Vol 1 Chapter 15 – Infiltration【Vol 1: The Beastkin Hero Arc】

Kicked out of Log Village, the three of them gathered around a campfire in a corner of the plains and set up camp for the time being.

The sun had already set, and a sky full of stars spread out above them. Gazing at the moonlit village from a distance, Branford spoke up.

“Noir-sama, the villagers’ behavior was clearly unnatural! Many of them were missing body parts, and I believe something terrible is happening!!”

“…Yeah.”

Allen thought to himself with a hand resting against his mask — just as Branford said, Log Village was clearly abnormal. Sure, the older guy in front of him was loud and annoying, but it was strange for them to bring out weapons just because of that. In the end, checking inside the village was the quickest way to find out.

“We should all infiltrate together. We’ll wait until everyone is fast asleep, then search the village from top to bottom.”

Asmodeus stated the most sensible option, but Branford shook his head.

“…No, I will go alone! I don’t want to drag you or your little sister into anything dangerous, Noir-sama!”

This time, it was Allen who shook his head.

“Wait, I’ll go. You stay here on standby. It’s definitely better that way.”

“…Could it be that you’re saying that out of concern for my safety?! Don’t worry, I may not look it, but I am stronger than you!”

He casually flexed his superiority.

“No… that might be true, but it’s still better if I go.”

“…I think your spirit, willing to risk your life for someone you’ve only just met, is noble and beautiful! But if you were to lose your life, what would become of your young sister?! This is an issue concerning my homeland! Allow me to go!”

Branford fired himself up, but it wasn’t as if Allen was saying this out of concern for him.

(…With a voice that loud, you’re absolutely not suited for an infiltration. You’re definitely going to fail, old man.)

Allen didn’t exactly want to willingly stick his nose into troublesome matters, either, but due to his innate kindness, he felt reluctant to just ignore a problem right in front of him.

“If I don’t return by dawn, please inform the Azure Sword Knight Order’s garrison in the central capital of Riguacqua that Log Village is in crisis! If you show them this dagger, they should listen to you!!”

Saying that, Branford handed over a dagger with a crest on it that had been sheathed at his waist. It depicted a beautiful maiden standing on a beach.

Allen reluctantly accepted it.

Of course, he had no desire to go to the central capital — he had faked his own death in the line of duty just so he could live a slow life in a village, so why should he have to become a key witness in an incident?

“Then I shall be off!! Pray for my safety!!”

It felt like his voice could already be heard from the village — he was definitely going to fail. The former knight’s large back disappeared into the darkness of the night.

A short while later, staring blankly at the flames of the campfire, Allen muttered.

“Let’s go too.”

“We shall go as well.”

Allen’s voice perfectly overlapped with Asmodeus’s, and they looked at each other and shared a wry smile.

“…What do you think is waiting for us?”

“Most likely demons.”

“…Remnants of the Demon Lord’s Army, huh.”

“Indeed.”

If it wasn’t a major threat, Branford — being a former knight — should be able to defeat it, and Allen just needed to provide appropriate cover.

Chasing after Branford, who had gone on ahead, the two of them headed toward Log Village, which was enveloped in the silence of the dead of night.

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Slipping through the darkness, Branford hid himself behind the shadow of a nearby rock — despite the late hour, a figure still stood watch in the watchtower near the gate.

True, there had been insect-type magical beasts on the road near the village, so it was better to be cautious, but even so, there were no signs that the village had actually been attacked by them.

“Combat Skill: <Steel Muscle>.”

Enhancing his physical abilities with a basic combat skill, Branford smoothly leaped up onto the watchtower.

“Y-You’re…!”

“Knockout blow.”

Landing a punch to his solar plexus, he gently laid down the villager, whose eyes had rolled back in his head.

“…If I recall, he’s the man from the neighboring village who married my first love, Remila-neesan…!”

Mid-sentence, Branford slapped a hand over his own mouth.

In a panic, he surveyed the village from the watchtower. He had unintentionally raised his voice out of nostalgia and surprise, but it seemed he hadn’t been noticed yet — none of the lights in the village houses were on.

Returning his gaze, he found the unconscious man had bandages wrapped around his fist.

(Just what kind of injury is that…?)

At that moment, something squirmed beneath the bandages.

Blinking, Branford rubbed his eyes and stared intently once more, but this time there was no movement.

Figuring he might have just seen things in the dim moonlight, Branford left the man as he was, climbed down from the watchtower, and infiltrated the village.

Silencing his footsteps, Branford headed for the residence of the village chief, Eamon — he would surely explain the whole situation.

They were childhood friends, and when Branford passed the Knight Order’s exam, Eamon had rejoiced and offered his congratulations.

When they were young, they would cross wooden swords and talk about their dreams countless times, and remembering how he had boasted he would one day become a World Knight, Branford let out a weak, wry smile.

Relying on his memory, he arrived at the largest estate in the village.

Given the hour, everyone should have been fast asleep and no lights were on — yet a pained voice could be heard from inside the house.

Was someone having a nightmare?

“Combat Skill: <Hearing Enhancement>.”

Branford pressed his body against the door and strained his ears, focusing entirely on picking up the sounds.

“Ah, guh, s-stop… just put me out of my misery already…!”

Kyuu. Kyuukyuu.

Along with a high-pitched sound reminiscent of an insect’s cry, the agonizing voice of a man reached his ears. Relieved to hear that it was Eamon’s voice, Branford was simultaneously struck by a sense of déjà vu.

A cry that, at first glance, seemed almost cute.

What came to mind was the Demon General who had attacked Riguacqua — 【Flavorus the Parasitic Eater】.

(N-No way…)

He had to check — if his hunch was right, this was the worst-case scenario.

It would be too much for even the Kingdom of Riguacqua’s national army, the Azure Sword Knight Order, to handle.

It was an incident that truly couldn’t be resolved without calling in a World Knight — Branford climbed onto the roof and peeked through a second-floor window.

“…What in the world…!”

Goosebumps erupted all over Branford’s body at the sight visible through the gap in the window’s curtains.

A man was writhing in agony on a wooden bed, with a small insect clinging to his left arm — its body covered in a tough-looking shell, countless fangs sprouting from its diamond-shaped mouth.

The bug was gnawing wetly on the man’s arm, devouring the red flesh as if it were incredibly delicious.

“…Leonhardt-sama was supposed to have slain them…! A larva of the Parasite Shell race… it was still alive…?!”

Reacting to his voice, the small insect locked its eerie compound eyes on Branford through the window.