Time passed just like that. Without realizing it, a week had already gone by since Eve started school.
During this week, luckily there hadn't been any urgent tasks, so I could take Eve along with Dasha. I thought things would continue on as normal...
Unfortunately, I was wrong.
Looking at the blackened land before me, covered in thick mana poison that could be smelled from afar, I knew this week would be far from normal.
******
That morning I was working on my documents in the office as usual after dropping Eve off. While I was wrestling with paperwork that seemed endless, Senior Park's voice suddenly broke my focus.
"Raphael, Team Leader Eric is requesting the presence of all Team 10 members in briefing room no. 3 immediately. Save whatever work you're doing and get there quickly."
"Huh, oh, alright," I replied while saving my progress on the unfinished document. Sudden calls like this usually meant either an unexpected gate appearance or a villain going on a rampage.
Oh boy, I could not have been more wrong.
When I arrived at the briefing room, I saw that my seniors were already there.
'Looks like I came last, huh.'
"Raphael, you finally made it! Do you know how long I've been waiting!?"
'Probably just a few seconds,' I muttered inwardly, though of course my lips wouldn't dare speak such words in front of Team Leader Eric.
"My apologies for being late, sir. I promise it won't happen again."
"You're the most junior one here, and yet you're the last to arrive! Kids these days..."
I'd lost count of how many times this had happened, so I automatically let his scolding enter one ear and leave the other. Seeing that the team leader could still ramble on and on, I was sure this wasn't an urgent mission.
"Don't let it happen again, Raphael! Alright, since everyone's gathered here, listen carefully! We just received orders from higher up for Teams 10, 5, 9, and 14 of the field division. We are to escort the purification division into the dead zone east of District F. The mission will last for four days starting tomorrow. Any questions!?"
'Hmmm, escorting into the dead zone? Wait, what!?'
"Sir, I have a question," before I could speak, Senior Park had already raised his hand. I figured he had the same question as I did.
"What is it, Park?"
"As far as I know, the field division's tasks are evacuating citizens, clearing the area, and inspecting damage when a void gate opens, and also conducting exploration of world gates. Isn't escorting into the dead zone the responsibility of the security division, not the field division?"
"Good question, Park, hmmm," Eric said, appearing to ponder his answer.
"The answer is... I don't know, and I don't care. Maybe the higher-ups are mobilizing the security division for some secret agenda or something. But that doesn't change the fact that the orders we've been given must be carried out. Besides, the purification division has already secured cooperation with the elves for this operation. So hold back your curiosity and prepare to depart tomorrow, understood!?"
"Yes, sir," Senior Park replied unenthusiastically.
Honestly, I could understand how he felt. As the two people in this team with the lowest combat power, I could relate to his reluctance to go to a dead zone where monsters roam and mana poison is so dense it could kill an ordinary person within a minute.
Hearing the team leader's indifferent response, I could only resign myself to accepting this mission.
'I guess I'll have to tell Eva that Papa won't be able to take her to school for a few days, huuh.'
******
The next day, after arriving at the office, Team 10 along with several other teams immediately boarded the special mobilization vehicles of the field division.
Inside the vehicle, I noticed that those participating in this mission were divided into two types: those who were calm as if nothing unusual was happening, and those who were anxious at the thought of going to the dead zone.
Those who were calm were surely the experienced fighters, and those who were anxious were most likely ordinary office workers, just like me.
Considering the field division's nature, which focused more on documents, directing evacuations, and occasional exploration, the second category outnumbered the first—of course, with the exception of Team 10.
In the tense silence, whether from anxiety or mental preparation for battle, the special vehicle drove along the roads of District F.
After about two hours of travel, we finally arrived at the destination—the border of the dead zone in Sector 13.
******
Getting off the vehicle, I found myself standing before a massive wall stretching all the way to the horizon.
Its surface was layered with magical formulas that allowed it to repel both monsters and mana poison from crossing to the other side.
In the middle of the wall stood a giant iron gate that connected to the dead zone. The area around the gate was bustling with activity.
People from the Purification Division, dressed in outfits resembling healers or priests, could be seen running between temporary tents or tinkering with large machines.
Not far away, I spotted a group of pointy-eared elves gathered as they prepared some kind of plants.
Their striking beauty and the clothes that seemed to be made of foliage made them stand out sharply in this environment dominated by metal and white-robed healers.
When one of the purification staff noticed our arrival, he hurried inside the largest tent. Moments later, a tall and thin figure with a harsh face and white hair, blending perfectly with his uniform, came over to us.
After glancing at us up and down as if confirming something, he finally introduced himself.
"Hello, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Vladmir Sercov, Supervisor of the Purification Division. Are you the teams from the field division who will be assisting with this operation?" he said while extending his right hand.
Team Leader Eric stepped forward and shook his hand. "That's correct. Teams 5, 9, 10, and 14 of the field division have been assigned to assist you. I am Eric Voltsten, leader of Team 10."
"Thank you, Team Leader Eric, and all of you from the field division for coming here so promptly. Let me guide you to Manager Fang Yu, who will be leading this operation."
He then led us into the largest tent, which served as the command center for this mission.