planned to rest on was a pretty spacious one. There were only clumps and coppices of firs in this place. Quite suitable for camping with a large quantity of people.
By the time we arrived, it was already evenfall or 5pm. At 5pm, this world enters night time twice faster than Earth's. It's logic is still a mystery to me.
I was not able to witness it last time, but the night sky in this world is truly a godlike masterpiece. Countless stars scattered in place and the nebulas danced slowly by one another like regular clouds. There were seven moons which was a notable coincidence as my name is also Seven. I only chose this as my game name on a whim.
"Alright, everyone! Bring out your tents and set up our equipment. The boys go help each other out with the tents, us girls will manage the food." Said Arlet.
Multitudes of lanterns bobbed in the darkness as parties of adventurers chose their positions and laid out their stuff a few spaces from other parties.
Arlet's instructions to our party were done smoothly. I helped with constructing a basic structure of a campfire, Arlet helped with the firewood then lit it with fire magic, the boys set up the tents individually and Aria was left in charge with the food.
Meanwhile, I sent One out to the direction of the orc headquarters. It will take her a while to reach it by jumping from tree to tree to avoid predators but she has alot of stamina because of sleeping so it'll be okay, probably.
"Everyone, steel yourselves! We will attack at 2am in the morning!"
The Guild Master declared to everyone present. His voice was loud and made me startled but it's surely unable to reach the keen ears of orcs. Afterall, Wind Mages erected sound eliminating barriers at our camping site area.