GILF Hunter

’Lastly, this....’

Mika began the final task with a tense face.

Mika’s private laboratory, located near the base. Her research, which had started blindly with no end in sight, was finally nearing its conclusion.

Mika applied the final treatment to the work she held with a serious expression. After the painstaking effort, a small light finally flickered before seeping into the doll.

Confirming this, Mika looked up with a bright face.

’Su... success!’

’Success...?’

Mika shouted, but Ailie, who had been assisting and watching by her side, wore an unimpressed expression.

At any rate, it seemed to be... finished.

It was an item created by gathering Mika’s mysterious grimoire, all sorts of reference materials from the Association, and even Ailie’s own dark magic knowledge, limited as it was.

While the numerous experimental records from Association seniors had been quite helpful.

Since what the two were attempting was essentially something that had never been made before, they ultimately had to put their heads together and squeeze out ideas to complete it.

In fact, it was an excessively unrealistic item for two people with no research experience to create.

It was only possible thanks to Ian, who allowed them to freely use incredible materials that had never been seen on the market.

The resulting finished product was... clumsy-looking at a glance.

They succeeded in reproducing the target effect, but everything else besides that was crude.

’Can we really call this a success...?’

’Theoretically, it will definitely work! So it’s a success.’

’That... no matter how I look at it, it looks like a voodoo doll.’

’...What does the shape matter? As long as it works.’

Perhaps because Ailie’s knowledge of dark magic was involved.

The finished product looked less like something that protected a life and more like something meant to take one away.

Mika also felt a bit uneasy looking at that undeniable cursed doll appearance.... But, her thought was that effectiveness was all that mattered.

If the appearance didn’t give it away, the chance of it being discovered would be lower. Wasn’t that an advantage instead?

Regardless, the biggest problem had been solved.

However, the next problem remained. It was a matter that could be seen as small yet significant.

’Now the issue is... when to hand this over to the Captain.’

’Giving it to him right away... is a no-go, right?’

’No... in this state, I don’t know when it might break.’

Mika fell into deep thought once more.

The exact timing to gift this to Ian was now the issue.

Ideally, it would be best for him to keep it on his person at all times... but it wasn’t at that level of perfection yet.

Because they couldn’t set delicate conditions, there was a risk that this doll might activate on its own in a trivial situation.

It would be one thing if they couldn’t finish it. But to fail like that after making it was unthinkable.

In other words... this item had to be handed over in advance, seizing the right opportunity just before a situation where Ian might be in danger.

’But... I don’t know when that is.’

’You said you saw it in the prophecy...?’

’I did... but I only saw that scene. How would I know when it is?’

Mika recalled that scene from the prophecy again.

Perhaps because she had purchased it directly from the Merchant, she could vividly recall the scene without a single error. To be honest, it wasn’t a scene she wanted to see again... but she had no choice.

But no matter how many times she watched it, let alone a specific time, she couldn’t even properly figure out where the location was.

For now, the place... just looked like an ordinary grassland.

It seemed to be near Labyrinth, but to be honest, one grassland looked like any other. It was hard to confidently guarantee it was Labyrinth.

The time was night, but that alone didn’t tell her anything.

The only thing she knew was... that the only person with him at that moment was Rin.

Ultimately, Mika and Ailie decided to keep the finished item safely stored until a new clue was found.

’Can’t be helped.... Let’s store this for now.’

Mika placed it in a box with careful movements so the effect of the finished product wouldn’t trigger randomly.

She didn’t know when, but for the moment it would be used, Mika quietly hid the box in a corner of the laboratory.

＊　＊　＊

While everyone was moving busily like that, a new guest also came to visit Ian.

It was a visit from Ellen, the artifact researcher with whom he had formed a connection through several requests.

’It’s been a while.’

’I’ve been quite busy traveling around lately. There are truly a lot of ruins in this area. As expected, the hypothesis that an ancient metropolis existed here seems to be true.’

Ellen had been investigating ruins by visiting the suspicious locations Ian had pointed out one by one.

Thanks to having found several ruins already, the new office opened in Labyrinth had become quite famous, and it seemed other requests were coming in frequently as well.

’Captain. Actually, today... I came because I need help.’

If she needed sponsorship or a simple request, Ellen, who had successfully settled in Labyrinth, could have found collaborators on her own.

Unlike when they first met, Ian’s hiring fees were now very high.

The fact that she sought out Ian anyway meant she needed significantly large assistance.

’Is there something else you need? Expedition funds or....’

’The more funds the better, of course... but that’s not it right now.’

Ellen spread a map out in front of Ian.

’I was searching the areas Captain Ian pointed out one by one... and an extremely strange place was discovered. It seems difficult to explore with our strength alone.’

Ellen had put together a fairly high-level exploration team with diverse personnel, but there were limits to an investigation a single exploration team could do.

In such a situation, she had no choice but to seek additional collaborators.

’Should I help you recruit additional exploration members?’

’No. I believe Captain Ian needs to come personally.’

’Me?’

’The condition of the site is very serious.’

Ellen replied with a serious expression.

＊　＊　＊

’I’ve never been this way before... there was a place like this too.’

’There are many mines beyond here. Over those mountains, there are probably... a few villages where miners gather.’

Rin spoke with a fascinated face as she looked around.

She had gone out on requests to various places, but there were still many more regions she hadn’t visited.

This was also one of the areas she was visiting for the first time. It was a rocky zone slightly distant from Labyrinth.

Since there was nothing to block the view, the exploration camp could be seen from afar.

The exploration team was camping a considerable distance away from what appeared to be a cave entrance.

It seemed the other side could also see well, as people gathered at the entrance of the camp upon spotting Ian’s party approaching.

As Ian’s party nearly reached the camp, several people from the exploration team approached as if they had been waiting.

Watching the approaching people, Ellen, who was beside Ian, spoke softly.

’Actually, there are a few people who were collaborating with us first.’

’Are they mercenaries?’

’No, local collaborators. They are miners and blacksmiths who were exploring this place first.’

She had heard it was a common occurrence during ruin investigations. Collaborating with adventurers who were already exploring, or hiring locals to act as guides.

Ellen spoke with a somewhat troubled expression as if seeking Ian’s understanding.

’However, their personalities are... a bit hot-headed. Please be understanding.’

Before Ellen’s whisper even finished, a loud shout came from ahead.

’Who did you bring a bunch of again! You keep just increasing the number of people!’

’You agreed that we couldn’t solve this by ourselves.’

’Even so, how could you involve mercenaries!’

He was about a head or two shorter than the others, with a thick, coarse beard. He looked like an ill-tempered middle-aged man.

He appeared to be the local collaborator Ellen had mentioned.

’If you involve those highwaymen in the work, they’ll surely make a mess of things talking about pay and distribution! Send them back!’

...And it seemed he wasn’t someone who had a very good impression of mercenaries.

Watching this, Tanya, who was beside him, asked in a low voice.

’That person doesn’t seem to like mercenaries very much?’

’The city of miners and blacksmiths is over the mountain. The path is rough, so they don’t often cross over from Labyrinth. So they use mercenaries from other regions... but to be honest, the quality over there is a bit lacking.’

Ellen, who knew the circumstances of various regions well from her travels, explained instead.

On the contrary, places like Labyrinth where quality was strictly managed were rare. Labyrinth itself was maintained that way essentially because it had no choice due to its structure.

Ian called Tanya over and spoke.

’Tanya. Take out the yellow pouch from the bag.’

’Ah, yes.’

With a slight glow, the pouch Ian mentioned appeared in Tanya’s hand.

Ian took it and stepped forward.

’Now, calm down. Take this.’

Ian carefully held out a liquor bottle... taken from that pouch.

’What’s this all of a sudden... oh.’

The man immediately took the bottle and shouted again.

’These ignorant mercenary bastards. Do you think Southerners are fine as long as you give them booze! For just one bottle of alcohol... wait, isn’t this from Caladria?’

While speaking, the blacksmith’s eyes widened as he stole a glance and read the label on the bottle.

’...You mercenaries, do you think my mind will suddenly change just because you give me this! ...Wait, and it’s a 17-year-old vintage? Hmmm.... It’s troublesome when mercenaries are involved, really.’

The blacksmith’s voice became quiet in an instant, and he eventually backed away while grumbling in a voice so low it was barely audible.

Taking advantage of the moment the site became slightly quiet, Ian turned his head toward the cave and asked.

’Is the entrance over there?’

’Yes. As you can see... we can’t even get close.’

’...Seeing what this person brought, are you mercenaries who’ve been to the labyrinth a bit? Even so, with the cave in that state, what can you possibly do here.’

A significant amount of erosion was flowing out from the cave.

There was a reason everyone had settled so far away from the entrance.

’Wow, this is serious. Did a deep floor open up inside?’

Rin, sensing it from a distance, muttered.

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