Tundra was a large city with a massive barrier at its back.

The huge barrier rising behind it not only blocked the magical beasts but also the blizzards that raged from the pure white lands of the north. It seemed that people had naturally gathered, using it as a breakwater to avoid the wind, and a city had formed.

From a distance, it had the feel of an ancient ruin that had grown in the gap between the rugged snowy mountains.

Perhaps because of the gently falling white snow, it had a strange charm and even looked quite cozy.

[Quite antique.]

That was the Heavenly Demon's impression of Tundra, and I agreed with him.

"I know, right."

There was a wall not only at the back of the city but also at the front.

Of course, it wasn't as big as the barrier at the back, just a normal city wall.

It couldn't compare to the north, but there were still magical beasts in the south. And bandits, too.

"We're here, you guys. Let's just get to that gate."

Snort—

The horses snorted briefly, as if in response to my words.

Clip-clop—

I slowly drove the carriage toward the city gate.

There were no people entering the gate, only people leaving.

They seemed to be refugees.

As I approached the gate, the guards who had been blankly watching the procession of refugees leaving the gate turned their attention to us.

One of them walked over and spoke.

"What brings you here?"

He was a man wearing a fur hat, and his tone was extremely blunt.

Had the cold frozen his voice and face as well?

His emotions were hard to read.

I, a veteran of countless inspections, replied in an equally blunt tone.

"Magical beast subjugation."

At that answer, the guard's face, which had been as hard as ice, softened slightly.

What should I say. It was like permafrost melting slightly in a warm spring breeze.

A hint of welcome could be glimpsed in that crack.

"Ah...! Are you a mercenary?"

"That's right."

"Where are you from?"

"We're from Milgard."

"You've come a long way."

The guard's face lit up, and he offered me a handshake.

"Thank you for coming in these difficult times. Tundra will not forget this."

I realized that the blunt guard was thanking me on behalf of Tundra.

The hand of the nameless guard I held was very hot. Like the passion hidden within him.

Also, from that greeting, I could tell that they were in a situation where every single ally was precious.

It seemed that not many reinforcements had arrived here.

I shook his hand back and replied.

"Don't mention it. What's so special about mercenaries? We just do it for the money."

The guard looked at me with very clear eyes.

"You're being modest. I know it's not as easy as it sounds."

He was a strong man.

His physical strength was probably not weak either, but his spirit was especially so.

His breath came out in white puffs every time he spoke.

To me, it looked like steam coming from his heart.

"Your name?"

"It's Ted."

"Ted. A good name. Very easy to pronounce."

"Not at all. And you?"

"Ashuban."

As I said that, I took out the particularly shiny Platinum Badge from my clothes and showed it to him.

The guard, who had at first thought it was a Silver Badge, widened his eyes when it reflected the sunlight and sparkled with a beautiful light.

"...A Platinum Badge?"

Perhaps he recognized the unusually beautiful sparkle in the sunlight.

The other guards who were guarding the gate rushed over, puffing out white breath, to look at my mercenary badge.

"Ted. What's that? It's too shiny for a Silver Badge."

"Isn't that a Platinum Badge?"

"What? A Platinum Badge?"

"Isn't it? It looks similar to the one I saw when the Two-Faced Demonic Swordsman passed through last time."

"Ah, is that so?"

"I'm not sure. It was night then, so we didn't see it in the sunlight."

"That's true."

"It looks like a Silver Badge to me. It can sparkle like that if it's extremely well-maintained or new."

"What? Jonathan, are your eyes crooked? How does this look like a Silver Badge? The quality is completely different!"

"Shit. Since when were you a Platinum Badge expert?"

As the guards were making a fuss, a man with a large build who appeared to be the captain of the guards strode over.

Are all northern men this big?

It was like watching a bear walk on two legs.

"What's going on?"

At the captain's heavy words, the guards reported to him.

"Captain. Is this a Platinum Badge?"

"Damn it. I don't know. I've never seen a Platinum Badge in my life."

The captain took my mercenary badge and examined it carefully, then nodded.

"It's a Platinum Badge."

Various reactions erupted simultaneously.

"As expected...!"

"See. I was right. I told you it was too shiny for a Silver Badge."

"I thought it was just shiny because it was new."

From their reactions, it seemed that the rest of the Sherwood members had not yet arrived.

The captain looked at my Platinum Badge blankly and said.

"Ashuban Sherwood?"

"That's my name."

The captain carefully examined my appearance and asked again.

"Are you the new captain of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps?"

I nodded.

"That's right."

A gasp erupted from the watching guards.

"The Sherwood Mercenary Corps...!"

"Indeed!"

"What, weren't they disbanded?"

"You're slow on the news. Haven't you heard that Sherwood has been revived?"

"First time I'm hearing of it."

"You haven't heard that a man named Ashuban of the Half-Sword appeared like a rising star and is gathering the scattered members?"

"You must have at least heard the story of him single-handedly defeating the A-rank magical beast, the Hydra?"

...Why are these guys chattering here instead of guarding the gate they're supposed to be guarding?

The captain, regardless of whether his subordinates were chattering or not, continued to ask me questions in a blunt, throwaway tone.

"You're carrying two swords."

"One for magical beasts, one for people."

"I see. Are other members scheduled to come as well?"

"I know one of them is already inside."

"That's right. The Demonic Swordsman came in early."

"I've gathered all the others here as well. They'll be here soon."

"Is all of Sherwood coming?"

"Not all of them. I couldn't get in touch with the ones whose whereabouts are still unknown."

"What about Guston of the Greatsword and the Red Witch?"

"They are not people I can move. I heard the Mercenary Guild went to ask for their help. I don't know if they will come or not."

"I see. Understood."

The captain, having finished his questions, returned my mercenary badge and said.

"Welcome to Tundra."

"Don't mention it."

I put the returned mercenary badge back in my clothes.

The faces of the guards who had heard my exchange with the captain were filled with hope.

"If Sherwood comes, it's a different story!"

"Aren't they the strongest mercenary corps in Maia!"

"So who are the members who can come?"

"I heard the Golden Martial Artist and the Spirit Master Who Calls Disaster have already joined."

"If even one of them, either Guston of the Greatsword or the Red Witch, comes, the tide will turn."

"Especially Guston, I heard he's as strong as our Duke."

"What are you talking about! Of course, our Duke is stronger. Have you seen him wield his sword and still say that?"

"I'm just saying that's what the rumors say."

The excited guards chattered on.

One of them had already run to the procession of refugees, shouting, "The Sherwood Mercenary Corps is here!"

The captain let them be without any particular restraint.

Surprisingly, the discipline was not as strict as I had thought.

It probably meant that they did their assigned tasks well without being told.

The captain's gaze fell on the carriage I was in.

"I need to check inside as well."

I raised my hand and knocked on the carriage.

"They need to do an inspection, so everyone get your identification ready."

I could faintly hear sleepy voices, as if they had just woken up.

The captain gestured to the other guards to inspect the carriage and took out a small notebook-like object.

He scribbled something down and asked me.

"How many in total?"

"Six, including me."

"Are they all from the Sherwood Mercenary Corps?"

"Four are from Sherwood, the rest are not."

"Then are those four all owners of Platinum Badges?"

"No, one has a Gold Badge."

"Weren't all of Sherwood Platinum Badges?"

"We have a new member. And there was no such rule in the first place."

"I see. Then who are the other two?"

"That... it would be better to ask them directly."

Just then, a guard was carefully knocking on the carriage.

Knock, knock.

"A moment for inspection."

Creak—

The carriage door opened, and the Sherwood members got out first.

Dofang yawned widely, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and then greeted the guards cheerfully.

"Haaam... are we here already? Oh my, you're all working so hard."

Schmidt came out, patting his back as if he had slept wrong, and Linda, still half-asleep, stumbled out and almost fell.

If Schmidt hadn't caught her, she would have fallen flat on her face and gotten a bloody nose again.

"Present your identification."

Starting with Linda's Gold Badge, the inspection of Schmidt's and Dofang's Platinum Badges was completed with a few simple questions.

Schmidt was holding onto Linda, who was dozing off while standing, to keep her from falling over.

They get along well, even though they can't talk to each other.

It was a common sight for me, but it seemed different to the guards of Tundra, as they marveled amongst themselves.

"...It really is Sherwood."

"To see three Platinum Badges at once...!"

"Have you heard anything about that girl with the grass-green hair? She looks extraordinary at a glance."

"They say she's a master of poison. That she develops and uses poisons that can take down magical beasts."

"The Golden Martial Artist and Dofang the Boastful. I can't believe my eyes."

"Hey now. My friend, Dofang the Boastful? I'd prefer it if you called me Dofang the Phantom Thief."

Dofang had already struck up a conversation with a few of the guards.

The captain, who had been quietly watching the inspection process, said to me.

"I thought I heard there were six in total."

"That's right."

"Why aren't the other two getting out?"

"The main characters always appear last."

"...?"

"Unlike us mercenary-wannabes, they are precious people, so be careful."

As soon as I finished speaking, the knight with light brown hair got out of the half-open carriage door.

The one who had been inside was an endlessly flippant delinquent, but the one getting out now was a graceful knight.

Sir Monde got out of the carriage slowly with the refined posture of a knight, then gently extended his hand toward the open carriage as if escorting a lady.

Then, from inside, a girl took the knight's hand and got out of the carriage.

Gone was the curious and tomboyish girl from before; in her place was an elegant and noble princess in neat attire.

The noble dignity of royalty spread faintly in the air.

Even someone who didn't know her would not see her as an ordinary girl.

The guards all fell silent and watched with wide eyes as the girl gracefully descended from the carriage.

Finally, the princess of the Maia Kingdom, Lilia, opened her mouth.

Elegant words slipped smoothly from her tongue.

"It is an honor to meet the brave soldiers who protect the northern part of the Maia Kingdom. I am the third daughter of the Maia Kingdom, Lilia Adrianne Maia."

The captain, who was the first to come to his senses, knelt on one knee faster than anyone else.

"We greet Your Highness the Princess!"

The other soldiers, who had been dazed for a moment, quickly followed his lead and knelt on one knee.

Princess Lilia, who received their greetings, just smiled like a demure lady, covering her mouth with one hand and saying, "Oh my. You don't have to do this. Ohoho."

"..."

The princess, seeing my cold gaze, playfully winked at me.

How infuriating.

The Heavenly Demon laughed lowly.

[Why. Isn't she cute?]

I told you my master has a soft spot for kids.

* * *

The news that a special guest had arrived was quickly relayed.

"...The princess has come?"

The adjutant nodded.

"Yes. She is currently being escorted to the drawing-room."

The duke stroked his bushy, gray beard.

"I did not hear that she was coming."

"That is..."

"What is it."

"It seems she came in secret."

The duke's eyebrow, which had not moved even upon hearing the news of the princess's visit to the north, twitched slightly.

"...In secret?"

"Yes."

The duke remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"The third one. Is it Princess Lilia?"

"That is correct."

"Hmm..."

The duke let out a low hum.

For what reason had that tomboyish, mischievous princess come all the way to this distant north?

Even if the royal family didn't acknowledge it, it was a clear fact that the worst monster wave in history would soon arrive here. The rumors were already widespread.

No, in the first place, Princess Lilia was clever. In fact, the word 'cunning' suited her better than 'clever'.

There was no way she didn't know that fact.

Then it meant she came knowing...

"Did she come alone?"

"She was with her guardian knight, Sir Monde."

"So she did not bring any royal attendants?"

"No."

The royal palace in Milgard must be in an uproar over the disappearance of the third princess.

The duke could clearly see the scene.

"Why did Lilia suddenly come here..."

The duke's sigh scattered hazily on the high wall where the blizzard was blowing.

His gaze was fixed on the pure white world beyond the barrier.

"Your Grace. Let's go down for now. The princess is waiting."

"...Let's."

The duke decided to go down the wall to greet the princess of a nation who had come to the most dangerous place in the world.

As the duke walked ahead on the wall where the blizzard was howling, he asked.

"Did she really only bring her guardian knight? Without any attendants?"

"They say she came in a carriage with mercenaries."

"She hired mercenaries to come here? She has guts."

Mercenaries were people who would do anything for money.

If someone had instigated it, she could have been kidnapped.

"Who are they?"

"That was not written."

Since the wall was very high, they were communicating via carrier pigeon, and the size of the notes tied to the pigeon's leg was small, so detailed information was often omitted.

"I see. I'll have to see for myself. Let's go."

"Yes."

Whoooosh—

A strong wind swept past the duke's lion-mane-like gray hair.

The duke's eyes, which had naturally turned in the direction the wind came from, saw a single dot walking beyond the barrier.

It was like an inkblot on a pure white sheet of paper.

Looking closely, it wasn't a dot, but a man with a single sword, cutting through the blizzard.

"..."

"He went out again."

The duke watched the receding dot for a moment before continuing on his way.

(End of Chapter)