Chapter 576 – The Ones Who Flee, the Ones Who Pursue

Tauro and his party were climbing through the Antas Mountain Range using the village chief’s information to complete a rare-herb gathering quest they had accepted some time ago.

At first, Tauro suggested using [Teleportation] to jump directly to the rocky outcrop that served as their landmark. However, the village chief had warned them that the terrain around it was unstable and dangerous even to approach, so they decided against such a reckless method.

“This mountain path follows the route toward the cave entrance to the ancient underground ruins for part of the way. Since we’ve traveled it before, couldn’t we use [Teleportation] to reach the fork?” Tauro suggested.

“I don’t think relying too much on [Teleportation] is a good idea. Isn’t your usual motto that the journey itself is part of the adventure? Ever since you acquired that ability, I think we’ve been taking things a little too easy,” Aeris replied as they walked.

“We’ve also used it in some pretty reckless ways,” Ankh added in agreement.

“Ugh… You might be right. It’s fun, so maybe I’ve been overusing it. Traveling is part of what makes adventuring enjoyable. Maybe we should avoid it unless there’s some urgency?” Tauro admitted.

“I don’t think using abilities to improve efficiency is wrong. I use [Dimensional Corridor] frequently myself,” Ragune said in his defense.

She often used [Dimensional Corridor] to visit the Dragonfolk Village or the Van Dyne Marquisate, so she was hardly opposed to convenient travel.

“…I don’t mind either way, but if it’s somewhere we’ve never been before, I’d rather travel there on our own feet,” Zion said after thinking for a moment.

“Seth and the others are scouting ahead and sharing their vision with me, so [Teleportation] is possible. But alright—let’s make walking our default.”

With that settled, the party continued up the mountain path.

Eventually, they reached the fork where one route led toward the area where the medicinal herb had reportedly been seen and the other toward the ancient underground ruins they had visited before.

“If we go left from here, that’s the direction the chief told us about. —Hm? Someone’s coming this way from over there…?”

At the edge of [True Eye]’s range, Tauro spotted a human silhouette approaching from the direction of the ruins.

“Over there? That’s the way to the ancient ruins, isn’t it? Is someone from the investigation expedition coming back?” Aeris wondered aloud. “Why would an adventurer be returning already?”

“That’s strange. Based on the number of days that have passed, they should only just be reaching the cave and starting work on the route. Why would someone already be coming back?” Ankh said, tilting his head.

“…Seth, can I leave the Rainbow Grass gathering to you and the others? —Right, please do. Everyone, judging from the way that adventurer’s silhouette is moving, it looks like they’re running away from something. Maybe they got separated from the expedition and are being chased by monsters…”

Tauro asked Seth’s group to continue toward the herb while he watched the distant figure near the limit of [True Eye]’s range.

“Then we should go help. I take back what I said earlier, Leader—this is exactly when you should use [Teleportation],” Ankh said, urging everyone to form a circle.

“Alright, everyone. Here we go!”

They joined hands, and the entire party vanished from the spot.

When they reappeared, an adventurer was running desperately down the mountain toward them, breathing hard.

Tauro remembered him from the days when their route overlapped with the investigation expedition. The man had eagerly bought Tauro’s meals every night and had boasted that he was confident in his ability to escape thanks to [Swift Run].

The adventurer sensed people suddenly appear in his path and briefly wore a despairing expression. The instant he recognized Tauro and the others, his face brightened—but only for a moment.

He immediately became serious again and kept running toward them.

“You lot need to run too! They’re right behind me!”

He shouted the warning as he raced past them.

Tauro immediately used [True Eye] to look in the direction the adventurer had come from.

Countless silhouettes were approaching.

“!? W-what’s that!? How many are there!?” Tauro called after the rapidly receding adventurer.

“They’re part of a monster army led by the Northern Empire! You need to run too! The expedition leaders sent me to request reinforcements from the military!”

Seeing that Tauro’s party still hadn’t fled, the adventurer stopped long enough to warn them again.

“Understood! Leave this to us and hurry to the military!”

“Y-you idiots! There are at least fifty pursuers! Everyone else sent as a messenger was killed. That’s why you need to run too!”

After that final warning, the adventurer resumed his desperate run to complete his mission.

Soon, a force charging down the mountain path came into view through a cloud of dust.

It was a group of Olog-Hai riding Bloodsucking Wolves—seventy-five riders in total.

If the Olog-Hai and their mounts were counted separately, there were one hundred and fifty monsters.

“…Leader, this is looking pretty desperate,” Ankh muttered as he immediately drew his magic greatsword.

“This may be the greatest crisis we’ve faced yet,” Ragune said, planting herself at the front with her magic spear and treasured shield ready.

“If there are this many, it’s my turn!” Zion declared as she activated [Berserker]. Her black hooded cloak transformed with her, and she became a giant black cat shrouded in darkness.

“Everyone, I’m opening with one of my strongest spells. Don’t get caught in it,” Aeris warned as she raised her ebony staff and began chanting.

The Olog-Hai riders spread from the mountain path into the trees, trying to surround the party.

At that moment—

“…Aren’t all of you forgetting something?” Tauro said.

In an instant, he brought four of the fourteen four-meter Guardian Stone Golem-based Rock-series puppets out of [Magic Storage], deploying them in a line from the mountain path into the forest.

Then he called out:

“Everyone, stay clear!”

The moment Tauro gave the warning, the four Rock-series puppets simultaneously unleashed their devastating shockwaves—attacks powerful enough to pierce magical defenses—straight into the monster force charging toward them.