After we got information from the male shopkeeper, Sofia finally said, “Thank you,” and we left the shop.

“There was talk of a house being destroyed, wasn’t there?”

“That’s right…”

As I replied, I continued to search the surroundings with my familiar. I searched around the town, but for now, no abnormalities were found.

More importantly, if things aren’t going according to the event, where is the crucial Demonized Mercenary…? As I walked, controlling my Familiar,

“Lord Ruon.”

Suddenly, Sofia called out to me.

“Next, to that shop… although, it might be difficult to get any more promising information than this.”

The shop she pointed to was an Item Shop, where an event would normally trigger in the game. I nodded and entered the shop, and as before, Sofia spoke to the Shopkeeper.

Listening to her… yes, as expected, all we could hear was information about bandits invading a house, with no further details.

At this rate, my game knowledge is obviously useless… What should I do?

From there, Sofia and I walked further through the Town… although it wasn’t very large, so in a little over an hour, we met up with Sylvie and the others near the inn.

As a result of exchanging information, Sylvie and the others only got similar stories, but there was one difference.

“There’s a Hunter’s Cabin on the mid-slope of the mountain with the western forest. It seems like figures resembling bandits have been spotted there several times.”

Ah, so that’s how the information comes out… If the warrior who accepted the guild’s request is neglecting it, then the Demonized Mercenary would be near the Hunter’s Cabin.

But now that it’s a reality, I’d naturally assume they’d have moved on after a few days… Most of the mercenary’s details haven’t been revealed, other than that they were a villain, but the sightings near the Hunter’s Cabin suggest there might be some connection to Sylvie’s revenge target, I wonder.

“So, that means we’re going there?”

Sylvie responded to Sofia and then proposed the future course of action.

“The Hunter’s Cabin doesn’t seem to be too far from town, so how about we have an early lunch and then head there? Sofia, is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

The next course of action has been decided, and all that’s left is to go to the Hunter’s Cabin… I try scouting from a distance with my familiar, but there’s no sign of the mercenary. For now, I’ll try searching a bit more around the town.

And even though it’s lunch, it’s still early. So, we had a little free time.

Sofia and I walked side by side through town. Both of us were silent for a short while, but then Sofia began to speak.

“…May I ask something?”

“Please do.”

“I realized there was something I hadn’t asked about during Lord Ruon’s story… It’s about the recapture of the Barx Kingdom.”

“…Honestly, that part changed depending on who the protagonist was.”

“Is that so… If it came to a fight, would it still be Eina?”

“That’s how it would be.”

After I replied, Sofia looked up at the sky.

“I haven’t told Eina that I’m with Lord Ruon yet. I imagine she’s still desperately trying to rescue me.”

“…You want to go talk to her right away, don’t you?”

Well, that’s natural… but Sofia shook her head from side to side.

“It’s clear that my existence will influence the war with the Demon Lord. For now, I should refrain.”

“…I see.”

I couldn’t say anything more. In fact, I agreed that we couldn’t talk until the time was right.

“…By the way, Lord Ruon. Changing the subject,”

“Oh, what is it?”

“I’ve heard and understood the extent of Lord Ruon’s skill… I’d like to spar with you in some way, at some point.”

“That’s fine, but I can’t use my full power, you know?”

“That’s fine… for now.”

With a meaningful tone, Sofia smiled—in her gaze, there was a sense of mission to fight the Demon King, but even more than that, there seemed to be an ambition to become stronger.

For her, becoming stronger is necessary to defeat the Demon King—but beyond that, she seems to have other thoughts.

“You seem happy about getting stronger, somehow.”

“…Did I look that way?”

“Yes.”

“Is it inappropriate?”

“I think it’s good to have motivation… For Sofia, is it like wanting the power to defeat the Demon King?”

“My goal is—”

She paused for a beat, then told me.

“To stand shoulder to shoulder with Lord Ruon.”

I was somewhat surprised by her clear declaration.

“…Is my goal too high?”

Sofia gave a wry smile after saying that. In response, I shook my head from side to side.

Rather, I wonder if it’s okay for you to aim for me… I was able to do it. Sofia, you can do it too.

If they’re motivated, I’d be happy… Just as I was thinking that, a report came in from my Familiar.

“…Hm?”

I spoke up. Further into the Forest from the Hunter’s Cabin… there seems to be a horde of Monsters there.

My Familiar, being in the sky, couldn’t see the details of what was happening in the Forest, so I sent instructions for it to get closer. The Monster horde seemed to consist of the types of Monsters found nearby… no, there were exceptions too. What exactly did it mean for them to be in a horde—

“—This is…”

“What’s wrong?”

Sofia asked, reacting to my words.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

I quickly brushed it off… but an unexpected situation was unfolding.

I should probably tell Sylvie and the others about this. Having made up my mind, I continued walking through the Town.

After an early lunch, we were about to head towards the Hunter’s Cabin. However, before that, there was something I had to report.

“Sylvie, listen? This is the result of scouting the surroundings with my Familiar.”

“Is it about the bandits?”

“I don’t know the details. It might be related, or it might not.”

“That’s quite vague.”

“I’m also having trouble deciding. I haven’t even confirmed any bandits yet.”

“I understand, but… your expression is stiff. Is it a serious situation?”

“If things go wrong, the Town might suffer damage.”

Sofia and Kuuza looked surprised at my words.

“Are the bandits bringing their subordinates to attack?”

“Something close to that.”

“Close?”

“There’s a horde of Monsters nearby… beyond the Hunter’s Cabin we’re heading to.”

At my words, Sylvie stared towards the Forest.

“…A horde, huh? How many?”

“A considerable number just from what I could confirm. But I only roughly checked with my Familiar, so there might be more.”

“What kind of Monsters?”

“Mostly weak Monsters, but there’s a mix of various types. I think Sofia and the others can handle them, but it’s better to be careful.”

“Understood. But I have no intention of backing down… rather, if there are Monsters nearby, we should exterminate them.”

“It’s unsettling that they haven’t moved at all so far… Anyway, be careful.”

After I finished speaking, we started moving. Well, it seems it’s confirmed that things won’t proceed as they did in the game event, but I wonder how it will unfold from here.

My Familiar was scouting the area around the Hunter’s Cabin… that’s when I finally managed to spot the Demonized Mercenary. It seems he had been hiding deep in the Forest until now.

Considering that the wall destroyed by the event has been repaired, a considerable amount of time must have passed. That means he might have become quite strong.

I entered the Forest, pondering various things, like whether the Mercenary had subjugated the surrounding Monsters or if there was another reason for their presence.

After walking for a while… just as we were about to reach the Hunter’s Cabin, it happened.

Suddenly, a Wind blew through the Forest. It had no offensive capabilities whatsoever, but we noticed something.

“…That’s a threat from the bandits ahead, then.”

Kuuza analyzed it. Furthermore, Sofia mentioned something else.

“The presence was completely that of a Monster… does that mean it was affected by Miasma?”

No sooner had she spoken than the three of them ran off. I followed them and found the Mercenary right in front of the Hunter’s Cabin.