The Flames of Letran

"Heavenly Sword Squad Leader."

Burren approached Sheryl with his brows drawn slightly down.

"Raon's taking far too long. Shouldn't we go look for him?"

"He is running a little late."

Marta ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠peeled her back off the tree and nodded.

"Are you worried about him?"

Sheryl looked between Burren and Marta with perfectly calm eyes.

"Worried? Hell no! Absolutely not!"

Marta shook her head so fast it was a blur, as if the suggestion itself were an insult.

"She's right. It's just that we're falling behind schedule, so…"

Burren scratched his head, his gaze dropping to the ground.

"Is that so."

Sheryl let a faint smile slip as she watched the two of them waving their hands in frantic denial.

"Mm…"

Runaan had not taken a single step from the carriage, just as Raon had ordered. She stared blankly up at the sky.

"Aren't you anxious, Runaan?"

Encia poked her head out the carriage window and called to her.

"Anxious?"

"Raon went out alone, and he still hasn't come back."

She knew enough of the situation for her hands to tremble with worry.

"You don't need to worry."

Runaan shook her head, utterly composed.

"Raon doesn't lose."

That serene face and those few short words laid bare just how completely she trusted him.

"I heard the Light Wind Squad hasn't even been around that long, but the trust you all have is something else."

Encia smiled as she looked over the squad members.

"Well, of course. We've been together since we were trainees — it's been almost six years."

"Ah! So you all entered the sword squad together from trainee days?"

"That's right. But today's a little later than usua— wait! Vice Squad Leader!"

As Dorian was glancing around, Raon emerged from the forest path on the right, someone slung over his shoulder.

"Raon!"

"What took you so long!"

"I was worried for nothing."

Runaan came running. Marta scowled. Burren offered a faint smile.

"He was a bit farther out than I expected."

Raon smiled at their three very different reactions and walked over to Sheryl.

"Is it finished?"

Sheryl narrowed her eyes at the corpse on Raon's shoulder.

"Yes. Though there may be a slight problem…"

Raon set Temus's body down on the ground.

"A problem…"

Sheryl remained composed even after recognizing the corpse as Temus. The moment the concealing formation had shattered, she must have realized he was the ringleader.

"W-wait a second!"

"That's the physician!"

"T-Temus?"

"Huh? That doctor was after us? Why the hell would he—"

"What the fuck…"

Heavenly Sword Squad and Light Wind Squad alike stared at Temus's corpse with their mouths hanging open.

"Ah…"

Encia clutched the wrist Temus had taken her pulse from, her lips trembling.

"Do you have proof this man ordered the attack?"

"First, there's this Array Resonance Flute. At that location…"

Raon explained the Array Resonance Flute, that Temus had cultivated poison arts, and that during the interrogation the man's heart had simply stopped.

"A Rage Worm."

Sheryl frowned as she looked at Temus's corpse, its blood vessels burst open.

"It seems someone was standing behind Temus."

She identified the Rage Worm in an instant and deduced there was a mastermind behind him. Her insight was anything but ordinary.

"Did you hear who it was?"

"No. I didn't."

Raon shook his head.

Now isn't the time.

Unless he had irrefutable proof of Derus Robert's involvement, dropping that name here would be a terrible idea. The justification would be too thin. A war could erupt between House Zieghart and House Robert, and countless innocents would die for nothing.

And that bastard is mine.

He had no intention of granting Derus an easy death. He would tear down every faction the man held dear, one by one, drown him in despair — and only then take his head.

"I see."

Sheryl nodded as if she had expected as much.

"Raon."

"Yes?"

"I'll take credit for resolving this entire incident."

Before anyone could stop her, she carved sword marks into Temus's corpse.

"S-Squad Leader?"

"Why all of a sudden…"

When the Heavenly Sword Squad Leader declared she would claim the glory of settling the matter, people's eyes went wide.

"D-don't tell me you're trying to hog the fame— mmph!"

Raon clamped a hand over Crain's mouth before he could finish that nonsense, then looked at Sheryl.

"Could you explain why?"

"Temus was a physician whose good works reached every corner of the continent. Even with the blood poison, the fang punctures, and the Array Resonance Flute, there will be people who refuse to believe it — or who come after you for killing him."

Sheryl continued in her usual dry, unadorned tone.

"In other words, killing this man will not earn you a good reputation. On top of that, whoever stood behind Temus is highly likely to come after you and the Light Wind Squad for revenge. It's better if word spreads that I handled this alone."

So she was trying to protect us.

Sheryl was claiming the achievement to shield him and the Light Wind Squad from whoever stood behind Temus.

She's a good person.

For all that she seemed cold and exacting, Sheryl possessed a warmth that considered far more than she ever let on.

"I'm grateful, but I can't accept that."

Raon slowly shook his head.

I can't let someone else take the fall because of me.

If the information spread this way, Derus might target the Heavenly Sword Squad Leader. He could not accept his revenge causing problems for anyone else.

"Why not?"

"We don't even know who's behind Temus. I can't dump this on you, Squad Leader. I'm the one who insulted Temus and took Lady Encia with me. I should…"

As he was speaking, Sheryl's right hand came in. She flicked his forehead with her middle finger, braced by her thumb.

"Ugh!"

A sudden spike of pain wrung a groan out of him before he could stop it.

"A brat whose blood hasn't even dried yet, getting cocky enough to worry about me?"

Sheryl furrowed her brow.

"I am the one in charge of this mission. I decide the outcome, and I decide the process."

"Mm…"

"I told you to handle it as you saw fit, and you followed that order well enough. I'm the one who created this result. I'll take the responsibility."

"Squad Leader…"

"And just who do you think I am?"

A terrifying aura seeped from her entire body, enough to make the skin crawl.

Sheryl spoke of the leaders of the Six Kings and Five Demons as if she already knew something, then turned away. She circled the area, spreading her aura through the entire forest the same way she had left marks on Temus.

"Kh…"

"That's our Squad Leader!"

"As if she'd care about something as petty as reputation!"

"That commanding presence — I'm in love all over again!"

The Heavenly Sword Squad swordsmen smiled as if they had expected nothing less.

"Wow. So that's what responsibility looks like."

"Different. Completely different."

"That guy would've dumped it all on Raon no matter what…"

The Light Wind Squad swordsmen clicked their tongues, thinking of a certain red-haired elf who stood at the opposite end of the spectrum from Sheryl.

"Mm…"

Raon let out a quiet breath as he watched Sheryl's back.

I'll need to make an opportunity.

Sooner or later, he would need a chance to tell Sheryl that Derus was the one behind this. Even then, he doubted she would change her mind.

Either way, I've bought some time.

Thanks to Sheryl, he could delay having his name exposed to Derus for quite a while. In the meantime, he could start tearing the man's plans apart, one by one.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed his head toward Sheryl as she left traces of combat throughout the forest.

"Vice Squad Leader!"

When he lifted his head, Dorian came running, his face flushed red.

"Today I beheld the God of Logistics! Please, teach me!"

"What?"

"Using the right artifact for the situation and shutting down a dangerous encounter entirely — that wasn't just impressive, it was moving! I'll take you as my master!"

The boy dropped flat on his face. His eyes sparkled like gems, overwhelmed by how perfectly Raon had pulled out the right tools and completely shut down the enemy's ambush.

"That was a coincidence."

This had not been a matter of well-prepared supplies. It was because of his memories from a previous life.

"Calling you the God of Logistics wouldn't be an exaggeration, Vice Squad Leader. You've been testing me all this time, haven't you! Please, teach me!"

Dorian shook his head violently, refusing to hear otherwise, and begged for instruction.

"Raon!"

Encia climbed down from the carriage with dazed eyes and approached.

"You're handsome, and you're strong, and you're handsome, and your preparations are perfect, and you're handsome, and you're brilliant. And you're so fucking handsome!"

Her eyes shone as if she had been staring at a precious jewel.

"Raon. Handsome. Prepared well. Has lots of money!"

Runaan sidled up next to Dorian and raised a fist. Unlike the others, her eyes were vacant, which made it slightly more bearable.

"Ugh."

Raon frowned and stepped back from their three gazes.

The followers keep multiplying…

Raon used an artifact that stored visualized images to record the assassins and the state of the surrounding forest, then set out for Letran.

There was no telling whether another ambush was waiting, so they moved without rest. By the following evening, they had reached the edge of Creun Forest.

"We're finally here."

"Augh, now we can actually get some rest."

Dorian smiled at the rounded opening in the forest path. Crain nodded as well, looking at the forest's exit where bright light poured through.

"Our mission isn't over until Lady Encia has been treated and we've returned. Stay sharp."

Burren looked back at the two of them, eyes narrowing.

"Didn't you hear this place is at war? Let your guard down and you'll lose your head."

Marta smacked Dorian and Crain on the shoulders, scowling.

"S-sorry."

"You don't need to worry that much."

Econ, who had been at the front, glanced back and grinned.

"The longer a war drags on, the less likely you are to see anything truly ugly. They're just holding out on pride at this point. We should be able to get her treated without any real— huh?"

The smile was still on his face when he stepped out of the forest and froze like a puppet with its strings cut.

"What…"

Raon followed Econ out and stopped as well. It was evening, and yet the world was as bright as if the sun had risen again.

"Ah!"

It was not moonlight. It was the shadow of the inferno raging through Letran.

"We have a problem."

Sheryl frowned as she looked at the city wreathed in flame.

"Light Wind Squad, with me. Heavenly Sword Squad, bring the carriage."

"Yes!"

She was already gone before Econ could even answer.

"Let's go!"

"Yes!"

Raon gestured to the Light Wind Squad and chased after Sheryl.

What the hell happened here…

The two families that split Letran down the middle would never fight on this scale unless they had lost their minds. Something other than the war had clearly broken out.

Raon followed Sheryl over Letran's gates and landed on the ramparts. The flames had risen from the outskirts inward, and the city streets were packed with corpses and blood.

The clash of steel on steel pulled his eyes to the left.

Figures in green hoods and red hoods were swinging swords and axes at warriors and civilians alike, making no distinction between them.

"Eden…"

"Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts!"

Burren's and Marta's startled voices rose from behind him. The Light Wind Squad had clashed with them at Sebu Village, and every one of them recognized Eden's ghosts at a glance.

It was not just Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts. Officers in monster armor were scattered throughout the city as well.

"We don't have time, so I'll keep this short. Cut down every Green Ghost and Red Ghost in this city. No interrogations. Save as many people as you can!"

The moment the order left her mouth, Sheryl sprinted down the central avenue. She was going after the Eden officers slaughtering warriors in the heart of the city.

"Follow the Heavenly Sword Squad Leader's orders. Deal with the Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts, then gather in the city center."

"Understood!"

Raon issued the additional command and leapt down from the wall. He ran toward the left, where the energy of Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts was thickest.

These bastards…

Unclotted blood ran down the hillside. Corpses whose heat had not yet faded stared up with bloodshot, burst-vessel eyes.

The Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts had no idea he had arrived. They howled like monsters and brought swords and axes down on the civilians.

Raon stomped a footwork so violent the earth itself seemed to burst, freezing every one of them in place.

The Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts turned, weapons dripping with blood.

"Zieghart?"

"Why is Zieghart here?"

He did not answer.

The silver blade swept through Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts without the slightest hesitation. Before they could even react, he pivoted right and drove a second slash. Flame coiled along the blade in a spiral and carved through every remaining Green Ghost and Red Ghost.

In the blink of an eye, ten heads rolled across the dirt.

"Uh…"

"Hah—!"

The people who had been a heartbeat from dying under a Green Ghost's blade collapsed where they stood, gasping for air.

"W-who are you…"

"I'm from House Zieghart. Head to the center of the city. That's your way out."

There was no time to explain. He had to cut down Eden's ghosts as fast as possible before the massacre went any further.

These lunatics…

He had barely been here a few minutes and he had already cut down more than thirty Green Ghosts and Red Ghosts. Eden had clearly intended to erase this place from the map.

Last one should be there.

Raon ran toward a building raised in smooth, curving lines.

"Kyaaaah!"

It was the Temple of the God of Abundance. The doors were already smashed in, and frantic screams poured from inside.

He burst through. An Eden ghost in the armor of an orc warrior was bringing a killing stroke down on swordsmen in brown martial uniforms. Corpses packed both sides of the hall, and behind the swordsmen, people who looked like civilians huddled with their eyes squeezed shut, trembling.

A Green Battle Ghost? No. This one's different.

It was stronger than the one he had cut down at Sebu Village, and its temperament was different too. Both the magic stone and the person inside the armor seemed to be another being entirely.

"What are you?"

The Green Battle Ghost stopped mid-swing and turned.

"I don't like having my meal interrupted— ghk!"

Raon gave the thing no chance to finish. The Second Step of the Supreme Harmony Footwork carried him inside in a single bound.

"Grrrk…"

The Green Battle Ghost clutched its spurting neck and sank to the floor.

A lot of time has passed since then.

Since that day he had poured in time, effort, and more than a few easy marks. Of course there would be a difference.

"Ah…"

"H-he cut down a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Green Battle Ghost in one stroke…"

"Just who are you…"

The swordsmen in brown martial uniforms stared, more stunned by the Green Battle Ghost falling in a single slash than by the fact that they were still alive.

"Are you all right?"

Raon lowered his sword and approached the survivors.

"Th-thank you!"

"Thank you so much!"

Only then did they seem to come back to themselves. They bowed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their heads, tears running down their faces.

"What happened here?"

Raon approached the swordsman who had been standing as if to shield the others. He had dealt with most of Eden's ghosts outside, so it was time to hear the story.

"Th-that's…"

"Come to think of it, where is the Saint? If he had been here, it never should have gotten this far."

Pedrick, the Saint of Rags, was a warrior who had reached Master. His martial strength could not compare to his medicine, but it was nothing to be dismissed wherever he went.

"I-I'll explain."

A priestess who looked to be in her early twenties raised her hand.

"You are…"

"I'm Rozy. I assist the Saint here."

Rozy let out a breath and stepped in front of Raon. Her legs were still shaking.

"Around noon today, I was examining patients from both families with the Saint when assassins suddenly appeared."

"Assassins…"

Raon narrowed his eyes. It seemed Temus had not been after him alone — he had gone after Pedrick as well.

"The Bachin and Trian families have both received a great deal of help from the Saint, so they called a temporary ceasefire and joined forces to drive the assassins out. Fighting a common enemy seemed to improve the mood between them."

That stood to reason. Both the Bachin family and the Trian family had wanted this grinding war to end.

"They decided to extend the ceasefire a little longer and even arranged to dine together — and that's when fires started breaking out along the city's outskirts."

Raon frowned at the word fire. He could already see, more or less, how the rest had unfolded.

"The warriors of both families scattered to put out the flames, and Eden's ghosts struck in that opening. Plenty of Eden's ghosts died, but the family swordsmen who'd been spread out suffered far worse."

Rozy bit down on her lip, unable to hold it in.

"The Saint didn't come out?"

"Of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠course he did. He moved to save people. But he shouldn't have."

"What do you mean…"

He could not make sense of that.

"Because Eden's target was the Saint himself."

"What?"

"The moment he appeared, Eden deployed four Master-level ghosts as if they'd been waiting. Two started a massacre in the city center to draw attention, and the other two attacked the Saint. He was the objective all along."

Rozy let out a deep breath.

"Once the Saint realized he was the target, he took Julius and left Letran. That's the only reason the rest of us are still alive."

Pedrick had drawn Eden's eyes and fled in order to save this city. There was a name in that account Raon had never heard before.

"Julius?"

"He's the reason the war between the two families in this city started in the first place."

Raon understood at once. A child of prodigious talent — the kind of gift that could set two houses at each other's throats.

"Don't tell me Eden…"

"Yes. They were after both the Saint and the child."

"Why would they go after the Saint?"

Raon narrowed his eyes. Eden was always hunting for people to put in their armor, so going after the child made sense. He could not see why they would go this far for Pedrick.

"Because of the flower the Saint carries."

"What kind of flower…"

"Raysin."

"Ah!"

"A treasure that can save ten thousand lives if refined as medicine — or slaughter a hundred thousand if brewed as poison."

Rozy's hand trembled where it clutched at her chest.

"Eden is after the child, the Saint's life, and the Raysin. All of it."

Raon sent Rozy and the others somewhere safe, then headed for the city center where Sheryl had gone.

The Eden officers who had held that ground were all headless. The Light Wind Squad and the carriage had arrived as well.

"I'll keep this brief. Eden is after both the Saint's life and the child. The Saint took the boy and left this place to keep the city from being wiped out. They're still being hunted as we speak."

She had clearly heard the situation as well — she already knew the Saint had taken Julius. She did not, however, know about the Raysin.

"There's one more reason."

Raon raised a hand.

"Eden is after the Raysin the Saint carries."

"Raysin…"

The swordsmen's faces twisted further at a name they clearly recognized.

"The child, the Saint, and the Raysin on top of that? Ghosts getting greedy beyond their station."

Sheryl let out a cold laugh and closed her fist.

"Econ. Raon. You two will take the swordsmen and protect Lady Encia and the people of Letran."

"Understood!"

"……"

Econ answered at once. Raon said nothing, and walked up to Sheryl.

"I'm going too."

"This isn't a game."

Sheryl shook her head, frowning.

"From what we heard here, there are four Master-level ghosts alone. The ones actually chasing the Saint will be even more. You can't handle that."

"I owe him a life debt."

Raon took another step closer.

"If I don't repay it, I'm no better than a beast."

"You…"

"Give me this chance."

At the grave weight of Raon's bearing, Sheryl's eyes wavered, just slightly.