Chapter 48: Recruiting (4)

I started a not-quite-an-argument with Eve.

“You want me to back off? Are you serious?”

“Yeah, you bastard! I’m telling you to drop out of this Quest!”

“I clearly warned you. That route is only half-baked!”

“Hah! What nonsense! What do you even know to make such a fuss?”

“What? Honestly, shouldn’t you admit I know this game better than you?”

“No way. Not admitting it.”

“Oh yeah? Who was the one free-riding in the Shadow Market again?”

“Don’t act all high and mighty! At least I’m holding this Quest firmly!”

“What a stubborn idiot!”

“Shut up!”

Then Eve spun around and disappeared.

“…Huh.”

In the end, I was left speechless.

“Shan? What was that just now?”

“Why did you suddenly start dancing?”

About half of it had been some senseless body language, so Karls and Tirvaen frowned.

Barel and Shark looked just as bewildered.

“Ahem.”

Caught off guard for turning it into a dance time, I could only awkwardly clear my throat.

Anyway, it was truly ridiculous.

The world.

I never imagined I’d run into such stubbornness!

“Damn, I wish I had time to calmly explain things.”

Then I could at least talk about the pros and cons of that route versus this one.

If I laid it out clearly, unless she was truly a dimwit, she’d probably understand.

But as I thought it over, I shook my head.

“No, I don’t think so.”

Not because I thought Eve had the intellect of a dung beetle.

I had a feeling she had some other intention.

Compared to the Shadow Market’s dice technique, which was almost like a cheat, this Quest’s solution method was fairly well-known among many players.

In other words, the strategy I planned to use wasn’t some huge secret.

“Right, she can’t be unaware of the Detached Squad Route if she’s thinking about using it.”

So it made sense that Eve knew I was aware of the alternate route.

Yet, she was stubbornly insisting on pushing her own strategy.

Why?

Isn’t it natural for players to go for the Quest with the bigger reward?

Just as I was doubting my own reasoning about this incomprehensible conclusion, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.

“…Could it be?”

I quickly looked up and followed her back as she vanished into the crowd of girls.

Watching where Eve Wyler disappeared, I formed a very simple hypothesis.

“Maybe that route is dangerous?”

Could it be that the kids might get hurt?

Or even die?

So she was willing to give up the bigger reward for the relatively safer Detached Squad Strategy?

“Indeed, my route is riskier than Eve’s.”

A strategy that cuts off the Ultra Wave beforehand is obviously less dangerous than one that unleashes the Great Flood.

I sank into my thoughts.

“Is that really the reason?”

Of course, it was impossible to know for sure.

It was all just my speculation.

But—

“If not, then why try to get the Shield of Balance when you don’t even have money?”

If you have the Shield of Balance during this Quest, you can almost perfectly save the kids.

I used that to escape the Shadow Market, but the shield was definitely a defensive tool.

“Hmm…”

I felt my intuition wasn’t far off.

“Team leaders, come forward and report your team members.”

The kids followed Erek Kaid’s lead and proceeded step by step.

And then it was our turn.

I led my group forward.

Erek Kaid, holding the submitted list, quietly spoke.

“…Shan Alledro? Is that your name?”

“Yes.”

The Great Mage’s gaze swept over me as he stood on the black rock.

A chill ran down my spine.

‘What’s this? Magic?’

Feeling vaguely unpleasant, I glanced at Tirvaen.

But the little witch just shook her head slightly, signaling that it was nothing.

And the Blessing of the Guardians didn’t activate.

So…

“It doesn’t seem to be any dangerous effect.”

It was probably just the natural flow of magical energy around the Great Mage.

Erek Kaid shifted his gaze away from me and nodded slowly while scanning the group.

“Alright. Karls Alledro, En Alledro, Barel Hejit, Shark Robren—four of you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Then each of you come forward and select your prey.”

In front of us lay a round glass orb.

‘When you place your hand on the orb, some of your magical power is drawn out, your traits are registered, and a suitable prey is selected for you.’

—Or so they say.

But I already knew the secret.

‘It’s just random, dressed up as a “choice.”’

I had repeated this event multiple times while playing the original game, saving and loading over and over.

The results of this “selection” were completely inconsistent.

No matter who touched the orb, the prey choice was always random.

Kobold Shieldbearer, Mad Groll, Goblin Scout, Inexperienced Lizardman Archer, Lesser Orc Scout…

All low-tier monsters from the Hunting Ground appearing in rotation.

The other teams who had already placed their hands on the orb faced the same.

There was a special prey with a very low appearance rate.

But it was so rare it wasn’t worth worrying about.

So I watched our team’s draw without any tension.

“Barel Hejit, come forward first.”

Erek Kaid motioned, and the young mage trembled as he stepped forward.

“Place your hand on the orb. No need to grip it tightly.”

Nodding, Barel placed his hand on the orb.

At that moment—

Tsst tsst tsst…

A faint glow leaked from the orb, and above the campfire, a fiery shape shot up.

That was Barel’s prey.

‘A Lesser Orc Scout.’

I could see a head with two long fangs protruding.

Its back was densely camouflaged with grass and branches.

The appearance clearly matched a Lesser Orc Scout.

And it was the most dreaded prey in this ritual.

In other words, it was a top-tier challenge.

“Wow, Barel got the Orc Scout? Unbelievable. Heh heh heh.”

“Seriously, how can he be this unlucky?”

“Tsk, tsk. Looks like he’s out. Poor guy, poor guy.”

From the circle of kids around the fire came giggles.

I quietly nodded.

‘As expected, Barel is considered the weakest.’

It was understandable for now.

While everyone was busy forming teams, he just dug his heels in front of the fire.

That alone was enough to guess Barel’s position and reputation.

Honestly, I could sympathize.

‘It’s not that the kids are cruel. It’s natural.’

Once you enter the Hunting Ground, every moment becomes a life-or-death struggle.

And a mute mage?

Honestly, it’s hard to trust him.

That’s probably why Barel had no hope—until I showed up.

“S-Sorry.”

The poor guy cautiously looked at me and stepped back.

Since whatever he picked became our team’s task, he naturally wore a guilty face.

“I’m really sorry…”

Barel bowed his head deeply and pleaded to be placed fifth in the order or to just be allowed to gain experience.

But I just smiled.

“Hey, no need to feel bad. It’s not your fault.”

His eyes showed genuine embarrassment.

“B-But! I got the Orc Scout!”

“Yeah, you’re such a klutz.”

“What’s a klutz…?”

“Don’t ask. Anyway, it’s a bit annoying, but don’t worry too much. We’ll help you.”

“You’re going to help me?”

“Of course. You trusted me and joined our team, right? So we gotta help.”

“But the Orc Scout…”

“That’s just bad luck. Not your fault. And the stronger the enemy, the more you gain from challenging it.”

I looked Barel straight in the eyes.

“So don’t whine. Don’t apologize. Got it?”

Barel clammed up.

His eyes darted nervously, as if unable to believe my confident words.

‘Cute.’

He’d only known us for less than thirty minutes.

He had no way of knowing…

…that just letting Karls loose would wipe out all the low-level orcs in this area.

So it didn’t matter whether the prey was an Orc Scout or a troop carrier; I had nothing to worry about.

‘Anyway.’

What would be the next prey?

I watched with interest.

“Shark Robren, place your hand on the orb. No need to resist the flow of magic.”

“Yes, Vice Head.”

And above the campfire appeared three Lesser Lizardman Archers.

I nodded.

‘Simple enough.’

In the next draw, Karls got the Inexperienced Kobold Squad Leader, and Tirvaen got the Corrupted Groll Warrior.

Now, it was my turn.

Swish.

The moment I placed my hand on the orb—

“Ah!”

I felt a sudden jolt, like grabbing an electric wire.

“Uh, this is supposed to be okay, right?”

I looked at Erek Kaid in alarm, but the Great Mage smiled kindly.

“Looks like static electricity. Happens sometimes.”

“…”

No, that felt more like a million volts of static.

Feeling a bit uneasy, I placed my hand on the orb again.

Luckily, nothing happened this time.

But something still felt off.

“Now, entrust your magic to the flow. If you don’t have much magic, you might feel dizzy.”

With Erek Kaid’s voice, the orb began to sparkle.

The magic that flowed from my palm swirled inside the orb.

Then, in the next moment—

[Prey has been assigned!]

[A special prey has been selected!]

An ominous system message appeared.

‘Special prey?’

I turned back to the campfire and immediately grimaced.

The kids were already whispering in surprise.

“Uh, how did that appear?”

“First time I’ve seen that…”

“Is it something we can even hunt?”

The monster’s portrait above the campfire was far from ordinary.

Like Barel’s, it was an orc with long fangs.

But—

‘A long beard, a hood pulled low, and a staff in hand.’

That was an Orc Shaman.

“I guess I’m not in a position to call Barel a klutz.”

A very rare special prey.

That was it.

And, by a cruel coincidence…

This was the source of the Ultra Wave.

In other words, the target of Eve Wyler’s Detached Squad Strategy had just been dumped in my lap.

I felt a sharp gaze from somewhere.

“Hmph.”

I stared at my prey, lost in thought.

If this is how things are…

“I absolutely can’t lose this.”

I was certain now.

‘At least in this Hunting Ground, Eve and I cannot coexist.’

That was my conclusion.