GILF Hunter

The interior of the Mercenary Guild, which would normally have been quiet at this hour, was bustling with people who had suddenly flocked in.

It was due to an emergency mobilization order abruptly issued by the Guild.

’There are... more people than I expected.’

’We weren’t the only ones called.’

Ian, Rin, and Lia, who had rushed over after receiving the contact, entered the Guild.

The interior was already so crowded that there were almost no vacant seats left.

The three of them managed to claim a corner spot, took a breather, and chatted while looking around.

’To gather this many... what on earth is happening?’

’Did they put out a call to every single mercenary group?’

’It seems... everyone Rank B and above is here.’

Ian examined the other mercenaries gathered in the Guild.

At a glance, those gathered were mercenaries who appeared to be Rank B or higher. It seemed every Rank B or higher mercenary group currently in the city had received the summons.

Among them, there were a few individuals who appeared to be Rank A mercenaries.

’Look over there. There are Rank As too...’

’If even the Rank As are showing up... could this be a much bigger deal than we thought?’

Rin and Lia exchanged such words while observing the other mercenaries.

Looking at the faces gathered, it seemed as if an invasion were about to start again right this moment.

Not only Rin and Lia felt this; the other mercenaries felt it as well, so their expressions naturally turned serious upon realizing it was no ordinary matter.

’Ah...’

’What’s wrong? Do you know someone?’

’Over there...’

A familiar face was visible where Rin’s finger pointed. It was Freya.

Normally, there would have been a high probability she wouldn’t have received the summons because she’d be inside the Labyrinth. It seemed she had received it because she had returned to the city after going to the Labyrinth with Rin this time.

Freya, who had also spotted Ian’s party, pushed through the crowd and approached Ian’s side.

’Ms. Freya. What is all this about?’

’An emergency’s been declared, obviously.’

While most of the Rank B mercenaries looked flustered, the Rank A mercenaries, including Freya, were as calm as if they had experienced this a few times before.

’If it’s around this time, is it probably that...? You’re in for a good show.’

’A good show? Is it not a dangerous matter?’

’Where is there mercenary work that isn’t dangerous?’

Freya seemed to have a rough guess as to what this summons was about.

As if intending to give a bit of advice, Freya looked back at Ian’s party and said.

’If you don’t want to be assigned a bothersome job, just stay quiet in the corner.’

’A bothersome job?’

Freya glanced at Ian as she spoke.

After staring at Ian’s face and pondering something, Freya’s expression hardened, and she suddenly changed her attitude.

’Actually, never mind. Don’t stay near me; stay a bit further away...’

With that, Freya slunk away from Ian.

It was a gaze as if she were looking at a troublemaker who attracted annoying tasks.

’You make it sound as if I go out of my way to take on bothersome jobs...’

’Is that not the case?’

’....’

While the mercenaries were gathered and murmuring amongst themselves, the door finally opened, and a Guild official stepped out from within.

’Is everyone here? Come inside.’

Camilla, who was the last to emerge from the room, called the mercenaries gathered outside into the interior.

It was finally time to hear the explanation of why they had been gathered.

The place Camilla led the mercenaries was the Guild’s largest room, the Grand Conference Hall.

Since it was the largest room used as a strategy room during invasions, there was no lack of space, but because there were so many people, the interior was packed with mercenaries.

Camilla immediately began her explanation to the mercenaries who were focused on her.

’Is everyone here? The reason for the sudden summons today is none other than... information has come in that the Behemoth is about to wake up.’

A low murmur spread through the conference hall upon hearing Camilla’s words.

’Behemoth?’

Lia muttered in a low voice. It was a voice filled with the question of never having heard of it before.

Not just Lia, but many mercenaries were exchanging whispers filled with similar questions.

It seemed nearly half of them had no idea what kind of monster a Behemoth was.

Amidst them, Ian understood the situation and fell into thought.

So it’s the Behemoth event...

Around this period, special events would start appearing randomly, and in terms of difficulty, it wasn’t a particularly bad event.

There were many events with better rewards, but considering that some of them were difficult to resolve or could even cause damage to the city, this was actually on the better side.

Ian briefly observed the other Rank A mercenaries among the crowd.

Those people seemed to find it more of a headache. Their expressions suggested they had the bad luck of being present when it triggered.

Lia, who was also gauging the reactions of the surrounding mercenaries, asked Ian.

’Leader, do you happen to know what a Behemoth is?’

’A Behemoth is...’

’Oh! I know what that is.’

Instead of Ian, Rin answered first after hearing Lia’s question.

Rin replied while recalling information about the monster called Behemoth from her memory.

’It’s a super-sized monster. I heard that as it grows, it gets endlessly larger, so the big ones are indistinguishable from mountains.’

’Don’t give me such ridiculous stories...’

Lia doubted Rin’s knowledge, which was only accurate about once every four times, but Camilla, who was at the front, cut in to answer instead.

’No, that’s correct. It is exactly that monster. It seems it’s appeared in books as well.’

’Pardon? It’s true?’

A flustered atmosphere spread among the mercenaries.

...A giant monster as big as a mountain?

It was incomprehensible that such a monster could appear so suddenly. Usually, there would have been an uproar from a distance. No news had reached Labyrinth.

’Can such a thing... appear suddenly?’

’Suddenly? It’s an annual event.’

Above all, Camilla and the Guild staff, who should have been the most flustered if such a monster appeared, were instead quite calm. As if they had already experienced it several times.

As the commotion died down slightly and focus returned to her, Camilla continued her explanation of the monster.

’A Behemoth is sleeping in the nearby mountain range. It wakes up once every few years, moves a little to feed, and then goes back to sleep. The last time it woke up was... two years ago, was it? It woke up exceptionally early this time.’

It seemed quite a few mercenaries were hearing about such a monster for the first time.

They were either people who hadn’t participated because they were away during the last Behemoth emergency call, or new personnel who had just been promoted to Rank B in the meantime.

Conversely, those who were not flustered were likely the mercenaries who had dealt with the Behemoth last time.

Hearing that a similar thing happened before, one of the mercenaries asked curiously.

’Two years ago? I didn’t hear any rumors back then...’

’That’s because we handled it quietly. If rumors spread that such a monster was wandering nearby, what kind of chaos would erupt in the city? All of you, sign the non-disclosure agreement before you leave.’

Well... chaos would have certainly erupted.

Even if they didn’t evacuate, they wouldn’t have been able to stop the prices of various goods from fluctuating along with the uproar.

Of course, the Mayor would have had a massive headache as well.

Handling it quietly far away without informing anyone must have been due to such circumstances.

’But it woke up again? Were we unable to subjugate it then?’

’Subjugate? What kind of chaos would happen if something like that went on a rampage...’

At the mercenary’s question, Camilla replied with an expression that said he was talking nonsense.

’The Behemoth is so massive that it barely moves and falls back to sleep quickly. Until then, we just have to buy time so it doesn’t approach the city.’

They wondered how on earth they were supposed to fight such a monster, but then...

The gathered mercenaries finally seemed to understand what they had to do. The mercenaries hearing this news for the first time let out sighs of relief as subtly as possible.

Camilla pointed to a spot on the large map in the center. It was a deep, rugged terrain quite far from the city.

’Right now it’s in a fairly distant place, but we must not let it approach the city. Lure it elsewhere and let it fall back to sleep. It would be even better if it gets further from the city.’

Having finished the brief explanation, Camilla looked around the mercenaries.

’As for the command this time... is Freya here?’

Freya, who had been hiding among the mercenaries by utilizing her short height, scowled.

Tch, did she already look at the list... Muttering that, Freya poked her head out from among the mercenaries.

’...Why me? It’s a pain.’

’Because you didn’t take it last time. We have to rotate.’

’Why not just make that guy do it?’

Freya pointed her finger at Ian. Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

...This is a bit burdensome.

Ian, feeling that way, was about to refuse, but someone stepped forward before he could.

A mercenary nearby came forward from the crowd and spoke.

’They’re a Rank B group. No matter how bothersome it is, what kind of irresponsible behavior is this, Freya?’

’That guy is Rank A, for starters. I think he’d do well.’

’Even so, how can you suddenly entrust this to someone who’s never handled such a task?’

’Oh? Then you do it. It was you last time. It would be better if someone who’s handled it does it.’

’...What?’

Freya looked at the mercenary who had spoken to her and said.

’Happy? It’s decided.’

The mercenary, who appeared to be a Rank A carrying a bow, scowled at Freya.