Ikana Village – Rua’s Parents’ House
Eeks lay collapsed at the entrance of the village, as if he had exhausted all his strength. His body was marred with deep cuts, clear evidence that he had been attacked by someone. It was hard to believe that someone of Eeks’ caliber would be fleeing from anything, let alone sustain such injuries in the process.
With the monsters nearly eradicated, the remaining threats were limited. Eeks would surely share the details once he recovered.
“So this is Ikana Village… I see, I was saved,” he murmured.
“I heard from Elmera that Noibranz and the Special Operations Unit are going to war. What does that mean?”
“I volunteered for the Special Operations Unit to uncover the secret behind their strength. I thought I could join them after humbling myself, but instead, I was belittled and forced into menial tasks. My pride was shattered.”
It seemed that his injuries were not just physical. His voice was hoarse, fatigue evident in his demeanor. Even Kurinka’s healing couldn’t mend the wounds on his spirit. As he lay staring at the ceiling, his flat tone only added to the pain of the moment.
“W-why would you go that far…?”
“To be honest, I became envious of their strength. I even thought about ingratiating myself to steal their power.”
“Wait… are you serious?”
“It was Baste who made me reconsider. Among the many things he shared, he spoke of you… Haha, once again, I owe you my life. You’re incredible, always saving someone no matter where you are…”
“Baste understood…”
Baste had grasped the situation. It seemed that when he reported Lester’s death, he wasn’t believed, and the burden of that disbelief fell heavily on Captain Baste. Though he wasn’t discharged, he endured pain that made torture seem mild. But thanks to that, it appeared that Nikka’s case was resolved, and he managed to leave the unit safely. I thought he was a good person after all. I needed to thank him when I saw him next.
“What a pathetic older brother I am… If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have even considered the cost of power. In the end, I was on the same level as them. I looked up at the peak in envy, reaching for immediate power. The Special Operations Unit is no longer made up of Adventurers. They are drowning in their own strength, completely forgetting the experiences and instincts they once cultivated.”
“So that’s why they said they would go to war with Noibranz… They should know it’s madness to even think that way…”
“That order likely came from that damned king. Regardless, they were all too eager. They thought a dying empire was nothing to fear; if they achieved results here, they would be renowned throughout the world.”
“Hmm… The Naked King and Rulud are supposed to be allies. From what I’ve heard from Rulud, I can’t imagine they would allow an invasion of Noibranz.”
Kurinka’s question was valid. I thought the same. It was possible that the Naked King was acting on his own. If it were that pervert, I wouldn’t put it past him. He was so fixated on defeating us.
“I see… The Special Operations Unit is targeting Noibranz… But there are people there we absolutely cannot anger. Do they realize that…?”
“You’re talking about Aboro, right? He would be no match for the Special Operations Unit…”
“The Naked Pervert probably knew that when he gave the order. He might not have informed the Special Operations Unit…”
I hated both the Naked King and the Special Operations Unit, and I wished they would just kill each other off. It would be too late for them to realize their place once they met Aboro. I could say that because I had fought him myself. Even if they were unaware of Aboro’s existence, it was unacceptable to think they could attack Noibranz, believing they could win without any preparation.
“I don’t know what awaits them, but they will attack regardless… They hold their own levels in absolute regard. It’s proof that they feel your threat keenly…”
I was blamed for the formation of the Special Operations Unit, as if I had mocked everyone’s efforts. What had those people aimed for when they became Adventurers? To become stronger than anyone else, perhaps. Watching the Circus Troupe and Pablo today, I could see that passionate people had clear goals.
If they were passionate but had gone mad because of me, it would pain me deeply. I didn’t know how to express my feelings to them. But…
“I didn’t become strong easily either.”
“Pablo’s shop had to compete with other rival shops. What’s wrong with you, Lua?”
“Even so, that person is doing what they want…”
“A restaurant brings joy when customers enjoy the food. Lua, what makes you happy?”
My father, who had been silent until now, asked me. I couldn’t cook at all; I left everything to Kurinka. What could possibly make me happy?
“The reason I came here, nearly killed by the Special Operations Unit, is because of those Three Sisters you were close with. They are in the Special Operations Unit.”
“No way, Ai and the others? Does that mean Formas is too…?”
“If we remain ignorant, those girls will be killed. I don’t want you to be sad anymore. I don’t want you to escape the village and vow revenge like that day…”
“Eeks…”
This man had gone this far for my sake. As Eeks said, if I didn’t know, Ai and the others would be killed, and I would find out later. I couldn’t even imagine how I would feel. I didn’t want to think about it. No matter how much I cried or screamed, it would all be too late. My heart would break, but it wouldn’t shatter completely. Eeks was teaching me how to prevent that.
“This is all I can do. I could have fallen alongside the Special Operations Unit. I want to thank Baste again.”
“Thank you, Eeks. Once again, I’ve been saved by you.”
“I’ve fallen far from being the Adventurer you could rely on…”
“Don’t say that! You taught me how to be an Adventurer! So… please don’t belittle yourself…”
“Well, what can I say… You want to continue being an Adventurer, right? First, you need to protect what’s important.”
“…!”
Thanks to this man, I often reconsidered my admiration for Adventurers. The people of the Circus Troupe faced danger repeatedly, and Pablo competed with rival shops. Even when someone like Storulf got in their way, they didn’t quit.
Despite the humiliation, they illuminated my path, and I didn’t know how to express my gratitude. If I were in Eeks’ position, could I have done the same? Even if the Naked King obstructed them, they traveled around helping people, somehow managing to receive tokens of gratitude to survive. Just like when Baste helped me last time. The mayor had given us a considerable reward. Even though I had struggled, I had become idle when the target for extermination disappeared.
“Whether or not one is needed… depends on oneself.”
“Hm? I don’t quite understand, but have you found some clarity?”
“Eeks, the Special Operations Unit hasn’t attacked yet, right?”
“No, I think they’ve already set out. I was beaten because I refused to comply, and with their speed, it won’t take them long.”
“…And Ai and the others are there.”
I recalled the day we first met. Back when we were just starting out, those three had approached me. They had been suffering due to their parents’ debts, and I had helped them. I didn’t want to believe that those three, who had worked so hard even in such dire circumstances, had been blinded by power.
“Formas is probably there too, Lua. We have to stop him. He’s someone who would grow stronger out of personal vendetta against us. If left unchecked, he will only become more arrogant.”
“I will stop them. Including the Special Operations Unit.”
“Head towards the Royal Capital of Noibranz. That’s where they aim to go.”
It’s quite far, but we have no choice but to go now. The sun would soon set, and while we lingered, the Special Operations Unit was advancing. We could find ourselves facing a terrible death like Lester’s at any moment. This time, it was more on Kurinka than on me.
“Kurinka, I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah. Thanks to you, Lua, I was able to train in the Abyss Cave. I’m ready.”
Yes, we had been delving into the Abyss Cave near Ikana Village until yesterday. I thought it would be an excellent training ground for Kurinka, at least. The goal wasn’t just to level up but to improve her control and quality of the Power of Regeneration. I had her practice everything I could think of against the monsters there, and the results were outstanding. In fact, she had become capable of incredible feats.
“With me here, Lua, you can give it your all.”
“Yeah, I won’t hold back anymore.”
That was a result that made me tremble with excitement. Kurinka’s innate ability of “Regeneration” might be far more terrifying than my destruction.
Near Noibranz – Royal Capital
“Retreat! All units, fall back!”
“Oh wow, look at that dragon cavalry flapping their wings and fleeing!”
In less than ten minutes since the battle began, nearly half of our forces had been depleted. There was no way someone who couldn’t issue a retreat order under such circumstances could remain in command. The captain, Rudred, who had just stepped forward, still showed a fierce spirit, but his face was marred by a sorrowful expression in the face of impending defeat.
“To the south, we have Kashiram’s cavalry, and to the north, Noibranz’s Dragon Cavalry. I used to feel excited about this as a child,” he lamented.
“There’s nothing we can do, Shim. If it weren’t for the Sky Cannon nearly wiping us out, we might have had a fairer fight,” Enkal, the vice-captain, replied.
“That’s not true, Enkal. Everyone here has a Level over 1000, right? That useless Nikka has already been discharged. Who in this world could possibly compete with us now? It’s disappointing to witness the pitiful state of what were once great nations.”
“Stop the idle chatter. Pursue them.”
Commander-in-Chief Argil’s cold command was to eradicate the fleeing bats. It felt wrong to strike down an enemy that had already lost their will to fight. More than that, it was simply boring. Like Enkal, what I truly enjoyed was shattering the pride of those who believed themselves to be the strongest. Rudred, the captain from earlier, was no exception. I was taken aback when he transformed with that mysterious skill called Neue, but in the end, he was just a weakling with a Level barely reaching 100. Once he realized that none of his tricks worked against me, he paled, yet somehow maintained his bravado. He was a cool guy.
“That said, my skills can’t reach that far.”
“It’s my turn now.”
“Enkal, please. Your arrows should reach.”
“Come on! You too, get your bow ready! Mai!”
The three Sisters had been utterly useless up until now. They had decent skills, but it seemed they weren’t accustomed to killing, showing a reluctance that often drew reprimands. One of them, Mai, was a sniper like Enkal. It seemed she didn’t like that Enkal was younger and cuter than her, and thus, Enkal was particularly harsh on Mai. Especially since the beautiful trio of Sisters were quite popular among the men in the Special Operations Unit. For a woman past her prime, there couldn’t be a more frustrating situation.
“Ah, yes…”
“Seriously, how can the young ones not take the initiative?”
“I’m sorry…”
“You’re just going to keep apologizing and repeating the same mistakes, aren’t you? How have you managed to survive this long with such clumsiness? You’re not just ugly on the outside; your insides are a mess too!”
“Enkal, just shoot.”
Once this nagging started, it could go on for a while. It was exhausting to listen to. While Enkal was still complaining, Mai hesitantly reached for her bow. I doubted she’d actually shoot. And then it would just turn into Enkal venting her frustrations. This was the usual pattern.
“Get ready already, you ugly! If you can’t take down those bats with one shot, it’s game over! Watch this!”
With a fierce shout, Enkal unleashed multiple arrows at the fleeing Dragon Cavalry. Only Enkal could fire more than ten arrows at once within the Special Operations Unit. She had the skills to back up her words. Each arrow was supposed to be wrapped in ice, piercing through the Wyverns’ weak points while carrying a Frost Aura.
“…Huh?”
Enkal’s arrows vanished mid-air. She was clearly not satisfied with the outcome, as she hesitated to shoot again.
“They disappeared—”
Just after I muttered that, a shockwave rippled through the ground. We were not only shaken but also sent flying backward as if struck by some unseen force. It wasn’t that we were careless; we knew the culprit behind the vanishing arrows was there, and we had prepared for it. But even with preparation, the outcome remained unchanged, and I lost track of how many times I spun in the air. It wasn’t some energy attack or skill; it was merely a violent gust of wind. I realized this only when I found myself sprawled on the ground.
“Ah… I’m alive…”
“That’s what it means to feel alive.”
It was only then that I understood the cause of my flight. As that thing descended from the sky, the arrows vanished, and it fell straight down. The impact of its landing sent us flying. It wasn’t some energy or skill; it was just its arrival.
“W-What is that…?”
Someone barely managed to squeeze out a voice, already tinged with fear. The creature, towering over us with two horns, slanted eyes devoid of brows, and grotesque gray muscles, stood before us with its arms crossed, easily looking down on even the tallest of adult men.
“Did you come here to wage war?”
The creature’s low, deep voice made my body tense up. Every nerve and muscle in my body refused to obey. I could barely move a finger. The threat it posed spoke directly to our instincts. Some of us were so paralyzed with fear that they lay on the ground, pretending to be dead. Normally, this would warrant a severe reprimand, but it was understandable; even I had felt the “life” it spoke of, simply from its presence.
“Is that the leader… no.”
As we remained silent, the creature’s gaze fell upon Commander-in-Chief Argil. Despite barely managing to kneel, he held his scythe with both hands, a testament to his resolve.
“It’s you, isn’t it?”
The creature’s focus landed on Formas, who had withstood the earlier shock, grinning provocatively in the same pose.
“No, no, we didn’t come here to wage war.”
“What…?”
“We came for slaughter. Because this isn’t a war at all.”
At Formas’s provocation, the creature’s eyes seemed to sharpen even further.
◆ Shin Report ◆
It’s easy to forget, but Rua is in her adolescence.
It’s a time of various high emotions.
Rua has been blessed with good adults.
This Shin will warmly watch over her growth.
Watch over?
Ah, I need to get something from my item pouch.
Again, again, ahhh!
I don’t want to go to Noibranz!
What speed! The village is already so far away!
Faster than a glance!