Side Story: One More Thing

THE WOLFSBROOK MOUNTAIN RANGE WAS A SERIES OF mountains connected to one another, some large and some small. The center of the range had high elevation, of course, but even on the edges you periodically found tall mountains shooting into the sky like spikes. The military march was already a quarter of the way through the mountains, but we were only two days into our journey.

Thanks to the large monsters that frequented the area, the game trail was wide enough for two carriages to pass through side by side. For the most part, the tall trees and steep mountains obstructed the wide blue sky, but it was visible just beyond the sloped road. As soon as travelers saw it, their dispositions grew bright to match.

“The Wolfsbrook Mountain Range doesn’t end after that hill, does it?” I asked, half joking.

Till grimaced and shook her head. “I do not believe it does.”

“Yeah, I figured,” I said with a dry laugh.

Despite our march having only just begun, little Van was fed up with the whole endeavor. After all, my butt hurt, and the only things to look at were trees, mountains, and cliffs. Thanks to Till and the others, the food was delicious, but I was getting bored. I thought about making some weapons, but producing more luggage would only make things harder on the horses, and it would slow down the march.

I looked up at the bajillionth tree before turning my gaze to the sky over the hill. “Well, this is our first time seeing the sky in a day, so if we find a good spot, let’s take a break.”

Arte nodded happily. “That is a wonderful idea. It would be fun to stop for some rest with such a nice view.”

Khamsin nodded too. Seemed like everyone was of one mind. Till watched our reactions and smiled warmly. “It might take some time, but I can prepare some delicious black tea.”

That prompted Khamsin to stand. “Then I’ll inform Commander Dee that we will take a break.”

 

As we crested the hill, we saw a perfect spot to set up our tents. Based on the terrain, it seemed like a large dragon or crocodile might have used the space as a bed, but I decided not to let that get to me. For now, I just had to set up some accommodations, and then we could rest once I did that.

More important than any of that was the sight unfolding before me. “Talk about a panoramic view…” I whispered, my entire field of vision encompassed by the sky.

There were no mountains ahead of us that were taller than the hill on which we stood. It felt tremendous to be able to look down on the mountain range. At the farthest visible point was a dark green horizon and a thin river. This was nature at its most beautiful. If I turned around, I’d see the mountain slope and even taller mountains sprawling out beyond it, but the view looking outward was unbeatable.

This was the view facing the members of the Seatoh Village Chivalric Order as they set up the tents. These were little Van’s special-made basic rest tents, by the way. Since my goal for them was to create fast shade, they weren’t exactly the sturdiest structures, but they were quick and simple to put up. Surprisingly so, in fact.

Whoops. Guess I went and made another great product!

Dee approached me while I was tooting my own horn, a stern look on his face.

When he reached me, he turned to look at the campgrounds. “Large monsters frequent open areas like this. Judging by the scars on the ground, a beast might be resting here during the night. I don’t think we should stay for long.”

I winced. “Ugh, I thought that might be the case. We could always kill the monster, but we wouldn’t be able to bring back its parts. I guess we’ll keep this break brief.”

Dee folded his arms. “It is true that our Seatoh Chivalric Order can take down a large dragon, but the geography is bad. There are no walls to protect us, and there is no guarantee we will be dealing with only a single monster. In my experience, it is best to avoid fighting monsters in the mountains as much as possible. Facing beasts in a location like this, you often find yourself dealing with unforeseen disadvantages.”

He explained all of this in the same tone he used when he was teaching me the ways of the sword. This was his way of trying to impart important knowledge, so I needed to listen closely. “What should we do if we encounter a large monster out of nowhere?”

Dee smirked. “If I am with you, then I will stop the beast myself. If not, please flee immediately. You need to confirm the enemy’s numbers, then create a situation in which you can fight them one by one. Never forget: fighting monsters on a road and fighting them in the woods are two very different things.”

“Okay, got it.” I glanced around. Suddenly I was afraid of a monster ambushing us.

Dee must have noticed this because he smiled broadly. “Ha ha ha! Fear not!

My men are keeping an eye on things, and more importantly, I am right here!” He pointed at his chest. This was the posture of a commanding knight who had gained both experience and skill through real combat.

“I’m counting on you, Dee,” I said. He boomed another laugh and waved me off.

It was then that Till and Arte approached with tea and snacks. Trailing them was Khamsin, whose eyes were narrow as he scanned our surroundings.

“I have tea!” announced Till. “Sir Dee, would you like some as well?”

Dee waved a hand at her. “No, I’m fine. A middle-aged man like me would just be getting in the way. I’ll get back to patrolling the area.”

“Oh? I think everyone would love it if you joined them,” Till said, smiling gently.

A shy smile crossed Dee’s face. He turned away. “I appreciate it, but perhaps some other time.”

“All right. I understand.”

With that, Dee was gone. I encouraged Arte and the others to sit down. “C’mon, guys, take a seat and let’s enjoy all of this.” I’d prepared some impromptu wood block benches for us all.

“Thank you very much,” said Arte, taking a seat.

Till was next to her, setting down the tea and a wooden basket filled with cookies and other assorted snacks. I had a bunch of the same treats next to me. When she was done setting everything up for me and Arte, I realized that she and Khamsin were still standing and that they’d moved away from us.

“Why don’t the two of you take a seat?” I asked. But they wouldn’t budge.

“I am fine right where I am,” Till insisted, smiling. “Lord Van, please enjoy your tea before it gets cold.” Next to her, Khamsin nodded seriously.

What were they up to? They hadn’t done this out of consideration for us; I didn’t ask for that. Despite my suspicions, though, I knew that if I tried to confront them, I’d never win against Till.

With resignation in my heart, I looked over at Arte. “They’re kind of distracting, but since we have all these goodies, let’s enjoy ourselves.”

“R-right.”

Feeling a little self-conscious, we faced each other and sipped our tea.

Because we were at such a high altitude, the temperature had dropped significantly, meaning the breeze was chilly. The wind rustled through the trees around us. Combined with the wide blue sky above, it created a wonderful environment for a break.

“The sounds of the wind, the leaves, the birds… It’s like nature is an orchestra playing just for us,” I mused. “Then perhaps the sky is a dance hall of sorts?

When you think of it that way, it’s like the birds are dancing.”

I brought the teacup to my lips. The tea’s rich aroma and gentle flavor spread through my mouth. I exhaled, and Arte turned a narrow-eyed gaze on me.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

Arte looked away, suddenly bashful. “Oh, um… It’s just… You are quite a poet,

Lord Van.”

Now that I was not expecting. I hadn’t said anything particularly deep, but I suppose it was a bit poetic for a child of only nine years. Maybe little Van was the best poet in all of Seatoh Village.

An up-and-coming poet had to be humble, so as I reached for a cookie, I said, “It just came to mind, that’s all.” Till was really leveling up her cookie game, because these looked incredible. “Till, thank you for the treats!”

My expectations sky-high, I took a bite of the cookie. Its crunchiness and rich aroma fused with the buttery flavor as it melted in my mouth. It wasn’t super sweet, making it the kind of treat that I could eat endlessly.

“Delicious!”

Till had surpassed my expectations in the best possible way. At this point, she was doing the work of a master. Utterly satisfied, I ate a few more cookies while Till beamed at me.

“Thank goodness. I was worried I might have over-baked them this time around, but I suppose they taste fine?”

Arte finished a cookie and shook her head. “These are delicious. I love the

gentle mouthfeel your cookies usually have, but these crunchy ones are fantastic as well.”

“So tasty!” Khamsin confirmed.

There were crumbs around his mouth and on the ground near his feet. I pointed. “See? This is what happens when you eat and talk at the same time.”

Khamsin snapped to attention, then brought his teacup to his mouth for another sip. “My apologies,” he said afterward, quickly wiping his mouth clean and acting like nothing had happened.

Arte started to laugh at the whole sight.

“Funny, right?” I asked. Arte nodded.

“Yes. But I feel like if I let my guard down, I’ll make just as much of a mess. Till is just so good at baking.”

Till looked at me then, her smile turning a bit troubled. “Yes, well, I have a lord who happens to adore sweets.”

Uneasiness spread through my chest at her words. Lord. She usually called me “Lord Van,” but hearing the word on its own hit differently. Till probably meant nothing of it, but something about being called “lord” by a beautiful girl in a maid uniform made me suddenly want to ask for omelet rice.

I swear, there’s nothing indecent about any of this! I tried frantically to recover for the sake of my own dignity.

“Hey, it’s not just me,” I tried, hoping to distract everyone from my gluttony.

“Khamsin eats your sweets like crazy, too. He’s always asking for seconds.”

But Till just giggled. “I know. Truth be told, this is my second time baking these cookies. The first time, Khamsin ate them all!”

“She asked me to taste test them,” Khamsin muttered guiltily.

Arte burst into laughter again, loud and carefree. It was uncommon for her to laugh so loudly, and both Till and Khamsin looked at her. For my part, I’d seen her like this a few times now, so I watched her warmly as she covered her mouth with one hand and giggled away.

“The two of you can be so funny. And it’s because you’re so close that she can watch you guys and feel comfortable enough to laugh like this,” I explained, guessing what Arte was thinking.

She nodded, still giggling. “E-exactly! I just could not hold back.”

Till and Khamsin watched curiously as Arte took a deep breath and collected herself. This was what peace looked like. I sighed. “Now then, break time is over.”

No sooner had I said those words than I heard trees collapsing in the distance.

The ground shook soon after, and the Chivalric Order’s vibe turned intense.

“Don’t tell me…” I whispered, but it was too late. Dee was running toward us, sword and shield in hand.

“Lord Van! Please drop back to the rear!” he yelled. For such a large man, he was incredibly swift as he put himself in front of me diagonally and glared down the hill.

We hadn’t scouted out ahead, and we were flanked by trees on both sides.

This meant the only way to retreat was backward. That said, the Seatoh Chivalric Order was here. They wouldn’t be taken down so easily.

“Dee, you don’t need to be a wall for me. Let’s line up the war wagons as a defensive line,” I said. Khamsin ran to deliver this order to the wagon drivers.

Dee nodded without turning back to me. “Thank you. However, it is already here.”

“Huh?”

I whipped around, shocked, as a giant beast smashed through the trees on the mountain slope and made its way toward us.

“The enemy is already in combat mode! Steel your hearts and prepare yourselves!” Dee yelled, slashing his sword downward.

The crack as he sliced the wind itself clashed with the sound of two hard objects colliding, echoing through the open area. That one attack was enough to mow down the nearby trees and put a stop to the massive creature climbing up toward us.

A giant crocodile, to be precise.

“It’s huge! It’s way too big!” I yelled. Wow, these impressions were feeble.

Little Van, you could have picked more sophisticated words.

But that was just my brain fleeing the reality in front of me. This monster was just too intimidating. It had to be at least twenty meters long from head to tail. Since it crawled on all fours, it had a low posture, but even then, the tip of its nose was at least as tall as Dee. And this very same crocodile had its mouth wide open as it glared at us.

“It’s super big! Its body and mouth are ridiculous!”

More embarrassing assessments spilled out of my mouth, but who could blame me?! This monster could swallow a car whole if it wanted to! Of course I wanted to flee from reality! Anyone would! Little Van wasn’t unique in that regard!

“Graaah!” Ignoring me entirely, Dee slashed sideways at the monster’s mouth. Blood splattered everywhere and the crocodile turned sharply away, setting its inhuman glare on us.

What incredible intensity.

I was behind Dee and it was clearly glaring at him, but somehow I felt like it was glaring at me as well. Dread washed over me. If Dee hadn’t been standing there, I was confident I’d pass out on the spot.

That was when I remembered that Arte and the others were still behind me.

“Khamsin, get the girls to a carriage!”

“Yessir!” Khamsin replied immediately, pulling Arte and Till away.

Meanwhile, our massive intruder bared its fangs, its ferocious gaze darting all over the place in search of its prey. It set its man-sized legs forward in an attempt to restart its climb, but Dee noticed this and swung his sword down, barking orders. “Machine bow squad, you’re on support! All other order members be aware of our surroundings! Protect Lord Van!”

“Yessir!”

The troops moved swiftly. The machine bow squad took up their bows and deployed to the left and right. The other members of the order raised the war wagon shields and prepared the ballistae for firing. Their speedy actions were the result of experience and hard work. Proficiency, even.

“Machine bow squad! Bows up! Be careful not to hit the commander!” Paula yelled, signaling for the squad to point their weapons at the crocodile. “Fire!”

The immense storm of projectiles would be too much for the huge beast to dodge. This battle was as good as over.

Or so I thought. The creature retreated backward with terrifying speed, as if it understood the threat approaching it. The projectiles soared clear over the crocodile while it slid down the hill.

“Curses! Ready your next arrows and make sure to hit it this time!” Paula yelled, her tone and words sharp.

“Yes ma’am!” The machine bow squad took up arms again. Their weapons were capable of consecutive shots, so there was no need to reload. Given how the crocodile had just moved, however, this no longer looked like it would be a simple extermination. If the massive creature came from a direction that Dee couldn’t intercept, it might eat one of the order members whole.

“Dee! Retreat to the rear for now!” I yelled, suddenly overcome with fear.

But Dee smirked. “Ha ha ha! Arb, Lowe! Take Lord Van and retreat!”

Arb and Lowe didn’t hesitate for a moment. “Understood!”

“What about you?!”

Dee turned and smiled at me. “Crocodile meat is delicious. It will be my gift to you!”

I couldn’t hold back the quip that rose to my lips. “I personally prefer beef!”

Wait, is crocodile meat actually good? I thought as Arb and Lowe dragged me to the rear.

“Lord Van, Lady Arte and Till are both safely in the carriage!” Khamsin shouted as he ran back.

Ironically, now I was the one being evacuated from the battlefield. “L-look, Khamsin’s here! You can stop now!” Arbe and Lowe did as I asked. “The three of you can protect me together, but keep an eye on Dee! If things look bad, we’re going to help him!”

The trio exchanged glances. My orders conflicted with Dee’s, but in the end, they nodded seriously. “Yessir!”

The men (and boy) took up their shields and surrounded me, keeping tabs on Dee. He still stood at the top of the hill with his sword and shield drawn.

Moments later, the backlit crocodile appeared in front of Dee, its mouth open wide in an effort to swallow him whole. This terrifying sight sent a chill down my spine, but Dee calmly moved his shield and sword, intercepting the monster’s mouth. “Nngh!” He kept its upper jaw at bay with his blade and held the lower jaw with his shield. But as strong as Dee was, the crocodile was definitely stronger.

At least, that’s what I thought before Dee managed to lock the beast in place.

What terrifying strength!

Everyone watched in stunned silence for a moment until Dee grunted and yelled, “Now’s not the time to be shocked! Everyone, put that crocodile down!”

“R-right!” The rest of the order quickly got moving. The machine bow squad and the ballista operators aimed around Dee.

As soon as I judged that everyone was in place, I issued the command: “Fire!”

More than twenty arrows went flying into the crocodile’s mouth. Every single one of them pierced through to the back of its head.

“Wh-whoa…” Even I was rendered aghast by my own creations’ terrifying power. Needless to say, the man-eating giant crocodile stood no chance against such an attack. Its eyes rolled over as it collapsed to the side.

“Ha! Incredible arrows, Lord Van!” said Dee, now free of the jaws of the crocodile. He checked the collapsed beast’s eyes and head to confirm the kill. “I did not think we would take the beast down so easily!”

“I’m more impressed that you matched that thing’s strength,” I blurted out. Arb, Lowe, Khamsin, and even Paula and her crew all nodded. Dee’s shoulders started to shake with laughter.

“Ha ha ha! Did I not tell you that I would stop the beast myself? You believe me now, yes?”

He kept cackling. I could only offer him a pained smile in return. “For sure. I know I can count on my super-powerful commander.”