[Illustration]
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Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The sound of wood striking together echoed pleasantly.
The setting was the courtyard inside the Royal Palace of Lexenil Kingdom. This quiet garden, usually silent, wasn't filled with the clash of wooden swords from some novice soldiers.
One was a short-haired woman who at first glance could be mistaken for a boy. Her opponent was a strikingly beautiful girl with flowing red hair.
Both possessed a charm so captivating that guards would stop in their tracks just to watch, yet they were seriously exchanging blows with their wooden swords.
The scene was like gazing upon a beautiful painting.
"Let's stop here."
The short-haired woman lowered her sword first. She held up a hand to her partner as if to call a halt. Catching her breath, she sat down and looked up at the blue sky.
"What's wrong, Hashiry? Already out of breath?"
"You're just a monster with your stamina, Reminia. Besides, why do I have to put up with this in the first place?"
"Because you said I was 'getting chubby'! We're in this together, you know (ヽヽヽヽヽ)."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
It all started with Hashiry's careless remark. She had seen Reminia lazing around in her room because the supplies hadn't arrived yet.
'You're going to turn into a pig, you know.'
'What!? Am I actually getting fat!?'
She wasn't so plump that it showed on her face at a glance, but apparently it was a shocking revelation to Reminia. She'd been dragged out into the courtyard and announced she was going to train.
Even if she was a [Great Hero (Legend)], she was still a young girl at heart. However, Reminia's reasoning was a little different from that of any normal girl.
'If I get fat, Papa will hate me.'
She never missed a beat in showing off her daddy complex.
"Speaking of which, you learned swordplay from Wolf-san, didn't you, Reminia?"
"Yeah, kinda. Papa was sooo strong. He never let me get a single hit in."
"But that was when you were a kid, right? I'm pretty sure you could beat him now."
Hashiry knew from their sparring that Reminia was formidable with a sword. It was only natural that she'd defeated the fierce general Zehes, so she was likely far beyond any D-rank adventurer.
"That's not possible. To be honest, I don't think I'll ever point my sword at Papa again."
Reminia's murmur carried a meaningful resonance before it faded into the narrow courtyard's sky.
* * *
Even a rough count showed at least a hundred—no, probably more. Ragged, or leather, or iron—whatever they were wearing, a shabby-looking crowd appeared before Wolf.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
"Who said you could come out!?"
"Are you looking to die!?"
Their roar was so loud it hurt his ears. The men's stench thickened the air.
Wolf looked around.
Three hundred sixty degrees—bandits, in every direction. The sight was so spectacular it almost made him laugh.
"Where are the villagers?"
"Huh?"
"We're the ones asking questions! Get back to the cell!"
"I guess we're not getting anywhere."
Wolf finally placed his hand on his steel sword. As the bandits saw him move, a stir went through them. They too readied their weapons and took their stances.
"You wanna fight?"
"You think you can take all of us!?"
"Hey! Do you even know who we are!?"
"We are [Grem Grizzy (Grim Bear-Slayer)]! You know who we are!?"
There was no reasoning with them. It seemed useless to ask.
"Then... I guess I'll have to make them listen with my body."
""""AHHHHHH!!!!""""
"Sorry, but I can't guarantee you'll live. Anyone with lovers or family step forward now. I'll only beat you half to death."
(I'm not confident about that though.)
Wolf's provocation worked perfectly on the bandits. It also served as the signal for war to begin. With a mighty cry, the bandits charged in.
Three at once—
""""OOOOOOOOOHHH!!!!""""
A sharp battle cry pierced through the cave. Wolf too drew his blade from its sheath and struck.
His blade traced a beautiful arc, sending three bandits flying backward simultaneously.
A moment of silence fell over the cave. The other bandits looked at their fallen comrades—but instead of being cowed, they grew enraged.
"You son of a bitch!!!!"
One charged at him. Wolf deflected the first blow and brought his sword down on the bandit's shoulder as he was thrown off balance. A sickening crunch of bone echoed. A scream followed. Once more, the bandits hesitated.
"Not coming? Then I'll come to you."
Seeing the bandits stunned, Wolf took the initiative. He charged into the midst of the group alone. One bandit tried to ready his weapon, but Wolf's strike hit his belly. He took down one, then slashed another diagonally. He dodged an attacker from the side and punched his extended arm. The man's arm bent in an unnatural direction, and Wolf swept his legs from under him, kicking him away.
In no time, three more were down.
"Surround him! He's just one man!!"
Someone shouted.
Wolf's advance didn't stop. He cut through the grimy men as if sweeping away paper. With the force of a battering ram, the bandits began to grow desperate.
Wolf wasn't without his own struggles. He fought while reading the movements of his enemies, always choosing the best option. One-on-one, they were maybe E-rank or at best D-class. For Wolf as he was now, that was a trivial matter.
But against a hundred, it was different. He needed to track not just one enemy, but at least three positions. He had to fight by treating groups of three as a single unit. Three E-class bandits together presented a challenge roughly equivalent to C or B-class.
Despite how effortless he made it look, Wolf was fighting a high-difficulty battle.
"OOOOOHHH!"
Wolf slashed through a bandit. In his momentum, he cut the man clean in half. That was a fatal wound—and likely a kill. His concentration was starting to wear thin. Though he'd prepared himself for it, he preferred to avoid killing when possible.
(I'm putting too much strength into the swing when I use both hands.)
He looked down at his hand gripping the hilt. He released one hand and turned his gaze to a short sword lying on the ground. He kicked its hilt. The blade flipped up into the air, and he caught it with one hand. Facing forward, he held both swords at the ready.
He tested the feel.
"Not bad."
Wolf grinned.
Seeing Wolf now armed with two blades, the bandits' faces went even paler. Their fear was as clear as day. The two-handled warrior broke into a run once more.
He plunged into the swarm and swung his swords.
It was something he'd done on a whim, but it worked. Wolf's movements grew even more ferocious. He spun as if sweeping the enemy along, carving through one bandit after another.
He never stopped. That too was part of his strategy. By keeping in motion, he gave his foes no time to brace themselves. He always struck first, cutting down those who were off balance. This was the way to fight a group.
Wolf could feel it. He was growing stronger in that moment. He could sense the experience accumulating—a kind he'd never gained as an adventurer.
Yes, his current power was gifted by his daughter.
But it could be surpassed. Someday he would attain something beyond this power. He was confident of it.
"Come on, then!!"
Splattered in blood, Wolf of Nikaras bellowed.
* * *
"Here you are, Raam-sama."
Above the cave where Wolf was fighting, the old man called Raam turned around.
A woman stood against the backdrop of Straval's satellite, Rek.
Her hair was as black as if it had melted into the night. She'd tied her shoulder-length hair with a white ribbon. Her eyes were small, but the black of her pupils burned bright. Though her face was so petite she looked almost like a child, her bearing was stalwart.
"Akshal. ...How did you know I was here?"
"I just searched every place you were likely to be. It wasn't easy."
"Hmph. A rather ungracious answer."
Raam turned his gaze back down. Akshal followed his line of sight.
"Bandits?"
"Yes. I've met quite an interesting man. Right now, he's taking on a whole bandit gang all by himself."
"By himself? Shall I go and assist him?"
"No, no. He'll win even if we leave him alone."
Raam chuckled with evident delight. Perhaps a little jealous, Akshal's expression shifted slightly for the first time.
"I'm curious... what kind of person could make Raam-sama say that?"
"I don't know much about him either. He said his name is Nikaras's Wolf."
"Nikaras...? Now that you mention it, the new [Great Hero (Legend)] comes from Nikaras too, if I recall."
"Hah. I see. So that girl's (ヽヽ) power is his. That explains it."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't need to know. ...It's time we were going."
"Yes. The other sages are waiting."
...Great Sage Raam-sama.
The wind blew strongly. Green leaves whirled up toward the satellite Rek. The figures of the two had vanished from the world as if they'd never been.
* * *
In Kara, the town nearest to Nikaras, there was a small Guild branch. Though it was in the backcountry, the requests were never few, since the area it covered included several scattered villages. And because there were so few adventurers, quests kept piling up.
As a Guild in the sticks, it had only four employees. One of them, the receptionist Palsy, was having another busy day. She was a member of the spotted cat tribe, and her cheerful smile was famous in town.
A large-built man appeared before her. His build wasn't unusual for an adventurer, but he was considerably older. Moreover, he wasn't a local adventurer.
"How can I help you?"
"I've captured some bandits."
"Ah, here to collect the bounty. And the number is...?"
"166."
At that, Palsy's tail, hidden under her chair, shot straight up. She'd never heard of anyone capturing that many bandits at once.
"Eh? A-ah... is that so? That's amazing. Um, and your party?"
"No, just me."
"Huh?"
Palsy's eyes went wide. Trying to keep her composure, she asked cautiously.
"Uh, may I ask... your name?"
"Wolf. Wolf of Nikaras."
And so, the legend began.
Summary:
The chapter opens with Reminia and Hashiry sparring, revealing Reminia's deep-seated devotion to her father Wolf, while teasing the reader about their complex relationship dynamic. The narrative cuts to Wolf's overwhelming victory against a hundred-plus bandits, establishing his legendary status and his internal drive to surpass the power gifted by his daughter. The scene with the sages—Raam and Akshal—hints that Wolf's rise is being watched by powerful figures, leaving the reader with the unresolved question of what larger game is at play.
Trivia:
The title "Chapter 16: And Then the Legend Began" directly follows the one-hundred-man slayer feat, making it clear this moment is the legendary starting point.
Reminia's "Papa" fixation is so deep that she fears becoming overweight solely because she believes it would cause Wolf to reject her.
Hashiry is cautious—even while sparring with a friend—and her formal speech pattern suggests a more reserved personality compared to Reminia's open affections.
The bandits have a specific gang name, "[Grem Grizzy (Grim Bear-Slayer)]," implying they have a reputation that locals would fear.
Raam, the Great Sage, is observing the battle not to intervene but out of personal curiosity, and he knows more about Wolf than he lets on.
The Guild branch is woefully understaffed—only four employees—which helps explain why Palsy is startled by Wolf's sudden claim of 166 bandits.
The "satellite Rek" (a celestial body) appears as a visual anchor in the scene with Raam, reinforcing the fantasy world's cosmic scale.
Palsy is a "spotted cat tribe" member, a beastkin race, and her tail is an involuntary emotional tell.
Notes:
• Hashiry - A 24-year-old A-class mage and researcher at the Royal Magical Research Institute, she is Reminia’s tall, slender, white-haired advisor and secretary. Sporting a white and gold jacket, boyish features, and pale blue eyes, she balances professional, patient service with a playful, teasing dynamic. Often exasperated by Reminia’s overprotectiveness, she observes her superior's magical feats with disbelief.
• Reminia - Fifteen-year-old Great Hero of Straval and researcher of the Double World Theory, this willful, intelligent girl sports striking red hair, amethyst eyes, and a slender build. A dedicated protector of her father, Wolf, she balances a tomboyish exterior with immense, limited-use magic—including holy relics and teleportation. Her speech shifts between analytical precision and deep devotion to him.
• Wolf - A 42-year-old former A-rank adventurer now operating at SSS-rank levels, he retired to Nicalas Village to raise his daughter, Reminia, as a humble farmer and craftsman. Though soot-stained and calm, this protective, curly-haired father possesses immense, beyond-human strength. A pragmatic, understated mentor, he leads by example, balancing quiet devotion with the quiet authority of a seasoned guardian.
• Zehes - Graf's family name. The Fierce general of Lexenil Kingdom.
• Raam - The Great Sage (Supreme Sage), an elderly man of immense wisdom and authority. Speaks in an old-fashioned, somewhat whimsical manner. Observes Wolf's battle with keen interest from a cliffside. Appears to be manipulating events from behind the scenes.
• Akshal - A woman with black hair tied back with a white ribbon. Serves as Raam's attendant or companion. Possesses strong loyalty and a sharp, perceptive nature. Her demeanor is composed and formal.
• Palsy - A receptionist at the Karas guild branch. A member of the "spotted cat tribe" (possibly a beastman). Known for her cheerful smile and warm demeanor. Handles reporting and paperwork diligently.