Arceus Salvation Party.

At their hideout.

I was exploring the hideout’s interior with the adventurers who had come to assist me.

There, I made an unexpected discovery.

“Ah…!”

“Please help…! Please…!!”

In a room that was likely a prison cell, many people were locked up.

Not just a few people, either.

At least thirty individuals seemed to have been imprisoned in this hideout.

“Thank you…! Thank you…!”

“Mom… will we be able to go home…?”

“Yes…! You are our benefactor, we truly thank you…!”

“Big brother, thank you…”

During that time, they repeatedly bowed their heads.

It was with such intensity that I felt embarrassed.

They must have been through a lot of suffering. Even Mary, if it had been just a little later, would have been in a situation beyond repair.

…But it’s not just this room that’s problematic.

On the walls, banners promoting the kingdom’s prosperity were posted everywhere.

Additionally, the leader’s picture was displayed all around. It seems like this person is highly idolized within the party.

…Unfortunately, the person in question doesn’t seem to be here.

There might be several branches of this group.

By the way, aside from the three members I fought, there were no other members present. This hideout might be a smaller one.

“This is something else…” One of the adventurers who came with me muttered, sighing.

“The Arceus Salvation Party… I knew they were dangerous, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

“Yeah… I agree.”

Their motives are still unclear. The members we fought have already been sent to the royal capital by the other adventurers, so they’ll likely undergo a tough interrogation later.

Moreover, several important documents were discovered.

There have been several incidents of disappearances and deaths in this area recently.

It’s highly likely that the Arceus Salvation Party is behind it.

Yuya earlier called our discovery of the hideout a “great achievement,” and I think that’s true.

“Still… you’re amazing,” one of the senior adventurers muttered as he looked around.

“The Arceus Salvation Party is a tough opponent. We had been tracking their movements, but we couldn’t pinpoint their location until now… And yet you exposed it so easily.”

“Haha… Well, I’m still not there yet. The members I fought weren’t that strong either.”

“Hm? Not that strong?”

“Yes. I managed fine on my own.”

“…”

The adventurer suddenly went quiet. What happened?

“Ah, um… what’s wrong?”

“Well, like I said, they’re a tough bunch. Even skilled adventurers struggle when facing several of them…”

“Huh…”

Wait, really?

“You… defeated them all by yourself?”

“Y-Yes… I guess I was just lucky…”

“By the way, how did you pinpoint the entrance and destroy the defensive magic?”

“W-Well, I guess I was just lucky there too…”

“…”

The adventurer placed his hand on his forehead and bowed his head for a few seconds.

“Arios. How about joining our party? We’d welcome you with open arms.”

“N-No, no, no… That’s…”

I had just arrived in Rastal Village yesterday. It’s still too soon for that.

“I’ll ask, but you’re Arios Macba, right? Lord Leon’s son?”

“Yes, that’s me…”

“I see. You seem to be a far more promising individual than the rumors suggested.”

“No… thank you.”

“Don’t be so modest.”

The adventurer gave a wry smile and patted my shoulder.

“Either way, you were a great help this time. I’ll thank you on behalf of all of us.”