Chapter 111: Time to get the core (1/2)

”… progresses swiftly. We should be able to finish the main hall within the next three days.” Irea reported, momentarily stopping her hand. Yet, as soon as her lips stopped moving, she stuffed her mouth full of the simple, unsavory gruel that made up most of their current rations.

”That means, we are finally able to go explore,” Layn smiled. As much as he wanted to make use of the insane treasure just beside his new camp, securing the camp itself came with the priority.

”Are you really going to just leave us all and go out on your own?” Irea asked after taking her time to chew on the grubby gruel.

”The source of the local monsters is in that ancient facility,” Layn answered, shaking his shoulders. ”That's why I'm pressing everyone to build a refugee with those bricks,” Layn added only to grab the nearby mug and wet his throat with the water. After so many days in the desert, only a single barrel of beer remained.

But it wasn't there just for Layn to enjoy himself a little. It was left for the special occasion that hopefully would come soon.

”And what if those bricks of yours won't be able to stop the monsters? What if we won't be able to stop them?” Irea inquired, clearly unhappy with Layn's plans for the future.

”Dear, I know that those are the things to be worried about,” Layn's voice turned silent, proving that he didn't want everyone to hear about his own struggles. ”But that's the best we can do. Make sure to be as prepared as we can and the bet that our luck won't be awful,” Tom said before shaking his shoulders.

”Isn't that a little…” Irea paused for a moment, looking for the right word, ”risky? I mean, I don't think I need to fear any monsters at my current strength, but I can't say the same about some of the mercenaries.” Irea raised her own cup towards the rest of the crowd slowly munching on their food in the other areas of the huge, brick building they built over the past three days.

”I know. There are still three that won't be able to take the monster on alone, while one more could be unlucky enough to get into a dangerous situation.” Layn summed up Irea's worries, pinpointing every single weak member of their small group.

”So you knew?” Irea asked, surprised by Layn's observations.

”Yeah. I'm the one teaching them after all,” the archmage said, shaking his shoulders.

Out in nowhere, there were rarely any enjoyments that could lift the spirits of Layn's mercenaries. Filling their entire schedule with work, work and even more work could only last them so long. At some point, their pent-up exhaustion and stress would make them act out, putting the entirety of Layn's plan at risk.

As such, Layn, the leader of the entire expedition, had no other way but to provide entertainment for his people.

And what else could Layn offer in the middle of the green sea of grass if not knowledge?

In the end, they camped by the shore of this lake for nearly an entire week already. And every time the daily work would be concluded, the entire group would gather around Layn and listen to his teachings about the basics of magic. In order to keep them entertained, Layn had no other choice but to involve parts of his interpretation of cultivation as it was something that the mercenaries were likely to be more interested in.

Yet, even after a week of training, Layn could only count on barely more than half of his mercenaries. With Irea being the special case as his direct follower and partner from a while ago, actually, only three mercenaries were capable of fighting the monsters all on their own.

And it just so happened, that one of them started as the absolute weakest in the group of mercenaries that remained after the deserters ditched. In fact, he was the second weakest before that, only advancing to the last spot when a man hiding his heavy injury decided to leave.

”Don't tell me,” Irea suddenly said after a few long moments of complete silence.

'She is looking at my face… I guess I gave away my thoughts like that,' Layn thought, before nodding his head.

”Yeah. I'm going to teach them how to absorb energy from the monsters.” Layn said only to bite his lips later. ”I know it's not ideal, but those kinds of trials are something that everyone needs to go through in their life.”