Avangarde Castle Town – Hotel – Meison Hallway
“If you become my woman, you won’t have to worry about anything. You won’t need to scrape by as an adventurer, and you’ll be able to enjoy life like I do.”
I still couldn’t understand what he was saying, but I couldn’t stand the fact that he dismissed the life-threatening risks some people took as mere leisure. Many had died in today’s exam. Everyone had their own goals and hopes, aiming for A-Rank. I didn’t know what kind of invitation he was making, but the answer was already clear.
“No.”
With that, I placed my hand on the doorknob. In response, Formas slammed his fist against the wall, a dull thud echoing through the hallway. Curious onlookers opened their doors and peered out. Formas’s snake-like eyes shifted to a predatory glare, reminiscent of a beast stalking its prey. He wore the same expression he had when we passed the third exam, teeth clenched, ready to pounce.
“You won’t be mine, huh? Just because a broke kid won some pathetic Combat Tournament, you think you can act all high and mighty? What does that tournament even mean? Once you reach A-Rank, it’ll be easier to attract women. I’m only participating in this pathetic exam because my father pressured me to. I even thought about crushing the Adventurer’s Guild altogether, but I decided against it. I’ll take care of it myself. Do you want to know what happened to those who defied me? Just the other day, a fool who picked a fight with me lost his job, fell into debt, and ran away in the night. He worked for a subsidiary of the Matere Trading Company, you know. Even if he’s disappeared, I’ll find him and make him write his last words.”
“Formas, are you ready yet?”
“Oh, right, the night is about to begin. See you.”
The moment Brikna called for him, Formas’s mood shifted dramatically. From the end of the hallway, Brikna beckoned him, half-naked and draped in sheets, causing me to instinctively look away. Who walks around like that? Had he just gotten out of the bath? Still, one would think he’d at least put on some clothes.
Lately, too many things were happening that I couldn’t comprehend, leaving me confused. I thought I had long since overcome confusion. Still, Formas had changed too much.
“Sigh… I keep running into people like that lately, Roel.”
“But those people are incredibly skilled… I mean, I was clumsy, but even at Level 5, they took down the Floor Monsters in the Strange Plains in no time with that gun. I couldn’t do anything… After that, I was called useless and got hit a lot…”
She got hit a lot. That guy hit Roel a lot. Should I hit him back? The lack of confidence and panic Roel showed when we first met might have been his doing. He never acknowledged his failures and resorted to persistent violence.
Is there anyone who never fails? I’ve been hurt and nearly died multiple times in the Abyss Cave. It was frustrating and painful, but it was because I lost there that I am who I am now. If I was afraid of failure, I could never move forward. Formas is the type of person I can’t forgive either. If he does anything to Roel now, I’ll break his arms. No, that’s not enough. Not just his arms, but his legs too…
“Lua-chan… Lua-chan?”
“Huh?!”
“What’s wrong? You look scary and silent… Want to go inside?”
“Y-Yeah. Let’s rest.”
Even for a moment, what terrifying thoughts had crossed my mind? No matter how much I disliked Formas, I shouldn’t go that far. More than that, I needed to focus on tomorrow’s final exam.
Avangarde Castle Town – Adventurer’s Guild
In the dim early morning light, twenty of us gathered at the Guild. The place was sparsely populated, and even at this hour, some were engrossed in request forms. It seemed I was the only one who yawned widely. The others wore tense expressions as they faced Mugen.
“You all are about to take the final exam.”
Mugen stroked his round head while surveying us from one end to the other.
“Every year, the final exam involves completing an actual A-Rank request. This year, we have a fresh request that just came in this morning. Depending on the year, the difficulty varies, but this time, it might be a bit troublesome.”
Without giving us a proper explanation, Mugen pushed through us and headed for the exit. We walked through the still sparsely populated streets until we reached a massive Gigas Horse carriage waiting outside. Where would we be taken this time?
Inside the Gigas Horse Carriage
“I’ll explain the content of the final exam. First, the destination is the Eastern Ruined Fortress. The Comet Wolf Brigade has taken refuge there…”
“W-What?!”
Someone exclaimed in shock, their voice exaggerated. Everyone except me reacted to the unfamiliar name of the brigade. “Comet Wolf Brigade,” Barm muttered. No way, that’s ridiculous. They must be a formidable group if everyone is reacting like this. So, the next exam is to defeat them.
“That Comet Wolf Brigade, huh? Well, I have this.” Formas kissed his gun and proudly twirled it on his thumb.
“Listen to the whole story. The problem is this: they have taken hostages inside the fortress. There are nearly a hundred merchants and adventurers held captive.”
“What?! What are their demands? This isn’t just an exam; depending on the situation, we might need to mobilize the Royal Knights.”
“Wait, Sir Gilbert. We mustn’t provoke them unnecessarily. This carriage is conspicuous, so we won’t approach the fortress directly; we’ll walk through the mountains instead.”
“Um, I don’t know anything about this Comet Wolf Brigade…”
Formas snorted, clearly thinking I was foolish for not knowing. The other two chuckled behind their hands. Did I really say something that stupid? They were really getting on my nerves.
But then, I noticed Barm, Gilbert, and the others were wide-eyed. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable. Did Roel know about them?
“I thought even the children in the castle town knew that they were the ones who destroyed the Kingdom of Amur a few years ago… Just hearing their name makes some people tremble and cry.”
“Is it really just the brigade? I heard rumors that other nations were involved too.”
“On the Asgar continent, they reportedly took over an entire town and held all the residents hostage. Even the efforts of the ‘Flame Knight Brigade,’ known for their strength, were in vain; women and children were violated and brutally murdered…”
“They’re a band of thieves that, even when a nation puts forth its full strength, could easily turn the tables. Are you really unaware of this?”
As the horrifying tales circulated, Barm kindly summarized it for us. When I thought of a band of thieves, I could only imagine the ones I encountered in Kizel Valley, so it felt unreal. I couldn’t believe such a group could destroy a nation.
“You don’t have to worry, Lua-chan… After all, you’ve repelled the Demon Lord’s army multiple times.”
“But they mentioned hostages. That means…”
“Now, here’s the main point. You are to rescue the hostages and eliminate the brigade. Securing the infiltration route is up to you.”
“Is that all? This is an urgent situation, and I question whether this should even be an exam. More importantly, are you just going to sit back and watch while the Five Elites are here?”
“The leader of the group is troublesome, but anyone who stumbles on this level isn’t fit to be an A-Rank, Sir Gilbert.”
“What about the hostages? If we fail, it means you let them die while you stood by!”
“If you’re not confident, then withdraw.”
Gilbert protested heatedly, but Mugen merely returned his words coolly. I shared Gilbert’s opinion. Making this an exam was insane. Was Mugen really just going to watch?
“Oh, I almost forgot to mention. The leader, Glaive, has previously annihilated an A-Rank adventurer party. Be cautious.”
With that additional challenge laid upon us, we could only nod in silence.
In Front of the Ruined Fortress – Forest
The carriage stopped far from the fortress. It was so large that it stood out even from a distance, which meant we had to walk for over an hour. If we brought out the Gigas Horse, they might think reinforcements were called, and the hostages could be killed in the chaos, so only a few remained on-site.
The fortress, surrounded by dense woods, was covered in moss, giving the impression that it had been long abandoned. It was a flat, three-story structure, encircled by crumbling walls. The path leading to the fortress beyond the walls was overgrown with grass and weeds, making it difficult to traverse without some clearing.
When we, a group of twenty along with Mugen, arrived at the scene, we found a line of soldiers numbering in the dozens.
“Ah, Mugen! Is this the team for this mission…?”
“Good work, Captain Olin. From now on, these individuals will take over the task.”
“But…”
“It is a decision made by His Majesty.”
“Wait… Roel, did you just say the King made this decision?”
“Y-Yeah, I think that’s what it means… Either way, it’s completely absurd.”
I couldn’t help but voice my disbelief; the King had acknowledged this situation.
“So, what does the other side desire?”
“They demand the King and the leaders of the nation as hostages… For now, we’re pretending to comply to buy some time, but we only have one hour left. If we delay, the hostages will be killed…”
Captain Olin answered with a pale face, and I felt sorry for him. Was it really possible that only this many soldiers were present in such a dire situation? Did they truly intend to leave everything to us?
“A-and they also want the leader captured alive…”
“What? Is that also a command from His Majesty?”
“No, it’s from Lord Belmund.”
“Lord Belmund? What on earth is he thinking… Well, it doesn’t matter. You all heard the situation, right? We don’t have much time; we must act immediately.”
No one could move. The pressure was immense; any wrong move could lead to the hostages being killed. We didn’t even know how many enemies we were up against. Amidst this chaos, I was trying to figure out the best way to approach the rescue without being detected.
“Heh, cowards can stay silent over there. Brikna, Tatarka, let’s go!”
While I was lost in thought, Formas boldly started walking. He avoided the fortress’s main gate and moved along the wall, taking a detour. What was he planning? Did he have some kind of strategy in mind?
“Roel, we should go too.”
“Y-Yeah… I’m worried.”
“Huh? You mean that guy?”
“No, no, it’s just that when we were in a party together, he killed people who were attacked by monsters because they were a distraction in battle. He figured that if it looked like they were killed by monsters, no one would question it… If that guy is involved, he might even kill the hostages.”
Formas was someone we couldn’t let run free. I could stop him if he tried to use that weapon called a gun. Based on what we had just learned, if he killed the hostages, he would undoubtedly be disqualified. Yet, if anyone could do it, it would be him; Roel, who had spent some time with him, was certain of it.
“There’s a strange rumor about our leader, Glaive. After he goes on a rampage, there are always piles of crushed bodies left behind. If he’s a user of Custom Magic, his power is undoubtedly at least on par with A-Rank upper tiers, if not higher.”
Those words were the final blow, causing many to withdraw. They were already hesitant to move, and once one person stepped back, others quickly followed suit, crowding around Mugen. It was a bit pitiful to see Mugen trying to calm them down while gently pushing them back, saying, “Wait, wait.”
Still, what was this Custom Magic? I was curious, but I had to chase after Formas.
“Wait, your name was Rua, right? If what Mugen just said is true, rushing in would be dangerous. We should cooperate here.”
Gilbert, who had caught up with me, was followed closely by Barm and the merchant Bebe. It was surprising that out of twenty, only this few remained. I felt a renewed understanding of just how feared the Comet Wolf Brigade was.