After

It was only morning by the time we reached Alterna. The guards let us in without any trouble. Spearhead is held in fairly high regard by the frontier soldiers. At the very least, they were never undervalued.

"Stay with us," Manabu halted my attempt to head to the volunteer soldiers' lodging house. "You can take a bath at our lodging house. Food and drink will be taken care of by Spearhead. We'll discuss the matter of your payment back in New City."

I have no reason to refuse.

Our group consisted of 6 men and 6 women. The inn's bathhouse was just enough for 6 people to bathe together. There was also hot pool water, which contributed greatly to relaxing our heads.

"—Maan, this is so amazing," Sou rinsed his head with the hot water. His toned body spoke of the experience he went through. "Like, ugh, after that super cold tempest, a hot bath is just like heaven, you get what I mean?"

Miyabi snickered.

Ryuji retorted. "You're right."

Even he appeared to be feeling calmer as a result. Manabu and Ikuto had taken off their towels and were now soaking in the small pool peacefully. 

I scrubbed my torso with soap, wearing my towel still. "This may have come out of nowhere, but is there a way to observe people from the sky?"

Manabu directed his gaze to me. 'Why is he still wearing his glasses?' "We haven't heard of one. Why are you asking that?"

"Well, I briefly felt a sensation of being watched from the sky while on an expedition in Old City. I couldn't spot whoever it was because it was obscured by clouds, unfortunately. I assumed it was just a predatory animal like an eagle or the like."

"You suspect it has something to do with the goblin king's assault?" Ikuto asked.

"Yeah."

"It might be the work of the relic." Ryuji speculated.

"How big of an effect can they bring out?"

Miyabi responded. "The amnesia of the volunteer soldiers, their arrival to Grimgar, and the place it all came from are pretty much guaranteed to be relics. Take them as a reference."

Sou shivers. "I always get chills whenever I think about those things. Better not think about them. I mean, there isn't going to be any meaning in doing it anyway, right?"

"The more you think about it, the further they'll go, after all. Yeah, you're kind of right."

We leave them at that and focus on our bath. When I was done scrubbing myself, I went to the little pool while throwing off the towel on my waist. 

"..." "..." "..." "..." "..."

"..."

'Yousuke, Ken, and Kanji have similar reactions, don't they?'

I ignored their disrespectful stares and immersed myself in the pool. Actually, no. I can't just ignore them.

"I know mine is big, but I'll be bothered if you guys keep staring at it."

We completed our bath shortly afterward.

The girls had prepared food and drinks while we were bathing. Now that they had freshened up, they looked somehow radiant. 

"Akane-san's cooking is always delicious...!" Mako commented, devouring the bread mixed with cheese, vegetables, and other extras with gusto. 

"Ehehe, thank you," the woman in question acted bashful over it.

It wasn't anything special, to be honest. It was just a little above average.

"Your friends' training is only a few days away, huh?" Nazuna blurted out while eating. It doesn't seem that the topic of the unknown trouble figure in New City will be brought up. "So, Manabu-san, what do you think about making him a Spearhead member?"

"We're still open for applications, yes. But are his other companions as competent as him?"

"I wouldn't say that," I argued. "I'm conspicuous even at my party. That being said, to say they're terrible is an exaggeration. They have the potential. With more skills and experience on the battlefield, I'm sure they'll be strong soon enough."

"They're still rookies either way," Miyabi sarcastically chortled. "In other words, no word of yes for them. You people will die instantly before we can arrive in Rhodekia."

"I won't deny that."

The time we spend as volunteer soldiers isn't that much. That is true. I've only set foot on the battlefield for half a month now. The rest of my comrades have only been there for a little over a week.

"Then I have a suggestion for your party. In case you were interested in joining us," Manabu remarked, placing both hands on his chin. "Are you familiar with the way volunteer soldiers operate?"

"'We use our own individual skills and judgment to gather intel and strike the enemy.' That's what Britney told us back then."

"Great. I want you to conquer the Cyrene Mines."

"You're well aware that I wouldn't even inform my party if that's all you had to say, right?"

"You're being rude," Ikuto was visibly offended.

I didn't just remain silent. "I'm being reasonable. To begin with, what do you expect from a party of 'rookies'? I am aware that Cyrene Mines is a big matter. A mere party won't be able to accomplish such a feat. We'll very likely just waste our time due to a lack of human resources. Frankly, we're better off creating our own clan if that's all you had to say."

Miyabi and Fuka watched in amusement. Nazuna had a worried expression. Manabu was neutral. Ikuto and Akane looked like they were about to explode in anger. Party Honami gave off an aura as if to shout awkward. I guess it's natural considering who I'm facing. Still, I have no intention of backing down.

I figured that with the mindset Suzune had, she wouldn't focus on Cyrene Mines in the long term. I'm assuming she'll guide the party to different kinds of areas where the challenges they provide are also varied instead. That should allow the party members as a whole to improve in both physical and mental capabilities thanks to the diversity of stimulations. As a volunteer soldier, it was also the most effective way to improve oneself. Focusing on conducting expeditions like the one in New City wasn't suitable for them. I'm sure it would have the opposite effect, instead.

Regardless, I still suspect Suzune had thoughts about creating her own clan just a week ago. The further the party advances from the frontier, the harder it is for a single party to deal with, which is undeniable. Clan creation would be a must. 

"Forgive me, I seem to have overestimated your comrades," Manabu wasn't apologetic at all. "In exchange, then, how about achieving the equivalent or greater feat of slaying Death Spots? That's a reasonable requirement, in my opinion. Honami and Masumi's group can already do that."

"You can start with the newly placed orders at the volunteer soldiers' office," Nazuna suggested. Then, she put on an awkward look. "It's more of a mission for the frontier soldiers, though. But, well, who knows, you might get lucky and kill the big shots in that operation!"

"Operation Two-Headed Snake, huh?" I mumbled, then shrugged. "'Achieving our respective accomplishments' has been the party's intention. I'll inform them."