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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The search party consisted of three people, including me.
Objectively, it seemed like a small number. But in fact, it wasn’t such a small number.
Because the total number of the refugee camp’s security force was roughly around 50 people.
On top of that, until we returned, the refugee camp’s external activities would inevitably be restricted.
Because there was that much of a gap in the security force’s power. It couldn’t be helped.
At least, fortunately, Setia wasn’t located too far away from us.
If that wasn’t the case, it would have caused a huge disruption in the operation of the refugee camp.
I received the handover from Commander Andrew and joined up with the team members at the entrance of the refugee camp.
They had already come to the entrance first and were waiting, so I opened my mouth.
“I’m Hans, the one in charge of the search party this time.”
“I-I’m Margaret!”
“Clarence.”
There was one impressive woman with short orange hair and freckles. And there was one man of few words.
While Clarence was openly looking this way with a displeased expression.
On the contrary, Margaret was sending me a gaze of excessive respect. They wanted me to carry out the mission with these two?
I wondered if it was just my imagination that I could already see a long road of hardship ahead.
“You must have heard from Commander Andrew. Our mission is to scout Setia and return.”
Anyway, I had to do what needed to be done.
I shared the mission I had heard from Commander Andrew with everyone.
The basic gist was to scout Setia and secure anything useful if there was any.
“But is there really a need to scout? It’s not just any place, it’s Setia, you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“Because Setia is practically no different from a fortress!”
At my words, Margaret began to explain with shining eyes.
Unlike ordinary refugee camps, which barely had proper soldiers, let alone just making do, Setia was on a different level.
Not only did they have properly equipped soldiers, but they even had a knight order stationed there.
And it was so huge in scale that it could accommodate over 5,000 refugees.
We were barely accommodating 200 people.
Anyway, there was no way Setia would easily fall.
If something had happened, they would have sent a messenger.
That was Margaret’s opinion.
“Indeed, that’s convincing. If the opponent wasn’t a monster, that would certainly have been the case.”
“What?”
“It means that monsters that surpass our imagination are already widespread throughout the world.”
“You speak as if you’ve experienced it directly.”
“…???”
For the first time, Clarence opened his mouth. But his tone was full of sarcasm.
What?
Did I do something wrong?
While I was standing there dumbfounded, unable to say anything, Margaret spoke.
“Of course, because Captain Hans was a famous knight in the past! It wouldn’t be strange even if you knew something we don’t know!”
“I was a famous knight?”
“Ah, sorry. Was it a secret?”
“No, that’s not it…”
“For someone who was a famous knight… Your body says otherwise.”
These guys were definitely in on it together to mock me.
Otherwise, there was no way this kind of tiki-taka could be so flawless.
Regardless of their beliefs, how could they have decided to ostracize the captain?!
“Let me give you a piece of advice, Captain Hans.”
“What is it this time?”
“It’s not good to impersonate a knight.”
“No, I’m telling you…”
“Are you doubting the captain now?!”
“…”
This time, they even started arguing among themselves.
Seeing how they spoke comfortably to each other, they seemed to be not just colleagues, but close friends.
Could it be…?
“You guys, by any chance, are you friends?”
“Yes, we’re childhood friends.”
“Who’s childhood friends with a dimwit like you?”
“There you go again. Until you went up to the capital…”
“You’re from the capital?”
This was unexpected.
The capital was the center of the kingdom, a place where not just anyone could enter.
In other words, they were from an elite background.
And they even had childhood friends next to them?
Hohoho.
“As expected, the heavens are unfair.”
“Captain Hans?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“…”
Clarence closed his mouth again. I nodded my head.
Just keep your mouth shut like that. That was what would benefit the both of us.
I quickly walked forward.
If we walked at a leisurely pace, it would take about a week to reach the distance. But we minimized our rest and spent the remaining time running.
Thanks to that, we were able to arrive in just 3 days.
The huge city walls were the first thing that caught our eyes.
However, contrary to Margaret’s words, the city gates that should have been tightly closed were completely shattered.
And nearby, there were corpses everywhere.
“Judging by the situation, it seems they were annihilated.”
“N-no way. Setia was annihilated?!”
“…Unfortunately.”
I quickly racked my brain.
There was no need to go inside and check.
We didn’t know what was in there. Anyway, it was certain that Setia was annihilated.
So we had to go back and…
“Danger!!!”
An urgent voice came from behind.
As I turned my head, startled, I ended up falling to the ground.
There stood a knife, similar in size to a table knife used for dining.
But the problem was that it was much larger than an ordinary knife, and the back of the blade was covered with blood vessels and chunks of meat.
This knife that looked like it straight up belonged in a gore movie had stopped right in front of me.
I sat on the ground, desperately panting for breath.
If I had made even the slightest mistake I would have died.
However, what stopped it from finishing the job…?
“…What? Everything is frozen?”
The knife wasn’t the only thing that had stopped.
Clarence, who had shouted at me from behind, and a little girl who seemed to be the owner of the knife, all froze.
It was then that I realized time had stopped.
Even though I hadn’t used my ability.
Could it be that it automatically activated when my life was in danger?
I clicked my tongue and sighed with relief.
Thanks to that, I was barely able to survive.
If it hadn’t been for that, I would have been dead long ago.
I finally regained my composure and looked at the owner of this knife.
It was a little kid.
With golden hair and skin like white jade, but with horns on her forehead and eyes as dark as the night.
No matter how I looked at it, she could only be seen as a demon.
“If she’s a demon, there’s no reason to show mercy.”
And in the first place, there was no room for mercy.
As I said before, I didn’t even notice this kid approaching until she got close.
If it wasn’t for the time stop, I would have really died.
And as soon as the time stop was released, there would be a cooldown.
In other words, if I didn’t kill her, I’d die.
So, I had to kill her for sure.
Without hesitation, I drew the sword from my waist and swung.
“???”
With a sound comparable to hitting rubber, a creepy sensation reverberated throughout my hand.
I raised my head in confusion.
My sword hadn’t been able to cut the girl’s neck; rather, it got stuck in her neck instead.
“?????”
So, I pulled out my sword once more and swung again.
However, I still couldn’t cut her neck.
And, after repeating this process several times, I realized something.
With my current skill level, I’d never be able to cleanly cut it.
“No, damn it. It’s seriously not cutting.”
Which meant I had no choice but to use the sword like a saw…
And even that took over an hour to complete.
* * *
“He took care of the Blade Wolves. Certainly impressive, but.”
He didn’t bother to report it.
Taking care of just a few Blade Wolves wasn’t something to make a fuss about and report.
Clarence also judged that way. And it wasn’t wrong either.
Blade Wolves were only dangerous monsters in places like this where defenses were poor.
If they clashed with a proper army, they were low-level monsters that would be swept away.
Of course, it was still impressive.
But it was only impressive for a mere security guard. Compared to knights, it was a drop in the bucket.
On top of that, the possibility that he had exaggerated his achievements with lies couldn’t be completely ruled out.
At the very least, Clarence wanted to meet him in person and judge. And that opportunity came.
Commander Andrew of the security force had nominated Hans as the commander of the scouting mission to the village of Setia.
First of all, his first impression was the worst.
From his protruding belly due to complete lack of management to his tightly fitting armor.
No matter how you looked at it, he didn’t seem like a knight, let alone a proper soldier.
Was this really the right person?
“You speak as if you’ve experienced it directly.”
“It’s not good to impersonate a knight.”
“For someone who was a famous knight… Your body says otherwise.”
So he deliberately provoked him. To see his reaction directly. But he just laughed it off.
Seeing that, Clarence was convinced. That he had exaggerated his achievements with lies.
If he had confidence in his skills, he wouldn’t react like that. He would definitely react in some way.
But he didn’t react at all and just brushed it off.
Until they arrived at Setia, that was what he had been thinking.
But when he was horrified by the sight of Setia, he felt a murderous intent.
Clarence shouted,
“Danger!!!”
No, it was already too late. If even he could barely react, there was no chance for that man to survive.
He came to that conclusion in his head and was about to immediately retreat with Margaret.
Thud.
The sound of something falling to the ground was heard. Clarence, who had tensed up all the nerves in his body, didn’t miss it.
However, Clarence soon had no choice but to doubt his own eyes.
What had fallen to the ground was not Hans’ head, but the demon’s head.
Who on earth…?!
It was then that he could see.
Hans, who had shaken the blood off his sword and was putting it back in.
Forget about drawing the sword, even sheathing it was invisible.
The speed close to godlike, the sword energy that surpassed imagination, he unwittingly muttered a familiar name.
“Royal Knights…?!”
That overwhelming power.
It was as if he was looking at the Royal Knights.
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