The royal capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom simmered in quiet unrest. On the surface, all seemed calm—but beneath, the air was still in the way it is before a storm.

This was the calm of preparation, of making ready for something unprecedented in the kingdom's long history. Soon, the capital would face a crisis unlike any it had ever seen.

They had finally uncovered key information on the very group they had long sought to eradicate—the Eight Fingers.

Not long ago, they had succeeded in capturing Coco Doll, one of the group's executives, along with the notorious "Illusionist" Succulent of the Six Arms. Though the two had mysteriously vanished from their cells before any interrogation could take place, a trove of documents seized from a secret slave brothel had revealed the organization's true structure.

Along with that, they had obtained vital intelligence on the Drugs division. With the aid of Elias Brandt Dale Raeven—commonly known as Marquis Raeven—and using information the Second Prince, Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, had been gathering, they now held the most complete picture yet of the Eight Fingers' network.

The plan to purge them from the royal capital was progressing swiftly. Princess Renner's support had secured not only the backing of Marquis Raeven and the Second Prince—two pillars of the kingdom's Six Great Nobles—but also the cooperation of the adamantite-ranked adventurer party Blue Roses, and even the kingdom's strongest warrior, Warrior-Captain Gazef Stronoff himself.

With the Warrior-Captain, his elite warrior brigade, the private forces of Raeven and the Second Prince, and Blue Roses, they had assembled the strongest force the capital could muster.

No matter how powerful the Eight Fingers were, they could not possibly stand against the combined might of the kingdom's full authority.

Among those preparing for the operation was Climb, Princess Renner's personal bodyguard. Though she was but the lowest-ranked among the royal family, with little political power or influence, Climb felt that by joining the mission he could bring her honor.

More than that, he was one of the key players in the incident that had sparked this operation in the first place. For the sake of his mistress's honor, he could not back down in fear.

His pristine full plate armor, newly restored with magical enhancements, gleamed in the light. The weapon damaged in his battle with the Illusionist had been reforged. Potions and borrowed magical items from Blue Roses completed his preparations. Only then did he feel ready to fight.

Nervous…

He glanced around. Everywhere stood warriors far stronger than himself—the adventurers of Blue Roses, an orichalcum-ranked party under Raeven's patronage, the elite soldiers of Gazef Stronoff's warrior brigade, and Brain Unglaus, a swordsman nearly equal to Gazef himself.

This was power unlike anything that could normally be gathered within the capital. Yet Climb's nerves did not settle. He knew he was not suited to lead even a small unit. His skill and experience fell far short. And yet—he had been entrusted with command of a squad.

Probably because of him…

The reason was simple: he was stronger than the average soldier, and he would have Brain Unglaus as his second. Without Brain's support, command would never have been given to him.

Still, with such a responsibility placed before him, he could not refuse. The weight of his role pressed heavily upon him, but it only steeled his resolve to give his all.

But… why did Princess Renner ask me that?

His thoughts drifted back to a conversation from about an hour earlier. Before departure, he had gone to the palace to inform his mistress of the operation. After greeting her, she had asked him a question—one that still lingered in his mind.

"How was it, Climb?"

"…I thought it was pitiful," he had replied, assuming she meant the tragedy of the situation.

But her next question revealed that was not her meaning.

"Yes, that too… but what about them? What did you think of them?"

"Oh—yes… I think they're amazing," he had answered, realizing she meant the two who had been with him.

Her casual dismissal of the plight of the victims had felt slightly odd, but he understood now she was asking about his companions.

"Both Brain and Sebas are far beyond me in strength," he said. "In fact, Brain himself admitted Sebas was stronger than him. He even said that not even with Gazef's help could they hope to defeat him. That alone says much."

"I see… and compared to him?"

"Eh?"

"Your other master—how does he compare?"

In that moment, a figure surfaced in Climb's mind—

A towering man radiating an overwhelming, almost absurd aura, the image of an absolute champion. He was one of the three people Climb respected most in this world.

The first, without question, was the girl standing before him—the one who had saved him—the golden princess of the kingdom, Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, the third princess.

The second was his mentor, the kingdom's strongest warrior and the embodiment of pride, honor, and strength—Warrior-Captain Gazef Stronoff.

And the last—

The one Climb believed to be the strongest man he had ever met, perhaps even the strongest in existence—Monkyspanner El Dragondream, head of a great noble house.

Though he had only spent a few days with the man, Climb had once been taught directly by him. Whether it was truly coincidence or a gesture of Princess Renner's kindness, he could not say, but he had received instruction from him all the same.

And what he received… was harsh beyond measure.

"You have no talent."

Those were the first words Monkyspanner spoke after a single glance at him.

"Not only do you lack talent, you're worse than the rabble of adventurers cluttering the streets. Honestly, I can't even understand why I should waste even a moment of my time on the likes of you."

The words dripped with scorn, disbelief, and sighing contempt. Climb could not bring himself to protest.

He had been told before that he had no talent—but never like this, never so bluntly, so cruelly, and yet with such crushing presence that resistance felt impossible. The man's sheer aura bound his limbs and pressed upon his chest, making even breathing difficult.

Was this truly a human being? Could a man become so strong? Gazef Stronoff, the strongest man Climb had ever known, seemed to fade into the distance before such might.

"But so what?"

The oppressive weight suddenly lifted. In its place, a warm presence enveloped him. Looking up, the giant had vanished, and Monkyspanner's ordinary figure remained.

"If you can't stack raw strength, then hone your skill. If skill isn't enough, then learn tricks. Take in and refine everything you can, and find your own path. Even without talent, training will make you strong. So keep working. Even if you don't get the reward you want, the blood and sweat you've shed will always return to you in some form. So endure. Endure, and the strength you've earned will be yours."

And for the next few days, Climb lived through hell.

Monkyspanner left him on the brink of collapse over and over, as if to say, Quit whenever you like. But Climb endured—and grew stronger for it.

At the end, Monkyspanner said:

"Now you've got the faintest bit of grit. Don't think that means I acknowledge you. But I'll admit this much—your persistence and effort are worth something."

From that day, Climb respected him as much as he did Gazef. The time they had spent together had been short, less than a month, but the lessons he learned remained carved into his heart.

Now, comparing that man to the old gentleman called Sebas—Climb recalled the overwhelming pressure of both men, and slowly shook his head.

"I… can't say for sure."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Both of them are so far beyond me… I can't even begin to measure their strength. With all due respect to Captain Gazef and Sir Brain, I think the two of them exist in a realm far, far removed from ours."

For Climb, the two were utterly incomparable—like a worm trying to decide which towering tree was taller while seeing nothing but their shade.

There is always a sky beyond the sky. He had learned that truth—that even above the man he thought of as the very sky itself, Gazef Stronoff, there were others stronger still. His world had expanded, and though he did not yet know what it would mean for him, he had not broken even after glimpsing the shadows of such overwhelming beings.

"I see. Well, understood, Climb. Keep at it."

Princess Renner had smiled as she encouraged him, and now here he was, in the present moment.

Though I answered her that way… I can't help but wonder.

It was a fascinating thought. Monkyspanner El Dragondream and Sebas Tian—two men whose strength utterly eclipsed what he believed humanly possible. If the two were to fight, what would happen?

I'm in no position to compare them… but still…

If they truly clashed, perhaps the entire district would be gone in an instant.

It was a thought unbecoming of a warrior sworn to defend the kingdom—but somehow, it felt entirely believable.

"Hey, Climb. Shall we get moving?"

"…Yes! Let's."

His thoughts broke off; preparations were complete. Climb gave the order for his unit to advance—

Unit Captain Climb, Vice-Captain Brain Unglaus, four orichalcum-class adventurers in the employ of Marquis Raeven, twenty militiamen from Raeven's domain, and various priests and mages gathered through the marquis's connections—thirty-two in all, moving quietly.

And this was only one unit. Blue Roses and Warrior-Captain Gazef's brigade were each striking separate Eight Fingers strongholds. The plan was to crush each division swiftly and seize their leaders.

Yet Climb could not help but think—

This was not to belittle their strength. He knew that aside from the militia, he was among the weakest here. And yet…

Even with this many troops, could they really stand against even one of the two men who had come to mind?

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