“I smell blood.”


    Wrinkling her brows at the not-so-wee stimtion, Ekaterina straightened her grip on the giant bottle.


    It wasn’t that the blood she had shed so far was more than the blood shed. It was just a problem that the smell came out at unwanted moments like now.


    Recognizing such a reaction, Rellie asked just in case.


    “Isn’t there something wrong with Mr. Gaendal?”


    “I don’t think that’s the case. It’s more like we’re approaching a ce that smells like blood, rather thaning off with a hook.”


    After hearing the detailed exnation, Rellie’s face became dark enough to be seen even in the darkness of dawn. And it was no different for Ekaterina.


    “Don’t hurry. Gaendal could be in danger if there is a fight with the mercenaries.”


    It was Gin who prevented the two from indulging in wandering thoughts. No matter howpetent Gaendal was as a scout, the opponent was a skilled mercenary of about 40 people. It was clear that it would be difficult to escape safely if things went wrong unintentionally in a state where they had already been on a forced march for several days and were in charge of scouting without shifts.


    “It would have been nice if Eldmia was with us.”


    “Ekatrina? Did you know that you have already said that over 30 times since you entered this request?”


    “Me? I haven’t said it that often.”


    “…To be honest, I said it often.”


    Seeing Gin politely affirming Rellie’s argument, Ekaterina was quite taken aback. thirty times? In just 3 days? I’ve said quite a bit.


    “Well, it could be. You werepetent.”


    “…Haa. I’m anxious, I’m anxious.”


    “Huh? What?”


    “No. For now, let’s join Mr. Gaendal.”


    Impressed by the fact that they got along quite well after thest abandoned dungeon incident, they started epting requests as a party considering a longer-term rtionship. Originally, we spent time in the guild with the intention of rmending it to Eldmia, but since we haven’t met for a while, the four of us are trying to move around.


    As if they fit perfectly together, from skills to personality, they did not know that the satisfaction of the party would go down even though they had only four requests together, and after agreeing to ept a longer-term request, they were given this job.


    The request was simple. Asking them to be a kind of temporary guard in a refugee vige that has recently begun to settle down.


    Refugees who fled to the vicinity of the capital to avoid the demon king’s army did not intend to break thew while setting up a new site, and sought to be protected by the city through proper procedures. The city weed the decision of the refugees, but since the process cannot be aplished overnight, the content of the request was to prepare and put in public power while the adventurers were protecting them for a while.


    Of course, the request was not enough with only four people, and at first it was moved with about ten people, including other adventurers.


    However, no one expected that the vige they arrived in would be devastated.


    Someone present said. It’s clear that the mercenaries called the Hawk’s ws are doing it.


    It was said that they were a mercenary group that had gained notoriety by looting vigers who were not yet legally protected or selling them into very. Not only are they exceptional in their skills, but they are always targeting only those whose distinction between thieves and ordinary vigers is ambiguous, so they are said to be close to knowing but shushing on this floor.


    Since this was obviously illegal, the others turned around under the pretext of publicizing the mercenary’s atrocities through the guild.


    Of course it was an excuse. They just wanted to get away from the scene of the disaster as soon as possible, fearing that they would be pursued by the mercenaries.


    The four of them went on a chase like this, separated from them, because they were confused by the fact that those who massacred innocent people might do something else.


    “…shit.”


    It was two days ago that I hurriedly moved after reconfirming that there was a sh-and-burn vige nearby, which I had checked through the information vendor. It wasn’t clear how much of a difference the mercenaries had, so they hurried on a forced march.


    However, the sh-and-burn vige they arrived at had already been plundered by mercenaries.


    “This is already…”


    “Gaendal! Are you okay!”


    Leaving the vige behind, Gaendal, walking weakly toward the party, replied with a tired face.


    “One day. One day was not enough.”


    Gaendal, who appeared in time for the party’s arrival, struggled to open his mouth, unable to hide his grief. I could understand without his exnation. Ruins where the fire is still burning. On the other hand, a well-organized campground. Even though it was early in the morning, the sentries of the mercenary corps stood guard around the camp.


    “They said it calmly. It was just a matter of dealing with the bandits who formed the vige and plundered.”


    “What about children? There must have been women and old people…!”


    Instead of answering, Gaendal pointed at a wooden building that could be said to be still intact. He could understand everything, even the meaning of Gaendal’s hand gestures, as well as the building, which was built more carefully and sturdily than any other houses around him.


    A pantheon built by refugees hoping that they will be safe here.


    That survivors are trapped inside, waiting to be sold into very.


    “How could it be in front of the gods… like that…”


    The excuse would be obvious. Because there is nothing left that can be called evidence in the vige of refugees who are not protected by thew.


    The bandits have already harmed the vigers and they have nothing to do with it. They captured the bandits who surrendered without resistance, not the refugees. With such absurd words, they could im their innocence.


    “They’re like people who should be dragged in front of the crystal ball of truth and split their heads…”


    No one bothered to point out that the words of Rellie, who gnashed her teeth as if she were about to copse, were a wish that could note true. Because they were thinking the same thing.


    “It’s more professional than I imagined, and the equipment is good. It’s like looking at an army rather than a mercenary. It’s frustrating, but there’s no other way than to report it to the guild.”


    they are adventurers Depending on the request, there are cases where they are hostile to humans, but the main opponents are monsters after all.


    In contrast, they are mercenaries. They are the ones who make money by fighting people. No matter how proud he was of his skills, aiming his sword at 40 mercenaries was nothing but recklessness.


    Even if they beat them, everyone in the party won’t be fine.


    Ekatrina, who was ring at the mercenaries guarding the ruined vige as if it were their own, with a confused face, Ekaterina smiled and said.


    “Haha… What would you have done if it was Eldmia?”


    It’s already over. It wasn’t the first time he had faced such irrationality while working as an adventurer. At times like this, in order to change the atmosphere, you had to throw a joke and watch it. Since he understood that well, Gaendal also tried to smile and answered.


    “…As I showed youst time, didn’t you start byughing and killing ten people?”


    “Other people would treat me like an idiot, but it’s scary that Mr. Ega somehow really thinks it’s possible.”


    I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more I can do. Knowing that, it was the moment when everyone was about to take a step with tacit consent.


    “Hmm? Isn’t that… a flying dragon?”


    Gin, who had been looking at the sky with a long sigh because he hadn’t managed to get rid of the confusion, tilted his head and said the words, and everyone’s eyes turned to the sky.


    “It seems so. But did the original flying dragon fly that low?”


    “It seems to be getting lower and lower…? I hope it’s not something wrong.”


    The death of a flying dragon was notmon, but it was not umon. The party, who had already witnessed the bitter situation, began to stare nkly at the sky, hoping that the flying dragon would not fall.


    However, contrary to their wishes, the flying dragon’s altitude gradually decreased and came down to the point where it barely brushed the trees of the forest.


    “Um, isn’t that dangerous?”


    “Damn it. I haven’t heard anything about flying dragons. I can’t see them very well…” ”


    No, the pilot doesn’t seem to be embarrassed after going through that. I think it’s better to fly low intentionally.”


    It was only after Gin, who had the brightest eyes, gave an exnation, that the party could breathe a sigh of relief. Even though it was someone else’s misfortune, facing that misfortune in a row wasn’t veryfortable.


    “…Eldmia?”


    “what?”


    But in the midst of that, Ekatrina alone discovered something else.


    “The person behind the pilot over there. Isn’t that Eldmia?”


    “Kasha. You…!”


    Lely was stunned. After that, I thought I would miss Eldmia often, but the anxiety came over me that I might have suffered from a more serious love affair than I could have imagined. Even at the drinking party that day, it seemed like they were strangely trying to stay close, so I couldn’t believe it…!


    “Huh? Really. It’s Eldmia.”


    “Yes? Really?!”


    It was Gin who broke Rellie’s delusions. Thanks to that, she came to her senses and concentrated as much as she could to see the sky where the flying dragon was flying, but it was impossible to distinguish the riders of the flying dragon from afar due to her poor eyesight in an environment that was difficult to callpletely bright as it had not yet dawned.


    It was the same with Gaendal, but he chose to fully trust Gin’s words rather than making futile efforts to confirm that it was really Eldmia.


    “Is there such a coincidence? No, but where the hell did you go so low…?”


    no way.


    However, at the ‘no way’ that everyone shared without a word of conversation, the eyes of the four people almost simultaneously turned to the campsite in the ruins behind them.


    “…No matter how much it is.


    “Ha ha ha. That’s right. No matter how coincidental it may be…”


    In the meantime, everyone’s eyes moved again to the flying dragon flying above their heads in an instant.


    But what if it really is?


    Unaware of what the anticipation rising within them was headed for, they watched as the man who appeared to be Eldmia stood up on top of the flying dragon.


    “??? ?????!!”


    Loud Nausea. It was clear that Eldmia’s voice heardst time was correct. And judging from that reaction, for some reason, it seemed like he had business with the mercenary corps, and he could see that it was not a friendly attitude at all.


    However, the dragon’s speed did not decrease. It was clear that he would just pass by the mercenary camp if he continued.


    ‘What are you going to do?’ The moment when the question lingers in everyone’s head.


    “I’m going to Eldmia!”


    Eldmia drew her sword and jumped off the dragon.