It’s already been a week since then.
Not that anything special happened. Except for that little brat avoiding me. Is he really avoiding me because of that? If that’s true, that’s a bit of a wound.
Of course, I admit I went a bit overboard back then. But still, it’s been a whole week of him avoiding me. Thanks to that, I’m still struggling to find that brat today.
I at least wanted to meet him in person and hear his reasons. Not this sudden cutting off. I stopped people on the street and asked about the little brat.
“Have you seen a red-haired brat?”
“That’s not the important issue right now!”
“Huh?”
“The Royal Knights are finally on the move! To end the war!”
“Oh, that.”
Seeing the excited man shouting, I caught myself off guard. Especially given the reason that it’s hard to find that brat right now. It was because of some news widely spread in the refugee camp.
Coincidentally, a week ago, a letter was delivered to the refugee camp. It was about the Royal Knights marching northward with the military to end the war.
Not just us. All the nearby refugee camps received it too. Of course, the content itself was about requisitioning supplies and troops, meaning they were going to shake us down.
No one disliked or opposed it. On the contrary, everyone welcomed the news with cheers. As if the Royal Knights had already won. However, I couldn’t feel happy about it.
If my memory serves me right, according to the setting, the Royal Knights would be annihilated about this time. And from then, a dark age would dawn upon humanity. Plus, there was that shockingly sudden expedition. Could it be…?
“…So they are going to get annihilated?”
“Captain.”
“?!”
Oh crap, that startled me. Can you at least make some noise? I frowned and turned my head. As expected, Clarence was there, gazing at me with his usual blank expression.
What kind of profession does he have to be sneaking around like that? As I was thinking that, Clarence finally spoke up.
“What did you just mean by that?”
“Nothing.”
“……”
“It was just me talking to myself. Forget about it.”
Did he hear what I muttered just now? I purposely laughed it off loudly. Who would actually believe that the Royal Knights are going to get annihilated, anyway? Just stirring the pot unnecessarily.
I didn’t want to create any useless problems. Meanwhile, I could see suspicion creeping into Clarence’s eyes. Damn it, I had to change the subject somehow.
“By the way, have you seen the brat I’m carrying around?”
“I don’t even know who that brat is.”
Yeah, good for you, you jerk. I couldn’t voice that, though. Because Clarence is definitely stronger than me. If I drop the Time Stop Ability, hands-down, I would lose, no question about it.
“Well, I’m off. I need to find the brat.”
“Got it. Good luck.”
“Yeah, you take care too.”
What a pain in the ass. Keh! Ptooey! I spat on the ground and immediately glanced around to see if Clarence saw. Luckily, he had his back turned.
I don’t know why, but Clarence really made me uncomfortable. What can I say, it felt like being watched. Plus, he always shows up without a sound from behind.
Of course, he can’t help being lucky. He’s an elite hailing from the capital. And even has his childhood friend by his side. Damn it.
“Damn.”
I touched my belly. It had definitely shrunk compared to the first time, but it still felt like looking at a middle-aged man’s belly. Meanwhile, some people were suffering like a dog in that body.
And then there’s that genius living happily with a future partner by his side? Let’s stop thinking about that. If I think any further, I’ll feel so miserable. I let out a deep sigh.
Putting away my gloomy thoughts, I wandered around the village looking for the brat. The village was clearly in a festive mood. The security forces had started handing out cheap liquor they had saved up until now.
And they were having a party with the game they hunted outside. They probably expected the Royal Knights to end the war soon. It’s understandable that people would believe like that after all they’ve been through.
They had suffered so much until now.
Starving because there was no food. Enduring the cold winter winds with just animal hides for warmth. In such conditions, the dying embers of hope had suddenly flared up hot again.
And it was none other than the Royal Knights. The legendary heroes who had defended over half of the continent until now. Each one called a hero. Truly the strongest force.
When the Royal Knights said they would set out on an expedition, people naturally couldn’t help but have high expectations. However, because of that, preparations must be made. If they fail…
Then it would drop even further than now. Truth be told, I’d want to follow them too. But if I go with my current skills, it would just be a death sentence. I’m no fool.
At the very least, I can distinguish when I need to step in. Plus, to be honest, would anyone believe me if I yelled that the Royal Knights are getting annihilated?
“More importantly, I need to find that brat first.”
Where the hell is this damn brat hiding? Not a trace of his red hair in a week. Red hair is already a rare color, so there’s no way I’d miss it.
Today, I didn’t train at all. Just focused on finding the brat since morning. And thanks to that, I finally got results. I managed to find him in an empty lot.
Actually, it wasn’t an empty lot. It was originally a place filled with trees. It was deliberately left as a spot for when timber work couldn’t be done outside.
That’s why I couldn’t find him before. However, now I could see the brat. Because all the trees there were left with just their stumps. I dashed over immediately.
“What is this…”
“Teacher, I finally completed the task.”
“Task? Don’t tell me…”
“I saw a brain dragon.”
“???”
Is that why he’s been acting like this all this time? I was dumbfounded. That’s just a joke. There’s no way he could see a brain dragon! I surely was about to say that.
If the brat wasn’t striking a pose. He placed his hand on the end of a wooden stick attached to his waist. And at that moment, the brat’s form in front of me vanished in an instant.
In a split second, what caught my eye was a red light. It shot forth like a flash. I couldn’t even blink. Eventually, at the end of the flash, the brat was standing alone.
Before I knew it, the wooden stick that had been drawn like a sword from his waist went back into place. It was right then. A scrape chilling sound echoed through the air. Only then could I see.
The huge tree that had been standing firm before me split cleanly like a sheet of paper. There wasn’t even a sizzle sound. It was as if it was measured perfectly. The cut surface of the tree was immaculate.
I stared blankly at that sight. What the hell? I can’t even chop wood with a sword. And he did it with just that wooden stick? As I was bewildered, the brat smiled at me.
“This is the brain dragon I saw.”
“……”
Brain dragon? What the heck is that?
I don’t know, I’m scared.
*
The expedition of the Royal Knights was decided far too suddenly.
There was no way for Clarence, rolling on the ground like a dog in the field, to know what was happening. He knew there were murmurs within the Royal Knights, but he just hoped that those so-called heroes wouldn’t make such a decision based on personal feelings.
In any case, because of that, the recommendation for candidates for the Royal Knights had been indefinitely postponed.
Surely, it wouldn’t be decided for political reasons, would it? Doubts crept in, and at the same time, he denied them. Just when he was growing weary of the continuous doubts.
“…Are they going to get annihilated?”
The moment he heard that, Clarence felt chills running down his spine. The worst possible scenario unfolded before his eyes. The annihilation of the Royal Knights. And the subsequent attacks.
It was undoubtedly hell. However, just before the flames of that hell could reach Clarence, he barely regained consciousness. A man stood before him, gasping for breath.
It’s a story that shouldn’t be possible. The Royal Knights getting annihilated? There’s no way that could happen. Even those who dislike the Royal Knights acknowledged their strength. But the Royal Knights getting wiped out?
“What did you just mean by that?”
“Nothing.”
“……”
“It was just me talking to myself. Forget about it.”
He laughed so exaggeratedly and hurriedly changed the subject. Because of that, Clarence’s suspicion deepened. Could that have just been nonsense? Or could it be advice born from experience?
He didn’t know. For now, discussing this matter with his lord was the right course of action. Surely, the lord would provide a wise answer. Clarence’s footsteps returning were exceptionally heavy.
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