«Sir!» Erwen jumped out of the scout group and grabbed onto my arm. «What a relief! I was so worried!»
Huh, I didn't expect to see this guy here. That didn't mean it was bad, of course. I relaxed a little and checked my surroundings. His sister, Daria, was there too.
They don't all look like members of the same clan...
At first I wondered if it was the clan Erwen had joined as a mercenary, but that didn't seem to be the case either. Most of them bore the mark of a clan, but not all. Furthermore, each clan brand was different. If so, how the hell had this group formed?
«Miss Erwen, who is that?», asked a human woman who seemed to be in her thirties and lowered her gun.
Erwen let go of my arm and turned around. «Don't worry. I know this person. And my sister too. Right, little sister?»
«...That's right. Their identities are secure so you won't have to worry about them siding with Noark.»
«The first good news in a long time». Also hearing Daria's words, the woman ordered the cautious scouts to lower their weapons. Hmm, was this woman the person in charge here? «Nice to meet you. I'm Versyl Gowland, the deputy commander of the Larer Clan».
«Bjorn, son of Yandel.»
«Little Balkan...?» When I shrugged, the woman seemed happy to see me. «Wow, we have met a very outstanding person». Naturally, he complimented me back. An ordinary barbarian would get cocky here and act arrogant. Was this a leader's conversation tactic?
«You flatter me. I should rather tell you», I responded briefly and looked at the woman. I didn't say it out of politeness, it was the truth. «The Larer clan is a pretty big clan, in my opinion». It was not in the top ten, but it was enough to be considered a large clan. The peculiarity was that 80% of the clan members were women. «The subcommander, huh?» I ran into a sizable big shot in an unexpected place, although I had no interest in small talk in this situation. «So what are you all doing here?»
«Let me explain it to you».
Versyl briefly explained his circumstances as soon as the presentations ended. It seemed like they were in a similar situation. As soon as they entered the maze, these guys moved quickly to reach the second floor.
«Then the incident occurred».
To assess the situation, Versyl led the team back to square one. However, that place was nothing more than hell. So he began to gather an improvised troop.
«The people gathered here are all people we met in the area. Their identities are true, too. »
«Sure?»
«I don't know each one of them, but they are all people with common acquaintances. Unfortunately, we had to make sure to exclude those who aren't so you can rest easy.»
Not being able to trust the ID tags, this was the method they used. Just like Erwen answered for me, this was a group that answered for others and formed a minimum level of trust.
«Our goal is simple». After explaining the group's situation, Versyl presented the goal they wanted to move towards. «Combine forces to protect ourselves. Penetrate the enemy and finally reach the safe zone».
«By safe zone, do you mean the dark zone of the central region?».
«Yes, since you know, this will be quick. Will you join us, Mr. Yandel?» Was it because this was the deputy commander of a successful clan? From the way she spoke, it definitely seemed like she was used to handling people. His personality also seemed cautious.
A deputy commander must be very skilled.
After a brief reflection, I accepted Versyl's recruiting offer. «Okay, I hope we work well together». In the midst of a chaotic situation in which the end of the day was uncertain, a temporary nest was established.
«There's no need for you to stand guard, so get some rest. We'll be leaving soon, so I'll let you know then».
I accepted Versyl's kindness with gratitude. Anyway, we were desperate to rest. Between the fog obscuring vision, the battles with people, not monsters, and the chaotic situation that made it difficult to predict even an inch forward, physical fatigue was one thing, but mental stress was also enormous.
«What are you doing? Let's rest».
I led my team members, who were uncomfortable around the strange explorers, to an empty place. Then came the break.
«It turned out well. Meet these people here... I guess there's always a light after the darkness».
The others seemed to relax late. My companions, who at first were busy distrusting their surroundings, enjoyed a short rest with expressions of relief.
Erwen had stayed with her sister while we talked, and then naturally sat next to me. «Sir, you have made the right decision. That subcommander over there is very strong. And the others too. Anyway, I guess we're predestined to meet. I was thinking I missed you and then you really showed up. Hehehe.»
«Tsk.» Ainar and Missha, who normally didn't view Erwen favorably, frowned slightly, but didn't start a fight or anything like that. They probably also knew how silly it was to create problems out of personal resentments in a situation like this.
Raven, who didn't know her, was curious and joined the conversation. «But what do you know each other about? I've heard that fairies and barbarians don't get along. Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I am...»
«I know! Mister has told me a lot about you. He said that a very talented magician joined his team».
«...Did Mr. Yandel really say that?»
Well, not to that point, but...
Imagining that it was Erwen's way of socializing, I just watched in silence.
«I'm Erwen Fornacci di Tersia. You are Miss Arua Raven, right?»
«Just call me Raven».
«So please call me Erwen too».
After the presentations concluded in a friendly atmosphere, Erwen proudly told him the story of our meeting. He pretended not to, but Mr. Bear also listened attentively as if curious about my relationship with the fairy.
«Your first drink back was with a pretty fairy... Yandel, from what I see, you have good luck with women».
What was this man talking about?
«Mr. Urikfried? Hehe, thanks for the kind words!»
«... Llámame Abman.»
«Okay, Mr. Abman!» Erwen befriended the group in an instant while showing off her youthful energy. To be honest, I was quite impressed. «But how do you use this crossbow? I don't think a normal person would be able to handle it because of the tension».
«Oh, this? It's nothing special. Do you want to try to tighten it?»
«Can? Ugh... wow! It's totally different from my bow».
«Haha, that's because it's made of troll tendons».
Was Erwen always so friendly? It was like he was trying to please his mother-in-law.
Ah, it's not a completely wrong comparison.
Come to think of it, I told him I was going to make a clan. Raven and Mr. Bear were obviously the number one candidates. Since they might one day belong to the same clan, she must have thought that it was necessary to make a good impression beforehand.
However, he seemed to be earning the dislike of two others.
«Urakburak. Stop smiling. Is this a situation to laugh at?»
«...Eh?» Upon receiving an uninstigated blow from Ainar for the first time in his life, Mr. Bear was stunned. Then he belatedly realized the situation. Mr. Bear spat out indecipherable words as an excuse. «A-ah! I'm on the cat's side, of course».
«True? I almost doubted you! So come here once and for all and look at my great sword. Talking about bows is not fun!»
«Oh... #no lo es?»
«Of course!» Ainar pulled Mr. Bear to his side as if he were kidnapping him.
It was around the time this ridiculous event was unfolding that Daria, who had been watching us attentively from a distance, approached. «Erwen».
«Ah, Hermanita ».
«Sorry to interrupt, but I have something to tell you».
«Ah, to the lord?»
«Yeah.» Since he had something to tell me I was about to get up, but Daria stopped me. «You're resting, you don't have to do that».
«Yes? If you say so. What did you want to tell me?»
Daria stared awkwardly at my question. For some reason she seemed uncomfortable approaching me. The reason soon became clear. «I heard you're a rank 5 scout now».
As far as I knew, Daria was also rank 5 and that hadn't changed even now. But I, on the other hand... Back then I was a rank 9 rookie, but within a year I grew up to become a rank 5 scout in charge of my own team. It had to be uncomfortable.
«AND? That's all?»
«...I have a suggestion.»
«Dila.»
«Why don't you explore with us for the moment?»
«In more detail».
At my words, Daria continued with a strictly business voice. Apparently a total of seven teams had met for the same purpose, but at the end of the day they remained unknown. In reality, most of the teams were forming groups with other known teams.
«If you agree, the formations of our two teams will be nearby as we move so that we can join forces immediately if something happens». Wherever people gathered, factions emerged. Daria was offering me an alliance.
«Not a bad suggestion». The offer itself was quite attractive, if only one condition was met. «But do you have permission from your leader?» Daria was a member of the Blue Wall Clan's fourth team as a mercenary. Naturally, the team leader was one of the clan executives. Had they really finished talking?
«That man... You don't have to worry about him. I can convince you. So, your answer?»
«Okay.»
«Okay, then I'll come back later. Erwen, come with me for now.»
«Okay...»
Afterwards, I saw Daria take her sister back to where her team was. I felt a strange sensation for some reason. The first time we met he treated me like a childish barbarian and a guy lazing around his sister. I never thought I'd get an offer like that from her first.
After a few more minutes of rest, Versyl announced the departure notice. «Let everyone finish their maintenance. We will leave soon». He also conveyed the formation our team would take at the time, which was three places ahead. Right behind us was Erwen's team.
This feels like we are being taken advantage of.
The structure had each team behind another like a train. Of course, there were no complaints here. Due to the nature of the Crystal Cave it was natural to move in single file and the team in the lead was Versyl, who was the strongest.
«Have I heard of Daria and Erwen calling you by the nickname Little Balkan? I hope we work well together. Yes, I'll leave the rear to you».
Why were we ahead of them? Was it really a coincidence?
Of course not.
Third from the front may have been similar to fourth, but it was an inevitable fact that being closer to the front was more dangerous. It was a trivial detail, but it was also true that we were the ones who lost.
Raven seemed to think the same. «Hey, this isn't sitting well with me».
"¿Hm? ¿What's going? ⁇
«The formation. You don't think it's going to continue like this, do you? I think it would be better to alternate front and rear».
Erwen's team leader Big Jaw laughed heartily at Raven's objection. «Haha, we have a lot of long rangers on our side and you guys have rangers nearby. It is a reasonable agreement».
«That is...»
«Are you not located in the safest center in the first place? Who do you think it's thanks to?» Big Jaw slashed Raven's words firmly. Even the rationalist Raven couldn't say anything. If this position was really thanks to him, she must have thought that it was only fair that we were in front since we had done nothing. You could say that we had actually benefited from them.
Can a simple team leader from a medium clan influence the deputy commander of a large clan?
It seemed like bullshit to me. I had to watch him more closely.
«Now, let's end this conversation here and get going. It seems that the front is already gone».
Don't rush us.
I left my doubts behind and moved forward.
Step step.
And so the official journey began. For starters, the trip itself was smooth, to the point that I was starting to think it was lucky out of heaven that we ran into these people by chance and it just so happened that Erwen was there to answer for me.
«Deputy Commander! Dark sorcerers!»
«Wait a minute. I'll take care of it quickly».
The combat power of the team the deputy commander belonged to was truly astonishing.
They said that the clan is mainly active on the seventh floor.
Having them pave the way forward was very comfortable for us as fans.
Is this what it feels like to be transported?
Aside from the few surprise attacks we had on the back roads, I was able to count on my hand the number of times I had to wield my mace.
When the trip had lasted about an hour, Versyl stopped and spoke to us. «I have good and bad news. The good thing is that we are almost there. We can enter the dark zone in a twenty minute race».
Yes, I already knew this. «What's the bad news?»
In response to a scout's question, Versyl murmured nonchalantly: «Not everyone will arrive».
A cold silence began to envelop the cave.