Scout 2

Unlike the safe comfort of the wardrobe, the street outside felt ominous, thick with death flags.

Parav kept running, pushing himself farther and farther.

Lyris Marone, the woman whose name he still didn’t know. And the child, who remained remarkably brave, not crying even in this situation.

Carrying all three of them on his back.

Tap tap tap tap—

As he ran, his mind filled with all kinds of thoughts. Strangely, most of them were trivial and insignificant.

Running is uncomfortable with both his hands tied up.

His back feels stiff from staying inside that wardrobe too long.

He wanted to eat strawberries straight out of the fridge.

Why didn’t the Goddess grant Paladins any movement-related abilities?

‘…If only I had [Gigantification] too.’

Then, even with three people on my shoulders, I could run easily. There were many essences that possessed abilities like that.

A wave of envy rose up again, but there was nothing he could do.

Clergy who possessed Divine Power couldn’t carve Essences into their souls like mages.

‘…Seriously, what kind of principle is that?’]

The church claimed their souls belonged to the Goddess and therefore must not be stained by the marks of other souls. How did that even make sense?

“…Everyone, quiet.” he whispered and stopped running, then swiftly hid himself between the buildings.

The situation was simple, they were less than five minutes from District 7’s burning eastern sector. “Looks like the palaces’ army and the Noarkans are fighting.”

“Should we look for another path? It might be okay if we take a detour.”

“If we want to get to the Eastern Branch you mentioned, going through there is the fastest way.”

Going around would take at least three times longer. And with fires everywhere, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t get lost.

“Since neither side has the advantage yet, what if we slip through while they’re distracted?” Lyris suggested.

Sven thought briefly, then nodded.

“Yes. It’s risky… but considering everything, that’s probably safest.”

Decision made.

With that, their discussion came to an end.

“Hoo…”

Sven Parab took a long breath, stepped out of the alley, and sprinted toward the heart of the battlefield. Both his hands were already occupied as he carried them on his back.

“I’ll be counting on you…………”

With that, Lyris Marone was left entirely responsible for their defence. Entrusting his fate to someone else made him extremely anxious, but there was no other way. He almost wanted to shut his eyes and run away, but…

‘Still, that’s a bit much, isn’t it?’

‘…No, that’s too much.’

So he kept his eyes open and charged straight into the storm of blood and fire.

“…Who are they?”

“Enemies?”

At first, neither side moved, unsure whether the newcomers were allies or enemies, but the hesitation didn’t last long.

“Lyris Marone!”

“Sven Parab!”

“They are Jandel’s companions!”

“Kill them!”

The Noarkans recognized them and attacked at once, while the palace soldiers eagerly moved in to support them.

“Jandel’s allies? The royal family must be planning something! Kill them here!”

“If they’re focusing so much while charging in, there must be a reason! We must protect them with everything!”

This was completely different from his plan to quietly slip past.

I guess the positives and negatives balance each other out.

There’s no need to overthink it. He was solely focused on breaking through.

Boom!

“Gaaah!”

A Royal mage intercepted an incoming spell; a soldier deflected a sword lunging for his belly. In the brief moments that followed, several dizzying situations occurred, including Lyris Marone barely managing to block a missed attack with a mana barrier.

But—

Whoooosh!

In the end, they broke through the battlefield and safely reached the burning eastern district. Even then, the battle between those trying to kill them and those trying to protect them still raged behind them.

Well… they probably won’t follow into the flames.

[Sven Parav has cast Protection Prayer.]

Parav cast the divine spell as planned. After quickly confirming that a thick barrier surrounded the four people under Marone’s protection, he ran straight into the fire.

“…Huh?”

“Why are they going in there?”

Both allies and enemies muttered in disbelief, as if they couldn’t quite process what they were seeing.

Fwoooosh!

Without hesitation, he plunged into the flames and ran down the street.

The flames and thick smoke made it hard to see, but since the path ahead was straight, it wasn’t much of a problem.

After some time had passed like that…

“There! Over there!”

In the distance, their destination finally came into view.

The Eastern Branch of the Leatlas Church. At its entrance stood an all-too-familiar statue of the Goddess.

Perhaps the explorer husband’s words had been true. The temple was the only building that maintained its original form amid streets where everything else burned and collapsed. The flames couldn’t even approach, blocked by a shimmering, translucent barrier.

Stepping inside the barrier, he headed for the entrance, and the heavy doors opened without a key.. However, surprisingly…………

“…W-who are you?”

There were people inside the temple. Quite a lot of them.

“How on earth did you get through those flames…………”

“They don’t look like Noark people…………”

“…Stay close behind me for now.”

The refugees retreated with wary gazes the moment he appeared. One, two, three, four, five, six………… A total of thirty-seven refugees.
Of course, it wasn’t strange for people to flee there to escape the fire and the war. They had come for the same reason, after all. It was said to be safe. But the problem was—
“Mom…………”

“I-it’s okay………… Nothing will happen…………”

Sven Parab felt it instinctively.

Thump.

That even this place was not safe.

“Hmm? Ah! If it’s the chief, I saw him over by the woods! He said he was crushing the heads of corpses in case they were pretending to be dead!”

“I see… but isn’t this entire area woods?”

“No, what did you think I said? I said he was over there, in the forest!”

“I… I’m a bit busy, so could you go and tell Mr Bjorn for me? Tell him we’ve annihilated all the enemies in the sanctuary, so he should come here.”

“Understood!!” the warrior in his late twenties turned and headed back the way he’d come.

‘How can someone with such a fierce face be so pure and innocent…………’

Versyl Gowland smiled faintly as she watched the warrior’s retreating back. Then she swept her gaze across the battlefield.

Though the battle was over, there was still so much to be done.

Firstly, since the enemy might try to invade again, she had to climb the walls and stand guard. Secondly, the mountains of corpses had to be cleared. If they were left like this for much longer, they would start to stink, which wouldn’t be good for hygiene.

“That one is a Noarkan! Throw him anywhere!”

“It’s hard to tell people apart!”

“Hah…We’ll check if they’re Noarkan or not, so you guys just collect the Barbarians!”

“Oh, good idea!”

Even without detailed orders, the operation gradually became more efficient over time.

The treatment of the corpses depended entirely on whose side they were on.

The bodies of their allies were carefully recovered and laid to rest with respect. The enemy’s were grabbed and thrown into heaps like trash.

“Gowland… no, Vice Captain. What should we do with the Noarkans’ bodies? We separated the loot and stacked them like you ordered…”

At Kaislan’s question, Versyl answered briefly.

“Burn them all. It’s not like we’re going to build graves for people whose names we don’t even know.’

“And the personal effects from the warriors and explorers?”

“Arrange those neatly beside the bodies. Once we’re done recovering everything, we’ll cast a preservation spell. After we confirm their identities later, they need to be returned to their families. Make sure no one touches them.”

“…No one would ever do that, but I’ll keep an eye out.”

Versyl Gowland couldn’t help but let out a wry smile as she looked down from the walls at the ground being cleared. From her vantage point, the stark difference in how the corpses were treated stood out plainly, reminding her once more why they had to win this war at any cost.

If the Noarkans had won, it would have been the opposite.

“Bethel raaaaaa!!”

“Betelraaahaaaa!!”

Just as she sank into her thoughts, a sudden commotion broke out below.

She didn’t even need to check who had arrived.

“The strongest warrior in the world!!!”

“The Guardian of the sanctuary is here!!”

There was only one person the warriors would shout for with that much reverence.

“Chief!! It’s the Chief!!”

Leaving the wall patrol to James Karla, who had the sharpest eyesight among them, Versyl headed down.

“Mister… you’re not hurt anywhere, right? I was really worried…”

“I’m fine. I was worried about you though”

“…R-Really?”

“Hm? Of course.”

“Hehe… I guess it’s not unnatural… or is it?”

Erwin was so happy to see him after such a long time that she clung to him without hesitation. However, compared to her excitement, Bjorn Jandel looked noticeably exhausted.

“…You’ve worked hard.” Versyl greeted him.

“Ah, you too. It must have been a difficult position”

It was just a short word of encouragement, yet for some reason, she couldn’t reply.

The weight of the phrase “tough position” sank into her.

This wasn’t her first time serving as a clan’s vice captain.

But this time was completely different.

Back then, there had been no war. The bonds between members hadn’t been this tight either.

So this person has been doing this every day…

Once again, she realized how many hardships this simple, rough-looking barbarian must have endured.

“I’d like to hear everything that’s happened so far.”

“Ah, yes.”

Versyl calmly explained the situation.

However, for some reason, her emotions kept slipping into her explanation. Sometimes she complained without realizing it, and at other times, resentment seeped into her voice. Like a child telling their parent about a bad day at school.

“I see.”

After sharing everything, the barbarian organized his thoughts briefly, then gave an order as if it were the most natural thing to do.

“Versill, call all the members of all the clans. I have something to say.”

Strangely enough, that single order comforted her more than any command ever had. It was surprising, given her usually proactive nature. Who would have thought that simply following orders without bearing any responsibility could feel so liberating?

“I’ll gather them right away.” She said nothing and immediately gathered everyone around Jandel. Only after that did she ask why they had been summoned. “…But what are you going to say?”

“I’m thinking of asking them to come fight with us. From what I’ve heard, they’re quite skilled, aren’t they?”

“Capable… maybe. But they’ll probably want to stay here where it’s safe.”

Versyl spoke carefully, but the barbarian simply smiled as if there was nothing to worry about.

“Ah, that? Don’t worry.”

He patted her shoulder reassuringly and stepped forward.

“Nice to meet you. I heard you stayed in our sanctuary and followed our vice captain while I was gone?”

“Huh? Ah, yes… we are very grateful, Baron Jandel.”

“Yeah. You should be grateful. If you have any conscience.”

He said nothing about how they had risked their lives to protect the sanctuary and spoke only of the generosity shown to them as he continued.

“The reason I gathered you is simple.”

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing special. I am heading out to fight, and I’d like you to help.”

“…Us?”

Between his title as a baron and his reputation as a Giant, they didn’t dare speak up, but their eyes silently asked, Why should we?

However, he was a veteran in handling such things.

“Then would you rather be thrown out of the sanctuary?”

It was the kind of blunt threat only a barbarian, unconcerned with formalities or etiquette, could deliver.

“…Expel us from the sanctuary just because we refuse? What kind of threat is that?”

“The evil traitors have declared war on us, and you’re only thinking about your own safety? Is that what an honorable citizen of Raphdonia would do?”

The moment he invoked even the royal family’s name, the explorers fell silent, unable to argue back.

“Don’t worry too much. This is an opportunity to earn merits.”

“Merit?”

The instant the conversation shifted to profits, their eyes lit up.

“You wouldn’t know since you’ve been stuck here, but at my request, troops from District 5 have already moved into District 7. They’re advancing from the north.”

“And on my way here, I set fires too, so the eastern district is already in chaos. What do you think happens if we attack from the south too?”

“…We’ll surround them!”

“Exactly. Why do you think they retreated while leaving forces here? Do you really think they backed off just because you knocked down a few walls? No, they had no choice; something far more serious was happening behind them.”

“Ah… so that was the situation…”

“I had my doubts too, but now I understand!”

After coming down hard with the stick first, he followed it up with the carrot. The adventurers listened as if spellbound, and it wasn’t long before they were completely won over.

“So, I’m planning to take everyone who can still fight over to District 7…”

Versyl Gowland’s mouth fell open.

The sight before her was so unbelievable it almost felt unreal.

…Are they really the same people?

When she was serving as vice-captain, these explorers did nothing but look for excuses to avoid fighting, even when she insisted they had to protect the holy land to survive. But now, their eyes shone with motivation.

But now, every single one of them had fire in their eyes.

“Is there anyone who wants to opt out?”

It was as if they believed victory was inevitable.

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