Grrrooowwwl!
Before the sound even reached them, it was Klein who reacted first.
At just 17 years old, Klein was the first to sense the dense killing intent bursting from the distant mountain.
He immediately grabbed the sword propped in a corner of the room and dashed outside.
A bit slower than Klein but still the fastest to react among the knights was Layerd, the commander, of the knights who had escorted them all the way here.
“Young master!”
“Yes.”
The two understood the situation without exchanging further words.
A dungeon wave.
Of course, Klein had never experienced one before.
His actual combat experience with monsters was so limited that it could be counted on one hand.
But Klein relied on his exceptional instinctive senses to grasp and accept the situation.
“We need to evacuate the villagers first.”
“I understand, young master. Everyone, listen up! Evacuate the villagers and then gather on the east side of the village immediately!”
“Understood!!”
The knights who came out later hurriedly ran outside, followed by Shane walking out.
“Klein.”
“Big brother.”
“It’s a dungeon wave.”
“…Yes.”
Klein’s eyes briefly flashed with surprise. Perhaps, he didn’t expect his brother to realize this so quickly.
It wasn’t a sign of underestimating his brother.
Rather, it was because his brother was remarkably calm.
“What shall we do?”
At Shane’s question, Klein hesitated for a moment.
The brother he knew would typically have taken command rather than asking him what to do.
He respected his brother, but any delay might result in the monsters devastating the village.
Was it right to respect his brother in such a situation?
He pondered this dilemma.
However, Klein shook off such thoughts and cautiously began to respond to Shane’s question.
“If a battle takes place in the village, the damage to the village could be significant. Therefore, I plan to strike first with Commander Layerd.”
“Do so. I leave the command to you.”
Layerd also could not hide his surprise at Shane’s composed demeanor.
He had not expected Shane to accept the situation so easily.
Furthermore, Shane had entrusted Klein with the command.
Of course, the true command authority lay with Commander Layerd, but knowing Klein’s capabilities well, he had no intention of taking command himself.
“However, leave five knights behind. I will stay here to protect the village.”
“…Understood.”
Although it was almost a demand, Klein accepted it without objection.
It was only right to have emergency forces ready to protect the village, especially since there were few among the village militia capable of overcoming the Monster Fear coming from afar.
“Then, brother, I will be off.”
“Yes, return safely.”
Both Klein and Commander Layerd flinched at Shane’s words but they quickly moved on.
It was more important to resolve the disturbance quickly than to focus on Shane’s changed behavior at that moment.
***
As soon as they heard the Monster Fear, the Wayton mercenary band immediately rushed to the lodging where their patron was staying.
There they saw the knights of the Clayton family, ready for battle and bustling about.
The knights issued evacuation orders to the citizens with voices amplified by magic.
“Shit, how embarrassing…”
Just then, as Wayton came out of the lodging, he locked eyes with the caravan’s leader.
“Uh, Captain Wayton, what should we do?”
“Isn’t there something else you want beyond this wave?”
“Ahem! Indeed.”
The leader was quite pleased with Wayton’s perception.
While Wayton’s skills were only slightly above the average for a mercenary, his ability to sense and respond to the leader’s mood was top-notch.
At that moment, Wayton grabbed a knight and asked about the situation.
“Sir! Are you heading out to fight the monsters outside?”
The knight frowned for a moment, then relaxed when he noticed Wayton’s mercenary clothing.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m planning to go out with the knight commander.”
“Will your current forces be sufficient? I wonder if any monsters might bypass your troops and head toward the village…”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ve already decided to leave five of our men here.”
Hearing this, Wayton’s mind raced.
Let’s see, I remember hearing that the younger son’s abilities surpass those of typical knight commanders. Then he must be included in the subjugation party?
After weighing his options, Wayton spoke up again.
“Ah! Then, might we possibly assist at the front line?”
“Hmm… Is there really a need for that?”
The knight considered that having more troops was beneficial, but he questioned the necessity of enlisting the help of a mercenary group.
That was because the knight had trusted people to rely on.
Reading the knight’s hesitation, Wayton quickly continued.
“Still, if they spread their front too thin, it could harm the village. I’ve been on the battlefield for over ten years, you know. I’ve also experienced a few dungeon waves. I promise to help without getting in the way.”
“Then, meet us at the eastern boundary outpost in five minutes. We won’t wait if you’re late, and if our commander doesn’t approve, you’ll have to withdraw.”
“Of course.”
The knight hastened his steps once again and Wayton approached the leader who stood behind him to continue their conversation.
“Surely, the younger son will be the one going outside to fight the wave. I’ll make sure he remains within my sight as much as possible; the rest is up to you. Do you understand?”
“Hohoho, Wayton. Looks like you’re still coming with me after all.”
“Of course.”
Just as Wayton was about to call his comrades who had just shaken off the effects of their drinks.
“M-Mr. Wayton.”
“Huh? Alex. What is it? You heard it too. Why aren’t you helping evacuate the people?”
“Perhaps. Could I also go out with you?”
“What?”
At that, Wayton who always had a cheerful smile on his face growled fiercely.
This was a real situation.
It was no place for an impudent young man who wanted to leave the village simply because he found rural life boring.
Alex recognized Weighton’s expression and hastily threw out an excuse.
“I know! I realize my request is ridiculous. But still, this is my birthplace, where I grew up. How can a coward who flees even from a crisis in his hometown survive in the outside world?”
“Stop talking nonsense and just help evacuate the villagers. That’s what you should do for your hometown. Understand?”
“Aren’t the people already evacuating…! I promise not to get in the way, Captain Wayton!”
What should I do now?
Maybe if I smash his nose with a punch, he’ll just go away?
Wayton was about to raise his fist to do just that, but then,
“I will never ask for help. I just want to see it with my own two eyes. The outside world…”
“…Tsk.”
Wayton stared into Alex’s eyes.
Eyes filled with fear.
The kind of eyes possessed by greenhorns on the battlefield, which he had seen countless times before.
However, there was a will to confront that fear.
It was a look that even Wayton, when he first went to battle, did not possess.
“Don’t blame me if you die.”
“Th-thank you!”
Just as Wayton turned away, he momentarily locked eyes with a young man who had just come out of the lodging.
At first glance, he seemed to be a handsome young boy who was not yet 20 years old.
A boy with long black hair flowing down.
He was dressed in clothes that clearly befitted a nobleman, and he briefly glanced at Wayton with roseberry-colored eyes before quickly turning away.
Could this be the eldest son of the Clayton family I’ve heard so much about?
Rumor had it that he was a noble who was envious of his younger sibling’s talents and possessed little ability but much ambition.
I’d rather not get involved if possible.
Not all nobles were like this, but those without skill who flaunted their authority alone often ended up dying before their time.
Indeed, had he not heard of a mercenary captain who was silently dealt with in just such a manner?
At least he’s not leading the charge, so fortunately, I shouldn’t have to deal with him.
***
Where have I seen him before?
Shane watched the backs of the knights, Wayton, and Alex as they left the village and was lost in thought for a moment.
Shane didn’t know Alex’s name or who he was, but his face felt strangely familiar.
Was it because he had been to this village before?
No.
Although Shane had seen the villagers and the village chief in a past life, he did not remember them all.
It would be absurd, then, to remember the village chief let alone a mere member of the village militia.
Maybe, I will meet him in a more distant future.
Not now, but in the far-off future.
They probably hadn’t met under good circumstances anyway.
Considering Shane’s past life, it was safe to say he had no good relationships.
By then, Shane had lost interest in Alex.
It was then that Rodwill who was one of the knights remaining behind in the village approached him.
“Young master, shouldn’t we devise some sort of strategy for the village?”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.”
“Huh?”
“And have the mercenaries serve as guards for the villagers. Staying here won’t be of any help.”
The mercenaries ultimately did not follow the knights.
The only ones who did were Wayton, who would act as the messenger, and Alex who was a village local familiar with the surrounding geography.
The rest of the mercenaries were ordered to stay behind to protect the villagers.
“…Understood.”
Knight Rodwill wore a puzzled expression for a moment but did not speak more than necessary.
Arguing with the proud Shane seemed pointless, and it seemed unlikely that the village would actually face any crisis.
Reading Rodwill’s expression, Shane quietly spoke up.
“What do you think? Who might the owner of that Fear be?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Rodwill momentarily tilted his head and then opened his mouth.
“It was the Troll’s Fear.”
“Right. And it was a Fear filled with a strong killing intent”
“Yes.”
Shane continued to explain.
“People often make a mistake. They think trolls are just dumb creatures with regenerative powers and strength.”
“…Is there something else?”
From Rodwill’s perspective, it might have seemed almost humorous for Shane, who had never encountered a troll, to make such a claim.
But Rodwill humored Shane with a response.
“Trolls are clever monsters. They also know how to set traps like ambushes.”
“Traps… you say?”
The trolls Rodwill knew were monsters that charged enemies with their brute regenerative powers and strength that could smash even rocks with a single blow.
Could such creatures really set traps?
“Would a wolf go to great lengths to catch a rabbit?”
“……”
Indeed, knights might be a challenge to trolls but ordinary people were merely easy prey.
“Trolls in the wild don’t easily show themselves. They exert their power only after assessing the enemy and deciding they can win. Otherwise, if they deem themselves unable to win, they might deploy strategies like ambushes.”
Rodwill who had fought trolls several times before was surprised to learn they possessed such characteristics, and he quietly became engrossed in Shane’s explanation.
“So trolls don’t carelessly unleash their Fear. If they do, it’s usually when facing prey, and even then, not a Fear filled with killing intent like earlier, but rather to immobilize their enemy’s movements.”
“Then what was the purpose of the troll’s Fear earlier?”
“There are only two reasons a troll emits a Fear mixed with killing intent. One is when facing a large number of enemies, and the other…”
“…….”
“…is when they step out of their watchdog role to become hunters for their master.”
Master?
A master for a troll who was a creature known for not moving in packs?
Rodwill tilted his head in puzzlement at these words, while Shane turned his gaze toward the mountain ridge without further comment.
A faint spark of magical power and shouting sounds.
It was the signal that the battle had begun.
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