Chapter 67: Forest Wave: Second (1) — Convergence

Suddenly, without any warning or signs, the Second Wave occurred.

Normally, there are precursors.

That is why up until now, exterminators had always been able to prepare fully in advance.

In fact, Forest Waves usually have fewer casualties than standard extermination requests.

That is because the Three Families and the Guild work together, ensuring complete preparation.

However, this time that was not possible.

Even so, many veteran exterminators had prepared in advance, so they managed to arrive in time.

But the unprecedented events did not end there.

From one end of the vast Haizen Great Forest to the other, Crystal Beasts lined up in formation.

And among them were Spider Women.

Even the battle-hardened exterminators who had joined from the Second Wave were shocked and confused by this.

Never-before-seen monsters were participating in the battle.

And they were humanoid female monsters of striking beauty, like living dolls.

Their white skin had a porcelain-like texture.

They had four red eyes. Both arms were covered in black mottled patterns.

Their hair was made of spider legs. There was no doubt—they were Spider Women.

Some Spider Women rode on Crystal Beasts or giant spiders, resembling the armies of some unknown tribe.

Their numbers were nearly ten thousand, similar to the First Wave, but their quality was on a completely different level.

On the other hand, the exterminators—including those who joined from the Second Wave—numbered about six thousand at the front lines.

Some exterminators already understood that something was happening in the Haizen Great Forest.

But this was completely unexpected.

Never before had the unknown itself appeared as an enemy.

Thanks to years of exterminator activity, the monsters of the Haizen Great Forest had been thoroughly catalogued.

And those known monsters would rotate to form the Forest Waves.

That was common knowledge among Haizen exterminators.

New species from the Haizen Great Forest appearing in a Forest Wave—both rookies and veterans alike were shaken as the chaotic Second Wave began.

We were heading toward the joint extermination clan for the “Kizumono.”

That joint clan consisted of the Gouro Extermination Team and the Coon Hunt.

We suspected there might be some connection between “Kizumono” and the fact that our relics had been disabled.

So we decided to check what was happening with “Kizumono.”

The current status of the “Kizumono” extermination was unknown.

We also did not know where in their territory the joint clan was located.

So we decided to head to the extermination village used by the joint party.

“Feels like we’re just going around extermination villages,” Bid said.

“That’s true,” 

Garad said with a wry smile in response to Bid’s comment.

“Still, what was that just now?” 

Nabel asked.

“That was an intense earthquake,” 

It had happened just moments ago.

An earthquake suddenly struck, and we were left stranded.

It was so violent that multiple trees snapped and collapsed.

“To my knowledge, there has never been an earthquake in the Heizen Great Forest,” 

Garad said.

“Same here. Never once during my stay did it happen,” 

Hoss said.

“Earthquakes… even happened in the Hydrangea Dungeon,” 

Bid said.

“So it might be related to the dungeon anomaly,”

“Is that so? I had heard about the dungeon anomaly,” 

Garad said.

“It was a massive land catfish. I participated in the extermination,” 

Bid said.

“Oh, you were formerly a member of ‘Zan Brave,’” 

Nabel said.

Garad asked innocently, unaware of the situation.

“Are you not anymore?” 

Garad said.

“…‘Zan Brave’ disbanded,” 

Bid said.

“I see. Sorry,” 

Garad said.

“I’m sorry,” 

Nabel said.

Garad and Nabel both apologized.

Bid just laughed.

“I’ve already moved on, so it’s fine,” 

“There are Spider Women again,” 

Hoss said.

A cluster of Spider Women appeared.

“They’re annoying,” 

Bid said.

Bid shot one down with his composite bow, “Kimukui.”

A nice headshot. Garad and Nabel cut down nearby Spider Women.

Hoss calmly deflected attacks and struck them down, as if accustomed to it.

I took down two as well.

“What are these things?” 

Hoss said.

“They suddenly appeared,” 

Garad said.

“But the atmosphere isn’t bad,” 

Nabel said.

“That’s true. It’s strange,” 

Hoss agreed.

Even though Spider Women appeared, there was no oppressive feeling.

That was a relief in one sense, but it was also unsettling.

“…Honestly,” 

Nabel muttered.

“What is it?” 

I asked.

“Wof-san. This is just weakness talking, but it’s a bit hard to cut down monsters that look like women,” 

Nabel said.

“I… yeah, I understand.” 

I had felt the same.

Even with four eyes and spider-leg hair, their overall appearance was still that of women.

No matter if it was camouflage or anything else, repeatedly cutting down something that clearly looks like a woman becomes mentally difficult.

If they were dirty old bandits or villains, I wouldn’t feel anything no matter how many I killed.

“…I understand how you feel,” 

Garad said.

“Same here. But they’re attacking us, so it can’t be helped,” 

Hoss said.

“I’m hitting headshots too, but it doesn’t feel good,” 

Bid said.

“Then we need to quickly identify and eliminate the cause—the dungeon anomaly,” 

Garad said.

“Yes,” 

Nabel answered.

“…I don’t know how much longer Ruma will hold,” 

Hoss said.

“The girl from Poor Man Club is the same,” 

Nabel said.

“There are all kinds of circumstances,” 

Bid said.

Everyone had burdens they carried.

They were finite, so it was natural to feel urgency.

Even those not directly carrying them still wanted to help.

Everyone felt the same.

But there was too little information.

We didn’t even understand what we were fighting.

Fighting in the absence of information was extremely disadvantageous.

Garad understood that too.

That was why he was desperately gathering information.

“Still, we can travel this far without rest. Witch’s Water is amazing,” 

Garad said.

“As expected of Witch,” 

Bid said.

“Yeah. We have to thank the witch for this,” 

Hoss said.

“And Wof, her disciple, too!” 

Nabel said.

“Haha…” 

I laughed dryly.

There is no such thing as “Witch’s Water.”

Its true identity is an elixir.

Since we had no time to rest, we used elixirs to recover.

Of course, I couldn’t openly say “it’s an elixir,” so I called it Witch’s Water.

Naturally, there were doubts about its restorative effects on body and mind, but calling it Witch’s Water made people accept it.

Such is the trust in that witch.

By the way, I did not have the witch’s permission. It was post-approval.

“I see it! There it is!” 

Garad pointed ahead.

A massive thumb-shaped rock pillar—the mark of an extermination village—stood towering.

“It’s just a rock,” 

Bid said.

“This extermination village is inside the Finger Rock. It’s the safest extermination village in the Haizen Great Forest,” 

Garad said.

“But earlier… there were people inside, right?” 

Nabel said hesitantly.

Yes. The myth of safety had already been broken.

“Yeah. So be extremely careful,” 

Garad said.

We readied our weapons and proceeded cautiously.

When we approached the entrance of the village, the gate was closed.

Well, that was normal, but we hesitated slightly.

“Does that mean no one’s here?” 

Bid said.

“Or maybe the enemy closed it,” 

Hoss said.

“But I didn’t see them as the type with that kind of intelligence,” 

Nabel said.

It was hard to tell which.

“But that’s why Wof is here,” 

Garad said confidently.

He really does resemble Agaro-san, I thought.

Not in appearance, but in atmosphere.

Reliable, knowledgeable, dependable—and even their names share a “Ga.”

Come to think of it, there are many men in this world with three-character names.

I’m also three characters. So is Hoss.

And many names feel vaguely like those from my previous world—Middle Eastern-like.

Also, names ending in “-ro” stand out: Gauro, Agaro, Lagaro, Ouro, Buzaro, Ebaro, Mazuro, Dooro, Gouro…

Anyway, with that thought, I used Danger Detection.

No red. No black. Only white.

“There are no enemies. It’s safe,” 

I said.

“Good. Let’s go,” 

Garad said.

Garad unlocked the gate, and we entered.

The gate was then closed behind us.

The Finger Rock had an open hollow interior, with glowing moss found in dungeons growing on the rock surface.

Perhaps because of its thumb-like shape, the interior was vast.

Inns, taverns, general stores, weapon shops, armor shops, a guild branch, and even a church were scattered throughout.

The ground was fully paved with stone, forming proper roads.

Plants were planted, rivers flowed—it was so well maintained it was hard to believe we were inside a rock.

Then—someone was running toward us.

That’s… Pakira?!

“Bid!” 

Pakira said.

“Pakira!!” 

Bid shouted in surprise.

Bid ran forward and embraced her.

They shared a passionate reunion as we approached warmly.

“You’re safe,” 

Nabel said.

“I was worried,” 

Garad said.

“I’m sorry. The forest suddenly changed and I got lost,” 

Pakira said.

“Pakira. What about Lupinas and Liv?” 

I asked with concern.

“…Lupinas is nursing someone,” 

Pakira said.

“That’s… could it be Liv?” 

I was shaken.

“No. A man I picked up along the way,” 

Pakira said.

“A man?” 

Bid said.

Relief washed over me.

So it wasn’t Liv.

“That aside… we’ll talk inside,” 

Pakira said.

We were led to a two-story inn.

Pakira called Lupinas, and she appeared shortly after going upstairs.

“Everyone… you’re safe,” 

Lupinas said.

“The rescued man is upstairs?” 

Garad said.

“Yes, he is sleeping now,” 

Lupinas said.

“May I confirm?” 

Garad said.

“Yes, I will guide you,” 

Lupinas said.

Garad went upstairs with Lupinas.

I asked Pakira.

“Where is Liv?” 

“I don’t see her,” 

Hoss said.

“…She is not here,” 

Pakira said.

“What?” 

I asked in surprise.

Pakira lowered her head, her voice trembling.

“Liv is not here.” 

Pakira said.

“…Not here… w-what do you mean?!” 

Bid said.

A shock ran through us.

Liv was gone.