The Hero of the Wave

Wrath's mouth stretched so wide it looked ready to tear.

"A w-win streak?"

"Ah. Right. The win streak."

Raon nodded as he looked over the messages. The extra rewards for consecutive victories seemed to apply this time as well.

"Don't get so tense. It's just a few stats going up."

At four consecutive wins, his strength, agility, and stamina had each risen by one or two points. This would be about the same. Hardly a staggering prize.

"Even so, those are all stat points taken from This King's true body!"

"Think about the food. The food."

Wrath clicked his tongue, as if he had no choice in the matter.

"Huh?"

"A-all stats?"

Both Raon and Wrath's eyes flew wide. It wasn't individual stats — it was every single one. And the messages weren't finished.

Thanks to the win streak, a reward that should have raised a single trait's rank had doubled. The consecutive-victory bonuses seemed to leap dramatically every five wins.

"I like this."

Raon smiled faintly as the messages faded. Raising a trait's achievement took a long time even with the system. To have two trait ranks lifted at once was a reward that far exceeded anything he'd expected.

"W-why the traits?!"

Wrath's head trembled as if he couldn't comprehend it.

"All stats alone is enough to make This King furious — and now you raise trait ranks as well?!"

"You said it yourself."

Raon waved a hand, pressing down the frost that was flaring up from Wrath like wildfire.

"A perfect system does its utmost to make its owner strong. That's all this is."

He recited Wrath's own words back at him — the ones Wrath usually delivered like a boast.

"E-even so, this is going too far! Had This King known there would be additional rewards like this, I would never have conceded defeat so easily!"

"Then maybe the problem is the one who forgot? You knew the win streak existed."

"Grrrk…"

Wrath ground his teeth, unable to find a retort.

Raon waited for the next messages with anticipation curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Huh?"

Raon swallowed dryly. Ambush, fine — but he had never dreamed that Glacia, a trait he'd only just acquired, would rank up as well.

A deep thrum resonated through him. He shut his eyes at once and opened the Sea of Senses.

Insane.

The Sea of Senses stretched far wider than the last time he'd felt it, and its waves had grown purer. He could sense not only everything inside the lodging, but what the people outside were doing as well.

A colossal tidal wave surged up right in front of his face. He didn't need to guess who it was.

"Krrrhh…"

He opened his eyes. As expected, Wrath was radiating an enormous surge of frost and fury.

A wave of cold exploded like a volcano and coiled around Raon's entire body like a serpent.

"Today This King shall snuff out your miserable life!"

"You'd be better off not trying. You'll just hand over more stats."

Raon meant the warning sincerely. His body still hadn't recovered. His dantian was nearly empty, his mind was foggy, and his joints ached. But against Wrath as he was now, Raon couldn't lose even if he wanted to.

"Silence! A hollowed-out wretch like you can be swallowed whole!"

With those words, Wrath brought the tidal wave of frost and wrath crashing down. Terrifying cold poured over Raon's head, crushing body and mind alike.

"Nnh…"

Raon frowned. Even with his water-attribute resistance raised, the frost felt as if it would split his skin. Wrath was clearly growing stronger with time as well.

But.

Raon's own rate of growth still held the advantage — and now he had the strongest shield of all. He couldn't lose even if he tried.

He steadied his breathing and circulated Glacia, now risen to two stars. A wall of frost, painted in his mind's eye, rose along his mana circuits and cut Wrath's cold dead.

Frost blocked frost, and the flesh-crushing pain receded at a startling pace. As the physical agony vanished, the mental strain eased with it. At this rate, he could endure all day. No — for a lifetime.

"Freeze! You cheating weasel!"

Wrath had to know it was futile, but rage had swallowed him whole, and he poured out frost without end.

How long is this going to last?

Feeling a faint twinge of guilt, Raon held back a yawn and let himself take a little more of it. He'd planned to endure a reasonable amount and then talk Wrath down — but the message appeared before even a few minutes had passed.

"Ah. Stats went up."

"Gah—!"

"You mean it, right?"

Having lost yet more of his stats, Wrath had shriveled up and was trembling with anxiety.

Yeah. I promised.

Raon nodded. Wrath had earned him a great deal; granting a promise to eat was the least he could do.

Besides, I'm hungry too.

He hadn't eaten a thing in three days. Even without Wrath, the thought of a meal was desperate. He threw on an outer coat and left the room.

"Young Master!"

Dorian, coming in with a wet towel and water, went wide-eyed.

"When did you wake up?"

"Just now."

"Are you all right? You've been lying there for three whole days!"

"A little foggy, but I'm fine."

Raon nodded and rolled his arms in slow circles.

"I'm so glad! I went to the Commander and the healers, but they just said you were fine and not to touch you no matter what…"

Dorian wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, muttering that he could finally sleep with his legs stretched out. He'd clearly been worrying the entire time Raon was down.

Saying thank you felt a little embarrassing, so Raon just clapped him on the shoulder.

"But where are you going the moment you wake up?"

"My stomach's glued to my spine. I need to eat."

"I'll come with you! It's about time I ate too."

Dorian set the water down and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fell in beside him.

"Ah — and don't be shocked when we go outside."

"By what?"

"You'll see soon enough. Heheh."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ignore that one. Hurry and keep your promise to This King."

Raon was tilting his head, still not understanding, when Wrath latched on like a leech and shook his arm.

I get it. Stop nagging.

Raon let out a small sigh and stepped out of the lodging.

"It's been a while since holding the walls felt this easy."

"Being able to sleep more is the best part. I wish it was like this every day."

"Once that guy wakes up, it'll all be over."

The castle interior was busier than usual. The heat of having survived the Wave still lingered in the air.

"So I was saying… huh?"

"Hm?"

"Th-that's him!"

They were heading toward Frost Branch, listening to the soldiers' laughter, when the noisy street went silent as if a fist had closed around it. Every mouth shut. Every gaze turned to Raon.

"Sir Raon!"

"Raon!"

"You're awake!"

"He's finally up! The hero of this Wave!"

"Waaaaaah!"

Soldiers, knights, swordsmen — all of them came running to Raon's side, cheering. Real smiles, eyes and mouths moving together. Every person here was genuinely overjoyed that he had woken.

Why are they acting like this?

Raon narrowed his eyes. All he'd done was buy time and save some soldiers. He couldn't understand why people he'd barely even seen face-to-face would be this happy, and the confusion showed.

"Raon's still a patient! All of you, back off!"

A familiar voice cut through the ear-splitting cheers. Terian. He caught Raon's arm and pushed the soldiers back.

"Hup!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Sir Raon! Please recover and come drink with me!"

"Thank you for saving my comrades!"

"I'll repay this debt someday, I swear!"

The soldiers fell back, but each of them left a word behind. Thanks. Get well soon. Every last one of them was worrying about him.

"You're the same as ever."

Terian looked at Raon's furrowed brow and smiled faintly.

"Sir?"

"You don't understand why infantry, knights, and swordsmen you barely know would worry about you and cheer for you, do you?"

Raon nodded. Standing in front of them to save soldiers hadn't seemed like such a great thing to him.

"There were quite a few scouts among the ones who fell below the walls, but most of them had no real connection to you. There were even Snow Strike Squad swordsmen who'd looked down on you."

Terian went on, watching the soldiers still calling Raon's name.

"But you didn't turn away from a single one of them. You took up your sword and built a wall for all of them. A hero who risked his life to stand in front of soldiers even the Commander had given up on. Anyone who wouldn't be drawn to a man like that has no place at Habun Castle."

Terian's eyes shone a clear blue. When he said the warriors of Habun Castle were drawn to heroes, he didn't seem to be excluding himself.

"This is my thanks as Vice Commander."

He bowed his head slowly.

"Raon. Thank you for saving our soldiers. If you ever wish it, I'll repay this debt whenever you ask."

Raon met Terian's eyes as he lifted his face. A smile carrying will. A laugh with genuine feeling in it.

"Me too! I'll help too!"

"Call on me anytime!"

"Raon! I'll help too! Whether I'm useful or not, I'm going!"

"I-I'll go too, if I can be of any help."

It wasn't only the soldiers, knights, and scouts. Even the Snow Strike Squad swordsmen raised their hands, telling him to just say the word.

"Hah…"

Raon let out a heavy breath. His chest burned as if it were on fire.

This was the scene he'd wanted to see ever since coming here. Everyone becoming as one, in the middle of a fight or after it ended. Living it himself, his heart pounded with heat. He felt as though he'd gained another emotion — another driving force to live in this world.

He looked at the soldiers and knights calling his name, and smiled faintly.

"…Are we not going?"

At Wrath's prodding, Raon left the cheers behind and stepped into Frost Branch. Inside, it was complete chaos — people offering to buy him meals, to present him with drinks, to let him eat free for the rest of his life.

"Was this what you meant earlier?"

"Yes. It was even more than I expected, though."

Dorian fanned himself and sighed.

"Swordsman! Are you all right now?"

Yua came running from the kitchen, her twintails swaying.

"Yeah."

"I'm so glad. I came to see you!"

"You did?"

"Yes. I brought porridge, but you couldn't eat it."

"I ate that!"

Dorian grinned and raised a hand.

"Well. Thanks anyway."

"It's nothing. Taking care of regulars is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠essential."

Yua giggled and set down a menu. Whether she meant it or was joking, the way she said it was nothing but cute.

"What would you like today?"

"The apple meat pie I didn't get to eat last time, and…"

"Hhhnnnph!"

The instant the words apple meat pie left Raon's mouth, Wrath sucked in a huge breath — a breath swollen with anticipation.

"Ah, I'm sorry."

Yua's eyes tightened.

"We're all out of apples right now, so the apple meat pie is sold out."

"There isn't any?"

"Yes. After the Wave ended, we had an enormous number of customers."

"Huh? What?"

Wrath's eyes went slack. His lips were trembling; he looked ready to explode all over again.

"Then what about the pineapple pizza?"

"That one isn't up to me…"

Yua's gaze shifted to Dorian.

"H-hurry and ask him! This King's Number One subordinate is certain to have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pineapple and apples!"

Wrath still hadn't given up hope. He stared at Dorian with eyes full of heat.

"Unfortunately, I don't have either."

Dorian shrugged.

"I handed out pineapple cookies to celebrate the Wave ending, so those are all gone."

"And the apples?"

"I gave those to Raon and the scouts as snacks a long time ago."

At that, Raon remembered the yellow apples Dorian used to give him. He'd handed them over every time, saying they were good in the morning.

"If apples and pineapples kept coming out of my pouch, it wouldn't be consistent, would it?"

Dorian scratched his Belly Pouch and laughed. Hearing the word consistent come out of this guy's mouth was so absurd Raon didn't know what to say.

"But rocks and logs are fine?"

"Those are things I use all the time. Essentials!"

"Hah…"

Raon let out a hollow breath. There was something seriously wrong with Dorian's common sense.

What a strange guy…

"You useless fool!"

Wrath glared at Dorian and clenched his teeth. Number One subordinate, was it? He'd discarded him in an instant.

"Apple meat pie, pineapple pizza, pineapple cookies. All three are gone? This cannot be! This cannot be reality!"

A tremendous wail colored Wrath's voice.

"What are you going to do about it?!"

There's nothing I can do. How am I supposed to make food without ingredients?

"This King cares not for such excuses. You made a promise, so keep it!"

Just be quiet for a second.

Raon pushed the ear-splitting Wrath aside and looked at Yua.

"Then what can you make right now?"

"We have the Knight's Set, the Swordsman's Set, and the Scout's Set. The basic roast is available too."

"Then one Scout's Set…"

"Bread, stew, grilled meat and scrambled eggs! A mundane, tedious meal! Set menus are what This King despises most!"

Wrath shrieked and puffed himself up sharp as a pufferfish. On any other day Raon wouldn't have cared what he did, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but today — with stats and traits stripped away — Wrath was so small he looked like a baby pufferfish, and somehow that made him pitiful.

Guess I don't have a choice.

Raon realized this was the day to use the secret weapon he'd been saving.

Then how about this?

"Silence! This King's gourmet appetite is not so easily satis—"

I still have the bead ice cream Runaan gave me.

"Huh?"

The sharp spikes of Wrath's frost curled in on themselves, rounding off.

You know. The ice cream Runaan gave me when she left. It's still sitting there, untouched.

"B-bead ice cream…"

The madness drained from Wrath's eyes, and focus returned.

As far as I know, there's mint chocolate in there too…

"Mint chocolate!"

The instant Raon said mint chocolate, frost shot from Wrath's mouth like bamboo. A reflex, automatic as breathing.

"A-ahem."

Wrath shut a mouth that looked ready to drool and cleared his throat, apparently embarrassed.

"Well…"

Hm?

"You'll let This King eat two, won't you?"

His anger had completely evaporated. In a mild, pleasant voice, he held up two fingers.

What did it mean to be a gourmet?

Raon sank into deep contemplation.

Milland and his officers were in the commander's office, sorting through the aftermath of the Wave.

"Now that Raon's awake, what would you say to holding a festival for a day?"

"I agree. We've only been snatching rest in scraps. Letting everyone take a proper day off seems right."

"If we present Raon with a commendation that day, we can push the soldiers' morale to its peak. Whatever anyone says, the hero of Habun Castle right now is Raon."

Raon's name kept coming from the officers' mouths, their voices warm with genuine fondness.

"A festival, huh. A day should be fine."

Milland nodded. Once a Wave ended, the monsters didn't attack for a while. Raon was awake. A day of celebration seemed well earned.

"Then Charles will handle the festival, and as for the award we'll give Raon…"

He was about to move to the next item when the commander's office door flew open as if it would come off its hinges. It was Kizen, captain of the Second Scout Unit, back from reconnaissance.

"C-Commander!"

Kizen clung to the door, his jaw trembling. He was the bravest of the scout captains. None of them had ever seen him like this.

"What in the world did you see out there…"

"The L-Lord! The Ice Troll Lord has appeared!"

At those chilling words, a heavy silence settled over the commander's office, which only moments before had been full of cheer.