Chapter 3

And then -- Raidor was exiled from the capital, and five years passed.

"Fireeeeeeeeee!"

In the frontier city of Raid, located in the southern part of the Zain Kingdom, roars and explosions echoed, shaking the air.

A man standing on the city wall bellowed with a rough voice, ordering the archers. Arrows rained down on the enemies' heads.

"Uaaaaaah!"

Pierced all over with arrows, a bipedal boar let out a final scream.

On the southern side of the frontier city, a thick defensive wall made of bricks and wood had been built to fend off monster attacks. The creatures trying to breach this wall were orc-like monsters with human bodies and boar heads, known as Catastro Orgs.

Catastro Orgs, a mutated form of orcs, have reddish-black fur and are significantly larger and stronger than regular orcs.

Dozens of these creatures were charging at the wall. This was a scale of disaster that could wipe out a small town in one night.

"Tch... They're still coming!"

A middle-aged man commanding on the wall spat in frustration.

His name was Zaphis Bartolomeo, a seasoned hero who had been protecting the frontier city and was a central figure among the 'adventurers' who defended it.

Despite the barrage of arrows, the Catastro Orgs continued to break down the wooden fences outside the wall without losing momentum.

"Fire! Keep firing! Don't let up!"

"Aye!"

As Zaphis raised his voice, the adventurers nocked and fired their arrows one after another.

Ordinary arrows couldn't deal fatal blows to the thick-muscled Catastro Orgs, but each arrow was coated with a monster's poison, which should be effective against the mutated orcs with their robust vitality.

It had been a full day since the Catastro Orgs first appeared, and despite the constant barrage of arrows, their momentum showed no signs of weakening.

If this continued, they would break through the fence and reach the wall.

A moat had been dug outside the wall, but the Catastro Orgs' physical abilities would allow them to easily cross it and breach the wall.

"At this rate, we'll be worn down... What to do..."

Zaphis clenched his teeth and groaned in frustration.

Zaphis Bartolomeo had originally been an adventurer in the central empire, where he and his party had even slain a dragon.

However, even for a hero like Zaphis, the swarm of disaster approaching before him was one of the greatest crises of his adventuring career.

"Before they reach the wall, we'll evacuate the women and children. Prepare for the evacuation!"

"Bu, Guildmaster, that's..."

One of the adventurers twisted his face in regret upon hearing the declaration of defeat, which essentially meant abandoning the frontier city.

The adventurers gathered in the frontier city of Raid were all wanderers who had lost their homes for various reasons.

To them, this town was their last refuge, a place they could call their second home. The declaration to abandon it was not something they could easily accept.

Understanding their inner turmoil, Zaphis flashed a good-natured grin.

"Of course, I'll stay until the end! This is my final resting place!"

"Sure thing, boss! I'll stay with you!"

"Don't call me boss. Call me Guildmaster!"

Zaphis picked up a javelin and threw it with all his might. The javelin, launched like a cannonball, pierced the abdomen of one Catastro Org, causing it to kneel.

"Alright, men! This is hell. This is a battlefield! Squeeze out every last drop of blood and fight until the end..."

"Guildmaster!"

"Stay... What is it, at a time like this!"

The young adventurer who had been guiding the evacuating residents interrupted Zaphis's speech.

Zaphis's brow furrowed at the appearance of the young man, whom he had ordered to lead the women and children to safety.

"Jahn! Why are you back? I told you to escape...!"

"The lord has returned! He's on his way here now!"

"Oh, really!"

The word 'lord' made Zaphis's eyes gleam.

The surrounding adventurers also burst into cheers, and the solemn atmosphere of impending death from a moment ago was swept away.

"Haha, you're late! As expected of the royal family, they sure take their time!"

"Sorry. I'm a slow and pompous royal!"

"Whoa!?"

A shadow as swift as the wind darted past the cursing Zaphis.

Even the seasoned adventurer Zaphis could barely follow it with his eyes. He turned around in surprise.

There, standing on the stones piled up on the city wall, was a young man with silver hair, red eyes, and dressed in black.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! You've held out well until now!"

The young man drew his sword from his waist and pointed it towards the sky.

His imposing presence made not only the archers but even the Catastro Orgs approaching the wall freeze in their tracks.

"Lord...!"

"Yes... You've come!"

"Our lord! Our great leader!"

"Of course I came. As the lord of this town, I couldn't possibly not show up in a crisis!"

The young man, with his sword raised to the sky, responded to the hopeful praise with a fierce smile.

Then, he swung his sword down, pointing the blade towards the outside of the wall.

"Don't think you can attack the town I govern, Raidor Zain, and get away scot-free! I'll carve you up, one by one, and strip your skin and flesh to fatten my wallet!"

With a proud declaration, the silver-haired, red-eyed young man, Raidor Zain, leaped from the wall with a powerful jump.

His strong and robust figure showed no trace of the weakness he had displayed when he was exiled from the capital five years ago.

As if declaring himself a hero, he leaped into battle against the enemies.

Thank you for always supporting me!

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