Chapter 16

Chapter 16

16. First Request (3)

The conference room on the 2nd floor of Jenkinson’s office.

Hodge picked up the documents on the table and asked.

“Come to think of it, for the southern forest request, what is the reason you deliberately attached Benrik?”

“It’s the first request. One has to start from the easy ones.”

Jenkinson who replied as if natural lowered the documents he was holding, and looked at the table as if fed up.

‘There is no sign of decreasing.’

The two people who sent Matthew and Bram, and Benrik to the southern forest remained in the office handling the request about the kidnapped fairy.

The personal details of the kidnapped fairy and the witness testimonies, the courier sent from the fairy side, the reports written by those who participated in the search over the past ten days.

They have been examining for a full two days but there was no particular achievement.

“If one insists the danger level is rather lower on this side, isn’t it?”

Unlike the southern forest request where one has to face magical beasts even if unqualified grade, the opponent of the high fairy search mission is only humans who do human trafficking.

“Being next to the leader is also safer.”

When Hodge added Jenkinson snorted.

“Where in the world is there a safe mission, and is that guy my child? To only assign safe work?”

Hodge’s gaze left the documents for the first time.

“You will do so right?”

“···Of course! Because there is such a thing as stages in work, a process of adapting is necessary.”

Hodge chuckled and turned his eyes to the documents. Jenkinson immediately narrowed the corners of his eyes.

“···What are you laughing at?” “By the way, did you greet the previous leader? The person in charge of this request is the previous leader but still meeting and talking─”

Jenkinson cut Hodge’s words off cleanly.

“You go.”

Seeing the hardened expression Hodge cleanly gave up.

“Well, then.”

It seemed time was still needed for the long-standing bad blood between father and son to be resolved.

“Anyway they are doing well right?”

When Hodge quietly changed the topic the complexion of Jenkinson who had been hardened stiff changed at once.

“Of course they will do well. Is Benrik an ordinary kid?” “No, not Benrik. Matthew and Bram.” “Hmm. Well···.”

Jenkinson who muttered reluctantly added in a tone without conviction.

“Benrik will take care of them well···.”

***

The same time southern forest.

“Shouting Old Tree, up to how many can you catch?”

What kind of question is this? Matthew tilted his head, and Bram noticed the meaning hidden in Benrik’s words and asked back.

“You mean the Shouting Old Tree is not one?” “I can’t be certain, but the possibility is high.”

The Shouting Old Tree is an unqualified grade magical beast.

The amount of magical energy it holds is terrible, so weak that it is not even well felt if not close.

But a little while ago, magical energy was carried on the wind. Faint but clear.

A mutant, or not one, or there is another magical beast. One of the three.

There was also another intention. Because with the answer to this question one can grasp the martial force level of the two people.

The two people made questioning expressions but answered readily. It was trust in the appearances Benrik had shown from the mountain range to here Bromwood.

Bram who pondered for a moment glanced at Matthew standing next to him and said.

“If simultaneous I think I can do up to two.” “I about three, four, no even so couldn’t I handle about five? That guy is slow as a grub for a magical beast. The attacks are also terrible.” “···Thinking about it I think I can catch about six too.” “No. I can also do up to eight.” “Nine.” “Ten.” “······.”

It seems one can see it as Bram two, Matthew three Bram who was continuing the meaningless number fight turned to Benrik.

“But the problem is not the attack.”

Benrik nodded his head.

The real headache point of the Shouting Old Tree was not the physical attack, but the sound it shouts as the name suggests.

Just by listening briefly the whole body becomes heavy like a lead lump, and if one listens long it continuously shouts a scream that makes one lose consciousness as is.

Then isn’t it fine if one blocks the ears in advance?

That is also not easy as said.

The guy’s exterior is almost impossible to distinguish from an ordinary tree. Even a skilled magical beast hunter finding the guy perfectly just by appearance is a distant matter.

The guys only revealed their appearance when the target entered a certain distance or more, and shouting the sound is right at that moment.

If one blocks the ears one is exposed to other threats, and if one doesn’t block one gets hit by the sound attack.

If one then if one somehow catches before listening long it is over, but if the number of individuals increases they even chorus back and forth among themselves and there is no answer.

···So what Benrik chose was right,

“What is this?”

“A flute? No is it a whip···?” “Yes a flute.”

Noise cancel, no the cancellation method.

The guys are trees. There is no vocal cord.

Because of that they vigorously swing branches with fine holes sparsely pierced to create the scream. The idea started from there. If one blows a flute made from the same branch, might sounds of the same range collide and cancel?

It was Benrik’s masterpiece completed after trial and error that could not all be counted even with both hands.

Of course it was not made because there was time left over.

Because when firewood ran out Gerik threw Benrik into the habitat of the Shouting Old Tree, he made it to live.

Their firewood burns much longer than ordinary firewood so he periodically went to catch the guys instead of firewood.

“So roughly if one fights while blowing this one can catch the guys without blocking the ears, right? It’s a jackpot?”

At Benrik’s explanation Matthew’s eyes sparkled.

“If one makes more of these and sells won’t one become rich?”

He says while vigorously swinging the long flute like a snake. At that Benrik’s ears perked up.

‘Certainly···.’

On this continent there were plenty of forests not yet reclaimed, and the Shouting Old Tree was a magical beast like the symbol of the forest. Demand would overflow.

‘Mass production of magical beast hunting tools.’

It was when Benrik was adding a new item to the mental job list.

“I have had a question since long ago.”

Bram asked.

“Why don’t they use fire? Anyway the origin of the guys is trees, aren’t they vulnerable to fire?”

It was words of whether there is a need to painstakingly beat and catch the guys gathered even if not one or two.

“No Bram, at that age you don’t know even that?”

It was Matthew. The nose and chin are endlessly raised.

“···Yes I didn’t ask because I thought it would be like this.” “The Shouting Old Tree moves if it doesn’t like it, and burns longer and stronger than ordinary trees.”

Imagine the appearance of a burning tree wandering the forest.

“Hmm, it would be a disaster.” “Right?”

So when catching the Shouting Old Tree using cold weapons was common sense.

Benrik resumed movement while saying to Matthew behind.

“By the way, Matthew. Give me that crossbow.” “Huh? Why?” “I will assist.”

At that Matthew making a conflicted expression.

“Why?” “The leader said not to let you fight.” “I said I will assist not fight.”

‘Isn’t that the same?’

Even while thinking he took out the crossbow and bolts from the waist and handed them over. The child was too full of force to firmly refuse.

Benrik walked while carefully examining the traces on the thick fallen leaves.

How much time passed like that, Benrik raised his hand and stopped the two people. From some point Benrik was naturally leading the two people much older.

─Saaaa···.

A chilly wind blew among the sparsely standing trees.

Even though it was an appearance not different at all from the forest they had passed until now, somehow an eerie energy hovered.

Benrik confirmed the map drawn on the back of the request form and said.

“Around there.”

If one takes just a few more steps some of those trees would distort the knotholes like evil spirits and charge.

When the two people who exchanged glances were bringing their hands to the sword hilts, Benrik as if remembering took out the flute and held it out.

“You have to take this. For reference when blowing the flute you also have to turn the head together.” “···?” “Like a sangmo, no you have to blow while biting in the mouth and turning like a whip for there to be effect.”

Benrik pretended not to see the bewildered expression and said again.

“So in my thought it seems good for Bram to blow the flute, and Matthew to catch the Shouting Old Tree.” “Pfft!”

Matthew hurriedly covered the bursting laughter. Bram received the long flute with a complicated expression.

"It’s better than all dying together. And it might not be many.”

The child’s calm words were the only consolation.

“···Let’s go.”

Along with such words the moment he stepped into the center of the forest, Benrik received the feeling of the fine hairs of the whole body standing on end.

─Kieeeeeeeek!!

A piercing scream echoed through the endlessly quiet forest.

***

─Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Slender branches cleaved the air.

The speed was slow enough to yawn and the strength was also terrible, but if a number far exceeding ten fingers flies at the same time the story changes.

Matthew who flowed one guy’s attack held the sword in reverse grip and dug in.

─Crack!

When he twisted the sword firmly stuck in the knothole to the side with all his strength and pulled it out, the wounded tree shouted a scream.

─Kieek!!

As if that became a signal the surrounding old trees simultaneously responded while swinging branches.

─Kiaaa! ─Kieeeee!

At the sound that one cannot adapt to no matter when one hears it, Benrik lightly frowned.

The fortunate thing is that it is only the sound that is noisy.

Thanks to Bram diligently blowing the flute while turning his head like spinning a sangmo, the guys’ sound attacks lost their effect.

Matthew roamed between the trees with agile body movements. There was no delay in striking and withdrawing.

It was like a cat that met a fish.

‘Even a Bronze Badge mercenary is certainly different from an ordinary person.’

At that level one could really have caught five alone.

Thinking he supported the crossbow at waist height and drew the string.

‘Kugh···.’

The tension was strong so with Benrik’s strength it was impossible to load the bolt with one hand.

‘Well it seems there won’t be a particular need to shoot.’

Even while Benrik was waiting the number of Shouting Old Trees was steadily decreasing.

If it goes like this one will be able to complete the request without particular abnormality.

The expression of Benrik who was thinking hardened for a moment.

The blue pupils swept the surroundings. He took in the traces remaining on the fallen leaves, and confirmed the unnaturally broken branches.

“······.” “Huk, huff! Done, done!”

When Matthew who had cut the last remaining old tree in half was catching his breath.

“Matthew.”

Clack, the child who aimed the crossbow at the opposite bushes said.

“Move aside.”

© Burrito#1y0o9