By Zephyria 
In conclusion, we decided to resolve this matter.
It was because none of us were in a position to evade the responsibility that had fallen upon us. Even if we couldn’t achieve a perfect resolution, we had to at least run around and order other mercenaries to stop their foolishness and not go digging into caves.
It was fortunate that we had enough Artifacts. Besides the Healing Artifact that had been useful last time, Hugh Benson, who had brought various Explosive Artifacts this time, patted himself on the head several times and praised himself.
We moved along Dunmel Canyon, from west to east.
We deliberately sought out and blew up suspicious caves hidden in winding paths. When we encountered mercenaries, we sternly told them not to believe the rumors and used our authority to command them. For those who didn’t listen or were defiant, we appeased them by sharing the spoils that the bald mercenary group chasing us had collected.
Hugh Benson made all sorts of jokes.
“Your Highness, is it manageable?”
“Yes? Yes.”
“Ah, say you can’t do it. So we can make an excuse that we had to turn back because our esteemed Your Highness was scared.”
“…Haha.”
He also grumbled pointlessly at Rubel,
“My gut feeling is bad, really bad.”
“Yes?”
“We were originally planning to hole up in the western corner. Damn it, I feel like I’m meeting every mercenary in my life right now. Ugh… I really hate this…”
He also whined pointlessly at me.
However, Hugh Benson was the one who searched for caves with the most burning intensity, so eventually, no one paid any attention to his words.
Thus, after diligently searching through caves for nearly a month as we headed east, on a certain day in early May.
We encountered the largest mercenary group we had seen so far.
Their numbers reached around two hundred. Since mercenary groups are autonomous armed organizations, it was rare for such a large group to band together. Therefore, as soon as we spotted them from afar, everyone tensed up and placed their hands on their sword hilts.
Hugh Benson stepped forward, raised his fist to head height, and sent a few hand signals. The other side also clenched their fists, opened and closed them to signal a few numbers, and nodded.
After confirming there was no hostile intent, we approached them and stood face to face.
The man at the very front of the mercenary group was a fellow who carried a massive axe on his back. His white hair was kept shaggy in the center of his head, while the sides were shaved short to reveal bare skin in strange patterns.
His nose and mouth were as large as his height, and his eyes were characteristically narrow, making it hard to tell if they were open or closed. Nevertheless, his booming voice was filled with a hearty spirit.
“Ah, you must be those knights. It’s a great pleasure to meet you.”
“Name.”
“I am Leon, the leader of the White Lion Mercenary Group.”
The fellow thumped his chest with large gestures and bowed. It was clear he was trying to show courtesy in his own way, but it was a clumsy imitation of noble greetings, as he was not accustomed to such formalities. The angle of his feet and the degree to which he bowed his shoulders differed greatly from aristocratic greetings.
However, Hugh Benson did not immediately return the greeting and gritted his teeth.
“You’re the one who spread the false rumors that started this damn cave exploration.”
“…Whoa, whoa. No, no, it wasn’t intentional. Ah, wait a moment. Is this person the leader? Do you have anyone who can have a more calm conversation?”
“…”
“…”
The fellow craned his neck forward and surveyed us standing behind Hugh Benson. His movements were large, and though we couldn’t tell if he was scrutinizing us with his gaze, his plea for help was evident. There was no one among us who could calm Hugh down when he was this angry. We simply waited in silence.
Then, mercenary leader Leon cautiously clasped his hands together in front of him and pleaded with Hugh Benson.
“Ah, I really saw it. It’s not a lie. I just went back to the same spot the next day, and the cave had vanished, leaving nothing behind. I was so curious that I asked others if they had seen anything, and if they had, to tell me! That’s how it got distorted.”
“…”
“Never! I absolutely never told anyone to go find it themselves, or that there were treasures inside the caves! I swear on the feet of the First Goddess! We were also looking for knights because things got out of hand.”
“…”
“Otherwise, would we be here right now? We would have fled to the Duchy already.”
Upon hearing that, it seemed to be true.
Mercenaries were fundamentally profit-driven groups, but there was also a camaraderie among those who sought out dangerous places, and they were known to spread news of strange occurrences quickly. They did so to warn skilled individuals to engage and unskilled ones to avoid.
Therefore, we couldn’t hold them responsible for the rumor being distorted.
Hugh Benson asked something else.
“Was it this number of people from the start?”
“No, no. Seventeen people started, but as others heard about the caves and became curious, they joined one by one, and the numbers increased. I took the lead because I have the most name recognition.”
“Are you still searching?”
Before Hugh Benson could get annoyed again, the fellow lowered himself with a smile and said cheerfully.
“Ah, you never know if something great might appear.”
“No.”
“We know we’re doing something dangerous! But listen, what is our mission? To pre-emptively eliminate the threatening monsters in Dunmel Canyon! So that monsters don’t reach the Widdrow Duchy! That is the mission we are on, isn’t it?”
“…”
“An unknown threat, something we don’t even know what it is, is stirring right above the Widdrow Duchy! Here in Dunmel Canyon. Yes? Now that the knights have arrived, wouldn’t it be a shame not to check it out? You’re curious, aren’t you?”
“…”
“And if we get lucky and catch it, well, we won’t ask for much. Just according to the work done. Cleanly.”
Hmph. I couldn’t help but laugh at the audacity.
That bald mercenary fellow was just like this. He would lower himself before a group of knights, all nobles or quasi-nobles, speak smoothly and eloquently, and be confident as one martial artist to another. Yet, what interested him most was money.
Here was a man older and not lacking in skill, acting obsequious with flattering words, and he knew exactly how to play the game. Hugh Benson was the type to show his blade to those who defiantly challenged him, but he was merciful to those who bowed first.
Hugh snorted.
“What proportion? You’re probably not even as good as our little one.”
“Ah, well, that’s because you are knights… Uh. Ernhardt?”
Leon, seeing me, widened his narrow eyes, revealing his pupils. His overly dramatic surprise was almost awkward. Why was he so surprised? I let out a dry cough.
“…Do you know me?”
“A young man with pink hair of this beauty can only be Young Master Ernhardt; even a stray dog on the street knows that! Ha, hic. Well, if the rumors are true, I might be outmatched… but I’m not someone who’s easily beaten either.”
“I suppose so.”
Unable to immediately dismiss the stranger before him, he stammered an acknowledgment.
Looking at him, anyone wielding an axe of that size was not to be underestimated. The aura that sufficiently permeated his body proved it. The fellow, with his gestures and theatrics, obtained Hugh Benson’s permission and drew his axe. He then inhaled sharply, narrowing his brow.
A light green Sword energy shimmered around the axe. A Sword Master. This fellow could also wield Sword energy. He grinned, stretching his already unreadable eyes wide with pride.
“See? I, a Sword Master! I saw it with my own eyes and couldn’t believe it, so I’m trying to confirm it. Yes? I’m not just making things up.”
In the mercenary world, skill brought trust. Reaching the realm of a Sword Master without formal training was remarkable. His confidence in his own abilities became pride, and that pride made him bold.
After showing off for a moment, he put his axe back and clasped his hands earnestly in front of his chest. The pose, as cute as a choir of young girls, was utterly comical. Hugh Benson let out a sigh and opened his mouth.
“One month.”
“What? One month?”
“We will scout for exactly one month, and after that, hunting permits will only be issued in the grassland areas. This is an order from me, Count Hugh Benson, a retainer of the Widdrow Duke Family, and during wartime, it carries the same authority as an order from Duke Widdrow.”
“Yes, Count!”
Leon immediately prostrated himself, and the other mercenaries who had been lurking behind, listening to the leaders’ conversation, quickly followed suit. Then, one of them stumbled while prostrating and then knelt on the opposite knee. Oh my. A sigh escaped my lips.
And so, many more days passed.
Joining forces with the White Lion Mercenary Group was a good decision in many ways.
They took care of us while preparing meals. When it was time to sleep, they chose good spots and guided us. Each time, Hugh Benson would nonchalantly hand them a few gold coins and then grumble to us. It was quite amusing and intriguing to see.
“You were so stingy, yet why are you giving to them?”
“…Ha, damn it… This is why I don’t reveal my name when I travel. Because when nobles and commoners meet, I always end up being extorted like this.”
Indeed, I had also heard that it was a noble’s duty to bestow favors upon their servants. Marianne, who was eating the stew the mercenaries had prepared, widened her eyes and quickly asked.
“No, but why didn’t you say you were a Count? You only said you were a graduate of the Academy from a commoner background. Do you have a territory, a territory?”
“If I had a territory, would I be here? It’s just a title. I’m getting by with words. Ugh… Even though I worked my ass off to get good grades, they only gave me a Single-rank title because I wasn’t from an old noble family, so what could I do? A Single-rank title doesn’t even grant the right to purchase territory.”
“Ehh.”
“You, get to 8th Circle and receive a Count title, then take me as your territory resident. I’ll be good.”
Then Marianne burst into laughter and nodded.
“Ha… I can’t help it. I was only planning to reach 7th Circle, but that won’t do. To make my brother a sudden rich man, I’ll have to become an Archmage.”
“You must do it, you must.”
Searching for suspicious caves also became much easier.
With hundreds of mercenaries searching everywhere, we could discover three or four caves a day. It was much better than the six of us searching alone.
Most importantly, it was a great relief that when caves were found, the mercenaries didn’t immediately rush in but called us first. They were usually ordinary monster caves, not overflowing with Mana. Those that didn’t need to be disturbed were left as they were, and those that posed a threat were dealt with by throwing Explosive Artifacts into them.
Occasionally, monsters would emerge from the caves, but we usually defeated them without much difficulty.
And so, it became the first week of June.
There had been no special incidents until now. After this week, there would be no need to sharpen our senses and dig into caves. Since the mercenaries had brought plenty of food, there was no need to resupply. Everyone relaxed, thinking we would spend the remaining subjugation period by hunting in the surrounding areas.
However, life rarely goes as planned.
Three days before the promised month was up, mercenary leader Leon found us, greatly excited.