Is That My Alter Ego

23 – Desert of Death

“Everyone, make sure to wear your masks. It seems like it could be a hindrance as it is.”

“”Yes, Captain!””

Even after the rough sandstorm had passed, sand particles still floated in the air in this desert.

Sand kept entering our eyes, nose, and mouth, so we wore special masks prepared by the innkeeper himself.

‘Oh. This is nice.’

The mask covered the mouth, nose, and even had transparent goggles to protect the eyes.

Surprisingly, it felt comfortable as if not wearing anything. At this rate, it might be okay to wear it even during battle.

-…Wow. This is really fascinating.

-This should be enough! 5-star demon… Come at me!

-I don’t have to drink this crappy sand anymore!

My comrades and I praised the innkeeper’s wit and set off with lighter steps to find our way.

“Hmm… This should be the right path.”

According to the map attached to the request, this path should be correct. However… It was difficult to distinguish as everything was covered in sand.

“Surely there is a bridge we can cross if we walk this far from the village… Ah.”

Comparing the marked location with the surroundings from the village, I discovered a bridge spanning the cliff.

-Is this really the bridge?

-Oh. Talk about bad luck…

-Who the hell set up this wrecked bridge?

“Damn it.”

My comrades, upon seeing the state of the bridge, cursed as if they couldn’t believe it. And I felt the same way, understanding their sentiment.

If we were to cross this bridge, it could serve as a shortcut to our destination. In other words, not crossing this bridge meant we would have to go a long way around.

…Wait, what went through here? What is this?

Approaching the edge of the cliff, I examined the remnants of the bridge.

As if swept away by a natural disaster, the sturdy wooden bridge, except for the entrance, had all fallen to the immense height below the cliff.

A wooden bridge of this thickness wouldn’t break just from the sandstorm…?

It was thicker than my torso. Then what the hell went through here?

“…There’s no helping it. Let’s turn back.”

“Screaaam-! No luck at all!

“What do we have to do to completely wreck that bridge..?”

“It’s really quite fascinating.”

I understand how you all feel too… But how much longer do we have to keep going?

At a glance, it looked like a distance that would take a day to cover, but it seemed like it would take more than three days to get around.

“Sigh. What can we do? We have to go around.”

There’s nothing else I can do but this. Whether it turns out good or bad, there’s no choice but to go.

Just think of it as a trip through the desert. After all, it’s my first time in such a desert.

…As I kept looking, it seemed quite mystical and had its own charm.

***

Despite being autumn, the sun blazed down, and the sand reflected its scorching light, radiating intense heat.

The sand underfoot was soft and sinking, making walking alone a tiring endeavor.

Yet, we moved forward without showing any signs of struggle. After all, we were no longer amateurs, but veteran mercenaries.

A mere inconvenience couldn’t possibly break our will.

“Really, if we just get through this mission… we’ll not only regain our past glory but also advance beyond that.”

Hans, with his easy-going nature, tried to lighten the oppressive atmosphere caused by the stifling heat.

-Aren’t we already better than we were in the past? Heh heh…

-Right. It’s not arrogance but… there’s no other mercenary group in the whole empire that’s grown like us.

-Now we don’t even have to worry about money. Not to mention the honor!

In a short time, we had not only surpassed our past glory but also formed a strong bond of friendship and trust.

The members of the mercenary unit smiled, envisioning a stable present and a future that would surely shine brighter.

Thump…

“……..?”

As they watched this scene with contentment, they felt a very faint vibration beneath their feet.

It was such a small vibration that they wouldn’t have noticed it if they hadn’t been paying close attention.

“…What is it?”

Ceris murmured from behind. Ceris also looked around to determine the source of the vibration.

However, apart from the glittering sand, there was nothing to be seen. All they could see was the cliff and the gorge below.

And sporadic sightings of cacti and large boulders.

“…Everyone, hold on a moment.”

I first stopped everyone and then knelt down on the ground, placing my ear close to the sand.

Thump thump thump thump thump!

As I pressed my ear to the ground, I felt the vibration coming from beneath it.

Until just now, the vibration had been at a level that made it doubtful if there was any vibration at all. But after I pressed my ear and concentrated, I felt a distinct vibration.

Thud thud…

And at the same time, faintly audible…

“The sound of something crushing… and moving forward?”

Thump thump thump thump thump thump!

-…What… what is this vibration! An earthquake?!

-No… there’s no way an earthquake would suddenly happen…

The vibrations were now strong enough to be felt by the mercenaries.

Boom-Boom-Boom!

And then, the sound of something approaching, crushing the sand and the hard ground, grew louder and louder.

At the same time, an immense amount of mana began to be felt, rising from the ground!

And this mana, rising from the ground to where we now stood, left an even greater resonance.

“…Everyone, get ready for battle! A monster is approaching..!”

“”……Get ready for battle..!””

We, like true veterans, did not panic and quickly began preparing for combat.

We took out the weapons we had laid aside, lowered our stances, and readied ourselves to move at any moment.

‘….What on earth is coming?’

“Don’t move for now! We mustn’t send any movement, any vibrations!”

If something were rushing towards us from the ground, it would likely move following the flow of movement and the faint vibrations from the ground.

Fortunately, I found three rock chunks the size of a shoe right in front of my feet, which I threw onto the sandy ground a little away from us.

Boom-Boom-Boom!

-Kreeek-!

And as soon as the rock hit the ground, a creature so huge it defied the term ‘gigantic’ burst forth.

“…Sand Worm..”

The Sand Worm. With a mouth big enough to swallow a whole building, and teeth as large as a human face in that mouth, without exception.

Its length and thickness were believable even if one were to say several buildings were joined together.

The calamity that struck from beneath our feet represents the monster of the desert of death.

“…Three stars. No… four stars, perhaps.”

With a few unique exceptions, most demonic creatures have a set grade, and they do not deviate from their assigned range.

However, it is said that a Sand Worm grows larger and stronger with the number of years it has lived and the amount of life it has consumed.

According to historical records, there have been instances in the past where Sand Worms have been defeated, which possessed strength equivalent to a five-star level.

And now, the Sand Worm before us, judging by its size and the amount of magical power, appeared to be at least four stars.

-…A monster like this popping out of nowhere?!

-Is this the Desert of Death..?

-Don’t let your guard down! Or you’ll be swallowed alive..!

Among all the demonic creatures we have encountered so far, this was the most overwhelmingly large, prompting each member of the mercenary band to brace themselves.

“Everyone, watch the ground! Feel the vibrations and move away from that spot! And the moment the Sand Worm shows itself, attack!”

The Sand Worm’s attacks mostly consist of bursting out from the ground to swallow its target whole.

Since it’s a creature that can attack only for a very brief moment, one must seize that instant to deliver a powerful strike!

-Kiryaak-!

As I spoke, the Sand Worm burrowed back into the sand and disappeared underground.

Gulp.

Fearing that even a slight noise might interfere with detecting the vibrations, we all focused without even blinking.

Thud, thud, thud… Boom, boom, boom..!

All that echoed in this vast desert were the sounds of vibrations and the grinding of sand.

And the next target of the Sand Worm’s attack was…

“Virion! Dodge it!”

Kuwa-gwag!

As Birong dodged and flew away from his spot, the sand worm emerged right where he had been.

“All units, attack!”

Swoosh! Thud!

Squelch! Crack!

-Die, you monster!

-Quick, attack!

-…Eat this!

The mercenaries, following my orders, charged at the sand worm without hesitation and began their assault.

“…Huff!”

I also summoned my magic and struck the sand worm’s body with a powerful blow.

Crack!

-Kiiiiii!

And among them, the one who inflicted the biggest wound was Seris with her precise strike.

If our attacks caused minor wounds and scratches, Seris’s sword strike tore through the sand worm’s tough flesh, causing blood and organs to spill out.

Kuwa-gwag!

“Back to your positions!”

As the sand worm dug into the ground, seemingly trying to escape, we regrouped according to my command.

“Stay focused. Feel the flow of magic and… vibrations.”

The faint vibrations and the flow of magic could be sensed.

The next destination is…

…below me?!

“Ugh-!”

Kuquagwang-!

I was thrown by the magic power I felt right beneath my feet. A sand worm sprang out from the spot where I had just been standing.

…I was terrified. If I had stayed there, I would have been eaten alive.

“Now is the time!”

uuung-!

I immediately got up from my position and unleashed a powerful strike infused with magic. The attacks from the mercenaries who followed suit soon began to inflict significant wounds on the sand worm.

Though they were weak and small attacks, if these attacks piled up, they could eventually bring down even a massive wall.

“Haaap-!”

Shoaeaeak-!

And the core of the siege artillery that brought down that wall was Ceris. Ceris leapt high into the air, slicing through the entire body of the sand worm vertically.

-Ki… raeak…

Kuung-!

“…It’s done…!”

Wowaaa-!

After Hans’s shout, the cheers of the mercenaries could be heard.

The sand worm, which was even larger than the building, was split in half vertically by Ceris’s attack and died.

“….Phew.”

Fortunate. We successfully repelled the 4th-grade demon without any casualties. This should be… at least an intermediate level among the 4th-grade ones.

I found a spot on the ground, sat down on a small rock, and exhaled.

“…Cough.”

…I tried my best to endure in front of the members. However, with using a considerable amount of magic power, I couldn’t endure any longer.

Hastily, I took out a handkerchief and wiped away the blood.

“Captain…?”

“…Hans.”

Turning to the voice, Hans was looking down at me with an expression of disbelief.

Sigh… This is why I tried to endure as much as possible.

“Can you keep this from everyone?”

“Captain. Perhaps, not leaving the room at the inn wasn’t just a coincidence…”

“It’s a request, Hans.”

“Yes. I understand. I won’t tell anyone… about anything.”

“Thank you.”

With an awkward yet unbelieving expression as if recalling the past, Hans left quietly at my request.

It’s fortunate that it was Hans who caught me. If it were him… I can truly trust him.

That’s how the day in the desert of death came to an end.