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Chapter 148
When Taking a Step Forward
When the territory's affairs had been settled to a certain extent, Ferda contacted Count Consillus after a long while.
"How is the territory's situation, Count?"
-There wasn't much to call a situation other than the funeral.
In the Valdrova Grand Duchy, they held a splendid banquet for the victors, but in Count Consillus's territory, only a simple banquet was held after the joint funeral.
Most of the deaths occurred on the Far East Alliance's side, and the death toll was low relative to the troop numbers, but still, death was death.
Е́ ǹù m̃a
"I'll add some condolence money."
-No, it's still something that can be resolved within the finances...
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"Don't be like that, accept it and deliver it to the bereaved families."
-If you say so, I will gratefully accept. I will pay close attention to ensure it reaches the hands of the fallen soldiers' families without fail.
The reason Ferda was being so generous was because he knew his position.
No matter how much Ferda stood at the highest point of this Far East, he could not serve as their central point.
Е.n̆ ů m̊ a
Consillus, the eldest who had guarded this place for a long time, was their spiritual pillar, so when supporting him, he had to do it properly.
"Come to think of it, I heard that colossal monster you planned to deal with as scheduled was killed by someone else instead."
-That's correct. He stood alone on the battlefield, slaughtered all those monsters, and killed the monster.
At the time, I only received a report that he caught everything alone, so I didn't know the details properly.
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I decided to ask properly this time.
"Was he a mage?"
Е nüm̌ а
-No. He was a knight.
"A knight killed a colossal monster alone?"
A hardly believable situation.
"Does he handle magic well?"
-That's not it either. I asked the mages, but they say he can't handle magic, let alone aura.
He doesn't even handle aura, yet he's strong.
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If so, that Armor Knight who pulverized the wolf monsters was becoming increasingly certain.
-I wonder if it's that knight you mentioned before.
"If it's that knight you were looking for before..."
-You said you were looking for a knight wearing armor so stifling it makes your breath catch, didn't you?
I remembered.
'Moving Fortress, Alberto.'
Е̃n um̄ ӑ. іd̄
When I described him, that's what he said.
Of course, Ferda didn't think he'd be able to find him.
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He's a free wandering knight who only focuses on beating monsters, after all.
-When asked what he wanted to do about this achievement, he pointed toward the Valdrova Grand Duchy.
"Does he mean he wants to receive the merit from me?"
-That seems to be the case. He said that and departed alone. Originally I should have told you yesterday..."
Ӗ nu̇ m̊а
"It's fine since you told me now. Don't worry about it."
Ferda didn't care either way.
Rather, the person he was looking for was coming directly, so what reason would there be to refuse?
"When is his estimated arrival?"
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"Judging by his walking pace, he'll probably arrive by tomorrow morning."
Tomorrow morning, huh...
Ёǹum̀ а̀
Even if he didn't ride a horse, he'd walk constantly, so practically he'd come at a speed similar to riding a horse.
Ferda simply waited for him to arrive.
* * *
Around the time Hestia Territory regained stability.
Valdrova put on armor and went outside for the first time in a while.
When she last went to Hanson, she said she was going to her hometown, so she was pretending to be someone who had returned from her hometown.
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'I've been away too long.'
Guilt surged.
In reality, she had been keeping her position atop the Lonely Mountain, but in this armor's form, she hadn't gone to her hometown and returned.
The fact that she wasn't there when needed weighed heavily on her mind.
'Will people hate me because I wasn't there?'
Why weren't you there when needed.
Еn̈ ŭ m a .іd̂
Do you know how many people suffered because of you.
Carrying such fear, she cautiously approached Hestia Village's wall.
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The wall had been completed while Valdrova was away, and now there were even gatekeepers.
"Halt! Identify yourse... Huh? Aren't you the Armor Knight?"
"?"
"I'm Hans from the village construction. Ah, well, I only watched from afar, that's all."
W̊е̂b̌ n öv̈ èl Е n u m а
The young man who introduced himself as Hans smiled brightly and made way.
"Please come inside quickly! Everyone's been waiting for you, Knight!"
Waiting for me?
Hearing those words and going inside, there were people waiting for Valdrova just as the gatekeeper said.
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Those who recognized her burst into cheers and rushed out.
"It's the Knight! The Knight has returned!"
Ѐ ń ü mа_
"It's the Armor Knight!"
"Our Savior!"
But contrary to expectations, they were welcoming her tremendously.
Surrounded by the crowd, Valdrova thought.
'Why?'
Valdrova, dumbfounded.
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She had high recognition from becoming a hero during the monster raid, but they never welcomed her this much.
Valdrova thought deeply.
'All I did was build buildings, though...?'
Valdrova wondered if it was because of that.
Because she built the walls and buildings so well, is that why they're reacting like this?
'Come to think of it, they did say it was being built quickly thanks to my help.'"
Е̂ṅû ḿ ӓ
Because she made houses and walls that could accommodate many people in a short time, making everyone safe, they were expressing gratitude for that.
Valdrova thought so.
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'So that might be it...!'
Reaching a truly simple conclusion, she just let it pass.
Receiving that welcome and those envious gazes, she walked toward the Labor Union office.
"Ooh! Our hero has come!"
E n̄u ṁ а̊
>
Hanson, who had become the Labor Union President, welcomed Valdrova.
"I was waiting here thinking you'd come this way when you returned. Come on in! There's someone who wants to meet you. Would you mind meeting them once?"
Valdrova nodded.
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Then Hanson twisted his body as if making way, and in the union president's office, a woman sitting at a table came into view.
Blue hair, a pure-looking face.
Еń ū mа́ .і́_ḋ
Wearing adventurer's attire with a Platinum Badge on her chest.
Seeing Valdrova, she held out her hand with a friendly face.
"Hello. I'm Eri, the Eastern Adventurer Guild Branch Master."
She was using an alias to hide her identity, but Valdrova recognized who she was at first glance.
'She's the kid Iorga cherishes?'
The girl always stuck by Iorga's side whenever they met.
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A Dragon Spawn with a serious and intellectual image like Iorga, whom she secretly admired.
'Why is she pretending to be human?'
The desire to ask was burning, but recalling she was mute, she quietly took her hand.
Just a light handshake made her feel like she'd gotten smarter.
"Your reputation precedes you. You've been here since this village was built, right?"
Nod nod.
Е̃n u m̈ а̃
"Everyone thought you were just a possessor of brute strength, then you were active when the monsters raided."
Nod nod.
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"And this time you said you sliced a whole colossal monster to pieces, I was truly impressed."
Nod...?
Valdrova tilted her head.
'Colossal monster?'
Enumå. і̆ d̄
Killing those is Valdrova's daily routine, but what Erica's talking about isn't that.
The monsters she killed in this armor were just two wolves at most.
'Besides, I was definitely here...?'
Did the armor move on its own and go?
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Bronze Dragon is a master craftsman in production, but knowing Valdrova's personality, he wouldn't have added such a function.
'Then there must be another Armor Knight.'
Е̊ṅu mа
Only then did she understand why they welcomed her.
She wasn't strutting around on someone else's reputation, was she?
Her face reddened with embarrassment, and simultaneously she was at a loss.
She had to explain, but her mouth was sealed by the Vow of Silence.
"Thanks to your dedication to this Hestia's prosperity, many adventurers could become role models."
It wasn't me!
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She had to say that, but since good words she'd never normally hear were pouring out, the timing just wouldn't come, leaving her only at a loss.
"If it's not rude, could you tell me your name? If you're an adventurer, I need to check if you're registered."
Name.
Naturally, she couldn't tell her.
It was the concept, but Ruri's glaring eyes flashed reflexively and her throat tightened.
"Seems it's hard to tell me. I understand."
Wе̂ b ǹ о̃ v е̊l̆ È n̂ u m̄а
Erica nodded as if understanding and didn't press further.
"Union President."
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"Y-yes!"
"I'm sorry for borrowing the seat without permission, but may I speak with this person for a moment?"
"Ah, of course!"
There's no way a mere Labor Union President could refuse a Platinum Adventurer's request.
Е̌ n̈u m̂ а
Hanson vacated the seat.
Not satisfied with that, Erica deployed magic, making the room completely cut off from the outside, a space for just the two of them.
Valdrova waited quietly.
She believed Iorga's child wouldn't do anything bad to people.
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"What I'm about to say is a story that only harms us if others hear, so let's do it secretly."
Nod...
Ѐ n̈ǔ m а̇
She tensed involuntarily.
Erica cast magic once more.
Then the union president's office warped to another place in an instant.
No, it was reproducing a certain space.
Valdrova knew this place.
It was where she stood when the monsters raided.
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"I reproduced and examined the time you dealt with the wolf monsters. Please forgive me for doing it without your consent."
There, a wolf monster and a man wearing the exact same armor as hers were facing off.
Growl growl!
The wolf monster charged without fear,
Puhk!
And died by the Armor Knight's hand.
Ẁ е̊ bn̆оv̂ е̃ l Е̂ ň ũm̂ а̃
"The time it took to deal with one was a mere 0.3 seconds."
Erica said, unable to hide her surprise.
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"For someone at the Empire's Sword Master level, handling a wolf monster like this alone isn't a big deal. But you're in a different league from those Sword Masters."
"....."
"You didn't use weapons or aura, no, you killed it with pure strength alone."
Valdrova tensed at the word 'strength'.
Е̌ ǹú m a .і̄ d
Erica rewound and replayed that scene several times as she spoke.
"They say everything is powerless before overwhelming strength, but this is technique that mere strength isn't enough for. You're a veteran who's faced dozens of monsters, aren't you?"
Overwhelming strength and experience.
Valdrova inside the armor trembled.
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She was nervous wondering if this would all lead to the conclusion that she's the Phase of Power.
Is she getting exposed like this?
En um̃a .íd
To Iorga's child, whom Ruri strictly told her must never find out?
The sermon that would follow was too dreadful for Valdrova.
Is she going to die like this??
"Don't worry. I have no intention of digging deeply into you. What's important to us isn't your past or identity, but solely your ability."
Valdrova relaxed at her words.
"Based on these abilities, I'd like to make one proposal."
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Erica handed her a sheet of paper.
The title read 'Demon Land Exploration Plan'.
"I'm the Eastern Adventurer Guild Branch Master, and as an adventurer, I'm forming a team."
Nod nod.
"And I want to recruit you for this team."
Adventurer, huh...
Е̊ ń ǔ m̈а. і̆ d
A group that roams the Serdes Continent, discovers mysteries, and defeats evil.
In that process, mingling with people is basic.
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And in that process, she wouldn't be able to return to the castle for days.
Shake shake!
Valdrova reflexively shook her head.
She strongly appealed that she only likes building things here.
Е̄ ń_ü mа
Erica nodded as if expecting it.
"Of course I expected you'd refuse."
If she only expected refusal, there was no need to propose.
She already saw through the anxiety factors Valdrova felt.
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"Considering your behavior patterns, you're anxious about teamwork and uncomfortable with long-term face-to-face interaction, right? I'll take that into account with my authority."
She heard she'd give her convenience, but still Valdrova only shook her head.
Е ń ů m a
"As expected, there's a deep story."
A knight with veteran combat skills and overwhelming strength who doesn't fight for honor.
Erica knew that well.
Something that supported her heart collapsed, leaving her in a state where she couldn't care about anything anymore.
Because the 12th Expedition's Greatest Hero was like that.
However, Erica couldn't back down.
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"But if you think about this village's existence, I hope you'll reconsider just a little more."
The purpose this Hestia was built.
"This Hestia Village was created to conquer the Demon Land. It held the purpose of accommodating many adventurers and researching means to oppose the Demon."
She'd heard that before.
But she thought it was a story far removed from Valdrova.
"As always, good intentions don't mean things go smoothly."
We b.n̈оvė l̇ Ё nu m а̃
Ferda supports the territory's work without sparing.
Under Vernel's lead, technology advanced remarkably.
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But moving people's hearts wasn't something support alone could do.
Everything follows human will, after all.
Everyone dreams of striking it rich.
But that's only when the risks and returns to bear are clear.
E ň ũm а̊
The Demon Land was a place where that return value wasn't certain.
So capable people refuse, and only mediocre types keep gathering.
To escape that situation, she became the Eastern Adventurer Guild's Branch Master.
"I don't know what circumstances you have, but you surely want to distance yourself from violence. But we can't let someone with this much ability rot in a construction site forever."
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Erica said firmly.
"If you truly love this Hestia Village, I wish you'd do what others can't, together with us."
En u m.а̀. id
"....."
What others can't do.
No one can move more things than her.
But if people gather, it's something anyone can do.
Then what about monsters?
Monsters aren't like that.
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Even if dozens gather, if they have no power against them, they're just prey.
'I... like the present.'
From the moment she came down to this Hestia Village until now, all she did was raise buildings and stack walls.
Working modestly, receiving money, watching smiling faces - that was so rewarding and good for her.
'If I start killing something...'
If she uses violence, she can't control it.
W̄ėb nŏṽ е̄ĺ Е́n ům̂ӓ
What if.
She misuses this power to protect everyone and ends up killing them instead...
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She would never forgive herself again.
Erica, observing Valdrova's expression, thought.
'As expected, she's going to refuse?'
She'd already noticed the Vow of Silence wasn't kept long ago.
Е̄n̊ ùm̄a
She figured there must be secrets she can't tell others, like Ferda.
It's truly needed and desperate, but if she refuses again, Erica decided to give up too.
Forcing an adventure yields nothing good.
Valdrova, who had been pondering, finally gave her answer.
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Nod nod.
"As expected, a refusal... no, you mean you'll do it?"
Wĕb́_nov̆ ӗ l̄ Ě n̄u m̊a
Erica asked again, startled.
Nod nod.
Valdrova nodded again.
If it were the day before the Spring Festival, she would have thought this way for sure.
That she's sufficiently satisfied with a laborer's modest life just building buildings.
The reason she couldn't think that way was because Valdrova saw with her own two eyes.
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Those monsters standing beyond that land are that huge even from so far away.
Hestia Village below Valdrova's castle is close, yet this small and fragile.
Lives like duckweed that would be swept away instantly if even one was accidentally dropped are under her wings.
She grieved over that, and sank into worry.
At the same time, Valdrova thought this.
If that land disappeared, there'd be no need to worry like this...
Еn̂ ŭmа̀ . id
'That kid's right.'
Just building isn't enough.
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'I have to do what others can't.'
She must stop and eliminate those disgusting things from being created.
The baby bird that broke out of its egg must take one more step forward.
* * *
W е b̄ n о v̈еl Е́n̄ũmа
In front of Hestia Village's castle gate.
The gatekeepers were enjoying their leisure while chatting.
"What's for dinner today?"
"They said mixed stew? They have to use all the leftover ingredients."
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"Sigh, cooks have it easy, just throw everything in if worst comes to worst."
"I saved a chunk of sausage, gotta put that in and eat."
Еn um а̃ . і d̂
"Share some. You eating all the good stuff alone?"
"You buy your own then."
"Sigh, you pig bastard, eat it all up."
"How many minutes left on shift?"
"The sun was there before we came, so 20 minutes left. Gotta prepare for shift change soon."
"Ugh, felt like three hours passed. How do you endure this boredom?"
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"Boredom's better. If monsters keep rushing in, only we work our bones off."
"Right. Better to die of boredom."
The place they lived was where beasts and goblin-type monsters drawn by food smells ran wild.
But the forest spread before them was quiet as a dead mouse.
It was peaceful enough that the Demon Land being beyond didn't even feel real.
As they yawned wide and waited.
Е̃ ňù m̂ а
"Hmm?"
"What's up?"
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"No, don't you feel the ground vibrating?"
"You can even feel the squad leader's leg shaking?"
"No, just feel it. Feels like something heavy is thudding around."
"Ah, this bastard, trying to pull weird stuff on me again..."
Èn̊úm̀ а
The sneering words stop.
Just as he said, vibrations climbed up through their boots.
Growing stronger and stronger, becoming certain beyond mere imagination.
Something is approaching here.
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