Phew...Finally, arrived.
Currently, we are on the outskirts of The Cursed forest. Today we are going to set up the camp outside, it will help us in scouting as well.
We flew all the way here, as there were also S-ranked members in the party it took us few hours before we arrived.
As for luggage, everyone was rich enough to afford a storage ring so it isn't an issue.
If they had storage rings why do they still carry weapons outside?
It's because many areas and magic make storage rings ineffective so to be on the safe side people carry weapons outside.
Of course mages like Me and the twins who use completely magic did not care about it. Ellen also carries a longsword.
It's should be 5'o clock in the evening now. We are going to camp outside tonight.
We are going to carry out the mission in a total of 7 days.
Today we are going to rest here as well as scout the surroundings. Tomorrow we will enter the forest, we are going to explore it for the next 2 days more I.e we are going to spend a total of three days inside.
On the Fifth day, we will leave the forest if everything goes fine, and will camp and rest for one day in the outskirts of the forest again
Finally, on the sixth day morning, we will leave for the Imperial Capital.
On the seventh day, we will report back to the guild.
On the way, Ellen also explained to me about the members of the party.
James who is the leader I already knew about him, is famous for using his bare hands in a fight although he carried a greatsword.
Arthur, as I guessed, is the famous sword god, known for his dual-wielding, there are rumours that he cut anything if you give him three hits.
As for Edger, he is famous for his personality, many call him the Dwarf, the destroyer ( probably because of his giant hammer). He is also one of the oldest adventurers of the Guild.
Ellen is familiar with Edgar and Arthur, as they both have helped her various times during her first few guild dedicated missions. As for why they did that possibly because of Yves. No demigod is free enough to babysit.
Guild assigned missions have an unknown degree of danger.
Adventurers have a carefree personality, they step into the unknown every day, no one knows when is going to be his last day. Enjoy every day that's the rule of life, heck they don't even fear the Imperial guards.
And then we got Noir and Lux, a pair of twins, both have similar blue hair and eyes. They both have attained the limit of life in their 50s, currently, both are near a hundred years old still unable to breakthrough. This shows how hard it can be to step into the demigod realm, Ellen is an exception. Both Lux and Noir are famous for water magic.
At the last, there is Alex, the one I am most interested in. If I am not wrong he is related to James in some way. But his killing intent earlier is what makes me most interested, looks like my first mission will entertain me a lot.
There is not much information about Alex in the guild. Adventurers also know nothing about him as he rarely speaks. He joined the guild only a few years ago but is well-known for being ruthless.
Everyone has got their camps ready, first, we are going to scout this area in groups.
"I will be teaming up with Edger and explore the west direction" surprisingly Arthur was the first one to choose a partner.
"That's my bro..time to blow some heads baby, *whistle*," Edgar exclaimed, idling on the nearby rock.
James Sighed. "Can you keep your excitement down, since these two are going west so I will be investigating the northern side?
"I will be searching the Eastern side for clues along with Leon." Ellen declared as well.
James nodded. "North for me then."
No objections from my side...
Edgar laughed. "Haha...Girl don't forget the mission while flirti...."
"BOOM!!"
Before he can speak further, the tree nearby him completely exploded into bits.
"Next time it will be your head."
Edger broke into cold sweat. Behind him, there was a meter deep crater on the ground, with a sword nailed in the middle of it.
"Fuckkk my head would have blown off with that."
"Hmph." Ellen snorted, turned around and walked away.
*Phwwwwwhht* *Phwwhht*
Noir whistled.
Lux chuckled "That's what you get for annoying her, hahaha."
"Hey..."James wanted to say something but hesitated recalling the earlier incident.
He sighed in defeat and glanced at the remaining of us. "Since only Lux, Noir and Alex are remaining,
Alex will go with Leon and Lux and Noir will follow me.
"Roger" "No problem here"
The twins replied. Alex just silently left in the Eastern direction.
James glimpsed at him once [This boy is weird and why does he look so familiar to me!? My instincts are screaming to be careful around him...but why?].
...
*Crash!*
Ellen jumped at the beast in front of her holding a sword in her hand. Her body accelerated fiercely and in seconds her sword was before the beast.
"Arrgghhhg!" It screamed stretching out his claws and Instantly, his speed doubled.
Bang! The beast got thrown away as a result while Ellen was still standing.
In just one second, everything ended.
A puddle of blood had been added to the scenery.
"... it is the third one," I stated calmly walking alongside her.
"Nothing seems unusual in this part of the forest, beasts are behaving normally, was the report wrong." Ellen muttered, putting on a pensive expression.
I smiled wryly. " You are too impatient, only two hours has been passed, we have entire three days remaining."
We were in the outer region of The Cursed forest searching for the clues of the evolved beast. In the next three days, we have to cover a huge amount of area, its outer region extends to hundreds of kilometres deep inside.
As for the middle region, if possible we will avoid it because of a large number of cursed beasts, the inner region is virtually impossible to investigate.
...of course not for me.
"Hey, Ellen what are your thoughts on James."
"He is a good leader, I won't say his personality is best but still bearable enough." She answered.
"I am not talking about that, I mean you know he was the Hero of Boread attack."
Ellen looked at me strangely and chuckled. " So you mean...about it, thinking why I am not familiar with him right?" I nodded.
"He indeed saved many people back then. But in our house everyone was already dead when adventures arrived for help, my father sacrificed himself at last to save me and Yves...I-I saw my mother getting raped and killed in front of my eyes. I always recall adventures saving many people there and imagine what if? They arrived a few minutes earlier will my father and mother be still alive... maybe this was also the reason I became what I am today."
I was silent all the way and let her speak. Wars? Huh...
If you ask me whether I sympathise with her, I do.
But about the victims, I didn't feel strange about them getting raped or dying because it's just about sides.
If humans were the ones in their place they would have done the same. The demon children are also brutally raped and slaughtered when humans capture their cities.
Don't think demons look like a beast or something, in fact except few demon species they aren't much different for humans.
All demons have one feature in common their eyes look extremely beautiful as a crystal.
If they are the same as humans why did they do not live in peace? I don't know but some people say it take place back from the great war of Gods 10000 years ago.
Even if there were no demons, wars will still be there. It will just be shifted towards human countries among each other.
This is cruel truth.
'Rule of the jungle' no matter the society, time or place it will always apply. If you don't want to be someone's else prey be a hunter.
...
We continued searching for the next few hours before going back.
Back at the camp.
Everyone has different tents, I would have preferred one with Ellen but can't help it.
...I can still go to her tent at night after putting a barrier hehe.
The area around us is rather safe so no need for a night watch.
Eh? I frowned at the scene in front of me. Is it...Alex. What is he doing alone at night, looking at stars?
I walked near him. "What's up watching stars?"
Umm...Ignored??
"Hello?!"
Yet no reply, wait he responded finally.
He stood up...turned around and walked away?
Fuck, Ignored again!?
"Dude, are you deaf" I yelled at him annoyed tone.
He didn't react, perhaps he got some hearing problems.
Sigh, What a strange creature.