Chapter 9:Dilemma
“What’s wrong?Did I say something wrong?”Tyr looked at Dragon Slayer’s expression and couldn’t help but feel puzzled.Dragon Slayer suppressed a smile while waving his hand.
“No,it’s fine.I just suddenly remembered something really funny from before.”
“Oh?What is it?”
“Not telling you.”Dragon Slayer chuckled mischievously,leaving Tyr feeling a lump in his throat.He wondered why he hadn’t noticed Dragon Slayer’s mischievous side before.He remembered her as someone both optimistic and steady,but now she seemed more like a crazy girl.
Comparing them,Tyr felt much more at ease with the sprite.Even though she was clumsy,at least she wouldn’t cause trouble or punch him in the stomach with her delicate fists.
Tyr scratched his head,unsure of what to say to Dragon Slayer.After thinking for a while,he finally spoke up.
“What’s your purpose for coming to the academy this time?”
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s easy to guess,isn’t it?The first time you and I went on a mercenary mission,what was it for?Wasn’t it to quickly rise to the rank of iron mercenary and then use your privileges to access relevant secrets?You didn’t mention going to Avalon during the mission,so it’s obvious that it was a later plan.So,the things you were investigating must be in Avalon,right?”
“…You didn’t say you were going to Avalon during the mission either.”
“I did say it,you just didn’t pay attention.”Tyr insisted confidently,although he wasn’t sure if he had actually mentioned it back then.Dragon Slayer sighed and nodded in response.
“It’s actually not something worth hiding.Yes,the main reason for going to Avalon this time is to search for that thing.That’s why I crossed the endless sea and came to this continent.”
“I’ve been curious for a long time,how did you come here?”
“Of course,by boat.The western coast of Sigril is a maritime kingdom,with ships as large as a ducal palace and as small as tourist vessels for just a few people.Despite the dangers of the endless sea,with powerful ships guarding the way,there’s no need to worry.Even so,it took me over a year just to cross this distance.It’s really quite long.”
“Well,that’s certainly…”
Tyr was about to speak when suddenly the magic sound stone in his pocket vibrated.He wondered who could be calling and quickly took out the stone to answer.
“Hello,who is this?”
“Um…Hello,Lord Tyr,it’s Zack.”
“Oh!Mr.Zack,what’s wrong?You sound weak.”
“Ahem,cough!”Zack coughed violently,the intense sound causing Tyr to furrow his brow.Then,in the next moment,a deafening roar of a monster came through the magic sound stone!
“What’s wrong,Mr.Zack!”
“Lord Tyr,you should be on your way to Avalon Academy,right?cough…I’m sorry,I don’t think I can hold on much longer.”
“What do you mean you can’t hold on?”Tyr couldn’t help but ask urgently.
“It’s nothing,just a common occurrence for mercenaries.Underestimating the enemy’s strength and being wiped out is my own fault.”As Zack spoke,the roar of the monster in the magic sound stone grew louder,accompanied by many human screams.
Without needing to think,Tyr could guess the situation the other was in.
“Where are you,Mr.Zack?I’ll use the magic sound stone to contact the department head and ask her to send reinforcements to rescue you.”
“It’s no use,because even I don’t know where I am,cough…”Zack’s voice grew fainter.Tyr’s heart sank inexplicably.He owed Mr.Zack a favor,whether it was during their first time venturing into the forest or those days when Zack patiently explained the unfamiliar environment to him.Zack had always maintained a very friendly attitude,never intending to harm him in any way.The old Tyr might have brushed it off,but the present Tyr was different.He didn’t want to let people he knew die easily,especially someone like Mr.Zack who had been kind to him and owed him a favor.
“Mr.Zack,please tell me what happened,quickly and concisely!”
Hearing Tyr’s serious and unyielding tone,Zack was touched.He had hoped to call Tyr with a last shred of hope,but upon hearing the sound of a train starting in the magic sound stone,Zack knew it was too late.However,Tyr’s attitude towards him now stirred up a desire to survive once again.After gathering his emotions,he quickly spoke.
“We,the mercenaries,went on a mission to earn a big sum.We intended to kill a bounty target on the outskirts of the Sang Zang Forest.However,the target was stronger than the intel suggested;it could transform twice.Our preparations and traps proved useless against it.We ended up fleeing into a cave,but it’s strange here—it’s like a maze,with passages going everywhere.Our mercenary group,over seventy people,got separated inside the cave.Surprisingly,the bounty target followed us in and started playing a deadly game of hide and seek.Anyone it finds in the cave gets brutally killed,and it even shattered the entrance,burying it under rubble.We’re trapped with no way out!It’s not in a hurry;it’s roaming around the labyrinthine cave like hunting for chicks,systematically searching for us.Many of us are on the verge of mental collapse.If it weren’t for the magic sound stone still working here,I think I’d be like those poor souls.”
