94: First battle’s gonna be nerve-wracking, right?

Our marsh-clearing squad, having stopped by Zaid’s village, pressed on toward the marshland destination, now joined by Professor Jabir and the mysterious adventurer Van Vain.

Originally, we’d planned to spend the night in the village, but Zaid’s idiotic move—leading his soldiers straight into the dangerous zone—meant we had to push as far as we could into the marshes before sunset, just to rescue them.

We picked a campsite. I pulled out tents and gear from my spatial storage.

We’d done this a dozen times on the road from Goldendown to Zaid’s village, so everyone was already moving with practiced ease.

After setting up the sleeping carriage for Kyle and Maina, Kyle and the others—now that overall command was wrapped up—came over to us.

“Hey, good work.”

“I just watched. Didn’t do anything.”

“That’s the job of a commander. Good work.”

Maina and Alphard, the guard, were with Kyle. Professor Javir. And Van.

Hmm. Didn’t expect the professor to be walking with Kyle.

They seemed like they knew each other. Maybe they had something to talk about. But the professor’s eyes kept drifting to Van.

Kinda… fuzzy feeling.

No idea why.

Kyle glanced around.

We’d be at the marshlands in about an hour at our pace.

“Thinking about it, setting up camp here might’ve actually been better.”

I agree with that.

“Yeah. Wake up with the sunrise, eat breakfast, pack up—hour. Move for an hour. That leaves plenty of time for actual work on site. Didn’t plan it, but it’s the best we could’ve hoped for.”

“Zaid-sama’s safety worries me, but we can’t be moving at night.”

“Yeah.”

There’s probably a lot on his mind, but Kyle’s keeping a cool head.

Guess Kyle’s got real backbone, huh.

I’m proud of Kyle, and Van cuts in with a look like he’s about to break a smile.

“Hold up, hold up, hold up—aren’t you two acting weird!?”

“Van-san? What’s the matter?”

Kyle blinks, staring at Van.

“Everything! Everything! First, we left the village after noon, and now we’re here by sunset? That’s not normal, is it!?”

All the gear’s packed in space storage, so what’s so strange about that?

“This swamp-clearing squad’s made of top-tier members.”

Kyle says it with a smile, but Van shakes his head hard.

This world’s rigged. The strong can get stronger forever. You’d know that, Alphard, or that blue-haired adventurer, Raidock, you caught a glimpse of earlier.

Raidock’s team could’ve moved faster.

Don’t mock me, alchemist! What I’m trying to say is—look at this army! A whole damn army! They’ve got lizardmen mixed in with regular troops! How the hell is this kind of march speed even possible?!

Well, we’ve done marching drills, you know.

That’s not even the point, is it!?

Huh. If you’ve been adventuring in Goldendoon, this’d be common sense. So Van’s from some other region, huh.

Still, that legendary-grade stamina potion we handed him? He’s used to drinking that kind of thing.

Can’t figure him out at all.

Van’s bastard’s got his arms crossed, lost in thought.

“Huh. Kyle and the alchemist, huh…”

What’s so damn “huh” about it.

“Old man. Keep watch on Kyle without sleeping.”

“I’m sleeping!”

Can’t even tell a joke.

We’d set up the sleeping quarters around Kyle and Maina’s carriage, so the main force—including me—was on guard duty. We actually got plenty of shifts to sleep.

Everyone except Kyle, Maina, and the teacher was a fighter.

Funny thing—Leifan’s strong too.

“Now, what about tomorrow, huh?”

I mumbled, burrowing into the blanket.

◆

An endless marshland.

Normally too dangerous for humans to tread.

But for the Goldendown adventurers, this place is a payday.

Far from Goldendown, but Hydral's gemstones are high quality, and medicinal herbs fetch good prices, so plenty of adventurers make the trek.

But that’s just the edge of the marshland.

Me and Jitarou, plus Leifan—we came out for a light reconnaissance.

Jitarou and Leifan, both seeing the marshland again after a long time, scanned the area.

“Craft, how big’s this marshland, anyway?”

“Surveyed by adventurers. Bigger than we thought.”

“Bigger than Goldendown’s planned outer wall?”

The city wall planned for Goldendown is divided into three massive tiers.

The innermost wall will encircle the fortress under construction—but that’s the final phase.

We all remember the uproar during the Cocatrice raid, when the wall wasn’t finished. That’s what’s protecting the city now.

The city’s already enormous as it is, but they’re building the wall to enclose an area several times larger.

When it’s done, it’ll be big enough to fit a dozen capital cities. Insane.

Jitarou’s talking about that damn huge outer wall.

But even so, the marshland’s way bigger.

“Nah, the marshland’s not even in the same league. It’s way bigger.”

Even if the Golden Dune’s final area is massive, if the marshland were only that size, we wouldn’t need this many troops.

Then Leifan steps beside us.

“Um, Jitarou-san. The shallow parts you can see now, where grass grows in patches—those are the outer edges of the marshland. Most adventurers hunt Hydras or gather herbs right there.”

We used to go hunting herbs out here on the edge, huh? We went pretty deep in, though, didn’t we?

Just barely the outer zone. Beyond that’s the middle zone—what we’ve just figured out from the survey.

I know this from the adventurer’s report. It’s a real mess.

I pick up Leifan’s words.

Seems like the vegetation changes once you get into the middle zone.

That faint green in the distance? I thought it was the forest on the other side of the marsh. Wrong.

The edge of the marsh? That’s where the real show starts. That’s the core.

Too damn wide.

I tried checking with “Far Sight” magic. The plants there? Nothing like the forest.

Different vegetation. Means the types of plants growing here are completely different from the ones around us.

Seems like mangroves and other plants with fine, branching roots are getting more common here.

Never thought we’d push through the outer perimeter where hydras roam freely and go all the way in.

But this time…

I head back to Kyle’s group after finishing reconnaissance.

“Zaid’s squad’s not in sight, as far as we can tell. So, Kyle—what’s the plan?”

“First, secure the area around us. Then look for tracks.”

Even someone like him’s worried about Zaid. Kyle’s face is tight.

So I keep my tone light, lift the corners of my mouth.

“Got it. Commander.”

“H-hey… Craft-sama, that’s embarrassing.”

“Just kidding.”

I ruffle Kyle’s hair on purpose. The tension in his shoulders eases.

“…Hm?”

“Maina?”

Maina stepped forward from behind Kyle and leaned in, poking her head over his shoulder.

I rubbed her head back the same way, and she clung to my cloak with a satisfied hum.

Uh… I’m kind of stuck like this right now…

Van watched the whole thing with one eye half-lidded.

“Do you guys always mess around like this?”

“Better than being tense, right?”

“Yeah… I guess…”

Van tilted his head, not quite convinced, arms crossed. But I ignored him. Ignored him completely.

Alphard, ready, saluted Kyle.

“Commander Kyle! All forces are ready! Please give your orders!”

Looks like we’re back in Syriastime.

“Understood.”

Kyle raised one hand high, face set in resolve.

“Then, Raidock’s adventurer unit will charge first. Next, deploy Julara’s lizardman force!”

This was Kyle’s first battle.

Persia’d probably be bawling her eyes out right now.

Alphard returns with a crisp salute.

“Hai! Understood!”

That bastard’s straining to keep it together, but damn, you’re on the verge of tears too, aren’t you?

Did he hear that thought in my head? Alphard glares at me.

“Craft! It’s your turn now! Contact both units!”

“Got it!”

Looks like I’m not getting chewed out after all.

Now then. The thing I’ve been meaning to say a few times now—why I have to stay with Kyle.

It’s because…

“Kyle. I’m going to contact Raidock and Shururu (……).”

“Yes!”

That’s the gist of it. I’m just a messenger.

A messenger who doesn’t need runners. Just a magical communication device on my finger, relaying Kyle’s orders instantly. Directly.

Hmm. Handy.

I channel magic into the ring—the communication artifact—and begin a mental link with Raidock and Shururu.

Julara doesn’t have a magic artifact, so Shururu’s tagging along.

At first I thought it was too risky—had planned to find another way to stay in touch—but Shururu insisted with, “This is my chance to show Craft-sama something impressive!” and pushed it through.

Julara’s been guzzling stamina potions nonstop for the past month, pushing through brutal training. Now she’s brimming with confidence, boasting, “I’ll protect my little sister just fine.”

Either lizardfolk are naturally built for battle, or the past month turned them into an unstoppable war band. Should be safe. Probably.

First up, Shururu.

“Shururu, can you hear me?”

‘Yes! Craft-sama!’

Not just her voice—her entire view, faint but there. Mindlink’s working fine.

Julara’s tense expression—probably staring at Shururu—was kind of funny.

“After Raidock’s adventurers charge in, I need your Rezardman squad out there.”

‘Leave it to us!’

‘Language, now!’

Not just Shururu’s voice—Julara’s scolding came through too. Guess Shururu’s hearing was picking up at least some of what she heard.

“Your mission, Shururu’s team, is to clean up the enemies Raidock’s lot missed, and search for survivors. Can you do it?”

‘Of course!’

‘Hey! What’s Craft saying!? Don’t just leave it like that!’

‘Craft-sama! When you’re done, please, a reward! A little mercy—please!’

“Are you kidding!? This fight’s to repay a debt!? What kind of reward are you asking for!? Craft! Can you hear me!? We don’t need rewards! Ignore that idiot sister—!”

After that, the pleading of Jurala, the begging of Shururu, and Jurala’s sharp reprimands kept switching back and forth in my ears.

Yeah. Seems fine.

I gently severed the mental link with Shururu and connected to Raidock instead.

“Hey, you’re late.”

I can see Raidock’s grin in my mind.

Right now, his vision shows Solal. Just great—good friends, huh.

“Front line. You ready?”

“Ready? You kidding?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

A natural smile tugged at my lips.

“Raidock. Your unit’s been wiped. Eliminate everything along the outer perimeter toward Zaid’s village. Search operations go to Jurala.”

‘Huu! Feels like I’m gonna get wrecked for once!’

‘Yeah! If you overdo it and crash, I’ll laugh at you.’

‘I’m not some greenhorn adventurer who just arrived in Goldendown.’

We both let out small laughs.

Stamina potions are ridiculous drugs that prevent fatigue, but push your body past its limits and you still feel the burn.

It’s a classic Goldendown joke—first-time adventurers who chug a legendary stamina potion, get overconfident, unleash moves beyond their usual range, and end up failing the job.

‘Alright, count on me.’

‘Got it!’

The adventurers, who’d been waiting with bated breath, snapped into action the second Raidock raised his sword, their energy spiking instantly.

‘Here we goooooooo!!!’

‘‘‘OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!’’’

The adventurer squad—having weathered the dragon slaying, the Cocatrice defense, and every stampede since—plunged into the marshlands.

To put the size of the marshlands in perspective: wider than the Large Hadron Collider, narrower than the Future Circular Collider. Something like that ★

Humidity and air pressure made writing impossible… sorry about that…

Gotta get back on track somehow.

Anyway, in the meantime, Volume 2 is out now!

Volume 2 of the Head Alchemy series! Please pick it up!

M Novels!