GILF Hunter

The guild’s training ground.

Since early morning, there was one guest who had taken up a spot there.

It was a spacious training ground, yet there was only a single person.

Rather than it being because of the early hour... it was a place that few people used to begin with.

There weren’t any particularly strict conditions for use, but as it was a facility of the Mercenary Guild, one needed prior permission to use it.

Moreover, since diligent mercenaries who practiced on purpose were rare, the place was empty most of the time.

The identity of the mercenary monopolizing this unpopular facility was... Chris, a mercenary belonging to the guild.

Chris was holding his sword and staring down at it intently.

It wasn’t the standard-issue supply sword from the guild, but his own real sword that he had used during his life as a mercenary.

It was an item he had been maintaining almost out of obligation. He couldn’t even remember exactly how long it had been since he last actually used it.

The sensation in his hand was awkward... but conversely, it also felt familiar. It was as if his body still remembered it.

’We have a strange guest here.’

’....’

Someone spoke to Chris from behind.

Thanks to that, Chris’s concentration, which had been immersed in deep sentiment, was suddenly broken.

’What are you doing here so early?’

’Training.’

Chris answered without even looking back.

With the exception of a few extreme cases, the only people who frequented this training ground near the guild building were the guild’s mercenaries.

As expected, the one behind him was Rebecca, one of the guild’s mercenaries.

Hearing Chris’s answer, Rebecca let out a soulless laugh, as if she had heard a joke that wasn’t even funny.

’Haha.... Training?’

’Yeah.’

At first, she seemed to think it was a joke.

But as Chris continued to stare at his blade with a serious face, Rebecca asked again with a look of disbelief.

’You’re not protesting against the guild or anything, but actually training?’

’...If you’re going to interfere, just go.’

Chris waved his hand at Rebecca with an annoyed expression.

’Why the sudden overexertion? I thought you said you were retiring soon.’

’...I changed my mind. I’m all better now.’

’Better...?’

Rebecca looked at Chris with an expression asking what he meant. She stepped beside Chris and subtly checked his face.

It was for the purpose of checking if he was drunk since morning, or if his illness had worsened.

Chris briefly met Rebecca’s eyes with a look of annoyance.

...He’s serious.

Rebecca realized it the moment she saw Chris’s eyes. Life had returned to them.

She didn’t know exactly what method had been used... but Chris had come back to life.

Until now, Chris’s heart had been dying.

A corpse moving only out of a sense of duty.

It was a sight often seen in those who barely survived the labyrinth, but conversely, seeing a human who was dying like that recover so completely was something Rebecca was seeing for the first time.

Just how could such a thing happen? As she pondered, Rebecca could guess the reason without much difficulty.

I see.

Is it love...?

Chris frowned, perhaps having read some unpleasant thought from Rebecca’s expression.

’Anyway. So you’re suddenly going to do training you never did before?’

’Yeah. I have a promise to keep.’

’Hmmmm....’

Rebecca’s expression became one of certainty.

Chris was bothered by that smirking smile, but he didn’t have time to play along. He ignored Rebecca beside him and drew his sword.

He was quite worried that he might have forgotten how to hold a sword... but such a thing didn’t happen.

Only his mind felt the awkwardness. His body still remembered how to handle the blade.

’By the way, you haven’t been able to catch a single goblin all this time. Will suddenly training change anything?’

’...I did catch a goblin.’

’Sure, sure. Our Goblin Slayer. Shall we see how much your skills have dropped in the meantime?’

Standing in front of Chris with a smirk, Rebecca raised her spear.

＊　＊　＊

The city’s City Hall.

The Mayor’s office located at the highest point of that building.

Lucia, who had finally taken that seat, was looking through documents with Ian in front of her.

It was the new city defense plan submitted by Ian, who had visited today.

’...Phew.’

Lucia, who had become the new mayor, lifted her head and stole a glance at Ian standing before her.

Then she lowered her gaze back to the documents in her hand. After staring at them silently for a while, Lucia let out a small sigh.

Just in case, she read it over several times to see if she had missed anything or misread something... but no matter how many times she reread it, the content didn’t change.

’Are you... serious about this?’

’It is exactly as written there.’

After being elected mayor, when she asked Ian what kind of reward he wanted, Ian had asked her to accept his new defense plan proposal instead of any direct compensation.

Ever since he made such an unusual request, she had expected something extraordinary to come.

She had expected it, but...

Lucia looked at the documents in her hand once more.

...Right.

To be honest, there was nothing theoretically wrong with this content.

The arguments were logical. The reasons were plausible. The deductions were acceptable.

That was exactly why this was giving Lucia a headache.

If there were any forced points, things to point out, or parts that were exaggerated or overreached to push his opinion, she could have used those as an excuse to refuse or stall for time.

The plan was so perfect that there was nothing more to add or change.

The problem was the content within it.

...After the primary defense, the defensive forces are to retreat from the walls.

Barricades are to be set up in the streets, and after evacuating the citizens to the inner castle, lure the monsters into the city to change the battle into urban warfare.

Using terrain and habits to guide the path of the monster swarm, stalling for time so they cannot attack the inner castle, and defeating the dispersed monster swarm individually....

...She had heard that Ian’s specialty was utilizing terrain. It was an efficient operation. If only it weren’t taking place inside the city.

If a subordinate staff member had brought this, she would have kicked them out immediately.

Lucia set the documents down, pondered, and then asked Ian.

’Isn’t this... a plan to give up on the city’s defense? Why is there a need to abandon the walls and retreat?’

’It’s not giving up. It’s an assumption for when they cannot be held.’

’Even if it’s just a ’just in case’... you must know how much the cost would be just to prepare for this in advance, right?’

It wasn’t a matter that ended with simply deciding to act this way in the event of an emergency.

Barricades had to be pre-positioned so they could be set up at any time, and the interior of the city had to be reinforced.

After informing the residents of the evacuation plan so it could proceed smoothly, several evacuation drills would also have to be conducted.

Naturally, the defense forces and mercenaries would have to be designated and trained in advance as well.

’Captain Ian. There were times in the past when nearly double the average number of enemies swarmed... even then, the walls did not fall.’

Of course, there had been crises in recent years. With Ian’s help, they were able to stop them before the damage grew too large.

But those were just special situations; they weren’t a danger to the extent that the walls would be completely neutralized. The damage would have been great... but they would have been able to hold out in the end.

What Ian’s proposal implied was a danger beyond that.

’Do you think... enemies that our walls cannot handle will come?’

’I cannot know for certain, but this method is the best way to minimize damage.’

Walls are certainly a defense facility that gives a great advantage to the defending side.

However, if they ultimately collided with an offensive that exceeded the advantage provided by the walls, the walls would fall, and the defenders would inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

In order to fight without losing as many defensive troops as possible, this method was the best.

’...I’ll admit that urban warfare is slightly more efficient for stalling for time while reducing the casualties of the defending side.’

But being efficient didn’t mean one should choose such a method. Who would handle that massive property damage?

’So, you want to turn the inside of the city into a battlefield...?’

’If that is the only way to minimize the loss of life.’

Well, based on this assumption, that would be true....

Lucia, having pondered, replied to Ian.

’I will discuss it further with the relevant parties and decide.’

Lucia had no choice but to give such an answer.

And as if he had already expected such a reaction, Ian nodded silently and walked out.

...After Ian left the room.

Lucia sighed and leaned her back against the chair.

’Really... I’m hearing nothing but increasingly ridiculous stories.’

Leona, who had been standing silently beside her, replied.

’Didn’t I tell you that those who frequent the labyrinth all go crazy sooner or later?’

’Then? What’s your opinion?’

’We should do it. Just like this.’

Leona answered without any hesitation.

’As soon as I’m elected... I should sign this document saying I’ll wreck the city?’

Lucia fell into a worry whether she would be remembered as the mayor who was impeached in the shortest amount of time.

’Do we really have to go that far?’

’Aren’t we the ones who got elected by going that far?’

Leona said, staring intently at the plan Ian had brought.

Looking at it from the perspective of Leona, who would have to directly lead it rather than as a policy... she could feel something close to an obsession contained within it.

This wasn’t a preliminary plan established just in case, but an operation designed with actual execution in mind.

Ian was clearly certain that this event would happen.

’If we back out now, we’ll end up stuck in the middle.’

’...Fine. If I get dismissed, you’re getting fired with me.’

Lucia sighed as she signed the document.

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