The next day, I decided to rest thoroughly for about a day to store up my energy in preparation for the monster takedown.
“Is that a bag I haven’t seen before?”
“I just went out and bought it.”
Isabel opened the bag and showed the vials inside to Aila.
“You’re well-prepared.”
“Just in case.”
For the remaining time, Isabel and I opened the magic books we had bought the day before.
“Can you read this?”
Aila asked us if we could read the book she was looking at.
“I don’t know how to read.”
“Then how did you learn swordsmanship and magic?”
“At that time, there were pictures next to the text.”
Aila took the book from my hands and flipped through a few pages.
“This is in an old script, so I can’t read it either.”
In my case, I had a magic that allowed me to read any script, so it wasn’t a concern.
I wanted to cast this magic on Isabel, but there was one problem.
“Can’t you read any other scripts?”
“I’ve never learned it.”
At least there has to be one language that a person knows for it to be deciphered.
“There aren’t any pictures at all!”
“Of course not; it looks like it’s at least for intermediate learners.”
Aila spoke based on her intuition, but the cover of the book I saw had a completely different title written on it.
“It doesn’t say it’s for intermediate learners; it says it’s an advanced magic course.”
“Can you read this?”
“I learned a deciphering magic last time.”
“What’s that? Cast it on me too.”
Isabel asked me to cast it on her, but I explained the reason I had thought earlier why it wouldn’t work.
“Well, just in case, try casting it.”
“It won’t be of any use.”
I cast the deciphering magic I had learned from the Demon King on Isabel.
“Wow~ That’s amazing magic.”
“Can you read it?”
“No, I can just understand what it’s about in my head.”
Isabel started to flip through the pages quite quickly.
About an hour passed, and Isabel spoke up.
“The magic’s over, and I can’t see the book. Cast it on me again.”
“I guess it only lasts about an hour.”
“Looks like it.”
I cast the deciphering magic on her again and immersed myself in reading the book.
Isabel, who couldn’t read the text, said that the contents came into her head as she flipped the pages, but I had to read everything myself.
In a way, I thought not knowing how to read might allow one to read the book faster.
“Ugh…. My head is all jumbled. I don’t seem to remember the content well…”
It seemed that the contents obtained by casting deciphering magic while not knowing how to read didn’t remain in her memory well.
On the other hand, I could remember the contents accurately since I had read it properly.
Moreover, I acquired about three new spells!
As soon as the deciphering magic ended, Isabel closed the book and lay down on the bed.
I also decided to close the book and try to sleep.
We woke up a bit late in the morning and had breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
“Have you ever participated in a monster takedown?”
“No, this is my first time too. Normally, when you’re a rookie in the knight order, you have to participate at least once.”
Even the leaders of the knight order can participate if they want, but Aila said she hadn’t.
“If you had participated in the takedown, it would be good for your skills to be recognized, wouldn’t it?”
“No, the monster takedown is something that even rookies in the knight order can easily manage.”
It’s such an easy task that it’s rare for the knight order to participate.
So, Roran had always handed over that mission to the mercenary guild.
After finishing our meal, we headed to the eastern branch where Solche was located.
Not at the underground base, but at the entrance house, Solche welcomed us.
“You’ve arrived.”
“You didn’t wait for us on purpose, did you?”
“No.”
Solche’s eyes quickly scanned Isabel as he responded.
“I understand being cautious, but she’s just a kid who can’t run away with handcuffs on her.”
“I understand. Then let’s move to the location of the raid team.”
Following Solche, we headed to where the raid team was located.
As we walked along the road, away from the city, a wide plain appeared.
“The monsters are said to have settled in the forest beyond that.”
“In the forest?”
“Yes, it’s a dangerous place even in normal times, so the villagers rarely approach it.”
The meeting place we agreed upon to join the raid team was a small lakeside near the forest.
Next to the lake was a large cabin that served as both lodging and shops.
While waiting for the raid team, we decided to spend some time inside the cabin.
“Look, there are lots of potions here too.”
Isabel had already bought a few more potions and put them into her bag.
“If you buy too many potions, it’ll be inconvenient to move.”
“This amount is okay.”
Shortly after, several armored individuals entered the cabin.
Seeing them, Solche got up and approached them slowly.
“Is it the Ratnia Knights?”
“Yes, that’s right. Are you the Roran raid team? Your numbers are quite small.”
Solche was subtly looking down on the Ratnia Knights.
“There will be more coming. In the meantime, make yourselves comfortable.”
There were only eight members in the Ratnia Knights.
It seemed like too few to be called a raid team.
“How many mercenaries are coming?”
“Four.”
Even with everyone gathered, we would still be one person short.
“Can we trust them?”
When I asked, worried, Aila spoke up before Solche could respond.
“Why are you so suspicious? They won’t do anything against the code of chivalry. You two are too hostile toward Ratnia.”
“That’s true.”
“We’re not at war, are we?”
Although Ratnia is always looking for an excuse to start a war, it hasn’t happened yet.
Even if it doesn’t show, fierce battles are likely happening beneath the surface.
“Well, there haven’t been any major problems so far, but we must stay vigilant.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
The door of the cabin opened, and two demons and two beastmen entered.
“This way, please.”
Solche called them over and made them face our direction.
“Thank you for your help this time.”
“I welcome the opportunity to show my skills again after a long time.”
Solche briefly introduced the four individuals to us.
“These are the ones who will assist in this takedown.”
“I’ve never seen a team made up of girls before.”
“Their skills are certain.”
“Of course. Since you brought them.”
The mercenaries didn’t seem to be participating for the first time.
“Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Tooler.”
The demon who introduced himself had a muscular, sturdy physique, with a large axe slung over his back.
The others stood by, each holding a sword or spear.
“I’m Isabel, this is Ririan, and over there is Aila.”
“Aila? I’ve heard that name quite a bit before.”
Tooler paused for a moment, as if thinking, but ultimately seemed to give up trying to remember.
“Well then, shall we gradually join in?”
Solche called the Ratnia Knights, and the raid team assembled in one place.
“Tooler.”
“I’m Isaac.”
The leaders of the raid teams from both nations exchanged light greetings.
“I’ve heard the orcs have taken over that forest.”
“Isn’t the orc the real problem?”
“That’s right.”
In the forest known as Kant’s Forest, named after Kant, there are some quite dangerous monsters, it is said.
“There are also supposed to be demons.”
“There might be one or two.”
I recently learned that the term demon describes the monsters that come out of gates.
“Seeing as we gathered at this hour, it seems you’re planning a night raid.”
“The best would be to set the forest on fire, but….”
Surprisingly, Tooler and Isaac were having an ordinary conversation.
Since these two nations were hostile toward each other, I thought their relationship would be quite bad, but surprisingly, they seemed quite friendly.
A map of the forest was spread out on the table to explain the operation.
“The location of the village is here.”
“That’s quite deep.”
Although it was a map of the forest, it was crudely made.
It merely indicated characteristic trees to determine locations and directions.
“Be careful; there are goblins in that cave.”
“Wow… it’s completely a monster den.”
“Where are the demons?”
When I asked, Isaac sighed softly and answered.
“That’s the problem. They are not large demons, so tracking or identifying them is difficult.”
Isaac warned us that if we encountered a demon, we had to leave the forest immediately.
It was questionable whether it was possible to handle the monster takedown with just a few squad members.
“How about capturing a demon?”
When Aila suggested this, everyone fell silent.
“Can we do that ourselves?”
“I’ve fought a large demon before.”
“Hmm.”
Isaac thought for a moment and then asked his subordinates something.
“Has anyone participated in demon takedowns?”
Two people shyly raised their hands.
“There are two. How about you guys?”
“We haven’t. In Roran, there’s a specialist for dealing with demons.”
“Then, if we find a demon, let’s try to lure it toward the orc lair.”
If done well, it could be an opportunity to take down both the demon and the monsters at the same time.
We decided to wait for the night to deepen before setting off into the forest.
Although we were now going to be together, we separated to rest.
“Then, I’ll head back now.”
“Sure.”
“I look forward to good news.”
Solche got up and left the cabin.
The mercenaries were checking their weapons that they had brought.
When Aila and Isabel took out their weapons, the mercenaries’ eyes widened in surprise.
“What kind of sword is that?”
“You said you’ve fought demons before, right? That’s what I crafted from the ones I obtained at that time.”
“Wow, you could sell that for several hundred gold, you know?”
“I’m not selling it.”
These were weapons that had never been used.
Isabel managed to swing it well in practice despite saying it was heavy.
“Um, about the demon specialist you mentioned earlier? Is that really a thing?”
I asked Tooler about the demon specialist I had heard earlier.
“There is, but its identity is not public, so no one knows.”
“Then doesn’t that mean it doesn’t exist?”
“There have been instances when demons have appeared, and without fail, they’ve been taken care of one or two days later. So, it’s not nonexistent.”
Basic level magic had no effect on the demons.
Aila also had a tough time against the mountain monsters when her attacks didn’t work well.
If they could easily defeat such demons, they wouldn’t be an ordinary expert.
In the deep night, under a moonless dark sky, the takedown operation commenced.
It was time for the hunt.
