Maril, the villagers, and the bandits saw us off as we left Veil village. We decided to head towards the “Balberra Forest” first, which was a bit northwest from the settlement, and slowly make our way back from there. 

“Hmm, looks like they’re some kind of mutation that came from “Balberra Forest”.”

“Balberra Forest, huh…If that’s the case, then I can imagine why they’re so strong…”

“We haven’t seen any High Kobolds like them in the nearby forest, after all…”

I could hear the vigilantes whispering their agreement as Muriel, the red-haired Mage, reasoned out with them behind my back. I was sorry about the fallout and discussions following our appearance and behavior, but I left it all to her.

I guess I should send out a scout to the edges of the Easteria Forest just in case…or maybe it would be better to find a secure location further into the forest where we can move the settlement if something does happen.  

With that in mind, we headed into the northeast, where the skull-marked danger-zone, “Balberra Forest” was located. If I were to consider a move, then we should be aiming for the southeastern territory then.

Well, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Maybe we should scout it out when we get the chance…

As I thought about the future, we trudged across the grasslands where short grass grew. When the village was out of sight, we changed course to the west, sniffing and looking around vigilantly as we traveled.

Then, Blazer, who walked ahead of us, suddenly stopped after a short while.

“Guruon, guruuao?” (Blazer, have you found it?)

“Wafuh, gurua, wooonh!” (Yes, Leader, your guess was on point!)

There were unnatural traces of trampled grass on the ground. The bandits earlier must have made their way to Viel village through the path we traced. And even though they are bandits, most of them were former mercenaries, so their habits are naturally similar. Normally, mercenaries do not bring supplies that are not directly related to combat.

So, where do they keep it?

They would hide it in the rear part of the camp enclosure or at someplace near the battlefield.

The bandits who we had an encounter with at Viel village did not bring anything with them aside from their weapons and equipment.

In other words, they kept their ration and provisions in an area facing the grasslands near Viel village. It was not like they only eat and drink air to survive, after all.

“Gurua kuruaau…” (It’s just as Boss said…)

Lancer muttered as she looked at the grass where the traces of footsteps belonging to approximately 10 people were.

… Well, it was mainly thanks to Muriel’s intuition and the detailed map she had in her possession.

Certainly, intuition cannot be fooled. As a basic rule, many of them are sensations based on the unconscious mind after all.

But if I were to force this line of thought into our current situation…

The basis for this intuition was knowledge of the north-south road connecting the town of Zelgra and the city of Warren, the tributaries of the Steele river that traverse it, and the east-west road that extends from the town of Zelga to Viel village and its relation to their location, I guess?

Considering how they can target both roads, are close to a water source, do not need to cross the river on the south side, or escape to the eastern forest if things went south, then the bandits’ living space is quite limited.

Looking at the big picture, it can be inferred that they came from the branch of the Steele river from the south and entered through the north side of Viel village. If we passed through the northeastern part of the forest to keep the settlement from being found, then we could have crossed paths with the bandits much earlier.

“Gurua, gaooan…” (Leader, I’ll go and look around…)

“Wafu, guon.” (Sure, I’m counting on you.)

【Activated: Erase Presence】

【Effect: One’s own presence becomes difficult to detect.】

As soon as Blazer’s Erase Presence became active, it was hard to sense him even though he was just standing in front of me. And so he followed the trail and headed north.

It was unlikely for them to lug around their provisions when they went near the village, so if we followed their trail north, I expected to find their hidden stash and encounter some guards, but…could their hideout be in the south instead?  

As I started to become a bit anxious, a voice called out to me.

“Gurua, woagaruuuh.” (Boss, can I have something to drink?)

I opened the lid of the leather flask we retrieved from the bandits, checked its contents and after I lightly drank from it to check if it was safe, I threw the container to Ax.

“Gauuoaru waooaan.” (You can have that leather flask.)

“Wauh! Kuruaoon?” (Eh? I can have this?)

Ax happily accepted the leather flask, opened the lid, and drank from it.

“Bufoh!?”

And threw up its contents promptly. I could smell the faintest hint of alcohol in the air.

“Wa, wafih!” (Wh-what’s this!)

“Gauh, gaonh.” (Haha, it’s alcohol.)

I had seen some residents in the settlement ferment some fruits and drink them before, but it was not a common practice, and I had never seen Ax drink either.

So it was basically his first time tasting alcohol.

Lancer looked at our messing around with reproachful eyes.

“Guu, guruaou…” (Geez, Boss you always do that…)

“Wau, uooonh.” (Well, isn’t it fine?)

While we shared a light moment, we suddenly heard the sound of rustling grass as Blazer returned. 

“Wooau, gurua” (I’m back, Leader.)

“Guauon?” (How was it?)

“Garukuoooofa garua, garuoaauu.” (It’s not far away, and there are only two people keeping watch.)

Well then, let’s strip those guys off their possessions too…

With Blazer leading the way, we crouched stealthily, crept up, and surrounded the bandits’ hideout where a sluggish-looking sentry stifled a yawn.