The First Sortie
The fifth tunnel, where Raon and the scouts had spent the night.
Two men stood upon that bitterly cold earth, where the blood of the Sharkmoles had frozen into the ground itself—one wrapped in a black robe, the other in blue.
"Hmm..."
The man in the black robe, whose height and bulk would not have lost to a monster, smacked his lips as he surveyed the blood pooled around the tunnel.
"A swift, simple killing sword. From the corpses and the traces in the earth alone, I can't tell what swordsmanship he trained in."
He scratched his chin, studying the hole Raon had punched through with the Requiem Sword.
"How did he make this hole? Doesn't look like a sword... a spear, maybe? No, this is..."
"Why bother figuring that out?"
The man in the blue robe snorted, kicking at the Sharkmole corpses the scouts had buried.
"They're all going to die anyway."
"This is your fault. If you're going to kill them, kill them properly. Or at least gather information. Instead you half-assed it and handed them our intel."
The man in black turned. His face was hidden by the robe, but he seemed to be scowling.
"You think I did that on purpose? What was I supposed to do when they broke free of control?"
"Don't give me that crap."
"Haa, why are you so worried? If we just move according to the plan, nothing's going to be difficult."
"You're underestimating them far too much."
"I'm not underestimating them. They are a joke."
The man in blue turned toward Habun Castle and grinned. Dozens of shark-like teeth gleamed, sharp and crowded in his mouth.
"If we just follow the plan, they won't be able to do a damn thing. That's why we're sweating over the preparations right now."
"So please, just stay still. The more you move, the more the plan goes off the rails. You're turning into a fish from the head down."
"Says the beast."
"..."
"Fine, fine. I get it. I'll stay quiet as a dead mouse."
When the man in black stared at him in silence, the man in blue sneered and nodded.
"So what now?"
"The commander of Habun Castle is no fool. Once he confirms the Sharkmoles came up near Sterin Mountain, he'll send troops to eliminate the gathering trolls."
"So we hit those guys? I'll do it!"
"It's not your time to step in yet."
The man in black shook his head.
"The moment you or I move, there's a chance the Six Kings will send support. We draw our blades last."
"Then?"
"We have ones we've prepared."
A massive shadow fell behind him. Fine, long white fur covered its entire body like feathers. Its ears were pointed like an elf's, and its arms hung long enough to scrape the ground. Ice Trolls. Two of the most infamous monsters of this northeastern land stood behind the man in black.
"Oh, these aren't ordinary ones."
The man in blue crossed his arms and grinned. As he said, the two Ice Trolls were anything but ordinary. They stood a full head taller than a regular Ice Troll, each wielding a crimson club and a blue staff respectively.
"A warrior and a shaman... they'd be perfect for experiments, wouldn't they? I should go find some decent ones myself."
He cackled and headed toward the North Sea, while the man in black walked silently toward Sterin Mountain.
The earth rumbled. The Ice Troll warrior and shaman followed behind the man in black like well-trained dogs.
The next day.
Raon left the lodging before noon and headed for Frost Branch.
"Asking to go to the tavern first? That's unusual."
Dorian yawned wide and rubbed his eyes.
"I was thinking about the food we didn't get to eat yesterday."
"Ah, well, the food did look pretty appetizing."
In truth, Raon wasn't hungry, nor was he craving food. But Wrath, who hadn't even gotten to eat pizza and had only had his stats stolen, looked just a little pitiful—so Raon decided to spend the time.
"Don't pretend you're thinking of This King. The promise was originally for yesterday."
Wrath, hanging from his wrist like a summer cicada, grumbled. Having expended a great deal of power, he was considerably smaller than the day before.
I know.
As he nodded and walked, gazes of observation shot toward him from all around.
"That's the guy. The Sword Demon who cut down six Sharkmoles by himself and even took down the Wolves mercenaries and Vice Captain Cliff."
"Is that really him? A kid who looks that pretty?"
"The presence coming off him is weak, though..."
"I bet against him yesterday and lost my entire paycheck. You think I'd forget that face?"
"How did someone that young build up the power to crush that vicious praying mantis?"
Swordsmen and knights swallowed dryly as they watched Raon pass.
"Hey, Sword Demon! You were awesome yesterday!"
"It's been a long time since our mercenary corps got wrecked that badly!"
"Thanks for beating the crap out of that cocky Turga."
"I felt so damn good watching the vice captain get hit!"
Unlike the swordsmen who sent searching gazes, the Wolves Mercenary Corps cheered and waved.
"They're lunatics."
They just like fighting, and they like the strong.
Even now, a sickly yellow madness gleamed in their eyes. It was the attitude of battlefield fiends who went looking for a fight.
"Whatever they are, I don't care. Hurry up."
Yeah, yeah.
Raon chuckled and opened the tavern door. It was an awkward hour for a meal, so the interior was completely empty.
"Welcome!"
As they sat at a table in the center, a bright, lively voice they hadn't heard yesterday rang out from the kitchen. A moment later, a girl in her early teens with rose-colored hair tied in two pigtails walked out.
"Here for a meal? Huh?"
The girl set down a menu and tilted her head at Raon.
"You're the swordsman who fought the Wolves uncles yesterday, right?"
"That's right."
"Wow, the older girls said they were looking at his face more than his swordsmanship—and they were right!"
The waitress grinned and stared steadily at Raon's face.
"What are you doing. Stop teasing and open the menu. This King shall order everything."
Sigh...
"Pizza first. The pizza I saw yesterday has been appearing in my dreams."
He looked at the pizza section of the menu. There were five kinds, and as he pondered what to order, the girl came up beside him.
"Shall I recommend something? The beef pizza and chicken pizza are our bestsellers. For something unique, the spicy pepper pizza is pretty good too. And..."
The waitress went on to recommend grilled dishes, chicken, and even stew. She was a proper merchant, using his good looks to boost sales.
"Order the chicken pizza and that pineapple pizza at the very bottom."
The pineapple pizza wasn't there yesterday. Yesterday's pizza was the beef...
"Doesn't matter. This King wants to eat that pineapple pizza."
Hmm, pineapple is a bit...
Pineapple was a tropical fruit from the southern regions. Sweet and tart—it didn't seem like it would go well with cheese on a pizza.
Are you a gourmet or a freak-foodie?
"Silence. Didn't you say you'd accommodate This King today? Keep your promise. Raon Zieghart."
Wrath delivered the words with the solemnity of a vow, all over ordering pizza. The more you looked at him, the more pathetic this Demon King seemed.
"We'll have the chicken pizza and the pineapple pizza, and one beef stew..."
"Ah, I'm sorry. We don't have pineapple in stock right now."
The waitress shook her head, saying a few items were unavailable due to ingredients.
"Khhhk. That was the one I wanted most..."
Whew. Thank goodness.
"Pineapple?"
Just as Raon was sighing in relief at not having to eat pineapple pizza, Dorian, who had been staring blankly at the menu, shot to his feet.
"W-wait..."
A bad feeling made him try to stop it, but Dorian's hands were lightning-fast. In an instant, he pulled a pineapple from his Belly Pouch.
"Here you go."
"Huh?"
The waitress's eyes went wide.
"H-how did you..."
"Carrying a pineapple around is pretty common, isn't it?"
Dorian shrugged as if there was nothing strange about it.
It's not common! Why do you even have that?!
Raon barely restrained the urge to smack Dorian on the back of the head.
"Ohh! As expected of This King's first subordinate!"
Wrath muttered that he'd done well to take him as a subordinate, stroking Dorian's head with a wisp of frost.
"Thank you! Then we'll purchase this pineapple and use it."
"It's fine. I have another one."
Dorian pulled out a second pineapple and grinned.
"That's great, young master. Now you can eat the pineapple pizza you wanted."
"Yeah. Great."
Great enough that I want to hit you.
"Hrrgh."
Raon scowled hard and ordered the other recommended dishes as well.
"Thank you. I'll make them delicious and bring them right out!"
The waitress smiled brightly, took the pineapple, and went into the kitchen.
As Raon made small talk with Dorian—who looked especially punchable today—the waitress and a silver-haired old man with a fierce face came out of the kitchen carrying the food.
Dishes still steaming from being freshly made were laid out across the table.
"This is the leftover pineapple we used as an ingredient."
The old man set a half-remaining pineapple on the table. Despite a face that looked like it had killed a few people, his voice was gentle.
"Hee..."
The waitress had her tongue half out at the sweet fragrance rising from the cut pineapple.
"Dorian."
"Yes?"
"Can I give this to her?"
"Oh, of course!"
Dorian nodded immediately, as if wondering why he'd even ask.
"Take it and eat it."
"Th-thank you!"
The waitress bowed, a flush the same color as her hair rising on her cheeks.
"Thank you."
The old man also bowed slightly and returned to the kitchen. Despite his appearance, he was a kind person in manner as well.
"Stop pretending to be nice and eat! Hurry, while it's hot!"
Don't rush me.
Raon let out a faint sigh and picked up a slice of pineapple pizza. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a big bite.
"Hmm..."
The sourness wasn't as strong as he'd expected. Instead, the sweetness had intensified enough to stimulate the tongue. It was like the saltiness and sweetness were stabbing at it without quite harmonizing.
It wasn't inedible, but he wondered why anyone would bother heating up fruit to eat it.
"Ugh, this isn't that great."
Dorian, having eaten the pineapple pizza, scowled hard.
On the other hand.
"Hooo. To think such a flavor existed. This King knew far too little of the world!"
There was a Demon King moved by pineapple pizza.
"The sweet and the salty have achieved a golden ratio, wrapping This King's tongue as softly as silk. This is gourmet dining. This is happiness!"
The monarch of the Demon Realm was nearly in tears, tasting paradise in a single slice of pineapple pizza.
"Keep eating! Don't stop!"
"Nngh..."
Raon kept eating the pineapple pizza even as he squinted. It certainly wasn't bad, but still... he couldn't shake the thought that there was no need. He'd rather just eat chilled pineapple separately.
"Ohh, a flavor that never grows tiresome no matter how much you eat. Henceforth, This King shall name this pizza the Sweet-and-Salty Pizza."
Wrath was completely hooked, rambling that he should only eat pineapple pizza.
"Young master, you have quite the unique palate."
Dorian wrinkled his nose, watching Raon pick up a fourth slice of pineapple pizza.
"...That's not it."
"Oh, it is. The tongue never lies. Mint chocolate and pineapple pizza—you're the most unique person I've ever met."
"It's not."
He barely suppressed the urge to hit the guy's head again.
"Most satisfactory. Someday I shall cultivate a forest of pineapples in the Demon Realm."
Looks like this one's in the best mood.
Raon realized this was the moment to execute his plan. Eating another slice of pineapple pizza, he looked at Wrath.
Wrath.
"What is it."
His voice was bright. A refreshing tone that made it hard to believe he'd gone berserk just yesterday.
I was thinking while using Glacia—there's more than one way to use this, isn't there?
"Hoh. So you've realized that. Correct."
Wrath nodded in satisfaction.
"To put it in terms you humans would understand, it's similar to the cultivation methods you use. Glacia is a method of using frost at optimal efficiency and maximum power."
So it can be used for attack and defense too?
"Of course."
Search capabilities that outstanding, plus attack and defense... that's incredible.
"Indeed! An ability so tremendous even your meager temperament can perceive it."
Wrath's voice rose another notch. Between the sweetness of pineapple pizza rolling on his tongue and Raon's blatant flattery, he seemed to be feeling the long-lost sensation of a Demon King being worshipped.
So how do you use it? Can frost even block frost?
"What a pathetic fool. What did This King tell you. Image. Image! If you draw the image, there is nothing you cannot do."
So if I draw an image of blocking frost, I can block both external and internal frost?
"Naturally. The ability This King created has no blind spots. Recite the incantation This King taught you and draw the image you need. The same goes for attacking."
Wrath had completely forgotten about the bet, and that his own means of attack was frost, as he recited advice about imagery to Raon.
I see.
Raon put the last remaining slice of pineapple pizza in his mouth and bowed his head slightly.
It was a gesture of thanks offered to the Monarch of Wrath, who had given him this day his daily bread.
Thank you.
The pineapple pizza had been subtle and mysterious, but the other food was genuinely delicious. Even Wrath, with his picky palate, had been satisfied, muttering about a personal chef and such.
"This place is amazing. Who knew there'd be a restaurant like this in the north."
Dorian smiled in satisfaction, patting his belly that had risen like a hill.
"Right."
Raon smiled faintly and stood. When he went to the kitchen to pay, the waitress came out carrying something.
"Take this with you."
It was a well-baked brown cookie, still steaming. A piece of the pineapple she'd taken earlier was embedded in the center.
"I made it because you seemed to like pineapple."
"Uh..."
A misunderstanding. A complete misunderstanding.
"Another of This King's devotees has appeared in a place like this. From this day forth, This King recognizes that girl as This King's Pineapple Girl."
Raon shoved aside Wrath, who was spreading frost in streams, and accepted the cookie.
"Thanks. So..."
"It's Yua!"
"Right. Yua. Thank you."
Raon smiled and took the cookie. The old man in the kitchen bowed his head. Raon returned the greeting and finished paying.
"Take care, and come again!"
Yua waved until Raon and Dorian had left the shop.
"This one's actually pretty good."
Dorian muttered that it was different from the pizza as he ate the pineapple cookie.
"Let's see..."
Raon smacked his lips and took a bite of the cookie. The taste of dense, chewy pineapple bits crunching inside the crispy cookie wasn't bad at all.
"Hoh, chewy. This too is a peculiar flavor. This King's Pineapple Girl has many talents. Today has been quite the harvest."
Yeah.
I think I harvested more, though.
Raon grinned as he popped the remaining cookie into his mouth.
"Raon! Dorian!"
As he was thinking about what image to draw, Radin came running from a distance, waving.
"Captain?"
"What brings you here?"
"Huff, something urgent."
Radin caught his breath with his hands on his knees, then stood.
"A mission has been issued to the 3rd Scout Squad."
Tension settled darkly in his eyes.