Chapter 254 : The Brightest Light is the Light in the Darkness

Dofang explained about the second S-rank magical beast.

He was so good with words that just by listening, it was as if I could see it clearly.

The second S-rank magical beast, unlike the rather gentlemanly and calm Snowman, was a very ferocious creature.

To put it in one word, it was a white dragon.

Yes, a dragon.

That legendary monster that was known to have been extinct a long time ago.

The individual seemed to have been born from ice.

Its wings and body were as if covered in blue and white ice, and its horns, which grew like a crown on its head, were its characteristics.

So, if the Snowman was the king of the magical beasts, this one was the queen.

However, it only resembled a dragon; it wasn't the legendary dragon itself, so it had its flaws.

For some reason, it only had one wing, so it couldn't fly, and it would attack by flapping its single wing.

Every time it flapped, a terrible cold wave would rush in.

It was a truly fortunate thing.

If it could really fly, a disaster like no other would have befallen us.

A flying S-rank special individual!

If it flew over the barrier and went straight to the capital of the Maia Kingdom, Milgard, Maia would be on the path to destruction.

Its size was about 30 meters.

Still, it resembled a dragon, so it would shoot ice breath from its mouth, and its personality was so violent that it was a mess.

Seeing Dofang chatter on, saying that if it weren't for Hudmilla, who had arrived just in time, that place would have been his grave, I understood the seriousness of the situation.

Well, seeing him talk with such exaggeration, it seemed that the situation hadn't really gotten that serious.

If it had been really serious, he wouldn't have been so cocky.

He would have been moaning about some part of him being cut off or broken.

Should I say it was fortunate?

After roughly finishing his explanation, Dofang looked around the room and then, looking at the duke, said in a rather subdued voice.

"Your Grace. I can assure you. If that thing comes here, the barrier will fall."

"Hmm."

It was a serious tone, unlike Dofang.

'Two S-rank magical beasts...'

I hadn't expected that two special, out-of-class individuals would appear at the same time.

When I heard the news from Dofang, who had come flying in a hurry on Hudmilla's spirit, my head was spinning.

The duke must be feeling the same way right now.

The duke, who had been humming, sighed, covering his forehead, and then, this time, he concluded the meeting.

"...Yes, you've all worked hard. I will discuss future countermeasures with my vassals. You may all leave and rest now."

"Your Grace."

Duke Elsbears looked at me, pressing his temples.

"Don't tell me there's another one."

"That's not it."

"...That's a relief."

The duke, who had let out a long breath, asked.

"Is there more to report?"

"No."

"Then why."

Why?

Because you have to be clear about what you start and finish.

"Is the reconnaissance mission you commissioned to our Sherwood Mercenary Corps over?"

The duke nodded.

"Yes. You did well. The reconnaissance mission is over. You don't have to go out beyond the barrier from tomorrow."

At that, our reconnaissance team members let out a cheer without thinking, and then, at the duke's murderous glare, which seemed to ask, 'Are you cheering now?', they stealthily sat back down.

I took out the commission form and held it out to the duke, urging him to sign.

"Here, please sign."

Even if two special S-rank individuals had appeared. You have to do what you have to do.

The duke stared blankly at the commission form I held out, then looked at me.

His gaze was as if he were looking at a strange creature.

"...You're also very thorough in this regard."

"I don't really want to be. But since I'm in charge of the heavy title of captain."

I received a 'good job' look from Scarlet and got the duke's signature.

"Here you go."

"Thank you. Clean and hot work. It was the Sherwood Mercenary Corps. Please call us again anytime."

"..."

"It's like a fixed phrase. Don't mind it."

I collected the commission form and also received a thumbs-up from our treasurer, Hudmilla.

This is how competent a mercenary captain I am.

The Heavenly Demon added his praise in a condescending tone.

[How proud I am, my disciple.]

See this.

Even the Heavenly Demon acknowledges it.

[And yet, why can't such a person produce the Snow Branch Blue Flame?]

"..."

[To still not have grasped that simple thing. Tsk, tsk...]

I tried my best to ignore the Heavenly Demon's nagging and then brought up the most important thing.

"And Your Grace. Regarding the reward for the commission you mentioned..."

The moment I brought it up, I caught Sorrow's eyes, which had been sitting across from me with an indifferent expression, flashing frighteningly.

"...Please keep it and deliver it after the situation is all over."

Sorrow's flashing blue eyes quickly faded and lost their light.

In a situation where you don't know when the third wave will come, drinking alcohol recklessly is no different from a suicidal act.

No matter how much we were mercenaries who lived without worries, that was not right.

Furthermore, in a situation where you don't know when the enemies will attack, how can you properly savor it, feeling anxious?

The drinking environment is also important.

I had persuaded Sorrow before we came, citing that reason.

Sorrow, who was serious about alcohol, had reluctantly agreed.

That's probably why he was sitting there so quietly.

[It's as if sword qi is pouring out of his eyes.]

...Of course, there were fierce sparks flying from his eyes.

It was probably a silent warning that if I played a prank from behind like Dofang had, it wouldn't be funny.

The duke looked back and forth between me and Sorrow for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand. I will deliver it later."

"Then we will be on our way."

With me in the lead, the Sherwood members got up from their seats in a group.

I laughed at the sight of them, as if they were escaping from a boring meeting room.

'This is Sherwood.'

Nothing else is Sherwood.

Outside, people would call Sherwood the strongest mercenary corps that would never be again, that it was amazing, and so on.

But this was the essence of Sherwood.

What a bunch of imbeciles.

These guys would never grow up.

I confirmed for the last time that the duke and Scarlet were firmly in their seats, as if they had something important to talk about, and then left the room.

It seemed like it was an important conversation, so I closed the door behind me.

Click.

* * *

Click.

The door closed, and silence drifted through the room.

Only the sound of the crackling fireplace could be heard in the room.

Scarlet enjoyed the silence for a moment, then lightly swirled the glass of warm wine and opened her mouth.

"How admirable. He's grown a lot, hasn't he?"

The duke took a sip from his glass and replied.

"I don't know that guy."

"Really? I remember he came a few times before."

"He must not have stood out."

"And now?"

"...He stands out. Like blood sprinkled on a snowy field."

Blood sprinkled on a white, snowy field.

Scarlet laughed, thinking it was a fitting metaphor for him.

"So, what's your impression?"

The duke looked at the wine in his glass.

It was a deep red color, like the guy's eyes.

"Like all the Sherwood guys, he seems a bit out of his mind, but."

"But?"

"His abilities are outstanding."

Scarlet smiled silently.

"He also has the charisma to lead those unruly guys. And he's surprisingly kind and takes good care of people."

The duke remembered Ashuban talking about the black mage, Adrian.

If it weren't for him, Adrian wouldn't have been active on the front lines during the second wave, and he wouldn't have supported him.

"...He also has an eye for people."

"Our Ashuban is a deep child."

The duke continued his praise.

"He uses a mysterious power whose identity is unknown. He's strong. I can't even guess how many large magical beasts he's cut down."

Scarlet looked at the duke as if he were a strange creature.

The duke was not a man of many words, and he was even less of a man who would praise others.

"His performance in the second wave was great. Thanks to him, we were able to block it with minimal damage. I heard Linda was also brought by him."

"That's right."

"It's rare to see a guy who looks me straight in the eye and speaks so confidently... did you see him get the signature on the commission form earlier?"

An attitude that said he would do what he had to do, regardless of whether the opponent was the king of the north or a back-alley thug.

Scarlet smiled.

"I saw."

"He's a man who is clear about what he starts and finishes. His personality is also straightforward. It's been a while since I've seen a manly guy from the south."

"So?"

The duke swirled his glass silently for a moment, then opened his mouth in a blunt tone.

"Guston can entrust his back to him."

Scarlet smiled brightly, as if she had received the praise herself.

There were only a handful of people who had received the acknowledgment of the great Duke Elsbears, who reigned as the king of the north.

But Ashuban had received his acknowledgment in a short period of time.

'Of course, I don't think he cares much about it.'

Scarlet chuckled, as if she could see Ashuban saying indifferently, 'The duke's acknowledgment? So what? Is he going to give me money?'

"..."

The duke looked at her for a moment, then got to the point.

"So, what does the Red Witch need that she came all the way here in person?"

"It's nothing special. I just need some magic stones."

"Magic stones?"

"Yes, magic stones. And as it happens, two suitable items have come up, you know?"

As she said that, she raised two fingers, and the duke let out a sneer.

"Do you need two?"

Scarlet folded one finger.

"No, just one."

"What are you going to use it for?"

"I need it for my research."

The duke nodded.

"Do as you please. An S-rank magic stone is a cheap price to pay to move the Red Witch."

"Is that so?"

"It's a bit much to say as soon as you arrive, but could you check the barrier? It's an urgent matter."

"Yes, well. It's not a difficult task."

The duke stood up.

"Let's go."

Scarlet, still seated, swirled her glass and said.

"Just after I finish this."

"..."

The duke stood there and stared blankly at the Red Witch, who was leisurely drinking her wine.

Only after she had drained her glass did Scarlet smack her lips and get up from her seat.

"Let's go."

* * *

Thwack! Thwack!

"Oof! Little brother! Hud, little brother! Are you trying to kill me?"

"Shut up. You traitor of the corps. Be grateful I'm not whipping you."

"Oof. Oof. Hartz, Sorrow, why are you guys..."

"Just because. It's fun."

"Come to think of it, I don't think I hit you enough last time."

Rest is also an important task.

Controlling one's condition and resting one's mind and body in preparation for the decisive battle is just as important as training.

For that reason, and since the mission had been successfully completed. And since all the Sherwood members had gathered.

I decided to rest easy today.

Let's rest easy today, and think about tomorrow's work tomorrow.

Since the enemies weren't in a hurry to attack right away anyway.

I tilted my glass and asked Shushuruta, whom I hadn't seen in a while.

"Where's Mary?"

"She's guarding the hideout. I couldn't bring her to such a dangerous place."

"Good job."

As I said that, I placed my hand on her head, and for some reason, she didn't brush it off.

She just looked at my hand with a very conflicted expression, flinching.

...What in the world was this cat burglar thinking?

"Hooo—"

Just then, Hud came to the table, letting out a long breath.

I asked her as she drained her glass.

"Feeling better?"

"Kuh— I feel like I can live now."

Shushuruta, who was unfamiliar with this violent side of Hud, sat there and stared at her with wide eyes.

Well. She had probably only seen her quietly doing office work at the hideout.

Hud wiped the alcohol from her lips with the back of her hand and looked at me.

"So, was our captain doing well?"

"Of course. You saw it earlier, right? I got the completion signature from the duke."

"I saw. You were reliable."

"Hehe. That's me."

"So, what's the reward the duke promised?"

When I told her what it was, Hudmilla's eyes widened.

"...Really? The duke said he would give you that?"

I gently stroked Miho, who was lying on the table, yawning, and grinned.

Every time I stroked her head, her pointed ears would fold back.

"Of course. Because it's me. I'm your captain. You can be proud."

"Oh... this is something I can acknowledge. You're fulfilling the unfulfilled wish of the corps. Ashuban, do you want to be the leader of the corps too?"

"Captain of the mercenary corps and leader of the corps. Busy, busy."

I chuckled with Hud.

Shushuruta, who was in the middle, tilted her head.

"Is it that precious?"

"Of course. It's worth more than money can buy."

"Mmm... I don't understand. By the way, where did Schmidt and Linda go? I thought they were here just a moment ago."

"It's obvious, isn't it? They probably went to draw magical beast blood."

"Magical beast blood? Why magical beast blood?"

"She's researching poison."

The sound of hitting stopped, and Hartz came to the table with a relieved expression and plopped down.

"That was refreshing."

I nodded.

"As long as it was refreshing."

When I looked behind me, I saw Dofang lying in a corner of the inn, half-dead.

Seeing him twitching, it seemed he wasn't dead, fortunately.

I raised my glass and proposed a toast.

"Alright, let's drink today. But don't get drunk."

Sorrow snorted.

"Can you even get drunk on this kind of beer?"

Hud scolded Sorrow.

"You always have to add a footnote. Shut up and raise your glass."

"Alright."

We clinked our glasses and exchanged grins.

"To the eternal glory of Sherwood!"

"To glory!"

The situation was heading for the worst, befitting the name 'the worst monster wave in history'.

The appearance of an S-rank magical beast, which had been thought to be impossible.

And not just one, but two.

But just as despair arrived, so did hope.

The reliable Sherwood members had gathered in one place at the right time.

The brightest light is the light in the darkness.

Sherwood.

Now, all that was left was to shine brightly.

(End of Chapter)