Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Diet (7)
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The search party consisted of three people, including me.
It seemed like a small number objectively speaking. But in reality, it wasn't that small. After all, the total strength of the refugee camp guards was only around fifty.
On top of that, until we returned, the camp's external operations would inevitably be restricted. With such a gap in their forces, there was no helping it.
At least, thankfully, Setia wasn't too far from us. Otherwise, the camp's operations would have ground to a halt.
I received the handover from Captain Andrew and joined my team members at the camp entrance. They had already arrived ahead of me and were waiting. I opened my mouth to speak.
"I'm Hans, in charge of this search party."
"Um, I'm Margaret!"
"Quorens."
One woman with striking orange bobbed hair and freckles. And one curt man. Quorens was openly glaring at me with a prickly expression.
In contrast, Margaret was looking at me with eyes full of excessive respect. Take these two on the mission? I could already see the headache coming—was it just my imagination?
"You must have heard from Captain Andrew. Our mission is to scout Setia and return."
Anyway, we had a job to do. I shared the mission details I'd gotten from Captain Andrew with everyone. Scout Setia and secure anything useful along the way—that was the gist.
"But do we really need to scout? It's Setia, of all places."
"What do you mean?"
"Setia's basically a fortress!"
At my question, Margaret's eyes lit up as she launched into an explanation. Most refugee camps barely scraped by with a handful of soldiers just to fill the ranks. But Setia was on another level.
They had properly equipped soldiers, even a full knight order stationed there. And it was massive enough to house over five thousand refugees.
We could barely handle two hundred. Anyway, Setia wouldn't fall easily. If something had happened, they'd have sent a messenger. That was Margaret's take.
"That's a convincing argument. If it hadn't been monsters, that would've been the case for sure."
"Huh?"
"Monsters beyond our wildest imagination are already crawling all over the place."
"You talk like you've experienced it firsthand."
"……???"
Quorens spoke up for the first time. But his tone dripped with sarcasm. What the hell? Did I do something wrong? As I stood there flustered and speechless, Margaret chimed in.
"Of course! Captain Hans was a famous knight in the past! It's no surprise if he knows things we don't!"
"A famous knight? Me?"
"Oh, sorry! Was it a secret?"
"No, that's not it……."
"A famous knight…… Your body's in no shape for that."
Clearly, these two were ganging up on me. How else could their back-and-forth be this perfectly synced? Making the captain feel like an outcast?!
"One bit of advice, Captain Hans."
"What now."
"Impersonating a knight isn't a good look."
"No, listen……."
"Are you doubting the captain right now?!"
"……."
Now they were fighting each other. From how casually they spoke, they seemed more than just colleagues—close friends, probably. No way…….
"You two aren't childhood friends, are you?"
"Yeah, we grew up together."
"As if I'd be childhood friends with a ditz like you."
"Say that again. Back before we came to the capital……."
"From the capital?"
That was unexpected. The capital was the kingdom's heart, not just anyone could enter. Meaning they were elite stock. And childhood sweethearts to boot? Heh.
"The heavens truly are unfair."
"Captain Hans?"
"Nah, nothing."
"……."
Quorens shut his mouth again. I nodded. Better keep it that way. It'd be good for everyone. I strode ahead briskly.
It would've taken a week at a leisurely pace, but we minimized breaks and ran the rest of the way. Thanks to that, we arrived in just three days.
The massive walls came into view first. But contrary to Margaret's words, the gate that should have been shut tight was completely smashed. Corpses littered the area nearby.
"From the looks of it, they were wiped out."
"N-No way. Setia got wiped out?!"
"……Sadly."
I racked my brain quickly. No need to go inside to confirm. Who knew what was waiting. Anyway, Setia was done for. Time to head back…….
"Danger……!!!"
A frantic voice called from behind. I whipped around, startled—and promptly collapsed to the ground. It was a sword like a table knife from dinner.
But far larger than any normal knife, with veins and chunks of flesh clinging to the flat of the blade. The problem? This gorefest weapon from a splatter flick was halted right in front of me.
Just inches from my eyes. I gasped on the ground. One wrong move, and I'd have been dead. But why had the attack stopped?
"……What? Everything's frozen?"
It wasn't just the knife. Quorens shouting from behind, the blonde kid who seemed to be its wielder—everything was frozen.
Only then did I realize time had stopped. Without me activating it. Did it trigger automatically when my life was in danger? I clicked my tongue.
Thanks to that, I barely survived. Otherwise, I'd be toast. Regaining my composure, I looked at the knife's owner. A little girl.
Golden hair, porcelain skin. But horns on her forehead, eyes black as pitch. No mistaking it—a demon.
"No mercy for demons."
Besides, no room for mercy anyway. Like I said, I hadn't noticed her until she was right up close. Without time stop, I'd be dead.
And time stop had a cooldown once it ended. Kill her, or die. So, make sure she's dead. I drew my sword from my waist and swung.
"???"
Thwack!! A rubbery thud echoed, a chilling sensation running up my arm. I looked up. My sword hadn't severed the girl's neck—it was lodged there.
"?????"
I yanked the sword free and swung again. Still no dice. After repeating it several times, I realized: with my current skill, I couldn't decapitate cleanly.
"Fuck, this thing really won't cut."
In the end, I had to saw through it like a handsaw.
Even then, it took over an hour.
"You took down Blade Wolves, huh. Impressive, sure."
I hadn't bothered reporting it. Taking out a few Blade Wolves wasn't worth making a fuss. That's how he saw it. And he wasn't wrong.
Blade Wolves were only dangerous in undefended spots like this. Against proper troops, they were low-tier monsters that got swept away. Impressive, yes.
For a mere guard, anyway. Compared to knights, it was a drop in the bucket. Plus, you couldn't rule out exaggerating feats with lies.
He'd wanted to meet and judge for himself. And the chance came: Captain Andrew named Hans as leader for the Setia scout mission.
First impressions? The worst.
Unkempt gut sticking out, ill-fitting armor. No way he passed for a knight, or even a proper soldier. Was this really the guy?
"You talk like you've experienced it firsthand."
"Impersonating a knight isn't a good look."
"A famous knight…… Your body's in no shape for that."
So he provoked on purpose. To gauge the reaction. But Hans just brushed it off with a laugh. That convinced Quorens: the feats were inflated lies.
Someone proud of their skill wouldn't react like that. They'd push back somehow. But Hans showed nothing—just let it slide.
That's what he thought until Setia. Then the horror hit, and killing intent prickled. Quorens yelled.
"Danger……!!!"
No good—too late. If even he barely reacted, that guy had no chance. He'd concluded as much and was about to grab Margaret and retreat.
Thud.
Something hit the ground. Quorens, nerves on edge, didn't miss it. But soon, he doubted his own eyes.
It wasn't Hans's head on the ground—it was the demon's. Who……?! Only then did he see it: Hans shaking blood from his sword and sheathing it.
Not even drawing it? Sheathing was a blur. Near-inhuman speed. iaido beyond imagination. Unthinkingly, a familiar name slipped out.
"Royal Knights……?!"
That overwhelming prowess. Just like the Royal Knights.