As I rested, all the fatigue that had built up throughout the day finally began crashing into my body.
Every muscle ached.
It felt as if a blacksmith's hammer was striking the same nail over and over again.
My entire body hurt.
The worst part was my eyes.
They kept trying to close.
I wanted to sleep.
No.
I needed to sleep.
But I forced myself to stay awake.
We still didn't know what would happen next.
Would we attack again?
Would we retreat?
Would new information arrive?
No one knew.
My body had already reached its limit.
Then a familiar voice shouted.
"Oi, kid!"
I looked up.
Rany was walking toward me, his halberd resting on his shoulder.
I tried to stand.
My legs immediately gave out.
I tried again.
The result was no different.
By the time I attempted a third time, Rany had already reached me and sat down beside me.
He smirked.
"Kid, you're alive."
"I honestly thought you'd die in that mess."
I shrugged.
"Luck."
Rany burst into laughter and slapped my back.
"Luck?"
"Kid, you're either lucky or blessed by some god."
I moved slightly closer.
Rany raised an eyebrow.
"Kid..."
"I'll say this now."
"I'm not into little boys."
I nearly choked.
"No!"
"I just wanted information."
Rany laughed even harder.
"Then ask."
"You think I came here for sightseeing?"
He stretched his arms and began speaking.
"Listen carefully."
"This isn't your home."
"No one is going to spoon-feed you information."
"If you want to know something, ask."
"Talk."
"Listen."
"Gather information yourself."
I nodded.
That much was true.
Rany continued.
"The infantry got hit hard."
"Really hard."
"No exact numbers yet."
"But the casualties are ugly."
I stayed silent.
"The good news?"
"The nest is finished."
"About seventy percent of it was destroyed."
"The buildings."
"The defenses."
"Most of it."
"Even if the lizardmen survive, rebuilding it will take at least a year."
"And that's assuming we don't hunt them down first."
That was something.
At least all those deaths hadn't been completely meaningless.
Rany rubbed his chin.
"Right now the commanders are furious."
"Especially about the scouts."
I frowned.
"The scouts?"
Rany nodded.
"Nobody reported that rear force."
"Nobody reported that hidden cavalry."
"Either someone made a mistake..."
"...or someone failed their job."
Neither option sounded good.
Rany sighed.
"Honestly?"
"No one knows what's happening at the top."
"Everyone's waiting for orders."
He stood up.
"My advice?"
"Get some sleep."
"I'll keep watch for a while."
I shook my head.
"No need."
"I have Rusty."
"Besides, you should worry about your own guild."
Rany laughed.
"Kid."
"Even the Guild Master can't throw me out."
"So stop worrying."
Then his expression became slightly serious.
"Get some rest."
"You look like you're about to collapse."
I wanted to argue.
But he was right.
My body felt terrible.
Rany waved and walked away.
As he left, my thoughts began racing.
The surprise attack was gone.
That advantage would never come back.
Now the lizardmen knew we were here.
They knew our numbers.
Our methods.
Our strength.
Information was a weapon.
And now both sides had seen each other.
The survivors would report everything they had witnessed.
The strong enemies.
The dangerous fighters.
The commanders.
The mages.
Everything.
The best way to gather information was through scouts.
But after today's disaster...
Could anyone still trust the reports completely?
I didn't know.
Whatever happened next would depend on the decisions of people far above my position.
With those thoughts swirling inside my head, my eyes finally closed.
Sleep claimed me.
Far from the resting mercenaries, inside a large command tent, Azpen stood before a long wooden table.
Across from him sat a man dressed in expensive red clothing.
A silver ring rested on his left hand.
Several documents lay spread across the table before him.
Azpen remained standing.
Silent.
Patient.
He slowly finished reading the report.
Only then did he look up.
"Oh?"
"I've kept you standing for quite some time."
"Please, sit."
Azpen's expression didn't change.
"I served as a gate guard before becoming a knight."
"I can stand for several more hours."
He chuckled softly.
"I see."
Azpen folded his arms.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"But I do have a question."
The smile on the his face faded slightly.
Azpen's voice remained calm.
"Are your scouts incompetent?"
"Or you are?"
The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became heavy.