Chapter 18: To Beat the Clock!

[So this is where your party last saw the heir of the Amchier family correct?] - Gruff Looking Old Man

Malaise nodded at the question from the person leading the rescue of Rose. It had only taken a little over an hour to reach the place where they had fought the hellhound before and the scorch marks from their initial battle were still marring the environment. Their party, consisting of the three students as well as 2 teacher's and 6 A-Rank Adventurer's was examining the battleground as the person leading their expedition asked the three of them questions about their battle with the hellhound to get an idea of what had happened to Rose.

[That is correct, unfortunately we lost sight of her when the it used Flame Breath and... and I... I left her behind!] - Malaise

Tears filling up her eyes as sobs wracked her body the experienced adventurer looked on with knowing eye's before resting a hand on the lowered head of the sobbing foxgirl as her two friends attempted to cheer her up.

[Don't blame yourself little one. In that situation you made the correct decision to get the rest of your party to safety, that makes you a wonderful leader and I'm sure that your friend is safe and won't blame you for it.] - Gruff Looking Old Man

[Sir Manic Blade! Sorry to interrupt your conversation but we've found grooves that indicate something rolling down this hill! She may have fallen down and escaped the hellhound sir!] - Younger Looking Adventurer

[Good job Harris! You said that it chased you guys after you and Miss Amchier separated right? In that case I think your friend may still be alive!] - Manic Blade

[Damn! I'd heard that only slime's lived here! What's with all the damn wolves?!?] - Harris

[Doesn't matter! We found evidence that Miss Amchier went deeper into the forest so that's where we will go!] - Manic Blade

Cutting through the head of a lunging Direwolf while dodging casually to the side the older and more experienced adventurer dealt with the wolves without breaking a sweat while the younger adventurer was already breathing heavily. The other four adventurer's had each contributed to a lesser extent as well and despite being in the same rank there was a clear difference between Manic Blade and the other five adventurer's. One of the teacher's, whose job was now to protect the 3 students, whistled in awe at the display of power.

[Hoh, as expected of a former S-Rank Adventurer. Even old age hasn't dulled his skills.] - Glasses Teacher

[S-Rank? He is?] - Shade

[I thought S-Rank's only move for Disaster-Level incidents?] - Veronica

[Oh you probably don't know this but Manic Blade was one of the previous generations S-Rank Adventurer's but was unfortunately demoted. I'd heard that it had to do with his age but looking at him now I can't see that being the case. Either way with him on the case Miss Rose will be safe!] - Glasses Teacher

[...really?] - Malaise

Staring intensely at the older adventurer Malaise only responded halfheartedly to the teacher's comment. Since they had found Rose's trail she and the other two had calmed down and as a result she was now thinking more clearly. As a consequence she couldn't help thinking that the involvement of such a high level adventurer, even if he was demoted and considering the current situation, was suspicious. Who exactly called him here and why was he nearby at exactly this moment to begin with?

[Staring at me so intently will embarrass this old man! Hahahaha! Did you have a question young lady or did my devilish good looks make you fall for me? Sorry to tell you but I only go for large breasted big sister's... Although if you get back to me in 5 or 6 years I might take you up on that! Hahahaha!] - Manic Blade

[N-n-n-no! I-I wasn't! I mean... Awawa...] - Malaise

[Oh she's blushing! Dirty minded nerd! We got a dirty minded nerd!] - Veronica

[V-Ver...] - Malaise

Laughing at the young foxgirl's shy blush as she literally tried to hide behind her hair as well as the young succubus's teasing the older Adventurer's face became serious after a moment.

[Okay so I believe that we are getting closer to the young miss. The large amount of wolf-type monster's is concerning but I haven't seen any indication that she ran into them. Let's hurry up and find her before she either runs into them or they her!] - Manic Blade

Picking up the pace Malaise couldn't help but notice a glint in the older adventurer's eye as he changed the subject. He didn't overhear the teacher right? He couldn't have...?

[An abandoned shack?] - Harris

[Not quite... Look here.] - Manic Blade

While he pointed out the wall covered in tally marks the rest of the adventurer party investigated the surroundings. The old man, meanwhile, gazed in confusion but also recognition at the odd wall.

[Are those...?] - Manic Blade

[Huh did you say something?] - Harris

[No, let's move on. The young miss seems to have headed back into the forest, and she is not alone.] - Manic Blade

Trying to listen in on the older adventurer's mumbling Malaise wasn't able to catch his first comment despite her enhanced hearing and she could have sworn that he glanced at her ears quickly before looking away. She must have been overthinking it.

[Hey... Pst! Is something the matter Mal? You seem distracted.] - Veronica

[...?] - Shade

Looking around quickly to see if any of the adventurer's were paying attention to the three of them Malaise leaned close to the other two before whispering.

[Aren't you guys suspicious of why we have a former S-Rank Adventurer helping out on a rescue mission? Even if he was demoted to A-Rank that's still way above his pay grade!] - Malaise

[Maybe the principal asked him to help? What do you think Shade?] - Veronica

[...mother?] - Shade

[...sounds like her...] - Shade

Shade thought for a moment before answering while nodding slightly and her answer seemed to satisfy Veronica as a smile broke out on her face at the thought of finally rescuing Rose soon. Malaise's face however turned more introspective.

[I don't know, I just think that all of this is...] - Malaise

[Hurry it up you three! We're following the trail back into the forest! You don't want to get left behind!] - Harris

[Y-Yeah! Coming!] - Malaise

Watching the three students quickly run to the rest of the group Manic Blade followed Malaise with his eyes, they were not friendly.

[How close are we do you think? We've been tracking her for almost the whole day!] - Glasses Teacher

[I'd wager that we are less than an hour behind her, that hill slowed her down quite a bit so we should catch her soon!] - Manic Blade

After following the trail that Rose had left behind we had found ourselves almost back where we started. Ironically, if we had waited around at the bottom of the hill for only a few hours we most likely would have already met up with her but we had just missed each other in the forest. Luckily however we seemed to be moving faster than her and according to the older adventurer we had almost caught up to her.

[Hahahaha! She's almost made it back to the academy all on her own! Damn she's a badass!] - Veronica

[W-We don't know that she's okay Ver! She might be hurt! O-Or...!] - Malaise

[I agree with the succubus, your little lady seems to have started out with a major injury when she first came through this area but the trail back was clean and smooth. No indications of inj...] - Manic Blade

[AWOOOOOOOOOOO!] - Familiar Howl

Interrupting the old adventurer in the middle of his sentence a familiar sounding howl sounded in the distance that all three of the young women recognized.

[H-Hellhound...] - Malaise

[We have to hurry! That sound means it's found prey and the direction is where the young lady was heading!] - Manic Blade

Dashing in the direction that they had heard the howl coming from the old man left the rest of the party scrambling to catch up with him. Quickly leaving the rest of them behind him he vanished into the undergrowth.