Noibranz: The Ten Destroyers Council
“I-I am Udatsu Agaran, the record keeper for the Ten Destroyers Council… I-I will now begin the meeting…”
Though I say this myself, I have been fortunate in my life. Why? Because, despite the vastness of our nation, I was born in the Royal Capital, where most of the population is concentrated. In the impoverished regions, people fight daily over food and river water, with bloodshed commonplace. Most have lost parents or siblings. I’ve heard tales of people reduced to drinking muddy water, living in such dire conditions.
In contrast, look at my situation. My father runs a tavern in the heart of the Royal Capital, and my mother, who helps him, is kind-hearted and beautiful. From a young age, I admired my father and aspired to serve the great King Braamd, enlisting in the Noibranz military. My parents wept tears of joy. They were happy to have a son who chose to serve and protect His Majesty of his own volition. If this environment isn’t fortunate, then what is? More than half of humans cannot endure the harsh training, dying from exhaustion without even being granted a Servant. I have endured such hellish days, and now I find myself in this situation.
“…They are still not gathered.”
“Y-Yes! I apologize!”
This is the reality of the promotion I was granted by my squad leader. I was assured the position of company commander upon my safe return, but now I can say with certainty: this is nothing but banishment.
“There’s no point in waiting for Schwelm. That child won’t be of any use for a while.”
“Let’s just get started already!”
“Y-Yes…”
In this tense atmosphere, a circular table is set, with seven individuals seated around it. There’s no way I can serve as a supervisor for these people—or rather, these figures. In fact, I am merely a sacrificial lamb in this role. The Ten Destroyers are all S-rank Adventurers, and they do not pledge loyalty to King Braamd. Though they are under the nation’s banner, they could easily turn the Royal Capital into a sea of flames if they so desired.
I cannot speak boldly in front of such dangerous individuals. Yet, ignoring them could undermine the nation’s prestige and lead to being looked down upon by the populace. Thus, the idea of appointing a supervisor like me, someone with no future prospects, was established to demonstrate that the Ten Destroyers remain under the nation’s control.
“Hmph, you don’t want to shake your position by sending such small fry.”
“Who cares? That king pays us a hefty salary. The details don’t matter.”
If they were to kill me, it would provide an excuse to shake the populace and them. Of course, if they were to become enraged and wreak havoc, that would be the end of it, but they aren’t that shortsighted. There’s no way such shallow-minded individuals could rise to this position. The delicate balance of power we maintain exists because our interests align.
“So, what are we discussing again?”
“We’ll proceed with the agenda regarding the Adventurer known as the ‘Flash Strike Girl,’ who operates from the Kingdom of Avangarde, with Schwelm included. But it seems Schwelm is out of commission.”
“She’s been mumbling nonsense in bed all day. She must have had quite a scare.”
One of the Ten Destroyers, a man known as the Shining Prince, was ambushed by the Adventurer in question during an expedition. Though this information hasn’t spread outside yet, given the situation concerning the dignity of the Ten Destroyers, they have no choice but to gather like this. Naturally, if this information leaks, I would also be among the suspects, making today particularly nerve-wracking for me.
“The advance into the Nation of Negesta! Our nation’s progress!” they announced grandly… while the citizens remain completely unaware of the truth. It’s quite pitiful, really.
“In reality, the squad was nearly wiped out. The soldiers who returned were executed for desertion.”
“That’s a terrible story.”
These colorful characters are, in a sense, the winners. They receive rewards that a commoner could never earn in a lifetime for completing a single job, indulging in feasts and revelry. They could spend their lives with their beloved or enjoy a life of luxury. Do they even have worries? I think so, yet here they are, holding an emergency meeting.
“All those present at the scene were executed.”
“What a foolish king. There might be someone who could end this nation by tomorrow, yet he kills them without even listening to their words.”
“She surpassed the speed of light. That’s the only information we could extract from Schwelm.”
“I still can’t believe it… there’s no way that could be true…”
“That’s fine, that’s fine. The details don’t matter. That’s why those two went to infiltrate, right?”
“Ah, by now, they should have already entered Avangarde. Depending on the information those two bring back, the seven of us here will hunt them down.”
If I were to bring back records of this meeting as an insult or distrust towards His Majesty, my position might change. But of course, I could never do such a thing.
“Between that girl and you, the one said to be the World’s Strongest Man… who do you think is stronger?”
“Well, it’s obviously me, right? The details don’t matter.”
The only Adventurer in the world who single-handedly defeated the Kaiser Dragon, said to incinerate tens of thousands of troops. This man, whispered to be the strongest in the world, is currently sitting here in nothing but his underwear. He has been seen walking around the Royal Capital in this state, and naturally, no one dares to reprimand him. A descendant of the hero of the Demon Continent War, someone who once traveled with the Hero. Born with victory assured against all odds, he is the true king. Having only picked up a weapon a few years ago, he now holds this position, making the term “genius” pale in comparison. He teaches that the efforts of ordinary people are futile. For him, everything is merely a decoration. There is no need for shame when walking naked in town. Everything is insignificant to him. The same can be said for the other Ten Destroyers present.
“Doesn’t it bother you? There might be someone who rivals you.”
“Huh?”
“Are those present here the pinnacle of this nation?”
Without needing to turn around, I recognized the voice. The owner of that voice had slipped past the castle’s strict security and appeared in this Ten Destroyers Council. Just that alone sent chills down my spine.
“Do you need something? Monster?”
“Rather than asking who I am, your bold attitude confirms that you are indeed the pinnacle of this nation.”
I could only grasp this exchange through sound, unable to move a muscle. It felt alien—an expression that might not even fit. I didn’t need to ask the purpose of this otherworldly being’s appearance.
“Well then, I am Aboro. Raise your hands if you consider yourself the strongest among us.”
I could tell without looking. Everyone raised their hands, eager to boast of their superiority. And the tragedy that would unfold next played out in my mind like a vivid image.
Kashiram Royal Palace: King’s Chamber
“We will take care of the Beastkin here. Despite their appearance, they are actually quite good-natured, and many are hard workers.”
“That’s a relief; I can finally feel at ease.”
Two days have passed since that battle, and we can finally settle down. With the valley opened by the Sonic Ripper, I feel like I need to help in various ways. Thanks to the King, the Beastkin, who were once Phantoms, will be taken care of. There were quite a few of them, but I wonder if it will be alright. They are officially treated as prisoners, which should help suppress any dissatisfaction from other nobles. It seems this King does most of the work himself, making it hard for other nobles to oppose him, allowing him to do as he pleases. The title of Battle King appears to encompass more than just fighting.
“It may be difficult for now, but I want to create a world where humans and Beastkin can live together as a matter of course.”
“Oh, speaking of which, what about the Giant Race?”
“They said they would not accept charity and left. I had forgotten that they sent a message saying they would repay this favor someday.”
“They’re surprisingly dutiful, aren’t they?”
As Getou and the others were causing a ruckus, I couldn’t forget how the soldiers of Kashiram and the Beastkin had joined hands to escape. With that spirit, I believe we can make it through whatever lies ahead. Even without gathering under the ominous name of Phantom, we should be able to coexist with humans, just as the King said.
“Um, Your Majesty, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for us this time.”
“No need for thanks. What will you dwarves do from here on?”
“We’ve taken a liking to Hans. There aren’t many blacksmiths with skills like his, even in our time. So, we thought if we could enhance our techniques together… not just weapons, but all sorts of tools, we could contribute to this country as well.”
“I would certainly welcome that. For now, the ores we can mine in our country are…”
“Excuse me, Your Majesty. Let’s save the complicated discussions for later. How is Elmera doing?”
Elmera had been sleeping in a plush bed in one of the palace rooms since then. Technically, she was being treated as a prisoner, so there were guards watching over her, but I felt it was utterly pointless.
“She’s still sulking in bed. Yet, her appetite is as strong as ever…”
◆ Kashiram Royal Palace, Guest Room ◆
“Elmera, I’m coming in.”
“Don’t come in.”
“I’m coming in.”
I wondered if the King was used to this strange exchange. To be honest, I found Elmera a bit difficult to deal with. Her quirks were just too much for me to follow.
“I brought Rua and Kurinka, along with the dwarves. Everyone is worried about you.”
“Is it necessary to lie so casually to be a King?”
“Are you still sulking…? I’m not lying.”
Elmera lay with her back turned to us, not even bothering to cover herself with the blanket. She scratched her rear end, displaying a rather poor attitude. It seemed she had just finished eating, as there were more than six dishes around her. This hardly felt like the treatment of a prisoner. It was a bit too indulgent, if you asked me. I had plenty to say, but voicing it to Elmera in her current state would only backfire.
“Normally, I would have to throw you into a dungeon, but if this Elmera were to cause a ruckus, it wouldn’t matter where I locked her up. It would be better for her to be in a place with as little stress as possible.”
The King sounded surprisingly weak. Indeed, if Elmera got serious, no one in this country could stop her. Treating her as a prisoner was practically impossible.
“I don’t know the era you were born into, nor can I imagine the treatment you received. But you must have realized this by now: there are always those above you in this world. Strength alone cannot solve anything.”
“You look like someone who would solve everything with strength, yet here you are, lecturing me.”
“If you continue like this, your sister will never find peace.”
“Don’t you dare speak of my sister!”
I stepped in front of the King, bracing myself for Elmera’s Imagination Magic. But instead of casting a spell, she simply threw a pillow at me. Tears welled in her eyes as she collapsed onto the bed.
“I’ve been a good girl, but she still hasn’t come back… What do you all know about it…?”
This wasn’t the usual playful Elmera, who always seemed to be half-serious. This was a normal girl, crying her heart out. I felt like I was finally seeing the real Elmera.
“Hmm…?”
I felt something glowing in my tool pouch. No, it was faintly glowing. I started to worry that Shin had done something again, but that seemed impossible. Then, Shin burst out, startled by the light.
“W-w-w-what’s glowing?”
“Calm down…”
“Did you pick up something weird again?”
“What do you mean ‘again’?!”
“Hey, look at this…”
Kurinka smoothly pulled out a long string. No, it wasn’t just a string. It was a ribbon, red or perhaps pink. Where did I get this? I couldn’t remember.
“This is the ribbon that Rua-chan had, right?”
“Huh, me?”
“I remember you had it when we organized our tools back then.”
“Eh… Oh!”
“That…”
As I recalled, Elmera reached out for the ribbon, swiping it with both hands to examine it. It was as if she couldn’t hear anything around her; her gaze was entirely fixated on the ribbon.
“Why do you have this…?”
“This is the ribbon I got after defeating Vandalsia at the very bottom of the Abyss Cave. It doesn’t have any special effects, and I completely forgot about it.”
“This, this…!”
Elmera untied the ribbon from her hair and compared it to the one I held. I realized at that moment that both ribbons were identical.
“Now that I think about it, why did Vandalsia have something like this…?”
“This! It’s my sister’s ribbon!”
“Huh?”
“There’s no mistake! They’re matching! It’s my sister’s! My sister…!”
“No way… Elmera-chan’s sister is…?”
According to Elmera, her sister had been taken by Vandalsia. So it wasn’t surprising that Vandalsia would have it. For something found at the very bottom, it showed no effects, which was a bit disappointing. But the fact that it resonated with Elmera’s ribbon must mean it held some special significance.
“I missed you… I missed you… Sister! Sister!!!”
Elmera’s reaction was almost frantic. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed it until now. Why did Vandalsia have Elmera’s sister’s ribbon? There were so many questions, but for now, no one paid any attention to the two ribbons glowing in resonance.
◆ Shin Report ◆
While everyone was captivated by the ribbon, report, report.
Humans and Beastkin seem to be getting along surprisingly well,
But the world isn’t that sweet.
If something like that is wandering around the King, there are humans who would be called monsters.
Then it leads to fights, chaos, and bloodshed!
Moreover, their ways of thinking and values are completely different.
Hehe, will things go smoothly from here on?
As for the ribbon, even Shin doesn’t quite understand.
Why would the King of Destruction have such a girlish ribbon?
That means there must be some special effect.
The two ribbons are merging, transforming!
What a childish thought, that can’t be right.
But where did Aboro go?
I wonder if he’s barged into Noibrantz, shouting about where the strong ones are! That battle-hungry fool!