âA mission already? Thatâs faster than I thought.â
Rimmerâs eyes widened, as he didnât expect that from him.
âItâs because Raon lifted Burren up.â
Glenn pointed his finger at Burren, whose confidence was returning to his steps.
âWhatâs the mission we need to carry out, then?â
âI was initially planning to give it to a different squad, but I figured it wouldnât be a bad mission for the Light Wind right now.â
Glenn turned around. He looked down at Rimmer with red eyes that could pierce through anything.
âYou know about Porvan, right?â
âOf course.â
Porvan was a neutral city located between Zieghart and the Balkar Kingdom. It was famous for trading and tourism because of the beautiful lake and the large river passing through it.
âThere are multiple cases of disappearance in Provan right now.â
âDisappearancesâŠâ
Rimmer narrowed his eyes, murmuring the word disappearance.
âDisappearances happen rather often, but their frequency hasnât decreased, and the soldiers and hired knights and mercenaries that were investigating also disappeared. It doesnât seem to be an ordinary incident.â
âIf even the knights are disappearing, it should be a serious matter.â
Disappearances alone werenât rare occurrences, but the fact that the soldiers investigating the incident had disappeared signified that there were some abnormalities.
âA mass human trafficking, a secret organization, orâŠâ
âIt could be one of the Five Demons.â
âI agree with that.â
Rimmer nodded to Glennâs statement. Considering the fact that they were even attacking the knights and soldiers, it was most likely the work of crazy people that didnât fear the consequences of their actions.
âThe Light Windâs mission is to save the missing people and remove the reason for their disappearance at Porvan. Can you do it?â
âIâll accept your orders.â
Rimmerâs green eyes, which used to be playful, grew as gloomy as the bottomless abyss.
âWhen do we leave?â
âTomorrow.â
âWhaat? Even if Burren returns tomorrow, we havenât finished our preparations. Thatâs too suddenâŠâ
âA long time has passed already since the incident began. It should be stopped as quickly as possible. And anyway, announcing the mission right before leaving is something you usually do.â
âUgh!â
The corners of Glennâs mouth curved up as he observed Rimmerâs flustered expression.
âIâll be counting on you, Light Wind squad leader.â
With those as his last words, he made his way down North Grave Mountain.
âIâll personally behead you if you humiliate the house with this mission.â
The Heavenly Blade division leader spoke bluntly, then followed Glenn.
âHmmâŠâ
Rimmer swirled his hand, observing them.
âWhen I think about it, thereâs not much I need to do.â
He murmured something that would make Glenn throw lightning at him if he knew, and went to the pub.
âI can just leave everything to that great vice-squad leader.â
* * *
The next day, Raon went to the fifth training ground after finishing his daybreak training at the annex building.
He opened the training ground door while considering the way to perfect the Light Wind formation, finding that the swordsmen were gathered at the entrance.
âWhy are you all here together?â
âVice-squad leader! Look at that!â
Dorian, who was eating snacks while standing like a fool, walked up to him and pointed at the training ground. Burren was kneeling at the center of the training ground, which was even cleaner than usual.
âHe arrived earlier than I thought.â
Raon chuckled while looking at the back of Burrenâs head. He thought he would come around evening or the day after, but he seemed to have snapped out of it faster than he had expected. His willpower was strong indeed.
âI heard he arrived early, at daybreak, to clean up the entire training ground before kneeling like that.â
Dorian whispered as if he were telling him some kind of secret, but people around him could hear him.
âHeâs apparently trying to join the Light Wind squad. What are you going to do?â
âI donât know, since the leader is the one that decides whether we accept members or not.â
Though, Rimmer was definitely going to accept him.
âYou finally stopped being a kid. How pathetic.â
Martha clicked her tongue while looking at Burren. The way she said it was pretty rude, but she looked like she was glad to see him againâafter all, she didnât swear at him.
ââŠâŠâ
Runaan also gladly nodded while hugging Snow Flower.
âWhatâs going on here?â
Raon entered the training ground, looking around at the swordsmen.
âThe squad leaderâs going to be here soon, yet you arenât prepared to train at all! Move quickly!â
âAh, yes!â
âUnderstood.â
The swordsmen that were spacing out ran towards the changing room.
Raon also warmed himself up in the training ground, not paying attention to the kneeling Burren. Burren didnât look at him either. He just stared at the empty platform.
Why are you not greeting him?
Wrath frowned, finding his behavior too mean.
âItâs better for me to not greet him for now.â
Although Burren made his resolution, he must have felt embarrassed. In cases like that, it was more helpful for him to just ignore him.
âLine up.â
âLine up.â
Raon gathered the swordsmen in the training ground to wait for Rimmer. A moment later, the training ground door burst open before the training time. His weird habit of kicking the door open before entering whenever he wasnât late was the same as always.
âGood morning!â
Rimmer went up the platform with wobbly steps.
âButâŠâ
He tilted his head while pointing at Burren.
âWhat is he doing like that?â
No one answered, and Burren raised his head.
âI apologize for being late.â
His eyes were shining intensely as he apologized. Just like the back in their trainee days, the sharpness had returned to his gaze.
âPlease accept me into the Light Wind squad.â
Burren bowed deeply, slamming his head on the ground. The way he was intensely pressing his head on the ground looked like he wouldnât stand unless he was accepted.
âHmmâŠâ
Rimmer licked his lips while scratching his chin.
âI think itâs too late. What does the vice-squad leader think?â
âWhy are you asking my opinion when you said that you missed Burrenâs nagging? You even left a position open for him.â
Raon casually murmured that the position for the third team leader was empty.
âYou jerk! I wonât look cool if you say that!â
Rimmer waved his hand in agitation.
âSince you are going to accept him anyway, just do it already. I have a mountain of things to teach him.â
âSeriously, you are so useless.â
He scratched his head and walked up to Burren.
âAlthough you are a bit late, I canât really refuse you since weâve spent so much time together. Iâll appoint you as the third team leader of the Light Wind squad.â
Rimmer grinned, grabbing Burrenâs shoulder.
âBy the way, how much is the membership fee you brought?â
The way he was making a circle with his thumb and index finger blatantly showed the psychological state of a gambling addict.
âWowâŠâ
âIs he really human?â
âHeâs not human, though. Heâs an elf.â
âWow, thatâs so unsightly.â
Every member of Light Wind, including Raon, looked at Rimmer as if they were looking at the most pathetic thing theyâd ever seen.
âUghâŠâ
Burrenâs face looked like heâd just eaten shit. It looked like he forgot that he had to gain Rimmerâs favor.
âAh, I was joking. It was a joke!â
Rimmer smiled, making Burren stand. He created an energy barrier, then whispered in his ear.
âYou know I wasnât joking, right? Bring a decent token of your sincerity to the squad leaderâs roomâŠâ
Raon was the only one to hear that. His eyes, which were glaring at Rimmer, were colder than ever as he resolved himself.
He would never trust that elf ever, not when it came down to gambling and money.
* * *
Raon called Burren over separately to tell him everything about the education they had received so far. The sword formation and signals were both complicated, but it hadnât even taken a few hours before he managed to memorize them all.
âEven though you finished memorizing them, it will be different when you are actually using the formation. Make sure to practice.â
âUnderstood.â
Burren answered politely, befitting his strict personality. His eyes were sharp, just like when he was a trainee.
âThen, can I practice sword formation with the third group?â
He asked his question with a challenging gaze. Raon chuckled, then nodded.
âOf course.â
âI shall train as well now.â
âAttention!â
As Raon was about to start his personal training, Rimmer clapped his hands on the platform.
âGather, everyone.â
Even though he was a gambling addict, he was still a squad leader. Every member of Light Wind gathered at the platform, heeding his call.
âSince everything seems to be settled, Iâll get to the main issue.â
âMain issue?â
âWhat main issue?â
Since Rimmer was playing around even more since he had become the squad leader, all of the swordsmen tilted their heads.
âWeâve got our first mission.â
âMission!â
âReally?â
âFinally!â
The Light Wind members were filled with passion upon hearing the word mission.
âWhat kind of mission is it?â
Burren raised his hand and asked. It was indeed convenient to have him around.
âIn Porvan City, there are regular and repeated disappearances occurring. Our mission is to find the missing people and punish the ringleader.â
âOoh!â
âSearch for the missing peopleâŠâ
âPunish the ringleader!â
âIt really feels like we became Zieghartâs swordsmen.â
âIâm nervousâŠâ
Since the mission seemed cool, unlike the low-rank monster extermination, the eyes of the swordsmen were filled with anticipation.
âWhen are we leaving?â
âWh-When are we leaving? Erm, we actually leave rather early.â
Rimmer took his time, having difficulties saying it.
âWhen is it?â
âThis evening.â
All the swordsmen that had been getting excited dropped their jaws upon hearing that it was that evening. They figured it would be the next day at the earliest, but the fact that it was that evening managed to astonish everyone in the Light Wind.
âKeuh, how can you be like that?!â
It was so bad that Burren came running out while grinding his teeth, despite having decided to behave himself for the day.
âI know the disappearances require urgency, but since itâs a mission instead of a training exerciseâand Burren just joined us todayâcouldnât you give us some time to prepare ourselves?â
âNo, please listen to me.â
Upon hearing Raonâs sharp remark, Rimmer hurriedly shook his hand.
âYou are right that the mission requires urgency, but itâs not my fault that it has to be today! It came from the upper echelon! The top brass gave the order yesterday! Itâs not my fault!â
He pointed at the lordâs manor with his finger, but no one was looking in that direction.
âOh my! Is that so?â
âYes, yes. Of course, it would be so.â
âYou are really great, arenât you?â
All the swordsmen snorted, looking at Rimmer. Since heâd done that multiple times before, no one trusted him at all.
Hmph! Iâd rather believe that dog shit is a good medicine.
Wrath also clicked his tongue, saying that it was a stupid excuse. Rimmerâs credibility was at rock bottom, to the point that even Wrath didnât believe him.
âArgh! Itâs true, though!â
âSquad leader, since no one is going to believe you anyway, we are going to start making preparations. The Light Wind shall finish the preparation in two hours, then return here. Porvan is located around the center of the continent, so you donât need to pack thick clothes.â
âYes!â
The swordsmen hurriedly left the training ground upon hearing Raonâs orders.
âItâs true, though, itâs trueâŠâ
This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
Being the only one left, Rimmer sighed blankly.
âIs this how the boy that cried wolf felt?â
* * *
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
* * *
Since the chain of disappearances were an emergency, the Light Wind members finished preparing themselves as quickly as possible, then left for Porvan.
Raon and the swordsmen rode the horses at as quick a run as they could, polishing their new sword formationâthe Light Wind formationâduring the break times.
Once Burren finished getting used to the Light Wind formation and became able to lead the third team, they finally arrived at Porvan.
Porvan was a neutral city located between Zieghart in the north, the Owen Kingdom, and the Balkar Kingdom at the center of the continent. It was a peaceful city, famous for trading and tourism, with a beautiful lake called Serty and the Rable River passing through it.
âLetâs go to the mayor first to listen to the situation.â
Since it took a pretty long time for them to get there, Raon and the swordsmen followed the central road towards the city hall, not sparing any time for sightseeing.
As they were about to enter the city hall with a noble appearance, the door opened and a bunch of people wearing robes and armor came out. The four orbs engraved on the left side of their chests was the Balkar Kingdomâs emblem.
âHuh?â
Rimmer, whoâd been playing around at the back all along, raised his finger to point at the red-haired middle-aged man at the front.
âMorell?â
âRimmer?â
The middle-aged man, Morell, furrowed his brow upon noticing Rimmer.
âIs he Morell KazanâŠ?â
Morell Kazan was a famous magician from Balkar that could freely use countless fire attribute magics. He had a magic squad called Salaman under his control, and the people behind him seemed to be Salaman members.
âWhy is Zieghart here?â
âHow about you, then? Why are you here?â
âWe are on a mission.â
âWe are on a mission, too. Get out of the way if you are done.â
âYou! Yoou!â
As Rimmer was gesturing for them to get out of the entrance, a purple-haired woman came out from the Balkar kingdomâs magicians and stood in front of Raon.
âRaon Zieghart! You damn scammer!â
She glared at him as if she would start attacking him right away.
âHmm? Who are you?â
Raon casually met her angry eyes.
âY-Young master. Sheâs that princess from back then.â
Dorian carefully came up to him and whispered.
âThe bitch we met in Cameloonâs auction house.â
His voice was small, but since everyone around them were experts, they all heard the word âbitchâ.
âAh, that princess.â
Raon snickered. He obviously knew that the magician in front of him was the Balkar kingdomâs princess Jayna. He purposefully pretended that he forgot, and he managed to enrage Jayna even more because of Dorian.
âYou are insulting me again when you are nothing but a scammer.â
âInsult? When did I ever insult you?â
âYou lied to me and said that you were a part of Zieghartâs direct line!â
âI never said that I was a member of the direct line, though.â
âTh-ThatâsâŠâ
Jayna apparently was also aware of that fact, as she bit her lip without being able to refute it.
âY-You created that kind of atmosphereâŠâ
âAtmosphere? If you are tricked by the atmosphere, arenât you the strange one there? I have never lied to you, so what do you want from me?â
âArgh! Shut up! Why are you so proud of yourself when you are the one that tricked me?â
âI didnât trick you. You misunderstood the situation on your own, so why are you venting your anger on me?â
âArgh!â
Raon shrugged his shoulders. Jaynaâs face turned red, as if it were going to explode.
âDonât be rude to the princess!â
As he was debating on provoking her a bit more, a handsome blonde man came out from behind her.
He had a strange appearance, as he was wearing a warrior costume with a robe on top of it like a mantle, and he looked extremely greasy because of all the hair oil he had on his head.
âIs he a combat magician?â
Despite his appearance, his clothing was that of a combat magicianâone that Balkar was proud of. He seemed to be the combat magician that Morell was teaching.
âYou mocked Lady Jayna despite knowing that sheâs the Balkar princess! Do you believe you have two lives or something?â
He stepped into the center, opening his robe with his hand. He was probably trying to look stylish, but he seriously looked shabby instead.
âWhat rubbish are you saying? You are nothing but mean rats that eavesdrop on peopleâs whispers.â
Martha crossed her arms and snorted.
âHmm.â
ââŠâŠâ
âUwuuu, i-itâs screwed!â
Burren was silently watching the situation, Runaan was disinterestedly hugging Snow Flower, and Dorianâwho was the cause of the situationâwas poking his head out while hiding behind Raon.
âMean rat? It wasnât even a whisper, since he blatantly said it!â
âNo one told you to listen.â
âYou stupid swordsmen that live in the polar region!â
âWeak-ass magicians that would break with a flick of finger!â
The Light Wind and Salaman glared at each other and increased their pressures, as if they were going to start fighting at any time.
âIs it a mission to search for the missing people?â
Even though a fight was about to break out, Morell casually looked at Rimmer.
âSince you are asking that, you must have the same mission.â
âWe are the ones that will complete the search. You should just return and avoid wasting time.â
Morell waved his hand dismissively, as if he were chasing away a fly.
âWhat are you trying to achieve with all those brats that havenât even finished growing up?â
He sneered, looking at the Light Wind members one after the other.
âWe will see about that.â
Rimmerâs expression morphed into the sly smile that he used when making fun of Burren.
âHow about this, then?â
Morrel smiled coldly, looking at Princess Jayna, who was biting her lip.
âHow about listening to the winner after making the children have a quick spar?â
Because he knew that Salaman was superior to the Light Wind in terms of age and experience, he suggested a spar in order to take the lead.
âA spar? Out of nowhere?â
Rimmer frowned. He looked like he wasnât confident with it, but Raon could tell at a glance that it was clumsy acting.
âThatâs why he keeps losing in gambling.â
However, it seems to have worked against Morell. His smile deepened.
âYou can withdraw if you arenât confident.â
âI canât return without even trying since this is a mission. Fine!â
Rimmer licked his lips. He looked around at the Light Wind members, before pointing at Raon standing at the center.
âRaon, I chose you!â
âHaaâŠâ
Raon sighed, then stepped forward.
âSquad leader! Iâll fight him!â
The blonde combat magician that had been acting up earlier stepped forward. Judging from his expression, he was itching to gain the favor of the princess.
âInield. You should be enough. I believe in you.â
âYes! Iâll never disappoint you!â
Morell nodded at the young man.
âIâm Inield, a combat magician of Balkar Kingdom and the student of Morell, the snake of raging fire. Iâll pay back the humiliation the princess suffered from you!â
Inield pointed his finger at Raon, his expression and posture looking as stylish as possible.
âIâm sorry, butâŠâ
Raon shook his head with a cold smile.
âWe arenât fighting right now because of that. Are you sure you came to the right place?â
âTh-ThatâsâŠâ
Inield bit his lip, his face turning red.
âMoreover, do you even know what that bitchâI mean, princessâdid if youâre trying to defend her?â
âThereâs no way the princess was in the wrong!â
He tried reading the princessâs mood while saying that.
âYou are so thoughtless, despite being a magician.â
Raon laughed bitterly. He looked completely smitten with the princess, whether it was because of her appearance or position.
âI can endure as much insult as you want towards me, but I canât stand insults towards the princess!â
âI just insulted you, not the princess.â
âShut up!â
Inield was throwing glances at Runaan and Martha, on top of the princess. He apparently liked any pretty womanâs attention.
âIâll defeat you right here, and use all of you as our servants during the mission!â
âServantsâŠâ
Raon nodded with a smile.
âThat sounds good.â
âTell me your name. As a combat magician, Iâll defeat you in a head-on fight, andâŠâ
âYou talk so much despite being here to fight. Is that a characteristic of people with a protruding mouth?â
Martha jeered at Inield.
âUghâŠâ
ââŠâ
The princess was just grinding her teeth as she looked towards Raon, not even looking at Inield, and Runaan wasnât interested in him at all from the beginning.
âHmmâŠâ
Inieldâs face turned red. He seemed to be panicking because his attempt to look cool in front of the women wasnât going well.
âW-We are representing our respective groups in this duel. You shall announce your name and what you are going to do! Iâll face you with Balkarâs combat magic!â
Even though Martha made fun of him, Inield didnât give up on trying to look cool. He swept back his greasy hair and pointed his finger at him.
âYou really talk a lot.â
Raon briefly clicked his tongue. He apparently needed a beating to understand reality.
âDorian.â
âYes!â
Dorian stepped up to him like lightning upon being called.
âClub.â
âYes!â
Dorian took out a huge club, one that an orc would carry around, and handed it to him.
âHuh?â
âWh-Whatâs happening?!â
âHow did a club like that come out from his pocket?â
âGaspâŠâ
The jaws of the spectators dropped after they witnessed a huge club being pulled from an ordinary-looking pocket.
âYou told me to announce my name and what Iâm going to do, right?â
Raon accepted the club from Dorian, supporting it on his shoulder.
âMy name is Raon Zieghart. Iâm going to beat you with a club from this moment on.â
He rolled up the corners of his mouth, crooking his finger.
âCome at me.â
A club was the traditional cure when dealing with a shithead.