I collected the remains of all the mutants using storage magic and returned to Lilith and the others. It seemed they had just finished up on their end as well.

"I'm back!"

"Ah, big brother!"

"We managed to wrap things up here too!"

"You’re Master Masayoshi, correct? Thanks to you, we were able to take down the mutants here without any casualties. How was it on your side with the mutants deeper in the forest?"

"Yes, I defeated all the mutants I could find. In the deepest part of the forest, I defeated what I believe to be the original mutant. This is it."

I pulled out the presumed original mutant from my storage magic. At this point, there's no point hiding the storage magic anymore.

"T-This is storage magic! I’ve never seen anyone else use it besides myself."

"...First time seeing it."

Oh, so Gildart can use storage magic too. I’ve heard it’s a spell only highly skilled magicians can wield. While I didn’t get to see Gildart fight earlier, it seems he’s not only proficient in close combat but also highly skilled in magic.

"Master Masayoshi, may I cut open the chest of this mutant?"

"The chest? Sure, go ahead."

Why the chest? I didn’t quite understand what Gildart was getting at.

Watching from behind, I saw him skillfully wield a small knife to open the mutant’s chest. As expected from a former adventurer, dismantling was clearly second nature to him.

As he continued, a black, fist-sized gem-like object was revealed in the center of the mutant’s chest.

"Uh, what’s this?"

"This is what’s called a magic stone. All mutants carry one of these in their chest. Occasionally, small magic stones can be found in monsters that dwell in areas with concentrated magical energy.

The fact that this individual had a magic stone confirms it as the original mutant. When we dissected some of the mutants we defeated earlier, none of them had magic stones."

Oh, it's fortunate to have the original mutant confirmed. Explaining that my sensing skill indicated a distinct presence for this individual might not have been convincing enough on its own. So this is a magic stone. According to the documents left by the Great Mage, they have various uses.

"With this, it’s unlikely the mutants will increase any further. All that’s left is to locate and eliminate any remaining mutants in the forest to conclude this operation."

"I believe we’ve taken down most of the mutants in the area, but there might still be a few stragglers. It would be best to thoroughly confirm."

"...Most, you say? Master Masayoshi, who exactly are you? I’ll go relay the current situation to the others. Drain and the Verdant Cats, could I ask you to search for the remaining mutants? I’ll rejoin you as soon as I finish informing everyone."

"Got it!"

"Understood."

"Even though there are only a few mutants left, and Master Masayoshi’s enhancement magic remains active, please stay vigilant. We’ve managed to avoid serious injuries so far, so let’s remain cautious until the end!"

"Understood!"

"I’ll also go search for the remaining mutants."

"Master Masayoshi, I truly appreciate your assistance in this matter!"

After that, I scoured the forest for any remaining mutants, but I only managed to find one survivor. It seemed that even after defeating the original mutant, the rest of the mutants did not disappear.

Since my sensing skill doesn’t cover the entire forest at once, some oversight is inevitable. Running through the forest to minimize any potential oversights was the only method available.

Two hours later, I regrouped with Gildart, Lilith, Drain, and the others before heading back to Bradley City.

"Master Masayoshi, who exactly are you? Why did you help us? If you don’t mind, could you share your reasons?"

After returning to the Adventurer's Guild, I was ushered into the guild master’s office. Present were only Gildart and his assistant. The rest of the subjugation team was already celebrating the successful operation.

"I’m a traveler from a country far away. I heard that Gildart was a descendant of the Great Mage, which brought me to this city. I owe a great debt to the Great Mage and wanted to lend my assistance if their descendants were ever in trouble.

I also happened to learn from Lilith and her team that they were joining the mutant subjugation. So I provided covert support from the sidelines."

"...It’s true that I am a descendant of Hardy. If you’re acquainted with the Verdant Cats, does that mean it was you who defeated the dragon previously, Master Masayoshi?"

...Well, there’s no hiding it now.

"Yes. However, I’d greatly appreciate it if you kept that information confidential."

"Of course, that won’t be a problem... But are you not interested in the fame that comes with being an adventurer?"

"No, not particularly. I also have reasons for not registering as an adventurer. Due to certain circumstances, I cannot stay in one city for an extended period. I understand that high-ranking adventurers are obligated to fulfill various duties."

In this world’s adventurer system, high-ranking adventurers are subject to mandatory summoning during emergencies and are required to report their location regularly. It’s logical since knowing where high-ranking adventurers are in a crisis is essential. Lilith had already explained this to me.

"...I see. I understand your situation. While I’d personally like someone of your caliber to join the adventurers, your circumstances are understandable. If you ever reconsider, please consult with us. We’d be happy to accommodate your needs."

"Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind."