NOVEL NEXT When adventurers come into the guild, they don’t seem to leave at all.
So, the guild office was packed to the brim with no empty seats whatsoever.
“Ugh, the smell of sweat. Can’t you at least wash up a bit?”
“…Get your hands off my head.”
Yona was patting Alex’s bald head with her right hand.
Wrapped in the Sacred Barrier, her fingers were gently caressing Alex’s scalp.
“No, I’m healing my roots here.”
“I did that myself, you crazy girl. It didn’t die! My roots aren’t dead!”
“You should be calling me crazy!”
“Ugh, seriously.”
Alex’s face turned red with frustration.
Seeing that Yona’s patience was nearing its end, she slowly pulled her hand away.
“I heard someone from the investigation team kicked the bucket the other day. But is the subjugation team really arriving this quickly?”
Aren’t they the nobles known for their slow movements?
Having lived in this world for three years, the biggest lesson learned was definitely that.
Don’t expect speed from nobles.
They believe speed and face-saving are inversely proportional.
Alex pulled out a towel and wiped the sweat off his head.
“It’s a demon, they say. Moreover, a demon from the catacomb. This is something the lord should definitely raise an eyebrow over.”
He had seen the lord from a distance, but imagining that hefty figure trying to raise its eyebrows was quite the sight.
Yona suddenly burst into giggles at the thought.
Jiggly flesh, dripping sweat.
Ugh, gross.
“I think they left the castle this morning. They should be arriving soon, right?”
“They’re faster than I expected. Maybe the eyebrows are on fire after all?”
He was genuinely surprised.
It was astonishing that even those heavy-bottomed priests from the cathedral were moving so quickly.
“Anyway, Alex, you’re joining the subjugation team, right?”
“Of course. That’s why I’m just sitting here like this.”
“Great. Then let’s go together in the same party.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Alex agreed readily.
Even though Yona was a bit strange, her skills were undeniable.
Her movements were swift, and her capabilities were solid.
For Alex, who always lived on the edge of death as a vanguard, just having a healer like Yona around was something to be grateful for.
*
As soon as they discussed forming a party, the leader of the subjugation team under the lord barged in.
Along with Mary, they chatted with the guild leader for a moment and then quickly began explaining the situation and taking sign-ups for the adventurers participating in the subjugation team.
Naturally, Alex and Yona signed up, and they were now on the carriage ready to depart.
And so, they were currently seated in the carriage, ready to set off.
Yona stretched her legs and yawned as she sat in the carriage covered with thick cloth oiled to keep the elements out.
Inside the carriage, alongside Yona and Alex, sat ten adventurers. Most of them were copper-level adventurers like Yona, and they were all familiar faces.
However, their skills varied wildly.
Yona didn’t rush to form a party unless she was sure of their abilities, like she was with Alex, since they had teamed up several times.
But this time was a hunt party, so the formation would likely be random, and it seemed four members, including Alex who had already signed up, would be in one party.
“Hey Alex, how much are you getting for rewards?”
“Ten silver coins.”
“Oh.”
Being a vanguard must pay decently.
Yona would also get ten coins.
Essential roles like the Vanguard and Healer are hard to come by, so the rewards are pretty sweet.
‘A demon, huh…’
It’s already been three years since I randomly got tossed into this world.
In that time, I awakened my divine power and started working as a healer, which has been about a year and a half now.
In that year and a half, I’ve never seen a demon in person.
I’ve only participated in dungeon explorations or monster-hunting parties, but today’s a raid against demons, which is a different kettle of fish altogether.
I can’t help but feel anxious.
“Hey, miss. You nervous?”
“Ugh, don’t call me miss!”
Misquot, the axe-wielding warrior who sat next to Alex, grinned cheekily as he spoke to Yona.
They’d teamed up a couple of times before, and while their skills were roughly on par, Misquot sure didn’t hold back, making Yona’s job of watching the vanguard a real hassle.
“First time facing a demon, huh?”
“Yeah. Any good info?”
Yona, who had been hot under the collar from being called ‘miss,’ eased up a bit at Misquot’s question.
He might know something useful.
He’s so obsessed with fighting, he might just have a thing or two up his sleeve.
Information is life or death for adventurers.
“I’m a rookie at this too.”
Misquot shrugged, trying to act casual.
Just when Yona was about to blow a fuse, a loud voice echoed from the carriage waiting area.
“Departing now! Detailed mission briefing will be after we arrive, so rest up during the ride!”
The veteran adventurers sitting at the outer edge of the carriage cheered loudly in response.
– Thud.
With a sound of the locking post being pulled out, the carriage jolted and began to move.
“You better watch yourself later.”
“Oh dear, Shoenne has committed a grave sin, my lady.”
“Seriously, this little punk.”
The adventurers sitting around laughed at Yona.
A healer who’s lost his mind claiming he’s a man.
An oddball healer insisting he came from another world.
Yet, despite it all, his skills are so good that he’s one of the few bronze-level healers among the ones who mostly kick the bucket at rock and iron levels.
“Sleep already, you brats. Once we land, you won’t want to sleep even if you could. Yona, stop with the nonsense and just close your eyes.”
Kaiyak, the Lizardman sitting on the outer edge of the carriage, scolded in a low voice.
At his words, Yona pouted and obediently closed her eyes.
She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but when she shut her eyes, she dozed off.
*
The carriage jolted.
With a thump and the sound of a splintering post, it shook hard.
Yona opened her eyes halfway and looked outside the carriage.
They had departed in the morning when the sun was visible, and now, it was bright but the sun was hidden, indicating it was already high in the sky.
“Alright, everyone get off! Get down!”
A loud voice filled the air, and things got bustling.
Everyone leaped out of the carriage with their gear and belongings, as if they hadn’t been sleeping at all.
“Alright, line up and form ranks!”
A knight in splendid armor, likely from the lord’s knightly order, with piercing eyes scanned the adventurers.
“Nice armor, I envy you.”
“You could sell a few milk jugs to get one, you know.”
“Shut it, bald-headed brat.”
With a sharp smack, Yona hit Alex on the back of his head and looked around.
There were forty adventurers total.
With the knights included, there were about sixty.
And then…
“Oh my, have they already arrived?”
“Yes, Priest. You may disembark now.”
As the priests dismounted with an escort provided by the knights, it was clear their carriage was on a whole different level compared to the one Yona and the others had ridden.
The wheels were double-layered to minimize shaking, seeming to prioritize ride comfort over speed and capacity.
“Damn it, those bastards.”
Using the same holy power, some of them ride like royalty while others just get a nice escort.
“Are you wishing for an escort because you’re a girl too?”
“Shut your mouth, Alex.”
Just as she was about to smack him again, the commander of the knights boomed out.
“We will wait here until sunset! All carriages and leading adventurers, come to the command post!”
“I’ll be waiting here until the sun sets! All carriages and leading adventurers, come to the command post!”
For now, Yona doesn’t need to go.
Lizardman warrior Kaiyak cracked his neck and headed off to what he calls the command post.
Alex dragged Yona by the arm toward a somewhat sit-able log.
“Hey, Yona.”
“What?”
His voice was surprisingly serious.
That made Yona also take a moment to steady her voice.
“Have you ever fought a Demon?”
“Nope. Isn’t that something those priest chicks do?”
“We’re the ones who tank, you know.”
“What about you, punk?”
“Hey, I do, but you do too.”
That’s just the nature of healers, so Alex wasn’t entirely wrong.
Vanguard and healer come as a set.
“So?”
“I’m not feeling this mission at all. I trust your skills, Yona, but this time, please be extra careful.”
“When have I ever not cared? If you die, I die too. Don’t you get that?”
“Well… I know that.”
There was noticeable tension on Alex’s face.
That in turn made Yona tense up as well.
What’s up with today?
“Anyway, I’m really not feeling good about this one. That’s it.”
“Ugh… that feeling of yours. Anyway, got it.”
If his instincts are bad, they just need to survive.
Yona gently stroked the Sacred Barrier wrapped around her right arm with her left hand.
It’s such a low-grade barrier it’s almost embarrassing to rate, but she’d managed to last three years with it.
In every expedition, the healer ranks right up there with the vanguard in death rates.
With an average lifespan of one year, the healer class is a brutal one.
Yet, Yona has survived three years as a healer.
“Just protect yourself, Alex. I’ll protect you.”
“Don’t worry. Where’s the vanguard that doesn’t protect their healer?”
“There are plenty, punk.”
Yona chuckled and gave Alex’s shoulder a playful pat.
This big bald guy worrying over unnecessary things was oddly endearing.
“Okay—everyone gather up! I’ll call out the party composition, so hurry up!”
From a distance, a call for assembly came.
“Don’t sweat it. It’s just your imagination. I’ll take good care of you. You protect me, and I protect you, and we’ll be fine. Right? Why’s this big guy all scared?”
“…Alright, got it. Yona, I’m counting on you.”
“Yep, I’ll live up to that trust!”
Yona gave a thumbs-up with a smirk.
Punk, you’re cute.