98: If you're strong, we're all for it.

Van held the massive, snow-white sword of alabaster, stepping slowly toward the sound of battle.

"Hey, Van. You're Kyle's guard, right!? What do you think you're doing joining the fight!?"

"Craft's here, the three sisters are here, Leifan's here too. This camp's more than enough."

"That's true..."

Van's right, but how the hell is a guy who claimed he'd protect Kyle at all costs supposed to be the first one charging into the front lines?

"Hmph. The front's Raidock's territory. This is the rear. Besides, if even one of Kyle's personal soldiers dies, Kyle'll be heartbroken, won't he?"

"Sure, yeah..."

"Besides, I gotta show my worth if we're gonna work together."

No counterargument there.

I hesitate.

"Craft-kun!"

"Craft-san!"

It’s Leifan and the three Casper sisters who arrived.

Perfect timing.

“Leifan. I’m entrusting this place to you, Eva, and Alphard.”

“Huh? What about you, Craft?”

“Van’s joining the fight. I’ll be in the back, watching.”

“So you’re not fighting, Craft?”

“Yeah, I was told from the start to avoid direct combat as much as possible.”

I’ve been warned about that from every direction since we set out on this expedition.

I’d been planning to keep a little of my old mage instincts, but…

As an alchemist, I’m staying strictly in support.

“Just want to see Van’s real strength.”

“Got it. But don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

“I’m fine… hey, where’s Jitarou?”

Jitarou, who was supposed to be guarding Kyle, isn’t in sight.

“Saw him fly off toward the sound of the fight a second ago…”

“Free at last!”

Yeah, his bow’s reliable enough.

A solid support for my private troops.

While we’re talking, Van’s already moved out to the defensive zone.

“Then I’m counting on you!”

I say that and hustle to a spot where I can scan the defense line.

Close to the defense point, but close enough to reach Kyle if things go south.

From the ten o’clock direction, a massive wave of hydras is charging in.

Kyle’s private troops are lined up tight, fully fortified.

Alphard’s in command.

“Hear me! Not one monster gets through! No need to charge! Wear them down with defense. Eventually, they’ll all be wiped out! Don’t stick out! You’re strong enough for this—easy work!”

Makes sense.

A plan to slowly whittle them down by focusing on defense instead of charging headfirst into the hydra horde.

Kyle’s personal troops have trained for monster hunting and such, but this is their first real fight. Practical, no-nonsense—just like Alphard.

Then Van walks up to Alphard.

“Alphard! Let me lend a hand, Your Grace!”

“What?!”

“Huh. Am I not enough?”

“…No. Then I’ll ask it of you. Scatter the enemy.”

“Haha! I’ll wipe them all out if you want!”

Oh?

He’s saying he’ll wipe out that many hydras?

“No. Even if it’s possible, don’t wipe them all out. This is good training for Kyle’s men.”

“Then I’ll focus on the multi-headed ones—pick them off one by one.”

“If you can manage it, I’d appreciate it. But don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I know!”

Van bursts out from the defensive line.

His massive sword roars to life.

"——'Ultimate Chant: Brilliant Slash'!!!"

With a cry that splits the air, a devastating shockwave rips through the earth, scattering multiple Hydras into chunks of flesh.

"Ooh!!"

The soldiers gasp in awe.

"Idiots! Keep your eyes forward! Hold formation! Focus! Focus!"

"Yessir!!"

At Alphard's sharp rebuke, the soldiers snap back to attention.

Still, they’re not wrong to be stunned. Van’s power is far beyond what anyone expected.

"Hahaha! Been too long since I let loose! 'Whirlwind Phoenix Slash'!!"

He unleashes a rare, high-damage sword technique like it’s nothing.

That’s shocking enough. But the sheer power behind it? Even more so.

The technique Raidock favored—yet Van’s strike carried power nearly on par with Raidock’s own.

To be on equal footing with Raidock, the greatest swordsman of Golden Dune, was staggering.

Power matched Raidock’s.

Mobility lagged behind, but that made up for it with apparent defense.

Seemed like a high-damage defensive style.

“Ooooh!? Never noticed this before, but I’m not even tired!? Stamina potion, you’re terrifying! ‘Whirlwind Phoenix Slash’!!”

The way the strong foes were being sliced to bits was quite spectacular.

And then—something important hit me.

Van’s left hand was faintly glowing.

That was unmistakably the Seal Light.

Van was wearing the glove that adult nobles typically put on their left hand, but the seal light was leaking out—probably because the emblem’s glow was so intense.

Only someone using long-range magic like me would’ve noticed.

No, probably Alphard did notice.

Normal seals don’t shine that brightly.

Van’s seal was definitely a high-tier colored seal.

Like he was blowing off steam, he casually turned the approaching hydra into raw material, as if taking out his frustrations.

Yeah. Strong.

So it makes sense he’s so confident about guarding Kyle.

If push came to shove, I could trust Kyle to Van without hesitation.

Though I doubt that day will ever come.

“Hahahaha! Nothing like letting loose with sword techniques! ‘King of Kings, Radiant Flash’!”

Old Van, swinging his greatsword with a grin.

"Hahahaha! Nothing like letting loose with sword techniques! 'Divine Breath Enveloping Blade'! 'Imperial Purple Shadow Dance'! 'Crushing the Path Forward'!"

The massive hydra's body flew into the sky one after another, shattered like toys, reduced to splinters, torn apart.

Still, none of those moves had I ever seen or heard of before.

After completely crushing the hydra’s reinforcements, Van returned with a smug smile.

Alphard was shaking his head, chuckling.

"You went too far."

"Hahahaha! I left plenty for training, don’t worry!"

"I suppose I should say thanks."

"Thanks? 'Suppose'?"

"Then you wanna complain about it?"

"Joke, joke! I’m heading back to Kyle’s carriage!"

Laughing heartily, he strode toward Kyle’s carriage, and I hurried to catch up.

"Old man!"

"Ah, Craft. Did you see my performance firsthand?"

"Ah, so you're not just all talk."

"Hahahaha! You can start worshiping me right now if you want!"

"Going that far’s not necessary, but I’m relieved. You did it on purpose—showed off your strength to the others, didn’t you?"

Van’s old man narrowed his eyes.

"Hm?"

"Yep. A random adventurer suddenly stepping in front of Kyle. I’m the one with Jabir’s recommendation, so I’m believable. But the others? They don’t know me."

"Ah. So you noticed."

"I’m not the brightest, but I’ve been an adventurer long enough. I pick up on the little things among my crew."

"Huh… experience as an adventurer. That’s rare."

"You’re an adventurer too, aren’t you?"

"Hahahaha! That’s right!"

I let out a long sigh.

Now I’m almost certain this old man’s a noble.

At first I was wary, but he doesn’t seem like a bad sort.

If anything, my gut’s telling me he’s a solid ally.

But what the hell is this old guy, anyway?

Thinking that, Alphard came over to me.

“Craft, got a sec?”

“What?”

“Hand me a barrel with酒 in it.”

“酒?”

“Yeah. Figured I’d let the soldiers have a full cup each.”

“Oh. So that’s the plan. Which barrel?”

I’ve got dozens of wine barrels stashed in my spatial storage, so I can pull out as many as he wants.

“One’ll do fine… but maybe I should make it obvious they’ll get a reward if they pull through. Line up about ten barrels.”

“Won’t that just encourage the sneaky ones to steal a sip on the sly?”

"Then that's fine. Anyone who can't uphold the pride of being Kyle's personal guard will get retrained until they're broken."

Alphard grinned.

He thought it was a nasty trick, but still pulled out the barrels and lined them up.

"Alright! One drink each—permission granted!"

"Ooooh!!!"

The soldiers swarmed over, and Alphard muttered under his breath.

"Those two. Left their posts without permission. I'll wring them dry when they get back."

Oh-ho. Looks like the red-haired bearded one’s been marked. Tough break, pal.

He’d barely thought it when the man’s eyes locked onto his. Red hair, beard, all sharp angles.

"Since I’ve been active, I deserve a drink too, don’t I?"

"Van... probably not, given how terrible the wine’ll be for your taste?"

The stuff we serve soldiers? At least we have some. But it’s always cheap. Always rough.

Not fit to be given to a noble like Van.

"Let me see... Oh! It's like water!"

"Van! The other soldiers are probably drinking it with glee! Get back to your post! And don't you dare sleep—guard Kyle!"

"I'm sleeping! Rotation, remember! But Craft's right. I’ll head back proper."

Laughing, Van climbs back onto the supply cart.

Kyle’s cart is right beside it—no real danger. But after showing off that kind of power, I really want Van to keep a tight watch on him.

★2019/10/27 Major addition