Chapter 110 – Hero (3)

“Not late.”

Alda was still wearing the revealing spirit mage’s outfit she wore on the volcanic island.

Though the weather wasn’t very warm so it seemed like she’d be cold, rather when she approached, the hero party and mercenaries seemed to feel subtle heat.

Because she traveled with flame spirits.

If an ordinary spirit mage, there would be no difference normally, but one of the spirits she traveled with was a Spirit King-level spirit that positioned at the volcano’s center. Thanks to that, as soon as she came out to the world, she immediately became renowned as a prominent spirit mage.

Alda who approached the hero party glared at the mercenaries at the spirits’ sounds.

‘There’s a person who gives a feeling similar to that person’s mana.’

‘But the mana amount is different?’

‘But it is similar though.’

Alda’s spirits were watching where the mercenaries were while whispering.

She who didn’t remember what happened on the volcanic island traveled the world as a mercenary after leaving the volcanic island. To find the person the spirits informed she met during the lost memory.

Spirits couldn’t remember people by appearance. Among the four people seen at the volcano anyway, they could only recognize the mana fragrance of one man who had ability similar to her spirit arts.

She who never once heard similar stories while traveling everywhere had no choice but to have a serious expression at the sounds the spirits told.

The person the spirits pointed to was a black-haired man wearing unusual clothes. Because he raised his collar hiding his face, couldn’t recognize the face.

Of course, even seeing the face, there was no memory so it wouldn’t be of much use, but she had no choice but to feel wanting to confirm.

So she glared for quite a while, but the man didn’t think of raising his head.

“Why? Is the person you’re looking for here perhaps?”

At the prince’s question, Alda slightly relaxed her expression and shook her head. Anyway, there was plenty of time.

Moreover, since the spirits said it wasn’t the same person, didn’t seem necessary to confirm urgently.

Much time passed since leaving the island.

Fortunately, having ability recognized, she lived as a mercenary and also met the hero party traveling together. During that time, she continuously searched for the people the spirits said they saw.

Having met a related person now anyway, she had to be more careful. Through long mercenary life, now she too knew the world and was slightly tainted by the world.

Alda glanced at the mercenaries’ side lastly then began moving together with the hero party.

“Didn’t expect to meet here.”

Sun-woo breathed a sigh of relief when Alda turned around. Clearly erased memory, but the appearance glaring at him clearly noticed something.

“Don’t tell me memory modification ability has a time limit or something…”

If it was such a way, Daniel moving before mercenaries would already have been caught.

Daniel also was startled when she appeared, but Alda completely didn’t care about Daniel.

“Do you know her?”

“A person met in the previous mission. The support team clearly modified memory…”

“I see. But even if memory exists, isn’t the possibility of not recognizing high? Sun-woo-ssi’s face changed a lot so won’t be easy to recognize. Seems like just insisting not would be enough.”

Her words were right. Thanks to body transformation, Sun-woo’s appearance changed quite differently from before. But Sun-woo ended up becoming a puzzled expression thanks to Yeonhwa’s words.

“Then Yeonhwa-ssi saw me and immediately recognized me? And didn’t say anything different either.”

“That’s because I’m a Holy Maiden. Even if appearance changes, that person’s soul doesn’t change.”

Sun-woo breathed a sigh inwardly.

Holy Maiden Yeonhwa

<Abilities related to God cannot be acquired.>

Couldn’t check Yeonhwa’s skills through Sun-woo’s phone either, and even asking Yeonhwa, she just said God’s ability so can’t divide precisely, so was just awkward.

Thanks to abilities revealed one by one continuously, grasping Yeonhwa’s skills was extremely difficult.

And certainly God seemed to exist. Didn’t know if really God, but was an existence the Summoner couldn’t do anything about.

Holy Maiden Victoria

<Abilities related to God cannot be acquired.>

Because unlike the prince and mage, couldn’t know the Holy Maiden’s skills either.

Mage Graham

<Summon Magic: Demon Summon, Demon Race Summon>

<Fire Magic: Fire Ball, Fire Field, Hellfire>

<Wind Magic: Wind Cutter, Tornado, Vacuum Field>

…

Prince Adolf Gristeen

<Kingdom Ceremonial Swordsmanship>

<Enhanced Body>

<Gristeen Royal House Mana Secret>

<Ancient Empire Swordsmanship>

…

Anyway, the mage and prince whose skills could be known clearly suited the hero party. Among skill windows seen until now, hardly saw people filled with such skills.

Sun-woo who was caught in other thoughts briefly shook his head throwing off thoughts. Talking with Yeonhwa, thoughts kept going to the mountains.

Anyway, decided to deny first for now. Because would be troublesome if conspicuously placed in front.

‘All these many people, even modifying memory is difficult.’

Moreover, where the dragon is was clearly a contaminated region, so summoning the support team there would be impossible.

Worried about those having to go to the contaminated region, but could only pray they endure long.

Fortunately, spirit mage Alda also just glanced occasionally and didn’t approach Sun-woo.

Mercenaries also didn’t pick fights seeing Sun-woo’s performance. Though Sun-woo who entered by parachute, mercenaries were skill-based.

Mercenaries with unusual abilities others couldn’t do had no choice but to be treated well anywhere.

However, mercenaries were just puzzled at the suddenly warmed air.

With a high-ranking spirit mage included in the party, could advance more comfortably. Already considerably deviated from the front line so forces encountered also decreased, now no need for Sun-woo to step forward.

“Didn’t we not even need to follow?”

“Anyway called to set up meat shields when fighting with guardians at the dragon mountain range.”

“It’s good if there’s no fighting, well. If that hero party is as strong as the rumor, returning with the dragon slayer title.”

On the third day, mercenaries’ tension considerably relaxed. Weapons held in both hands now entered behind backs or sheaths. They walked the path with comfortable steps without examining surroundings.

Because today didn’t meet enemies from morning to lunch time.

Of course, seeing changing paths several times in between, looked like avoided places where enemies were at those times.

Still, being able to avoid enemies just by changing direction was talk that enemies decreased that much.

Around lunch time, mountains began appearing distantly hazily.

A large mountain range passing several kingdoms, where dragons positioned everywhere apparently. And in the direction going now was the Green Dragon’s lair.

Not much remaining now.

When the mountain range began appearing before eyes, Alda began gradually moving. Because if too late, would miss the opportunity. Now when becoming slightly leisurely was the opportunity.

“Can we talk briefly?”

When Alda who appeared before Sun-woo sometime spoke, surrounding gazes all turned this direction.

Eventually, what was to come came.

Looked around wondering if could receive help, but only Daniel who already turned his head and Yeonhwa looking with a curious expression like surrounding people.

“Haa, what is it.”

Sun-woo who already decided to deny made an expression with conspicuous annoyed signs.

Seeing Sun-woo’s handsome face covered by collar, Alda became a slightly surprised expression, but soon clasped both hands and opened her mouth.

“Is there anyone among people you know who went to the volcanic island south of the continent? I desperately want to meet them. Or if there are people who use similar mana, please let me know. Please, I beg you.”

At Alda’s appearance pleading while making an earnest expression filling her face, Sun-woo had no choice but to make an awkward expression.

As expected, clearly noticed something. Fortunately seemed not to know the precise situation, but looked like noticed something because of mana.

Though sorry feelings surged at Alda’s pitiful face, couldn’t tell the situation to her who wasn’t a summoner.

With the support team’s memory manipulation, erased summoners’ traces, but the situation was leaking even to ordinary people. Still, to speak openly, the Summoner’s sanctions weighed on his mind.

“It’s a story I’m hearing for the first time. And I haven’t heard such sounds either. I’m sorry.”

Sun-woo hardened his expression and answered her words. Then Alda became gloomy, but soon relaxed her expression again.

‘Really similar.’

‘Yeah, yeah, much stronger but the feeling is similar. First time same feeling from a person.’

Because of the spirits’ sounds heard around. Though the other party said doesn’t know, to believe that as is, Alda’s mercenary life also wasn’t short.

Alda resolved after this matter ended, even if separating from existing people happens, to follow the man before her eyes.

Sun-woo had no choice but to sigh inwardly at Alda’s expression like determined something. Spirits fidgeting around looked like gave some information again.

Sun-woo tried to deny once more, but stopped at the appearance of a bat flying from the distance ahead.

It was the mage’s familiar. The bat sent flying again after obtaining information the day before yesterday was flying from the dragon mountain range side this time, not the back.

The mage who placed the bat on his shoulder soon smiled.

“The bait bit. Entered combat an hour ago.”

While the party dawdled, the knight order that ran ahead toward the dragon mountain range met enemy guardians.

Sent the prince’s party as bait, but eventually reversely the knight order became bait.

At the mage’s words, the prince nodded and shouted loudly toward the back.

“Changing direction. And now moving quickly. Target is dragon mountain range!”

Simultaneously the mage called Alda in, and relaxed mercenaries also began tensing again.

Mercenaries didn’t know the precise situation, but could see just looking that time to work arrived now.

Mercenaries who walked not quickly now began moving at quick steps close to running, and the prince’s party also began riding horses.

And the party now didn’t eliminate all enemies met, continuing moving while eliminating only forces’ main strength.

Had to arrive at the mountain range before the bait’s effect disappeared.

***

Same time.

The knight order of several hundred who entered the mountain range was continuing fierce battle after meeting guardians.

Regrettably, whether the bait that departed first was blocked in between or there was another problem, the number of guardians that crowded wasn’t small.

“Captain! Must retreat! This way even entering inside the lair is difficult!”

At the member beside’s words, the captain gritted his teeth.

If only monster guardians, could divide forces and rush to the lair.

The problem was elves. Because they shot arrows with eyes flashing from everywhere in the forest, couldn’t do so.

But couldn’t withdraw as is. Though an operation with success probability not very high, if withdrew as is, might lose the capital as is.

“Exert more strength! If we break through here, soon the lair!”

The knight captain encouraging knights like that, but his words had no choice but to vomit different words shortly after.

“Kruaaaaa!”

Making a boiling voice like a monster, the knight captain blew away the knight beside’s neck with sword.

The one changed wasn’t only the knight captain. Dozens of knights with red eyes began attacking surrounding knights.

“Re-retreat! Knights are possessed by evil spirits!”

The vice knight captain covered in blood shouted with a frightened voice, and the knight order’s camp began collapsing as is.

***

Several hours later, the hero party and mercenaries arrived at a ridge several kilometers from the valley the knight order entered.

Sun-woo looking at the murky mountain range visible before eyes had no choice but to worry. Though hoped perhaps, the mountain range before eyes was also contaminated.

Clearly if entering that contaminated zone, people becoming contaminated would definitely appear.

Even speaking, no one would believe, and also couldn’t speak. Still, to push ordinary people into that contaminated zone as is, couldn’t not weigh on his mind.

Daniel also seemed the same thought, so was restless. Moreover, the hero ahead was the prince of the country he swore loyalty to.

Daniel who worried continuously eventually decided to speak to the prince. Even if receiving the Summoner’s sanctions, couldn’t leave as is.

But before Daniel spoke to the prince, the Holy Maiden opened her mouth looking at the mountain.

“The mountain is wrapped in darkness. If just entering, will cause great damage to people.”

She slowly walked forward then knelt on the floor and began praying.

“I beseech. Please bring down light to our lambs. Please bless the defiled land with your light.”

When her words ended, the Holy Maiden’s body began shining, and simultaneously centered on her, murky energy began quickly withdrawing.

“Now it’s done. God heard the prayer. Now near where I am, darkness won’t approach.”

Mercenaries and heroes who weren’t summoners didn’t understand the situation so just thought good, but summoners widened eyes in surprise.

“Good heavens, to make contamination withdraw.”

Sun-woo looked at the Holy Maiden and Yeonhwa repeatedly. One purified contamination spreaders and amplification stones, while the other was pushing contamination in a certain area.

“Don’t tell me, don’t we have to gather all the world’s priests?”

Such sounds had no choice but to pop out from Sun-woo’s mouth.