GILF Hunter

Immediately after the invasion ended. A strange tension, unlike any other time, hung over the city.

It was because of the emergency alert that had blared during the battle.

A signal that monsters had infiltrated the city interior.

There was no way it could have been sounded by mistake, and looking at the follow-up reports, the monster infiltration was a certainty.

To confirm the exact situation, countless people were hurriedly moving through the city.

Thanks to this, even after the monster invasion alert was lifted, soldiers and mercenaries remained on guard around the walls instead of leaving their posts.

Soon, a crowd of people gathered at the northern plaza where the final battle had taken place.

The mayor, administrators, commanders, and even the city council.

Though it was a busy time right after an invasion, everyone had come out to the plaza in person to verify the situation.

It was because something had happened that they simply had to see with their own eyes.

’What… on earth happened here?’

Those gathered at the plaza muttered as they looked around at the gruesome scene. The corpses of monsters, whose concealment had worn off upon death, lay scattered everywhere.

The sight of the plaza covered in numerous monster corpses showed that a fairly intense battle had taken place here.

It wasn’t just one or two that had entered; it was a pack large enough to easily decimate a single street.

’How did this many manage to get inside!’

The mayor shouted as he surveyed the site. Reports would have been submitted, of course, but the contents were difficult to accept easily.

Facing the murmuring crowd, an officer managing the site replied. He was one of the parties who had personally witnessed the scene during the battle.

’…These monsters are completely invisible to the naked eye while they are alive.’

Gaps of breath could be heard from various places.

While some had received reports in advance, quite a few seemed to be hearing the story for the first time.

The officer explained by organizing the information discovered during the battle as much as possible.

’They leap over walls and are highly cautious, seemingly ignoring the defensive forces on the walls and just jumping inside. So, by the time we realized their presence, they were already in the city….’

Everyone’s faces turned pale upon hearing that story.

Invisible monsters that had leaped into the city walls.

A similar thought surfaced in everyone’s mind.

’Then doesn’t that mean there could be more inside right now?’

It was a suspicion well worth having.

Just as chaos began to spread among those gathered in the plaza, Major Leona, who arrived late, addressed the crowd.

’You do not need to worry about the monsters.’

The commander of the emergency unit who had handled the monster response this time.

Everyone’s gaze converged on Leona.

Leona explained calmly to the people gathered in the plaza.

’Fortunately, by taking immediate action, we prevented them from spreading through the city. There are no monsters remaining in the city now.’

If a proper initial response hadn’t been carried out, the city would still be mired in chaos.

One of the city councilors, questioning Leona’s certainty, asked.

’How do you know that? If they are invisible.’

’By a stroke of luck, we happened to have a potion that is effective in these times.’

Leona pulled out a red potion and showed it to everyone.

It was the Crisis Detection Potion that had allowed them to solve this crisis.

’It is a potion that allows one to see things that are otherwise invisible.’

’There is such a potion?’

’It is a new product that an alchemist I know was preparing for sale. It was truly a blessing that such a helpful item existed at just the right time.’

Leona scanned the people slowly and spoke with a meaningful expression.

’Because this year, the forces of the emergency unit were greatly reduced, we almost failed to respond properly.’

It was a place where city councilors and citizens were gathered in significant numbers.

Upon hearing that remark, the mayor’s face turned slightly pale.

＊ ＊ ＊

Ian visited the Mercenary Guild immediately.

Normally, the period right after an invasion is the busiest time of the year for the Guild.

It was normal for all other business to be pushed back until the post-war processing was finished, but there was an exceptional matter this time.

While it was something that would usually take some time, this matter was being handled with unprecedented speed as a top priority.

However, the Vice Guild Master who was to handle this was away at an emergency meeting held at City Hall.

Instead, it was Camilla who delivered the news to Ian.

’The report on the monsters has reached the top. Along with the story of the potion you developed.’

The Stalker, a new species of monster that appeared suddenly.

Since it possessed a very threatening ability, a countermeasure had to be established as quickly as possible.

In all places related to the city’s defense, this was being treated as a top priority, even delaying post-war processing.

’Since there is no other method at present, it seems your potion will be adopted as the official countermeasure.’

Congratulations.

Camilla added those words of congratulation.

Being adopted as the official countermeasure for a monster meant that the Crisis Detection Potion would have to be stocked as a necessity for dealing with Stalkers in the future.

It was designated as military supplies to be held at all times by the Defense Army.

’Do you intend to sell the recipe? Or will you supply it yourself?’

’I will supply it myself.’

According to regulations, the warehouse stockpiles would have to be filled first.

Since it was a completely newly developed item, until the required amount for every warehouse was met, everything produced would likely go straight into the military supply warehouses.

Just considering the volume needed by the military, the scale of total demand was hard to even imagine.

As this was a city where gold literally rolled around, there were quite a few individuals who had amassed enormous fortunes here. At this rate, he was poised to add his name to that ranking within a few years.

’Supplying it yourself will be quite a headache.’

Well, seeing how he had been doing so far, he wouldn’t get scammed or ruin the business, but still, it wasn’t a task that could be juggled while being a mercenary commander.

Camilla asked Ian.

’Will you be okay? There will be too much to do to handle it personally.’

’I plan to outsource production to a merchant group I know.’

Camilla thought of the officer Ian was close to. If it was that person, they could have arranged a merchant group large enough to handle the production of this.

’Did you get an introduction from that person? It’s best not to get involved with them if possible.’

Camilla said while shaking her head.

’That person is a soldier, yet far too deeply involved in politics. Well, I understand the circumstances that led to that….’

Leona, who had been waiting quietly for an opportunity, seemed to have decided that the time had finally come to begin her full-scale activities.

’Right now, it might seem like you’re gaining a lot by being together, but by the time the next election approaches, you’ll be caught up in some major headaches.’

As she shared such things, Camilla sighed while looking at the documents piled on her desk.

’Then again, could it be more of a headache than this current work? Just make sure you do well on your own.’

Because of this incident, a great commotion arose within the city.

The current mayor’s core policy was disarmament. In that situation, the fact that monsters entered the city was a major, irreversible blow to the mayor.

The fact that they were such specialized monsters that even if there were more general troops, they wouldn’t have been able to respond, was of no consequence right now.

In any case, it was a fact that the size of the military had been reduced, and the infiltration had not been prevented. In the end, it was the mayor’s responsibility, for which there was no excuse.

The greatest duty assigned to the mayor of this city was, after all, to keep the city safe.

Of course, it was also true that by prioritizing commerce over the military, he had brought great profit to the city.

If the timing had been slightly different, he probably would have been remembered as a competent and wise mayor.

But it seemed he was not a man of great luck. To have become mayor at this particular time.

Without even having to investigate, the current mayor’s approval rating among the citizens must have hit rock bottom. Those looking to challenge for the next mayorship would certainly not miss that opportunity.

’Anyway, it would be best not to take contact from that side for a while. The underwater fighting must have already begun. If you receive a troublesome request, it will be hard to refuse.’

Camilla finished signing a few documents and looked at Ian.

’If things feel strange, just go out on a long-term mission immediately. Even they won’t go out of their way to mess with a mercenary unreasonably.’

’Thank you for your concern.’

Camilla’s advice was generally something worth following.

But unfortunately. For the sake of Ian’s goals, he was destined to remain entangled with that side, whether he liked it or not.

＊ ＊ ＊

Returning to the base, Ian sat down looking exhausted.

From the preparation period to the day of the invasion, and the post-war processing. Far too many things had happened.

Not just Ian, but the other members as well sprawled out in the lounge looking worn out.

’Good job, everyone.’

’The invasion is all over, right?’

’Yeah…. We blocked it well.’

Only then did everyone set their minds at ease.

Because so many nonsensical things happen when the Labyrinth is involved, they hadn’t been able to let their guard down, fearing something else might remain.

’Phew…. I’m sick of monsters now.’

Everyone muttered such things as they buried themselves in the sofas.

Anne and her friends, who had experienced a monster invasion for the first time in the underground waterway, also spoke with sparkling eyes.

’The underground was intense too….’

’I’ve never seen that many slimes before.’

’Heh…. That’s how it is. As for what happened up here….’

Just slimes in the underground waterway.

Lia, wearing a meaningful smile, gathered those in charge of the underground waterway and began her story.

Ian let out a deep sigh as he watched the scene.

There were times when he was anxious about whether he could make it in time, but fortunately, the city survived.

It seemed the work he had done so far wasn’t in the wrong direction.

Rin, who suddenly looked at Ian and found his expression completely devoid of laughter, approached him curiously.

’Master, aren’t you happy? All the Labyrinth problems you were worried about have been solved, haven’t they?’

’Hmm? Not yet….’

Upon hearing Ian’s answer, Rin’s expression stiffened.

The members who were listening nearby also turned their gazes toward Ian and Rin.

’The monsters that were sealed in the Labyrinth… you caught them all, didn’t you?’

’This was only the first one…. There are still more further down in the Labyrinth.’

’….’

The atmosphere of the party turned a bit chilly.