18 – How Would the Maid Know That?

『Per user request, Nob AI will temporarily assume bodily control.』

『This request will persist until the complete eradication of the Chainsaw Wolves. You can cancel at any point.』

I was the first among our party to move.

Dalpi and Ian were holding back, guarding the wagon, waiting for the Chainsaw Wolves to approach, in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Azure light emanated from my right hand.

“Young Master Esther, using magic…?”

Ian looked surprised.

Understandable, considering I had never been capable of using magic before.

A monumental improvement compared to my inept past.

Though, it was thanks to Erps that I even possessed mana within me.

The amount of mana I held was still insignificant compared to others.

Nob AI informed me it was only 30% of the average person.

『Beginning learning process for optimal attack.』

The beam of light I had just launched struck a Chainsaw Wolf.

The beam penetrated the Chainsaw Wolf’s body and swiftly, transmuted.

Transforming into countless things—slashes, mind control, fire, water, lightning, earth—each one designed to kill.

『Physical resistance 10%, mental resistance 100%, flame resistance 50%…』

『…』

『Learning complete.』

Good.

『Shall I output the Chainsaw Wolf data?』

Nope.

『Acknowledged. The most effective attack against the dimwitted Chainsaw Wolves is an electrical shock.』

I cast my magic.

A sizable puddle of water materialized in the path of the savagely approaching Chainsaw Wolves.

The witless wolves merely splashed into the puddle as they advanced.

The instant the greatest number of Chainsaw Wolves had submerged their paws in the water…

I extended my hand through the window and unleashed electricity.

Pzzzzzzz!

“─────!!”

I once saw a video in my previous life…

A video of a fisherman detonating a battery in a river, causing countless fish to float to the surface.

『Five died instantly from ventricular fibrillation, four are stunned from the shock.』

The sight of the Chainsaw Wolves, bellies-up and twitching in the puddle, evoked that very video.

“High-speed calculation, plus double casting…”

“Enough with the admiration for the Young Master. More are coming.”

Ian nodded.

“Understood. Dalpi-ssi, please remain near the Young Master as well.”

“No. It’s been a while; I need to stretch my legs.”

Ian regarded Dalpi with a questioning gaze, but…

Dalpi instantaneously shot forward.

And that speed far surpassed human limitations.

It was a velocity I couldn’t possibly track with my dynamic visual acuity.

Dalpi began to carve through the wolves, literally, as if with a steak knife.

“Without using Aura, he can achieve that speed…?”

Frankly, like Ian, I was also astonished.

Chainsword Wolf Butcher felt like a fitting nickname.

But really, what was Dalphy doing with a steak knife anyway?

“Lord Confucius, what exactly *is* that maid doing…?”

“I have no idea.”

I simply shrugged.

Even though Ian was geeking out like your typical know-it-all, he was still the strongest amongst us.

Despite Nob AI’s assistance, I still couldn’t compare to a knight honed for killing his whole life.

Ian unleashed explosive power.

He channeled blue sword ki into his blade and butchered the remaining enemies without leaving a single one behind.

It was a display bordering on the legendary Musou warriors.

You could tell he was someone worthy of serving as Haniel’s sickly protector for a decade.

“Amazing…”

Dalphy watched Ian.

She’d racked up more kills than me using a fork and knife of all things, but her expression still held a touch of disappointment.

Maybe she was the type to fixate on these kinds of competitions; a surprising side of her.

“You should have come with proper equipment.”

“Perhaps I should have.”

And just like that, we’d taken down thirty-six Chainsword Wolves in the blink of an eye.

“You’re all incredible. You could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the veterans active on the front lines.”

The mention of the front lines made me think of Felix.

Hmm, what’s my brother doing right now?

Probably rolling around in misery, forced to choke down military slop day after day.

We basked in the joy of victory for a moment, ready to move on to our destination, but…

“What should we do with the Chainsword Wolf corpses?”

We’d run into a slight snag.

“Just leave them.”

I offered a simple solution.

“Master. You mustn’t underestimate the value of a Chainsword Wolf. This is all money, you see.”

Dalpi approached the corpse.

And expertly set about her grisly task, with the practiced hand of someone who’d done this before.

“Chainsaw Wolf teeth fetch two thousand credits apiece.”

*How would Dalpi know that?* Even if I asked, she’d just say, *’It’s part of a maid’s duties.’*

“Don’t just stand there gawking. Come and give me a hand.”

“Ah, right….”

“Yes….”

It felt as though the aftermath was harder than the hunt itself.

Only after we’d finished extracting all the teeth, thanks to Dalpi’s insistence, could we head onward to our destination.

*

“The Insane’s curse will soon be at its strongest.”

“Getting cold feet? You could always back out this time. Less competition for me, you know.”

“It’s a chance to earn big money. Can’t do that as a mercenary. Big rewards come with big risks. Several territories made offers this time; I’m still trying to decide where to go.”

Daebo Village.

The leaders of the Johnson Mercenary Company and the Carlson Mercenary Company clinked their drinking cups.

Johnson and Carlson. With such similar names, everyone assumed they were brothers.

But from their appearance alone, it was clear they were unrelated.

Even so, they had fought alongside each other on the battlefield for decades.

At least they shared a bond thicker than that of Tristi’s own siblings.

“A nearby location is always best, wouldn’t you say? I heard that Prince Japer is making a real effort to recruit mercenary companies.”

“I’m also considering Tristi, actually.”

Daebo Village belonged to the Tristi Autonomous Territory.

“A successor trial, wasn’t it?”

For the residents of the Tristi Autonomous Territory, this successor trial was a major event.

Depending on who became the next head of the family, everything from tax rates to wasteland development and demon subjugation policies would change.

It was directly related to their lives, so they couldn’t help but be interested.

Even wandering mercenary company leaders like them still earned their keep in this place.

“This time, there’s a strong scent of money in the air.”

If a scion he was friendly with became the family head, he could pocket a considerable profit.

“Say, Johnson.”

“Hm?”

“Who do you reckon will be the next head of the family?”

Johnson crossed his arms.

“Surely Uriel, Kenneth, Jeper, Haniel, or Esther, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

“My bet’s on Jeper, he’s got the most connections and plenty of business ventures in the territories.”

Carlson stared at Johnson and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s the sort who’d completely ruin the mercenary company.”

“Huh?”

“If you can’t even see through a person like that, how will you survive in this harsh world?”

Carlson drained the rest of his drink.

Then slammed the glass down on the table with a *thwack!*

“Clearly, the next head will be Esther Tristi!”

Esther Tristi.

A figure of immense buzz, not just in the Tristi Autonomous Region, but within the Kingdom of Justina itself.

A prodigy among prodigies, who solved the Millennium Problem at the tender age of fifteen.

“Here, have a look at this month’s Justina Monthly.”

『Justina Monthly – March Issue』

『Necronomicon Threatening Justina Finally Recovered.』

『Steel Lion Knights Confess to Significant Difficulties in Recovery Process.』

『Oscar of the Blue Lions… “All thanks to the help of Esther Tristi.”』

『Genius Boy Who Solved the Millennium Problem, Strikes Again!?』

『Esther Tristi Receives the Justina Royal Third-Class Medal of Merit and the Barony, Becoming the Youngest Ever Recipient.』

『Archmages of the Blue and Red Towers Directly State: “Esther Tristi is a Being Who Will Bring About a Revolution in the Magical World.”』

『The Current Magical Circle of Justina… Focusing on the Rising Star.』

Esther Tristi.

A name that no one with any awareness of the world could fail to recognize.

From February onwards, the youngest scion of the Tristi family had been constantly making headlines.

“They say he’s the most magically gifted prodigy in the world, and he’s only fifteen. Think back to what we were doing at that age – sneaking peeks under pretty ladies’ skirts. And even *we’re* leading a mercenary company now. Just imagine what Lord Esther Tristi will be capable of later.”

Carlson seemed to have already decided that Esther would be the next head.

Johnson, too, conceded that Esther Tristy was remarkable.

However, Johnson’s thinking strayed.

“You only know one side of the coin, eh? These geniuses are always lacking in material greed; they’d never covet the Lord’s seat, see?”

“Hey, don’t you know the smarter a person is, the more they crave money and fame?”

“Fine, I’ll wager 100,000 credits that Jeper Tristy becomes the Lord. Let’s bet on whose assessment is right, eh?”

As the two were noisily bantering, the tavern door swung open.

“Welcome, com— urgh.”

The tavern owner, usually wearing a perpetually agreeable smile, froze, his expression hardening.

“Hm?”

Sensing the strangeness, the two mercenaries glanced toward the entrance.

And they, too, with faces mirroring the owner’s, swallowed hard.

Esther Tristy.

The young prodigy, accompanied by a guard and a maid, entered the tavern, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

This was Daebo Village, the most dangerous settlement in the Tristy Dominion.

A place that hardly seemed fitting for Esther, a genius graced with a noble title.

They couldn’t have imagined meeting the boy they’d been discussing only moments before.

The raucous tavern fell silent in an instant.

Not just Carlson and Johnson, but every patron fell mute.

This silence would linger until the boy spoke, nay, until he left.

“I’ve come to see Carlson and Johnson. I heard they were in this tavern.”

“Excuse me?”

‘Why would Esther Tristy be looking for us…?’

Carlson and Johnson exchanged glances.

They could only blink in incomprehension.