In the open area outside the pub, Raon was facing the yellow eyed swordsman.
Not only the people inside the pub, but also the soldiers that had heard the rumor were gathered around, filling the surrounding area. Some people even started gambling on them.
âHe is Turka from the Wolf Mercenary Corps! He will bite down and wonât release his opponent like a wolf once the fight begins!â
âHeâs right. You donât need to accept his challenge! Letâs stop.â
The scout seniors were worried about him, but Raon shook his head. There was no reason for him to refuse when a scapegoat to increase the Fangs of Insanityâs proficiency had appeared all on his own.
âItâs alright. I donât tend to refuse fights.â
Raon smiled confidently and stepped forward.
Damn it! Thereâs a saying that a demon that dies after eating has color and charm. The food is getting cold!
âIâll order new food for you.â
Ahem, well. Thatâs fine.
Wrath moved back, telling him to order the same things, especially the pizza. The dignity of the demon king was as light as a feather.
âIâm the leader of the fourth team of the Wolf Mercenary Corps, Turka.â
âIâm Raon.â
Turka was treating Raon respectfully despite him being much younger than himself. However, he couldnât hide the slight belittlement in his eyes, which meant that he didnât completely believe the story of him killing six shark moles on his own.
âAllow me to experience the extent of the swordsmanship that killed a shark mole in a single strike.â
While saying that, Turka kicked the ground and drew his saber. He held the sword straight up to pierce the sky, then slammed it down. It was an attack using the saberâs thick and heavy blade to his advantage.
However, neither its power, speed, nor trajectory managed to surpass Raonâs expectations.
Raon slashed up with the Fangs of Insanity, aimed towards the saber slamming down at him like lightning.
Clang!
The collision between the sword and saber, imbued with aura, cracked the frozen ground of the open area.
âYou blocked that?â
Turkaâs eyes widened to the point that they looked like they would explode, as he didnât expect him to block it instead of avoiding it.
âI told you.â
Raon pushed back the heavy saber with his thin sword and smiled coldly.
âMy sword is fierce.â
âKeuh!â
Turkaâs saber bounced off to the right side, facing a ferocious strike similar to a savage beast showing its teeth. Raon didnât miss that opportunity and thrust his left fist.
Whack!
The fist crushed the wind and struck the right side of Turkaâs waist.
âKuah!â
Turka bent at his waist like a shrimp, then was slammed into the ground.
âUhhâŠâ
âH-how did Turka lose so easily?â
âHe shouldâve been one of the ten strongest of the Wolf Mercenary Corps.â
âHow did a fist make such an earth-shattering sound?â
âHow did he fend off a saber using that thin sword? Thatâs the strangest part.â
The mercenaries and the spectators looked back and forth between Raon and Turka in surprise.
âI went easy on you on purpose.â
Raon leisurely rested his sword on his shoulder.
âUghâŠâ
Turka stood up, supporting his body with the saber. His yellow eyes were wavering like a sailboat facing a tidal wave.
âYou asked me to show you my sword. I havenât even gotten started yet.â
âArrrgh!â
Raon flicked his four fingers and Turka grit his teeth, rushing at him. He was still keeping his cool headedness despite his confused state, befitting a mercenary that had experienced countless battles.
Raon hacked with the Fangs of Insanity, aiming towards the horizontal swing of the saber.
Clang!
A thunderous noise of smashing metal resounded, and Turkaâs saber was pushed back. Even though it looked like he was reaching his end, his eyes were still alive. He twisted his waist in midair to slam his saber down.
âThatâs much better.â
Raon bent his knees slightly and slashed his sword in a low trajectory, like a flying swallow.
Clang!
Turkaâs wrist that was holding the saber was snapped, as if it were broken. It was the effect of the Fangs of Insanity, creating an opening against the opponent.
âKeuh!â
Turka withdrew in a hurry and Raon advanced like a tempest.
Whack!
He pierced Turkaâs space and walloped his chest with his left shoulder.
âKeuhâŠâ
Turka collapsed onto his back as his eyes turned white. Foam was coming from his mouth.
Raon dusted off his hands lightly and looked behind him.
In the middle of the astonished gazes directed at him, he pointed at a member of the Wolf Mercenary Corps, who was watching them with his mouth wide open.
âYou shall be next.â
Raon smiled in excitement and wielded his sword.
âYou donât want it to end like this, right?â
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
After leaving his luggage in his lodgings, Radin went to the commanderâs room right away.
It seemed they were in the middle of a conference, since Commander Milland was looking at the map along with his son, Vice Commander Terian.
âWerenât you supposed to return in two days?â
Milland raised his head, sticking the red flag model on the map.
âI had to return because of an incident.â
Hearing Radinâs serious voice, Milland put down the flag model and Terian uncrossed his arms.
âIâm listening.â
âThe shark moles came up to the fifth tunnel.â
âFifth? The fifth tunnel is at the forestâs outskirts!â
Terian slammed the desk, as he found that to be impossible to believe.
âYes, itâs also my first time seeing shark moles coming near Stallin Mountain.â
âHow many of them were there?â
âSix of them appeared at once.â
Radin put down the wrapping cloth containing the shark molesâ fins.
âHuh!â
âAre they leaving their territory to that extentâŠ?â
Both Milland and Terian were unable to take their eyes off the fins in surprise.
âWait a moment! Why are you so healthy if six shark moles ambushed you? What about the casualties? How many people have died?â
âThere wasnât a single casualty.â
âHuh?â
âWhat?â
Their eyes became even wider than before in their surprise.
âH-how?â
âYou shouldnât have been able to kill the shark moles on your own.â
âIâd like to ask a question this time.â
Radin swallowed and raised his head.
âRaon. Who the hell is that guy?â
His eyes were filled with astonishment, as if heâd returned to the night of that day.
âThe reason I, no, we are still alive is thanks to Raon. He warned us in advance about the shark moles approach, then killed the six shark moles on his own. I didnât even need to do anything.â
âAre you telling me he killed six shark moles on his own?â
Terianâs voice was trembling.
âYes, it was completely overwhelming. Using one strike per shark mole, he killed five of them in an instant, and when the last one tried to run away via the underground passage, he broke through the ground by throwing a dagger.â
Radinâs eyes were still trembling.
âIâve seen countless warriors and heroes in this hellish ground, but that was my first time witnessing someone possessing such prowess at that age. What kind of monster have you assigned to us?â
ââŠâŠâ
Milland just stared at the map without responding.
âHow were his scouting abilities?â
âI got angry.â
âWhat?â
Milland narrowed his eyes because of his unrelated answer.
âIdentifying the geography, monster tracks, time and weather, map reading and direction. He knew everything like a scout thatâs been living here for years. He even knew about the empty soil that can be dug out easily.â
Radin sighed deeply.
âHe was so excellent that I ended up acting irritated, yet he reassured me instead at the dangerous moment.â
âSo, you are saying his personality is also great.â
Thinking about something, Milland tapped the old desk with his scorched black finger.
âYes. He didnât brag about his feats, nor did he swagger about because of his knowledge. It was only for two days, but he got along with the scouts as well. If I hadnât witnessed his swordsmanship, I wouldâve thought he was just a mercenary or a hunter thatâd been living a difficult life from childhood.â
âThen how about the other guy?â
âDorian? Honestly, that guy is even more strange.â
Radin closed his eyes.
âEven more strange?â
âYes, he carries around all kinds of objects. Iâve never imagined in my entire life that I would sleep on a mattress and drink warm tea during a scouting mission.â
âHow about his personality?â
âHe is kind. He is a bit cowardly, but he cares about his surroundings and gives away what people need. I canât be certain since I havenât been with them for a long time, but I think they are both nice guys.â
Radin gave him his honest opinion on Raon and Dorian.
âSo, please tell me! Where did those weird monsters even come from? They must be from a prestigious family, right? I shouldâve realized after noticing the glamorous impression coming from their faces!â
âThey areâŠâ
As Milland was about to respond, an urgent knocking sound could be heard.
âCommander!â
Charles, one of the adjutants, opened the door and entered with his reddened face.
âWhat is it?â
âY-you knowâŠâ
âCalm down and speak.â
âItâs about the two recruits that joined us two days ago.â
The three peopleâs eyes shone at the same time, hearing the word recruit.
âOne of the recruits is fighting against Turka of the Wolf Mercenary Corps. They are apparently fighting using real swords in front of the Branch of Frost.â
âWhat? Why?â
âThatâs pretty obvious. Turka mustâve picked a fight after hearing the rumor about him killing shark moles on his own.â
Terian responded, as if he watched the scene with his own eyes.
âWolvesâŠâ
Milland frowned. The Wolf Mercenary Corps was immensely helpful during battles thanks to their courage and combative spirit, but they loved battles too much.
They tended to pick fights inside if there were none outside, so they were causing various problems.
âI think itâd be better to stop them before someone ends up heavily injured as the fight escalates. Even though Raon is there and is strong enough to deal with shark moles, he wonât be able to win against Turka, who has experienced countless battles.â
âHaa, thatâs really annoying.â
Milland clicked his tongue and looked at Terian.
âYou should go there to stop them from fighting, then bring Raon here.â
âUnderstood.â
Terian nodded and left the commanderâs room. Radin said he would go with him and followed.
âHmmâŠâ
Milland sighed lightly, looking at the shark moleâs fin on the ground.
âIs change coming?â
The old soldier thatâd been defending that place for his entire life didnât exactly like change. He sighed lightly, hoping that his old body would be able to withstand the coming changes.
* * *
âThose Wolves seriously cause nothing but trouble!â
Radin frowned, running towards the Branch of Frost.
âThatâs why I told you that their brains are made of muscles. I said that we shouldnât accept them!â
âItâs true that they donât care about the consequences, but itâs also a fact that they are extremely helpful in battles. No oneâs better than them when it comes down to close combat.â
Terian nonchalantly stated the truth.
âWell, thatâs true.â
Radin licked his lips and nodded.
âAnyway, I wonât let them get away with it if they touched our recruit.â
âDidnât you say he was a strange monster?â
âMonster, ghost, or whatever, he is my subordinate since he joined the third scouting party! Iâll protect him until he leaves on his own. And I even owe him my life.â
âHeh.â
Terian grinned. Radin was a classic northern man that was warmer inside than their outer appearance suggested.
âPutting that asideâŠâ
He hoped that Raon wasnât severely injured.
Even though he was from Zieghart and possessed an extraordinary talent, he shouldnât have been able to win against Turka, who became stronger through real battles.
After all, fighting against monsters and fighting against people were completely different matters.
âWhoaaa!â
They increased their speed a bit more, and the Branch of Frostâs signboard came into their sight. Shouting sound could be heard. The area was already completely filled with people, so there was no room for them to enter.
âHuff!â
Terian kicked the ground and leapt over the wall of spectators.
âHuhâŠ?â
Landing at the edge of the round, temporary arena, he was immobilized like a rock upon seeing the unexpected sight.
âWhy are theyâŠ?â
The five courageous mercenaries that hadnât even yielded in front of monsters were stretched out on the ground with their faces turned blue.
AndâŠ
Whack!
Along with the powerful sound of smashing a boulder, another mercenary was slammed into the ground like a stake.
âWhoaaa!â
âHe won again!â
âItâs six wins in a row! That boy smashed six Wolf Mercenaries on his own!â
âItâs crazy! The rumor wasnât a lie!â
âHe is a sword demon, a sword demon!â
The shouting spectators were praising Raon, who had defeated six Wolf Mercenaries on his own.
âHuhâŠâ
Terian looked to his right with a trembling chin.
The blonde swordsman, filled with a frightening anticipation, was pointing his sword against the Wolf Mercenary Corps.
âSince this is starting to get boring, come at me all at once.â
Facing the spirit coming from his red eyes, Terian unconsciously stepped backward.