I Pretended To Have Amnesia and the Hero’s Party Becomes Obsessed

7 – 1. The Worst Reunion (7)

The day I found out that the members of the hero party were my long-time acquaintances, I did a brief investigation about them.

Of course, it wasn’t anything dangerous or using the back route. I simply asked our kids about their reputation.

Being nationally recognized adventurers was a frequently discussed existence in this world.

And, the reputation I heard about them wasn’t that bad.

They weren’t completely useless, and their job performance wasn’t lacking.

Furthermore, the fact that there seemed to be no discord among the party members was the biggest advantage, they all agreed.

They didn’t seem particularly close, but they also didn’t fight with each other. It was a business-like relationship, some said.

“…”

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“…”

“…”

“…”

Yes, it must have been like that…

As soon as I opened the carriage door, a cold aura rushed out.

At first glance, there was no direct evidence of discord.

No one among them had a twisted face, and even Clara was smiling.

However, from the gazes directed at me, I felt a strong determination to ignore each other.

As if convincing themselves that only they and I existed in this carriage.

“The outside air is cold, why are you just standing there? Come in and sit down.”

In an instant, Clara’s smile captures me, who is seized by the impulse to run away.

I closed the carriage door in a hesitant posture and entered inside.

And, I encountered a serious problem.

…Where should I sit?

The hero party’s carriage was indeed spacious and cozy unlike ours. In the center, there was a stove-like device, and bench seats surrounded it on three sides.

And, three women were seated in different seats. It goes without saying that their neighboring seats were empty as if they were well aware of it.

I had a feeling that no matter where I sat, the cold air would become even colder. I couldn’t even speculate as to the reason.

Fortunately, a clever idea came to mind quickly.

I simply stood there, holding onto the handle on the carriage door, and spoke.

“I heard you called for me, so what’s the matter…”

“…Isn’t it uncomfortable to just stand like that? Sit down and let’s talk.”

“I have to go soon, that’s why. There’s a problem related to the new recruits we just added…”

Of course, it was a lie.

However, though the women didn’t look relieved, they still wore expressions that seemed to understand.

“So, what’s the matter…”

“I wanted to discuss the upcoming schedule.”

Saying that, Amy rummaged through her bag and handed me a letter. Only then did I clear away unnecessary thoughts and read the letter.

The letter was from the client, the high-ranking person, as expected.

The letter began with the expected excuse, not surprising anyone.

Though I suspected there were people who wanted cargo, I thought there wouldn’t be any problems since the job was done in secrecy.

No matter how much I read it, it was complete nonsense that didn’t make sense, but high-ranking people were like that.

I simply brushed the part aside, thinking I could charge more for the request fee.

And then, the letter continued with a request to expedite the delivery in this dangerous situation.

They said not to worry about the budget, just finish the delivery safely. That was the last sentence of the letter.

I folded the letter back and handed it to Amy. Amy put the letter back in her bag and asked.

“…I wanted to ask if there’s a way to arrive earlier than now because of these circumstances.”

I took a moment to organize my thoughts. Then, I cut straight to the point.

“I understand your urgency, but it’s impossible.”

From the start, one of the initial conditions of the request was for fast delivery. Currently, the route we’re taking is the fastest and safest.

“Of course, there are routes that can arrive at Ahlotte sooner than now, but there are many difficulties in going in that direction.”

“If it’s about the ambush, didn’t we increase the number of personnel?”

“The ambush isn’t the problem; the path itself is the issue.”

Generally, a shortcut is a dirty, treacherous, and disgustingly narrow affair.

Attempting to traverse such a path with this number of people would only end up taking more time.

However, reducing the number of people in the current situation would increase the risk of the ambush.

I carefully explained the points to Amy. And when my explanation was finished, Amy paused for a moment before speaking.

“I see. We can’t advance the schedule any further. Send a message to the client that it’s not possible.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by her words.

Originally, based on my experience, around this time, the client would be throwing a fit.

Dealing with such a client and calming them down was also part of the job, a common sense in this world.

Are certified national adventurers different, after all?

“By the way, Rem, have you had breakfast?”

It was around the time I was starting to think that maybe being a government official had its perks.

I looked at Clara in confusion.

“Oh, no… I haven’t eaten yet.”

“‘Eaten’? Rem, didn’t we agree not to use honorifics with me?”

At that moment, the early winter crept into the carriage.

Even though it didn’t turn towards me, an intense hostility scratched at my skin.

“Clara, I’m still on official duty. Please refrain from casual behavior.”

The knight’s cold and firm tone. However, Clara only responded with a smile bordering on a chuckle.

“Hasn’t the work discussion just ended? And what do you mean by casual behavior?”

Clara looked at me with a bright smile.

“I’m just suggesting that friends who haven’t seen each other in a while share a meal.”

Snap!

A sharp sound of grinding teeth.

Contrary to my expectations, it came not from Amy but from Parsley.

“Clara, did you hear what I said last time through your back?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I said…!”

Parsley began to open his mouth, but abruptly shut it when he looked in my direction.

What’s wrong? Why are you acting like this when you see me?

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t understand.”

Clara opened her eyes narrow, looking at Amy and Parsley in turn. There was a chilly and contemptuous smile on her lips.

“Why are you being so harsh for just a meal? What does anything matter to you guys?”

And then, a heavy silence fell.

It was a silence where each and every breath became a fuse.

“…”

And as an outsider, every second, I felt my blood drying up within that silence.

What’s wrong with you guys?

Weren’t you getting along well?

Why are you suddenly acting like this…?

“Hyungnim!”

Fortunately, God was merciful to me this time.

Feya’s voice came from outside the carriage.

I grabbed the carriage’s door handle as if fleeing.

“I’m sorry. It seems something has happened outside. I’ll go now…!”

“Ah, wait a moment…!”

Ignoring the restraining hand, I stepped outside. As soon as I came out, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

“Ha…”

“… What happened in there?”

Feya asked with an anxious expression. I raised my hand and responded.

“I don’t know. So what’s going on?”

“Well, you see…”

Feya’s expression darkened as she trailed off.

At the same time, a distant cry of ‘stop’ could be heard from up ahead.

I felt a sense of foreboding as I made my way to the front of the carriage.

And then, dozens of fallen trees greeted me on the road.

“Damn it…”

***

I sat down, examining the fallen trees.

Not a healthy russet but a dark, stained cross-section. Upon touch, it felt damp, as if it had been neglected for months.

After rotting the stem of the tree with a particular magic, it had been felled.

And as far as I know, only those damn human mages use such magic.

“Damn cult bastards…”

I sighed, straightening my back, and spotted a hunchback approaching from afar. I ran my hand through my hair and asked the hunchback.

“What are the nearby villagers saying?”

“…Two days ago, a loud noise suddenly rang out, and when we came to see, it was in this state.”

Two days ago,

That was when we left the city.

…It means they’re onto us.

I looked at Phea and the others clearing the trees with a sharpened gaze. The work progress was faster than I expected, but the crimson tide was already swirling in the autumn sky.

If we push the kids to work overnight, we might clear it all by tonight, but…

I thought about the strategic mages blocking the path with trees.

Is it to buy time to set up a trap,

…Or is it to lure us into an already prepared trap?

If it’s the former, pushing the operation is the right move, but if it’s the latter, the story changes.

“Shall we prepare for night work?”

The hunchback asked, catching my gaze. I hesitated for a moment before asking.

“What’s the nearest village from here?”

“It’s Isspentain Village.”

“What kind of place is it?”

“It’s a border village like any other. Rather than ominous rumors, it’s just a dull place with no interesting stories.”

As I listened to the story, I noticed something strange and inquired.

“You talk like you know it well?”

“Oh, there’s a newcomer from that village among the recruits this time.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“…Who is it?”

“Over there, that guy.”

Following the hunchback’s finger, I shifted my gaze and indeed saw a young man who looked about my age.

I stroked my chin, and my vocal cords resonated.

“Hey, you!”

“Yes, yes…!”

“Come here.”

He stumbled and stood in front of me.

“You’re from the Issupentain village?”

“Yes…”

“Does the village have a defense facility?”

“What do you mean by a defense facility…?”

…This is why I don’t deal with newcomers.

“Is there a wall in the village? A wall.”

“Oh, yes…! We built one last year. Cutting logs and…”

“Self-defense forces… No, are there people who have installed themselves to protect the village?”

“Yes… about sixteen of them…”

I twisted my face.

I really don’t like being manipulated like this…

In the end, the captain who brought another strange request is a real enemy. An enemy.

I washed my face and told the snub-nosed one.

“Tell the kids to turn the carriage around.”

***

In the end, we turned the carriage and headed for the Issupentain village.

The midnight forest was an ideal place for a surprise attack. I couldn’t ignore the possibility of commanders and sorcerers attacking during the night shift.

Fortunately, the warrior party did not oppose my decision.

The captain… well, it was rare for him to disagree with my opinion.

We set up a camp on a hill not far from the village. It was an open area where we could prevent attacks in advance.

Getting permission from the village chief wasn’t difficult. The chief was also troubled by the logs.

Even the chief welcomed us and tried to offer us food. I declined just in case.

And now, as the camp was complete and the night descended.

With a pensive mind, I walked around the campsite.

There were many things swirling in my head.

The traps being prepared by the command sorcerers,

The reason the command sorcerers are eyeing the cargo,

The spy whose existence is still uncertain,

The discord within the hero party,

The favors whose reasons are still unknown,

Their lies,

…And, my lies.

I shook my head, unraveling thoughts about the hero party.

For now, it’s business.

Did I walk with such effort, tying thoughts about the command sorcerers?

I discovered that I wasn’t the only one wandering on thoughtful nights.

Stepping quickly, sometimes messing with her hair as she walked, a woman.

Irene, the porter of the hero party.

I hesitated and approached her cautiously.

So deeply engrossed in thought, she didn’t notice my presence until I was by her side.

“Who…”

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“Miss Irene?”

…!

She jumped in surprise, muttering to herself. She looked at me with a face as if she had seen a ghost.

“…Miss Lem? What brings you out this night?”

“Miss Irene, of all people, what are you doing this night? It’s dangerous. Please go inside.”

Now that it’s certain the command sorcerers are up to something, it’s not a situation for non-combatants to be wandering around.

…

However, it seems she has no intention of listening to me.

She stared at my face intently, then, after a while, as if calculating something, she pressed her palm with her fingers.

“Miss Lem, the mission this time includes not only protecting the cargo but also providing security for the members of the hero party. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, I’m telling you not to wander around right now.”

Deepening thoughts on Irene’s face again.

However, this time it seemed different from the previous one.

If the previous contemplation was about ‘whether to do it,’ this one seemed to be about ‘how to do it’…

“Mr. Rem, well then, I’m planning to step outside for a moment. Is it okay if I request personal security?”

Damn it, my thoughts are a mess.

“…Where are you planning to go?”

“I’m planning to go hiking for a while.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“At this late hour?”

“I have a hobby of hiking at night.”

Confidence enough to be bewildering.

I forced a sigh and said, “Do you really have to do it today? If it’s about hiking, you can do it tomorrow…”

“I must do it today.”

Suddenly, Irene approached me, her big eyes fixed on me. Then, blushing, she delicately stroked her neck.

“Well, that mountain suits my taste…”

A shabby lie that no one would believe. Couldn’t bear to look at it.

But I remember what just reflected in her eyes.

It was the desperation of someone who knows something.

Or perhaps the desperation of someone with something at stake.

Like life or money.

Could it be that she’s passing information to the enemy sorcerers?

Unthinkable, yet the timing and situation seem oddly perfect.

She may be a porter, but she seemed to practically handle the practical aspects of the warrior party.

Naturally, she would be well aware of when and by what route the cargo is moved.

No, she definitely knows. I handed her that information myself.

So, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to leak that information.

Above all, why ask for an escort at this moment?

Lure out some of the forces, defeat them, and crush the vulnerable enemy base.

It’s one way to deal with an enemy occupying a favorable position.

…It fits too perfectly.

I pondered over various thoughts in my mind for a moment, and then came to a conclusion.

“All right.”

I can’t be certain, but that uncertainty is worth confirming.

“Yes?”

Perhaps she didn’t expect me to actually listen; Irene’s eyes widened.

“I’ll provide protection as you wish. However…”

I spoke with a firm tone.

“I’ll go alone.”

“Yes?”

Irene’s eyes widened even more. Confusion couldn’t be hidden in her voice.

“But there’s a risk of being attacked by the commanding sorcerers on the way…”

“That’s why I’m going alone. We can’t afford to attract too many people.”

Even though I had made some nonsense about being the backbone of the mercenary group, I wasn’t that important in the grand scheme of things.

Even without me, the mercenary group would somehow manage to survive.

Especially in battle, that was even more evident.

Above all, it was more important now to confirm the spy’s presence and understand the opponent’s intentions.

Of course, there was a possibility that this woman was just a pervert who liked hiking at night…

Well, then I could just go back to the camp and sleep. Let’s not overthink it.

Even if things went awry, only this woman and I would die.

“But still…”

“I have the ability to protect one person.”

“At least one more person…”

I firmly shook my head.

“If you’re too scared, abandon it today. As the deputy commander of the mercenary group, I cannot permit the withdrawal of more personnel.”

And then, I clenched my fist. It was a firm declaration of determination.

A deep hesitation appeared on Irene’s face. Pressing her temples, she messed up her hair, revealing the depth of her contemplation.

After a while, she reluctantly nodded.

“…Fine.”

She nodded with great reluctance.

After that, everything proceeded swiftly.

I armed myself and gathered magical tools, while Irene, with a determined expression, clutched a spatial pouch behind me.

And, in front of the city wall we arrived at, I called out the familiar name after seeing the back of someone.

“Listen!”

“My name is Sharik… Hoo… What’s going on, Chief.”

The dwarf standing by the forge sighs. I shake the lantern.

“I’ll be going to the mountains for a bit. Is the secret passage still the same?”

“It’s still the same as before… Are you going to the mountains now?”

“Yeah, our client said they want to enjoy the night mountain air.”

The dwarf’s face contorts.

“Didn’t the Chief tell us to strengthen our guard tonight, not knowing what might happen?”

“Yeah, he did.”

The dwarf blinks for a moment, then rubs his throbbing head.

“Do something strange again…”

And adds unnecessary remarks.

“Please, if you’re going to do something crazy, at least take that savage woman with you.”

“It’s not crazy, and Fea is not a savage. Besides, why bother a sleeping kid for no reason?”

I add with irritation.

“Anyway, know that I’m leaving. Don’t tell the Captain and Fea.”

“…Got it.”

And I lead the tense-faced Irene towards the mountain.