Around early lunch time.
I arrived once again at the Astra Trading Company.
“You’ve come.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
This time, Lorenz was waiting on the first floor of the building, which was unusual.
His subordinates were all armed and standing by.
…Are they really a secret organization?
Well, if they were truly secret, they wouldn’t have sought royal approval during the last sewer investigation.
It seems their secrecy is more for appearances.
“Attach this to your coat.”
As soon as Lorenz saw me, he handed me a badge. It looked quite luxurious, featuring the emblem of a hawk wearing an eyepiece.
“This is….”
“It’s to distinguish you from other investigation teams heading to the mountain range.”
“I see.”
“And this time, you’ll be acting as my assistant. If you encounter other teams, behave accordingly.”
Unlike last time when I worked under Lowell, I was now here as Lorenz’s assistant.
Apparently, Lorenz had specifically requested this arrangement.
An assistant… well, I just need to follow Lorenz’s orders as usual.
Given Lorenz’s personality, he’s unlikely to make unnecessary demands or give useless orders.
After pinning the badge to my coat, Lorenz handed me an outer garment.
“It’s a company hood. It’ll help with the trek.”
Saying this, Lorenz also wore one over his suit.
Looking behind him, I saw that all of his subordinates were already wearing theirs.
I nodded and put on the hood as well.
“Let’s go.”
And so, with the hood and badge in place, we exited through the back door and headed toward the mountain range.
“What exactly are we investigating?”
Walking along the now-familiar path toward the mountain range, I asked.
The road was quiet, as the mountain range had been closed off.
“We’re searching for traces of devil worshippers in the midlands.”
“I see. Then the highlands…?”
“The Knights will handle those.”
“Ah.”
True, even with Lorenz here, dealing with mutated high-tier monsters would be difficult.
With this level of manpower, it’s better to comb through the midlands.
Still, the last time, the Orc Champion was in the midlands.
Even with Lorenz, I couldn’t let my guard down.
With that thought, we entered the deserted foothills of the mountain range.
“Have you been to the Kaine Mountain Range often?”
“Ah, I’ve been here a few times.”
“Then there’s no need for further explanation.”
With that, Lorenz pulled out a map and marked several points with a pen.
“These are the areas we’ll be exploring today.”
“They’re quite deep in.”
As he’d said, the areas were technically in the midlands but bordered the highlands.
This could get dangerous.
“That’s why I hired you.”
“Looks like there will be plenty of heavy lifting.”
“I’ll make sure you’re well compensated, so work hard.”
Compensation…
If it’s something like this buffed coat I’m wearing, I wouldn’t mind.
Together with Gareth’s sword, it’s incredibly useful gear.
With that settled, we began our exploration of the midlands in earnest.
First, we arrived at an area particularly abundant with rocky hills.
“This is the habitat of the Rock Wolves, but… nothing seems out of the ordinary.”
“Indeed, although they do look a bit unsettled.”
“Their leader seems to have disappeared recently.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Well, another leader will emerge eventually.”
I can guess what kind of creature the leader was.
That alpha wolf—it must have gathered all the wolves it could find.
Considering it hunted high-tier monsters in the highlands, it’s entirely plausible.
“Next, we’ll head to the nearby Rock Spiders’ habitat.”
“Is it close by?”
“Yeah, head down to the base of this hill.”
After the Rock Wolves, now it’s Rock Spiders.
It really makes me realize how densely packed the Kaine Mountain Range is with monsters.
Of course, compared to the Trolls or Ogres up in the highlands, this is nothing.
With that, we moved past the Rock Wolves’ habitat and descended the hill.
Immediately, a damp and musty smell filled the air.
“This definitely seems to be the habitat of the Rock Spiders.”
“Does it?”
“Yes, it’s likely their breeding season, so they’ll be especially sensitive.”
Lorenz pointed to a cave at the base of the hill.
“Let’s investigate that cave.”
Then, extending his hand, he activated a magic circle.
Just like during the sewer investigation, blue lines spread across the ground, stretching into the cave.
“…It’s quite expansive.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, and strangely, there’s no noticeable movement.”
Lorenz continued probing with his magic, his expression hardening.
“There are people inside.”
“…Devil worshippers?”
“I’m no expert in detection magic, so I can’t be certain, but it’s clear there are multiple living people.”
After a moment of deliberation, Lorenz summoned his subordinates.
“Spread out and bring the closest team here.”
“Yes.”
With a single command, his subordinates dispersed swiftly.
“We’ll guard the entrance for now.”
“Understood.”
It seems Lorenz preferred to proceed cautiously and bring reinforcements before entering.
As expected of him, always prudent.
If the signals inside turned out to be trapped mercenaries, time might be critical.
But even in that case, the likelihood of encountering devil worshippers or mutated monsters was high, so this was the right call.
We waited near the entrance, staying alert for any signs of trouble, until reinforcements arrived.
Eventually—
“They’re here.”
Lorenz’s subordinates returned, accompanied by a group of people.
Ten individuals wearing thick coats in mixed shades of gray and white, mountaineering leather boots, and silver insignias bearing the emblem of the Adel Kingdom.
Judging by their equipment, they appeared to be a specialized mountain reconnaissance unit.
“Are you with the royal mountain reconnaissance division?”
“Yes, we’re the 2nd unit.”
As expected, they were indeed part of the mountain reconnaissance unit.
A man stepped forward to answer Lorenz’s question.
He had short hair and a sharp, rugged face marked by a scar near his left eye.
Judging by his demeanor and position at the front, he appeared to be the unit’s captain. His presence was unmistakable.
“What about the 1st unit?”
“They went to the highlands with the Royal Knights.”
“I see.”
After a brief exchange, Lorenz seemed to deliberate before pointing toward the cave entrance.
“There are multiple signs of people inside.”
“Will you be entering immediately?”
“Yes. My assistant, a few combat-trained subordinates, and I will go in.”
…By assistant, he means me, doesn’t he?
Looks like I’ll be heading in after all.
Well, there’s no better time to make use of me.
“In that case, I’ll go in with two of our tracking specialists.”
“What about the rest?”
“They’ll scout the area and prepare for any potential ambushes.”
“Then they can coordinate with the rest of my team.”
With roles divided swiftly, Lorenz and the captain directed their teams toward the cave.
“Let’s move in.”
“Yes.”
Together, we entered the dark cave.
The reconnaissance captain pulled a lantern from his pack and held it up.
Then—
Fwoosh!
In an instant, the interior of the expansive cave was illuminated.
“That’s…”
“A special lantern crafted by the Magic Tower. It was borrowed specifically for this investigation.”
“Impressive.”
Lorenz glanced at the lantern with brief curiosity before refocusing on the path ahead.
“Let’s move.”
While the lantern’s light illuminated the areas it touched, the rest of the cave was shrouded in oppressive darkness.
Prepared for an ambush at any moment, I drew my sword as we proceeded deeper into the cave.
Step, Step.
The sound of sticky footsteps echoed faintly as we ventured further into the damp and shadowy cave.
“Hold on.”
After some time, when we had delved quite deep, Lorenz activated his detection magic again.
“We’re close, just ahead.”
He gestured toward something in the distance.
“Understood.”
At his command, everyone readied their weapons and cautiously moved further in, the lantern casting its light into the darkness.
Soon, something began to appear on the walls and ceiling of the cave—a gray substance that stood out faintly against the shadows.
“This is…”
“Rock Spider webs.”
Gray webs? Is this their version of camouflage?
What’s the point of camouflage in a place where no light reaches anyway?
“Move ahead.”
Following his instruction, I advanced further.
Even with the lantern lighting up the surroundings, there were still pockets of darkness deeper in.
Using Track, I peered into the gloom where the light couldn’t reach.
And there, beyond the lantern’s reach, I saw them.
“There are people tied up.”
As Lorenz’s detection magic had indicated, I spotted people suspended and bound by ropes.
“Anything else?”
“…Yes.”
And then…
In the shadows just outside the lantern’s glow, I noticed something else.
Clusters of hunched forms, like piles of rocks, scattered throughout the area.
No, not rocks. Thin, elongated appendages protruded from those forms.
“Son of a—”
I couldn’t help but curse as I realized what they were.
What I’d mistaken for rocks were actually massive spiders.
Their bodies hunched low, legs tucked in, perfectly camouflaged to look like part of the terrain.
“Prepare for battle!”
A chill ran down my spine as the realization hit.
So much for there being only people.
Lorenz’s detection magic clearly wasn’t foolproof.
This is the last time I trust it.
