GILF Hunter

Chapter 475: 475 Witch’s Forest

’So... you’re saying there’s an unplanned additional person?’

’Yes. This is Miss Frenda, who was a high priestess at the Temple....’

’Of course it’s fine. Hello, Miss Frenda.’

’Ah... yes. Hello.’

Ariel nodded before the story was even finished and firmly grabbed Frenda’s hand with great politeness.

An additional person not in the previously agreed-upon details. Furthermore, a notification on the very day, right before departure.

From the perspective of an expedition leader, it was something that could understandably be uncomfortable, but if that person was a priest, it was an exception.

Having a priest in the party meant practically having an extra life attached to you in the Labyrinth.

It was hard enough just to get a single blessing from a priest, but to have one following the expedition throughout the entire journey. It was almost impossible to imagine how much money had been paid to bring her along.

Even a former high priestess at that. This was something even Ariel couldn’t help but be startled by.

While Frenda and Ariel exchanged greetings, a mercenary from the circle who was checking the supplies Ian had handed over asked him.

’Leader Ian! Are you really providing all of this support?’

’Yes. I’ll transfer it all to the [Ranger Circle], so feel free to take whatever is left after the expedition.’

’Kyaa!’

The items from the Temple that Ian brought received almost as much interest as Frenda.

If anything, the interest of the average circle members seemed to be focused more on that side.

The goods filling the bag were far too many to be used in just this one expedition. The leftovers would naturally be kept and used by the circle for a long time.

For the circle members, who were already having a headache trying to secure expedition supplies, it was an extremely welcome turn of events.

...Of course, the person who received the most enthusiastic reaction was someone else.

’Miss Airi, do you happen to remember me? Last time....’

’Miss Airi...!’

’Hrueek....’

As soon as Airi appeared at the gathering place, she was instantly surrounded. It was a tight siege that left no room even to react.

The [Ranger Circle], a gathering of mercenaries of the archer-type class who mainly handle bows.

Among such archers, Airi could be called the most famous figure.

Furthermore, Airi wasn’t the type to wander around often, so while rumors were rampant throughout the city, it was truly difficult to actually see her face.

To go on an expedition with such a person, a huge commotion within the circle was inevitable.

Airi, surrounded by people, tried to attempt a final resistance by using Ian as an excuse.

’T-that... for such stories, I need the Leader’s permission....’

’Leader Ian! Would it be okay if we talked with Miss Airi for a moment?’

Ian, of course, nodded.

’?!’

Airi, wearing an expression that said ’You betrayed me...!’, was soon hidden from sight, surrounded by the members of the Ranger Circle.

...In the first place, there was no reason for Ian to block access to prevent them from talking to Airi.

More importantly, these circle members surely gathered because they heard Airi was participating, so if Ian did such a thing, the aftermath would be unpredictable.

However, as the street became noisy because of it, Ariel, who had been talking with Ian and Frenda, hurriedly turned her head and shouted to the circle members.

’Wait! We need to leave now, so don’t make a scene in the street!’

’Miss Airi! An autograph for me too!’

’Those making a fuss will be removed from the departure list!’

’...’

If a commotion like this broke out in the street, the guards might come, and if that happened, there was a high possibility the departure would be delayed.

To think they were making such a fuss even though they should all know that.

When Ariel, wearing a frown, used such a threat, the commotion was settled in an instant.

However, the circle members’ eyes glowed quietly as if they would approach Airi again whenever they got the chance. It was the gaze of hunters.

Ariel also noticed that atmosphere and sighed.

’It can’t be helped.... It’ll be better for Miss Airi to just stay by my side until we depart.’

’Hik....’

Hearing Ariel’s words, Airi flinched and shrank back even more.

It was because the misunderstanding that Ariel disliked Airi, who received an honorary A-rank since the previous Behemoth expedition, still hadn’t been resolved.

...Why does she seem scared?

Ariel, unaware of these circumstances, felt puzzled and met Airi’s eyes, but Airi quickly averted her gaze.

Ariel hid a secretly dejected expression and brought Airi to her side.

＊ ＊ ＊

As they descended the stairs covered in deep darkness, their vision soon brightened, and a vast space revealed itself.

Frenda, who had just come down the stairs, raised her head with a look of wonder.

’Wow....’

Entering the Labyrinth, Frenda looked around and unconsciously let out such a sound. It was because the surrounding landscape was completely different from what she had imagined.

The ground was covered in lush undergrowth.

And half-withered trees covered the surroundings.

When Frenda lightly pushed aside the undergrowth on the ground with her foot, an earthen floor, not stone, revealed itself.

And Frenda’s gaze turned upward.

Looking up, instead of a ceiling, she could see a faint, endless fog filling the space. At a glance, it almost looked as if a cloudy sky with dark clouds was spread out.

’Is that... the sky?’

’No. It’s just fog or something.... The ceiling is so high that you can’t see it properly.’

The members of the Ranger Circle, who already had experience entering this Labyrinth several times, were taking their positions looking unimpressed.

Hearing Frenda’s murmur, a nearby circle member answered her.

’In the past, someone tried to investigate what was up by that ceiling, but it was too high to check properly. They barely found out that there is indeed a ceiling.’

’Is it that high...?’

Frenda raised her head again to look up. Although she couldn’t see beyond because of the fog, she could try to imagine it based on the story she just heard.

If that was true, it was an incredibly massive space.

Furthermore, there were no walls in this place.

Even if she shone a light as far as possible, only the undergrowth and withered trees spread out endlessly.

It felt as if she was in a foggy forest rather than an underground Labyrinth.

’There are places like this in the Labyrinth too....’

Frenda muttered with a look of fascination.

To think such a massive space existed underground.

It was a space she hadn’t imagined at all, completely departing from the typical image the name ’Labyrinth’ provided.

To Frenda, who only had one experience with a Labyrinth expedition, it was an excessively unfamiliar and strange place.

Ariel, who had entered first and was taking her position, asked while checking the members’ faces.

’Is everyone in?’

’Yes. We are the last.’

The member who came down the stairs with the last luggage answered. Ariel, briefly checking the headcount, nodded and said.

’Good. Then I’ll go look around the area for a bit, so wait here.’

’Yes. Be careful.’

’Be careful of what? You guys just don’t cause any trouble.’

Saying that, Ariel took a lamp and walked forward alone.

Ariel was the leader of the [Ranger Circle] expedition, but she was also the ranger with the longest experience among them and, above all, the person with the most experience entering this [Witch’s Forest].

It was most efficient for Ariel to look around herself rather than sending a separate scouting team.

Ariel, who had stepped slightly forward with the lamp, turned her gaze and surveyed the surrounding terrain. An endless forest spread out in all directions.

If there had been some landmarks near the entrance, it would have been easier to plan the next step, but this time, unfortunately, there was nothing particularly eye-catching.

Ariel, who had been contemplating while circling around, returned, gathered the waiting members, and spoke.

’There’s nothing visible nearby. Then first, we’ll have to find a spot to set up camp.’

Ariel said while glancing at Ian’s group.

Since most of the other circle members were people who had entered several times to find [Thunderstruck Branches], they knew to some extent what kind of exploration they had to do.

The ones who needed an explanation were a few circle members entering for the first time and Ian’s group.

Ariel began a brief explanation for them.

Pointing beyond the foggy forest, Ariel spoke.

’Rooms aren’t separated here, so it’s easy to get lost. You might accidentally get too far from the group while moving and be left behind.’

This [Witch’s Forest] was a place consisting of one massive field without divisions of rooms.

Since it was a place where the fog became thick depending on the area, there was a possibility of getting lost if one separated by mistake.

’And because of that, adjusting the exploration distance or resting is a bit tricky....’

Ariel spoke as if it were a somewhat troublesome problem.

In a typical Labyrinth, one would investigate on a per-room basis and then decide whether to rest there, proceed further... or turn back.

This place was a spot where such distinctions were non-existent. It was just an endlessly spreading landscape that looked identical.

They had to decide in real-time based on the situation how far to go for exploration and where to rest.

’So the best way is to set up camp in advance and explore the surroundings in turn based on that spot.’

’I see.’

’First, let’s split into three and find a place to set up camp.’

Ariel, having finished the explanation, divided the expedition party into groups as planned beforehand.