Chapter 15

The first scene. It's quite rough and short.

Then, almost everyone watched from a distance as the second summoned creature appeared.

Moo~

"Wh-What!? It's not allowed?"

"It's not allowed because it scares the other horses!"

Keena, who had barely stepped forward, was discouraged by Arbiter's rejection. The three-headed dog licked her cheek to cheer her up.

Due to the common point of being horse-sized, the one she summoned caused everyone to panic and flee the moment it appeared. They were watching from a distance, along with the horses that had started to get agitated.

"There's nothing we can do, my lord. After all, they are human, and they are incompatible with us."

The one consoling Keena in a grand manner was a middle-aged man with red hair, a wild hairstyle, and a magnificent mustache. He was dressed in leather light armor and held a spear, with the lower half of his body being that of a horse. He was the centaur summoned as the first creature. In the game, he was obedient, and when asked for the reason for the summoning, he replied:

"I'm sorry, my lord, but I would rather not imitate a pack horse."

...and he refused. In fact, the fact that he could communicate normally when summoned surprised the summoner. "Is the way he speaks like a samurai a feature of the game?" Keena wondered, but since no one else seemed to care, she couldn't ask. Reluctantly, Keena moved on to the third summoning. While Arbiter tried to calm her down, a fluffy, round creature appeared from the magic circle and greeted Keena with a "Pee."

"How about this? It's cute and has no complaints, right?"

With its large, round eyes, small fangs peeking out from its mouth, and a plump body like a sweet potato, it was irresistibly adorable. Anyone who loved cute things would run over without hesitation and want to hug it. However, Arbiter dismissed it.

"...If it weren't so big."

The creature was about twice the size of Keena, standing about three meters tall, roughly the size of a small covered wagon.

"Sorry, Pee-chan. I know it's a bit of a bother, but could you pull the wagon for me?"

Pee!

It tried to puff out its chest and raise its nose, but its round body made it difficult. Keena stroked its head, and it responded with a "Pee" of joy. Since it wasn't particularly scary except for its size, the Flame Spear Mercenary soldiers emerged from the wagon's shadow with relief. Cerberus and the centaur were placed at the rear in a "Stealth" state, ready for any emergencies. The round creature, unable to be harnessed to the wagon, was given a rope to pull.

One of the soldiers tentatively petted the round creature and asked Keena:

"What kind of beast is this? I've never seen it before."

"It's a baby Crimson Pig, though I'm not sure if any are left."

The soldiers, who had been gathered around Arbiter and Eirine, stiffened. Some of them cautiously looked around.

The Crimson Pig is one of the largest wild boars in the continent, occasionally sighted in the southern mountainous region. It is named for the mane of flame that runs from its head to its tail. An adult can grow up to ten meters tall and twenty-five meters long. Despite its fierce appearance, it is quite gentle. However, if you harm its young, you must be prepared for retaliation. Their charge has unimaginable destructive power, capable of tearing down city walls like paper. It's no wonder that the soldiers' eyes darted around, searching for the mother.

In the game, it was a rare monster known for being "hard, painful, and tough," disliked by many. Even Keena would hesitate to fight one alone.

While it was a concern, the group had a schedule to keep, so they decided to set off as soon as possible. Keena stood next to the covered wagon pulled by the round creature, giving orders. The invisible three-headed dog and the centaur followed slightly behind as the caravan set off.

According to Arbiter and Eirine, the checkpoint of Helshper was nearby, and they planned to spend the night there. Keena was looking forward to the campfire stories of the Flame Spear Mercenary soldiers. They would tell amusing and exaggerated tales of their adventures, and the nightly campfire gatherings were something she looked forward to, making her smile even now.

Suddenly, her ears caught the whispering of the trees.

"Be careful, ...Aquila."

The rustling of leaves mixed with the sound of the trees becoming increasingly agitated as they progressed. Keena tapped the round creature's back and, after getting permission from a nearby soldier, headed to the front. She was learning the basics of guarding from Arbiter, as she was not yet accustomed to group combat and was temporarily integrated into the mercenary group.

"Arbiter-san!"

"Yeah, you noticed too. There's something strange going on, probably from there."

Arbiter, who had already sensed something, pointed to the checkpoint ahead. The gateposts were wide enough for two wagons to pass side by side, with white walls extending into the forest on both sides. Two guards with spears were standing, slightly swaying, but no one else was in sight. Arbiter called out to stop the caravan and approached Eirine's box wagon to inform her of the potential attack.

"Could it be Helshper...?"

"Not necessarily. If something happened between the countries, they wouldn't leave the border open so casually."

The road wasn't very wide, so Eirine quickly gave orders to park the wagons diagonally. Arbiter assigned Keena and two others to guard the wagons before shouting at the checkpoint.

"Hey! Get out here! The jig is up!"

The sound of a tongue click carried on the wind, and a pale man in a black robe with a staff appeared from beside the guard. Keena sensed several low voices coming from the forest and relayed this to the deputy leader, then used "Stealth" and moved to the back. She ordered the three-headed dog to eliminate the ambushers on the right side of the forest and the centaur to guard the left side of the wagons.

She moved to the top of the box wagon, dispelled "Stealth," and prepared to support with auxiliary magic. Though she was in a position vulnerable to arrows, she was the most defensively capable in the group and intended to act as a decoy. Arbiter had already agreed to this plan. Despite calling her "girl" in casual conversation, he assigned roles without regard to gender when it came to work, which Keena appreciated.

In the game, area-of-effect attack spells could distinguish between friend and foe, but she hesitated to use them in a chaotic battle. Given the surrounding forest, she decided to refrain this time.

"You have a good sense, but unfortunately, this is where you end. We'll make good use of the women and the goods."

The pale man, with a lecherous smile, waved his staff, issuing what seemed to be a surrender demand. Arbiter snorted and laughed through his nose.

"You're so crude, you won't get any girls. What do you think, girl?"

"He seems low-level too..."

"Y-You bastards! You'll regret those insults..."

Before the pale man could finish, a scream of terror and despair echoed from the forest. At the same time, a chilling roar came from beneath their feet. It was the three-headed dog's area-of-effect attack, "Hell's Howl," which had a "Fear" effect. It only startled the mercenary soldiers guarding the caravan, so it seemed to distinguish between friend and foe. The ambushers, now gripped by fear, began to flee from the forest, wearing leather armor and wielding short swords or bows.

【Magic Skill: Advanced Physical Defense Boost: Ready Set】

Keena's spell, which had been on standby, affected the entire group. A blue glow enveloped not only the mercenary soldiers but also the caravan members, horses, and even the wagons. Arbiter, surprised by the blue light emanating from his body, didn't forget his duty and rallied the soldiers to finish off the terrified bandits. From the top of the wagon, Keena watched the scene, pushing back the bitter feeling in her heart. She had been told beforehand that this was necessary to prevent future trouble, and she didn't feel it was her place to interfere in a world she didn't fully understand.

The attack was far from over. Whether out of impatience or seeing an opportunity, several bandits emerged from the opposite side of the forest. However, the summoned creatures were waiting in ambush. One bandit was suddenly blown skyward, another was knocked sideways with a face-crushing impact, and a third was impaled by a spear that appeared out of nowhere. The centaur, who had incapacitated three bandits in an instant, revealed himself, still holding the impaled bandit, and loudly announced his name.

"Hey, hey! Those who are far, hear the sound; those who are near, see with your eyes! I am the centaur Haegeul, known in my tribe as a man of valor!"

Both friend and foe were taken aback. Arbiter, holding his spear, chuckled, "Hey, this isn't your show," while the pale man, trembling, asked, "W-Why is such a creature here!?" Keena, for her part, muttered, "It has a name..."

The bandit disguised as a guard at the checkpoint, deciding that crushing his head would be enough, charged at Arbiter. However, he was cleanly bisected by a "Water Blade" from the water sprite, "Water Fish," which had been assigned to protect Arbiter. Arbiter, who had been preparing to counter with his spear, was disappointed.

Keena, who had descended from the wagon, was approached by the three-headed dog, its mouth stained red. She tentatively petted its head, and the three heads purred in satisfaction.

"So, what are you going to do? Your subordinates are gone."

"F-Fuck! ...But I still have this!"

With a smug smile, the pale bandit taunted the Flame Spear Mercenary soldiers, brandishing the staff in his hand. As Arbiter was about to dismiss it as a bluff, the pale man began to chant the activation spell.

【Inner Fiery Blast】

A sphere of red, scarlet, and crimson flames appeared above his head in an instant. Before anyone could react, it expanded to a size large enough to swallow a person and, roaring, was launched at Keena.

Keena, who had been praising the summoned creatures, turned around just in time. The explosive spell captured her and detonated. The burning flames and shockwave exploded, shaking the eardrums of those nearby and scattering black smoke and embers in all directions. Screams rose from the caravan as the area where Keena had been was engulfed in flames and smoke.

"Girl!"

"Hahaha! Now do you understand the consequences of defying me!"

The soldiers, with hateful glares, gripped their weapons, ready to charge. The pale man, oblivious to the provocation, continued to laugh, absurdly.

"Are you an idiot? My lord can't be defeated by such a simple flame."

Woof!

The pale man's expression froze in a smile. Arbiter and the others turned to the direction of the voice, where the explosion should have killed a normal person.

A bluish-white phosphorescence blew away the flames and smoke. The centaur, holding his spear lazily, and the three-headed dog, baring its teeth, stood on either side. In the center was Keena, her left gauntlet transformed into a silver bow. At her feet was a white magic circle, from which a bluish-white phosphorescence continuously overflowed, rising and converging between her left bow and the string.

The ground around her turned to ice, cracking and spreading white frost. The pale man and Arbiter watched in horror as the overwhelming, otherworldly magic power converged between her left bow and the drawn string, forming a pure white arrow that repelled all colors.

"W-What... What is this power!?"

"If you wanted to hurt me, you should have used a spell like this!"

【Magic Skill: Convert: White Night of Blue Ice】

The sound of the arrow being fired was simple and almost anticlimactic, but the impact was anything but. The arrow, woven with a power so formidable that it seemed presumptuous to claim it as her own, was a tangible manifestation of despair that would bring death to all. Who could believe it was aimed at them? This was something that should only be seen in fairy tales, aimed at a demon king! And yet, it was right in front of them.

The sound of shattering glass resonated in a chorus, and a white flower bloomed along the border road surrounded by the forest. Composed of ice hexagons of various sizes, the transparent white flower spread from the ground. At its center stood a snow statue, its face twisted in terror, which had been a human just moments ago. Its outstretched arms snapped and fell, shattering like snow, and the entire body crumbled like a melting snowman.

"..."

"Excellent, my lord."

Woof!

Pee

Keena, slightly smirking at the praise from her summoned creatures, waved her hand modestly. Arbiter, who had been feeling the heavy atmosphere, shook his head and patted her back. The sound of a slap echoed, and everyone who had been absorbed in the scene snapped back to reality.

"Ow!"

"Amazing, girl! To survive that without a scratch!"

Arbiter, intending to praise her, was taken aback by the dark shadow that crossed her face.

"What's wrong!? Are you hurt somewhere?"

"My hair got a little singed..."

"...What? Don't scare me like that, I thought it was serious!"

"Hey... Saying something like that to a woman! You'll lose your girlfriend, Arbiter-san."

"Do I look like I have one of those?"

"Really? You don't have any? But you seem so nice, I thought at least two or three girls would follow you..."

"...Girl, let's talk about your perception of me. All night."

"Me too, your fangs!?"

"Did you just say fangs, huh?"

The playful banter between the two, reminiscent of a brother and sister, made the soldiers smile. Despite clearly demonstrating her power, everyone involved in the journey knew that Keena was not someone who would recklessly use her abilities. ...Though sometimes her judgment was a bit off.

"Come to the back of the inn in the capital now!"

"Whose? And how!?"

Interrupting the playful argument was painful, but the deputy leader, steeling himself, stepped between them.

"...Captain and Keena, let's save the rest for later. For now, we need your help with the cleanup."

"Even you, Deputy Leader!?"

"Ah, I get it. First, we need to dispose of the bodies. There's a square on the other side of the border, so set up camp there. Assign two people to guard it?"

"Then the guards will be... Haegeul and Pee-chan, please?"

"Understood, my lord."

Pee Pee Pee

After the cleanup was mostly done, everyone was able to have dinner as the sun had long set. They had found four charred skeletons, which Eirine, who had traveled this border several times, confirmed were the remains of the soldiers who had originally guarded it. She planned to report the remains to the Trade Guild in Helshper's capital later.

"Bandits from the west have started to move this far..."

"That seems to be the case. They're more formidable than we thought, possessing such items."

Around the campfire, the atmosphere was light as the soldiers and merchants shared exaggerated stories of their experiences, and Keena and the children laughed happily.

Arbiter and the deputy leader, discussing the bandits' movements in the shadow of the wagon, were carefully handling the staff the bandit leader had possessed. Eirine didn't know what it was, but Keena recognized it well. It was a generic item that could be activated with a simple incantation and didn't discriminate between users. In the game, it was a rare and powerful item for beginners.

"This... It's a disposable one, but it can be used ten times. Seven shots left."

"Are there a lot of these around, two hundred years ago...?"

"Wouldn't it fetch a good price if sold?"

"An item that could end up in anyone's hands is better off with Arbiter than sold."

"Eh? We're supposed to have it...?"

"If you want, I can make a new one that can be used thirty times. It's convenient?"

"Absolutely not (Please don't make it)!!"

Despite laughing like a normal woman now, it was a reminder of her extraordinary nature. Should they be relieved that their relationship remained unchanged?

"It's a good thing you're on our side."

"You always end up here, don't you..."

As requested, the prologue and epilogue have been moved to the activity report.