GILF Hunter

Chapter 476: 476 Witch’s Forest (2)

For the surrounding exploration, Ariel divided the group into three teams.

’Lena, you take that side.... And for Leader Ian’s side, you two stick with them.’

’Yes!’

Two members who replied to Ariel’s words approached Ian’s side with smirking smiles.

Ian’s team was decided to consist of the Ian Mercenary Group and Frenda, plus two members of the Ranger Circle who had experience entering this [Witch’s Forest] several times.

If considering only combat power, the Ian Mercenary Group alone was more than enough. The [Witch’s Forest] was not a deep-floor area, so it wasn’t a place where powerful enemies appeared.

However, since it was the Ian Mercenary Group’s first time entering the [Witch’s Forest], Ariel had attached two members familiar with the area to guide them.

Rin noticed one of the members who joined the team was carrying a quite eye-catching, peculiar object and asked.

’What is that?’

’Ah, this? It’s a rope.’

The member who received the question held up a bundle of rope for Rin to see. It was a thin rope dyed in a color that stood out even from a distance.

Rin subtly turned her head to look at the other teams. In the other teams as well, everyone was packing a bundle of rope.

’Why is so much rope needed? Do we have to descend a cliff or something?’

’No, no. This is used for marking the path.’

The Ranger Circle member who was asked shook his head and explained to the members of the Ian Mercenary Group.

’Since the terrain in this forest looks similar wherever you go, it’s hard to find your direction. So we’ll mark the path we came from with this. Then we follow it back to regroup.’

’Oh....’

A place where rooms are not divided and where it’s difficult to check direction and location due to the fog.

In such a place, even if you drew a detailed map, you couldn’t find your way with that alone. Even if you had a map, there was almost no way to confirm your current location.

It seemed the Ranger Circle expedition, which frequented this place, found their way in this manner.

The expedition teams divided into three each chose a tree near the entrance and tied the end of their ropes.

’Then let’s head out. Everyone, explore until the rope is fully unspooled and then return.’

Following Ariel’s instructions, the three teams split into their designated directions and began their exploration.

Ian’s team also first advanced straight ahead toward their assigned direction.

One of the members who joined the team moved forward while slowly unspooling the rope, while the other took the lead at the very front to handle the guiding.

Given the terrain, it was a bit much to call it ’guiding,’ but anyway, an experienced explorer had to be in front to provide advice when something appeared.

Ian and the members slowly moved their steps forward.

Because fog was present everywhere, they couldn’t see far, and since only identical-looking undergrowth and trees were visible, it felt as if they were circling the same spot over and over.

Naturally, everyone had no choice but to be on guard with tense expressions.

’Ah, by the way. You don’t have to be that guarded. Monsters rarely appear around here, and they don’t attack first.’

’There are no monsters?’

A blonde member who glanced back spoke toward the party members who were guarding the surroundings.

’Monsters only appear when you go into places where the fog is very thick... but we don’t go into such deep places.’

’Then there won’t be any fighting?’

’Usually, that’s the case. There’s either no fighting at all when we go on an expedition, or if there is, maybe once....’

The member replied, recalling memories of going to the [Witch’s Forest] in the past.

’Ariel handles most of the monsters. If it weren’t for that, it would have been difficult for us to enter on our own.’

Looking only at the average rank of the members, they seemed like a quite high-level expedition, but being the Ranger Circle, it was ultimately an expedition filled with nothing but archers.

It was a combination that would surely lead to a catastrophe if they attempted a full-scale Labyrinth exploration.

However, the [Witch’s Forest] was a place where there was almost no combat unless one intentionally decided to go looking for a fight, so exploration was possible even with such members.

The experienced ones said so, and Ian also nodded to the members as if he agreed, so the tension soon subsided and a somewhat light atmosphere took over.

As the vigilance relaxed, the members naturally began to have low-voiced conversations among themselves.

...It’s about time, right?

The two members of the Ranger Circle, confirming the atmosphere was appropriate, glanced at each other and nodded.

The Ranger Circle members, who had been watching for an opportunity since a while ago, subtly stuck close to Airi’s side.

’Miss Airi?’

’Hit! Y-yes?’

Of all things, they were fellow archers. Because their positions overlapped perfectly, Airi was walking right next to those members.

The fierce battle of wits the members had waged to join Ian’s team could be said to be because of this. Being on the same team as Airi. The same position.

Ariel had requested not to make a scene, but it was natural for team members to talk in this kind of atmosphere. It was definitely not making a scene or being rude.

’I heard the story of your active role in the deep-floor expedition!’

’A-active role?’

’I heard you dealt the final blow to that giant monster.... That you took it down in one shot while emitting a massive light...!’

’T-there was no such thing...!’

Active role indeed.

Like a ranger, Airi had mainly handled advance scouting and regular monsters; she had barely been able to interject from the rear when dealing with the boss.

Airi flusteredly shook her head and denied those nonsensical rumors.

It seemed the members of the Ranger Circle had heard strange rumors from somewhere.

However, it was inevitable.

Usually, the details spread naturally through the mercenaries who participated in the expedition, but since most of the members of this expedition were knights, the stories didn’t spread among the mercenaries.

Interest was focused immensely, yet there was no one to actually tell the story. In the end, stories made up of groundless speculation were bound to spread everywhere.

And the protagonist of those made-up stories naturally... was Airi, the most famous mercenary in the Ian Mercenary Group.

When Airi shook her head with great force and denied those absurd rumors, the members’ eyes shone as they asked Airi.

’Then please tell us the story of that time!’

’That’s right! I want to hear it directly!’

’Hik, ek. Eut....’

Just as Airi was on the verge of breaking down due to the two people talking to her simultaneously from both sides.

One of the members, who had been glancing forward while talking, spotted something and shouted.

’Ah, there’s something over there! Sorry, but let’s talk more later!’

Fortunately, thanks to something appearing ahead, Airi was able to escape that siege.

A foggy forest where withered trees and lush undergrowth were spread out.

Even though similar landscapes continued endlessly, things of unknown identity were occasionally discovered like this.

What they discovered this time was a small stone tower.

To mark that location, the two of them planted a stake there and hooked the rope to its ring.

The member in charge of the rope said to Ian.

’The rope is almost finished. We won’t be able to go much further now.’

’Then let’s head back from here. The others should be finishing up soon too.’

Whether the two Ranger Circle members shared the same opinion, they nodded and firmly fixed the remaining rope there.

Since they no longer needed to check the surroundings or worry about rope installation, returning was much easier and faster.

It was all over if they just walked back along the unspooled rope, retracing their path.

Frenda watched this and asked.

’If you find something while wandering, you fix the line like this... and later you follow it back to find it again?’

’Yes. As you can see, this is a place where everything looks identical wherever you go... so if you don’t do this, you can’t find it again later. Everyone, even if something happens and you get separated, you must not deviate from this rope as much as possible. Even if you get left behind, somehow follow this back.’

The members leading the way pointed to the rope and explained to Frenda.

Frenda understood and nodded. It seemed she felt interested in an exploration method that was completely different from the Labyrinth she entered last time.

This time, Frenda turned her head toward Ian and said.

’The expedition methods are very different for each Labyrinth. I thought I had studied the Labyrinth enough....’

’Because this is a bit of a peculiar place. We do this because we can’t draw a map; usually, it’s similar to the place we entered together last time.’

’I thought I knew almost everything. It seems I need to study the Labyrinth more.’

...Why, when there won’t be any particular reason to enter the Labyrinth in the future?

Ian thought of that and glanced at Frenda.

While having such conversations, they were able to arrive at the starting location before they knew it.

It was thanks to not going out that far since it was a simple exploration. The teams that had gone out in other directions also arrived at almost the same time as Ian’s team.

Ariel, after checking that all teams had returned properly, asked.

’Leader Ian. What was on your side?’

’I found a small clearing. There were a few bushes and a stone tower nearby.’

’A clearing...?’

Hearing that, Ariel muttered with a contemplating expression.

It seemed the other sides hadn’t found a suitable place to set up camp.

’It would have been good if we found ruins or an empty hut, but if not, there’s no choice. Then shall we set up camp there?’

’Were there no places to set up camp on the other sides?’

’Yeah. Well, it’s something that happens often, but if there was a clearing, it’s better than nothing at all.’

According to Ariel’s decision, everyone packed all their luggage and moved toward the candidate campsite.

Fortunately, the clearing Ian had discovered was not far away.

A small clearing without trees or undergrowth. It wasn’t that wide, but it was enough to somehow squeeze in the tents close together.

’...Well, it’s close to the exit, so it’ll be convenient to return.’

Looking at Ariel’s expression, it didn’t seem to be such a satisfying location, but it was better than wandering around looking for other candidate sites that might be anywhere.

Everyone set down their luggage there and made a simple camp. Anchors were installed, and the ropes marking the paths were newly connected to them.

Ariel, confirming that the camp installation was finished, approached Ian’s tent and asked.

’Leader Ian. You said there were a few [Thorn Bushes] on this route, right? If they’re nearby, let’s check those out first.’