Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Heavenly Flower Squad
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Heavenly Flower Squad.
A strike team specialized in ambushes, reconnaissance, sabotage, and scouting. Uniquely, it was composed entirely of women.
While their raw combat power was considered a step below other squads, they were highly regarded for their uniquely feminine finesse and meticulous handling of tasks.
It had been a full month since the Latent Dragon Squad returned from their mission at the Mountain of Fire. On top of that, they had been granted three days of rest as consideration for their spar with the Crimson Death Squad.
Moreover, having brilliantly succeeded in their first mission and proven their worth, it wasn't strange at all that their next assignment was to assist the mid-tier Heavenly Flower Squad.
Yes.
If the Heavenly Flower Squad had been an ordinary mid-tier strike team, that is.
The Heavenly Flower Squad was a unit highly valued within the martial clan despite its combat strength.
This was partly because, like the Shadow Corps, it was mainly assigned to special missions. But more than that...
It was due to their newly appointed captain.
One of the martial clan's little stars, counted among the geniuses of the three vassal families.
Sophia Clonen, the forbidden treasure of the Clonen Shadow Clan and the martial clan's most beautiful flower, was the new captain of the Heavenly Flower Squad.
'Sophia Clonen is one of the little stars. For her to personally receive this mission... This can't possibly be just a simple scouting assignment.'
On the contrary, it should be viewed as one of the extremely dangerous missions.
To the point where it wasn't just about one squad member possibly losing their life, but the entire Latent Dragon Squad facing annihilation.
He tried to maintain a calm, expressionless facade in front of Alex as much as possible, but he couldn't hold back from asking.
"...How on earth did something like this get approved?"
No matter how successful their mission had been, they were still rookies fresh off their first assignment.
So how could they be thrown straight into such a dangerous mission?
"Hm? Isn't it obvious?"
Alex, who had been grinning nonstop, raised a finger and pointed at him.
"Because you proved your own worth. Not only did you sweep through those orcs, you even smashed the Crimson Death Squad. And all that happened in less than three months. Of course it's natural, right?"
A small squad of just six members. For such a tiny unit to topple the orc tribe ruling the Mountain of Fire and achieve a complete victory over another promising lower-tier strike team...
That was why the martial clan had evaluated the Latent Dragon Squad.
As a small but elite unit where every member possessed exceptional strength.
"The Heavenly Flower Squad is optimized for infiltration and scouting anyway. So for assisting with their latest mission... a small elite team like the Latent Dragon Squad is perfect, isn't it?"
"......!!"
He wanted to retort to the infuriating Alex, but the words wouldn't come.
There was nothing to argue with.
Even he himself couldn't think of any lower-tier squad more suitable for assisting a mid-tier strike team.
"Besides, Sophia personally requested this. I don't know what that sly vixen thinks she's up to... but she does have considerable influence within her family. No reason for the elders to deny her request, right?"
There was nothing to say to that either. Unless Patriarch Paon Lichtenauer had directly intervened, no one would want to pick a fight with Sophia—someone who might lead the martial clan's future—just to protect a single lower-tier squad.
Sip!
Alex, who had been leisurely enjoying his Charlotte wine, waved his hand dismissively.
"Anyway, if you get it, get out. Report anything unusual right away. Oh, and don't die?"
"......"
After glaring at Alex for a moment, he grabbed the Charlotte wine on the table and downed it in one go.
Thud!
"Thanks for the wine. I'll see you next time."
Without waiting for Alex's response, he left the room.
Bang!
Slamming the door shut was the only way he expressed his frustration.
"That trash dares...!"
"Enough, Zodiac. Weak dogs without the courage to bite can only bark. No need to get worked up over that."
Swish!
"Besides, it's a good day today, so let's let it slide gracefully."
Alex looked up at the sky and smiled.
"Kukukuk! I was planning to knock one of the little stars down a peg, but who knew she'd personally remove the thorn in my side? How grateful I am."
"Eldest Young Lord, if I may... I heard even the Shadow Corps hasn't fully grasped the details yet. What if it's less impressive than we think? Won't we just end up boosting Sophia and the Latent Dragon Squad's reputation for nothing...?"
"No, no. That won't happen."
Alex shook his head at Zodiac's concern.
"This is a direct request from the Mage Tower. It can't be anything simple. And if by some chance it really is trivial... that's fine too. It'll just make that little star look like she's getting swept up in a mere incident. The Latent Dragon Squad was just a sidekick this time anyway, so no need to worry about them."
Though he said that, Alex was certain.
Scouting the Birch Forest.
This mission was almost zero chance of being a simple scout.
'Over twenty mages have gone missing near the Birch Forest. Something's definitely there.'
The Mage Tower had tried to cover it up, but they couldn't evade the Shadow Corps' eyes.
Alex could well gauge the mission's difficulty.
The Mage Tower, alongside the martial clan, was one of the two pillars supporting the Aslan Kingdom.
Their lofty pride was equal to, if not greater than, the martial clan's.
A request from them carried immense implications.
"Let's just watch and see. Something pretty entertaining is bound to happen."
The morning after the match with the Crimson Death Squad.
The scroll obtained first through the Shadow Corps the previous day was also delivered to the Latent Dragon Squad.
Flutter!
"Hmm..."
Ian’s expression hardened slightly as he unrolled the scroll.
Unlike Alex, what caught his attention wasn't the Heavenly Flower Squad.
Whatever it was, they would all end up under his feet eventually.
His interest lay elsewhere.
In the location called the Birch Forest.
It was a place very close to the group that had a grudge with his past life as Lucas.
"The Mage Tower... huh."
Over ten years ago, in his past life, the many heroes Lucas had clashed with on the Kairon Plains.
There were numerous great heroes, but only four had made decisive contributions to gaining the upper hand against Lucas.
The Warrior and Sword Saint of the Eastern Continent.
The Saintess of the Western Continent.
And the Sage of the Southern Continent, Midas Alloin.
Ian lost sleep grinding his teeth just thinking of the heroes who had invaded the Krohoka Empire, but Midas Alloin was an exception.
In the final battlefield, he hadn't unleashed his full power.
'Considering Patriarch Paon's strength... Midas's level must be similar, if not superior.'
After seeing Paon Lichtenauer in person, vague assumptions from his past life had turned into certainties.
Midas Alloin.
For some reason, he hadn't gone all out against Lucas in his past life.
Knowing that, Ian harbored far less vengeance toward Midas than toward the other heroes.
"Well, that doesn't mean I like him."
No matter the reason, the fact that he'd set foot on his land and clashed with him remained unchanged.
"Anyway, I doubt I'll run into Midas just by going into the Mage Tower's territory. Even if I did... I couldn't do anything about it right now."
After briefly reminiscing and feeling a ripple of emotion, Ian quickly composed himself.
The Midas of his past life had been only one step below Lucas—far from absolutely inferior.
No, compared to the current Ian, he was on an incomparably higher level.
Moreover, over ten years had passed since then.
No matter Ian's unique constitution or his mastery of the Blood Demon Iron Chain Art from his past life, it was impossible to close that gap in the short term.
"It said three days of rest... I should use the spoils from the Mountain of Fire to buy potions for the squad members."
Because the Crimson Death Squad had clung desperately as the fight turned against them, several in the Latent Dragon Squad had sustained non-trivial injuries.
Especially Ralph, Sylvia, and Ryu An, who had dueled directly with their own weapons, had the worst of it.
"At this rate, there won't be any spoils left to distribute?"
Chuckling, Ian stepped out of his room to contact Hans—right then.
Kaboom!
A massive explosion like a bomb going off echoed from the dorm's main gate.
"What the?"
Was someone picking a fight like the Crimson Death Squad?
What greeted Ian as he rushed outside was a completely unexpected scene.
"Ah, put me down already! Who the hell is this idiot, anyway? Let me see his face."
"Aigoo, Miss. I told you, I can't! It's a squad, small as it is, but still a proper one. Barging in without procedure is definitely problematic! And the Second Young Lord's status..."
"What?! Status?! Ha! Fine, then let's see just how great this guy is. What, did I pick my status off the street or something?"
A stunningly beautiful woman was throwing a fit, while a butler desperately tried to restrain her. They filled the entire gate area.
Ian immediately knew who the woman was.
'...Sophia Clonen?'
She was in Ian's memories from before Lucas possessed him, but even without that, he would've recognized her instantly.
Within the vast martial clan grounds, no other woman possessed such striking beauty.
Thus, only one question filled Ian's mind.
'Why did she come here?'
Come to think of it, the Latent Dragon Squad's role in this mission was to support the Heavenly Flower Squad.
It might make sense if she came to check on the squad backing them up. But for a woman called one of the little stars to come all this way for that?
And why was she fuming like that? He couldn't understand at all.
Spotting Ian standing there dumbfounded belatedly, Sophia and the butler stopped their tussle and focused on him.
Sophia spoke first.
"Ian Lichtenauer?"
"That's me. What brings the busy leader of the Heavenly Flower Squad to this humble place?"
"What brings me? Did you just ask what brings me?"
Step, step!
Apparently baffled by Ian's clueless attitude, Sophia strode boldly toward him.
She planted her hands on her hips and declared loudly.
"Because of your ridiculous childish duel, our precious Sylvia got hurt! If that lovely face ends up scarred, you're taking responsibility?!"
"......?"
Huh.
It was so out of left field that, for a moment, his mind went blank, unable to find a response.
But mistaking his reaction for guilt, Sophia grew even more assertive.
"Hmph! Even a halfwit like you seems to know how grave a sin it is to injure our Sylvia!"
When plunged into an utterly absurd situation, words fail you completely.
As Ian experienced that mystical phenomenon, someone from inside the Latent Dragon Squad dorm burst out like lightning.
"Sister!! What are you doing right now!!"
Sylvia, who had been quietly tending her wounds in her room, cried out in shock.
She was so flustered that blood had seeped back into her open wound, staining the bandages red in spots.
"Oh my, Sylvia!"
Sophia rushed to the emerging Sylvia and embraced her gently, as if holding the world's most precious treasure.
Tears even welled up in her eyes.
"How pitiful. It must have been so hard moving with that dimwit. But now that big sis is here, you can relax."
"W-what? What are you talking about?"
Sylvia, who hadn't yet received the mission briefing, was utterly bewildered.
"For this mission I'm leading, I specially requested the Latent Dragon Squad as support. I was worried something might happen leaving my precious little sister with that unknown guy."
Squeezing Sylvia's head tightly, she glared at Ian.
"...Ah."
Only then did Ian understand why the Latent Dragon Squad had been assigned to accompany the Heavenly Flower Squad.
There were various reasons, no doubt. But at least...
The biggest one was clearly Sophia's influence.
Sophia Clonen.
She was an extreme siscon.