How to Live As a Returnee Munchkin Swordsman

24 – Fifth Necessity (1)

An alley with no people at all.

Garbage is dumped everywhere, and the musty smell fills the place.

It is quite strange that there is such an unpleasant place in the capital Tristan, but rather it was adopted as a reception place for special people.

The two people who covered their bodies with robes were the reason why they dared to visit this place.

In fact, we don’t always meet in places like this.

Rather, secret interviews are safer inside than outside.

However, because of the designated area investigation that was leaving soon from the main gate, we had no choice but to meet outside.

“Reese, don’t forget. Today, I’m just checking with my own eyes. I was hasty, but for no reason… .”

“know.”

The woman who encountered the man’s thick voice spoke bluntly.

Short answers and short words that haven’t changed at all from usual.

The robed man gritted his teeth at this.

“Would you like to fix that short speech? It’s not once or twice that things almost went wrong-”

“joy. Don’t be mistaken. I’m just working for money, not your henchman or spy.”

“… … .”

The man stopped talking at the words of Rhys, who stopped talking again.

Actually, it wasn’t wrong.

Possessing a unique fate as a ＜transformer＞ and a high-level crossroads, she is not a hero that can be easily handled.

At least it was a contract made with a huge amount of money, or she really would have left without looking back.

Still, I can’t give up easily.

There have been too many problems with that upright attitude and flat words.

“Didn’t you decide to enter the military academy after this job is over? Are you going to talk badly to the instructors then?”

“You just have to take classes anyway.”

“Still, if you happen to have a private conversation with the instructors… ”

“I’ll take care of that.”

“… … .”

The man sighed lightly at Reese’s steadfast attitude.

Even though I argued with her for a long time, nothing really changed.

As she said, it was a contractual relationship that was financially tied.

Still, when the man remembered that he had gained a lot of information thanks to Reese, he quickly composed himself and explained what happened today.

“As I said before, this job is not difficult. You won’t be participating as a member anyway, but as a member of the Magic Tower’s cooperation, so you won’t have to use your abilities in particular. “You just have to tell us exactly what you saw and heard during the investigation.”

“okay.”

“ah. Also, if the Duke of Crowfly has anything to say about the 2nd Prince, please let me know. I’m still neutral, but if you change your mind, that could be an important clue.”

In fact, the man who tells the most important reason for this mission.

Reese also nodded slowly.

Investigation of the area designated by the king.

This time, the special operation that Reese participated in.

The Royal Knights of Clepe had such strict security that it was difficult to disguise or infiltrate, but the number of people who cooperated with them was able to enter.

* * *

The ‘designated area investigation’ is an investigation conducted by the king’s order.

However, it is not an investigation directly ordered and spearheaded by His Majesty the King, Lucius Clepe, but it is just one of the royal family approved matters that are raised several times a day.

In any case, since it is under the supervision of the royal family, it is often the internal agency in charge of it, but when the case is judged to be serious and high-risk, as in this case, the Royal Knights are often put in beyond the investigation team.

In other words, the danger of the red bush area I hunted was considered to be that high.

But I have a question here.

“It’s such a close area from the capital. Is there a reason why the danger has only been revealed now?”

“That’s the point. You have a clear understanding of the essence.”

Duke Crowfly accepted my words with a nod.

“As you know, monster dens usually occur in places where space has cracks, but there are really rare cases where the cracks are covered by special magical phenomena.”

“That is the case in this case.”

“Yes. In particular, the degree of cracking is at the highest level in the academic world. It is a place where at least advanced monsters appear, or there is a possibility that monsters will appear.”

This was the reason why the Royal Knights of Clepe took part in this investigation.

In addition, since all members of the Knights are heroes born with the fate of ＜Prosecutor＞, heroes in each field participated as collaborators to assist them.

This was the reason why the ＜Wizard＞ heroes and ＜Cleric＞ heroes belonging to the Mage Tower could be seen everywhere.

“dad. That’s something Instructor Edgar knows all about.”

Akina, who was listening from the side, interrupted with a dissatisfied face.

Then Duke Crowfly burst out laughing.

“Are you still mad?”

“Dad didn’t say anything and tried to take my junior.”

“ha ha ha. Are you already your junior? Sir Edgar is a valuable talent in the kingdom, and he is the second son of the noble Marquis of Mullique.”

“I am an instructor now. Status is not important for a job.”

Akina defined her relationship with me in a knife-like tone.

In particular, in the part where she said that ‘status is not important’ even though she is the eldest daughter of a duke, her belief in the heroism and meritocracy of the current Kingdom of Clef was felt.

Duke Crowfly cleared his throat at his too firm attitude.

“Hmmm. Still, it was not a procedure against the rules.”

“The rule recommends that new instructors who have been selected for less than three months refrain from outside activities. As the lead shooter, I could have said no.”

“I’m sorry, Akina. But what this father taught you all along… ”

“No, I grew up alone in the Military Academy and the Great War.”

“… Not many. hahahaha. also my daughter. That’s great.”

Akina, who instantly casts “What did Dad do for me?”, and Duke Crowfly immediately agrees.

The fight between father and daughter is quite intense.

… I don’t think it’s a fight that happened once or twice.

‘Let’s go quietly.’

In case sparks would fly this way, I participated in the procession with my mouth shut.

I guess about 2 hours passed like that.

“We have reached the rift point!”

Some of the knights in the lead shouted loudly.

A rift point in the Red Grove area.

A place with a bleak atmosphere and dark energy.

It was an exterior that anyone could see that it was a ‘monster’s lair’.

‘It sure looks dark.’

Even I, who is not so specialized in detecting magic power, can feel that this rift is emitting thick magic energy.

It was an excellent choice for the Kingdom Investigation Team to hand over the investigation to the Knights of Klepe instead of directly confirming this.

“I will enter!”

At the center of the rift, several senior knights tried to enter with shields.

As the Knights of Klepe, which had been conducting such investigations for a long time, the division of roles was thorough.

The heroes equipped with the means of defense took the lead, followed by the main corps and collaborators.

When my turn came, I also slowly entered the crack.

‘Ah, this is how it feels.’

I realized it as soon as I entered.

What does it mean to enter a rift called the ‘monster’s lair’?

Although the topography just before entering is spread out, the space itself gives the feeling of being in a completely different place.

It was as if this space was twisted and hidden.

and.

The concerns of the Kingdom Investigation Team also became a reality.

Kiyi-!!

Turn off, ugh-!!

An intense, deafening scream spread through the forest area.

A figure burning flames on its black skin.

A monster that has the appearance of a dog, but the momentum it exudes can never be dismissed as a dog.

Presumed to be high-level monsters were surrounding it on all sides.

It’s definitely a strong energy that can’t be compared to the Kellail I’ve seen before.

“ha ha ha. Hellhound from the start, hot, yes! All rank-and-file knights of rank 2 and below must take a defensive posture! Only senior drivers of the 3rd or higher rank forward! Seniors set an example first!”

At the sight, Duke Crowfly burst into laughter and began conducting.

Even though a high-level monster came out at a faster time than expected, he didn’t panic at all.

“Mage Tower collaborators, please prepare water magic at the center! You can pour it on anything!”

When he gave the order, everyone moved in perfect order.

In particular, the heroes belonging to the Royal Knights of Clepe were exceptionally fast.

The average knights, who have difficulty dealing with high-level monsters, immediately pick up their shields and take a defensive posture, while the senior knights draw their swords and prepare to move forward.

Executes Duke Crowfly’s orders in almost 3 seconds.

It was an appearance that showed that he had been steadily training this system for a long time.

“Sir, I will move too.”

I immediately drew my sword and was about to move, but I remembered what Akina said earlier and reported it first.

Akina stared blankly at him.

I was worried about what to do if someone said something like ‘It’s dangerous,’ but fortunately, she smiled and nodded.

“Don’t be pushed by the knights.”

Akina Crowfly.

Before she was an instructor at the military academy, she was a hero of the great war who did not avoid the fights she encountered.

“Isn’t it worth the name we will lose?”

I answered with a smile and immediately took out my sword.

It wasn’t the Gladius I used a few times right after returning.

A treasured sword boasting a blue handle and a sharp blade.

It was the ‘Gallid’ that Kaela’s father, Ritbel, had given him.

‘It’s soft.’

The feeling of holding the sword for the first time was soft.

In the meantime, I had fought with countless famous swords, but it was not common to feel this soft.

It was said to be a treasured sword from the maritime kingdom of Ben-Hur, and the energy felt from the sword was strangely refreshing.

‘Let’s go right away.’

Although he had wielded the sword a few times after receiving it as a gift, it was the first time he had used it in battle like this.

I held my pounding emotions in my arms and prepared to move forward.

＜Magic power at the tip of the sword＞ naturally moved through his hand and into the sword.

But then.

pat-.

Paaa-!!

“… uh?”

The faintly shining treasured sword Galeid and the intensely pouring mana.

My body stops for a moment at an unfamiliar sight that has nothing to do with my intention.

Within.

The ‘compass of fate’ started moving its needle after a long time.

“Your excellent understanding of the sword and the legendary treasured sword interact with each other and a new power is awakened.”

「The shadow of the approaching inevitable!」

“You are a hero who inevitably possesses ＜Resonant Sword＞. This inevitability belongs to ＜Swordsman＞ Fifth Crossroads of Destiny, ＜Understanding the Sword＞.”

「＜Sword of Resonance＞ draws out the true power contained in the sword and uses a special sword. Its power varies depending on the type of sword used, and it is activated in the form of coincidence.”

「The treasured sword of the ancient maritime kingdom, ＜Tsunami on the Sword＞, which is a coincidence contained in ＜Gallid＞, can be used temporarily.”

The first ‘inevitability’ that arose after the first return.

and.

Inevitably belonged to ＜Understanding the Sword＞, which was classified as an unknown area.

The inevitability of the fifth fork in the road was revealing itself.