Side Story - Side Fancer, Part One
I'm Silver Flash. That's not my real name, but lately, I've gotten used to being called that. It's a nickname that was given to me without asking, but I don't mind it.
Right now, I'm just a mercenary, but originally, I was a seeker of martial arts── a "martial artist." I come from a remote place far from here, and I came to the land of 'Arcus' for training and a certain purpose.
That purpose is to accompany Brave on his journey.
We martial artists are those who pursue the path of martial arts, but at the same time, we seek 'meaning' in our own martial arts. My grandfather and father had given their martial arts 'meaning' as guardians of our homeland, but it just didn't sit right with me. Before that, they were trying to marry off me, a woman, to another family── in other words, they were trying to use me as a tool for a political marriage.
It's really frustrating. I regret being born as a girl.
At that time, I heard a rumor on the wind.
The time for the Demon King's revival is approaching, and it is said that a Brave will appear to defeat and destroy it──
If I could accompany the Brave on his journey, wouldn't it be the greatest honor to be proud of for generations to come?
With that in mind, I left my hometown, leaving behind a note, as if running away. It was clear that even if I told my family, they would try to stop me, or worse, treat me like a prisoner.
As I earned travel expenses through odd jobs as a bodyguard, I lived a nomadic life. Based on information from the followers of the Fonia Church, I eventually discovered that the Brave would definitely head towards the royal capital of 'Arcus', Blesstia.
I don't know if I can join the Brave on his journey. But with a glimmer of hope, I visited Blesstia.
And so, in order to quickly make a name for myself as a member of the Brave, I decided to become a "mercenary." It was a convenient profession for honing my skills and earning money.
Over a year had passed, and without realizing it, I had gained a reputation as a skilled 2nd rank mercenary known as the "Silver Flash."
And finally── the Brave I had been eagerly waiting for appeared.
The first time I saw the Brave was during a parade celebrating the acquisition of the Holy Sword. The Brave, riding on a beautifully decorated carriage and holding the Holy Sword high towards the sky, looked radiant. As expectedd, his appearance was befitting of the title "Brave."
If I could accompany that Brave on a journey to defeat the Demon King, my father and grandfather would surely recognize me as a "martial artist."
With that in mind, I started seeking more challenging requests than ever before, and devoted myself to improving my skills.
That's when I met that "spearman (spear user)".
Our first encounter was within the guild. I remember the gaze that stared at my unnecessarily developed chest, it was unsettling. However, I didn't feel any good emotions about it, but it was better to give up on that.
──More than that, he was the kind of person I despised the most.
Putting that aside, the request I took on this time was to investigate and eliminate the cause of the abnormality happening in the forest near the royal capital.
The forest near the royal capital is a place where amateur mercenaries earn their keep, with only low-level monsters appearing. It's an uninteresting place for me, as I prioritize honing my skills.
To be honest, I wanted to decline the request, but since I belong to the Mercenary Guild, it's only logical to follow the organization's intentions. Besides, I need to raise my evaluation within the organization even a little in order to catch the eye of the Brave.
So, reluctantly, but accepting the request, I headed to the nearby forest.
As I stepped into the forest, I sensed an unsettling presence, just as the guild had warned.
At first glance, the lush greenery of the trees gave off a sense of vitality, but the atmosphere felt more like a wilderness, with no sign of any living creatures.
And, for better or for worse, I encountered that "spearman."
The spearman was as usual.
Whether it was due to avoiding risk or a preference for the spear, he was relentlessly hunting weak "small fry" monsters like Big Rats solely to earn money safely.
Furthermore, no matter how much he was ridiculed, even hearing the fact that I called him as a "cowardly spearman," he didn't seem to care in the slightest. If a near insult was directed at me, I would surely have cut the root of that insult.
At this point, I decided that he was the opposite of me. We were absolutely incompatible.
──I never expected this encounter to become the turning point of my journey.
After parting ways with him, I came across a huge Kobold that I had never seen before. The Kobold King, accompanied by many regular-sized Kobolds, attacked me.
It was after this incident that I learned the giant Kobold was known as the 'Kobold King.'
At that moment, I understood that the guild's decision to send me, Silver Flash, a 2nd rank mercenary, was the right one.
The Kobold King was not someone that a 5th or 4th rank mercenary could easily defeat.
Despite its large size, it moved swiftly and possessed great strength. Its fur was so tough that even a mediocre blade would struggle to leave a scratch.
It wasn't just a Kobold that had become gigantic. To defeat it, a minimum of a 3rd rank team would be needed. If someone were to challenge it alone, they would require the skills of someone like me, a 2nd rank mercenary.
But, it was clear that this huge Kobold was involved in the strange things happening in this forest.
Above all, if I could handle this abnormal situation on my own, there would be a higher chance of catching the attention of the Brave. With that in mind, I planned to defeat the Kobold King.
──But, I was blinded by my own glory and strength.
At first, the Kobolds around were just watching, but as soon as the Kobold King roared, they attacked like they had gone mad.
The big one was the leader of the Kobold pack.
If the Kobold King was my only opponent, I could have easily defeated him. No matter how many Kobolds gathered, they weren't a match for me.
But, to face both the Kobold King and its subordinates at the same time, I was inexperienced.
I created an opening by facing the swarm of attacking Kobolds head-on, and I injured my leg with a single strike that involved the Kobold King's subordinates.
In a situation where I had to face many enemies, being unable to move was fatal.
I was prepared for my own death.
As a martial artist, I was ready to wither away halfway through my journey.
But even so,
when I saw the powerful arm raised, I felt undeniable fear and despair.
──It was at that moment.
"Look this way, you big brute!!"
A voice of someone who shouldn't be here echoed on the battlefield and collided with the Kobold King.
It was the 'cowardly spearman.'
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