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When Damian saluted Tarion, Tarion nodded and offered him a seat.

As Damian sat down, he asked, “What did you call me for?”

“The Hamel Trading Company currently controls the herb business in Erkal. That company is related to you, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

As Damian answered, Tarion smirked and said, “The Hamel Trading Company donated to us, claiming their business in Erkal is thriving because of us.”

They’ve already met.

Damian nodded as if he didn’t know. “Is that so?”

“I plan to use this donation to upgrade the weapons and armor of our unit. What do you think?”

“That sounds like a good idea. But I’m not sure why you’re asking me about it.”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

Tarion chuckled softly.

Sometimes, it was hard to believe Tarion was only thirteen. He had a cunning presence that didn’t match his age.

Tarion nodded. “Alright then, I’ll think about how to use this donation for the unit. But more importantly—”

Tarion looked at Damian. “Is there anything we can do for the Hamel Trading Company?”

It seemed Tarion was the type who always reciprocated what he received.

In response to his question, Damian said, “I think it would be good if the herb gatherers had an escort when they enter the forest. According to the defense unit, monsters have started appearing again recently.”

“Is that so? That’s a good idea.”

Due to the reduced monster activity in the Bronselian Forest, the Neokalitz unit had some spare capacity.

Moreover, if the ‘timing’ was right, when the monsters began to reappear, it would be beneficial for them to preemptively clear them out.

“Understood. I’ll meet with the head of the Hamel Trading Company and discuss it. You may leave.”

“Yes.”

Damian stood up and immediately headed toward Diel.

Given Tarion’s personality, it was highly likely he would meet with Diel today to push forward with the escort arrangement for the herb gatherers.

“Huh? Sir Damian.”

Diel looked surprised to see Damian suddenly appear.

Behind her, there was a huge pile of bundles loaded with herbs.

“That’s a huge amount.”

“This isn’t even half of it. By the end of today, about five times this amount will be shipped out.”

“Seems like the harvest is going well.”

“Don’t even get me started. It’s like a gold mine. We’re actually short on herb gatherers now.”

Indeed, the Bronselian Forest was a place with tremendous resources.

Even with this level of harvesting, they could maintain this quantity for several years.

“We’re also considering bringing in herb gatherers from outside. However, we’re moving slowly to avoid factional disputes among the gatherers.”

“Understood, I trust you with that part. By the way, Captain Tarion of the Neokalitz unit will visit soon.”

“Me?”

Damian explained to Diel what he had discussed with Captain Tarion.

Diel chuckled.

“That’s a good idea. Coincidentally, just yesterday, a group fled because of monsters.”

“The defense unit only steps in for reconnaissance and when there’s a threat in Erkal; they don’t enter the forest for direct combat.”

Damian continued, “When the captain arrives, Dianal, Kyle, and I will form a team to escort you.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

“They’re guys who need to be pushed a little.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

Damian smirked and returned to the unit. And then…

“Where have you been wandering around?”

“Just know you’re in for some tough times ahead.”

“…What do you mean?”

Kyle asked, and Damian smirked slightly.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

A few days later.

“An escort mission for herb gatherers?”

“Seriously, since when did we start escorting herb gatherers?”

As expected, Tarion had finished his discussions with the Hamel Trading Company and officially started taking on the escort missions.

Of course, there were complaints.

After all, they were suddenly assigned missions after enjoying several peaceful days.

However,

“If anyone has complaints, step forward. I’ll discharge you immediately and transfer you to another unit.”

The salaries of the Neokalitz unit members had increased.

Old armor and weapons were replaced with new ones, and the supply of herbs had also increased.

And the one reason their lives had improved: the Hamel Trading Company.

“Think of the escort mission as a ‘preemptive elimination’ mission before the monsters re-establish themselves, rather than just an escort duty. You all know how troublesome it gets once they settle back in.”

“That’s… true.”

“Yeah, that’s something we need to handle.”

Even those who had complained agreed with Tarion.

“Alright, then proceed according to your assigned teams. And… Damian.”

“Yes.”

“Hamel Trading Company’s leader specifically requested you, Dianal, and Kyle.”

“Is that so?”

“Did you not know?”

Tarion asked Damian.

“No, I just recommended them because they’ve been working hard lately.”

“Is that so? Dianal and Kyle have certainly improved significantly.”

The three of them trained together almost daily.

Thanks to that, some other unit members were inspired and had recently started training as well.

“Alright, off you go.”

“Yes!”

Damian immediately went to Dianal and Kyle.

“The three of us will be escorting the leader of the Hamel Trading Company.”

“The leader?”

“Is the leader going into the forest?”

Dianal asked.

There wasn’t really any reason for the leader to risk entering the forest.

But

Damian grinned slyly.

“We’ve got a job to do.”

“…A job?”

“It’s time for some field training. Haven’t we been slacking off until now?”

“…Slacking off? Who?”

“Are you saying we’ve been slacking?”

Kyle glared.

They’d been training so hard daily that they collapsed into bed every night.

They couldn’t avoid it.

They had Damian by their side, putting them through rigorous training every single day.

A few had tried to challenge Damian’s constant provocations.

“I thought demons were extinct, but turns out, I’ve been seeing one in front of me this whole time.”

Dianal muttered quietly.

Thanks to Damian, the two of them had to endure bruises all over their bodies and constant muscle aches without missing a single day.

However,

“You’ve become stronger because of it.”

“I won’t deny that.”

“That’s true.”

It was true that the Neokalitz unit members were a bit lazy, but with their level of experience, they were much stronger than most soldiers in other units.

Especially in this era of peace, where people risking their lives to fight monsters were rare.

Surviving until now meant they were all at least competent.

However, Dianal and Kyle were exceptional, or rather, they had become exceptional.

Daily training without missing a single day.

They diligently practiced the basic physical training, as well as the swordsmanship and shield techniques taught by Damian.

With Damian personally sparring with them, it was impossible for their skills not to improve.

They were the youngest in the unit, but now, they had become the strongest members.

“Did you set up our team on your own?”

“Yes.”

“…Be honest. What’s your relationship with the company leader?”

“What do you mean by relationship?”

Kyle flared his nostrils and glared at Damian in response to Dianal’s question, feeling a surge of dopamine as if expecting some juicy drama.

But…

“What relationship? It’s purely business, nothing more, nothing less.”

“That sounds suspicious…”

“Feel free to doubt me. You won’t find anything.”

Damian casually rested his spear on his shoulder and looked at the two.

“Alright, let’s go. Time for training.”

“…Damn it.”

“Yeah, let’s go! Let’s do this!”

While Dianal wore a sullen expression, Kyle’s spirit was fired up.

With the excuse of escorting Diel, the three of them started heading into the Bronselian Forest.

* * *

Diel couldn’t understand why she had suddenly been dragged into the forest.

“Why am I even…?”

It was strange that they were on an escort mission for Diel, yet entered the forest without her.

Moreover, it was her first time, so she couldn’t help but be conscious of how others viewed her.

“Please bear with it for a few days. After that, it’ll just be the three of us going in.”

After a few days, the attention would naturally fade.

At that point, they could say they were going on an escort mission and enter the forest without Diel.

Though Diel looked troubled by Damian’s words, she soon glanced around.

Apart from the initial visit near the entrance for confirmation, it was her first time deep inside the forest.

Especially this deep.

“It feels so serene. The air is nice, too.”

“That’s the charm of the forest. But it’s not all good.”

“…What?”

As Damian spoke, Dianal and Kyle suddenly dashed forward.

A small smile appeared on Damian’s lips.

“Good reaction time.”

Damian murmured, and then…

“Roooooar!”

A massive roar echoed from beyond the bushes, startling Diel.

“Are you okay?”

“I-Is that a monster?”

“Yes, and it’s a large one. It’s good we ventured deep.”

“What do you mean by…”

Diel hesitated, but before she could finish speaking—

Bang!

A powerful blow struck a tree.

Diel’s gaze turned in that direction.

“…A bear?”

It was a bear, but it was far larger than any ordinary bear.

Damian explained, “It’s a Giant Bear. Its body length is over 3 meters, and it weighs over a ton.”

“A ton?!”

“As you can see, its front paws are strong enough to break thick trees in just a few swipes.”

Crack!

As soon as Damian finished speaking, the tree that the Giant Bear struck began to break and fall.

Seeing this, Diel exclaimed in panic, “Shouldn’t you help them? They can’t handle that alone!”

“It would’ve been impossible in the past. But now…”

Damian’s eyes calmed and focused.

Slash! Shing!

Dianal dashed under the Giant Bear’s legs, slashing its Achilles tendons on both sides.

“Roooar!”

Though not completely severed, red blood poured from above its heels.

As the bear roared and turned its attention to Dianal, who had moved behind it—

“Hey, I’m right here too!”

Thwack!

“Roooar!”

Kyle’s hand axe pierced the bear’s thigh, causing it to let out a howl and instinctively swipe its massive paw at Kyle.

Bang!

With a dull sound, Kyle’s body staggered, but—

“…Heh.”

Damian grinned, watching Kyle stand his ground firmly.

“You damned bear…!”

Kyle grimaced, blocking the Giant Bear’s attack with his shield.

Even with his defense, the destructive force felt as if his body was about to shatter.

“Roooar!”

The Giant Bear bared its sharp fangs and lunged at Kyle.

Despite its size, it moved with incredible speed.

“…!”

Kyle hurriedly blocked with his hand axe.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The bear clamped down on the axe, pushing forward with its sheer strength.

Kyle was forced back, using his shield and axe to withstand the onslaught.

But in that moment—

Swoosh! Slash! Slice!

A deep strike.

Followed by rapid consecutive hits.

The key was that all the attacks were focused on a single point.

“Rooooar!”

The Giant Bear’s massive body staggered.

Its Achilles tendons were completely severed, and blood flowed profusely from its thigh.

“Haaah!”

With a loud yell, Kyle pressed his shield arm against his body and charged at the bear.

Bang!

A powerful shoulder attack.

Kyle’s body itself was a weapon, and the bear wobbled from the impact.

Thud!

Dianal sprang up from the ground, reversing her grip on her two swords.

“Let’s finish this.”

Stab! Crack!

“Rooooar!”

Dianal thrust her swords deep between the bear’s left shoulder and neck.

Finally, with a dying roar, the Giant Bear collapsed to the ground.

Thud!

As the massive body fell, Kyle ensured it was completely finished.

Seeing this, Diel’s face turned pale with shock, but—

“Well, I guess it’s my turn now.”

Sensing another presence approaching, Damian’s eyes sharpened as he stepped forward.