This world is rotten, nobles believing they own everything, while commoners are seen as mere insects. Those nobles find mercenaries pathetic, yet still hire them when it suits their greed. Grell is one such mercenary, holding the rank of B, it's a low rank, nothing impressive.

He deployed into the infamous Nightmare Forest. A place where no scout ever returns alive. Those who do? They’re considered lucky, Grell wasn’t lucky, he lost track of his team in blizzard after they were chased by a troll. Foods and supplies running out. He found half frozen swamp and just as he bent down to fill his costrel. SPLASH.

"Fuck! What the hell was th—?" He wiped swamp water from his face and froze mid-sentence. Something moved under the surface. A monster? He squinted through the murky swamp.

No. It's a mermaid.