Part 1
Now that I was alone, I was thinking about Setsuna.
The slave I bought… a beautiful girl of the Ice Wolf race, with white hair, skin, wolf ears, tail and everything else.
I asked Setsuna a question. The question was whether she would grasp her future.
She had the courage to seize her future of her own volition. So I decided to help Setsuna take revenge and protect her friends.
Tomorrow, we will go to the Ice Wolves’ village, which is being targeted by humans, to rescue them.
Today, we’re working on raising her level limit. Setsuna was unable to become stronger due to the absolute barrier that is the level limit. I’ll give Setsuna wings in order to overcome this wall. Those wings will be, of course, a Hero’s power.
Of course, the person herself helped with that. She did her best, albeit clumsy, to become stronger.
I would like to increase her level limit by a bunch at once, but it won’t succeed as easily once the concentration of my semen drops.
Strangely enough, although Heal has no problem restoring strength and even changing one’s appearance, it seems that it can’t restore vitality.
So, exactly once every four hours, a total of three times, I raise Setsuna’s level limit. But still I’m surprised, every time I increase her level limit, Setsuna levels up. This repeated itself all three times.
How long had she been fighting and defeating monsters without gaining levels? Her body had accumulated a tremendous amount of experience. Every time her level is raised, that experience becomes part of her flesh and blood.
The moment Setsuna’s level increased, her face crumpled up and she cried. She knew the unique sensation from when your level increases. She must have been really happy.
Setsuna laughed while saying she could now kill the people who had kidnapped her friends, who had just been patrolling their homes, and taken them to their deaths.
I don’t dislike girls who work hard, so I’ll do my best to help her.
Part 2
Early in the morning, I left the inn and bought a raptor in town.
A raptor is a useful monster for riding. They’re bipedal reptiles with a bit of a rough temperament, but they’re stronger and faster than horses. However, a lot of training is needed to ride one.
But I have Imitation Heal. All I had to do was swap out one of my skills for the Riding skill. I’ve already used Imitation Heal on enough knights to be sick of it.
I’ve caught traces of the movements of the knights disguised as mercenaries last night during a little solo reconnaissance trip outside the inn while I was waiting to perform my heroic duties with Setsuna again.
The size of the group was about 200 people. And, considering the location of the Ice Wolf village that Setsuna told me about, they should be arriving there this evening.
“Freia, Setsuna, let’s go.”
Yesterday, I told them we were going to save the Ice Wolf village.
I told them how the Jioral soldiers were raiding demi-human villages under the kingdom’s orders to gain money from selling them into slavery. Freia was outraged hearing the evil deeds of the treacherous Jioral army and declared that she would use her power to help the Ice Wolves.
She said something like…
“It’s horrible that they’re playing with people’s lives for money. Someone who does that kind of thing isn’t even human anymore, they’re just monsters. So I have no reason to hesitate in defeating those people.”
I was struggling to hold back my laughter.
Freia, who until the other day was princess Flare, number 2 in Jioral’s pecking order, was legitimately angry. Well, if she’s going to say that much I’ll let her help as well.
Just to be safe, I got her a hat and mask that completely hid her face and hair.
Even though they’re disguised as mercenaries, we’ll be going up against Jioral’s army. If they see Freia, things are probably going to get troublesome.
Since they won’t be able to say we’re interfering in their attack on a demi-human village, they’re probably going to make up some other story and put us on a wanted list. That’s why a disguise is necessary.
I straddle the raptor. Setsuna’s small body is tucked between me and the reins. Freia hugs me from behind.
“Setsuna, there’s a secret path, right?”
“Un. That’s the only thing Yumuran didn’t talk about.”
Yumuran is the name of the man who was captured and revealed the secrets of the Ice Wolf race.
I hit the raptor with a whip. It breaks into a run, going as fast as it can.
Even a monster would get tired after going at this pace for about 10 minutes, but I have Heal. That makes it possible for me to make it always run at full speed while recovering its strength.
Taking that into consideration, I arrived at the conclusion that, if we left in the morning, we would arrive on time.
“Wow, Keyaruga-sama, this raptor is fast. Much faster than a horse.”
“Surprised. Setsuna is faster than horse, but can’t beat this.”
Freia and Setsuna both let out voices of admiration. A monster’s physical ability is beyond common sense. And it can achieve this much speed with the help of the Riding skill.
“Be careful not to bite your tongue. And hold on to me properly, if you fall off you’re going to get hurt.”
The two of them clung to me tightly. Setsuna is a cool beautiful girl with wolf ears. Freia is a beautiful girl with unquestionable style. This could be an interesting benefit.
While riding, I think about what to do. The Jioral Kingdom has dispatched 200 men this time. If it’s just 200, I can win if I give it my all, but what would be the point of that?
If 200 isn’t enough, they’ll come back with double that amount. If that’s not enough, they’ll bring even more. One day, I’ll definitely fail in protecting the Ice Wolves, since those guys won’t let it end with their defeat. They have a lot of self-esteem, I’ll give them that.
That’s why I need to find a way to settle things. I’m going to get Setsuna’s everything, in exchange, I’m going to let her get revenge and I’ll also protect the Ice Wolves.
Now, what shall I do to fulfill this difficult task? I’ll need to figure out the answer to that question.
Part 3
We took a detour to pass through the secret path, and because of that we arrived At the Ice Wolf village just before the battle began.
Before entering the village, we hid in the trees of the forest to see what was happening. I strengthened my eyesight by using my Jade Eye, and Setsuna can see things from a great distance because her vision is just that good.
Jioral Kingdom’s soldiers, disguised as mercenaries, have already arrived at the village. They have set up camp and are preparing something. The Ice Wolves were watching the soldiers from the stone and mud walls that are protecting the village.
“My bad, looks like the Jioral soldiers arrived faster than expected.”
“… Battle hasn’t started. Barely made it in time.”
Setsuna gives me a short response to my apology.
“The Ice Wolves’ defenses are surprisingly strong.”
The defensive wall protecting the Ice Wolves’ village surprised me. At first, it looks like it’s just stone and mud, but it also works as a barrier using feng shui magic. It’s also extremely powerful, using blood as a medium.
With this, they can probably survive as long as they stay in their village.
“Ice Wolves have been targeted by many races in the past, so became good at defensive barriers.”
According to Setsuna, there are two underground passages that pass through the defensive barrier. One of those was divulged by Setsuna’s friends to the kingdom’s soldiers.
But the passage is narrow and they have no choice but to walk in a single line formation, so it would be easy to protect against them.
Maybe there was no need for me to come. When I thought that, something happened.
Something appeared from the position the Jioral soldiers were holding. Five men and women, all of them Ice Wolves.
They were stripped naked, had slave collars put on them, were made to crawl on all fours like dogs and were brought in front of the soldiers. At that point, I already knew what was going to happen.
I see. That really is Jioral Kingdom’s style. Even at times like these, they’re the worst kind of people.
The soldiers showed themselves torturing the men and raping the women to the other Ice Wolves inside the protective wall. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Setsuna’s eyes widen and she tried to jump out, but I put my hand over her mouth and held her in place.
What they’re trying to do is very simple: it’s hard to do anything with the Ice Wolves holed up in their village. So they just have to make the Ice Wolves themselves open the door.
They’re waiting for the Ice Wolves to come out to try and save their friends. When the screams aren’t loud enough, the soldiers stab them with their swords, pour alcohol on them and set them on fire. The scream of the Ice Wolves echo through the air.
The Ice Wolves inside the wall are starting to get restless. It’s about time for the more hot-blooded ones to jump out.
I hate it. Why do my worst predictions always turn out to be true?
Looking at Setsuna, her hatred was swelling to the limit. I don’t want to make her endure any longer, but if I allowed her to recklessly charge in now she would surely die.
That’s why…
“Setsuna, listen to me. If you jump out now, you’ll die.”
“Nn, nn.”
As if saying she already knows that, she continues to struggle.
“But I don’t plan to tell you to just sit back twiddling your thumbs. I know that would be worse than death.”
Putting myself in Setsuna’s shoes, if I were made to watch my friends get toyed with while the people doing it are getting away with it is something I’d definitely hate. There’s no way I could endure such a thing, and it’s the same for her.
“I’m going there to create a situation that’s safe for you to jump out. I’ll lower their numbers so you can get your revenge. So give me five minutes. Can you do that?”
Setsuna became quiet, and then she nodded with tear-stained eyes.
That’s it, good girl.
And there doesn’t seem like there’s much time. The Ice Wolves have opened their barrier. With a shout, the young men are running out.
They have ice claws on their hands, like Setsuna had yesterday.
I’m sure they intended to get back inside after rescuing their companions, but they were too naive.
As if just waiting for their chance, fire magic and arrows started raining down. In the blink of an eye, the Ice Wolves who had jumped out were either killed or seriously injured.
It would still be fine if the other Ice Wolves immediately closed the gate, but they hesitated. That hesitation was fatal. The soldiers shout while closing in on the gate. They weren’t able to close it in time, and now the gate is being held open by the soldiers.
It was an amazing performance. As expected of the soldiers from Jioral Kingdom, they’re used to these kinds of tactics.
I look at Setsuna, who hasn’t screamed. She was just glaring at the kingdom’s soldiers with eyes filled with hatred.
She was able to wait properly. Good girl, good girl.
“Now, I guess I should go.”
With all my might, I’ll create the stage for Setsuna’s revenge.
But it’s no fun to just hide my presence and take them out. Wait, I’ve got a good idea.
I hide my face with a mask and leap out of the forest while holding my sword. Then, I shouted. I even used magic to amplify my voice so it could be heard in the distance.
“I am the Sword Hero! My sword is the sword of justice, and in the name of justice, I’ll cut down these cruel people who are attacking this innocent demi-human village!”
I’ll harass them a little. With the Sword Saint’s abilities, I should be able to make a good Sword Hero.
Now, it’s the first ti me in this world where I have to get serious. Even though it’s this kind of situation, let’s have fun.