The search party consisted of three members, including me.
Objectively, it looked like a small number of people. But it was actually not that few. After all, the total number of personnel in the refugee camp’s security force was roughly around 50.
Moreover, until we returned, external activities of the refugee camp would inevitably be limited. This was due to the gap created in the security force’s capability. There’s no helping it.
At least, it was fortunate that Setia was not too far from us. If it weren’t for that, the operation of the refugee camp would have faced a significant setback.
I received the handover from Commander Andrew and joined my teammates at the entrance of the refugee camp. They had already arrived first and were waiting. I spoke up.
“I’m Hans, in charge of this search party.”
“I’m… I’m Margaret!”
“Clarence.”
One girl with striking orange short hair and freckles, and one guy with a short attitude—Clarence was openly giving me a smug look, while Margaret was looking at me with an excessively respectful gaze. Am I supposed to carry out a mission with these two? Is it just me, or can I already see a rough road ahead?
“You must have heard from Commander Andrew, right? Our mission is to scout Setia and return.”
After all, we have to get things done. I shared the mission details I heard from Commander Andrew with everyone. The gist of it was to scout Setia and secure anything useful we could find.
“But is there really a need to scout? It’s not some other place; it’s Setia!”
“What do you mean?”
“Setia is practically a fortress!”
Margaret’s eyes lit up as she began to explain. Usually, refugee camps don’t even have proper soldiers; they just barely manage to maintain appearances. But Setia is a different story.
They not only have properly equipped soldiers but even a knight order stationed there, with a scale large enough to accommodate over 5,000 refugees.
We could barely accommodate 200! Anyway, Setia wouldn’t fall easily. If something had happened, they would have sent a messenger. That’s Margaret’s opinion.
“That’s certainly persuasive. If the opponent wasn’t monsters, it would’ve certainly happened.”
“Uh?”
“There are monsters lying around everywhere that exceed our imagination.”
“You speak as if you’ve experienced it firsthand.”
“…???”
It was Clarence’s first time speaking, but his tone was packed with sarcasm. What? Did I do something wrong? Just as I was taken aback and couldn’t say a word, Margaret chimed in.
“Well, Hans used to be a famous knight in the past! It wouldn’t be strange if he knows something we don’t!”
“A famous knight? Me?”
“Oh, I’m sorry! Was that a secret?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“A famous knight, huh… For that status, your body doesn’t seem to reflect it.”
These guys were definitely plotting against me. It couldn’t just be a coincidence that we’re having this perfect back-and-forth. No way, are they excluding the commander?!
“Let me give you some advice, Hans.”
“What now?”
“It’s not great to impersonate a knight.”
“No, I mean…”
“Are you suspecting the commander?!”
“….”
Now they started fighting among themselves. Seeing them speak comfortably with each other, they didn’t seem like just colleagues; they looked like close friends. No way that’s what it is.
“Are you two friends, by any chance?”
“Yes, we’re childhood friends.”
“Who would be childhood friends with a loser like you?”
“Stop saying that. Before going to the capital…”
“You’re from the capital?”
That was unexpected. The capital is the heart of the kingdom, a place not everyone can enter. This means they come from an elite background. And there’s a childhood friend beside them? Hehehe.
“The heavens are indeed unfair.”
“Hans?”
“Oh, never mind.”
“….”
Clarence closed his mouth again. I nodded. Better for both of us if he keeps quiet. I quickly walked forward.
Leisurely walking would usually take about a week, but we minimized our breaks and ran the whole time. Thanks to that, we arrived in just three days.
The enormous castle wall was the first thing that caught my eye. However, contrary to Margaret’s words, the gate that should have been securely shut was completely destroyed, and corpses were scattered everywhere.
“It seems that they’ve been annihilated.”
“N-No way. Setia was annihilated?!”
“…Unfortunately.”
I quickly racked my brain. There was no need for us to go inside to confirm. I didn’t know what awaited us inside. One thing was for sure, Setia had been utterly annihilated. I needed to return and…
“Danger…!!!”
A hurried voice came from behind. Curious, I turned my head, and was shocked enough to almost sit down. There was a knife, similar to a table knife used for meals, but much larger, stopped right in front of me, coated in blood and flesh.
What the hell? Why did it stop just before reaching me?
“…What is this? Everything is frozen.”
It wasn’t just the knife. Clarence, shouting from behind, and a small blonde child, who seemed to be the knife’s owner, were all frozen in place.
At that moment, I realized time had stopped. How could it be? Even without me using my ability? Could it be that it activates automatically when my life is in danger? I clicked my tongue.
Thanks to that, I barely saved my life. If not, I would have been dead long ago. Once I regained my composure, I looked at the knife’s owner. It was a little girl.
She had golden hair and skin as white as jade, but she had horns on her forehead, and her eyes were as dark as the abyss. No matter how I looked at it, she was clearly a demon.
“If it’s a demon, there’s no reason to spare you.”
Moreover, I didn’t even have the luxury to let her go. Like I said earlier, I didn’t notice her approach until she was almost on top of me. If it weren’t for the time stop, I’d be truly dead.
And, to make matters worse, there would be a cooldown after the time stop was lifted. In other words, unless I kill her, I will die.
So, I must ensure she’s dead. The sword I drew from my waist swung through the air.
“???”
Thwack!! A sound like rubber hitting something, and a chilling sensation raced down my arm. I looked up. My sword hadn’t decapitated the girl; it had lodged itself in her neck instead.
“?????”
I pulled out my sword and swung again. Even this time, I couldn’t behead her. After several repetitions, I realized it was impossible to achieve a clean cut with my current skills.
“No, damn it, why can’t I cut her?”
In the end, I had no choice but to use my sword like a saw.
Even after all that effort, it took me over an hour to cut through.
*
“You took care of a Blade Wolf? Certainly impressive, but…”
I decided not to report it. Taking care of just a few Blade Wolves wasn’t something to make a fuss over. That was the judgment I made, and it wasn’t wrong.
Blade Wolves are dangerous monsters only in places with insufficient defenses. Face them with a proper military, and they’re just low-level monsters that can be wiped out. Of course, it was still impressive.
It meant he was better than an average guard. But compared to knights, it was nothing. Moreover, I couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility that he embellished his accomplishments with lies.
Not that I want to judge him by my standards. I wanted to meet him in person and make a judgment, and just like that, the opportunity arrived. Commander Andrew had designated Hans as the leader of the scouting mission to Setia.
First impression was terrible.
With an unkempt bulging belly and tight armor, he looked nothing like a knight or even a proper soldier. Is this really the right guy?
“You speak as if you’ve experienced it first-hand.”
“It’s not a good idea to impersonate a knight.”
“I hear you were a famous knight… but your body certainly doesn’t reflect that.”
So I deliberately provoked him to see how he would respond. But he just brushed it off with a smile. Watching that, Clarence was convinced. He must have inflated his accomplishments through lies.
If someone takes pride in their abilities, they don’t ignore provocations like that. Sure enough, he had no reaction whatsoever and just nonchalantly let it slide.
He thought like that until we reached Setia. But at the moment he saw the devastation of Setia, he was horrified.
Fear hit him hard. “Danger…!!!”
Too late, it was already too late. If I had barely reacted, there was no way he could survive. I was ready to retreat with Margaret at that point.
Thud.
I heard the sound of something hitting the ground. All my nerves were on alert, but I couldn’t believe my eyes. What dropped to the ground wasn’t Hans’s head, but a demon’s.
Who the hell…?! Then he could see it. Hans was sheathing his sword after wiping away the blood.
He didn’t even pull it out; he just sheathed it again. His movement was practically blindingly fast.
The sheer level of skill, it was as if he were a Royal Knight…?
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