After school on Friday, I decided to learn more about the so-called "mutants," so I brought some cake as a gift and headed to Sara's mansion.

As always, my sources of information were Darga and Gina. Honestly, those two know way too much about everything. They always answer my questions, so I find myself asking them all the time. The cost of information? Just some cake.

It's been two weeks since I last saw Sara and the others, as last week I was wandering around town alone to heal my soul. As usual, they enjoyed the cake immensely, which means they've now tried every type I've brought so far. Next time, I'll bring something different.

According to the information I got from Darga and Gina, mutants don’t appear near the city of Luxeria. It seems they only appear in areas with dense magical energy, such as forests or mountains.

...Unfortunately, I was told that mutants are too tough to be edible. Lately, I've started assuming all monsters are fit to eat, so this was a disappointing realization.

Typically, adventurers and knights from nearby cities are gathered to subdue these mutants. Apparently, several people from this city have already headed to Bradley Town. The strength of the mutants varies, but in the worst cases, they can result in dozens of casualties. While the food stall vendor spoke lightly about it, the reality of dozens of fatalities in some instances is sobering.

So, what should I do? I could easily defeat a mutant with the power I inherited from the Great Mage, but stepping in as a non-adventurer or knight doesn't seem quite right.

Besides, many people have likely invested significant time and money into preparing for this hunt. Some are undoubtedly seeking fame and fortune through this battle, and it wouldn’t feel right to rob them of that opportunity.

That said, ignoring a situation where dozens of people could die doesn’t sit well with me either.

...Alright. I'll follow them covertly using stealth skills and focus solely on healing. Casting strengthening magic on others might give them a false sense of their own abilities, so I’ll restrict myself to healing those flagged by my danger sense skill. If necessary, I can chip away at the mutant’s strength a bit.

Since the Guild Master of Bradley's adventurer guild will likely participate, I’ll consider offering minimal assistance as a descendant of the Great Mage. This is mostly self-serving charity on my part, but if my covert support raises the survival rate, that’s better than doing nothing.

The next day, Saturday, I headed to Bradley Town's adventurer guild early in the morning, unsure of the exact start time for the operation.

When I arrived, a large crowd of adventurers and knights had already gathered in front of the guild. The townsfolk were also there, watching the scene unfold. I joined them, keeping my distance.

After a while, the guild doors opened dramatically.

“Time’s up! We now begin the mutant extermination battle! First, I’d like to express my gratitude to all the adventurers and knights who’ve gathered here today!”

“OOOOOOOHHH!!”

“I am Gildart, the leader of this extermination squad. Pleased to meet you!”

“That’s Gildart? The one everyone’s been talking about!”

“They say he’s a genius who became a Guild Master at such a young age!”

So that’s Gildart, a descendant of the Great Mage. Although he’s said to be in his 30s, he looks like he’s in his 20s. He’s clad in an impressive suit of armor, wielding a shield and sword. He looks more like a knight than an adventurer.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re already aware of this, but our enemy is the mutant! If left unchecked, it will cause the surrounding monsters to grow more aggressive and overflow from the forest, endangering nearby villages and towns. It could even threaten this very city, putting our loved ones in harm’s way. This battle is not just for us—it’s to protect our families, friends, and everything we hold dear!
That being said, protect yourselves! During the last extermination, we suffered the tragic loss of several comrades. But this time, we have an army of allies at our backs! You don’t have to fight alone. If you need to retreat, do so, and rely on your comrades. This time, we’ll get through this with zero casualties! Are you with me?!”

“YEAH!!”

The morale of the adventurers and knights visibly surged. Impressive—this is the charisma of a Guild Master at work.

“And victory is already assured! Why? Because this time, we have an active A-Rank adventurer among us!”

“OOOOHHHH!!”

The crowd of adventurers grew excited. Huh, an A-Rank adventurer? Could it be…

“Let me introduce A-Rank adventurer ‘Ogre Slayer Drain’!”

Oh, not Lilith and her group.

A man emerged from the adventurer guild. Drain, the A-Rank adventurer, carried a massive sword as tall as he was. His armor was clearly a cut above the rest. He looked young and was quite the dashing figure. Judging by his solitary presence, he might be a solo adventurer.

“And joining him is the A-Rank adventurer party ‘Verdant Cats’!”

“OOOOHHHH!!”

Lilith and her party appeared from the guild, causing the crowd to erupt in the loudest cheer of the day.