Volume 10 Chapter 22 War Begins ⁕
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Clouds hung low in the sky, thick and gray, and Klock scowled up at them, his brows knitting tight. Just then, Boal spotted him and jogged over with quick steps, his face lit up like he couldn’t hold it in.
”Finally here, huh, Mr. Klock?” the kid burst out, voice buzzing with energy.
Klock shot him a look. “Boal, you scared shitless or something?”
”Nah, man, it’s the opposite—I’m fucking pumped! It’s war, real war! How the hell am I supposed to stay calm?”
Yeah, the kid was shaking with it, excitement spilling out of every twitch and grin. He was about to jump into a real war, after a hundred years without one—hell, anyone would tremble with that rush. This wasn’t some quick raid on Pollet Village that flared up and fizzled out. No, this was massive, a full-on clash. Even Klock felt a spark of thrill twisting in his gut, hot and alive.
”Hah, yeah, I get it,” Klock laughed, clapping the kid’s shoulder. “War’s coming, right? Any real man would be fired up—ain’t no way around that.”
Deep down, Klock wanted no part of this mess, but he knew better. Guys like this kid? Plenty of men dreamed of war, chased it like a drug. That’s why fools rushed in, blood boiling, only to bleed out young and stupid. Every adventurer knew it—life traded for death, over and over, and the graves never stopped filling.
”Whoa, check this out,” Boal said, eyes wide. “Those outfits are wild as hell.”
There they were—female warriors decked in armor splashed mostly yellow, streaked with green and red like some crazy warning flag.
”It’s for monster hunting,” one called over, smirking as she adjusted her straps. “That poison-color paint? Keeps the bastards from biting.”
”See, when you mix black with green, yellow, red,” another added, her voice sharp and knowing. “Monsters spot it from a mile away. Snake and bee colors—pure alert mode.”
”Huh, makes sense,” Klock nodded, filing it away.
War against monsters, after all—not people ripping each other apart. All that hunter smarts came in clutch here. No wonder adventurers packed this troop; for them, it felt like just another damn job, routine as breathing.
He glanced around, really taking it in, and damn—the soldiers weren’t freaking out at all. A middle-aged adventurer swapped hunting tales with a grizzled buddy, laughing low. Some village kid with a bow slung over his shoulder begged tips on drawing the string right. The adventurers’ cool vibe rubbed off; even the town militia rushing in looked steady, no panic sweat.
We can win this. It’ll be fine.
The thought hit Klock hard, bubbling up from the crowd’s easy buzz. Morale was everything in a fight, and this felt solid. They wouldn’t fold—not today.
”You bastards!!” Klock bellowed, planting himself by the gate where everyone could see him, voice booming across the square in front of the command hall.
Hundreds of Brigante soldiers turned, eyes locking on. Klock didn’t flinch.
”You all hear the word?! Demon Lord’s Army’s finally crawling our way! We hit ’em head-on, just like planned. Yeah, they’ve got numbers, but fuck worry—we’re geared to crush ’em flat! Get ready and unleash hell!!”
The crowd soaked it up, faces hard and ready—no scared pups in sight. Klock yanked his knife high into the air, blade catching the dim light. They matched him instantly, weapons ripping free, thrusting skyward in a forest of steel.
”We fight here, under the Hero’s banner! Brigante stands with the Hero—let ’em know it!!”
”Hero…?!!”
A ripple went through them, murmurs buzzing like flies. Some hadn’t heard yet—probably the late militia from Conro, fresh off the cart.
”That’s right—we’ve got a Hero on our side!!” Klock roared on, grin splitting wide.
”She’s slain countless dragons! Strongest adventurer alive, a walking legend—and she’s with us!”
”Yeah, you fucks!” a bearded warrior snarled, jabbing a finger around the circle. “No way anyone’s shaking with a Hero on our side, right?!”
The others exploded in nasty grins, sharp laughter barking out. A few town militia forced awkward chuckles—the whole vibe screamed bandits more than soldiers, rowdy and mean.
”But… the Hero ain’t here,” Klock said, the words finally spilling out after he’d wrestled with them too damn long.
”…Huh?”
He had to say it—Cianie’s absence would leak anyway, and secrets bred doubt like rot. Better rip the bandage off himself. No more hiding.
”Word came in—we pinned the Demon Lord’s location. Saint Cynthia gave the order: take the bastard down. Hero Anna, Sylvia Croce, bolted straight for the kill to make it happen fast.”
”Saint…? You mean the one…?”
”Heard she got kidnapped—did they really get her back?!”
Silence slammed down, thick as mud. Yeah, she was their rock, holding this shitshow together. Faces twisted in shock—raw and obvious, eyes bugging, mouths slack.
”So… we fight without the Hero…?” A voice cracked, small and shaky.
”Damn right,” Klock snapped.
The big-talking middle-aged warrior just shrugged, shoulders slumping. Around him, hard-faced adventurers and those female warriors scowled deep, brows furrowing like storm clouds.
”W-Wait, we good? We’re only three hundred, right?”
”The Demon Lord’s Army’s gotta outnumber us bad…”
Unease rippled out fast, a wave ready to drown them. Klock saw it coming—hell, he’d braced for it. So he curled his lip in a slow, cocky grin, letting it hang there, all easy confidence to fan their fire.
”What the fuck are you idiots yapping about? That’s not the worry!”
He waved his arms wildly, striding into the square’s heart. Pushed through the ring of battle-scarred adventurers, planted himself dead center, and threw both hands up high.
”Listen up! Hero Anna’s out there right now, gunning for the Demon Lord. If he drops that fucker, their whole army hauls ass back home! Poof—your payday vanishes! You ain’t here for charity or hero bullshit, are ya? You wanna earn that gold or what?!”
Obvious as hell, but true—they weren’t playing or training; this was work, straight-up. Gold mattered. Surviving to pocket it. Living fat off the haul.
”Uh, well…”
”Yeah, sure, but…”
Klock slapped the shoulder of the guy fumbling words, his grip firm.
”I’m Klock Livorno, Brave Knight.”
Rumors had spread—most in the troop knew he rolled with Hero Anna. But doubts lingered, especially with the newbies. Hearing him claim it, faces shifted—jaws tightening, eyes sharpening with belief.
”No sweat on the fighting. With me here, victory’s locked. We only swing when it’s a sure win! So quit fretting battles—worry your wallets! My headache’s figuring how to stuff you all with loot. War might wrap quicker than you think!”
Overkill, sure, but it’d hook a few—watch their eyes light up.
”Tomorrow, fur and fangs come to us—no trekking mountains. Beasts hand-deliver the hunt! Chop necks, stack ’em high. I’ll bill every pelt to Orrid myself!”
This was a guaranteed win. Forget dying—chase coin. He’d make ’em rich—don’t fuck it up.
Klock flashed that grin again, bold as brass. His smug smile screamed villain, and after a beat—bam—they all cracked, faces splitting in wild, toothy roars.
”Got it, you fucks?! Tomorrow ain’t war—it’s a goddamn hunt! Rake in stupid cash, ship heads till Orrid’s clerks piss themselves! We’re the front-line fort—hog every sweet bite! Suck the gold dry from those lazy shits lounging back there—bone-deep profits!!”
Whether Orrid paid that fat? Who cared. Point was, the fiercest spot meant easiest glory—no denying it.
”Hah hah haa!! Hell yeah!!”
”Shipping heads—to the Governor’s Estate?!”
”Doh heh…!! S-So the captain’s saying… bury that fancy manor in monster skulls?!”
”The hell I did!!”
Gyahahaha—filthy laughs erupted, crude and howling. From the side, it reeked of bandits circling a town, savage air thick with bloodlust and greed, hearts pounding hot in the heavy silence that followed.
They looked every bit the band of roughnecks—hardly the kind of troop that claimed to fight for justice.
”Alright, let’s get moving!” a grizzled veteran barked. “The stones for the catapults are already at the walls, but don’t forget the spears and swords stored in the towers!”
”You heard him, let’s go, you bastards! Move it! Anyone who doesn’t meet the captain’s standards loses their pay!”
He was joking, of course, but his words kicked the soldiers into high gear.
”Hey, don’t forget the cooking supplies! With this weather, if it rains, we can’t light fires outside. Soak everything now, and don’t you dare eat anything raw! That’s the captain’s order!”
”And the supply squad, don’t forget to waterproof the grain stores! Grab some planks from the barn. If the beans spoil, I’ll have your heads!”
”Get those spears from the towers to the walls—fast! We can’t afford to wait until the enemy’s at the gates!”
Each squad leader took charge, moving with precision and speed.
Experience showed—even without battle-hardened warriors, these veterans knew how to organize and prepare.
”Like you said, we’re here to make a killing, right?” one soldier called out.
”Damn right! The captain’s got deep pockets, and we’re counting on it!”
”You’re damn right. Now let’s get to work!”
The Fort of Stars buzzed with energy, the air thick with dark laughter and soaring morale as they prepared for the coming fight.
”Suzette. Fit,” the captain called out.
”Yeah, Captain?” Suzette replied.
The sun hung high overhead when Klock came rushing over, catching up to the two at the castle gates.
Seeing them in travel gear, his chest tightened with a mix of emotions.
”Sir Klock, seeing us off? Impressive. I figured you’d be with some woman in the dark by now,” Fit teased.
”Oh, shut it,” Klock muttered, pulling Suzette close.
Fit smirked. Beside her, Klock pressed Suzette’s face to his chest, his lips crushing against hers.
”We’ll be apart for a bit, but just a bit. You’ll have a hard time without me,” he growled.
”…You’re right. I’m always struggling. Comfort me when you return,” she murmured.
”You got it. Anything you want,” he promised, his voice low.
”…Too much talk,” she said, her brow furrowing.
He’d said too much—enough to make her wonder if he was preparing for the worst.
”Suzette, Fit, watch the battle from Orrid. Return when our enemies retreat,” he ordered, his tone sharp.
”Got it,” Suzette nodded.
”Understood,” Fit said, thrusting her fist forward.
Klock bumped fists with her, his knuckles brushing hers.
”If the fort falls, we’ll retreat east,” he said, his voice grim.
”To Derrid or Portline?” Fit asked.
”Yeah, then to Conro. Meet there if needed,” he replied.
”Understood. Stay safe,” she said, her voice steady.
No need for more words—they’d see each other again in two weeks.
He watched them ride off, a hollow ache in his chest as their figures disappeared.
No turning back now.
Just give it all, no regrets.
”…Awake?”
That night, the feared rain never came.
The clouds cleared, moonlight streaming through the window, casting a pale glow on Rachel sitting on the bed.
”What’s up?” Klock asked, his voice rough with exhaustion.
It was their last night to rest.
He’d gone to bed early but couldn’t sleep, his mind racing.
Rachel, in the same bed, seemed just as restless.
”Rachel, can’t sleep?” he asked.
”Yeah,” she murmured.
Nearby, two slept soundly—Kaitney, exhausted from running errands all day, and Rachel, who’d brought her pillow, wanting to sleep close to Klock.
Suzette, usually there, was gone. Klock welcomed Meina, who’d laid her blanket on the floor.
And somehow, Meina, who’d started on the floor, ended up curled by Klock’s pillow.
”You tired too?” he asked, his voice gentle.
”…Yeah,” Rachel replied, her voice small.
”…What’s wrong?”
She looked uncharacteristically meek.
”Me…”
”Yeah?”
”Monsters… they scare me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
”…”
”Just a little,” she added quickly.
He remembered Kaitney mentioning it—Meina’s trauma, her fear of monsters.
”Meina, come here,” he said, his voice firm but kind.
”…What?”
”Just come,” he repeated, holding out his arm.
She hesitated, then moved to his side.
He pulled her into a tight embrace, his rough hands gentle on her back.
”Can you sleep now?” he asked, his breath warm against her hair.
”Kinda don’t like it,” she mumbled.
”Huh?”
”Smells like a man,” she complained, but rested her head on his chest.
It was uncomfortable for him, but he stroked her hair, his fingers tangling in her ponytail.
She wasn’t trembling, but her body was rigid, tense.
”Hey, no action tonight?” he asked, his voice low.
”Huh?”
”You always say, ‘show your buttocks,’ and jump right in. Not tonight?”
Was she hinting at sex?
As a man, he couldn’t refuse.
His hand slid down, gripping her hip.
Rachel didn’t resist, her body softening against his.
”Nnnn…”
His hand slipped into her pants, his touch rough but insistent.
Rachel lifted her hips, helping him remove her bottoms.
Her bare skin was warm under his palms, her flesh plump and soft.
She climbed onto him, her face buried in his neck, her breath hot against his skin.
It was something she’d never done before—clinging to him like a lover.
She’s escaping into sex, he realized.
…Worse than I thought.
Like drinking after something bad happens.
Rachel was using sex to ease her discomfort, to face tomorrow’s battle, to erase the memories of monsters chasing her.
”Rachel, get in the bed,” he growled, his voice thick with desire.
”Yeah? Doing it?” she asked, her voice breathless.
”You’ve got me worked up. Let’s go hard,” he demanded.
”…Pervert,” she muttered, but obeyed, climbing onto him in bed.
Her groin was damp, her body already responding.
They moved together, her lips crushing against his, her tongue tangling with his as his fingers traced her stomach.
The sound of their bodies, wet and desperate, filled the room.
He thrust his fingers into her, preparing her, then she reached for him, her touch warm and insistent.
Her face was flushed, her expression raw and needy.
She was used to sex, taught like a disciple, a village girl who’d learned too much too young.
She took him in her hand, her touch warm and wet.
”…Nnnn♡”
He thrust deep into her, his weight pressing her down.
His hands moved to her breasts, his fingers squeezing through her clothes.
She began to move, her hips rocking against his, her body desperate and hungry.
She slid her hands up, tearing off her shirt, her bra following soon after.
Her breasts, full and pale, spilled into his hands, her nipples tight and aching.
Finally, she bared herself completely, her body offered up to him.
The air was thick with the scent of sex, the sound of their bodies echoing in the small room.
Outside, the moon hung low, casting a silver glow over the fort, silent and still, waiting for the battle to come.
Inside, two bodies moved together, seeking comfort in the only way they knew how—raw, desperate, and unfiltered.
As the night deepened, the fort held its breath, the soldiers sleeping, unaware of the storm about to break.
And in that small room, two people clung to each other, seeking solace in the face of fear, their bodies a testament to the fragility of life, and the strength it takes to face the darkness.
The end of the scene lingered—the sound of their breathing, heavy and ragged, the moonlight casting long shadows on the walls, and the silence that followed, heavy and profound.
No words were needed—the air itself seemed to vibrate with the weight of what was to come.
And as the night wore on, the fort stood, a silent sentinel, waiting for the dawn.
Notes:
• Boal – Young swordsman and Klock’s eager follower, often loud and naive. Dreams of glory against the Demon Lord’s Army and jokes about being Klock’s successor. Brave but green. Alias: “Fang Chaser.”
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
• Sylvia – The hero who accuses Klock of abandoning her in her past life. She was reborn as Anna after dying in a fire and holds a grudge against Klock.
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Fit – Solo archer adventurer; first appears at Barreith volunteer gathering, introduces herself to Klock and group, joining Brave Knight against Demon Lord’s Army
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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