The Goddess Granted Me the [Hatching] Skill and Somehow I Became the Strongest Tamer, Commanding Mythical and Divine Beasts - 90

Chapter 90: Carol’s Crystalization

Silence fell over the square in the abandoned village that served as our base.

The people who had participated in the extermination request had gathered, all wearing dark expressions.

The cause of this was…

“Is this really Carol?”

It was the crystal statue placed at the center.

“Yeah, there’s no mistake!”

When I remained silent, Ritz answered.

“Could you explain the situation in more detail?”

Paris asked, and Hanna answered.

“We moved as planned to a location where the Cockatrice was likely nesting and wiped out the ones there. Afterward, Carol pointed out that the movements of the Cockatrices were strange, and when we investigated the forest where the cause might be, we were attacked by an unknown force, and Carol was crystallized. Is that good?”

Hanna summarized what had happened earlier.

I felt like tearing my chest open. Carol’s crystal statue was frozen in the position where she had shoved me, and she had done so to protect me, which was why she had ended up like this.

“This is still a form of petrification. Maybe we could use a de-petrification potion to cure it?”

“We tried using the de-petrification potion that Klaus had… but…”

Ritz didn’t continue. The result was obvious…

“Anyway, now there’s nothing we can do except ask for higher-up instructions.”

Paris took out a magical tool from his chest.

It was a rare item that allowed communication with distant people.

“Wait!”

I hurriedly spoke to the leader as he was about to use the magical tool.

“Aren’t we going to search the forest with everyone here?!”

I thought we were supposed to investigate the unknown monster and look for a way to undo Carol’s crystallization.

“Klaus, you’re mistaken. Our mission was to exterminate the Cockatrices and collect their claws. That mission has already been accomplished.”

Apparently, other teams had also encountered and defeated Cockatrices, so the request had already been fulfilled.

“But!”

I raised my voice, trying to insist.

‘What’s going on?’

A voice came through the magical tool. It was Marguerite.

‘According to the schedule, you should have already arrived at the site and been hunting Cockatrices, right?’

Since Marguerite had been aware of the schedule, he was confirming things with Paris.

“Yes, that’s correct. We launched an assault on the location indicated by the court magicians and wiped out the Cockatrice swarm that had been there.”

‘Hmm, as expected of national adventurers who’ve passed the hardest trials. Very impressive.’

Marguerite paused for a moment, then asked,

‘Were there any casualties?’

“Marguerite!”

“Hey! What’s the matter!”

I snatched the magical tool from Paris and spoke to him.

‘Is that Klaus? Is something wrong?’

“Yes, that’s right.”

I explained the situation.

“My party was attacked by an unknown monster deep in the forest. As a result, Carol was crystallized!”

It seemed like Marguerite didn’t hear my words, as there was silence on the other end. After a few seconds, I grew frustrated as there was still no response.

“Hey!”

‘I heard you, don’t worry.’

Then, he said something unbelievable.

‘So, what exactly do you want me to do about it?’

“Ha?”

‘According to what Paris told me, the request we took on has already been completed. Now, all that’s left is to return.’

“Are you serious? Carol is the one who became a casualty!”

I snapped at Marguerite.

‘Indeed, I understand there’s an unknown monster. But you’re suggesting that we send people into it without any preparation. Do you understand that others don’t need to get involved in this?’

I felt like my head was going to explode. Was he really saying we should let Carol die just because it was the logical choice?

‘If we report this, the upper-ups in the country will decide on an investigation. We should be thinking about challenging this in the best possible condition, minimizing casualties, not rushing in without preparation.’

“What if the monster responsible disappears while we’re sitting around doing nothing?!”

The identity of the monster that had attacked was still unknown. It had been dark when we were attacked, and we couldn’t even see what it looked like. If we didn’t act now, we might never know what it was.

‘If that happens, then it was bad luck… or maybe it was just good luck. Carol was a national adventurer, so she knew the risks.’

I clenched my fists so hard I thought they might bleed, and I bit my lip. I gave up on trying to persuade him.

“…Fine. But if you’re going to say it like that, then since the mission is over, it should be okay for me to act on my own, right?”

I could feel Marguerite’s breath catch on the other end of the magical tool.

‘…Are you seriously going to face an unknown monster alone?’

Marguerite asked.

I answered.

“If there’s even the slightest chance that Carol could be saved.”

There was a brief moment of silence. Paris and the other national adventurers avoided my gaze, and Ritz and Hanna seemed awkward.

‘…I can’t stop you from acting on your own.’

With those final words, the communication was cut off.