Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 18

 

Chapter 18: Cleaning up after the Scheme

 Two weeks have passed since the incident in the [Forest of No Entry]. The academy is slowly regaining its liveliness, but the Adventurers' Guild is not so lucky. There is still a lot of cleanup to do.

 Many adventurers had gathered at the site of the [Forest of No Entry] to help with one of the tasks. Ren is among them. He was not at all motivated.

"Haa, I am wasting my time."

"It's still too early to judge. You won't know until nightfall, right?"

 Langer, the leader of this mission, is the one who is soothing Ren's blabbering.

"I understand."

"You do?"

"It's the atmosphere. There is no atmosphere where the corpse in front of us becomes undead."

 Ren's participation in the mission was in case the slain magical beast turned into an undead. But when he came to the scene, Ren decided that wasn't the case.

"Atmosphere... then I can't report it to the guild."

“I know. I'm not saying I'm going to leave. I just felt like I was wasting my time."

"We're working, you know?"

"My main job is... I'm starting to lose track of what it is."

 These days, his work is not that of a necromancer.

"Choose an adventurer. I think you can make a lot of money, you know?"

"I hope so. But for now, I still have a lot to learn. I can't just concentrate on being an adventurer."

"Come to think of it, you're not even an adult yet."

"I'm a little sensitive about it, but, well, I guess so. Now, what do we do before nightfall?"

"Well, one thing we have to do is dispose of the corpses. The other is to search for the magical beast you claim you have seen."

 The adventurers were dispatched to perform these two tasks. The site is near the outer edge of the forest, which is considered a base camp for missions in the forest. If the area were to become a dangerous place where magical beasts gather or undead appear, it would hinder the execution of the mission. And if Fenris Wolf, a higher-ranking magical beast, was there, it would be a place that no one would be able to approach.

“Then, shall we dispose of the corpse?”

"Hey? What if you, the witness, participate in the search?"

"If I'm not mistaken, we're in trouble. I don't want to lose my life here."

"...That goes for all of us."

"If that's the case, why not just let it go?"

“If it makes it go away. If not, you're in trouble. Try showing up at Fenris Wolf's while on a solo mission."

"……Well"

 As Langer says. It can't be said that it has nothing to do with Ren.

"Okay. Then let's go search."

"Okay. Okay, but how are we going to find it?"

"We'll split into groups and go deeper into the forest."

"How many people are in a group?"

"I guess. Three people."

"You think we can defeat that magical beast with three people?"

"...Alright, let's go"

 Ren's question was ignored by Langer.

"Oi!?"

"That's the way it has to be, isn't it?"

"You're not going to search the whole forest, are you?"

"No, of course not. If we search as far as the adventurers can enter and find nothing, we will assume that it had left the place."

 Beyond that point, it's a dangerous place regardless of the Fenris Wolf. It's not something the guild cares about.

"Then we can all search together without taking that risk."

"We don't know when we'll be done. This is a guild job, and we don't get paid for it. We want to get it done quickly so we can get a legitimate request."

 It sounds greedy, but it is not. Most adventurers are able to make a living by working on their assignments without a break. They can't afford to do work that doesn't pay.

"……I get it."

"Well then, let's go."

"No. Wait a minute."

"What's up?"

"This spot is good."

 Ren closed his eyes on the spot and concentrated on something without moving. It looks like he's using magic, but he's really just pretending to be.

(Luna. Is Fenris Wolf nearby?)

(…The one that looks like that is in the north, a little further to the west.)

(Is it there?)

 He wishes it wasn't there if possible, but he guessed that hope didn't come true.

(I don't know if it's Fenris Wolf.)

(How far away is it?)

(It's a quarter of a mile on foot.)

(You can detect at that distance? It's true that it's a strong presence.)

(Yes.)

(Okay. Thank you.)

(Want my help?)

(...I don't want Luna's existence to be known. If things get out of control, I'll ask for your help.)

(Hmm)

"...Something is in the north, a little west."

 Ren told Langer about the existence that Luna had found.

"Was that magic?"

"Well."

"......You've been hiding it."

"I'm not stupid enough to declare that I can use detection."

"That's true."

 If it is known that he can use detection magic, his opponent will come up with countermeasures against it. As an adventurer, it's natural to hide.

"So? Do you believe me?"

"You used a secret trick. It's bad to waste it. Let's move immediately."

"How many people?"

"Of course, we all move forward. Hey! Gather around!"

 The adventurers assembled at Langer's command. Without explaining the details, Langer ordered the search to begin. Naturally, the direction of the search was in the direction Ren had given them.

 There were no questions from the adventurers as to why they were going there. No unnecessary prying. That is what adventurers are supposed to do.

◇◇◇

 Less than a quarter of a mile into their search, Ren and the others recognized the presence of something.

 They don't know if it's Fenris Wolf, but there's no doubt that something is in there. The roar of the magical beast and the sound of shock echoed through the forest.

"...Deploy and proceed to the destination. Four people per group. Don't open the distance too much."

 The adventurers who were advancing through the forest as a group dispersed into several groups and began to advance. Ren continued on as part of Langer's group.

"Why?"

"There is a possibility that many people will be killed at once if we are concentrated in one place."

"Hmm."

"That's how strong it is."

"...Well, I can see it."

 As Ren said, through the trees they could see the shadow of a beast ahead. The adventurers all tensed up at once. They slowed their steps and approached the shadow, trying not to make a sound.

 Before long, the whole picture came into view.

"……What?"

 Langer, who was about to give orders to attack, stopped when he saw the sight in front of him.

 The one who was there was definitely Fenris Wolf. However, even from a distance, that Fenris Wolf was terribly weak. Its silver hair was dyed red with blood.

 The reason for its weakness was obvious. Even with its head covered in blood, Fenris Wolf continued to strike at the giant tree in front of it.

 But the tree, with a trunk many times thicker than the Fenris Wolf's body, only shook its branches and leaves with the impact of the body blow.

"...Should we rejoice in our good fortune?"

"What do you think? It's weak, but it looks terribly angry."

"Don't let your guard down. Alright, we'll take it down at once."

 Langer, who has decided to attack, gives a hand signal to the adventurers around him. It was the signal to start the attack.

 The first to act were adventurers who could use attack magic. The chants of many echoed through the forest.

"It knew."

 There was no way that the magical beast would not have noticed the presence. Fenris Wolf stopped its body slamming into the tree and turned its face this way and that as if to warn us.

 However, the figure disappeared from the adventurer's sight in a few moments.

"Wha!?"

"Left! Mage! You're being targeted!"

 Ren's voice flew to the adventurers deployed on the left side. But it was a step or two too late. A bright red spray of blood billowed up into the air. The headless adventurer slowly fell to the ground.

"Everyone ready for battle! Attack at once!"

 Langer's order rang out, but Fenris Wolf's movements were ahead of it. The figure of Fenris Wolf, which should have been on the left, moved to the right the next moment. At his feet is the figure of a fallen adventurer with his throat bitten off.

"Stop chanting! Mages are being targeted!"

"What!?"

 Langer let out a voice of surprise at Ren's voice.

"We don't have time to be surprised, though?"

"...The magical beast is that strong."

“Isn't that why it was called a high-ranking monster?”

"Yes, but..."

"The situation is bad. The number of casualties is likely to increase."

 Overwhelming power. The adventurers are not even given a chance to counterattack.

"It looks weak."

"Anger at something beyond that. What is it?"

"Is this really the time to be thinking about that?"

"Eh? You want me to fight too?"

“You. How dare you say that when your life is on the line?

"...That tree. What's in it?"

"Hey! Where are you going!?"

 Ignoring Langer's attempts to stop him, Ren moved forward. The target was the tree that Fenris Wolf was hitting. As he approached, he saw that it was much larger than he had expected. It seemed to reach high into the sky.

"...Is that it?"

"Silver Wolf! Run away!"

 In response to that call, Ren jumped up into the tree in front of him. Only moments later, Fenris Wolf's figure was where Ren had been.

"……Just in time."

 But that was not enough to reassure him. Seeing Fenris Wolf pause from the tree, Ren realized its intentions. Ren grabbed a branch and climbed further up. Fenris Wolf, who had followed him, ran up the tree in a single jump.

 He jumped up, grabbed a branch, and stood up on top of it. Then again to a branch further up. Ren climbed up and up the tree. Fenris Wolf follows him with a light kick of the branch.

"Wait a minute! Is your purpose also above!?"

 Thinking that it would soon catch up, Ren raised his voice like that out of desperation, but that was fortunate.

 Fenris Wolf stopped chasing and stared at Ren.

“What's up there? ......Indeed, you can't answer, huh?

 He wondered if they could communicate like spirits, even if it couldn't speak. But Ren sensed that it understood what he was saying.

"If I'm small, I can climb to the top. If there's something at the top of the tree, I'll bring it down. How's that sound?"

 Ren didn't expect a reply. He only confirmed that there was no sign of pursuit and climbed further up the tree. Little by little the branches became thinner, but enough to support Ren. Ren used the branches to climb higher and higher.

"Good work."

 Suddenly, a voice called out from above. He looked up to see Luna sitting on a branch.

"Good, Luna. Have I arrived?"

"Yeah. Here."

"...I see."

 Climbing to the top, Ren saw what looked at first glance like a puppy hanging from a branch by a rope. It couldn't be just a puppy. It was the offspring of Fenris Wolf.

"……Is it alive?"

"Yes. Barely alive."

"The way you say that."

"It's dying."

"I see... let's put it down anyway"

 Ren untied the rope tied to the branch and gently pulled it close to him. He could faintly hear breathing in his ear as he moved closer. He put it inside his jacket so as not to drop it. When he was done, he took out the water bottle that was attached to his waist and poured a little water into the Fenris Wolf child's mouth.

"...No good."

 Having determined that it does not have the strength to drink the water itself, he now attempts a mouth-to-mouth transfer. The wolf is the other party, even if it is a mouth-to-mouth transfer. It simply opens its mouth wide and spits the water down the back of its throat. Even with this method, the water flowed out.

"...Is there anything I can do? Does it need its mother?"

 Having thought of that, Ren finally decided to go down. Keeping it in his jacket, he tied a rope over it, not too tight, to hold it in place.

 Then he carefully descended the branches one by one, trying not to step off his feet.

 Soon, he could see the Fenris Wolf on top of a thick branch, looking up. Nervously, Ren slowly descended to the branch above it.

"...Is this your child?"

"Grrrrrr."

"I can't tell from the growling voice. It's alive somehow, but it's in a very dangerous situation."

"Grrrrrrr."

"Though it's slightly different. For the time being, I'll get down first. I'll hand it over when we get down. Is that okay?"

"Grrr"

"...I don't understand. No, I'll take that as a yes."

 Half dejected, Ren descended to the branch where Fenris Wolf was. It did not do anything, and stayed where it was, even as Ren descended further.

 Finally, he jumps down from the branch to the ground at once.

"Silver Wolf!"

"Yeah, wait a minute!"

"Wait!?"

"Stay away! Don't attack!"

“…Are you okay!?”

"For now! Anyway, don't do anything until I signal!"

"Understood! Everybody stand by!"

 After confirming that the adventurers had not moved, Ren untied the rope and lowered the child Fenris Wolf to the ground.

"...Huh? It's not coming down. Is it still on guard?"

 He was thinking that if he handed it over like this, things would settle down, but Fenris Wolf didn't try to come down from the tree.

"I'm in trouble. Do you think it's dead? Hey, do your best. Stand up... not good, huh?"

 Ren didn't know what to do. Even though he knew he had no choice but to do so, he tried to give the child Fenris Wolf another drink of water to see if it could recover as much as possible.

"I don't know if water is enough."

 This time, he pulls out some smoked meat from his pocket. It's something he always has on hand instead of emergency rations when he's out on a request. He puts it in his mouth and continues chewing. The more he chews, the more flavorful and delicious it tastes, but that is not the purpose of this meal. He puts a little bit of the smoked meat, which has been chewed to tenderness, into the child Fenris Wolf's mouth.

"Oh, it ate it. It's okay in such a small amount. No, wait. I heard that solid food is not good after fasting. So, is it porridge or rice gruel?"

"Hey! Silver Wolf! What are you doing! Explain the situation!"

 As expected, the leader, Langer called out to him.

“Can you make rice gruel?”

"Ha!? Why do you need that!?"

"There was a beast that looked like a Fenris Wolf child hanging from the tree!"

"What did you say!?"

"I think that's how it was lured out! I thought I'd bring it back to life so it could return to its home!"

“Why rice gruel!”

"It must not have eaten anything for more than two weeks! It's a wonder it's still alive!"

"I see... hey! Is there someone who can use healing magic!?"

"Leader! Even if there is, it's impossible! It works on nothing but injuries!"

"...No good. I see, what about medicinal herbs!?"

“Oh, in that case! ......Silver Wolf, is it okay to approach!?"

 He knows that the Fenris Wolf is in the tree. If it jumps on him, he will be one of its victims.

"I'll go get it, so bring it halfway!"

"All right!"

 An adventurer, who had been hiding behind a tree, emerged and started walking toward Ren.

“Medicine! You understand!? I'll go get the medicine!"

 When he told Fenris Wolf on the tree one-sidedly, Ren walked towards the adventurer who appeared.

"……Here it is."

"What kind of herb this is?"

"It's for restoring strength."

"Oh, it might work. Are there any side effects?"

"Side effects?"

"Like, if you eat too much, it'll actually destroy your body."

"Oh, it's not, the effect doesn't change even if you eat a lot."

"I understand."

 After receiving the medicinal herbs from the adventurer, Ren returns to his original location. Inwardly, he wondered what was meant by "restoring strength," but there was no point in questioning it now. He decided to accept it as it is.

(It's a tonic. That's what it is.)

 He convinced himself that way.

 Fenris Wolf didn't go down. Without worrying about that, Ren sat down under the tree and put the medicinal herbs in his mouth and chewed them finely. When it's done, he put it on his finger and on the child Fenris Wolf's tongue. After repeating that several times, he waits and sees when the medicinal herbs in its mouth are gone.

"...Speaking of which!"

"What!?"

"Will this work immediately?"

"Immediately!? It doesn't!"

"Oi!?"

“Isn’t it strange if you get well soon after eating it!?”

"……That's right, but."

 It is true, but that is not the herb Ren had in mind. Novels and games were different from reality.

 For those watching around, the tense time passes as if they were suffocating.

 But there was no significant change in the child Fenris Wolf's condition.

"...It's going to take a while for it to get better. Now, I think it's time for you to take it back."

 Perhaps it heard that muttering, suddenly the Fenris Wolf descended from overhead.

"Whoa!"

"Silver Wolf!"

"...I'm fine!"

 In fact, Fenris Wolf had just come down from the tree and did not appear to attack Ren.

"Child, would you take it?"

"Grrrrrrr."

"...I guess this is goodbye."

"Grrr?"

"I knew it. You can understand me. And by "goodbye," I mean "dismissed". Can you please go back to where you live?"

"...Grrrrrr."

"The child. It is alive. And the people who are here are not involved with what happened to your child. If anything, they are on the side of the enemies of the people who took the child."

"Grrrr."

"Take your child and go live with your family."

 Ren stood up and tried to leave, but Fenris Wolf didn't allow it. It moves quickly and stands in front of Ren.

"...What do you want me to do?"

"Grrrrrr."

 Fenris Wolff responded to Ren's question with action. By the action of pushing the child lying on the ground towards Ren with its nose.

"...I don't think so."

"Grrrrrr."

“Do you want me to take care of your child properly?”

"Grrrr!"

"Ah, no. Now I know what you said. But I didn't put you through this, though, did I?"

"Grrr, grrrrrrr."

"I don't know. I'm stumped."

 Without knowing what the Fenris Wolf wants, things are unlikely to end.

(I don't think it's about taking responsibility.)

 Ren, who was wondering what to do, heard Luna's voice in his head.

(Hmm? Does Luna understand its words?)

(Just emotion, vaguely though.)

(Emotion? What kind?)

(I think it means help.)

(...Because she can't help it herself?)

(I don't know about that, but I think that's what leaving it with Ren means.)

(I see.)

 If Luna's words are true, then he can see why it pushed the child toward Ren.

"...How about something like this?"

"Grrrr?"

"I'm happy to take care of this one, but it's in this condition. I can't promise that it will get well. This one could die tomorrow."

"Grrrrrrr."

"I promise I will do everything I can to make this one well. Are these conditions acceptable?"

"Grrrrr."

“Would you be willing to walk away from this? With the number of people we have now, it may not be a problem for you. But if things get too big, the military will have to be mobilized. If that happens, I think it will be hard for you."

 If adventurers can not enter the forest, the Church will be in trouble. The various materials available in the forests are a valuable source of income for the Church.

"...Grrrr."

 Ren looked like he was thinking about it, so the Fenris Wolf let out a short groan.

"Alright. I've come to understand the affirmation somehow. Maybe it's just my imagination."

"Grrrrrrrr."

 Perhaps intending to say goodbye, the Fenris Wolf brought its face closer to the child and began to stroke the child's belly with its nose.

 After finishing that, it started walking slowly toward the depths of the forest, even though it looked a little reluctant.

"Huh? Wait a minute! What am I supposed to do when this one gets well!"

 The answer to Ren's question was again demonstrated by the Fenris Wolf's actions. Stopping and turning toward Ren, the Fenris Wolf shook its face from side to side and ran away from the place at once.

"...Eh!? Could it be that you forced it on me!?"

 The last time he saw the Fenris Wolf's face, it looked like it was smiling, but Ren was sure it wasn't his imagination.