Chapter 51 – Variables (6)

Once Demian finished the memorial service, a quiet resonance spread through everyone’s hearts.

Because Jan Casellos had been speaking of realistic matters just moments before, the gazes of the people looking at the leader and the Magic Engineering Department Head had become even more peculiar.

“Archer, go ahead and explain to the Department Head.”

“Ah… yes.”

Nikolai moved before the atmosphere grew any stranger.

Archer Fordham, who had been stiff for a moment as if lost in deep thought, snapped out of it, repeated the same explanation, and added:

“The population of mutants will continue to increase in the future. It is probably due to the runaway phenomenon of Eternal Magic. Of course, Lord Demian, you would know this better than I.”

“Yes. We will have to investigate to be sure, but that is highly likely.”

“Speaking as a hunter, even without magic engineering reasons, I am certain that the ecological structure will become one dominated by mutants. The snowy fields, the wilderness, is a world ruled by the law of the jungle.”

It was certainly so, as the existing non-mutated individuals would end up being weeded out according to the laws of nature.

This meant that their establishment as the new order of this ice age was a preordained future.

“Therefore, I hope the Magic Engineering Department will study these mutants. This is perhaps an even more urgent matter than the golems, and for our embers, which must become self-sufficient in food in the future, there is no issue more pressing than this.”

Nikolai, taking over Archer’s words, revealed his true intentions.

Just as he said, there was no task that should take priority over food, clothing, and shelter.

However, for the Magic Engineering Department, which was waging what might be its final battle against the leadership, nothing was more urgent than the development of golems.

Nikolai had targeted this as well.

But.

“Understood. The entire Magic Engineering Department will immediately commence research.”

Demian Vale accepted the leadership’s request without a single moment of hesitation.

Even though mutants were one thing, the development of golems was no light task either, meaning he could have postponed the work somehow by making excuses.

“Thank you for your cooperation. To facilitate the Magic Engineering Department’s research, we will assign a member of the hunting squad to handle the dissection.”

Having expressed his gratitude, Nikolai spoke.

Naturally, it was an insidious intention to monitor the movements of the Magic Engineering Department by attaching a hunter loyal to the leadership.

Demian had accepted the leadership’s request out of pure intentions for the citizens, but that goodwill had instead aroused suspicion.

“…Understood. In return, we will select the hunter to work with us.”

Noticing this, Demian spoke with disapproval.

Though he wanted to reject it outright, he could not do so since the situation was serious and the reason for assigning a hunter was reasonable.

His request to choose the hunter himself was a last-resort defense to screen out anyone belonging to the leadership.

Yet the shrewd Nikolai did not even permit that.

“No one knows the squad members better than the captain. He will assign the appropriate person. Isn’t that right, Archer?”

At the words that left him speechless, Demian narrowed his eyes in discomfort.

Just as Archer Fordham, having exchanged glances with Nikolai, was about to call out the name of the member who would serve as the leadership’s spy,

“I will do it.”

It was Jeremy Scott.

At his sudden appearance, everyone without exception watched him with eyes that seemed to ask, ‘Why are you stepping forward when you aren’t even part of the hunting squad?’

However, he silently went into the kitchen and reappeared holding a butcher knife used for carving meat.

Slic-slic.

Standing before the wolf, his hands moved.

Flesh, hide, and bone began to separate wherever his hands went.

The knife slicing smoothly without catching on a bone even once seemed to announce that he was the right man for the job.

Even the hunters, who had their own expertise in butchery, watched without a word.

Thunk!

Soon, having cleanly carved up a snowy wolf, he stabbed the knife into the tabletop and spoke.

“You won’t be able to conduct proper research in the cramped Magic Engineering Department building. The tavern is closed until the day after tomorrow anyway, and as you can see, I can handle basic butchery, so wouldn’t this place be the optimal location?”

Just as he said, a place to study this massive mutant was needed.

And Night’s Haven, which could accommodate up to a hundred people, was closed until the day after tomorrow, making both the timing and location perfect.

“Hmm…”

However, Jan’s expression was not good.

Although Jeremy Scott operated the tavern under the commission of the leadership, his actions were ambiguous for someone belonging to the leadership.

“Leader, if it is Jeremy Scott, he is a trustworthy man.”

At that moment, Archer Fordham spoke up as if it were a good opportunity.

Because a good pretext to step forward had arisen just as he was waiting for the moment to report Jeremy’s appointment as vice-captain.

“What do you mean by that? Just as every member of our embers is to me, Jeremy is of course a trustworthy man.”

However, because Jan did not know about Jeremy Scott’s performance in the snowy fields, the inside story of his declaration to become vice-captain, or the necessity of having him as a training instructor for the transformation into an army, Jan gave a warning look.

Furthermore, Archer’s statement was inappropriate to make in a public setting.

“I apologize. I made a slip of the tongue.”

Scanning the surrounding reactions, Archer realized his mistake, bowed his head, and added:

“As you saw, Leader, six deaths and fourteen injuries were caused by the mutants. However, though it is not something to say in front of the deceased, this is actually fortunate.”

“What kind of bizarre statement is that?”

“If not for Jeremy’s performance, the casualties that occurred today would have been double. Indeed, all four of these mutants met their deaths after their vital spots were pierced by arrows shot by Jeremy. Every member of the hunting squad is a witness to that.”

“……!”

Not only Jan, but everyone listening turned their gazes to Jeremy, who had picked up a glass and was puffing out cigarette smoke before they knew it.

They had looked down on him as a pathetic alcoholic tavern owner who lived soaked in booze every day, but for a hunting captain with fifty years of experience to speak like that, just how great were his abilities?

Moreover, as if his words were true, the hunters were nodding with expressions that showed no surprise.

Some even looked up to him, having had their lives saved by Jeremy.

“To have hunted all the mutants alone…”

Jan Casellos muttered.

The appearance of Jeremy, an outstanding fighter, was timely not only for the hunting captain but also for Jan.

It was a time when they had to consider training at a combat level rather than hunting, due to the emergence of mutants and the transformation into an army, and he had appeared so fittingly when needed.

Just as Jan was thinking that he might need to reconsider Jeremy Scott’s usefulness, Archer spoke.

“So, I have something to say.”

“Speak.”

“I would like to create a new position of vice-captain for the hunting squad and appoint Jeremy Scott to it. He will become an indispensable presence for the survival of the hunting squad and our embers.”

Even if not to the extent of vice-captain, Archer had brought up the subject that Jan intended to raise first.

The picture was good.

Because if the hunting captain requested it first rather than the leader, it would add persuasiveness to appointing Jeremy as vice-captain.

Jan nodded.

“There must be a reason for the captain to say so. The squad members also seem to acknowledge Jeremy’s abilities.”

“Does that mean…”

“I will appoint Jeremy Scott as the vice-captain of the hunting squad. However, since the procedures are bypassed, it will be a temporary position. Whether he retains the post in the future will be judged and decided at the grand assembly. Is there anyone who opposes this?”

There was no way anyone would oppose.

Even the Magic Engineering Department, which should be the most vigilant since it meant another influential position added to the leadership, was the same.

They could not oppose the pretext of protecting the embers in crisis.

Jan and Nikolai wore satisfied smiles.

Because the leadership’s power had grown even greater unexpectedly, and Jeremy’s appointment as vice-captain made him firmly one of their own.

On the other hand, Demian merely remained silent, pushed by the unavoidable circumstances, but his expression was contorting.

Even if temporary, the creation of the vice-captain position was uncomfortable, and thinking that Jeremy, who could now be considered a core figure of the leadership, would be attached as a watchdog left him no choice but to be annoyed.

Of course, since this research was something that had to be reported to the leadership anyway, it was not a worry about information leaks.

It was simply uncomfortable that the magic engineering members had to watch their words around each other while Jeremy was present.

“Then we will begin the research immediately, so everyone, please lend a hand.”

Along with Demian’s instructions, everyone inside the tavern moved in perfect order.

The tables and chairs were cleared to the corners, and with the entry of magic engineering equipment, the transformation of the tavern into a laboratory was instantaneous.

It was just as those who had finished their tasks were leaving the tavern.

“Wait… come to think of it, are the Wayne brothers alright? If mutants are appearing even near our embers, which is further south than the Immortal Embers, they must have encountered them more often, not less, in the north.”

“……!”

As someone muttered so, everyone finally recalled that crucial fact and froze.

“Does that mean… the Wayne brothers might not be able to return?”

The size of the mutants was roughly similar to the off-roader Heimdall had ridden. The possibility of them dying on the snowy fields was high.

Yes, this incident was something that could threaten the lives of the Wayne brothers who were returning after becoming magic engineers.

However, because there was no proper way to rescue them,

“Th-That can’t be. That can’t…”

only the weeping of their father, work foreman Merel Wayne, who could do nothing, filled the emptiness of the tavern.

* * *

Rattle-rattle-rattle!

There was an off-roader running over the snowy fields with a roaring sound.

The interior of the off-roader passing through the blizzard was quite noisy.

Inside it rode the Wayne brothers returning to their hometown and Aileen’s group.

“Hey, give me some dried vegetables instead of jerky. The smell of meat is vibrating in my mouth.”

“Thomas, I told you to eat sparingly. There’s not much left now!”

“Sparing my food when what’s not much left might be my own life thread is nonsense. Enjoy the moment, Willers.”

The Wayne brothers chattered noisily with trivial talk.

However, no one stopped them.

Rather, they merely chuckled, watching them fight over food.

It was a dark night, and the snow outside fell romantically.

Seen from inside the warm off-roader with plenty of food, there could be no landscape more beautiful than this.

“Ha, nice. How long has it been since a day like this…”

For the first time in their lives, the Wayne brothers were free from all the shackles that bound them.

Enjoying their freedom, they forgot all their worries for a brief moment. It was a peaceful moment felt after a long time.

However, their joy did not last long…

“Who was it…?”

“What?”

“I asked which bastard farted!”

A hell worse than the snowy fields was right here.