“Phew...” Morning. I'm on my usual scouting, this time I'm backtracking our path to see whether we're followed by the rocky-bears or not. I find nothing, which may only mean that they're not using the usual path, these suckers may be capable of climbing all the cliffs whenever they want.

I look around with my whole array of [Perception]-skills in addition to [Wild Eyes]. It's good to see monsters like these swarm-lizards that are hidden in cracks and such... Hm? What's that? A strong spirit...

Important things you need to remember when dealing with spirits: First, only lifeforms have spirits. Second, there is a hierarchy in strength, plants have weak spirits, beasts and animals are above that, people above all. It seems to be tied to the complexity of thoughts, reptiles have weaker spirits than mammals, for example.

Monsters can be in the whole spectrum, yet monsters usually have traits of several animals. You'd also call them chimeras in our world. Often enough, a monster's strength of spirit correlates to the animals it's made of.

The stronger a spirit, the more effort it takes to control it. While Ara-san and I can easily manipulate plants, it's nigh impossible to do the same to people. There are some exceptions, though, like Kyou-san's [Mirrored Moon]-skill which also works well on them.

Why do I go through all of it again? Because there is a spot at the cliff that has one person-strong spirit. I don't look at it, yet my [Wild Eyes] have spotted it easily, as rocks aren't alive. They're also bad terrain if you want to hide your spirit. That person-spirit is slowly moving closer, yet I can't even see that movement with my eyes only.

I turn around while being on full alert. I need to know if this is a rare intelligent monster or a mercenary using a [Skill]. A [Skill] to look like a rock, most likely in the [Stealth]-ability. I could use this! [Camouflage] is great, as it's usable in any terrain, but that perfect rock-hiding would serve me well! Maybe you can even attack while being in it?

Ah, I can feel its spirit moving even closer, it becomes clearer and clearer to me. Let's see if that thing is dumb enough. I slowly start walking myself. It's also increasing its speed. Not much faster, it seems like it wants to keep up.

It also doesn't make sounds. It becomes more and more likely that it's a mercenary. Or maybe... let's try out. During scouting, I tend to have my bow in the hand, this time it's the same. I also have an arrow at hand, so I turn around and shoot it: “[Seeker]!”

My sudden attack makes it jump back, then it somehow deflects the arrow, I can't see what kind of weapon it's using. Good reflexes, though.

I run at it while switching from bow to spear. I can practically feel how it becomes ready, yet I made a half circle, only to: “[Speedthrust]!” Using my propulsion skill at point-range while the enemy needs to brace itself after turning around, let's see how it deals with this!

It has ducked under it!? Folkman? Or just a shrimp?

Won't matter. Still using the full range of my weapon, I swing at it at different angles, it's nimble, but won't mount a counterattack.

I hit something, this sound... another spear. On contact I switch to [Pikeman] to increase the power of my weapon and I'm far superior in that regard, it's stumbling! I take a firebomb from my pouch and throw it while jumping back.

A fiery blast comes. For a moment I think I saw someone inside, something with armor. It's also grunting, but as a [Pikeman] I can't use [Pitch] to determine its age or sex with such a short grunt.

Suddenly, a mist arises. Shit! It's not any mist, it's a mist made by magic! It makes it impossible to navigate, even when using [Spirit Magic]. I need to get out of it.

The moment I'm back in the sunlight, another mist falls down on me. Dammit! No, don't let it get you. “Phew...” I change to [Ranger] and hide myself inside the foliage. If I can't find you, you won't find me. Though it irritates me, that the magic inside the mist makes my spirit-sense dull.

It's only the second time I encountered a mist like that. The last time was in Aroahenn, the alfr village.

Could it be?

―○●○―

Some distance away, Kurosawa Teruko is sighing in relief. “Thanks, Yoshimura-kun.” She takes another look at where they came from, but she can't see Katsuragi anymore. Her other senses aren't catching him either, so she assumes that he also retreated.

“...” Yoshimura-kun also looks cautious. “He could sense you despite your [Rock Masking]... Let's assume that he has superior [Perception]-skills.”

“Grrr...” Teruko hates to admit it, but Yoshimura-kun is probably right. She was also bested in the fight, she hasn't used [Knight] yet, but she's not sure if that would be enough to overcome him. This killing intent was massive, the last time she had felt something like that was when she was facing the demons in Kraggwas.

“We were unprepared. When I fought him last time, he was also able to adapt quickly, finding ways to outtrick me. We need to keep that in mind.”

As they got closer and closer, Teruko started using [Rock Masking]—a [Stealth]-skill—to mask herself completely. Yoshimura-kun also followed her around hundred meters behind. When she saw Katsuragi coming, hearing of his brand new red armor from Correo, she tried to tail him to find Kyou-chan. Yet… Without her [Danger Sense]-skill, she might have been killed by the arrow.

“Good work under these circumstances, Kurosawa-san. At least he may not know who you are, so we still have an advantage.”

“Shut up, I'm not in the mood.” When she needed to decide whether to keep her [Rock Mask] or to fight properly back, she opted for the former, as in this moment he attacked, she wasn't able to step forward. It was too sudden, it was too intense, so many excuses, but in the end, she didn't have the guts.

“We'll regroup. For better or worse, they know that someone is chasing them.”

“How can it make things better!? I spoiled the moment of surprise!”

“Maybe. Maybe there was no chance to seize it either way. However, if they know someone is chasing them, they'll prepare. This means it's down to whether their tactics are superior to mine or not. And I don't think I'll lose.”

―○●○―

“There is no sign that they have followed me and I suggest that we start moving.” I'm back in the camp, the girls have already started to pack up and I'm helping with the last few things while explaining.

Rine cocks her head: “Start moving? Where to?”

“Ahead. They might have set a trap, but the canyon starts opening up, including some vegetation.” This is what a bird I hijacked with [Share Senses] saw. “If we start straying from the path, we might end up in a dead-end, so if they're only behind us, being faster than them is preferable.”

“Ken,” Kyou-san butts in: “Why? Do you know who they are?”

“In the best case, they're mercenaries that try to capture Rine.”

“And in the worst case?”

“It's an army of fire-spitting demons that's under the command of Muaotef who has conquered Feuerberg and the demon realm, enslaved everyone, put his profane dragon blood in all of them to strengthen them so that they can shoot lasers out of their eyes and what we just saw were just spotters, because they wanted to see whether they'll throw their nuclear bomb on this canyon to end us or not.”

“...is this your attempt at a joke?” No. If I had more time, I would add more and more to this vision, it's not funny in the least. “No, don't answer... what's the worst you expect?”

“Yoshimura and Hoshibashi with mercenaries and Correo. The mist reminded me of Yoshimura's.”

“...you still remember their names!?”

“Why so surprised?”

“Who is my best friend?”

“...this has nothing to do with this.”

“Kurosawa Teruko! Why do you remember them but not her!?”

“Kyou-san, stay on topic. Time to go.” Everything is packed up, so we can start hurrying. “We can do the talking on the way.”

“So,” Kyou-san continues: “Why would it be so bad?”

“Because if that's them, we won't be able to flee.”

“What?”

“I assume that Correo has some magic item to detect us. Remember? He deals in relics, if his story is true. Relics are magic items that interact with heroes. If he has lots of them, then it would make sense that he has one that detects heroes. This would explain everything, how he found us the first time and how he could find us now despite us using the swamps.”

“Why don't we attack them then?”

“Remember the last time we faced mercenaries? It's highly probable that he has some again. I think they'll outnumber and outdo us. Last time we were lucky that they were spread, looking for us as they had no idea where we were. Now they know. We can't count on another ranger to save our asses.”

“Do you also remember that last time we overexerted ourselves because we were too cautious?”

“I don't count on running away. I just want to choose the terrain, gather some intel, and see if Correo is with them. If we get him, we might succeed.” Correo is somehow related to the demons, and last time Yoshimura and Hoshibashi worked alongside them to get the stash of items from Aroahenn.

One of these items is the [Class Rewrite], a quill that allows a hero to delete one of their classes. Yoshimura and Hoshibashi used it before to delete their [Student]-class which was followed by a loss of personality. Each of their memories from before is now like they have read it in a book instead of experiencing them themselves.

As a side-effect, they have become much stronger. When Ara-san and I fought them, we had several advantages on our side, that we won't have for this confrontation. We may have become stronger, but they had the same amount of time... Still, even if we can overcome them, the outlook of having mercenaries as well...

This is why I need as much intel and as many advantages as possible. “Remember what I told you? When I hijacked the bird to look ahead, I could see that the paths are opening up with some vegetation. And more importantly, mice.”

“Mice!?”

I can't help but smirk. “Rine, could you use [Swishstride] to go ahead and catch some? I need them here, where there are no alternative paths. Also, be wary of predators and monsters.”

―○●○―

So close... Lent Wood—who acts as Yoshimura Rentaro for the moment—can almost taste his prey. Still, he has to be patient and reminds himself what his priorities are.

First, capture Princess Katarine von Stolzherz.

Second, make the other heroes join his cause. If that's not possible, kill them.

Yet there is a great amount of impatience in him, as curiosity and anticipation drives him forwards. The fateful meeting... Momokawa Kyou... he never met her, just his former self who was in love with her. His pitiful former self who never stood a chance.

A part of him is sure that he will fall in love with her again and this time, he will make her his. There is no way that a man like him won't conquer her.

But he has to pace himself and the others. The problem is how to proceed with the forces he has at his hands. Inoue and his party are all friends of Momokawa Kyou... This is good and bad. Good, because it curbs their motivation and their want to rescue her might work against their better judgment. Bad, because if Momokawa Kyou has the opportunity to talk to them, they will most likely listen.

If they weren't heroes, Lent could just talk to them, using his [Persuasion]-attribute to give them the idea that Momokawa Kyou is under the influence of Katsuragi Kenta's mind-control, so she can't be trusted right now.

Of course, Lent has some actual mind-control, but he wants to avoid using it right now as it only works on single targets. If someone suspects him of using it, all the trust he earned would be gone and he would have more enemies instead.

He wasn't convinced before, but now he has to admit that having them is a great tactical advantage. First, strength in numbers, second, because they have at least some capabilities. He only needs to use the other heroes properly. The best scenario would be to split up Katsuragi's party and have them pursue everyone except Momokawa Kyou.

For now, Kita is in the back row while Star and Kurosawa are scouting ahead. Kita also has [Perception], so he should be able to detect an ambush. While it was great to have a proper rearguard with Star, this has to suffice, as now they need more focus on the front.

Lent assumes that Katsuragi's party first wants to confirm their information. Yet it's not as easy as to look if there is a scout hiding on one of the cliffs. In this world, magic is an option. Maybe they can see into the distance, using a skill like Kita's [Farsight] while hiding far away. There might also be spells or skills that can foretell probable futures, the range of intelligence gathering is unknown.

That's why Lent decided to not worry too much about the enemy learning about them. Instead, he's more concerned what their first action might be. That's why he sent Star with Kurosawa, because Star is capable of dealing with everything Katsuragi's party will dish out, same goes for Lent, that's why he remained with the main-group.

Kurosawa becomes visible while running towards them. “There is a mouse in a glass.”

Inoue is as confused as Lent by this report. “A mouse?” he asks while slightly cocking his head.

“Yeah. We left it there for starters, but-”

“Kill it,” Lent says with determination.

“What?”

“Kill it without it seeing you. Also, look for other animals. They might be spies.”

“Spies!?”

“Kurosawa-san, we're in a world that is full of magic.”

Inoue slightly nods. “But is it necessary to kill them?”

“It's the safest and quickest option. As long as we don't know the purpose, it's easier to destroy it.”

“We could have Teruko just carry them away.”

“Are there alternate paths here, Kurosawa-san?”

“No...”

“You can ask my partner to do it, if you're against it, Kurosawa-san. But if we want to waste no time, we need to deal with it quickly. If setting it up costs more time than us solving it, we're winning some.”

With a heavy sigh, Inoue nods, but he's not pleased. It doesn't matter in the long run, this is the most logical solution.

―○●○―

“They took the bait,” I report while looking through the eyes of the target-mouse of [Share Senses]. Ara-san pulls me by the hand as long as I can't see, using my own eyes. Someone I can't see with the distorted picture I got from the mouse has started killing the others, soon my spy will also be done for. “Ara-san, I’d like to switch.”

“Sure.” She lets go of my hand while I stand still.

[Share Senses] allows me to share the sense of the target. It's one of the spells that work best on animals, as plants have different senses altogether. As a noob, the mouse was the only target I could use. Still, there is another component: I can filter.

With my current mastery, I can only make rough switches in the filter. Ara-san believes that at some point I may be able to have two overlapping pictures in my mind, my own senses and the ones of my target. Now I completely filter the sight and start adjusting my hearing.

“...shame, ...poor... hey...”

Someone is talking. A girl. I also feel absolutely annoyed. I know this voice... If I compare it with my mental annoyance-level chart... A memory surfaces from deep within. 'Hey, hey, Kyou-chan! Could you ask fatso about the sports meet?'

Shrimp! What was her name... Kurokawa Tetsuko? What is she doing here? ...well, she's a lol-hero of Feuerberg, so she's still after the princess? Didn't she hang around Inoue? Does that mean... Oh god, The Fakes are here!

The Fakes, the well-liked asses of the class that gained all their popularity by dissing, bullying, and acting like good students on the outside.

First, we have muscle-brain who is ready to lash out and intimidate everyone speaking bad about Inoue.

Second, we have ponytail who's calling people names and can only tell people her opinion when she's with someone who can physically threaten them.

Third, we have the dark one... who's just kinda there, most likely as the butt of everyone's jokes, the guy in the group that always takes the fall to make the others feel better about themselves.

Fourth, we have shrimp who isn't above telling others that they suck but start bawling the moment you give some backtalk.

Fifth, we used to have Kyou-san there as well, the girl who used her good looks and a sugar-sweet act to manipulate everyone around her.

Sixth, Inoue Masahiko, the boss. It's like all other members are only around him because he's the nastiest and phoniest of them all. I mean, everyone seems to buy his goody-two-shoes act, but he acts via his friends, keeping himself safe from all critiques. The worst of them all.

I thought it was Yoshimura's mist, but I guess ponytail is a magic-user as well? I try to remember the last encounter with them... ah, I clotheslined her. Good time.

Why is Kyou-san gesticulating in front of me? I filter the sound out and nod to her, signing her that I'm ready to hear. “Ken, what's wrong!? Why are you smirking!? What did you hear?”

…

… … …

Ouch. I... feel something strange. It hurts.

“A...” I open my mouth trying to say something, but I can't. My throat is dry. It's like my words are clogging inside my throat.

I understand. I... I understand! Shit! Why!? It shouldn't be! Though I know it is. I know why I suddenly snapped at Kyou-san when we were talking the night before the last. Why I felt so... irritated.

She mentioned her friends back then, how she would love to join them again...

I don't want that. ...I don't want Kyou-san to leave...

How could this happen!?