Chapter 353 - Dark Continent (4)

"Rihen! Here's some water!"

"Ah, thanks."

While the other explorers and I took a short break, wetting our throats with water or liquor, the royal personnel made their rounds inside the ship, conducting a head count.

Then...

"The ship will be unsummoned immediately after disembarkation, so make sure you take all your belongings!"

Once the inspection was complete, we followed the military's instructions and transferred to small boats in turn to head ashore. The troops who had landed ahead of us were already standing in orderly ranks by the water.

Well, compared to modern soldiers marching in step on their left feet, they were still a bit of a mess.

"Fortunately, it looks like they weren't waiting for us here."

"They seem determined to avoid any engagement between our main forces."

"True. With this many troops, it'd be harder to lose if we clashed head-on."

Anyway, as we waited under orders, the vanguard soon began to march.

Of course, we didn't follow. After all, the third-class ship we'd arrived on today—officially designated Ship 3-21—was tasked with escorting the Third Magic Corps.

Unfortunately, this Magic Corps belonged to the Third Army Corps, whose primary mission was securing the line of retreat. In other words, our role in this war was to establish a garrison here after the main force departed and defend it.

"All right! Let's get the tents up first!"

Once everyone aboard the Third Army Corps' remaining ships had disembarked, work on the encampment began in earnest. Explorers erected the tents they'd been issued, while the mages bustled about drawing all sorts of magic circles.

How much time had passed?

ROOOOAR!

Thanks to magic, the deafening roar of the waterfalls grew considerably quieter, and the fog obscuring our view cleared away entirely.

"Whew, now I can finally breathe."

"Everyone, have something to eat and take a break! Tent assignments and mission details will be announced shortly!"

Once the encampment was more or less complete, we were assigned the tent we'd be staying in: a six-person tent on the eastern side of the lake.

Even under military command, the convention was to keep teammates together, so they hadn't split the three of us up. However...

"Haha, let's introduce ourselves. We'll be working in the same squad from now on."

Three complete strangers had been added to our number. Apparently, we wouldn't just be sharing a tent; we'd also have to move as a squad when standing guard or going on patrol.

'This happened because there are only three of us.'

Whether a clan or a team, five people... no, ever since the update to Unity magic, six people were considered the minimum unit. Since our group of three didn't meet that number, we'd been automatically matched with others.

'Though it doesn't look entirely automatic.'

I looked at the man who was naturally leading the conversation with a friendly smile. Despite his stylish uniform and the sword at his waist, he was a mage. The Magic Corps emblem on his chest proved it.

"Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Alex Halo, assistant adjutant of the Third Magic Corps."

"Assistant adjutant?"

When I murmured that under my breath, Amelia whispered in my ear.

"It means he's the deputy commander's aide."

Oh, so he was Raven's right-hand man?

Her reason for sending her right-hand man here was obvious. Controlling and monitoring us... or, more precisely, Erwin.

"The six people assigned to this tent will carry out various missions as Squad 3-17. As your squad leader, I'll help you—"

"Squad leader? Who decided that?"

At Erwin's openly displeased question, a crack appeared in his smile.

"Haha... I'm aware that you may have objections to that. Still, these are orders from above—"

"You're smiling as if you're relaxed, but you're quite nervous."

"... Pardon?"

"Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?"

The man flinched briefly at her question, then forced a smile and shook his head.

"... Of course not. If anything, I find your presence reassuring."

Anyone could tell he was only being polite. If he really thought that, he wouldn't have had any reason to avoid Erwin's steady gaze.

"All right, that's enough."

Knowing he was only following orders himself, I quickly stepped in.

"But the three of us are enough..."

"Isn't it better to have more people?"

"Still, making him squad leader..."

"What's so awful about someone from the military leading the squad?"

"... All right. I'll stop."

Erwin glanced at me, then clamped her mouth shut.

Perhaps that sight had left an impression on him. Only then did the man turn his gaze to me.

"And you are..."

"Rihen Schuitz."

"Ah, yes... I know. It's a pleasure to meet you. And the lady beside you is Ms. Emily Raines, correct?"

"That's right."

After approaching me to exchange greetings, the man also introduced the other two, who had been watching blankly from a distance.

"These two were aboard the third-class ship that sank on the way here. Fortunately, we managed to rescue them, but sadly, we couldn't save their other companions."

I'd thought it unlikely that they'd pulled two people out of another team. So that was the reason.

As our attention shifted to the pair, they introduced themselves somewhat nervously.

"I-it's an honor to meet you, Blood Spirit Marquis. Ah, o-of course, the same goes for your companions. I'm Raikion Elt, a rank-five explorer."

My first impression wasn't bad. He seemed polite, for one, and the fact that he'd waited quietly until it was his turn to introduce himself suggested he could read the room. A rank-five explorer would pull his weight, too.

Besides, their circumstances were quite unfortunate...

"I-I'll work hard so I won't be a burden! I'm H-Hans Kaiser."

"What...?"

When the word slipped out of my mouth, he kindly repeated his name.

"Hans Kaiser!"

Are you kidding me?

* * *

I thought back for a moment. What had happened the last time I'd met a Hans again?

I remembered in no time. Hans J, whom I'd met on Parune Island, had been a traitor.

And...

'After meeting that bastard, I got sucked into the past.'

I'd spent an entire six months there, and when I returned, two years and six months had passed in my original timeline.

No, was that all? Not only had my companions scattered, but for some reason, I'd been branded an evil spirit.

"Hah..."

As I let out a hollow laugh, Hans K tilted his head and asked,

"Um... is something wrong?"

There was no reason to dignify that with a reply. Talking to him would only bring me more bad luck.

"Erwin."

"Yes? What is it?"

"You said the three of us were enough, didn't you?"

"I did."

Right. So she had.

I sucked in a breath, seriously considering it. All I'd have to do was tell her to scrap the whole arrangement, and Erwin would roar at the top of her lungs and tear this squad apart.

But...

'If I did that, Raven would hear about it.'

That kept bothering me. After all, Raven was a companion who knew about my hatred of Hanses. Hearing the details might make her more suspicious of me.

'Wait, then don't I just have to make it look like I didn't kick him out because of his name?'

Come to think of it, that was true.

Good. I'd made up my mind.

"What a pair of wastes of space."

"... Pardon?"

"I said having the likes of you around would only hold us back."

As cold words of contempt poured from my mouth, their expressions stiffened. Apparently, they'd never imagined that I, rather than Erwin, would say such things.

"Haha... what do you mean? Didn't you just say the more people, the better, Mr. Schuitz?"

Ah, that.

"I've changed my mind."

That's how serious a matter a Hans was.

When I demanded that he either remove those two or take us out of the squad, the man looked troubled.

However...

"Unbelievable. Does hiding behind a woman's skirts make you think you're someone important?"

"Forget it. We'll leave. There's no reason to stay and endure this humiliation. Just make sure the military knows they're the reason for this, not us."

My words must have really wounded their pride, because they declared they were leaving the squad and walked out of the tent of their own accord.

Whew, that was one problem solved—

"How dare they say that? Shall I go after them?"

"Forget it. Don't even talk to them."

"All right!"

Anyway, as we were talking, I noticed Raven's right-hand man, Alex, staring at me with disgust.

Ah, right. He must have heard Raven's mistaken impression of me exactly as she'd understood it. He'd probably thought I seemed decent enough at first, but after this, I must have looked like a pathetic bastard throwing his weight around on the strength of someone else's power.

"So, what will you do now? Your six-person squad is down to four."

"... I'll report to the deputy commander first, then inform you of the decision regarding your situation."

"Fair enough."

Once Alex had left to report what had happened, Erwin cautiously asked me a question.

"But why did you suddenly act like that earlier?"

"That guy's name was Hans, wasn't it?"

"... What's wrong with Hans?"

Oh, did she not know about my Hans jinx? Hmm, now that I thought about it, I didn't remember telling her...

Just as I was about to explain, Amelia chuckled and spoke for me.

"Don't tell me you called yourself his companion without even knowing that."

"... So you're saying you know?"

"Of course I do."

Amelia shrugged and briefly explained my Hans jinx. In her case, she'd learned the weight that name carried because of the incident when she'd called me 'Lee Hans.'

Perhaps Erwin was upset that she'd been the only one who hadn't known.

"Hans..."

She murmured the name in a voice positively brimming with murderous intent, then clenched her fist as though making a vow.

"Come to think of it, Hans Aullock, the traitor on Parune Island, was named Hans too. I'm sorry. I'll never forget it again."

"Uh... r-right. See that you don't."

I wondered if she might end up planting an arrow between the eyes of every Hans she encountered, but I decided not to worry too much. So what if she did? They were Hanses, after all. If you looked into it, you'd surely find them guilty of something.

'The problem is, I've already encountered a Hans... '

I'd hurried to kick him out of the squad, but I'd spent too much time in the same space as Hans K. Indoors, with poor ventilation, no less.

And considering we were currently in the middle of a seventh-floor battlefield...

"Mister, your hands are shaking..."

Damn it, this was driving me crazy.

* * *

What on earth was going to happen next?

While I sat there trembling, too anxious about that to rest comfortably...

"A decision has been made regarding your situation."

Alex returned and told us how the issue with our squad would be handled. Not much had changed. We'd simply continue as a four-person squad, and he would remain the squad leader.

However...

"From now on, you... no, we will be guarding an important person rather than conducting perimeter patrols or standing sentry."

Our squad's assignment had been changed to guarding Raven, deputy commander of the Third Magic Corps.

Of course, there was no problem with that in itself. Now that the commander, good old Kyle, had gone to reinforce the First Army Corps' special forces, Raven was effectively the most important person in our unit.

She'd probably called us in as 'bodyguards' just to keep us close and watch us before we caused any trouble...

Yes, up to that point, there had been no problem at all.

BOOOOOOM!

If only a mana cannon hadn't thundered somewhere...

WEE-OO! WEE-OO! WEE-OO!

...and the alarm spells set up around the encampment hadn't activated, blaring throughout the entire garrison.

"An ambush! We're under attack!!"

"Everyone, prepare for combat!!"

It hadn't even been two hours since I'd met Hans K.