95. The Strongest Squad Can Be Relied Upon, Isn’t It?

“Let’s gooooooo!!!!!!”

“””Yessssssssss!!!!”””

First, the main force of this subjugation team, the adventurer squad led by Raidoc, charges forward.

They plow through the shallows at breakneck speed, scattering splashes everywhere.

Noticing that their territory has been invaded, the hydras rage and rush at the adventurer group.

The hydra is a mysterious monster that grows more heads the stronger it gets.

The sight of three-headed and four-headed hydras, each several times the size of a cow, attacking like an avalanche is heart-stopping.

Normally, if caught in such a monster wave, nothing would remain, not even a single blade of grass.

But.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…”

Van Vine, standing next to me as our guard, mutters.

Van is staring, mouth agape, unable to believe what he is seeing.

“[Rock Cleave Strike]!”

“[Soaring Combo]!”

“[Piercing Thunder Shot]!”

“[Mighty Blow]!”

“[Vacuum Slash]!”

“[Flame Spear]!”

“[Aerial Bombardment]!”

“[Ice Lance]!”

“[Scorching Pillar]!”

The adventurers, led by Raidoc, calmly unleash their sword techniques and magic, crushing the hydra wave head-on.

“…Huh?”

Van’s eyes are wide open, completely dumbfounded.

Hmm. I guess he’s not a Golden Dawn adventurer.

He points a trembling finger at the adventurers.

“Craft, do they all have emblems?”

“There are many emblem bearers in the selected squad, but not all of them.”

Even in Raidoc’s party, not everyone has an emblem. While the participating adventurers are all skilled, the rate of emblem bearers is less than half.

I’d be surprised if even half of them had emblems.

“But, but, but! They’re all using sword techniques and magic!”

“You know that you can learn techniques and magic to some extent through training, even without an emblem, right?”

“I understand the theory, but… for someone without an emblem to learn techniques or magic, they would need to undergo extremely rigorous training for long hours, right!?”

From what he’s saying, Van must originally have an emblem. Plus, it seems he hasn’t used stamina potions in combat.

Then, Jabil-sensei, who was nearby, shook her head and joined the conversation.

“Your Majesty… ahem! Van-dono. That is why I have repeatedly explained that this stamina potion is extraordinary.”

“Oh, that. The one they say can make your combat strength ten times greater if used in training… I only listened to that with half an ear.”

“We presented a considerable amount…”

“Ah. We treated it as a super-effective nutritional supplement. Jabil.”

“Van-dono, that’s not a problem, but did you not have your subordinates… ahem! Your fellow adventurers use it?”

“That was a hassle, so I came to investigate the actual situation here.”

“Ugh… Your Majesty… Van-dono, you should consider your position a bit more—”

Judging by his glove that seems to hide an emblem on his left hand and his conversation with Jabil-sensei, he must be a noble.

Considering he also calls the Marquis of the Frontier by name, Van might be a noble of quite high standing.

However, since he claims to be an adventurer, there’s no need to be overly considerate.

Van seems to have received a bit of a lecture from Jabil-sensei but waves his hand to change the topic.

“Even so, those guys are too strong! The Raidoc party!”

Seeing him point at the Raidoc party, I feel proud.

He embodies the adventurer I aspired to be.

“Right, right. Golden Dawn adventurers are all excellent!”

“Yeah. I truly acknowledge that.”

Van nods vigorously, putting me in a good mood.

Following our gazes, Jabil-sensei also looks at the adventurers.

“Hmm. I had heard about them, but they are indeed remarkable.”

“They’ve been training hard!”

This time, the soldiers and adventurers participating in the wetland subjugation team are putting in extra effort since it’s Kyle’s first campaign.

Even adventurers who are usually bad at group actions have become somewhat organized under Raidoc’s leadership.

The soldiers, too, have been thoroughly trained by Alphard, Degard Bismack, and Taigar Gaidar, making them all excellent soldiers.

Even now, hydra parts are flying through the air, and Jitaro is collecting magic stones.

…When did that happen?

While our force should be quite strong, it seems Jitaro has become the errand boy for the adventurer group.

As long as he’s not causing trouble, I guess it’s fine.

Then, Leafan, who is guarding Maina along with me and the Casper sisters, stands beside us.

“Jitaro-san is quite free-spirited.”

“Indeed. He should just help with his bow.”

“Raidoc and his team are so strong that they don’t seem to need support.”

Every time the blue flash sparkles, the hydras are torn apart and sent flying. Van comments on this.

“They’re going too wild! If they keep using techniques like that, they won’t last five minutes!”

“Ah, even at that level, Raidoc is only using about eighty to ninety percent of his full power. He gauges his stamina limit with the stamina potion and acts accordingly.”

“Eighty percent, huh…? I see, the stamina potion…”

Van, who seemed shocked, starts mumbling to himself.

Well, let’s leave him be.

“Craft-niisama.”

Kyle, who was listening to the situation nearby, approached us.

“Please instruct Raidoc’s unit to split in two and eliminate the surrounding areas while encircling the central mongoose habitat.”

“Understood. Should we also split the Lizardman unit?”

“Yes… Let’s split the Lizardman unit as well. But tell them to leave the combat to the adventurer unit.”

“Got it.”

I immediately activated the communication magic tool and relayed Kyle’s instructions to both units.

Since this operation was already planned, they quickly moved into action.

Then, I notice Van watching our conversation with wide eyes.

“That ring you guys are wearing…”

Van points to the spirit-sensitive orichalcum ring.

“Hmm? Oh, this is the key to this operation, the communication magic tool. Don’t even think about stealing it, okay?”

“I wouldn’t do that, but using it in front of me is also careless, isn’t it?”

“As Kyle’s guard, it would delay instructions if we kept it from you. Prioritizing our comrades is the main reason, but I also checked with Jabil-sensei earlier. She said it’s okay with you.”

Hmm. I don’t understand why Jabil-sensei trusts Van so much, but if he says it’s okay, then it must be fine.

“A communication magic tool… When used in war, the units can move this organically.”

“Huh? Van, you understand its function quite well, don’t you?”

“Hmm? Ah, yes. I knew orichalcum had such functions.”

Huh?

Isn’t that information not widely known?

I whisper to Jabil-sensei, who is nearby.

“Jabil-sensei. Orichalcum’s properties aren’t generally known, right?”

“Indeed. Not only to the general public but even most mages and alchemists lack proper knowledge. It’s just famous by name.”

“Yes. I only knew it as some amazing metal until I heard the whispers of the emblem.”

“Even that much is because you’re an adventurer. It’s scarcely known at all otherwise.”

“I see.”

So, I tilt my head in puzzlement.

“Then why did he recognize it as orichalcum at a glance and know about the unknown communication function?”

“Ugh!?”

Jabil-sensei chokes a bit.

“Cough! That… that must be because I might have mentioned something like that in the past…!”

“Oh! I see!”

If Jabil-sensei taught him, then it can’t be helped. Jabil-sensei knows everything.

“Let’s set that aside for now! Anyway, he’s not a bad guy, so try to be a bit more considerate in how you interact with him, okay?”

Seeing Jabil-sensei’s demeanor, it seems Van is indeed a noble from a good family.

But it’s too late to start using honorifics now!

At that moment, I see a magic flare signal rise into the sky.

“Craft-niisama!”

“That color is Raidoc’s! I’ll check immediately!”

I quickly activate the communication magic tool.

To conserve magic power, we use signal flares in conjunction with communication to minimize usage.

“Raidoc, what’s happened!?”

[We found a survivor! He was on the brink of death, but the healing potion revived him. He’s one of Zaid’s private soldiers!]