The subjugation of the Dark Wolf pack began at precisely 7 p.m. when the soldiers forming the encirclement hoisted up their torches in unison.

    The net was spread as wide as 50 kilometers, though it was also due to the huge distance that it was impossible for them to surround and eliminate all the Dark Wolves with the people present.

    Fortunately, the 6th legion had already scouted the pack’s movement, though it was a challenging task with the Dark Wolves digging their dens at different places at a specific distance away from each other, while making sure to avoid alerting them.

    The scouts of the Knight Order weren’t some soft persimmons and could confront them, however the task at hand was to eliminate all of them. Alerting them would just give them a chance to run away, pouring water on their efforts so far.

    Well, it was primarily the team Rosetta-san led that not only managed to grasp the Dark Wolves’ location without alerting them, and they even got the details like where they could be found, the terrain of the area, and the difference in battle power in just 2 to 3 days of exploration.

    “I’m just following what I’ve been taught, there’s still a long road ahead for me,” was the reply I got from the person herself when I made an amazed ‘Woah, that’s incredible!’ remark. Her desire to improve herself is quite admirable, eh?

    ‘Howwwwwwl,’ the howling of Dark Wolves reverberated in the air as they came out of the mountain at the same time as the encirclement group hoisted their torches.

    Dante-san, while carrying a two-handed great sword on his shoulder, much like an exemplary knight, said—

    “So it has begun, huh? We should also get going. Dark Wolves abhor flames and light, so they should be moving in the direction of Clover Valley instead of confronting the torches, but the intelligent specimen might prove troublesome. Our task is to lure out such Wolves hiding in the pack!”

    The knights were divided into three teams, with the following tasks—

    The subjugation squad of Captain Suzunami who''d reap the soul of every Dark Wolf once they appeared in Clover Valley.

    The hunting squad who took care of the intelligent wolves trying to escape the encirclement.

    Our raid squad who acted inside the encirclement.

    According to Rosetta-san, the Dark Wolves who were ranked last in the hierarchy would try to escape into Clover Valley while the smarter ones would try to cooperate and see if they could break through the siege.

    So it was our 3rd legion''s role to chase them into the direction of Clover Valley before they could consider fleeing, and the situation fell into a stalemate.

    ◆◆◆

    Rosetta was panicking.

    It had been 30 minutes since the start of their operation to drive the Dark Wolf pack toward Clover Valley, however they didn’t even have 10 of the Dark Wolves heading their way— less than a third of the number that she had expected.

    Yet, the strange part was she also didn’t hear any whistle to call the nearby knights in case the Dark Wolves were trying to sneak out of the encirclement.

    Then what had baffled her even more was the lack of presence of the Dark Wolves appearing in the valley. There was only deafening silence surrounding the valley after whatever drizzle of Dark Wolves had appeared within the starting 30 minutes.

    Did they make a mistake in the area and left the majority of the Dark Wolves outside the siege? Or maybe something had happened inside the siege?

    Just as all sorts of thoughts were running amok inside Rosetta''s head as she contemplated the possibilities, Suzunami crossed her arms and called out to her.

    “Well, then. Our opponent is an irregular variant, so it’s to be expected for the development to take a different route. What we need to focus on is how to deal with that irregularity, Rose. Hmm, should we charge in with everyone present here?”

    There was clearly a lapse in their judgement. Or perhaps not? They were certainly not wrong in deploying their manpower in the valley, where they had expected for the enemies to be cornered to.

    Rosetta shook her head with a vexed expression.

    “I can’t apologize enough, Captain. I made a blunder in my judgement. Romambo-san and the two others should be sufficient to hold the fort here. Captain, and I should charge into the siege.”

    Suzunami chuckled hearing Rosetta’s words.U?pTodated novels on

    “There’s nothing to apologize for, Rose. Naturally, we accept nothing less than a sort of flawless plan as we bear the safety of the kingdom and its citizens on our shoulders.

    Cluck

    His dagger was stopped by a Dark Wolf’s fang.

    Impossible!? I didn’t even notice it......

    “Rose-san!”

    Just as Rosetta yelped inside her heart from astonishment, she heard Allen’s voice. Her body acted on its own in response to his voice as she slashed the forefoot of the female wolf with her long sword, followed by another swing of her second sword, a short-sword, that lopped off its head.

    As soon as Suzunami confirmed that, she shouted—

    “Don’t let a single one escape. Keep driving them toward the hunting ground! Allen, keep your focus on searching for the enemy just in case! Rose, guard Manon in the meanwhile and call the others in with the flute. Then come after us once you’re done! Let’s go!“

    Everyone had just started chasing the Dark Wolves following Suzunami’s instructions when Rosetta called out to Allen.

    “Wait! How did you notice the attack of that Dark Wolf? I want to use it as a reference for my mission!”

    Allen momentarily stopped and turned around to answer.

    “......The wind whispered to me.”

    Wind whispered?! Is this boy sane?......

    Rosetta was stupefied on hearing the answer of the kid wearing a laughing codger mask.

    The operation might not end at a flawless note, but she didn’t expect even a student would tease her like this.

    Rosetta, having her pride shattered to a million pieces, glared at the back of Allen with a vexed expression as he left.

    ◆◆◆

    “Wait! How did you notice the attack of that Dark Wolf? I want to use it as a reference for my mission!”

    Here it comes!

    “......The wind whispered to me.”

    Turning my head 30 degrees — the best angle I had discovered where my plain face shined the most — I replied.

    It was the fruit of the research I had done with Dan and Dol on a certain day in the dressing room of the dorm’s bathroom. The three of us stood before a mirror stark naked and seriously studied our poses. Though it had taken me as much as 30 minutes to come back to my senses, it was excusable. If I could have a girlfriend, any amount of time was worth it!

    My angle was perfect 30 degrees as I turned to glance at her — though I completely forgot I was wearing a mask at that time — with an almost nihilistic expression while answering. And then, like the graceful wind, I briskly walked away from that place quietly.

    I nailed it!

    I could confidently say that that was my best shot!

    I faintly chuckled to myself while feeling the fervent gaze of Rosetta-san. I think the surrounding wind had just opened up to the cliche?d lovey-dovey route.

    T/N - Rip, poor MC. I almost didn’t laugh out like a maniac reading the last part. And on another note, the author finally learned to drop in some foreshadowing.

    E/N - That was too good. Well, if he really wanted a girlfriend, all he has to do is to look at his classmates. Unfortunately, the girls who''re into him aren''t exactly right in the head and he''s also too dense to notice.

    E/N 2 - edited the past few chapters so the wolves are consistently called "Dark Wolves". Sorry for the confusion. 4/22/24