The second toll of the bell tower was still trembling in the chilly morning air when Villanelle, with her new backpack, was already standing on the stone pavement of the Association’s rear courtyard.
The new backpack was sturdy, with ventilation holes pre-drilled. The lining incorporated some magic-insulating material, and Ignis was resting quietly inside. Additionally, its internal space was quite ample, more than enough to hold rations.
Villanelle had returned to Twilight Tower yesterday. After the butler, Heinrich, learned she would be away for about a week, he silently gave her an extra packet of sugar and a bag of salt.
The thin morning light cast a desolate sheen over the group of about twenty people gathered together.
A quick glance revealed a mix of men and women, young and old, with diverse attire and weapons.
Some leaned against the wall, resting with their eyes closed; others conversed in low voices; and a few scrutinized every face with undisguised glances, assessing the strength of their teammates or potential rivals.
A middle-aged man in the gray robe of an Association Deacon entered the courtyard, holding a scroll of names.
“Quiet! I will now begin the mission briefing and team assignments.” The man’s voice cut through the chatter. “My name is Hawk. I am the coordinator for this operation.
The situation in White Water Town is complex. The threat from the Insect Infestation is growing daily, and there are also rumors spreading… But understand this: you are there to complete a task and earn your pay, not to play the hero or stir up trouble.
Remember these four points: First, everyone obeys their squad leader. Second, act within your means; survival is the baseline for everything. Third, report anything you cannot handle immediately. Fourth, entry into the Silent Ancient Forest is strictly forbidden.”
After stating the requirements of the commission, he unfurled the roster and began calling names, assigning people to pre-determined squads.
Soon, six loosely formed groups took shape in the courtyard.
Villanelle gripped her wooden identity token and walked toward the area designated for the Sixth Squad.
Three people were already gathered there.
The most conspicuous among them was a burly man about two meters tall, with a full beard and a massive build. His name was Barton, and he carried a giant shield and a heavy sword.
Beside him was a slender young man covered in pouches and tool bags, named Finn. He introduced himself as a herbalism apprentice and had a somewhat rodent-like demeanor when he spoke.
The third person was a female hunter with a faint scar on her face, named Lila. She carried a longbow on her back and two bulging quivers at her waist, seeming rather taciturn.
She merely nodded at Villanelle before returning to adjusting her quivers.
With Villanelle, the four-person squad was complete. Barton seemed to be the de facto leader.
Probably just because he’s the biggest.
“Everyone found their teammates? Then get ready to depart.” Deacon Hawk waved his hand. “The carriages hired by the White Water Town Chamber of Commerce are waiting outside. Board by squad. You’ll receive specific assignments upon arrival at noon, and there may be work this afternoon. You may proceed now!”
The group of about twenty people streamed out of the rear courtyard in a disorderly fashion.
Six covered freight wagons were already parked outside the Association’s entrance. Each carriage was quite spacious, just enough to hold one squad along with their gear and supplies.
Villanelle followed Barton as he climbed into the wagon assigned to the Sixth Squad.
The carriage was piled with cheap herbal insect-repellent sachets, giving off a pungent odor. The driver was a weathered old man who cracked his whip before they had even settled in.
The horses whinnied, and the wagon jolted into the morning streets, heading for the capital’s east gate.
The White Water Town Chamber of Commerce’s wagons lacked Absorption Runes for cushioning, but fortunately, the initial stretch of road was entirely flat.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was dull. Barton lay down on the herb sacks and fell asleep, faint snores rumbling from his throat. Finn, however, moved closer to Villanelle with curiosity. “Hey, little miss, brave to take on this kind of work at your age?”
“I’m a Third Tier mage,” Villanelle replied curtly, not wanting to engage in conversation.
“You’re a mage? That’s good. I hear the insect carapaces in White Water Town are tough as nails, hard to cut with blades. You need spells to blast them.” Finn seemed very talkative and continued unprompted. “What kind of spells do you know?”
“Elemental-type spells.”
Villanelle had no desire to elaborate and answered dismissively. She could feel Ignis in the backpack was equally annoyed by Finn’s incessant chatter.
“Save your breath, Finn. You’ll need it for cutting bugs tonight.” Lila, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them and shot a glance his way, speaking calmly.
Finn retreated sheepishly.
Several hours after the wagons left Eternal City, the surrounding scenery remained the same, but the air subtly mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible scent, like a blend of herbs and minerals.
As the sun climbed higher, this scent grew stronger, making Villanelle feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Lila, who had been silent, also opened her eyes and looked out the window, her brow slightly furrowed. “The smell in the wind… it’s really foul.”
The convoy arrived at the outskirts of White Water Town.
Looking out the window, White Water Town was far busier than they had imagined. Work sheds of varying heights stretched like mushrooms after rain along the newly opened dirt roads. Figures moved inside, and shouts and the clang of metal could be heard from time to time.
The townsfolk along the streets were almost without exception in a hurry, their eyes gleaming with a certain fervent light, shining brightly, paying no attention to the twenty-odd unfamiliar adventurers.
It didn’t look like a town; it looked more like a large, open-air workshop.
The convoy finally stopped beside a large cluster of simple wooden sheds on the west side of the town. This was the temporary camp and command post arranged by the Association and the town.
Villanelle and the others shouldered their gear and jumped down from the wagon one after another.
A middle-aged man in chainmail had been waiting there for some time. His face was gloomy and weary, and a row of White Water Town militiamen stood beside him.
“All adventurers, gather here!” the middle-aged man shouted, and the group of twenty quickly converged.
He wasted no time on pleasantries. After a brief self-introduction, he immediately began assigning areas.
“My name is Blake, Captain of the White Water Town Militia. Squads One through Three, you’re responsible for the north side of the town. Squads Four and Five, patrol the east side. Sixth Squad, head to the old lumberyard in the south.
Remember, your task is to clear insect swarms near the fortifications and herb fields. Do not take a single step into the forest! Report any insect nests you find immediately. Be extra vigilant in the evening; that’s when the bugs are most active.”
He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. “Also, the town has a lot going on lately. Once your tasks are done, stay put in the camp. Don’t wander around. Understood?”
A scattered chorus of assents came from the crowd.
‘Asking for help with that attitude?’ Ignis scoffed.
Villanelle’s teammates beside her also seemed displeased, but they didn’t show it.
“Alright, assignments are done. Move out!” Blake issued the order and strode away from the camp with his militiamen.
Villanelle followed closely behind Barton’s hulking figure, heading with her other two teammates toward the southern defense zone. Inside the backpack, Ignis pressed against a ventilation hole, using a small gap to secretly observe the town’s appearance.
‘The energy here is chaotic. It feels like everyone is overly excited.’