Chapter 52

...It seems I’ve been latched onto by something weird.

"You’re here, you flat-chested coward."

"……"

Standing right in front of me while I’m diligently carrying out my guard duties is a sharp-eyed young man with a black sword on his back.

This weirdo, Melo, snorting through his nose in front of me like he owns the place, clearly doesn’t understand what it means to be a bodyguard. Ever since that day, he’s been charging into the western camp I’m assigned to protect every single day.

"Today for sure—I’m gonna violate you."

"……"

By the way, according to some carpenters working in the eastern zone—who are unfortunate enough to have no guard captain—they’re apparently enjoying the peace. "Things are way more productive now that Melo’s gone, so we prefer it this way." That’s why no one’s bothering to file a complaint with the national military.

What a nuisance.

"……Just go home."

"Shut up or I’ll kill you."

"……Haaah."

There’s no cure for stupidity. What am I supposed to do with this idiot who shows up at my post like clockwork every day?

Maybe the folks in the east don’t mind, but over here in the west, whenever Melo shows up, the carpenters flee and productivity drops. He’s your captain, right? You should take responsibility and supervise him properly.

"……We’re changing locations."

"Hah! Sure, I prefer open spaces anyway. Fine by me!"

"Haaah."

Well, I guess blaming the eastern team won’t get me anywhere.

At the very least, I’ll try to lure this idiot somewhere far away so he doesn’t interfere with the work. Sorry, carpenters.

---

"Explode—Calmflame Aria!!"

Boom—one loud blast and the ground erupts amid a cloud of dust. Hidden in that dust, razor-sharp sword strikes slice through the air and surround me on all sides.

"Nn─────"

"You—take this!!"

Still. Even though he’s improved a lot, Melo hasn’t grown beyond the level of a rookie swordsman. I’m no expert in magic, but I doubt he’s a particularly refined mage either.

The thing is—his magic is easy to read. When he casts offensive spells, you get this skin-crawling chill if you’re within range before the attack even fires off.

It’s a lot like the sense you get when you dodge a sword blindfolded. Ever since I figured that out, avoiding his spells has become a breeze.

"……Hey, this is messed up!! Why are you totally fine after taking those explosions head-on!?"

"Even in area-of-effect spells, the intensity isn’t uniform. If you aim for the weakest part of the attack zone, you can slip through unscathed."

"─────Tch! Freakin’ monster!!"

When I casually snatch his sword away, Melo clutches his head in frustration, fuming with anger.

If anyone’s the monster here, it’s Melo. His growth rate is terrifying—it actually makes me feel anxious and jealous. The way his abilities are skyrocketing feels a lot like Rex.

Until now, this idiot probably got by just swinging his sword around without much thought. But someone with that kind of monstrous natural potential—if he starts refining his technique by clashing with me… Just thinking about it is scary.

─────Well. At least when it comes to swordsmanship, I’m confident I’ve got a ten-year lead on him.

"Why—why—why! I definitely hit you just now! Why is the trajectory of my sword shifting!?"

"……Who knows? Why don’t you figure it out yourself?"

"Dammit, dammit, damn it all!!"

He snatches his sword back from me roughly and comes at me again. His movements, though still clumsy, are slowly improving.

Honestly, Melo’s pace of growth is jaw-dropping. Like a sponge, he absorbs everything and refines his movements at an incredible rate.

Even Rex, who’s no pushover, once said his raw talent is in a league of its own. Maybe that ridiculous natural talent is the reason he turned out like this.

…If Melo had trained as hard as Rex, he probably would’ve been just as strong by now.

─────There. You done yet?

"……Tch!!"

But he’s still immature. No matter how much talent you have, a few days of half-decent training won’t stack up against the years Rex and I have spent in a deep ‘honeymoon’ with the sword.

As usual, Melo runs out of stamina and collapses to the ground. I don’t even have a drop of sweat on my forehead.

"Had enough? Then scram already."

If you really want to call yourself the strongest, you need to understand the sword better and build your own ‘honeymoon’ with it. If you can’t even handle me, you’ll never land a hit on Rex.

"─────Tch!! Fine, I’ll let you off this time!! Consider yourself lucky!!"

"Yeah, yeah."

Ah, good. Looks like Melo’s actually going to head home today. Leaving my post always makes me anxious. Just go already.

…Well, I mean.

…Deep down, even if 99% of this is a huge pain, maybe 1% of me is kind of grateful for the training. Like, learning how to dodge magic has been a really good experience.

"Hey. Get back safe, yeah?"

"……What the hell are you, seriously."

So I figure I should at least return the greeting. Courtesy matters—even if the other person’s totally uncourteous.

"You know, you used to be more… Never mind."

"Hah?"

Melo starts to say something, then falls silent.

“Used to be more”… what? What was he about to say?

Oh, right. I used to really hate Melo. We weren’t on speaking terms like this at all.

─────Yeah, thinking about it, I’ve got no reason to be getting along with him now, either.

This is probably all Mino’s fault. I used to hate Melo plenty, but my sheer hatred for Mino might’ve warped my brain into thinking, "Eh, Melo’s not that bad."

What Mino did to Natal. What she did to young Souta. What she did to the townspeople.

Just remembering all of it makes my stomach turn. That woman’s actions absolutely qualify her as the worst in the national army.

"Tomorrow, I’m gonna pound you into the dirt!"

"Please don’t come back."

"Nope. I’m coming."

…Yeah, Melo’s attacks do make for decent training. But I really don’t think it’s good for me to be away from the carpenters.

If anything happened to them, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Until this construction job is done, can’t you just hold back a little?

---

"─────Ufufu?"

It’s been about a week since Melo started meddling in my assigned territory.

And now, at last, a demon has appeared on the western side of the royal capital—the area I’m supposed to protect.

"Ufufu, ufufufufu?"

Notorious for being vicious, vulgar, and ruthlessly cold-hearted. Said to be worse than the Demon King himself. The military’s worst monster—my archenemy, Mino.

"What are you doing here, Melo?"

"You're wrong!! I-I was lured here by that woman!?"

Finally, she dragged her lazy self out here, supposedly to punish the idiot who caused trouble.

"I never liked this boring assignment in the first place!! All the people around me are just sweaty, grimy men!!"

"And?"

"And besides, I owe this woman! She humiliated me! That sin can’t be overlooked!!"

"So?"

"…I didn’t do anything wrong!!"

Mino, with a face like a wrathful demon, beams sweetly as she glares at Melo. Meanwhile, Melo screeches back at her like a devil himself.

Honestly, Melo is a truly pathetic guy. You don't see many as pitiful as him. He’s not even that young, yet he talks and acts like a prepubescent child.

"Hey, Melo."

"W-What is it, Mino?"

"I don’t want to threaten you too much…────but do you want me to finish what I was saying?"

Melo, come on—read the room a little. The person standing in front of you is basically human evil incarnate.

The most ruthless person in the country is pissed off. You should really be hitting the brakes right about now.

"…Mino?"

"Ufufu. Want to hear the one thing that'll make you have to obey me?"

"…Uh, like what exactly?"

"What do you think?"

The demon woman was smiling. But behind that smile lurked a bottomless malice—and maybe even a touch of pity.

"Ufufu?"

Just what does Mino know about Melo? Well, she does seem like the type who knows everything.

"S-So, like… what kind of thing would you say, exactly?"

"…Aah, so you really do want to know? Then… you'd better be ready."

"…"

"Things won’t be all smiles between us anymore. Sorry, but this is your fault, Melo."

"I’m sorry, I don’t want to hear it anymore!! I was wrong, I’ll go back to my post!! I’m going back, okay!?"

"Good."

Melo’s face turned pale as he frantically apologized on the spot. Even the infamously self-centered General Melo couldn’t stand up to Mino, it seemed.

Well, yeah. No way he could win against her.

"…I’ll remember this, you flat-chested witch!!"

"And don’t come back."

He shot me a glare before the young, childish swordsman turned tail and ran off toward his territory, spouting a parting shot.

…Phew. Finally, peace returns to the west.

"────Now then. Sorry about the trouble our idiot caused, Flatche."

"Like you have any right to say that. Give me Natal back."

If only you would go home, too.

---

“Maybe putting Flatche with Melo was a mistake... Hmm, in terms of balance, it was the best arrangement, though.”

“If you insist on calling yourself a strategist, you ought to be able to rein in your subordinates, Mino.”

“Hehe, can't argue with that.”

It had been a week since I’d seen her—our military’s worst. She looked even more haggard than usual.

Her cheeks had slightly sunken, and dark circles were clearly visible under her eyes.

“...That idiot Melo, honestly. He always stirs up trouble and makes more work for me for no good reason.”

“You’ve really let yourself go, Mino. Serves you right. Got a backlog or something?”

“As if I’d let that happen. In a time like this, even the slightest delay in my work could be fatal to the country.”

“I see. So you’re this worn out because you’ve been clearing a ridiculous workload without letting it pile up.”

“Pretty much.”

Gone was the composure Mino used to have. Now, she carried a certain air of melancholy and resignation.

Apparently, even devils have their share of struggles. Not that it concerns me.

“I gave him a thorough warning, but Melo will probably come back anyway.”

“...Even after everything you said, he’ll still show up?”

“Yeah. That idiot’s just that kind of guy. ...It’s a shame, but I guess I’ll have to reshuffle things a bit. It’d be irritating to make the same mistake twice.”

Mino looked slightly contemplative, gave me a quick side glance, then clapped her hands lightly.

“Holy Blade Flatche. I’m ordering you to transfer to the Northeastern Fortress.”

“...Huh?”

She had issued the order to me.

“The Northeastern Fortress?”

If I remembered right, that was the fort Clarise had been in charge of. I’d stormed in solo once, so it was burned into my memory.

It was a bit old and musty in places, but it had the feel of a sturdy, well-fortified base.

“I want you to act as Clarise’s escort. Even if the Demon King invades the capital, as long as no one gets careless, Rex should be able to handle it. And sending someone like you, Flatche, to guarantee the fortress holds isn’t a bad move either.”

“...Wait. Isn’t Clarise still recovering?”

“She made a full recovery yesterday. We’re planning to have her head to the fortress tomorrow.”

Saying that, Mino placed a light hand on my shoulder and continued.

“You as the vanguard, Clarise in the rear. There’s no stronger defensive line our empire could possibly build. The Northeastern Fortress will likely become the safest place in all human territory.”

“...Hold on. Wouldn’t Rex be a better choice for the vanguard?”

“No. Rex is strong as a solo fighter. But as a frontline defender, you’ve got the edge. That’s not just my opinion—a certain veteran general thinks so too.”

Mino chuckled softly beside me with a quiet smile.

“You shine brightest when there’s a powerful mage at your back. As a frontline tank absorbing enemy attacks, you far surpass Rex. That’s why, from the start, I had you in mind for this assignment.”

“...Whoever this general is, they’ve got a serious case of overestimating me.”

“No, the man’s insight is uncanny. He saw one of your training sessions and declared it on the spot—you’re far stronger when you leave the attacking to others and focus on defense.”

—Seriously?

He figured out something it took me years of experience to realize just from watching me train once? Who the hell is this old man?

“And that’s exactly why—”

While I was trying to puzzle out the identity of this mysterious general, Mino lowered her gaze and continued.

“That’s exactly why, if we’re lucky, I’m hoping the Demon King will attack the fortress.”

“...‘If we’re lucky’?”

What is she talking about?

Don’t hope for something like that. If the Demon King attacks, we need Rex to deal with it, not me.

“Exactly. If we completely trounce them there once, the Demon King’s army will hesitate to launch a second assault. But depending on the Demon King’s personality, they might personally come to reclaim the fortress.”

“No, I can’t handle the Demon King. Just send Rex to the fortress.”

“If the capital gets attacked and Rex isn’t there, the damage would be catastrophic. So, no.”

Wait—stop, Mino. Don’t try to throw me against monsters. I’m not Rex.

Don’t lump me in with that freak who invented his own martial art through sheer force of will and wild improvisation.

“You deflect the Demon King’s offense. Clarise pierces their defense. That’s the ultimate solo interception strategy this country has.”

“...Spare me.”

“Well, it probably won’t go that smoothly anyway. This is all just in the event that we’re lucky enough for the Demon King to attack the fortress.”

“This is misfortune...”

I really don’t get how strategists think. Why would being attacked be considered lucky?

But Mino holds Natal’s life in her hands. If she wanted to, she could torture my sister just to force my compliance.

Just to make me obey her orders.

“You only need to guard for tonight. Tomorrow, you and Clarise head to the fortress.”

“...Got it.”

“You can look forward to the reward. I’ll make sure you live like a true hero—as long as you keep following my orders.”

“────That’s disgusting.”

Clicking my tongue, I broke eye contact with Mino and returned to my tent. It was a private space granted to me during my stay in the castle town.

As I left in frustration, Mino watched me go with a bright, cheerful smile.

---

──Late at night. As the sky began to lighten before dawn, two figures moved in secret.

“──That’s everything. Sword Saint, won’t you please understand?”

“…Are you seriously saying this, old man?”

“I am. Dead serious.”

In a small, rundown tent set up outside the castle—without even a single guard present—the nation’s hero, the giant man Penny, and his strategist, the young girl Emma, had come to visit the Sword Saint Rex in secret.

“If you really go through with this, the country’s going to fall into absolute chaos.”

“──No, it won’t. The situation will be brought under control soon. In a crisis like this, she would never allow the chaos to spiral out of control.”

“…Yeah. Mino wouldn’t just sit back and let things fall apart.”

Rex’s expression was deadly serious. The towering man bowed his head deeply to the Sword Saint, who was likely far younger than him.

“Protect the country—no, the people—in my place, Rex. I know the thought of fighting under Mino probably turns your stomach, but bear with it and follow her orders. Please.”

“So you’re leaving that part to me?”

“Yes. I leave it in your hands, Sword Saint.”

With those words, Emma gave a small nod and looked Rex straight in the eye as she declared firmly:

“Anyone suffering in the wake of Mino’s schemes—we’ll save them all. …Besides, Penny has always been a man who fights for the people, not just as a general of the nation.”

“…Yeah. Alright, old man. I’ll wag my tail for Mino for a while.”

“Thank you. Her schemes are necessary, given the current situation. …Just watch, Rex.”

The Sword Saint, well-acquainted with the heroics of this giant man, gave a resigned smile and nodded back at the two.

“If you’re going to do this, don’t screw it up.”

“Of course. We will make it a success──”

Penny’s resolve was something Rex could trust. That alone was why he allowed the kind of proposal he would normally never tolerate from anyone.

---

That day, one of the three pillars of the nation—General Penny—and his strategist Emma, vanished from their positions and disappeared without a trace.

“What the hell!? What’s he thinking, pulling this stunt in the middle of a crisis!?”

For once, Mino was visibly flustered, and ordered her closest aides to scour the land for his whereabouts. But not a single one of Penny’s subordinates or acquaintances knew where he had gone.

“No way…! I’ve got tons of work I needed him to handle…”

Though Mino scowled bitterly, she was buried in other urgent matters and couldn’t spare time for the search. In fact, Emma had predicted exactly that—Mino wouldn’t have the resources to spare on chasing them—and vanished accordingly.

“…Right now, the Demon King’s army takes priority. Cancel the Penny search and get back to scouting enemy movements.”

──Three days had passed since Penny disappeared.

Just as Emma had anticipated, Mino halted the search for Penny and Emma. Any task that required someone like Penny could be handled by her or others just as well.

“Ugh… Karin really went and did something unnecessary this time.”

Inside, Mino felt her resentment toward the dialect-speaking nun rise just a little.

---

“I can’t leave the people in the hands of this government. I’ll take power myself.”

“Watch us, Sword Saint. This coup will mark the dawn of a new era—one for the people.”

A coup d’état. What Penny and Emma were plotting was, by all accounts, a reckless act that could plunge the nation into utter chaos.

“To truly protect humanity, what we need is a ‘king with the people’s eyes and morality,’ and a ‘strategist who can stomach both the pure and the corrupt.’ Got it. I believe in you, old man.”

“Yeah.”

And so, Penny—the rebel with overwhelming public support—had his chains cut, and was released into the wild.