101. When Things Are Going Well, You Need to Be Careful, Isn’t It?

This is a story I heard later from Raidoc.

They seemed to have been moving in this way.

The mixed team of adventurers led by Raidoc and lizardmen led by Jurara had ventured into the heart of the wetlands to rescue Zaid and his companions.

It was a labyrinth of mangroves with intertwined branches, water, and grass.

First, they divided the team, pairing adventurers with lizardmen.

Each team, centered around Raidoc and Jurara’s leader team, spread out at equal intervals to the left and right, exterminating hydras while searching for survivors.

“Right! Raidoc!”

“Got it!”

Raidoc’s swordsmanship shredded the twelve-headed hydra into pieces.

Of course, it was thanks to the support of his companions.

Jurara let out a sigh.

“You are really strong. A twelve-headed hydra is a legendary monster to us.”

Raidoc turned and laughed.

“I used to think so too, but I’ve become stronger since I joined the Golden Dawn.”

“Is it Craft’s stamina potion…? Our lizardmen warriors have also trained while taking it for the past month and have become incredibly strong.”

“Right?”

“But the stronger we get, the slower the growth. Your strength is on another level.”

“Still a long way to go.”

Raidoc shrugged, and Jurara shrugged for a different reason.

Jurara then narrowed his eyes, raised his head, and began to look around with a stern expression.

“…I sense humans.”

“What? Solar!”

“Yes! Which direction!?”

Solar cautiously approached the direction Jurara pointed to.

“That tree root! There’s a survivor!”

“Good job! Team members, be on full alert! Beppu and Solar, proceed with the rescue!”

“””Oh!!”””

Solar ran towards the soldier hiding among the roots.

“Oh… oh, you came to rescue us… Zaid-sama didn’t abandon us.”

The soldier, exhausted, crawled out slowly.

Solar and the priest Beppu exchanged glances.

Beppu shook his head and then turned to the soldier.

“I’ll heal you now.”

“Thank you. I thought it was over as we ran out of potions.”

“You don’t have to talk.”

Beppu healed the soldier with magic.

Although Craft’s healing potions were more effective, they were limited in number, so they used magic to heal.

Magic power recovers when they sleep.

Balancing the use of items and magic is the key to long-term battles.

(If only Craft were here, we wouldn’t have trouble with supplies)

Raidoc smiled wryly, thinking of Craft’s space storage with its extraordinary capacity.

“The treatment is done. The fatigue is worse than the injuries.”

“Have him drink a stamina potion and join Shururu’s team.”

The soldier, seeing the lizardmen for the first time, was startled when Shururu’s team approached.

Raidoc quickly followed up.

“It’s okay! We don’t have time for detailed explanations, but they’re allies!”

“But they’re unfamiliar non-humans…”

“Those non-humans, the lizardmen, were the ones who found you.”

The soldier, wide-eyed, stared at Shururu and Jurara.

“I see. Thank you.”

Shururu smiled broadly and stood in front of the soldier.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you until we get back!”

“A-ah…”

The soldier joined Shururu’s team and moved with them.

Thus, Raidoc and his team, in cooperation with the lizardmen, continued rescuing hidden soldiers one after another.

After finding a few more soldiers, Solar noticed something.

“Hey, Raidoc. Watching the rescued soldiers, I realized that staying still in the roots of mangroves and banyan trees makes it harder for the hydras to notice them. Everyone ended up hiding in the roots.”

Raidoc nodded deeply upon hearing this.

“I see. Losing their weapons and potions, wandering in this thick fog. If they run out of stamina, it’s natural for them to hide and rest in the roots. Maybe we can save them all!”

As a result of the combined efforts of the lizardmen, who don’t lose their tracking ability even in the wetlands, and the adventurers, who had several rangers, they managed to find all the hidden soldiers.

◆

“What is it?”

Jurara, leading the way without concern for the wetlands, looked up with a stern expression.

Raidoc thought they had found another soldier, but something seemed different.

“Jurara, what happened?”

“Well, it seems that the fog is thinning ahead…”

“What’s strange about that?”

Raidoc would welcome the thinning fog, but Jurara seemed cautious. There might be something only lizardmen could sense.

Jurara silently observed the surroundings for a while, then suddenly crouched and began to examine the ground.

“Raidoc. Call Solar.”

“Got it. Solar!”

Solar came immediately when Raidoc called.

Solar carefully examined the ground submerged in water.

“These are human footprints. Quite a number. As expected of the lizardmen. I wouldn’t have noticed the footprints in the wetlands unless I paid close attention.”

“It’s just that we are superior in wetlands and swamps. In town or forest, I would lose to Solar, who can perform anywhere.”

Jurara looked aside slightly, perhaps out of modesty or embarrassment.

Raidoc smiled wryly, while Solar shrugged lightly and continued the conversation.

“Considering the number of rescued soldiers, it’s likely all the footprints of the survivors.”

“In other words, it’s highly likely that Lord Kyle’s brother is ahead?”

“Without a doubt.”

Seeing the two nod in agreement, Raidoc confirmed.

“Alright, let’s proceed carefully.”

Raidoc instructed everyone.

Jurara started to say something but then closed his mouth.

(I have a bad feeling… but rescuing is the priority.)

Jurara lowered his body and began to follow the footprints with Solar.

The change happened quickly.

The thick fog, like spilled milk, suddenly cleared, revealing a black mangrove forest ahead.

It was a shocking sight, with pitch-black trees spreading across the entire field of vision.

Jurara was at a loss for words, but Raidoc and his team exclaimed in astonishment.

“What…!?”

“This is!”

“No way!?”

Surprised by their reaction, Jurara turned to Raidoc and his team.

“Raidoc!? Do you know something!?”

Raidoc spoke to Jurara without taking his eyes off the black trees.

“I told you about the time Golden Dawn was attacked by a group of cockatrices, right?”

“Yes.”

When the lizardmen, including Jurara and Shururu, moved to Golden Dawn, they heard many stories from Craft, Leafan, Raidoc, and Jitaro.

The story of the attack by a group of cockatrices was told with such enthusiasm that everyone listened with excitement.

“At that time, we saw the cockatrices eating black plants.”

“What?”

“Though the vegetation is different… when the monsters ate it, they became ferocious.”

“That’s…”

Jurara was astonished.

“Wait! There are people there!”

The ranger Solar quickly spotted the large mangrove where Zaid and his group had taken refuge.

Raidoc pulled Solar’s arm as she tried to run.

“What?”

(Be quiet! Tell everyone to stay silent!)

(…!)

While giving instructions, Raidoc pointed ahead to a huge, mountain-like black mass.

A giant black shape loomed in the remaining fog.

(Solar! Can you tell what that is?)

(A black mountain… no, it’s a living creature! It’s slightly moving!)

They lowered their bodies and quietly hid behind trees, staring at the ominous giant creature.

(Unbelievable… that’s a hydra… as big as a dragon)

Solar’s voice trembled.

Even Raidoc, who could usually remain calm, broke into a cold sweat, recognizing the dangerous monster.

Ordinarily, they should flee.

But at this crucial moment, they had found the survivors, who were likely their rescue targets.

After a brief pause, Raidoc looked at Solar with determined eyes.

(…Solar. I want to ask you something dangerous. First, join Zaid-sama alone and quietly bring them back here.)

Solar’s trembling stopped under Raidoc’s serious gaze.

(…Leave it to me! This is a ranger’s job.)

(Yeah. I trust you.)

The two shared a brief kiss.

Just as Solar began to move.

“””Uoooohhhhhhh!!!”””

Incredibly, with a roar, Zaid led the soldiers in a charge towards the giant hydra.

It was a desperate charge.

“Damn! They’re charging with resolve! If only we had joined them sooner!”

“No regrets, Raidoc! Focus now!”

“Yeah! Everyone except Shururu’s team, charge! We will save them all!”

“””Ooooohhh!!!”””

Adventurers and lizardmen began their charge.

The hydra, which had been moving slowly, suddenly swung its heads with unexpected agility.

They finally saw the full form of the hydra.

It was enormous.

Eight vicious heads.

Eight long, thick, powerful tails.

It was a sight more terrifying than any dragon.