In the forest… there were three figures.
However, behind them, a fourth person followed.
The two sides maintained a distance, with almost no communication.
Currently, the person leading the way was named Kid. He was skilled in stealth, his profession was 'Thief', and he was very good at gathering information.
Next was Kabaru, with excellent defense. As the captain, his profession was 'Heavy Warrior', and he was a competent tank in the team; he usually liked to joke around but was very meticulous and serious in his work.
Finally, there was Eren, who was particularly good at special magic. Her profession was 'Sorcerer', capable of manipulating various types of magic, with a particular strength in movement-based magic. It's worth mentioning that to increase the team's survival rate, she was extremely well-prepared.
The three formed a team and received a mission from Fitz, the guild master of the 'Free Guild' in the small kingdom of Brumund.
The specific mission content was—
To investigate various conditions of the Sealed Cave.
This was actually the second time.
The entire process could be said to be quite tiring.
"Hey hey… I say, how about we just do a quick investigation and head back? I want to take a bath… My clothes are sticking to my skin from running around, and it's very uncomfortable."
"Ha, how can we go back? If your clothes are sticking from sweat, just take them off, right?"
"Are you kidding me, old man?! How can you say such a thing to a girl!!"
Eren, who already had dark circles under her eyes, held her staff, looking as if she was about to cast a spell.
As the captain, Kabaru, who had just blurted out a joke, quickly shook his head.
"No no no, Eren, are you trying to attack your captain?! We're on an adventure! Internal strife is the biggest taboo!"
"You're the one who said something weird!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! When we go back, I'll pay for your bath. Didn't you say before that you wanted to go to that large bathhouse that offers beauty services for girls?"
"That's more like it."
Eren put away her staff, let out a giggle, and began to look forward to the leisurely time after work.
Kid, standing in front of the two, frowned.
"We received a mission from Fitz to investigate here a second time. Don't you feel that the situation is different now?"
Hmm?
Kid's words left both of them puzzled.
Facing his companions' gazes, Kid explained,
"The first time we came, we cautiously traversed the forest and went to the Sealed Cave. We didn't find anything, right? But…"
Kid looked around.
"During that operation, the forest we passed through was very noisy, as if all sorts of monsters were restless, but now it has become very quiet."
This was indeed very strange.
Kabaru slowed down, stroking his chin in thought.
"Logically speaking, after the strongest being in the Jura Great Forest disappeared, the monsters should become even more active…"
"That's right. Now it's so quiet, could it be because that strongest being has returned?"
Eren followed up on her captain's words, also making a guess.
The Jura Great Forest, which should have become chaotic, had now regained some order.
This made the three experienced Adventurers feel deeply puzzled.
Their strength was indeed not great, but they were confident in their memory.
The feeling of coming here last time and this time was completely different.
"It might not be 'the strongest has returned', but rather 'a new strongest has appeared'."
Five seconds after the three Adventurers fell into contemplation… the fourth person—
The masked person who had joined them recently, hoping to travel together, spoke.
Just by listening to the voice, it was difficult to tell if it was male or female, old or young.
Moreover, the fourth person wore a mask, so their expression couldn't be seen.
As for that mask… its surface was carved with beautiful patterns.
Adding a somewhat eerie atmosphere to this person.
However, the three Adventurers didn't pay too much attention to this, as the fourth person was very quiet and didn't cause trouble.
"Excuse me, what do you mean, sir?"
"I'm thinking… this forest might have welcomed a new ruler."
"Eh eh? In just a day or two, a new strongest monster has appeared? That's unlikely, isn't it?"
Eren didn't believe it, nor did she hope it was true.
If a new powerful monster appeared in the forest, and it was an uncontrollable entity, then the small countries around the forest would definitely suffer.
And… if they accidentally trespassed into its territory, wouldn't they be dead for sure!
"Whether it's true or not, we must act cautiously. From now on, let's confirm the surrounding situation and prepare for battle."
Kabaru decided to change their formation, advancing slowly instead of moving aimlessly.
As a Heavy Warrior, he moved to the very front of the team.
"Our captain is finally being reliable."
"Really…"
"Hey hey! Eren! Kid! You two are doing this on purpose, aren't you! I've always been reliable before, alright!"
Kabaru, facing his companions' jokes, waved his weapon in protest.
And so, the team continued to advance.
Their current mission was simple.
To investigate what exactly happened in the Jura Great Forest.
They had been to the Sealed Cave a few days ago, and there was nothing there but some terrifying monsters.
The truly powerful beings were long gone.
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief about this.
If the overlord of the 'Jura Forest' were still there, they would most likely be instantly killed upon encountering it.
"I'm a bit hungry."
"Eren… aren't you a bit too gluttonous, girl?"
"I didn't eat anything this morning, and only had fruit for lunch, and then I was assigned a mission!"
"I have some flatbread here, take it and eat it as you walk."
"Ugh… that flatbread came from the captain's pocket, it must have a lot of sweat and body heat… I don't want it."
"You're being picky!"
Kabaru was furious!
Just then, Kid took out a scallion pancake from his luggage.
"Eat this, Eren."
"Thank you, Kid, you're better at keeping things."
Seeing this, Kabaru snorted and stuffed the flatbread into his own mouth.
"Enemy…"
The fourth person suddenly spoke.
The trio stopped their movements and looked behind them.
The fourth person, wearing a mask, then turned to the left.
"There are currently two..."
Before he could finish, branches, bushes, and weeds rustled, and a giant demon ant burst out.
Its physique was larger than five or six strong adult men.
One of them locked onto Eren and her two companions.
Like a carriage speeding across the ground, the giant demon ant targeted the trio and began to charge wildly.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Understood!"
Seeing this, Kabaru charged forward.
Kidd, nearby, immediately adjusted his stance, drew his weapon, and moved to the side.
Eren, who was being protected, bit into a scallion pancake.
Unable to chant, she had no choice but to stuff it casually into her pocket.
"Please buy me some time!"
"No problem!"
The three worked together seamlessly.
Kabaru held off the enemy, Kidd circled to distract it, and finally, Eren cast a spell to end the battle.
The process went smoothly; the giant demon ant, while distracted by Kabaru, was struck from the side.
It couldn't react in time, swayed, and almost fell.
However, its multiple limbs allowed the giant demon ant to quickly regain its balance.
At this moment, Eren, having finished her chant, aimed at the enemy.
"Grand Ice Spear!"
Sharp ice pierced through the giant demon ant's head and chest, killing it with a single blow.
Just as the trio was about to celebrate, more giant demon ants appeared.
"That's right! They're pack animals! They like to hunt in groups!"
Kabaru remembered, his face tense.
The three of them had some strength, but they weren't particularly strong.
They took on this mission purely because the guild master, due to a shortage of personnel, had forced it upon them.
But to earn money to live, they had no choice but to accept it... and now they were in crisis!
"Just one more time!"
Eren shouted.
Kabaru nodded, preparing to charge at the monsters with Kidd.
But this time, someone was faster.
It was their temporary companion in this team... the fourth person.
"Miss Shizue!"
Eren, who had called out her name, watched as Shizue took a single stride to stand before the giant demon ants.
Before the trio could make a new move, a sword of flame arced through the air.
A wave of heat washed over them, astonishing Kabaru and his companions, while the giant demon ants, like marionettes with severed strings, lost their strength in the scorching flames and collapsed to the ground.
"One person, with just one move, took out all the giant demon ants?"
Kabaru felt it was unbelievable.
But this shock didn't last long.
Because new giant demon ants appeared.
Their numbers were clearly far greater than imagined!
"Let's leave here first."
Shizue, not intending to continue fighting head-on, said this.
Before she finished speaking, a strange whimper echoed from deep within the forest.
The entire space suddenly let out a piercing wail.
Kabaru, Eren, and Kidd, the three Adventurers, subconsciously held their breath.
They saw it... a strange current of air disturbing the sea of trees rushing towards them!
Whoosh—!
The airflow suddenly condensed, and a silver-white wind blade tore through space!
This was no ordinary wind, but a terrifying power of destruction!
It swept across the battlefield at a sonic boom-like speed, and wherever it passed, the space seemed to be sliced open by an invisible blade, or crushed by an impact!
Several giant demon ants didn't even have time to let out a full scream before their chitin burst with spiderweb-like cracks.
When their bodies were cut in half, their shattered flesh was instantly pulverized by that invisible current of air.
"Woo—!!"
The demon ant horde behind them suddenly erupted in a collective wail.
The swarms of insects that had not yet joined the battle were frantically retreating deeper into the forest, but their escape route had been completely sealed.
The violent wind slashes covered the battlefield and plunged into the darkness.
When these terrifying forces touched the demon ants hidden everywhere, the entire forest suddenly emitted a jarring cracking sound.
The dense ant colony from three seconds ago had now vanished without a trace.
Only the cuts on the tree trunks and the lingering scent of blood in the air proved that a brutal massacre had occurred here.
"This... this is... wind magic?"
Kabaru's hands trembled as he looked around.
"Space was cut open just now, wasn't it?"
Eren swallowed, relieved that the airflow that had brushed past her cheek hadn't cut her in half... "It was indeed cut open... I can confirm it."
The thief, Kidd, frowned, his expression serious, as he cautiously looked around.
The three Adventurers became very tense.
"It's even more terrifying than the power Miss Shizue just demonstrated..."
As Eren exclaimed, she noticed Shizue staring at the northwest side.
So Eren looked over as well.
Amidst the sea of trees destroyed by the destructive gale, a person riding on the back of a giant monster appeared.
"The giant demon ants have been completely wiped out. You are safe."
The three Adventurers watched as the giant monster obediently lay down like a pet, allowing the person on its back to land safely.
And that person also came before the Adventurers.
"Nice to meet you. I am Chen Hai. Next... let me talk to you."
"Uh... Of course, you can."
Kabaru said, then quickly grabbed Chen Hai's hand.
They dared not refuse now.
Otherwise... The trio looked again at the sea of trees ravaged by the gale, clearly understanding what their next choice was.
Only by cooperating obediently would they have a chance to survive.
— — — —
— — — —
After Chen Hai completely cleared the giant demon ants from the forest, he brought the three Adventurers and the masked person back to Goblin Village.
Chen Hai, knowing that the masked person was Izawa Shizue, did not speak to her immediately but waited for a suitable opportunity.
Back to the present—
"Everyone... I just said that these rocks aren't strong enough. If we add details, it'll be easy to break them, and then the statue will be completely ruined."
"Wait a minute, Kurobe-san, shouldn't Chen Hai-sama's arm muscles be bigger? Can we add some more stone?"
"You are... Gobta? Regarding your suggestion, after adding stone, how will it be secured? Do you have pine resin? Or some plaster? If not..."
"There are spiders in the forest that spin webs and secrete mucus. How about we go collect some?"
"Now?"
"That's right, our Chen Hai-sama's statue must have more muscles! Oh! The mouth and ears can also be bigger! Don't they say to be observant and listen carefully?"
"I think you misunderstood the meaning of that phrase. Also... where did you learn that?"
"I just heard it from Old Man Hakurou."
Beside Chen Hai's statue, Kurobe chatted with a group of Goblins led by Gobta.
They were mainly discussing the future carving process.
At this point, Shuna and Shion also joined in.
"How about adding clothes to Chen Hai-sama's statue? A very cool kind."
"Shuna, I think that compared to a cool outfit, a suitable weapon is more important, such as a pure gold spear or something."
"That's true. Then let's do both? I can sew clothes."
"As for weapons... I guess we'll have to leave that to Kurobe after all."
Around the topic of 'Chen Hai's statue,' the Goblins and Ogre, who had only just met, chatted earnestly, appearing very familiar with each other.
Chen Hai didn't know what to say for a moment... and those engrossed in the topic of 'how to make Chen Hai's statue more imposing' didn't notice that Chen Hai himself had returned.
Only when the three Adventurers let out exclamations did the Goblins and Ogre look at Chen Hai.
"Chen Hai-sama!"
"You're back!"
Shuna and Shion quickly ran towards Chen Hai.
"Boss! Welcome back!"
Gobta also pounced on Chen Hai, but Ranga caught him in his mouth mid-air, his feet flailing continuously.
At this moment, Shuna's gaze fell on the remaining few people.
"Who are these people...? The humans you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes."
After Chen Hai answered, Shion stared at the group warily.
Gulp!
Eren's stomach suddenly rumbled.
She shyly touched her stomach.
"Sorry, I didn't eat enough before I came out..."
"Let's take a break first, Rigurd!"
Chen Hai called the village chief and asked him to make arrangements.
Soon, everyone gathered and took their seats in the largest tent in the Goblin Village.
The three Adventurers began to whisper.
It was their first time seeing Goblins, Ogre, and Direwolf Clan living together peacefully.
This situation completely overturned their imagination.
It was like a dream, completely unrealistic.
But the aroma of the food and the enticing scent of the soup made them realize that 'all of this was really happening'.
Without delving deeper into the topic, the three Adventurers began to feast.
Even if Kabaru and Gido weren't very hungry, they decided to finish the food in front of them.
There was no other way; when Adventurers went out, to reduce weight, the food they carried was either hardtack or dried and smoked meat, to ensure it wouldn't spoil easily.
After all, getting an upset stomach during an adventure was very dangerous.
Because of this, those things weren't particularly delicious.
However, the monsters' cooking gave them a good appetite.
After eating and drinking their fill, Kabaru noticed Chen Hai staring at him.
He then began to introduce himself.
"I am Kabaru, this is Eren, and next to her is Gido. The three of us belong to the same team."
"Hello! I'm Eren!"
"Gido... pleased to meet you."
As for the fourth person... Kabaru looked over.
Shizue, wearing a mask, maintained a Japanese seiza posture and introduced herself:
"Please call me 'Shizue'."
The Flame Ruler, Izawa Shizue, appeared at this moment.