Return of the Former Hero

Chapter 186. Former Hero - Searching the Mountain

Translator: Raizu

Pable Mountain.

One of the mountains northwest of Millisha, the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Millis. It is a huge mountain with a height of 2,000 m.

How big is it compared to Mt. Fuji? Is it lower than Mt. Fuji? I do not know much about that.

Mt. Pable is situated between Millisha and Aria, which is located north of the road connecting Millisha and Aria, is an untouched mountain with no mining resources and no remarkable forest resources…

The mountain, which is also out of the reach to human hands, had many wild animals and the fact that there are many wild animals means that there are much more monsters compared to the area around the highway.

[Is it true that Leon and Yunikram are somewhere on this mountain?]

Three days after we left Aria, we came here with a considerable forced march.

Apparently, before Aura and Caroin separated from Leon, it seems Yunikram once said that he would escape here.

[Haruto-sama… Please.]

Caroin that came together with me couldn’t help but be worried.

[Yeah, I know.]

I concentrate my consciousness and covered the surroundings with the magic of search [[Search]].

The weak magical power transmitted like sonar, reacting with surrounding objects and anything with magical power, and conveying the surrounding situation to me.

This is… a monster. This is… not. This is also different…

Given the maximum range of the [[Search]] that I used, it’s possible to cover the entire mountain. However with so many trees and wildlife or monsters, it’s difficult to process all the information that came to me.

Still, it is much more efficient than looking for them ourselves. As soon as I found something suspicious, I had no choice but to check it around.

[Hey, Haruto. Since this is such a wide mountain, why don’t we look for them separately?]

Sharon suggested that we should narrow down the places to investigate by using [[Search]].

[No, it’s not good. You know that there is a possibility of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army being here. It’s better not to take independent actions. Moreover, my [[Search]] magic can be used to search them much more efficiently than when on foot.]

[Y-yeah. I guess so. I understand.]

Sharon seemed to agree with my explanation and didn’t say anything further.

We immediately set foot on Mount Pable in search of Leon and Yunikram.

=====

[There is nothing…]

It’s been a few hours since we started looking for Leon and Yunikram. Both of them have not been found yet.

Based on my instruction, each of the five people spread to the max distance that they could cover each other, and we went through the mountains while watching the surroundings visually.

[My husband! There is a cave over there.]

Aura shouted from the front left. Is it a cave again?

I found out by wandering around the mountain for several hours, but this mountain has many caves.

Was it dug as a home for wild animals or monsters to protect themselves from weather?

[Alright, everyone regroup together immediately.]

I gathered everyone and we aimed at the cave that Aura found.

[It looks pretty deep.]

At the entrance of the cave, I tried to look inside.

Of course, I also use [[Search]], but these caves are often in a state similar to a pool of magical power and it has become a kind of very small-scale labyrinth.

Therefore, the magical power was severely violent and it was difficult to grasp the inside in detail.

[Flame Bullet [Fire Ball]]

The《Fire Ball》 that I chanted did not fly unlike usual, but formed a fireball in my hand and it stayed there.

I tried to improve it in my style with reference to the light source magic that Celes was doing in the Labyrinth of Klamath.

It’s not as powerful as the magic that Celes used, but it’s enough to illuminate the inside of a dark cave.

[Okay, let’s go inside. Everyone, follow me.]

After confirming that everyone nodded, I took the lead and we entered the cave while keeping our distance.

When I entered a little, a small black shadow suddenly popped out from the darkness in front of me.

[Uwa.]

[Kyaa.]

The black shadow made a rustling noise and flew away above me overhead.

I was surprised.

It seems that it was something like a bat.

By the way, it was me and Caroin who made a voice just now.

Eeh? That’s a lie right? Aside from Caroin, was it just me who was surprised?

Sharon, Laurier, and Aura didn’t even make any voices…

Despite the small things that happened, we reached the deepest part of the cave in just a few minutes.

[Is it a miss, huh.]

In the deepest part of the cave, not even Leon, but there are no monsters appearing.

There are several times that I thought about calling out loud from the entrance of the cave, but when I considered if Leon fainted or for some reason he cannot reply, and also if there are monsters inside, they may be unnecessarily stimulated. So in the end, I decided that it would be best to check directly first like this way.

[Let’s get out of here and continue to look outside.]

We kept doing these stuff.

[He is not here…I see?]

I don’t know how many caves we’ve looked at, but we haven’t even found any traces of them, let alone their appearance.

It’s already night now. We didn’t notice when we’re still inside the cave, but the veil of darkness was already falling outside.

[Let’s stop looking for today. Tonight we will rest in this cave and resume searching tomorrow morning.]

[No way! It’s still too early to stop searching.]

Caroin disagreed with my decision to stop the search.

[Caroin. I understand your feeling, but it’s better to do what my husband says.]

[But…]

Aura persuaded Caroin, but it seems Caroin still doesn’t seem to give up.

Well, I can understand my feelings. If I’m Caroin’s position, I’d like to search all night long.

[As the night becomes darker, the movement of monsters will increase. It won’t be funny if the mummy cleaners becomes mummies themselves.]

[Mummy? What is a mummy?]

[Umm… I don’t know.]

Laurier and Sharon expressed their question mark to my analogy.

That? Are you confused about that? No, it’s certainly a proverb from earth. It cannot be helped if my message wasn’t transmitted, I guess? Oh well.

[Mummy removers becomes the mummy… I understand what you want to say. I’m sorry.]

Unlike Laurier and Sharon who didn’t understand it, Caroin seems to have gotten my message and managed to convince her. Caroin is a sister after all so she may have understood the meaning of the mummy itself.

[I’m sorry, Caroin. we’ll definitely find them tomorrow. So let’s take a rest for today.]

[Yes…]

For the time being, I’ll give her some words of encouragement, but as expected, it’s visible that she is still worried about Leon and Yunikram…

She does not seem to feel at ease unless she saw Leon’s safe appearance.

[Okay, then let’s go deeper inside a bit and eat together. I’ll keep watch so everyone should eat first. And also, let’s make two people look out at night. It’s okay to take turns every 3 hours.]

[Heh… Haruto is so cool.]

[Umu… He did it like a man should be after all.]

Sharon and Laurier admired my responsive instructions.

Huh? I’m a former Hero, though? …though, it’s not the case right now.

=====

[Haruto. It would be cold if you were in such a place?]

At midnight, when I was standing near the entrance of the cave as the lookout, Sharon called me from the back.

[Hmm. No, I’m okay. Sharon can rest in the back.]

The reason I was standing near the entrance was to use the search magic [[Search]] to keep watch on the surrounding area.

[Un, I’m alright.]

Sharon declined my offer and snuggled up next to me.

Then, Sharon’s scent, which I am completely familiar with, tickled my nose softly.

[I wonder if the Hero and his party are gonna be alright?]

[Hmm? Let’s see…Well, they should be okay? He is a Hero.]

As a matter of fact, I don’t know if Leon is okay, but I tried to give her a positive response. There is nothing to gain when you keep worrying after all.

[Eh? Because he is a Hero, but that’s not the case, though?]

Sharon said so and laughed a little.

[No, it is true, you know? Because I’m a former Hero. Listen Sharon, no matter how much of a pinch situation a Hero is in, no matter how much he made his friends and his important person worried because of that, the Hero is always coming back to the people in the end, you know?]

Of course, the title of Hero has no such effect.

[Ummm… If you told it confidently like that, I was wondering if that was the case.]

[That’s true. So you don’t have to worry.]

[Un…]

Sharon’s head leaned against me. Maybe she was a little relieved by my encouragement talk.

I put my hand on Sharon’s head and tapped it lightly.

For a moment, I thought about something lewd, but I decided to refrain from thinking that, considering the time and the situation. I’m a rational man.

Sharon’s body temperature was warm due to the chilly night breeze.

=====

The next morning, we started searching for Leon, but we couldn’t find them at all as time passed.

[We will reach the top of the mountain soon. After that, we will go to the other side of the mountain.]

I leaked out my thoughts after we encountered and killed stray monsters.

The route that we were looking for was a slope from the highway. The other side of the mountain is still untouched.

Although we were looking for the slope on the highway side, there would still be some other places to hide.

I’m looking for them on the premise that they had been hiding in this mountain, but it’s normal that they would move to another place for some reason.

This…may be more troublesome than I expected.

[Leon-sama is surely okay. Alright, let’s move to the next place.]

When I was looking toward the top of the mountain, Caroin cheerfully inspired everyone.

[Hey, Aura. What happened to Caroin? It seems she was different from yesterday and right now she is quite positive?]

Caroin had a positive feeling from the morning today.

It doesn’t seem like she is fine… I wonder what happened?

[Eh? Oh, is it Caroin? It’s all thanks to my husband, isn’t it?]

[Me?]

I don’t remember doing anything in particular though?

[Well, we had talked a little this morning, but she was unable to sleep last night and apparently, she heard your talk between husband and Sharon, I think?]

Last night… the conversation between me and Sharon…?

Ah.

I finally remembered that. Did Caroin listen to my conversation with Sharon last night?

I see… I don’t know at all!

At that time, I’m glad I didn’t have to do anything lewd to Sharon because of my sudden urges!

If I did that, I might not be able to bear it for the rest of my life.

[I-I see. So that’s why. That’s good then…]

Phew. That was a close call.

[Okay, let’s go to the top of the mountain for the time being. Let’s take a break there and have a meeting about what to do next.]

I wiped something that I didn’t know whether it was my tired sweat or the cold sweat, then I gave a command and started moving toward the summit.

Although it was tedious in terms of work, even Laurier put up with it without complaining. I have to find Leon quickly for Caroin.

[Fumu…]

However, in the end, we couldn’t find the Leon on the top of the mountain so we had a break while also having lunch in a slightly open place.

I looked down at the foot of the mountain below, and I wondered what we should do.

Is it better to repeat the same thing as it is now or is it better to send something like a signal from here?

[Do you see anything?]

For some reason, Laurier, who is standing next to me, asked a question.

[No, I didn’t see anything.]

However, it didn’t seem that Laurier could find anything.

[Whether it’s good or bad. Climbing a mountain is not fun after all.]

Because of the situation, Laurier came with me, but for the person herself, mountain climbing would be extremely boring.

[No, that’s not the case. It would be boring without Haruto.]

[Laurier…You.]

What nice worda you said… May I cry just a little?

[Moreover, isn’t there something more worrisome for you than that?]

Eh? Now, the great excitement that has happened to me has been swept away by her words.

So sad.

[Don’t worry… Yeah, well, that’s right. You see, the Four Heavenly Jings of the Demon King Army that you mentioned back then. They might be the one who was wandering around, looking for Leon all of this time.]

[Is that so?]

Eeh?

You also heard Aura’s story back then, right? Right?

Well, whatever.

[That’s right… And, yet, there’s no sign of that in this mountain.]

[Fu~hnnn…]

Fuhn, you are…

Anyway, that’s why I brought Sharon and Laurier this time. Both of them can become a war potential.

…Although I thought about that, as I said earlier, there were no signs of that.

No matter your circumstances, did you not even notice that a demon who claims to be the four heavenly kings is wandering nearby?

On the bright side, the Four Heavenly Kings who lost sight of Leon, gave up and left.

In another note, the Four Heavenly Kings might also be hiding themselves in the cave and watching over the situation.

However, this is hard to swallow. I’m chasing Leon, but I don’t understand the meaning of staying in one place while hiding.

If you think negatively, the four heavenly kings have finished killing Leon and have already left this place. That also means…

If you consider the worst case scenario, it is natural that we are unable to find Leon no matter how much we search. That’s the end that I don’t want to think too much about.

[Haruto!]

When I was exploring the possibilities in my head, my consciousness returned to Laurier’s voice.

[What’s wrong?]

[Something is shining over there.]

What did you say?

As far as I can see this mountain, there was nothing shiny.

I looked at the direction Laurier points to but… let alone the light, there wasn’t even any unusual appearance.

[Where?]

[Over there… it shone around where there was a little big tree…]

I gaze at the place that was pointed out to me again. It’s on the opposite side of the slope we climbed earlier.

However, my eyes never caught any light.

[Umu…? Maybe it was my own imagination?]

It might not be strange because Laurier overexerts herself.

[…No, that might not be true. Let’s go check it. In the worst case, we’ll look around for that guy. If nothing happens, we can just go back. Let’s call everyone.]

[Umu, I understand.]

When I gave her instructions, Laurier turned around and called everyone else.

By the way, was the light seen by Laurier a signal from Leon or was it a trap?

What do you call this kind of situation? Is there a demon or a snake? No, that’s not good for both. Hmm? Whatever. Well, anything is fine.