More Than One Thing to Clear Away
The moment he stepped out of the Lord's Palace, Raon turned back to look at Wendy Ariane.
"My squad hasn't had dinner yet. Would it be possible for us to eat first?"
"Ohh! What in the world has gotten into you?!"
Wrath burst from the bracelet like a thunderbolt. He clearly had never imagined they would eat right away; the mere thought of filling his belly lit his whole face up.
"If you're going to order anyway, demand the local specialty! Tell them to offer up the finest dish this place can produce!"
How about you offer up that gut of yours instead.
Raon shoved Wrath aside and asked that meals and lodgings be prepared.
"Of course!"
Wendy nodded, her eyes burning as if a fire had been kindled behind them. The strength in her voice made it plain she was still moved by what she had overheard between Raon and Wigen.
"F-food? He's saying we should eat first?"
"That bastard's actually making sure we eat? Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow?"
"Is he going to let us sleep, too?"
Burren, Marta, and Runaan stared at him with wide eyes. They had fully expected the mission to start on the spot.
"I've never starved you."
Raon frowned and waved them off. He had kept them from sleeping plenty of times, but he had always made sure they ate.
"You made them graze on grass in the mountains!"
That still counts as a meal.
Being able to forage even wild grass out in the wilderness was something. Food was food.
"Frika."
Wendy gestured to the side, and Frika, the leader of Ranger 3rd Squad — who had guided them here and then vanished — stepped forward.
"Show the swordsmen of the Light Wind Squad to their lodgings and the dining hall."
"This way, please."
Frika bowed carefully and led the Light Wind Squad off to the right.
Raon did not follow them to the dining hall. He stepped up beside Wendy instead.
"Commander of the Yellow Battle Sword Squad. I'd like a word."
"Understood."
Wendy nodded and pointed left.
"This way."
She said there was a suitable place to talk and walked ahead.
"You devil! You fiend!"
Just as Raon started after her, Wrath seized him by the collar.
"Why aren't you going with them?!"
I need to gather information on this place.
Talking with Wigen had made one thing painfully clear. House Arian was far more broken than he had imagined. The head of the house and his officers had stagnated and rotted until the entire family was buried in the mud.
Is that why he told me to take full responsibility?
Looking back on it now, Glenn might not have simply ordered him to solve the swamp's problems. He might have been telling him to come back after changing this ruined house.
"Do you know who the most wicked being in this world is?"
Hmm? A demon, maybe?
"The one who dangles hope and then snatches it away! That is you!"
Wrath howled and shook the collar in his grip with wild abandon.
We'll eat somehow today. Don't worry.
Raon flicked Wrath on the forehead and slammed him into the floor.
"Guek!"
Leaving Wrath's shriek behind him, Raon studied the people inside the house.
At least that's a relief.
Unlike the officers whose eyes had been stained with sloth and greed, the household retainers were not in such bad shape. They were worried about the current situation, but he could still sense the temperament of people who had lived diligently and honestly.
That's thanks to that swordswoman, no doubt.
Wendy Ariane was the only tree standing straight in this family's flowerbed. Without her, it would not have been just the Yellow Battle Sword Squad. Those people would have become no different from the officers.
He was still arranging his thoughts on House Arian when Wendy's footsteps stopped.
"This is the place."
The spot she had led him to was atop the western rampart, overlooking the Swamp of Death. Moonlight pouring through the mist blended with the soft glow of the lamps, creating an atmosphere all its own. If Burren had seen it, he would have muttered something about how picturesque it was.
"Not bad, is it?"
Wendy leaned her back against the wall and offered a faint smile.
"It's nice."
Raon nodded and stood at the edge of the rampart. Even though the night was deep, his senses — which had long since transcended the human — pierced through the Swamp of Death.
It really is just zombies and skeletons.
The mist was too thick to read the far distance, but the only monsters nearby were shambling zombies and creaking skeletons.
Except...
There were a lot of them.
Contrary to Wigen's claim that the undead had increased only a little, Raon could feel a considerable number of presences. If they all gathered at once, they would be enough to choke off this western path.
He pointed at the Swamp of Death and looked at Wendy.
"When was the last time you sent out a reconnaissance?"
"...October of last year."
Wendy lowered her head, looking embarrassed.
"October of last year..."
The year had turned, and more than four months had already passed. That meant they had not sent out a patrol in over half a year. It was a serious matter — nothing to laugh off.
"And even then, we didn't go all the way."
Wendy bit her lip, admitting she had never once reached the far end of the Swamp of Death.
"Did the head of the house interfere?"
Raon narrowed his eyes at her flushed face. She had said they could not go out without his permission, so it was more than possible.
"Yes. Originally, when we send out a reconnaissance, it has to be the scouting party plus two officers — or the head of the house himself. Someone besides me is required, but..."
"And no one went."
"No. I tried to persuade them however I could, but the head of the house said reconnaissance was unnecessary."
"Not unnecessary. Just too much of a bother, I imagine."
The officers of House Arian he had seen in the Audience Chamber moments ago were no different from Wigen himself. While the Light Wind Squad had been stacking muscle through training, those men had been stacking fat through pleasure. Of course they would not move those heavy bodies. Wendy, standing here in front of him, almost looked like the strange one.
"That's right."
Wendy let out a sigh and nodded.
"That's why you look even more impressive, Lord Raon — taking control of the head of the house the moment you arrived."
"It's nothing special. I've dealt with people like that before."
Raon smiled faintly and turned his gaze.
"How is the condition of the swamp?"
"The water level has risen more than half a meter compared to before. If it rises just a little more, there's a chance the swamp will seep in through the castle gates."
Wendy furrowed her brow, saying this had never happened before and she had no idea what problems it might cause.
"Then how much have the undead increased?"
"More than five times compared to last year."
"Five times."
"The water level rising and the undead increasing have happened before, but a difference this large is a first. I had no choice but to ignore the opposition from above and call for support."
"You did well."
Raon nodded. Honestly speaking, House Arian was weak. If nothing unusual was happening, that would be fortunate. But if a powerful monster had been born in those depths, the people here would not be able to stop it.
"That's why I'm sorry."
Wendy bowed deeply at the waist.
"I requested the support, but I likely won't be able to join tomorrow's reconnaissance. The head of the house will almost certainly keep me from moving, saying this place needs to be protected."
He had expected as much, so he waited quietly for her next words.
"Instead, I'll send you Ranger 3rd Squad. I can't say I have them completely under my control, but my influence runs deep there, so you should be able to move freely."
Wendy bowed her head once more, saying she was truly sorry.
"It's fine."
Raon looked not at the Swamp of Death, but at the Lord's Palace behind them, and a cold smile touched his lips.
The Audience Chamber of House Arian.
Raon and Wendy had left, but House Head Wigen and his officers remained exactly where they were.
"My lord."
The potbellied steward standing below the dais lifted his head and ground his teeth.
"Are you going to leave that insolent little brat as he is?"
"He's right. If we leave him be, he'll rummage through our house as if it were his own bedroom."
The treasurer, whose skeletal, withered hands were loaded with rings, nodded along.
"We can't just sit still."
"We have to stop him somehow..."
"If something really is wrong with the swamp, this will blow up!"
The other officers clustered around the steward and treasurer, raising their voices.
"And if we don't leave him be?"
Wigen wrinkled the bridge of his nose and lowered his gaze.
"Are you lot going to face that monster who reached Mid-rank Master at twenty?"
"Th-that's..."
The treasurer could not answer and bit his lip.
"Don't just get angry. Think before you speak."
Wigen shot them a cold look and went on.
"How are we supposed to stop people who have not only force, but justification as well?!"
If Raon had pressed them with skill alone, they might have endured somehow. But the boy had the justification that Glenn had delegated him full authority. He had not given them an opening to play any tricks. There was no way.
"Did you see their eyes?"
"Pardon?"
"The Light Wind Squad's eyes, I mean!"
The gazes of the Light Wind Squad standing behind Raon had been so chilling that his heart had sunk. It had not been like looking at humans. It had been like looking into the eyes of rabid dogs.
"The moment I suggested a banquet and that Raon brat refused, they radiated a killing intent like they were going to murder us. They were mad dogs, every last one of them."
Wigen's lips trembled as he recalled the Light Wind Squad's fierce madness.
"Mmm..."
"Th-there's no way..."
While the officers of House Arian were at a loss, the doors of the Audience Chamber opened and a well-trained middle-aged man walked in. It was Veinder, commander of the rangers.
"You needn't worry so much."
Veinder bowed his head to Wigen.
"It's obvious the Light Wind Squad will take Ranger 3rd Squad with them tomorrow, so I've already made some arrangements."
"Those arrangements didn't work today, did they? Not a single one of them got wet — they arrived perfectly fine!"
Wigen clicked his tongue at him.
"That's why this time I tempted the squad leader."
"Frika?"
"Yes. I promised him an officer's post and instructed him to guide them somewhere where there's nothing. The Swamp of Death is thick with mist — even the White Sword Dragon will have a hard time getting his bearings."
Veinder smiled, saying the Light Wind Squad would find nothing and have to turn back.
"After that, we just send the youngest young lady to clean up any unforeseen situations, don't we?"
"Ahem!"
Wigen nodded slowly. His thick folds of flesh swayed along with him.
"On top of that, I've already sent word to that person as well."
"Already?"
"Yes. The sooner a job is handled, the better."
Veinder bowed his head calmly.
"There's no one else like you."
Wigen patted the armrest and broke into a broad smile.
"If this matter ends well, there'll be a great reward in it for you!"
"You have my thanks."
Veinder kept his head lowered as the corners of his mouth curled up.
"I look forward to it."
"Ahhhh."
Crain yawned hugely and set his fork down on the empty plate.
"Our vice-squad leader doesn't know the meaning of rest. He never takes a break."
He sighed, saying a welcome banquet would not have been so bad.
"He skipped it on purpose."
Burren narrowed his eyes at Crain.
"You saw them too. The officers here aren't like the commanders we know. Getting tangled up with them would just be a headache, so he cut it off first."
He shook his head, saying Raon had done the right thing.
"Raon's crazy, that's for sure — but he's crazy the right way."
Marta rested her chin on her fist and clicked her tongue.
"He's the kind of bastard who would never do anything that would cause problems for us or for Zieghart."
"I know that, but it's still a shame. We never get to rest..."
Crain frowned, saying his shoulders and knees were aching.
"I thought we'd get at least one day off too, but now I just want to fight even sooner. I want to train as well."
Dorian stroked his belly pouch and smiled.
"What? You've finally lost it! You've clearly fallen into training addiction just like that monster!"
"Didn't you feel it today? That we've grown."
"Ah, well..."
Crain nodded slowly.
"He's not wrong."
Thanks to training not only at Zieghart but the entire way here, they could now walk through the marshland as if it were flat ground.
On top of that...
Perhaps because they had trained their footwork on the water's surface, their achievement in movement techniques had surged. Their martial realm had risen as well, and they could now unfold their swordsmanship and footwork as if they were different people entirely.
"Do you know what that flower is?"
Dorian pointed at the blue flower standing in a vase at the center of the table. The entire Light Wind Squad looked at it.
"It's called a Malean. In healthy, nutrient-rich soil it turns red, and in acidic soil it turns blue."
He touched the Malean and beamed.
"Unlike this flower, we're growing bright red in soil named Raon — soil so insanely rich in nutrients it's almost ridiculous."
Dorian raised a finger as he looked at the frozen Crain.
"This is something I felt while traveling with the vice-squad leader. That man never does anything meaningless."
He had felt it clearly at Habun Castle, and again at the Sepia Merchant Guild they had just visited. Raon was the kind of person who, if you just followed him properly, would give you rewards and answers to match.
"I feel the same."
Mark Goetten set down the tea he had been drinking and nodded.
"I met Lord Raon much later than all of you, but I have no regrets. The skill I gained in the short time I've spent with him has already surpassed my own decades."
He smiled, calling it a debt of gratitude he would spend his entire life repaying.
"Well, he's not wrong."
"Among the people we saw today, nobody looked stronger than us except Lady Wendy."
"You can feel us growing, bit by bit."
Every member of the Light Wind Squad smiled and nodded.
"Guess there's no helping it, then."
Burren smiled faintly and clenched his fist.
"We'll just have to keep following that monster brat so he doesn't throw a tantrum."
He twirled a finger, saying the good little Light Wind Squad should just put up with it.
"That's right."
Marta stood up from her chair with a snort.
"That damn bastard. If not us, who'd follow him?"
She stood, saying they should wrap it up.
"Let's go to sleep."
Runaan nodded, already wearing a sleep cap on her head.
The Light Wind Squad rose without a single person hesitating and headed for the lodgings they had stopped by before coming to the dining hall.
Once everyone had filed out and the staff were clearing the dishes, Raon stepped out from behind a dining hall pillar.
How admirable.
He had thought they would resent him for forcing nothing but training on them. He had not expected them to think like that.
"As a rule, you only come to know a relationship between people by talking. You cannot know what lies inside by thought alone."
You understand that pretty well for a demon.
"Did This King not tell you? This King is closer to human than you are!"
Wrath snorted, declaring that Raon would never understand humans as long as he lived.
"If you're done, then food..."
Just as he was about to demand they order already, the dining hall lights went out. The sound of staff leaving through the back door drifted in. They had apparently worked overtime because of the Light Wind Squad and were hurrying to clean up and leave.
"W-what?! Why are you leaving?! There's still someone here! You lot!"
Wrath shrieked, but of course no one turned around.
"You cicada of a man! We're going to starve because you dragged this out!"
Ah, but we do have something to eat.
Raon smiled faintly and pulled a piece of bread from his subspace pouch.
"Khack!"
Wrath's face went deathly pale.
Want some Nadin Bread?
"Put that accursed thing away!"
Dawn at House Arian, before the sun had risen.
The Light Wind Squad and the rangers were gathered before the western castle gate. When Raon jerked his chin, Frika, leader of Ranger 3rd Squad, nodded and opened the gate mechanism.
The castle gate groaned open with a tremor that shook the earth. Dust that had piled up over the years surged into the air, raising a thick gray cloud. Perhaps because the water level of the Swamp of Death had risen so much, mud began to seep, little by little, through the opened gate.
Raon turned back to look at the Light Wind Squad. Just like the resolve they had shown yesterday, there was not a flicker of hesitation in anyone's eyes.
"Ready?"
"We're ready!"
Every last member of the Light Wind Squad answered in a firm voice. The people nearby flinched at that powerful, will-laden chorus.
"Lord Raon."
Wendy Ariane approached the Light Wind Squad and bowed her head.
"As I told you yesterday, I've received orders to stand by. I'm sorry. Instead..."
She pointed at Frika and Ranger 3rd Squad, her eyes shining.
"They will guide you with everything they have. Please trust them and go."
"Thank you. Don't worry, and wait for us."
Raon nodded at Wendy and Frika.
"Let's go."
He stepped onto the marshland first and advanced, and the Light Wind Squad followed behind him.
The last to move were the rangers who had lived here all their lives. Perhaps because they had not gone out on reconnaissance in over half a year, they had barely begun to cut through the swamp when zombies and skeletons started gathering from every direction.
"Nngh!"
"What are these zombies..."
"I didn't think there'd be this many..."
"Th-that's a lot, isn't it?"
The rangers frowned at the undead swarming toward them.
"Light Wind Squad."
Raon tapped his scabbard without slowing his pace.
"Wipe them out."
The instant the words left his mouth, the Light Wind Squad who had been guarding his back shot forward, their eyes blazing a vivid gold.
A single sword strike detonated across the marshland. Of the dozens of undead monsters, not a single one remained.
"Let's go."
Raon gestured to the stunned rangers.
"We don't have time to hesitate."