Ninety-nine: You know, there’s a moment when you really understand someone.

That night, we guards took turns napping while keeping watch over Kyle and Maina’s sleeping wagon. Nothing happened, though.

Morning came. The camp stirred to life.

Leifan and Marilyn were cooking meals for the soldiers.

It looked like a thick gruel—something that could be made in large quantities.

Rice was the second most common grain, after wheat. Perfect for feeding large numbers, so it was familiar to armies.

Of course, adventurers got their share too.

Carrying enough bread for everyone would’ve been a pain. Rice keeps better than bread, that’s why.

If we could till this vast marshland, we could harvest unimaginable amounts of rice.

Right now, we’re focused on rescuing Zaid. But that reminds me—our original goal was securing this marshland in the first place.

I’d like to get that new village for the lizardfolk up and running as soon as possible.

The Kingdom of Maugaria has food circulating fairly well, but it’s still not exactly abundant.

Thanks to Craft’s wheat—currently in full production at Golden Dune—it should be flooding the markets by now. Still, it’s not quite enough to feed every soul in the kingdom.

But if we succeed in reclaiming this land, the kingdom’s food situation will improve overnight. Life for its people will get better. The economy will grow. And humanity will finally have some breathing room.

That’s how we’ll take a real step toward humanity’s dream: expanding our survival zone.

Which is why eradicating the monsters here is our top priority.

The soldiers clearly understand this. Their morale is off the charts.

Watching those grinning soldiers wolf down breakfast, Kyle stepped out of the wagon.

"Good morning, Craft-sama."

"Uh. Morning."

Maina, who’d been clinging to Kyle’s back, offered a whisper-soft greeting.

"…Hurry up."

"Uh. Morning. Sleep okay?"

"…Mm."

Maina gave a small nod.

Right. I figured she wouldn’t sleep well in this kind of place. But she seems fine.

Wait. She’s been part of this settlement from the start. That wagon ride to Old Goldendown—tough as hell for a noble’s child.

But thinking about it now, Maina’s never once complained.

Maybe she’s tougher than she looks. Or maybe she’s just stubborn as hell.

I must’ve been staring too long. She turned her head away, cheeks faintly pink.

Sorry about that, Your Ladyship.

Brother, I’m heading out to patrol the front lines—keep an eye on Maina while I’m gone, yeah?

Yeah. Leave it to me.

Maina, you’re staying put and waiting quietly while eating breakfast with Craft-sama, got it?

…hnn

Maina nods slightly, quiet and soft, as Kyle speaks gently to her.

"Kyle, you ain't eating?"

I already ate.

Kyle grinned and walked off with Alphard, Van, Leifan, and Master Javir.

The only ones left guarding Maina are me, the three Cassper sisters, and Jitarou.

I’m on night duty, so I’ll have breakfast a little later.

With Maina.

Most of the soldiers had just finished breakfast, so I moved to a quiet corner with Maina to eat without getting in the way of cleanup.

I was shoveling down my congee, but Maina only ate half her bowl.

Always wonder how she keeps going on so little.

"Good?"

"Mm."

"If this swamp reclamation works out, people all across the country’ll be able to eat their fill of this rice."

"...Mm."

As usual, she nodded small, but there was something about her—like she wanted to say more.

"What?"

After a pause, she muttered, barely audible.

"...Keep going."

She stood up then, already carrying her empty bowl.

Even the soldiers holding back were startled.

This one’s the one who looks after Maina.

The soldier lunged to take her dish, but I stopped him.

"Craft?"

"Your job’s clear, but let her do this herself, alright?"

"But—"

"Leave it to me. I’ll talk to Kyle."

……Understood.

Maina walked over to the soldier washing dishes, startling them again.

She handed the dishes back to them, then returned to me with a satisfied air.

She huffed softly, puffed out her chest, and looked up at me.

I ruffled her head roughly.

Yeah, that’s right.

Maina’s one of us, one of the pioneers.

Watching her tackle things step by step—really, she’s Kyle’s twin sister, through and through.

“…Oh, right. Time to connect with Raidock. Maina, hold on a sec.”

“Mm.”

I settled her onto the chair, then activated the communication device.

Just then—

A deafening boom echoed from the heart of the wetlands, deep within the dense mangrove forest.

◆

I am Zaid Gandar von Bairoroad.

That’s me! Why! Why am I running through the mud like some common fool!

At first, it was fine after entering the wetlands. The plants were just grass, and the view was clear—easy to spot the hydra coming in time. But once those twisted, fine roots started showing up, tangled like clusters of branches, the hydra’s destruction rate slowed down fast.

Damn it! Even with that precious stamina potion shared with everyone, we’re still failing miserably!

“You lot! Speed’s dropping! If we keep this up, we’ll never wipe out these monsters!”

I barked it out, and the commander suddenly dropped to his knees.

“Zaid-sama! I beg you—let’s retreat, just for now!”

“…What?”

I thought it was some kind of joke at first. But the commander’s face was dead serious. Almost grim.

“The Healing Potion from Lord Javir is already half gone! And the monsters aren’t decreasing—they’re getting worse the deeper we go! If we keep this up, we might all be wiped out! Please! Please, give the order to retreat!”

He meant it. That much was clear.

I’d thought he was weak for being tired without a Stamina Potion, but now it clicked—why morale was so low.

There’s that saying, “Commander leading the front.”

Sounds stupid, really. But if you only care about morale, it makes sense.

So if I lead the charge with my sword, morale’ll soar to the sky.

I reached for my blade at my hip—then stopped.

Me. Leading the charge. Need a little more flair, don’t I?

Right.

No good. Only forward—push deeper!

"Wait! Deep in the swamp?! No one goes near there—not even Goldendown adventurers!"

The sergeant screamed, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying.

That’s exactly why we’re going! Or are you saying you’re less than adventurers from Kyle’s land!?

Guh... that's...

That’s the point—doing what Kyle couldn’t do! Let’s move!

The sergeant closed his eyes, then slowly opened them.

Understood. … Forward, all of you!

So we headed toward the heart of the marshlands.

As the sergeant had predicted, the appearance rate of hydras had increased dramatically.

And then the fog rolled in—visibility was terrible.

And finally, we run into a group of hydralas unusually strong—soldiers are in real trouble now.

Good. Just as planned.

I stepped forward, mantle flaring, in front of the soldier barely holding the line.

"Zaid-sama!? You can't go out there!"

The squad leader shrieked.

I ignored him. I drew my father’s sword.

"Don’t flinch! My elite! Rise up! Grasp your swords! Raise your spears! I’m here!"

The magic spark lingered beautifully along my flawless blade.

"Oh… oh!"

"Zaid-sama!"

I drove the blade into the hydrala—though, of course, its massive frame didn’t fall from a single strike.

Two, three, relentless blows.

Hmph. My sword teacher said that style was only for people, not monsters. But look—works just fine.

Nah. It’s just that I’ve got the talent, that’s all.

Some officer was muttering under his breath, but the clash of battle drowned out whatever he said.

(This is it… I’ve got to make up my mind. If Lord Zaid won’t retreat, I have to protect him—no choice! If anything happens to him, what’ll become of my family? If I run now, even my whole clan could be executed! I have to die properly, as a soldier, or I can’t protect them at all!)

I’m swinging my sword with a good mood when the officer keeps getting blown back again and again.

He’s been scurrying in front of me since earlier—no problem, just annoying.

The officer still seems to be muttering to himself.

(Shit! It's annoying having Zaid so strong in the middle of everything! He’s stronger than me, so he just keeps pushing ahead alone! But he’s not strong enough to take down a hydra by himself! Absolutely not! No matter what, I’ve got to protect him!)

The officer got thrown back again and again, covered in blood, healing with a potion each time, flickering back into my line of sight every single time.

I was about to snap at him, but then I remembered—I had to finish off the hydra group first.

Then the soldiers stared at me, mouths wide open.

Yeah, that look.

Respect, right?

“How’s that! It’s me with the sword! Nothing to fear, right?!”

Silence.

Just everyone gaping at me, open-mouthed.

What’s with that?

Too moved to speak?

Then the officer stepped forward.

His expression—like he’d made up his mind.

...Listen! What are we!? We are soldiers who swore allegiance to Lord Zaid!

The sergeant’s shout sent a ripple of tension through the soldiers.

We are proud soldiers of Lord Zaid! What is our honor!? To protect Lord Zaid! To become Zaid’s sword!

Well, now, that’s quite a thing to say, isn’t it?

We’re going into battle with Lord Zaid—glorious, honorable fight! You hear me, you lot? Get ready! (……)

Every soldier changed expression at once.

A face set with resolve.

Let’s go! Gotta make it back alive!

Hmph. Should’ve pumped myself up like that from the start.

So I stepped into the heart of the marsh, my troops' morale high—

That was wrong.

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