Chapter 41: A Chaotic Holiday Part 2

Right when Razé arrived at her office, Bonalt greeted her with a perturbed look on his face.

Bonalt: “Leader…”

Razé: “What happened?”

Bonalt: “A beast with Risk Level 7 has appeared in Togner’s dungeon.”

Razé: “…They asked for me?”

Bonalt: “Yes.”

Bonalt felt bad for Razé because he knew about her plan.

Bonalt: “There was a fatality reported. It seems that the Knights are also having a hard time rescuing the adventurers.”

Razé could easily guess that. Since they had sent a request, then she would have to go. By right, even the Knights should have someone who could handle this matter. She couldn’t help to sigh when she thought about it.

Razé: “The Knights are full of aristocrats after all. So, what? Are they saying that military should take the dangerous job? Well, it’s true that we put our live on the line doing our job. But seriously, can’t they do something about this?”

Use whatever you could use. That was how it worked in Shian. If you look at it positively, it was the right man for the right job. But…

Since Razé didn’t know the actual situation, she couldn’t really complaint about it. But if she went there and their reaction would be “Oh, Wolf Fang is here,” and they would just pass the work to her, that would really piss her off.

Razé: “Alright. Lieutenant Ducard should be free. Let’s ask him to go.”

Bonalt: “Huh? But it’s Risk Level 7?!”

Bonalt was surprised that Razé would pass the job to her subordinate.

Razé: “Risk level for beasts is way lower than monsters. He has experienced Zone 11, so there should be no problem. But I’m worried that Lieutenant Ducard would overdo it… Captain Bonalt, can you go watch over him so that he won’t come to blows with the Knights? ”

Bonalt: “Leave it to me.”

Bonalt knew that she trusted him, so he had no complaint. Normally, Razé preferred to handle everything herself. Bonalt felt it was an honor for being trusted with the task.

That fella Harul, I hope he won’t get carried away. Their battalion were full of people who were hard to control. But Bonalt was determined to accomplished his mission. He immediately went to find Harul Ducard.

―　―　―

At the same time, Zars Residence.

“Hmm. I think you have improved a lot.” Vanessa laughed happily after noticing that it was getting harder to avoid attack from Adis. She lowered her sword, saying, “Let’s take a break,” and sat down under a tree shade.

Adis took a cold drink and towel from the maid, and wiped his sweat.

Vanessa: “By the way, Adis.”

Adis: “Yes?”

Vanessa had been curious about something. She asked, “I heard you took the first place in the regular exam. Are you still going to join the Knights?”

Adis was silent for a while and then he replied, “No. I haven’t got the first place yet.”

Adis thought about the scholarship student. As long as he hadn’t surpassed her, then he couldn’t say he was the first. Besides, he still hadn’t took revenge for being defeated by her last year. He couldn’t join the Knights without redeeming himself. He wanted to win against her on the official stage, but she always lost her first match in each tournament. He was growing out of patience.

“I see…” Vanessa gave a gentle look to Adis as she realized that he had found his goal.

But the opponent is Wolf-chan[1]. He’s going to need more training.

Actually, Vanessa had met Razé before. She knew that if Adis wanted to defeat Razé, then he had to train much harder. Otherwise, he should just forget it.

Vanessa herself was quite strong, and Adis had inherited her talent. However, Vanessa was a very strict person. She suddenly said, “Oh, right. Adis, let’s go to the dungeon!”

And so, they used Welrian’s (strictly-for-work-only) teleporter machine to visit a dungeon.

Adis: “Mom, this place is…”

Vanessa: “Huh? It seems they were in the middle of something. Well, don’t worry about it. All you have to do is defeat the beast so that you won’t get in their way.”

The Knights had set up a tent at the entrance of the dungeon in Togner. It was clear that something was wrong but Vanessa didn’t seem to care at all. She even greeted the knights and then proceed into the dungeon.

Why nobody stopped us? Adis was surprised when they managed to proceed easily. He even heard someone yelling “The goddess of victory has come!” and “We’re going to be fine!”

Adis didn’t know that Vanessa sometimes exercised in the dungeon to release stress. About half of the cases related to high-risk beast were handled by her when Razé was away in Centrior.

Vanessa: “Let’s get rid of the troublesome one first, so that we can relax later.”

Adis: “Huh?”

They went straight to the nest of Risk Level 7 beast.

Vanessa: “I’ll support you! Ganbatte[2]!”

The beast in front of him went berserk. Adis was speechless. For the first time in his life, he noticed that his mother was savage.

―　―　―

When Ducard and Bonalt arrived at the dungeon, they saw Adis fighting the beast. Ducard said to Bonalt, “…Shall we go back?” Bonalt couldn’t give any response.

Vanessa: “Ganbatte, Adis!”

They had come to exterminate the monsters that had already took a life. But they saw a woman that seemed out of place giving a cheer to a young man. And it seemed that the young man was about to defeat the monster even though he was fighting alone.

“Are the young kids nowadays all like that?” Ducard shrugged his shoulder and said, “So scary～.”

Bonalt: “Wait a second. Look carefully. That’s the Prime Minister’s son.”

Ducard: “Wow. You’re right! They really look alike, just like Leader said.”

Both of them were ignoring the fierce battle, and instead focusing their attention on the young man’s face.

Ducard: “I’d be distressed if I have to see that face every day.”

Bonalt: “She told me that she thought she had already gotten used to it but she almost gave a salute when the face suddenly appeared in front of her.”

“Aa-” Ducard felt sorry for her.

Ducard: “It’s no surprise for him to be that strong. He’s the Prime Minister’s son after all. Some people have just got it, especially those who were born in the Year of Seira.”

Bonalt: “You’re right. Leader is the same too.”

At that moment, Vanessa turned and looked at the two of them.

Ducard: “…Let’s go greet her.”

Bonalt: “Yeah.”

Since they knew who the woman was, they couldn’t just ignore her. They walked towards her and gave a salute like a soldier.

“No need to be so polite. Oh, your uniform…Are you from Wolf-chan’s team?” Vanessa was surprised when she saw their uniform.

As for Ducard and Bonalt, they were taken aback by that cute nickname. It was the first time they heard someone used that name.

Bonalt: “Yes. We have received a backup request. But it seems that it won’t be necessary.”

“I’m sorry to make you came all the way for nothing. My son needs training so that he can be stronger than Wolf-chan,” Vanessa said with her hands on her cheeks.

The faces of the two men went stiff went they heard her words.

Ducard: Stronger than Leader? Seriously?!

Bonalt: She must be speaking hypothetically…Isn’t she?

Vanessa: “Anyway, the person himself is unaware about it. But he’s a boy. It’s better to be stronger, right?”

Ducard and Bonalt immediately nodded their heads. Their faces were twitching as they thought: She’s saying such a scary thing with such a pretty face.

Suddenly, they heard something fell with a heavy thud and the ground shook.

Vanessa: “Oh. He’s done.”

She looked at her son and gave him a so-so rating for his performance. Adis’ clothes were stained with blood from the beast. He jumped over the remain and walked up to them.

Adis: “I’ve finished…These are…?”

Vanessa: “They are from the military.”

Bonalt and Ducard was stunned for a moment when they saw Adis. Then, they realized that he was the son of their superior’s superior, so they hurriedly greeted him.

As for Adis, he rarely had the chance to meet a soldier. He watched them with a fascinating look on his face. He felt that they looked sturdy and had different vibes from the knights.

Vanessa: “These remarkable men belong to the top team in monster hunting.”

Bonalt: “That’s an overpraise. It’s all due to our excellent leader.”

Vanessa: “Well, it’s a team lead by the Wolf Fang after all. How’s your leader? Still busy?”

Bonalt: “…Yes. So busy that we had to take care of this task.”

Vanessa: “I see. I will tell that person not to overburden your leader. He tends to depends on your leader too much.”

That person mentioned here was Razé’s superior, Welrian. Ducard and Bonalt looked at each other, and then they gave a bow to Vanessa. It was a gesture to thank her on behalf of their young leader.

After they went on their separate ways, Adis turned to Vanessa and asked, “Wolf Fang is the title given to hero who has great military achievements, right?”

Vanessa: “Yes. … Wait a minute. Adis, did you think the story about a living person receiving Wolf Fang title in Shian is just a rumor?”

Adis was flustered when he saw Vanessa’s reaction. “I thought it was just a fantasy story made up during wartime.”

Vanessa: “It’s not! Although that person’s identity was kept secret due to the nature of their missions, it is a true story. Although you’re unaware of it, you’re also indebted to that person.”

Adis: “Huh?”

Vanessa: “You’ll know once you’re stronger. Let’s go to next dungeon. Come!”

And from that day onwards, Adis was busy spending his time dungeon hopping.

[1] Wolf-chan: Vanessa actually called her Wolf Fang-chan, but that sounds weird in English so I simplified it to Wolf-chan. Fyi, if you want to call someone +chan, you need to use either surname or first name +chan. Don’t use full name +chan. ↩

[2] Ganbatte: a common phrase that means ‘do your best’. ↩