Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Diet (8)
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From that earlier fight, I'd realized two things.
First, I needed to keep track of how long I stopped time for, even if just roughly. That way, I could calculate the cooldown. The cooldown was a crucial matter.
What if that time stop had been on cooldown back then? I'd already be a cold corpse rolling on the ground by now. And from there came the second realization.
There was a problem with my capabilities.
In simple terms, my current situation was like having top-tier software that the hardware couldn't keep up with. The software was so ridiculously overpowered that it barely covered for it, though.
Obviously, there'd come a limit someday. What if that demon I'd faced earlier had been immune to swords? Or if it had insane regeneration and could easily reattach its severed head?
"Hoo, still a long way to go."
"You're being too modest, Captain Hans."
"......"
I spun around in shock at the sudden voice behind me, only to find Quorens standing there, gazing at me. He'd snuck up without a sound. This guy, when did he even get here?
"Cleanup's all done. Your handiwork was brutally savage, beyond imagination."
"Huh?"
"What are you talking about, Quorens?"
"Look at this cleanly severed cross-section. It's ragged, like it was sawed off, isn't it?"
Quorens held up the demon's head in his hand. Damn, I nearly jumped out of my skin and collapsed. That threw off my timing to explain. Quorens continued.
"In that brief moment, Captain Hans deliberately made your strikes rough. From the victim's perspective, it must have been excruciating."
"I see, so Captain Hans took revenge on Setia's behalf..."
"Something like that."
Well, well? They were patting each other on the back like it was a party. I had to correct this right now, or it'd snowball out of control later.
"It's not that big a feat. That thing was just a low-level demon."
"A low-level demon?"
"Put simply, it's like the boss of the monsters."
She seemed clueless about demons. Margaret tilted her head. That made sense. Most demons couldn't rampage inside because of the barrier.
"Why can't demons enter here?"
"Because of the barrier set up by the Holy Emperor of the Barrekan Holy Kingdom."
"The Holy Kingdom's barrier...?"
"Yeah, if it weren't for that, we'd have been wiped out ages ago."
That day—the one they call the apocalypse. At first, only demons descended on the land. Even so, they were plenty strong. In fact, they easily devoured half the continent.
But people gritted their teeth and bought time somehow. Thanks to that, the Holy Emperor of Barrekan succeeded in erecting the barrier. It protected fully half the continent.
Demons couldn't act inside it anymore. So they created monsters instead. Pathetically weak compared to demons, sure. But able to operate within the barrier.
And those monsters were still gnawing away at countless lives inside the barrier even now. The key point here was that Gourmet Eater Iniestar—a bona fide demon—was in this place.
"Demons normally can't enter the barrier. But occasionally, some low-level ones can operate inside without issue."
"So then...?"
"Meaning that guy's trash."
"No need to disparage your own accomplishments."
I'd just finished explaining, or so I thought. Then Quorens suddenly chimed in. This guy had kept his mouth shut the whole way here. Turns out he was a real talker?
"Sure, it's the lowest tier of demons. But even accounting for that, it could easily slaughter average monsters. Plus, this one's a named."
"Named?"
"Demons or monsters so vicious and dangerous they get their own names. At least ten times stronger than regular ones, at minimum."
"Taking down something like that in one strike...!! As expected of Captain Hans!"
"Can't deny it's an impressive kill. Gourmet Eater Iniestar alone wiped out six—no, now seven—villages."
"......"
I'd tried to brush it off, but Quorens's unnecessary elaboration just amped up Margaret's already excessive admiration. If this were my real strength, fine. But I'd barely won with time stop. It took a full hour just to decapitate it.
This wasn't a place for wild swings. Staying objective was key to survival here.
One slip, and I'd end up with an undeserved position like this. I wasn't cut out to be captain from the start! Damn it, let's wrap this up and head back. I started walking.
Krrruk.
"......"
And spotted a massive wolf prowling through Setia. It looked like a Blade Wolf, but the problem was its size. At least five times bigger.
"A mutant Blade Wolf, huh. Leaving it be could mean an attack on the refugee camp."
"......"
"So you came to deal with that Blade Wolf! As expected of the captain!"
No. Time stop's on cooldown, so I can't. Actually, even with time stop, that thing's impossible. How do you even cut something that huge?
Then Quorens stepped forward.
"You two rest. I'll handle it."
His words and actions synced perfectly. He closed in on the Blade Wolf in a flash, drew his sword—and a surge of blue sword aura cleaved the wolf in half.
"Quorens really is strong!"
"......Come to think of it, didn't you say he's from the capital?"
"Yeah! I heard he's a Royal Knights candidate!"
"......"
That made him a big deal, huh?
Then why didn't you handle that guy earlier?
You bastard.
Today had truly been dangerous.
Quorens checked several times to make sure his head was still properly attached. If it hadn't been, he wouldn't have made it back here. That's how perilous the situation had been.
He was a Royal Knights candidate, but that didn't mean he was on their level. The gap was vast, really. They could slay demons with ease.
Quorens couldn't even handle monsters if their rank was even slightly high. Candidate was just a fancy title. No amount of effort would let him catch up in his lifetime.
"But that doesn't mean there's nothing I can do."
He fully grasped the tear-jerking gap with the Royal Knights. But Quorens didn't wallow. Instead, he chose what he could do. That was his mission.
Back at his quarters, Quorens pulled out a crystal orb hidden under the floorboards. Infuse it with mana, and it connected to another for communication—a magic tool.
Super convenient, but pricey enough to buy a whole territory. The only reason he had it? The mission.
[Contacting faster than expected? What's up?]
"I'd like to amend my previous report."
[No way...]
"Yes, exactly."
He'd reported too hastily before. Maybe unconsciously out of jealousy. He hadn't wanted to admit they were different. But personal feelings and duty had to be separated.
"I've found someone to recommend for the Royal Knights."
[...From you, Quorens, of all people.]
"His skills are the real deal. He took down Gourmet Eater Iniestar in one strike."
[Gourmet Eater Iniestar? That's huge.]
Gourmet Eater Iniestar. Low-level demon or not, its infamy was known to everyone in the capital. The worst monster to single-handedly destroy seven villages.
[A recommendation from Quorens? My trust is skyrocketing.]
The man on the other end of the orb meant it. Other Royal Knights candidates were already assigned to refugee camps on missions. Many had reported in.
But all their recommended talents had failed selection. And now, Quorens finally reported—his first time.
[You're stricter than I imagined. Makes me even more excited.]
"There's just one issue."
[Huh? What kind?]
"He doesn't want to make a name for himself."
I'd first thought it was humility. But he was desperately hiding his light. Quorens had puzzled over why, then found a clue in his words.
[Monsters beyond imagination are already crawling all over the world.]
He knew demons inside out. And spoke of unimaginable monsters everywhere. Meaning he'd survived countless bloody battles to reach this point.
That explained his knowledge. But for some reason, he'd quit fighting and chosen seclusion. That was Quorens's read on Hans's situation.
"Seems like he has some past circumstances."
[Sorry, but we can't worry about that now.]
"I know."
[Every other race has claimed their spots in the Royal Knights, one per species, excluding humans. If this continues, ours will shrink further.]
"......"
Royal Knights: the strongest knights, selected purely by skill, ignoring nations or races. Strictly speaking, it was more like granting the knight title to non-knights.
But... every one was an absurd monster. Regrettably, no humans held a spot now. The man in the orb continued coldly.
[We need a hero.]
A human hero to save humans.