Chapter 35
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 35: Observation Haki (2)
“Welcome, everyone. I was waiting with my neck stretched out for you to come.”
The owner of the gruff voice was Baron Gerek von Meyer, the lord of City Alderin.
Gerek welcomed the cadets including me and the knights of the mansion gladly.
Currently, the place we are located is Alderin’s Lord’s Castle. We arrived receiving the Baron’s request for support.
Usually, apprentice knight training takes place in the training ground inside the mansion.
But since growth is limited by only sparring, they often go on expeditions to gain actual combat experience.
For that reason, we help the Baron’s knight order subjugate magical beasts to gain experience.
It was the explanation Helena gave before coming here.
Of course, I thought I couldn't go out because I’m a slave, but thanks to signing a contract with Renoa like the last outing, I could join the expedition.
“I was suffering from a headache due to lack of combat power anyway, so nothing could be more reassuring than you joining.”
The Baron facing cadets one by one and offering encouragement. Then soon my turn came.
“Hmm? You are?”
“Baron. That apprentice knight is.......”
Lance tried to speak about me with a troubled look.
“Gladiator Irion! Right?”
“Ah, yes. That is correct.”
“As expected! This hair color! These eyes! Can’t forget them! I heard rumors that you receive the Princess’s sponsorship, but to think you became an apprentice knight! Have to live long to see everything!”
The Baron welcomed me warmly with a smile of a different dimension from when treating others.
Seems he was my fan during my gladiator days. I greeted him awkwardly.
Lance with a bewildered expression at that.
“Baron, do you know about him?”
“Of course I know! Isn't he Gladiator Irion! Living in Alderin and not knowing him makes one a spy! Don’t tell me you haven't seen his matches?”
“Yes.”
“That match with the Minotaur too?”
“Yes....”
“To have not seen those matches. You are living life at a loss. No, maybe you have to stay away from amusement that much to become a knight of a Ducal family. Uhahahaha!”
The Baron laughed heartily thinking it was a joke on his part, but the expressions of knights including Lance were not good at all.
Whether they did or not, the Baron’s interest was directed solely at me.
“I never thought I would meet you here. I am your passionate fan even if I look like this. I fell for you seeing the match with the Minotaur.”
“Ah, yes.... Thank you.”
“I firmly believe you will play an active part in this expedition too.”
“I will try to meet expectations.”
We came out of the castle receiving see-offs from the Baron and vassals.
Amidst all sorts of gazes pouring in, Helena poked my side poke poke. Full of playful smile.
“Irion, seems you were quite famous than thought? It’s the first time seeing the Baron welcome someone to this extent.”
“Tell me about it.”
Other cadets who were listening to our conversation from the side snorted.
“Famous person? Hmph, just a lowly slave origin anyway.”
“The Baron doesn't know how to judge people. To praise such a rootless guy.”
Whether they can’t control voice volume, or saying it on purpose to be heard. Whatever it was, I didn't care at all because it was a familiar reaction.
“Now, chatter ends there! Moving out!”
The march began with the command of Alderin Knight Commander Brun, who took charge of this expedition.
The destination was the Black Forest outside the territory, where magical beasts appear frequently.
The city wall grows distant. Passing through the deserted wasteland, we enter the forest.
Forest thick with fog.
Gloomy gray color filled the vision.
A humid and unpleasant sensation like crawling on the skin. It was thick concentration where visibility was not even 5 meters.
“Visibility is not secured so narrow the distance between each other!”
We narrowed the distance as ordered.
“The fog is severe. I remember it wasn't this severe during the previous expedition.”
“Correct. From sometime the fog became severe and magical beasts started appearing in large quantities.”
“I heard rumors that abnormal phenomena occur frequently on the continent these days. They say it is related to the activity of the 3 Great Calamities.”
Knights conversing with a serious atmosphere in the front. Among them, what caught my interest was the word ‘3 Great Calamities’.
A story related to the DLC protagonist, having no connection at all with Renoa, a character of the main story.
As the game became reality, stories from that side flow in like this.
‘Not a part I should care about right now though.’
Busy making a living myself, who do I care about. They will take care of themselves.
“Is this right? At this rate, won’t we be helpless if magical beasts ambush?”
A white maze where not an inch ahead is visible.
Primal fear of not knowing what will pop out from where wrapped around the formation.
Apprentice knights chatter with anxious voices. Helena right next to me was also shrinking her shoulders excessively.
“Irion, are you okay?”
“I am nervous.”
Although actual combat experience is not inferior to a knight, such a harsh environment was first for me too.
Nerves were on edge.
‘Shall I try using that.’
Technique of feeling the sense itself without relying on what is visible to the eyes.
Practiced steadily after receiving Renoa’s help. An environment perfect to try in actual combat.
I closed my eyes slowly without slowing down my steps.
Widen the realm of detection.
Senses start pouring in.
Trembling of nervous cadets.
Noise of armor clashing.
Smell of earth wet with moisture.
Separate the pouring senses layer by layer like dividing layers when drawing.
Leave useless things behind and accept necessary information preferentially.
Push natural senses like wind sound, earth smell to the very back of consciousness.
On top of that, place the presence of allies. Place predictable noise blurry.
As I hid unnecessary senses behind like that, the inside of my head filled with calm silence.
And on that cleaned canvas.
—Hiss hiss hiss.
Indelible clear senses emerged. Hidden in the fog, killing intent aiming for our necks.
Those presences alone are twelve.
They were surrounding us in a circle.
“We are surrounded.”
“Huh?”
—Shhhing.
Drew the sword.
Helena, who couldn't grasp the situation, looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Irion? Why suddenly?”
It was before Helena’s question even finished. Instead of answering, I pulled her shoulder roughly and swung the sword.
“Duck!”
“Kyaak?!”
—Clang!
Along with a chilling rupture sound, red sparks flew from the tip of my sword.
Heavy impact was transmitted riding the wrist.
“...Uh?”
Helena fell on the floor, her pupils shaking as if an earthquake occurred.
Because a huge scythe was where her neck was just a moment ago.
—Hiss hiss.
The bastard wearing the same gray protective color as the fog slowly revealed itself.
Body size as big as an adult male, blurred outer skin as if clumping fog. And blue scythes attached to both arms.
That shape was exactly a giant mantis.
“Phantom Mantis?!”
“A-Ambush!”
Someone shouted as if screaming.
“Everyone circular formation! Back to back! Cadets hurry to the center!”
Knight Commander Brun gives orders quickly, but cadets couldn't follow that speed.
Chicks with excellent swordsmanship skills but lacking actual combat experience.
It was impossible to act in perfect order in a harsh environment where not an inch ahead is visible.
Running helter-skelter not knowing what to do.
In the meantime, enemies moved. Phantom Mantises whose identities were revealed rushed in all at once.
—Crunch! Slice!
“Kuaaaaaaak!”
Screams burst out.
Fresh blood scattered in the fog.
One Alderin soldier late to react to the ambush rolled holding his shoulder.
“Damn it! Can’t see! Where are the bastards?!”
“Raise shields! Don’t give a gap!”
Pandemonium.
Despite the Knight Commander’s shouting, the formation already stricken with fear was shaking.
“H, Hiik!”
Apprentice Knight Euclis standing next to me stepped back with a shrill scream.
Gap between the thought of having to run away and the reality that legs don't move.
Through that momentary gap, a giant scythe flew towards his neck.
—Whish!
Late timing by anyone’s look.
Euclis didn't even recognize it yet.
But I wasn't.
‘I feel it.’
Vision blocked, but the bastard’s attack trajectory was drawn clearly like a red line.
I blocked in front of Euclis without hesitation.
—Claaang!
Metallic sound ringing once again.
Swung arm to shake off the scythe and thrust the sword into the fog.
—Puk!
Squishy texture.
Not cutting the air, a definite entity caught on the sword tip.
Turned wrist and twisted the blade to pull out.
—Crack! Splat!
Green slime pouring out, the giant body fell to the floor thud.
“W-What is this.......”
Euclis blankly staring unable to grasp the situation.
“Helena. Take him and go into the formation.”
“What about Irion?”
“I hate being trapped somewhere.”
“...Okay. Euclis, wake up and get up.”
Helena drags Euclis like luggage and enters the formation.
I examined the war situation without panic. The knight order ambushed in the fog was in confusion.
Even though they must be veterans in their own way, they couldn't come to their senses when vision was blocked.
I inhaled and shouted loudly.
“It is all-around encirclement! Enemies are Phantom Mantises! Number is eleven!”
“What? Who is.......”
“Harden the wall! They will aim for the gap of no vision and dig in!”
With those words as the end, I jumped into the fog.
What I learned recently is the sword to protect, but that applies when there are few things to protect.
If there are many things to protect like now, circumstances are different.
Crouching in a narrow space where it’s hard to even swing a sword, we will only become their prey. Someone has to turn their eyes.
That role is perfect for me who can see even in a situation where I can’t see.
‘Whew, much more comfortable being alone.’
Absolutely not doing this because protecting is annoying. This is protecting too.
Indeed, it is.
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