Chapter 4

**Being the Younger Brother of a Hero, Chapter 4**

**Chapter 4: Clue (3)**

Kuooooo!

Before the sound even reached their ears, Klein was the first to react. At just 17 years old, Klein sensed the thick aura of killing intent emanating from the distant mountains before anyone else.

He immediately grabbed the sword leaning against the wall and rushed out of the room.

A bit slower than Klein, but still the fastest to react among the knights, was the knight captain, Laired, who had been guarding them.

"Master!"

"Yes."

Without exchanging any words, both understood the situation.

A dungeon wave.

Of course, Klein had never experienced one before. His actual combat experience with monsters could be counted on one hand. Nonetheless, Klein relied on his excellent instinctive senses to understand and accept the current situation.

"We need to evacuate the villagers first."

"Understood, Master. Everyone, listen up! Evacuate the villagers and gather at the eastern part of the village immediately!"

"Understood!!"

The knights, who had been a bit late in responding, hurriedly rushed out, and Shane followed behind them.

"Klein."

"Brother."

"A dungeon wave, huh."

"...Yes."

Klein's eyes briefly showed surprise, not expecting his brother to recognize it so quickly. It wasn't that he underestimated his brother; rather, he was amazed by his composure.

"What do you plan to do?"

Shane's question made Klein hesitate for a moment. Normally, his brother would have taken command here rather than asking him.

He respected his brother, but if they were even a little late, the monsters would turn the village into a battlefield. Should he still respect his brother in this situation?

Such thoughts crossed his mind. But Klein quickly shook them off and carefully replied to Shane's question.

"If the battle takes place in the village, the damage will be significant. I plan to strike them first with Knight Captain Laired."

"Do so. I'll leave the command to you."

Laired couldn't hide his surprise at Shane's calm demeanor. He hadn't expected Shane to accept it so easily, let alone hand over the command to Klein.

Of course, the real command would still be with Laired, the knight captain, but knowing Klein's abilities, he didn't intend to take command himself.

"However, leave five knights behind. I will stay here to protect the village."

"...Understood."

Though it was more of a command, Klein accepted it without a word. It was right to have an emergency force to protect the village, and there were few among the village's vigilantes who could handle the monster aura coming from afar.

"Brother, I'll be back."

"Be safe."

At Shane's words, both Klein and Knight Captain Laired flinched but then moved on. They needed to resolve this situation as quickly as possible rather than dwell on Shane's changed behavior.

* * *

As soon as the monster aura was heard, the Wyton Mercenary Group rushed to the inn where their client was staying. They saw the Clayten family's knights already bustling about, ready for battle.

The knights were issuing evacuation orders to the citizens with their mana-imbued voices.

"Damn. How embarrassing..."

At that moment, Wyton's eyes met those of the guild master, who had just come out of the inn. Wyton waited for the guild master's command.

"Hmm, Wyton. What should we do?"

"Isn't there something you want more than this wave, Master?"

"Cough! That's right."

The guild master was pleased with Wyton's perceptiveness. Wyton's skills were just slightly above average for a mercenary, but his ability to read and please the guild master was top-notch.

Seizing the moment, Wyton asked a knight about the situation.

"Sir! Are you going out to exterminate the monsters?"

The knight frowned for a moment but then relaxed when he saw Wyton's attire.

"Yes, I'm going with the knight captain."

"Will the current forces be enough? What if any monsters come to the village while you're away?"

"Don't worry. We're leaving five knights behind."

Wyton's mind raced at the knight's words.

'Let's see, the second son is said to be more skilled than most knight captains. So, he will definitely be part of the extermination team.'

After calculating this, Wyton spoke again.

"Ah! Can we help on the front lines?"

"Hmm... Is that really necessary?"

While more forces were always beneficial, the knight didn't see the need to rely on the mercenaries. He had someone he trusted.

Reading the knight's expression, Wyton quickly continued.

"But if the monsters spread out, the village might suffer. I've been in battles for over ten years and have experienced dungeon waves several times. I'll do my best to help without getting in the way."

"Then, meet at the eastern guard post in five minutes. We won't wait if you're late, and if the commander here doesn't approve, you'll have to step back."

"Of course."

The knight hurried off, and Wyton turned to the guild master standing behind him.

"The second son will definitely be going out. I'll make sure he's in my line of sight. You'll have to handle the rest. Understand?"

"Hehehe, Wyton. You really should stay with me."

"Thank you, Master."

As Wyton was about to call his just-sobered comrades, a voice interrupted.

"W-Wyton sir."

"Hmm? Alex. What is it? Didn't you hear? Hurry and help evacuate the people."

"Is it... Is it possible for me to go with you?"

"What?"

The always jovial Wyton growled fiercely. This was a real situation, not a place for a young man who wanted to leave the village because it was boring.

Alex, sensing Wyton's expression, quickly defended himself.

"I know! I know my request is rude. But this is my hometown, where I was born and raised. How can I survive in the outside world if I run away from my hometown's crisis?"

"Stop whining and help the people evacuate. That's what you can do for your hometown. Got it?"

"The people are already evacuating...! I promise I won't get in the way. Sir Wyton!"

What should he do?

Maybe he should just punch him in the nose and let him go back on his own?

Just as he was about to raise his fist, Alex continued.

"I won't ask for help. I just want to see it with my own eyes. The outside world..."

"...Tsk."

Wyton looked into Alex's eyes.

They were full of fear, the kind he had seen countless times on the battlefield, the kind only new soldiers had.

But there was a will to fight against that fear, something even Wyton, in his first battle, hadn't possessed.

"If you die, don't blame me."

"Thank you!"

As Wyton turned away, he briefly met the eyes of a young man coming out of the inn.

At first glance, a youth not yet 20 was stepping out of the inn, with long black hair and dressed like a noble, his roseberry-colored eyes briefly meeting Wyton's before looking away.

'Is this the eldest son of the Clayten family I've heard so much about?'

He was said to be a noble who envied his younger brother's talent, lacking ability but full of ambition.

'I'd rather not get involved.'

Not all nobles were like that, but getting entangled with a noble who had no ability but wielded authority could lead to an early death.

He had heard of a guild master who was quietly eliminated for such a reason.

'At least he's not leading the charge, so I won't get involved.'

* * *

'Where have I seen him before?'

Shane was lost in thought as he watched the knights, Wyton, and Alex leave the village.

Shane didn't know Alex's name or who he was, but he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Was it because he had been to this village before?

No.

He had seen the faces of the villagers and the village chief in his previous life, but he couldn't remember any of them.

It would be ridiculous to remember a mere village vigilante.

'Maybe I'll meet him in the future.'

Not now, but in the distant future.

They probably wouldn't meet on good terms, given that no one had a good relationship with Shane in his previous life.

Shane lost interest in Alex and turned his attention to the approaching knight, Lordwill.

"Master, shouldn't we set up some defenses in the village?"

"It's not necessary."

"Excuse me?"

"Also, leave the mercenaries to guard the villagers. They won't be of much help here."

The mercenaries ultimately didn't follow the knights. Only Wyton, who would act as a messenger, and Alex, who knew the local geography, went with them. The rest of the mercenaries stayed to protect the villagers.

"...Understood."

Lordwill looked puzzled for a moment but didn't press the issue. Arguing with the prideful Shane wouldn't help, and the village didn't seem to be in immediate danger.

Reading Lordwill's expression, Shane quietly spoke.

"What do you think the owner of that aura was?"

Caught off guard by the question, Lordwill tilted his head before answering.

"It was a troll's aura."

"Right. And it was a thick, murderous aura."

"Yes."

Shane continued.

"People often misunderstand trolls, thinking they only have brute strength and regenerative abilities."

"Is there more to them?"

From Lordwill's perspective, it was odd to hear such a claim from Shane, who had never faced a troll. Still, he nodded in agreement.

"Trolls are intelligent monsters. They can set traps and ambushes."

"Traps...?"

To Lordwill, trolls were monsters that used their brute strength and regenerative abilities to crush enemies.

Could they really set traps?

"Would a wolf exert all its strength to catch a rabbit?"

"..."

To a troll, knights might be a challenge, but ordinary people were just easy prey.

"Wild trolls don't easily reveal themselves. They assess their enemies and only use their strength when they believe they can win. Or, if they think they can't win, they use tactics like ambushes."

Having fought trolls several times, Lordwill was intrigued by this new information and listened intently.

"So, trolls don't casually emit monster auras. If they do, it's usually when facing prey. Even then, it's not a thick, murderous aura like the one we just felt, but one to immobilize the enemy."

"Then, what was the troll's aura we just felt?"

"Trolls emit a murderous aura in only two situations. One is when facing many enemies, and the other is..."

"..."

"When they leave their sentry position to become hunters for their master."

Master?

A master for a troll, known for not traveling in groups?

Lordwill was puzzled, and Shane turned his gaze to the hillside.

Faint sparks of mana and shouts signaled the start of the battle.