94. Being Nervous For The First Battle Is Normal, Isn’t It?

Our Wetlands Subjugation Squad, stopping by Zaid Village, added Jabil-sensei and the mysterious adventurer Van Vain to our ranks, then headed towards our destination, the wetlands.

Originally, we planned to stay overnight in the village, but because the idiot Zaid charged into the danger zone with his troops, we advanced as close to the wetlands as possible to rescue him by dusk.

We set up camp, and I took out tents and other equipment from my “space storage.”

Having repeated this task many times on the way from Golden Dawn to Zaid Village, everyone was used to the camping preparations.

As I was setting up the lodging carriage for Kyle and Maina, Kyle and the others finished with overall command and came over.

“Hey, good job.”

“I was just observing, didn’t do anything.”

“That’s the job of the person in charge. Good job.”

With Kyle were Maina, the guard Alphard, Jabil-sensei, and Van.

Hmm. It was surprising that Sensei was acting with Kyle.

I thought they might have some catching up to do since they seemed to know each other, but Sensei’s gaze was mostly directed at Van.

I felt a bit uneasy.

The reason was unclear though.

Kyle looked around.

We were about an hour away from the wetlands at our speed.

“Thinking about it, camping here might have been a good idea.”

I agree with that opinion.

“Yeah, if we wake up with the sunrise, take an hour for breakfast and packing up, and an hour to move, we’ll have plenty of time to act on site. It wasn’t intentional, but it’s the best plan.”

“I’m worried about Zaid-niisan, but we can’t operate at night.”

“Yeah.”

Kyle had a lot on his mind, but he remained calm and composed.

Kyle really is strong at his core.

As I felt proud of Kyle, Van interrupted with an exasperated look, breaking the serious mood.

“Wait, wait, wait, isn’t something wrong with you guys!?”

“Van-san? What do you mean?”

Kyle looked puzzled and stared at Van.

“Everything! First, we left the village afternoon, and, weirdly, we made it this far by dusk!”

We carried all the bulky luggage in the space storage, so it wasn’t that strange, right?

“This Wetlands Subjugation Squad is composed of carefully selected members.”

Kyle answered cheerfully, but Van shook his head vigorously.

“This world is unfairly made. The strong can become even stronger. That guy Alphard, or that blue-haired adventurer I saw earlier named Raidoc, would understand.”

“If it was just Raidoc and his group, we’d be even faster.”

“Don’t joke, Alchemist! What I’m saying is! This is a large army! There’s even a mixed-species unit like the Lizardman Squad! How can we move at such a terrifying speed!?”

“Well, we did practice marching.”

“That’s not the point!”

Hmm. This kind of thing is common sense for adventurers from Golden Dawn. Van must be from another region.

Yet he seemed familiar with the legendary-quality stamina potions we provided.

I can’t quite grasp his true identity.

Van crossed his arms, deep in thought.

“I see. Kyle and the Alchemist, huh…”

What does he mean by “I see”?

“Old man, make sure to protect Kyle without sleeping.”

“I’ll sleep!”

He doesn’t get jokes.

We centered the camp around Kyle and Myrna’s carriage, with the key figures’ sleeping quarters gathered there, guarded by the main combat members including me, so we could take turns getting enough sleep.

Everyone except Kyle, Myrna, and Sensei were combat members.

Unexpectedly, Reafan is also strong.

“Well, I wonder what tomorrow holds?”

I muttered as I snuggled into my blanket.

◆

The vast wetlands.

Typically, this place is too dangerous for humans to tread.

However, for the adventurers of Golden Dawn, it’s a profitable hunting ground.

Although far from Golden Dawn, the hydra magic stones here are of high quality, and the herbs fetch high prices, attracting many adventurers on expeditions.

But that’s about the wetlands’ periphery.

Jitaro, Leafan, and I were on a light reconnaissance mission.

Jitaro and Leafan, back in the wetlands after a long time, looked around.

“Craft-san, how vast are these wetlands?”

“Adventurers have surveyed it, but it’s much larger than we anticipated.”

“Is it larger than the outer wall being constructed at Golden Dawn?”

The planned city walls at Golden Dawn are divided into three stages.

The innermost wall is to surround the planned fortress, and its construction is last.

The recent uproar during the cockatrice raid was due to the unfinished wall that currently protects the city.

Even now, the city is extraordinarily large, and the walls under construction will enclose an area several times larger.

Once completed, it will be large enough to fit several royal capitals.

Jitaro was referring to this absurdly large outer wall.

But the wetlands are even larger.

“No comparison, the wetlands are much bigger.”

No matter how large Golden Dawn’s final area is, if the wetlands were only that size, we wouldn’t need such a large force.

Leafan stood next to us.

“Well, Jitaro-san, the area we see now, with sparse grass growing in the shallows, is the wetlands’ outer perimeter. Most adventurers hunt hydras and gather herbs in this area.”

“Does that mean when we searched for herbs back then, we were in the outer perimeter? We went pretty deep, didn’t we?”

“Just barely in the outer perimeter. Beyond that is the mid-layer area identified in the latest survey.”

Having read the adventurers’ reports, I knew it was quite a troublesome area.

I continued from where Leafan left off.

“It seems that once you reach the mid-layer area, the vegetation changes.”

The green we saw in the distance, which I thought was a forest on the other side of the wetlands, was different.

What I thought was the edge of the wetlands was actually just the beginning; the core area lay beyond.

It’s too vast!

I used the [Far Sight] magic to check, and the vegetation was nothing like that of the forest.

Different vegetation… meaning the types of plants growing there are entirely different from the surrounding forest.

It seems that mangroves and banyan trees with intricately branching roots increase there.

I never considered going deep through the outer perimeter teeming with hydras.

But this time…

After finishing the reconnaissance, I returned to Kyle and the others.

“I don’t see Zaid’s troops within visible range. So, Kyle, what’s the plan?”

“First, we secure the area’s safety and look for traces.”

Even though he’s such a guy, Kyle seems worried about Zaid. His expression was tense.

So, I lifted the corners of my mouth and spoke lightly.

“Got it. Commander.”

“Hey… Craft-niisama, that’s embarrassing.”

“It’s just a joke.”

I exaggeratedly ruffled Kyle’s hair, and I could see his tension easing.

“…Mm.”

“Myrna?”

Myrna, who was behind Kyle, came over and pushed her head towards me.

When I ruffled her hair the same way, she clung to my cloak with a satisfied look.

Uh, it’s hard to move now…

Van watched this exchange with half-open eyes.

“Are you guys always this relaxed?”

“Better than being tense, right?”

“Well… yeah…”

Van, not entirely convinced, scratched his head and folded his arms, but I ignored him.

Alphard, ready, saluted Kyle.

“Kyle-sama! The entire force is ready! Your orders!”

It seems it’s back to serious time.

“Understood.”

With a determined expression, Kyle raised his hand grandly.

“Then, have Raidoc’s adventurer unit charge first. Followed by Jurara’s lizardman unit!”

This marked Kyle’s first battle command.

If Persia were here, she’d probably be in tears.

Alphard returned the salute respectfully.

“Yes! Understood!”

Alphard, barely holding back tears of emotion, looked at me.

“Craft! It’s your turn now! Communicate with both units!”

“Roger that!”

Apparently, he wasn’t angry.

Now, the reason I must stay with Kyle.

It’s because…

“Kyle. I’ll contact Raidoc and Shururu, okay?”

“Yes!”

Basically, I’m the communication officer.

Using the communication magic tool, I can relay Kyle’s instructions instantly and directly.

Very convenient.

I channeled my magic into the communication ring, initiating telepathy with Raidoc and Shururu.

Since Jurara doesn’t have a magic tool, Shururu is with him.

Initially, we considered a different communication method due to the danger, but Shururu insisted.

“It’s a chance to show off to Craft-sama!”

Jurara, having trained rigorously, gulping down stamina potions over the past month, boasted confidently.

“I’ll protect my sister.”

Lizardmen are naturally suited for battle, and over the past month, they’ve become an incredible warrior group. Probably.

First, I contacted Shururu.

“Shururu, can you hear me?”

[Yes! Craft-sama!]

I not only heard Shururu’s voice but could also vaguely sense the scene she was seeing, so the telepathy was working fine.

Jurara, looking tense (probably), was peering at Shururu, which was somewhat amusing.

“After Raidoc’s adventurers’ charge, I want the lizardman unit to move out.”

[Leave it to me!]

[Watch your language!!]

I heard not just Shururu’s voice but also Jurara scolding her. It seems I could share some of the sounds she heard.

“Your mission is to mop up any enemies Raidoc’s team misses and search for survivors. Can you do it?”

[Of course!]

[Hey! What did Craft say!? Relay it properly!]

[Craft-sama! Please reward me lavishly if I succeed! Have mercy!]

[Are you an idiot!? This battle is to repay our debt! Seeking rewards in such a fight is disgraceful! Craft! Can you hear me!? We do not seek rewards! Ignore this foolish sister!]

For a while, I heard Jurara’s pleas and Shururu’s requests alternating.

Yeah. They’ll be fine.

I gently cut off the telepathy with Shururu and connected with Raidoc.

[Hey, took you long enough.]

I could almost see Raidoc’s grinning face.

Now, in his view was Soraru, enjoying their camaraderie.

“You’re the vanguard. Ready?”

[Is that even a question?]

“True.”

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

“Raidoc. Your unit will annihilate everything. Clear the entire perimeter area towards Zaid Village. Jurara’s team will handle the search.”

[Whoo! Finally, some real action!]

“Yeah! If you get exhausted, I’ll laugh at you.”

[Not like I’m a rookie adventurer.]

We both chuckled softly.

Stamina potions prevent fatigue, but pushing beyond physical limits will still cause exhaustion.

It’s a common joke among Golden Dawn adventurers that newcomers, hyped on legendary stamina potions, overexert themselves and fail their missions.

“Then, I’m counting on you.”

[Got it!]

The adventurers, eagerly awaiting their turn, saw Raidoc raise his sword, and their tension skyrocketed.

“Let’s goooooooo!!!!!!”

“””Oooooooo!!!!!!”””

Having fought dragons and defended against the cockatrice invasion, and repeatedly thwarted stampedes, the indomitable adventurer unit charged into the wetlands.