Thirteen: If you’ve got a purpose, you can fight, right?

The next morning, after breakfast, the four of us—me, Leifan, Persia, and Jitarou—gathered armed.

Though I was just wearing a robe and holding a slim wand.

"Everyone ready?"

"Yep. Minimal gear. Just a little water for emergencies, and a Healing Potion!"

"I’ll carry whatever you need. Lighten up, that’s the key."

"Got it!"

"This is way different from regular marching..."

"Full of spatial storage, that’s how we’re set up. We’re keeping it light, prioritizing speed. Our goal’s just the herbs. If we’re lucky and there aren’t many enemies, we’ll collect magic stones too—but that’s a secondary priority."

"Understood."

Persia was dressed as usual: a slightly slender longsword, a spare short sword, and a dagger. The longsword looked like a real weapon.

Her armor was the light cavalry guard’s gear. Should be plenty protective.

Leifan, meanwhile, was equipped with far more armor than expected.

Small frame, half-plate armor.

Thick shield. Massive hammer.

“Leifan? I’d prefer someone lighter, if you don’t mind.”

“Don’t worry. …Look!”

“Ugh!”

Despite the iron weight on her, Leifan moved with surprising speed.

No fancy dodging—just straight, blunt force. She’d take the hit, not dodge it.

Jitarou, meanwhile, had pulled out a completely different look—no longer the usual hunter’s garb. He wore hardened leather armor, thickened like hide, over a fur-lined jacket.

A machete, fully hardened and drenched in sharpening oil, hung at his hip. A large bow was slung across his back.

The mountain bandit style!

It suited him way too well—had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing.

"Jitarou, coat the arrowheads thick with sharpness oil."

"No worries, boss."

"I'm fully ready too."

"Same here!"

"Good. If we fail, we can just try again. Don't push yourself too hard. Use potions like water, got it?"

"Understood!"

"Yep!"

"...Still different from the military, huh. They drill you to conserve potions like it's gospel."

"Use them without hesitation. You've got plenty to do, don't you?"

"Yeah. I'll take full advantage. Though I don't plan on getting hurt, of course."

Persia smirked, a feral grin on her face.

—Damn, she's reliable.

◆

Approaching the swamp, first I'll scout alone. Use "Far Sight" magic to find a path with fewer hydras.

Return to the group, draw a map on the ground, explain the invasion route.

Got it? If we can avoid it, we skip the fight. Persia—no big booming spells, okay? Keep it low.

Understood.

Front line’s Leifan. No need to kill the enemies. Hold them up while Persia cuts in. Jitarou—stay out of the fight at first, keep watch. Step in if things get messy.

Yeah.

Leave it to me.

I’ll back you up with magic, but flashy spells draw trouble. Keep it subtle at first. Once we hit the goal, we’ll gather herbs too.

Fine. I’ll make sure they don’t get through.

Good to hear. …Alright. Let’s go!

Stamina potion’s kicking in—no fatigue from back-to-back fights.

So we crouch low and move through the marsh. Biggest reason we’re avoiding combat here? The ground. It’s a mess.

Every step sinks the water up to my shins.

Thankfully, the reeds are thick enough that we don’t plunge in like in a swamp, but walking’s still a nightmare.

Still, Leifan—whom I’d been worried about—moves through it smoother than expected, so that seems fine.

“Hydra…!”

There were several Hydras scattered across the area. One of them, sensing our intrusion, slithered forward to block our path.

“W-well… it’s bigger than I thought.”

It’s as thick as a log. No surprise it’s big.

“Should we turn back now?”

“No way! No jokes! We’ve got this!”

“Leave it to Leifan.”

The Hydra, sensing our hostility, suddenly went from sluggish to a furious lunge.

Four heads!

Not bad!

Gzzzzzzzzzzz!

Leifan stopped the Hydra’s charge with a shove that defied his small frame.

“Not even flinching!?!”

Jitarou’s voice cracked with shock.

I was shocked too.

Must’ve used some kind of technique.

A production-type emblem-bearer mastering a combat skill? That’d take a lifetime of training!

“Good! Hold it down! Take this! Tornado Phoenix Slash!”

Persia’s attack was an advanced form of the adventurer’s favorite “Gale Sword Slash.”

That should’ve taken off at least one of the Hydra’s heads.

Huhk!

The air split clean as Persia’s sword swung through—no resistance, like it was cutting through nothing.

“Huh?”

“Wait—?”

Persia’s flurry didn’t just knock off all four heads cleanly—it kept going, tearing the thick torso apart in a single, brutal sweep.

“…Huh?”

Persia herself seemed the most surprised, eyes wide, alternately staring at the pile of dice-steak that was the hydra’s remains and then at her own sword.

“Thought it’d cut through, but—felt just like slicing butter.”

“S-sure, that’s good.”

Damn, that’s the legendary-grade sharpness oil for you.

“Craft! Got the gemstone!”

“Y-yeah, got it. Let’s go!”

Jitarou had somehow already collected the gemstone. Honestly, he’s starting to look like a proper bandit now.

“Huh… hehe…”

“Huh?”

I looked up at the strange sound. Leifan was there, grinning crookedly.

“This… this is it!”

“Hey! Wait! Leifan!”

“Hehe! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

“Gah! Move, Craft! Jitarou!”

“Don’t worry about us! Stick with Leifan, Persia!”

“Got it!”

Persia scrambles after Leifan, who charges straight ahead—insane speed, barreling into the hydra swarm.

“Jitarou! We’re following!”

“Hehe! Hahahaha!”

Underestimating the front-line’s endless stamina.

Leifan plows into the hydra like a battering ram, stops its momentum by flipping it over—and Persia follows up with a quick, precise mince.

No idea what’s going on.

All I can do is follow behind, scooping up magic stones as severed serpent pieces scatter across the path.

“Hahahaha! Ahaahahahaha! You, you snake bastard! This is for everyone… for my family! My revenge!!”

"Hahahaha! Cyclone Phoenix Slash! Thunderous Assault Cut! One flash, one blaze! Shadowless Barrage! I can keep going all day! Don’t even feel tired! What the hell is this fun!!"

Two figures carving up Hydra corpses, sending sprays of water high into the air.

By then, the Hydras were fleeing with everything they had, but the two kept up a furious pace, chasing them down and finishing each one off.

We stood there, trembling, watching the spectacle.

"Don’t get too close."

"Y-yeah, sis…"

"A, herbs! Found some!"

"Over here too. Let’s not piss them off."

"Uh-huh."

And so, every last Hydra in sight had been driven out of the marshland.

"Sorry… we kinda ignored the plan."

"“No problem at all! Lord Leifan!!”"

We both snapped into salute—no idea why.

"Ugh. Leifan’s the one charging ahead, what else could I do? Had to! Had to!"

Hey, you were definitely having fun, weren’t you!?

You’re not some troublemaker stuck with Kyle just 'cause you’re trouble, are you!?

With a few doubts lingering, we still managed to get our hands on the herb we needed.

"Good… now Kyle-sama can—"

"Too late to make it sound all nice and sweet now."

Well, better than damp, I guess.

Old adventurers? Always half-assed.