GILF Hunter

’Move it over there!’

’Hurry up! The sun’s going down! You lazy bums!’

On the day Rin and Luca returned from the forest, supplies and additional troops arrived from Labyrinth without delay.

These were mercenaries sent in a hurry after hearing the news that a large-scale Stinger nest had been discovered in the forest.

Thanks to the Alchemists’ Association pooling their money for support, there were enough supplies and personnel to the point where no more were needed.

After finishing all necessary preparations, the leaders of the subjugation force gathered in one place.

Because of the addition of leaders who had arrived from Labyrinth, the large hut used as the command headquarters was packed to capacity.

’The nest is located here.’

’It’s quite deep inside...’

Ian marked the location of the nest on a large map spread out in the center.

They had finally found the location of the nest after a long wait, but the expressions of the leaders, including Hamel, were not very good.

The nest was located too deep within the forest.

’We didn’t expect it to be in an easy place anyway, did we?’

’Even so, this is a bit too much...’

The leaders gathered in a circle around the map each spoke as they looked down at the terrain.

’The location is bad, and the path is even worse.’

’With a path like this, it’ll take over a day just to get inside.’

The Stinger nest was quite deep inside, and the road to get there was rugged. Moreover, since they were flying monsters, there was no proper access route by land.

’If we drag this out, the sun will set while we’re fighting.’

’Camping inside the forest isn’t a good idea either.’

Eventually, the leaders gathered there discussing the matter looked at Ian.

Many opinions had been voiced, but the final decision had to be made by Ian.

Ian, who had been quietly listening to the stories the leaders were sharing, made his decision.

’Let’s just take out the Queen in the nest and withdraw.’

There were two ways to exterminate Stingers.

One was, as commonly thought, attacking the nest head-on. Stingers whose nest is attacked will swarm the intruders without exception, so they could be cleaned up neatly without leaving a single one behind.

And the other was to deal with the Queen in the nest.

The central axis that binds the Stingers to the nest is the Queen. Once the Queen disappears, the Stingers scatter in all directions.

Instead of moving in swarms and guarding territory like they do now, they become monsters that wander the forest without a territory.

’Then the Stingers will be released into the forest.’

’Isn’t our goal just to get the farm running again anyway? It’s not a forest that people frequent, so it shouldn’t really matter.’

The scattered Stingers would head into the deep forest, their primary habitat.

If they encountered another Stinger colony, they might join it, but most individuals who don’t would wander alone and be hunted by natural predators.

Stingers that couldn’t form swarms because their command system had collapsed were surprisingly easy opponents and couldn’t exert much power.

If this forest were a living area for residents, it would be an unusable method, but this was a remote place where people didn’t even come near.

Since the purpose of this request was just to ensure the farm no longer suffered Stinger damage, dismantling the Stinger territory that reached the farm could be considered achieving the goal.

’Then...’

’I think that sounds like a good plan!’

Clea raised her hand high and agreed with Ian’s opinion.

The other leaders also began to nod one or two at a time. It was a method that wouldn’t drag out the battle and would minimize the damage to the subjugation force as much as possible.

’Does anyone have any other ideas?’

’...’

All the gathered leaders agreed to Ian’s plan.

Once the opinions were unified, setting the subsequent plan was simple. Ian drafted the outline of the plan on the spot with the other leaders.

The subjugation force would lure the Stingers from a terrain suitable for fighting near the nest, and while the forces are drawn out from the nest, a separate detachment would enter the nest and deal with the Queen.

’The mercenary group that will go to the nest and take out the Queen is...’

’Us!’

Clea raised her hand and waved it toward Ian.

...Of course.

It was a role that fit Hamel’s personality perfectly.

And since a role like this should inherently be taken by the mercenary group strongest in close-quarters combat, it was right for the Hamel Mercenary Group to be the core.

Once the rough plan was decided, Ian took out the roster he had prepared in advance and informed them of their respective roles.

The departure was set for three days later.

＊　＊　＊

’Be careful! Maintain your intervals!’

’Don’t fall behind alone!’

After a few days of preparation, the day of departure arrived. The subjugation force entered the forest all at once.

As the mercenaries, packed with gear, stepped into the forest with tense faces, Stingers immediately flew in.

’Don’t attack first yet!’

Stingers continued to fly over the heads of the subjugation force walking through the forest.

However, the Stingers did not attack the humans who invaded the forest, but instead circled nearby while keeping their distance as if monitoring them.

The Stingers were wary as many humans entered at once, but because the number of opponents was so large, they didn’t seem to want to start a fight first.

The subjugation force was thus able to move without much interference and take their positions within the forest.

’We’ve arrived.’

’What about the other mercenary groups?’

’No signals from other locations yet.’

The central unit, including Ian and the Hamel Mercenary Group, arrived at the first target point.

The mercenaries stopped there and observed the Stingers’ presence.

As the mercenaries drew closer to the nest, the number of Stingers that flew out to guard also increased gradually.

They were only warning for now, but it looked like they would attack if they approached any closer than this.

Before long, signals came up from other locations that they had also reached their target points.

’All other sides have arrived!’

’Good. Then... let’s begin.’

A flare went up. Ian’s unit, and the mercenary groups in other sectors who saw the signal, all immediately moved toward the second point.

’Here they come!’

At the same time, countless Stingers took flight all at once from across the forest.

As the group of humans approached closer to the nest, the Stingers had also decided to attack.

Before the Stingers departing from the nest could arrive, each unit moved to their designated locations and took their positions first.

While the subjugation force had been preparing for departure over the past few days, the scouts had gone back into the forest to investigate terrains suitable for fighting Stingers in advance.

Ian’s unit also arrived at a large clearing on the path to the nest.

’A swarm is coming from this way too!’

’Prepare for battle!’

Dozens of Stingers that took flight from the nest flew toward Ian’s unit. Perhaps because they were close to the nest, several elite monsters guarding the nest were also included.

’I’ll set up the barrier! Come this way!’

The rear-line members, including Ian, entered the small barrier Mika had set up.

Conversely, the front-liners stepped outside the influence of the barrier for battle.

’Hey, Lia.’

’Yeah?’

Rin looked up at the Stinger swarm approaching from a distance and asked Lia, who was standing beside her.

’Are you okay with bees?’

’What about them.’

’They’re bugs...’

Lia’s expression looked unfazed even though a swarm of bees was approaching.

Come to think of it, she looked fine on the first day too...

Rin recalled the battle that took place on the first day they arrived here.

She hadn’t noticed because things were hectic when they were ambushed, but Lia seemed to have not been flustered at all back then either.

Lia responded with a face that looked like she found Rin asking such a thing strange.

’Bees... they’re cool, aren’t they?’

’...?’

’...?’

What... is the difference.

Rin wanted to pry a little more, but unfortunately, she couldn’t ask any more questions because the monsters had approached right in front of them.

─!

The Stingers that flew overhead immediately pounced on the mercenaries.

All the front-line members waiting outside the barrier drew their weapons and began the battle with the Stingers.

Mika, watching the scene from inside the barrier, asked Ian something that had been bothering her for a while.

’Um, Leader...? Sorry to bother you while you’re busy.... But is it okay for Clea to keep staying outside?’

’Clea? Ah, over there...’

A chaotic battlefield where Stingers were flying around frantically. Clea jumped up with an unbothered face and was held in Hamel’s arms.

’Let’s go, Hamel!’

’...’

Hamel, holding Clea with one hand, plunged into the Stinger swarm ahead.

’Eh...’

Before Mika could say anything, a flash of light burst from the hand of Clea, who was held in Hamel’s arms.

Numerous bolts of lightning scattered in all directions, electrocuting the surrounding Stingers.

’Is that okay...?’

This time, the question was pointing at Hamel, not Clea.

Thanks to casting it in the middle of the monsters, Clea’s magic demonstrated a tremendous effect, but Hamel, who was holding Clea, was also hit directly by the lightning magic.

’It’s okay. I heard he put together equipment with lightning resistance.’

Thanks to the lightning resistance boosted to nearly 100%, Hamel was able to move unhindered even after being hit directly by Clea’s lightning.

Hamel dove into the paralyzed Stinger swarm and took out several in an instant.

Because Clea stayed attached and used magic, Hamel fought as if he were a magic swordsman, emitting lightning in all directions.

Ian told Mika the back story he had heard while chatting with the two of them recently.

’The Hamel Mercenary Group consists entirely of front-liners except for Clea. They said she started fighting like that because she hated being left behind alone.’

Did offensive mages... have to go that far.

Thinking that, Mika’s motivation to become a combat mage decreased just a tiny bit.