Chapter 51: Clashes and Camaraderie

A Noisy Start

The plaza of the gateway city Komodus buzzed with crowds from dawn.

Though the weather had warmed, Komodus, near the empire’s northern border, still saw some in thick armor exhaling visible breaths.

“Seeing people gather this early reminds me of my battlefield days.”

“Oh, did you serve on the northern front?”

“No, I hunted beasts on the southern coast…”

“What, a kingdom dog? Damn, wasted my time on a lowlife!”

“Stupid empire fool, living with northern barbarians made your brain like theirs?”

“What’d you say?! Duel!”

‘Idiots…’

One butts into a stranger’s muttering, the other charges in.

Both seemed equally unhinged.

Fifirel, beside me, clicked her tongue at the scene.

“Do humans care that much about their homeland?”

“Honor can outweigh life itself.”

Patricia countered, hands resting on her shield, calmly watching the farce unfold.

“Don’t you have something, Fifirel, you’d never give up?”

“Hm… Not really?”

“What if someone said to you, ‘The guardian tree’s just a big tree’?”

Monica’s voice piped up.

All eyes snapped to her.

Even hypothetically, it’s common knowledge elves revere their village’s guardian tree like a sacred relic.

Monica’s words were akin to ancestral insult.

Startled by the sudden attention, Monica stammered worse.

“I-I didn’t mean to upset Fifirel… Just something I heard…”

“Don’t care.”

“Really?”
‘Unexpected.’

Fifirel shrugged, unbothered.

“It’s not exactly wrong.”

She explained that the guardian tree’s importance stems from its role as a communal burial ground.

Elves burn their dead, scattering or burying the ashes beneath it—a tree that’s both village center and ancestral shrine.

It’s valued for that role, not as a divine object.

“But desecrate it, and you’d better brace for an elf hunt.”

“S-Sorry, Fifirel.”

“It’s fine, Monica.”

“When are we leaving, anyway?”

Erdike, fed up with the antics, spoke up.

Her words drew my gaze to a makeshift stage.

Two familiar figures stood there: Prince Theodosius and Orphe.

Whatever they were discussing, they looked like they were arguing again.

Typical twenty-year-olds.

I was about to march over and tell them to start the departure ceremony when—

Clang!

“Isidora! It’s starting!”

Patricia’s shout turned my head.

The two men had drawn swords, clashing.

The crowd, gathered for the ceremony, formed a circle to watch.

“Go kingdom!”

“Go empire!”

Cheering, too. What a mess.

Free fight or not, isn’t everyone too relaxed?

I declared to the dueling duo with a serious face.

“Someone win!”

I’m with the winning team!

A Pointless Debate

“Look, you should give the departure speech.”

“Your Highness, stop stalling and get it over with.”

“Why? I know how kingdom folks will react if I do it.”

“And you think empire folks will listen to a kingdom guy like me?”

Their conversation ran parallel.

I was the one being difficult.

Holding the ceremony in the empire’s Komodus already showcased the prince’s influence.

Sure, it’s closer than starting from the academy, but so is the kingdom’s Hazburg.

The academy’s “careful” choice of Komodus likely involved the prince’s sway up to “Aca-”.

‘Probably threw some money around.’

So, I got why the prince wanted me to give the speech.

Handing me the ceremonial role boosts kingdom morale.

It’s a fleeting, meaningless title—why cling to it?

‘They’re clueless colts, kicking up a fuss.’

While I bickered with the prince, the crowd had circled, cheering two students’ duel.

“Win! Flatten those empire noses in their own city!”

“Lose on empire soil, and I’ll kill you myself!”

The noise gave me a headache.

‘Damn kids.’

Gods, can I really lead these fools to hunt demons?

No answer.

I called to an instructor watching the duel with glee.

“Instructor Bella.”

“Yes, Hero.”

Bella turned.

The kingdom assigned her as my aide and watcher.

Never met her in my knight days, but I’d heard her name.

After trying to test my skills and getting scolded by Isidora, she seemed surprisingly naive.

“Should I stop them?”

An instructor asking a student’s permission is odd.

But I’m a count, if only in title.

In the academy, it’s different, but out here, it’s just a count and a commoner, so her deference and my casual tone are natural.

In my first life, I’d have told her to drop the formalities, but now it’s too much hassle.

“Go ahead…”

I easily spotted Isidora in the crowd, eyes gleaming.

Her group was just as engrossed, especially Isidora, fists clenched, focused on the fight.

‘If she had a tail, it’d be wagging.’

Her antics in Glanus came to mind, and my lips curved into a smile.

“Pfft.”

“…Hero?”

“Let them be. They’ll tire themselves out.”

“Won’t it affect discipline?”

Bella’s gaze was serious.

She’d made a name in the last war, hadn’t she?

No clue how she ended up the royal family’s lackey, but her instincts seemed sharp.

Still, heeding her advice was another matter.

“What discipline in a kids’ scuffle? Let it go.”

“…? Alright…”

“Clean up after. I’ll talk to the prince.”

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

Leaving Bella, I approached the prince.

Ten minutes, and it’ll be over.

Might as well harass him in the meantime.

A Hidden Observer

“Idiots?”

A baffled laugh escaped me.

From the building’s shadows, watching the plaza, I couldn’t believe these humans could take down our hounds.

With them, earning a name would be easy…!

[Hey, can you hear me?]

[Y-Yes, Flowing Blood!]

Flowing Blood’s sudden telepathy startled me.

What do I do…?

If I say they’re dueling among themselves before the ceremony, will they be disappointed?

What if they retract the name offer?

[How’s it going there?]

[Uh, they’re still preparing for departure!]

[Really? Slower than expected. They’re skilled humans, so don’t let your guard down.]

[Got it!!]

Flowing Blood’s telepathy cut off.

“Alright…”

Their orders weren’t to wipe them out.

My goal was to gauge their strength and weaken them.

“And, if possible, take out a specific target…!”

Orphe, was it?

The black-haired guy on the stage…

“Wooo!”

“Both down on their knees!”

“Idiot! You’re an empire disgrace!”

“Where’s the sea man’s spirit?!”

‘Wait, where’d they go?’

The stage was empty.

The Long March

Five hours after Orphe’s departure speech, we left Komodus.

The thirty students marched briskly, showing no fatigue.

“Haa… Haa… Saintess Isidora, I can’t walk anymore…!”

“Huff… Monica, hold on!”

Except for me and Monica.

We started mid-formation but ended up at the rear.

Despite wearing light, defensive gear, sweat poured from my forehead.

“Haa… This is why I didn’t want to come…!”

Monica, who shone during the Isidora Love Manipulation Squad, joined the team on Orphe’s recommendation.

She’d wanted to take the exam instead.

“Join.”

“B-But the eastern forest is so far…”

“Join.”

Monica couldn’t refuse.

Tch, is this why she became a heroine in the novel? Forced by the brutal, cider-pass Orphe?

Body and heart defiled?

[The God of War says stop thinking red-flag thoughts.]

It’s just a thought, geez.

Talking about red when you’re glowing red yourself.

Monica’s Bone-Marrow-Telepathic-Magic, or “TeamVoice,” was perfect for small raid groups, so I got Orphe’s reasoning.

Nothing’s more useless than typing orders in a raid.

Still, if Monica’s here because of him, he could at least help.

He’s sprinting ahead alone.

I gripped the bone fragment and called Orphe.

[Uh, Orphe, you there? It’s Isidora.]
‘S-rank beauty reporting, requesting gloomy protagonist’s appearance.’

[Orphe here. What’s up?]

[It’s Isidora. Monica’s struggling with her load… Can you help?]
‘You caused this, take responsibility.’

[Orphe. Got it.]

No reply after that.

But it wasn’t hard to see what happened.

“You look ready to collapse.”

Orphe dashed from the front to us in a flash.

Seeing Monica’s state, he wordlessly took her load.

“S-Sorry…”

“My bad. I didn’t think this through.”

Ooh, sweet protagonist.

Going for the sub-heroine too?

“But we’ll need basic stamina training when we’re back.”

Ugh, damn it.

Typical.

What does Erdike see in this bear?

“Saintess Isidora.”

“…Yes?”
‘Now what?’

“You too.”

Oh, he said something similar before.

Morning arm-curls or jogging?

Sounds awful…

“This should help.”

Orphe, now carrying my load too, looked like a bag golem.

“You’re sweating buckets. Grab a handkerchief from my pocket.”

“I-I’m fine…”
‘Why’s he being so nice? It’s weird.’

“Hurry, we’ve got a long way.”

At his urging, I reluctantly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

Thin cotton, embroidered with Orphe’s initials.

“I’ll head up. Call if you need anything.”

He strode off.

Monica stared at his back, dazed.

“He’s so kind…”

I wiped her sweaty forehead for her.

“Thanks.”

“No biggie.”
‘It’s nothing.’

“Wasn’t Orphe super cool just now?”

Monica’s face screamed lovestruck girl.

It left a bitter taste.

I wiped my own sweat, half-heartedly agreeing.

“Yeah, quite the guy.”
‘Should’ve been mine.’

“See! I knew you’d think so!”

Tall, capable, handsome, kind—an alpha male born to shine.

I wanted a taste of that life…

How does a handkerchief smell like flowers?

That’s kinda creepy…