When it was reported that monsters were multiplying in the Irosun Great Forest, the public's response was divided into two.
The first was to regard the proliferation of monsters as temporary and to refrain from coming and going until the number of monsters decreased.
Even though the cost of escorts was increasing, there was no need to force yourself to come and go.
The monsters should eventually be culled out and return to their original numbers, so they could resume traffic after that.
Many of those who handled items such as ores that would not degrade over time or who had abundant inventories had this kind of thinking.
The other response was the idea of trying to carry as many things as possible, even if the cost of escorts increased.
In the future, the number of monsters would increase further, and if escorts became necessary and passage became impossible, the business itself would become unsustainable.
Many of those who dealt with grains that would surely be consumed, and those who saw this situation as a business opportunity, had chosen this approach.
And, the more the situation in the Irosun Great Forest became known, the more people chose the latter, creating a situation in which the guilds in Bakkenheim and Marburg were inundated with requests for escorts.
Even if the number of requests increased, the number of adventurers was limited.
Even though they were escorts, there were disparities in their abilities.
An A-rank adventurer and a C-rank adventurer could not be the same.
However, the attacking monsters did not adjust their ferocity according to the rank of the escorts.
Whethere it was A-rank, C-rank, or even F-rank, they bore equal risk when attacked.
If a carriage with a weak escort was attacked, there would naturally be damage.
If one carriage was attacked, the escorts, the ones being escorted, as well as much of the escorted cargo was lost.
If such losses continued, the city's economy would eventually be affected.
Above all, there were cases where the attacked carriage blocked traffic on the highway and those who cleaned it up were attacked.
Ever since the increase in monsters was reported, those passing through the Irosun Great Forest formed improvised caravans to deal with the gap in the escorts.
By making a formation, the density of the escorts could be increased, countering the monsters that attacked in groups, and at the same time covering the inexperienced escorts.
By forming a caravan that included high-ranked adventurers, it would be possible to deal with large monsters such as Orcs and Ogres, as well as groups of small monsters such as Goblins.
By observing the performance of high-ranked adventurers in the same caravan, it was possible to raise the level of inexperienced adventurers.
However, there was a limit to everything.
As the Goblin horde grew larger, and even Orcs and Ogres began to attack in droves, the number of injured escorts increased.
The loss rate of low-ranked adventurers rose, and the burden on high-ranked adventurers increased.
In such a case, additional measures should have been taken, but the temperament of adventurers was a hindrance.
Are you scared of that level of monsters?
It was a silly slogan, but adventurers tended to fall for cheap provocations just because they wanted to sell their own strength.
If the number of adventurers who got severely injured and were forced to stop working or go out of business increased, the reward would increase again.
Balancing money and prestige against danger, the adventurers ventured into the Great Forest today as well.
After caravans were formed in the Irosun Great Forest, a strange group appeared.
Instead of forming a caravan at the entrance to the Great Forest, there were people who traveled as a group from the time they left Bakkenheim to Marburg and back.
A carriage escorted by the A-rank adventurer, Graciela, and her apprentices, the members of 'Blue Gale'.
The number of monsters increased in the Irosun Great Forest, and after that, the number of monster attacks increased and the number of injured adventurers increased.
It was more convenient to form a caravan with companions who had met each other on a regular basis, had conversations, and knew each other's personalities and abilities.
It was easy to work with friends if they knew each other well.
Graciela was at the head of the formation, and two B-rank adventurers served as rear guards, the lower ranks and the people with less strength were gathered in the center.
Also, they didn't forget to have a good balance between those who were good at attack magic and those who were good at hand-to-hand combat.
The caravan led by Graciela entered the Irosun Great Forest from the Marburg side the day before Gilik-tachi's arrival.
The group was transporting people and grain from Breichberg to Marburg, loading ore, and returning to Bakkenheim.
"Graciela-san, what are those stones used for?"
First-sized stones were loaded at the foot of the coachman's stand in the carriage that led the caravan where Graciela was sitting.
This was the ore-free junk stones that Graciela found when she went to the Marburg mine to load ore.
"This one, this one is obviously a weapon to exterminate monsters."
"But, it's just a stone, isn't it?"
"Maa, you'll understand soon ... Mana, oh mana, oh mana that governs the world, gather, gather, gather in my body, return, return, return and become my power, strengthen!"
"Wait, Graciela-san, if you chant before the monsters show up, you'll end up running out of magical power at a critical moment."
"Fufun, don't mix me with adventurers around here. I'm only using physical enhancement on a part of my body. And, this stone is used like this!"
Graciela cut off her words and threw the stone she was holding in her right hand towards the side of the road ahead.
"Gya! ..."
The stone like a cannonball flew as if pulled by a string and hit the head of a Goblin hiding on the side of the road.
The stone crushed its skull, causing the Goblin's brain fluid to scatter and it died instantly.
"Amazing! A single blow ..."
"How is it, it's free, so it won't hurt your pocket. If it's a small fry, you can subjugate it with just this thing, and since it's only your right arm that's being strengthened, you don't have to worry about running out of magical power."
"As expected of Graciela-san."
If monsters appeared, they couldn't just ignore them and pass by.
Even if it was a Goblin, if the horse was injured, the speed of progress would slow down, and in the worst case, they would be stopped.
Graciela was a knight type who exclusively used physical enhancement due to her earth attribute.
If you were a magician type, you would be able to mow them down with attack magic, but if you were a knight type, you would have to get off the carriage and subjugate them.
That's when she came up with the idea of throwing stones.
It was simple and clear, but the stones released by strengthening the body displayed the planned power.
Before the Goblins and Kobolds appeared on the road, Graciela kept throwing rocks at them one after another.
During the first break after entering the Irosun Great Forest, the members of the 'Blue Gale' who were participating in the caravan started picking up stones.
After all, the initial cost was free, no maintenance was required, and subjugation could be enjoyed as if it were just a game, so it was a great way to relieve boredom on the road.
"Anego, this throwing stone thing is a good idea."
"Right. You won't have to waste time with Goblins. You guys should practice strengthening your arms while you're at it."
"Ohh, that's good. Like, should I focus my attention on my arms?"
"Every person has their own knack for that, so you have to devise it yourself."
The caravan led by Graciela progressed smoothly along the road thanks to the effect of throwing stones.
This was because it was effective as a preemptive attack against Orcs and Ogres without taking time for small fries.
Graciela and the others weren't the only ones who used stone throwing as a weapon.
Not only adventurers from Bakkenheim, but adventurers from Volzard were also asked to escort through the Irosun Great Forest.
They had experienced attacks by stone-throwing Orcs and had experienced its power.
Thinking about using stone throwing in the same way as Graciela was a natural outcome.
Graciela's caravan passed through the deserted checkpoint and arrived at Slakka.
Since the number of monsters increased in the Irosun Great Forest, many settlements had been attacked and abandoned as a result.
The reason why Slakka had not been abandoned was because of the ramparts built like a Mini-Volzard.
Naturally, many travelers gathered and Slakka was bustling.
Looking at it from a different perspective, the Irosun Great Forest, which could not be traversed in a day, needed to have a place to spend the night, so Slakka's importance continued to rise.
The adventurers, who spent a whole day exposed to the threat of monsters and spent a tense time, rushed out to the bar in the name of cultivating their energy.
The people from 'Blue Gale' also gathered at the bar, but what awaited them was the effect of monster proliferation.
"What's this, a glass of ale is 300 Helts! No matter how you look at it, that's too expensive!"
"I'm sorry. Because of this monster disturbance, the purchase price has become a ridiculous amount ..."
"Even so, 300 Helts ... It's nearly 10 times more expensive than the bar in Bakkenheim! In the first place, without us adventurers ..."
"Hey, even they have their livelihoods on the line. If it's ale, I'll let you drink as much as you want after we return to Bakkenheim, so be patient."
"If Graciela-san says so ..."
The intention was to have a drink at a bar, but when they entered it was like a high-class club, but the adventurers who had warm pockets continued to drink while complaining.
While the adventurers were raising their spirits at the bar, the members of the garrison responsible for the village's defense didn't spend a tense night ...
"I'm free tonight too ..."
"Even so, don't let your guard down."
"I understand."
They were attacked by a herd of Minotaurs, and at once point the gate was about to be breached, but after Kent and his genus repelled them, the monsters' attacks disappeared.
The guards in charge of the patrol were guarding with physical reinforcement so that they could see through the darkness and not miss a single roar, but all they could hear was the noise of drunken people.
"The number of Goblins, Orcs, and Ogres is increasing, but it doesn't feel real."
"Here, as long as that exists it's impossible ... Tonight too, any time now?"
Immediately after the guards looked at each other, the silence of the night was suddenly broken.
"Uoooooo ... n."
"Uooooooooo ... n."
The howling that came from the depths of the forest, where the light from the bonfire did not reach, continued for a while as it circled around Slakka.
The howling continued for about ten minutes before suddenly stopping, and the surroundings were once again enveloped in silence.
"Looks like it's over."
"Aahh, even though I know that they're working for the 'Real Thing', I feel like my life expectancy will be shortened."
Zeta, Eta, and Theta had faithfully kept the words they offered to Kent when they subjugated the Minotaurs, and continued to claim the area around Slakka as their own territory.
Due to the regular howls and markings, most of the monsters sensed the presence of Zeta-tachi and did not enter the vicinity of Slakka.
When the howls that broke the silence of the night first began, the garrison members, as well as the village residents, were all trembling, but now they were seen as reliable watchdogs to ward off monsters.
The garrison members and residents were used to it, but those who heard it for the first time couldn't help but be surprised.
"I, it's a Gigawolf! Oh no, it's not just one!"
The adventurer stood up with a pale face, and after a moment of silence, looked around the tavern, which had returned to its tumultuous self as if nothing had happened, with a puzzled look on their face.
"Hey, I'm serious! That howl is a Gigawolf. The village I used to live in was attacked by a stray individual and many people were devoured!"
"Don't worry, it's the Gigawolfs working for the 'Monster User'. They're driving away the monsters around here."
"It's hard to believe that he uses a Gigawolf as a vassal ... and several of them ... I can't believe it."
"Believe it or not, if it's just one animal, Bakkenheim's 'Imitation' also uses one."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, don't worry, sit down and drink. It's a waste of expensive ale."
"A, aah ..."
The adventurer in the next seat instructed them to sit down and start drinking again, but they didn't seem to get as drunk as before.
Looking at the exchange with a sidelong glance, Graciela also had a displeased expression on her face.
"What 'Monster User' ..."
Graciela's dislike of the 'Monster User' was not only well-known to the members of the 'Blue Gale', but they also intended to hurt the person in question lightly, but had the tables turned on them, so they held a lot of resentment.
Among them, the one who held the biggest grudge was Fel, who was beaten up in the Bakkenheim Guild.
"Graciela-san, can you do something about that kid?"
"Although I hate how he's getting carried away right now, before long he's certainly sure to expose his faults. I won't let that moment slip by, I'll teach him the etiquette of an adventurer."
"But, how will you do that?"
"I'm still thinking about it. Don't drink too much. We haven't left the Great Forest yet."
In front of her apprentices, she talked about it as if she was in the middle of thinking about a strategy, but in reality there was no prospect at all.
Even if she tried to attack in the dark, he had better night vision than herself.
To be honest, Graciela was unable to envision a winning vision.
The price of alcohol was too high, so the members of the 'Blue Gale' withdrew to their respective rooms before they got tipsy.
Slakka was located on the Bakkenheim side of the Irosun Great Forest.
It took a day to get to the Marburg side, but half a day to get to the Bakkenheim side.
Therefore, those heading for Marburg would leave first, and those heading for Bakkenheim would leave the village later.
The caravan composed of Graciela and the members of the 'Blue Gale' were also waiting for the caravans to Marburg to finish their departure.
However, the caravans bound for Marburg had returned.
"It's no good! A swarm of monsters is blocking the road, so it's impossible to proceed."
"What is the size of the swarm? If the people here gathered together and set out to attack, wouldn't it be possible to break through?"
"Don't speak such idiocy! If the road is clogged, it means that the forest is also full of monsters! If you want to break through in the direction of Bakkenheim, if you don't hurry up, you'll be left behind in a crowd of monsters!"
Hearing the words of the returning adventurer, the caravans heading for Bakkenheim, which were waiting for departure, rushed to leave Slakka, causing chaos in front of the gate.
"Graciela-san, isn't it dangerous if we don't leave as well?"
"Don't panic. Even if you rush into that mess, you won't be able to get out, and if you're unlucky, the horses will get hurt."
"But, if we're surrounded by a group of monsters ..."
"Which is more dangerous, being surrounded by monsters here or being surrounded by monsters when you go out onto the road?"
"I see, would it be safer to stay here?"
"I will discuss with the garrison the preparations for barricading ourselves in the village. You guys should look for sturdy buildings and ensure the safety of our guests."
"Understood."
As a result, Graciela's judgment was correct.
Even the caravan that had left Slakka, aiming for Bakkenheim, had no choice but to return because it was blocked by a horde of monsters.
The garrison commander of Slakka made the decision to close the gates and prepare for a siege.
It was unknown how big the monster horde was, when rescue would come, or if it would come in the first place ... but there was no other way.
The garrison commander, Daleman, gathered the remaining adventurers in Slakka and formed a mixed force with the garrison members.
"I am Daleman, the garrison commander of Slakka. Since it's an emergency, I'll have you come under my command until the commotion subsides. There may be dissatisfaction, but confusion in the chain of command is a factor in the collapse of the defense system. In order to survive, please lend us your strength!"
"Was a rescue request made?"
"Although such a situation is assumed, it will take some time to secure the highway from the Bakkenheim side. Until then, everyone's cooperation is essential."
"But, you know ... Are we really surrounded by a horde of monsters?"
"If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself. Slakka's surroundings are quiet thanks to the 'Monster User'."
It was natural for the adventurers who remained in Slakka to have doubts, and according to the adventurers who actually encountered the swarm of monsters, the monsters stopped at a certain point and never followed them beyond that point.
"That is, they're afraid of the territory of the Gigawolfs that the 'Monster User' is using, so they can't follow you. Don't be mistaken!"
"Well then, as long as we're in Slakka, we don't have to worry about being attacked by monsters."
"Aahh, I was wondering what would happen for a while, the 'Monster User' is diverse."
Graciela raised her voice when she saw that the tense atmosphere had loosened.
"What are you talking about! It's not like we're saved yet. If the monsters' pressure increases, they might attack us all at once. Don't let your guard down!"
Daleman took over the conversation, not missing the moment when Graciela's angry voice tightened the atmosphere.
"As she said, we haven't escaped to the safe zone yet. You can relax after you leave the Great Forest and reach Bakkenheim. Now, I will decide the order with the guard team."
With Daleman playing a central role, a joint defense force and adventurer system was somehow completed, and a defense system was put in place.
The surrounding area of Slakka was surrounded by a wall made of logs and a water ditch.
The castle gate was also sturdy enough to withstand a Minotaur's rush.
However, compared to Volzard's ramparts, it was about half the height, and there were no passages on the ramparts.
If they were surrounded by monsters, attacks to the outside would be limited to the top of the tower and the gaps for attacking.
Nevertheless, it was certain that it was a reassuring presence for those who were fortifying the defense.
Graciela and the others were sent to defend the northern side of Slakka.
The south side of Slakka bordered on the highway, and there was only one entrance/exit to the village on the south side. It was surrounded by nothing but three-sided log walls.
The adventurers who arrived at the defense of the village were dismayed at the situation where they could not even see the shadow of a monster.
However, as time passed, they started to feel something strange.
"It smells like blood ..."
The first ones to notice were the people who were in charge of the west side where the wind was blowing, but before long the entire village began to be enveloped in a thick smell of blood.
Furthermore, the sounds and screams of monsters fighting could be heard.
"Obooaaaa ..."
"Bugiiiiii ..."
"Gigyaaa ..."
The voices of not only Goblins, but also Orcs and Ogres resounded, chilling the hearts of those who were fortifying the defense.
"Hey, how many of them are there."
"I don't know ..."
"Are they really not going to attack us?"
"I just told you, I don't know!"
The adventurers were getting frustrated with the situation where they couldn't see the opponent they should fight and only the signs of tragedy were approaching.
"Graciela-san, isn't it bad if things continue like this?"
"Who gives a damn! Let me know if you have a countermeasure! If you don't have one, shut up and keep watch!"
"U, understood ..."
In fact, even Graciela was unable to come up with a countermeasure.
No matter how crowded it was, the number of defenders and adventurers in one village was limited.
If monsters were to surround the village, they wouldn't have the strength to fight back.
If there were only large monsters like Ogres and Minotaurs, there would be no other way but to confine themselves into a sturdy building.
Luckily, the village of Slakka had an assembly hall with a large basement for such an eventuality.
If you closed the sturdy door there and locked yourself in, you should be able to prevent monsters from entering.
However, if rescue did not come, food and other supplies would eventually run out and reach their limits.
Graciela climbed one of the towers, glared at the forest, and continued to desperately think of a solution.
The reason monsters had gathered at the village and the highway was because the food was there.
The monsters subjugated by the escort adventurers were usually cleaned up, but after the monster proliferated, the magic stones and materials that were normally stripped off were abandoned.
For other monsters, corpses were easily available food.
Graciela and the 'Blue Gale' were steadily paying the price for killing Goblins just for fun.
After Graciela and the others split up and went to the defense, the smell of blood was getting thicker, but the monsters weren't visible until after noon.
They couldn't see them, but the monsters were steadily increasing in number.
"Hey, it's a Goblin!"
"Damn, what's the 'Monster User' doing."
"Look, it's injured. At this rate, it'll attract other monsters."
"Kill them before they approach the village!"
The wounded Goblin was defeated by attack magic before it approached Slakka, but its corpse could not be disposed of.
In the same way, monsters chased by large monsters, wounded ones, monsters approaching Slakka began to appear.
It didn't take long for the Orcs and Ogres to show up after them.
"Don't touch those who are eating! Intimidate those who approach! Those who still try to approach, kill them as far away as possible!"
Graciela and the others, who were in charge of defending the northern side, also used attack magic and stone throwing to kill the monsters, but the distance from the wall steadily decreased.
"Damn, more and more of them are coming, what are we gonna do."
"Kill small fries even while they are eating and use them as food! Don't let large monsters come near!"
If the subjugation began around Slakka, naturally the monsters would gather, attracted by the smell of blood.
If the density of monsters increased, the weaker ones would become food, and the stronger ones would seek more food.
"Here it comes! Ogre, concentrate your attacks!"
The Ogre, which ran through the grassland, fell into the water ditch after being hit by a barrage of attack magic when it attacked the log wall.
After that, monsters appeared sporadically trying to cross the wall, but they were unable to enter the village and sank into the water ditches.
Although they had not entered the village, the grassland surrounding the fence's water ditch became a hunting ground for monsters.
They scrambled for corpses, and if there were no more corpses, the weaker ones were attacked.
The demon's death cries, grating sounds, and the chaotic sound of chewing covered Slakka.
Already, more monsters than the number of residents had gathered around the settlement, but more monsters were pouring out one after another from the depths of the forest.
The sight was like a scaled-down version of Volzard, which had been hit by a maximum outbreak of Goblins.
The residents had already finished evacuating to the basement of the assembly hall.
"Hey, haven't our evacuation orders been issued yet?"
"Mou, it's bad, if they come all at once, we won't be able to escape."
Even though there was a wall and a moat separating them, the spectacle unfolding ten meters ahead was the worst possible future for an adventurer.
The number of adventurers who had arrived at their posts, but who were hesitant to observe their surroundings, was increasing.
The smell of blood attracted even more monsters, and the situation in Slakka worsened at an accelerated pace.
When it was reported that monsters were multiplying in the Irosun Great Forest, the public's response was divided into two.
The first was to regard the proliferation of monsters as temporary and to refrain from coming and going until the number of monsters decreased.
Even though the cost of escorts was increasing, there was no need to force yourself to come and go.
The monsters should eventually be culled out and return to their original numbers, so they could resume traffic after that.
Many of those who handled items such as ores that would not degrade over time or who had abundant inventories had this kind of thinking.
The other response was the idea of trying to carry as many things as possible, even if the cost of escorts increased.
In the future, the number of monsters would increase further, and if escorts became necessary and passage became impossible, the business itself would become unsustainable.
Many of those who dealt with grains that would surely be consumed, and those who saw this situation as a business opportunity, had chosen this approach.
And, the more the situation in the Irosun Great Forest became known, the more people chose the latter, creating a situation in which the guilds in Bakkenheim and Marburg were inundated with requests for escorts.
Even if the number of requests increased, the number of adventurers was limited.
Even though they were escorts, there were disparities in their abilities.
An A-rank adventurer and a C-rank adventurer could not be the same.
However, the attacking monsters did not adjust their ferocity according to the rank of the escorts.
Whethere it was A-rank, C-rank, or even F-rank, they bore equal risk when attacked.
If a carriage with a weak escort was attacked, there would naturally be damage.
If one carriage was attacked, the escorts, the ones being escorted, as well as much of the escorted cargo was lost.
If such losses continued, the city's economy would eventually be affected.
Above all, there were cases where the attacked carriage blocked traffic on the highway and those who cleaned it up were attacked.
Ever since the increase in monsters was reported, those passing through the Irosun Great Forest formed improvised caravans to deal with the gap in the escorts.
By making a formation, the density of the escorts could be increased, countering the monsters that attacked in groups, and at the same time covering the inexperienced escorts.
By forming a caravan that included high-ranked adventurers, it would be possible to deal with large monsters such as Orcs and Ogres, as well as groups of small monsters such as Goblins.
By observing the performance of high-ranked adventurers in the same caravan, it was possible to raise the level of inexperienced adventurers.
However, there was a limit to everything.
As the Goblin horde grew larger, and even Orcs and Ogres began to attack in droves, the number of injured escorts increased.
The loss rate of low-ranked adventurers rose, and the burden on high-ranked adventurers increased.
In such a case, additional measures should have been taken, but the temperament of adventurers was a hindrance.
Are you scared of that level of monsters?
It was a silly slogan, but adventurers tended to fall for cheap provocations just because they wanted to sell their own strength.
If the number of adventurers who got severely injured and were forced to stop working or go out of business increased, the reward would increase again.
Balancing money and prestige against danger, the adventurers ventured into the Great Forest today as well.
After caravans were formed in the Irosun Great Forest, a strange group appeared.
Instead of forming a caravan at the entrance to the Great Forest, there were people who traveled as a group from the time they left Bakkenheim to Marburg and back.
A carriage escorted by the A-rank adventurer, Graciela, and her apprentices, the members of 'Blue Gale'.
The number of monsters increased in the Irosun Great Forest, and after that, the number of monster attacks increased and the number of injured adventurers increased.
It was more convenient to form a caravan with companions who had met each other on a regular basis, had conversations, and knew each other's personalities and abilities.
It was easy to work with friends if they knew each other well.
Graciela was at the head of the formation, and two B-rank adventurers served as rear guards, the lower ranks and the people with less strength were gathered in the center.
Also, they didn't forget to have a good balance between those who were good at attack magic and those who were good at hand-to-hand combat.
The caravan led by Graciela entered the Irosun Great Forest from the Marburg side the day before Gilik-tachi's arrival.
The group was transporting people and grain from Breichberg to Marburg, loading ore, and returning to Bakkenheim.
"Graciela-san, what are those stones used for?"
First-sized stones were loaded at the foot of the coachman's stand in the carriage that led the caravan where Graciela was sitting.
This was the ore-free junk stones that Graciela found when she went to the Marburg mine to load ore.
"This one, this one is obviously a weapon to exterminate monsters."
"But, it's just a stone, isn't it?"
"Maa, you'll understand soon ... Mana, oh mana, oh mana that governs the world, gather, gather, gather in my body, return, return, return and become my power, strengthen!"
"Wait, Graciela-san, if you chant before the monsters show up, you'll end up running out of magical power at a critical moment."
"Fufun, don't mix me with adventurers around here. I'm only using physical enhancement on a part of my body. And, this stone is used like this!"
Graciela cut off her words and threw the stone she was holding in her right hand towards the side of the road ahead.
"Gya! ..."
The stone like a cannonball flew as if pulled by a string and hit the head of a Goblin hiding on the side of the road.
The stone crushed its skull, causing the Goblin's brain fluid to scatter and it died instantly.
"Amazing! A single blow ..."
"How is it, it's free, so it won't hurt your pocket. If it's a small fry, you can subjugate it with just this thing, and since it's only your right arm that's being strengthened, you don't have to worry about running out of magical power."
"As expected of Graciela-san."
If monsters appeared, they couldn't just ignore them and pass by.
Even if it was a Goblin, if the horse was injured, the speed of progress would slow down, and in the worst case, they would be stopped.
Graciela was a knight type who exclusively used physical enhancement due to her earth attribute.
If you were a magician type, you would be able to mow them down with attack magic, but if you were a knight type, you would have to get off the carriage and subjugate them.
That's when she came up with the idea of throwing stones.
It was simple and clear, but the stones released by strengthening the body displayed the planned power.
Before the Goblins and Kobolds appeared on the road, Graciela kept throwing rocks at them one after another.
During the first break after entering the Irosun Great Forest, the members of the 'Blue Gale' who were participating in the caravan started picking up stones.
After all, the initial cost was free, no maintenance was required, and subjugation could be enjoyed as if it were just a game, so it was a great way to relieve boredom on the road.
"Anego, this throwing stone thing is a good idea."
"Right. You won't have to waste time with Goblins. You guys should practice strengthening your arms while you're at it."
"Ohh, that's good. Like, should I focus my attention on my arms?"
"Every person has their own knack for that, so you have to devise it yourself."
The caravan led by Graciela progressed smoothly along the road thanks to the effect of throwing stones.
This was because it was effective as a preemptive attack against Orcs and Ogres without taking time for small fries.
Graciela and the others weren't the only ones who used stone throwing as a weapon.
Not only adventurers from Bakkenheim, but adventurers from Volzard were also asked to escort through the Irosun Great Forest.
They had experienced attacks by stone-throwing Orcs and had experienced its power.
Thinking about using stone throwing in the same way as Graciela was a natural outcome.
Graciela's caravan passed through the deserted checkpoint and arrived at Slakka.
Since the number of monsters increased in the Irosun Great Forest, many settlements had been attacked and abandoned as a result.
The reason why Slakka had not been abandoned was because of the ramparts built like a Mini-Volzard.
Naturally, many travelers gathered and Slakka was bustling.
Looking at it from a different perspective, the Irosun Great Forest, which could not be traversed in a day, needed to have a place to spend the night, so Slakka's importance continued to rise.
The adventurers, who spent a whole day exposed to the threat of monsters and spent a tense time, rushed out to the bar in the name of cultivating their energy.
The people from 'Blue Gale' also gathered at the bar, but what awaited them was the effect of monster proliferation.
"What's this, a glass of ale is 300 Helts! No matter how you look at it, that's too expensive!"
"I'm sorry. Because of this monster disturbance, the purchase price has become a ridiculous amount ..."
"Even so, 300 Helts ... It's nearly 10 times more expensive than the bar in Bakkenheim! In the first place, without us adventurers ..."
"Hey, even they have their livelihoods on the line. If it's ale, I'll let you drink as much as you want after we return to Bakkenheim, so be patient."
"If Graciela-san says so ..."
The intention was to have a drink at a bar, but when they entered it was like a high-class club, but the adventurers who had warm pockets continued to drink while complaining.
While the adventurers were raising their spirits at the bar, the members of the garrison responsible for the village's defense didn't spend a tense night ...
"I'm free tonight too ..."
"Even so, don't let your guard down."
"I understand."
They were attacked by a herd of Minotaurs, and at once point the gate was about to be breached, but after Kent and his genus repelled them, the monsters' attacks disappeared.
The guards in charge of the patrol were guarding with physical reinforcement so that they could see through the darkness and not miss a single roar, but all they could hear was the noise of drunken people.
"The number of Goblins, Orcs, and Ogres is increasing, but it doesn't feel real."
"Here, as long as that exists it's impossible ... Tonight too, any time now?"
Immediately after the guards looked at each other, the silence of the night was suddenly broken.
"Uoooooo ... n."
"Uooooooooo ... n."
The howling that came from the depths of the forest, where the light from the bonfire did not reach, continued for a while as it circled around Slakka.
The howling continued for about ten minutes before suddenly stopping, and the surroundings were once again enveloped in silence.
"Looks like it's over."
"Aahh, even though I know that they're working for the 'Real Thing', I feel like my life expectancy will be shortened."
Zeta, Eta, and Theta had faithfully kept the words they offered to Kent when they subjugated the Minotaurs, and continued to claim the area around Slakka as their own territory.
Due to the regular howls and markings, most of the monsters sensed the presence of Zeta-tachi and did not enter the vicinity of Slakka.
When the howls that broke the silence of the night first began, the garrison members, as well as the village residents, were all trembling, but now they were seen as reliable watchdogs to ward off monsters.
The garrison members and residents were used to it, but those who heard it for the first time couldn't help but be surprised.
"I, it's a Gigawolf! Oh no, it's not just one!"
The adventurer stood up with a pale face, and after a moment of silence, looked around the tavern, which had returned to its tumultuous self as if nothing had happened, with a puzzled look on their face.
"Hey, I'm serious! That howl is a Gigawolf. The village I used to live in was attacked by a stray individual and many people were devoured!"
"Don't worry, it's the Gigawolfs working for the 'Monster User'. They're driving away the monsters around here."
"It's hard to believe that he uses a Gigawolf as a vassal ... and several of them ... I can't believe it."
"Believe it or not, if it's just one animal, Bakkenheim's 'Imitation' also uses one."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, don't worry, sit down and drink. It's a waste of expensive ale."
"A, aah ..."
The adventurer in the next seat instructed them to sit down and start drinking again, but they didn't seem to get as drunk as before.
Looking at the exchange with a sidelong glance, Graciela also had a displeased expression on her face.
"What 'Monster User' ..."
Graciela's dislike of the 'Monster User' was not only well-known to the members of the 'Blue Gale', but they also intended to hurt the person in question lightly, but had the tables turned on them, so they held a lot of resentment.
Among them, the one who held the biggest grudge was Fel, who was beaten up in the Bakkenheim Guild.
"Graciela-san, can you do something about that kid?"
"Although I hate how he's getting carried away right now, before long he's certainly sure to expose his faults. I won't let that moment slip by, I'll teach him the etiquette of an adventurer."
"But, how will you do that?"
"I'm still thinking about it. Don't drink too much. We haven't left the Great Forest yet."
In front of her apprentices, she talked about it as if she was in the middle of thinking about a strategy, but in reality there was no prospect at all.
Even if she tried to attack in the dark, he had better night vision than herself.
To be honest, Graciela was unable to envision a winning vision.
The price of alcohol was too high, so the members of the 'Blue Gale' withdrew to their respective rooms before they got tipsy.
Slakka was located on the Bakkenheim side of the Irosun Great Forest.
It took a day to get to the Marburg side, but half a day to get to the Bakkenheim side.
Therefore, those heading for Marburg would leave first, and those heading for Bakkenheim would leave the village later.
The caravan composed of Graciela and the members of the 'Blue Gale' were also waiting for the caravans to Marburg to finish their departure.
However, the caravans bound for Marburg had returned.
"It's no good! A swarm of monsters is blocking the road, so it's impossible to proceed."
"What is the size of the swarm? If the people here gathered together and set out to attack, wouldn't it be possible to break through?"
"Don't speak such idiocy! If the road is clogged, it means that the forest is also full of monsters! If you want to break through in the direction of Bakkenheim, if you don't hurry up, you'll be left behind in a crowd of monsters!"
Hearing the words of the returning adventurer, the caravans heading for Bakkenheim, which were waiting for departure, rushed to leave Slakka, causing chaos in front of the gate.
"Graciela-san, isn't it dangerous if we don't leave as well?"
"Don't panic. Even if you rush into that mess, you won't be able to get out, and if you're unlucky, the horses will get hurt."
"But, if we're surrounded by a group of monsters ..."
"Which is more dangerous, being surrounded by monsters here or being surrounded by monsters when you go out onto the road?"
"I see, would it be safer to stay here?"
"I will discuss with the garrison the preparations for barricading ourselves in the village. You guys should look for sturdy buildings and ensure the safety of our guests."
"Understood."
As a result, Graciela's judgment was correct.
Even the caravan that had left Slakka, aiming for Bakkenheim, had no choice but to return because it was blocked by a horde of monsters.
The garrison commander of Slakka made the decision to close the gates and prepare for a siege.
It was unknown how big the monster horde was, when rescue would come, or if it would come in the first place ... but there was no other way.
The garrison commander, Daleman, gathered the remaining adventurers in Slakka and formed a mixed force with the garrison members.
"I am Daleman, the garrison commander of Slakka. Since it's an emergency, I'll have you come under my command until the commotion subsides. There may be dissatisfaction, but confusion in the chain of command is a factor in the collapse of the defense system. In order to survive, please lend us your strength!"
"Was a rescue request made?"
"Although such a situation is assumed, it will take some time to secure the highway from the Bakkenheim side. Until then, everyone's cooperation is essential."
"But, you know ... Are we really surrounded by a horde of monsters?"
"If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself. Slakka's surroundings are quiet thanks to the 'Monster User'."
It was natural for the adventurers who remained in Slakka to have doubts, and according to the adventurers who actually encountered the swarm of monsters, the monsters stopped at a certain point and never followed them beyond that point.
"That is, they're afraid of the territory of the Gigawolfs that the 'Monster User' is using, so they can't follow you. Don't be mistaken!"
"Well then, as long as we're in Slakka, we don't have to worry about being attacked by monsters."
"Aahh, I was wondering what would happen for a while, the 'Monster User' is diverse."
Graciela raised her voice when she saw that the tense atmosphere had loosened.
"What are you talking about! It's not like we're saved yet. If the monsters' pressure increases, they might attack us all at once. Don't let your guard down!"
Daleman took over the conversation, not missing the moment when Graciela's angry voice tightened the atmosphere.
"As she said, we haven't escaped to the safe zone yet. You can relax after you leave the Great Forest and reach Bakkenheim. Now, I will decide the order with the guard team."
With Daleman playing a central role, a joint defense force and adventurer system was somehow completed, and a defense system was put in place.
The surrounding area of Slakka was surrounded by a wall made of logs and a water ditch.
The castle gate was also sturdy enough to withstand a Minotaur's rush.
However, compared to Volzard's ramparts, it was about half the height, and there were no passages on the ramparts.
If they were surrounded by monsters, attacks to the outside would be limited to the top of the tower and the gaps for attacking.
Nevertheless, it was certain that it was a reassuring presence for those who were fortifying the defense.
Graciela and the others were sent to defend the northern side of Slakka.
The south side of Slakka bordered on the highway, and there was only one entrance/exit to the village on the south side. It was surrounded by nothing but three-sided log walls.
The adventurers who arrived at the defense of the village were dismayed at the situation where they could not even see the shadow of a monster.
However, as time passed, they started to feel something strange.
"It smells like blood ..."
The first ones to notice were the people who were in charge of the west side where the wind was blowing, but before long the entire village began to be enveloped in a thick smell of blood.
Furthermore, the sounds and screams of monsters fighting could be heard.
"Obooaaaa ..."
"Bugiiiiii ..."
"Gigyaaa ..."
The voices of not only Goblins, but also Orcs and Ogres resounded, chilling the hearts of those who were fortifying the defense.
"Hey, how many of them are there."
"I don't know ..."
"Are they really not going to attack us?"
"I just told you, I don't know!"
The adventurers were getting frustrated with the situation where they couldn't see the opponent they should fight and only the signs of tragedy were approaching.
"Graciela-san, isn't it bad if things continue like this?"
"Who gives a damn! Let me know if you have a countermeasure! If you don't have one, shut up and keep watch!"
"U, understood ..."
In fact, even Graciela was unable to come up with a countermeasure.
No matter how crowded it was, the number of defenders and adventurers in one village was limited.
If monsters were to surround the village, they wouldn't have the strength to fight back.
If there were only large monsters like Ogres and Minotaurs, there would be no other way but to confine themselves into a sturdy building.
Luckily, the village of Slakka had an assembly hall with a large basement for such an eventuality.
If you closed the sturdy door there and locked yourself in, you should be able to prevent monsters from entering.
However, if rescue did not come, food and other supplies would eventually run out and reach their limits.
Graciela climbed one of the towers, glared at the forest, and continued to desperately think of a solution.
The reason monsters had gathered at the village and the highway was because the food was there.
The monsters subjugated by the escort adventurers were usually cleaned up, but after the monster proliferated, the magic stones and materials that were normally stripped off were abandoned.
For other monsters, corpses were easily available food.
Graciela and the 'Blue Gale' were steadily paying the price for killing Goblins just for fun.
After Graciela and the others split up and went to the defense, the smell of blood was getting thicker, but the monsters weren't visible until after noon.
They couldn't see them, but the monsters were steadily increasing in number.
"Hey, it's a Goblin!"
"Damn, what's the 'Monster User' doing."
"Look, it's injured. At this rate, it'll attract other monsters."
"Kill them before they approach the village!"
The wounded Goblin was defeated by attack magic before it approached Slakka, but its corpse could not be disposed of.
In the same way, monsters chased by large monsters, wounded ones, monsters approaching Slakka began to appear.
It didn't take long for the Orcs and Ogres to show up after them.
"Don't touch those who are eating! Intimidate those who approach! Those who still try to approach, kill them as far away as possible!"
Graciela and the others, who were in charge of defending the northern side, also used attack magic and stone throwing to kill the monsters, but the distance from the wall steadily decreased.
"Damn, more and more of them are coming, what are we gonna do."
"Kill small fries even while they are eating and use them as food! Don't let large monsters come near!"
If the subjugation began around Slakka, naturally the monsters would gather, attracted by the smell of blood.
If the density of monsters increased, the weaker ones would become food, and the stronger ones would seek more food.
"Here it comes! Ogre, concentrate your attacks!"
The Ogre, which ran through the grassland, fell into the water ditch after being hit by a barrage of attack magic when it attacked the log wall.
After that, monsters appeared sporadically trying to cross the wall, but they were unable to enter the village and sank into the water ditches.
Although they had not entered the village, the grassland surrounding the fence's water ditch became a hunting ground for monsters.
They scrambled for corpses, and if there were no more corpses, the weaker ones were attacked.
The demon's death cries, grating sounds, and the chaotic sound of chewing covered Slakka.
Already, more monsters than the number of residents had gathered around the settlement, but more monsters were pouring out one after another from the depths of the forest.
The sight was like a scaled-down version of Volzard, which had been hit by a maximum outbreak of Goblins.
The residents had already finished evacuating to the basement of the assembly hall.
"Hey, haven't our evacuation orders been issued yet?"
"Mou, it's bad, if they come all at once, we won't be able to escape."
Even though there was a wall and a moat separating them, the spectacle unfolding ten meters ahead was the worst possible future for an adventurer.
The number of adventurers who had arrived at their posts, but who were hesitant to observe their surroundings, was increasing.
The smell of blood attracted even more monsters, and the situation in Slakka worsened at an accelerated pace.
