When we arrived at Geoni Village, what awaited us wasn't a Hippogriff — it was a Griffon.
A Griffon — the very creature that even the elite knights were dispatched to handle, leading Hippogriffs as its mounts.
We, the expedition force, had no idea such an opponent would be there.
I was currently discussing future plans with Clark.
"Could I ask you to persuade Norma?"
What mattered was command authority.
According to my ancestors, it was technically possible for us to handle the situation on our own. But playing right into the hands of those royal court nobles didn't sit well with me at all.
We were talking behind a civilian's house, and Clark wore a troubled expression.
"Honestly, it'll be tough. I've never worked with her before, and on top of that, she's the kind of person who..."
The female knight Norma — all anyone ever heard about her were bad rumors.
I'd seen her in combat myself, and I could understand why people disliked her despite her abilities.
She had the looks, so it'd be nice if she could be a bit more composed and commander-like.
The Third Generation, in a low voice, said:
*'Let's just cut through this real quick, yeah?'*
The Fifth Generation agreed.
*'An incompetent commander puts the entire force at risk. And she doesn't exactly look like someone with good luck... I say we go with an honorable death on the battlefield.'*
These guys are terrifying!
I asked Clark, still wearing that difficult expression, about the attitudes of the knights and soldiers.
"Clark, if word got out right now that there's a Griffon here — how do you think Norma would respond?"
The biggest problem would be making a fuss and fleeing.
If they did that, they'd have no choice but to become outlaws.
Clark shook his head.
"They have a bit of a tendency to underestimate Hippogriffs. In the worst case, they'd flee, and in the best, they'd try to defeat it and make a name for themselves... though, some of them are pretty realistic, so it's not that simple. Honestly, if I could run, I'd want to run too."
I understood that predicting their actions was impossible.
If that happened, the whole group would become unsettled.
The serious-minded ancestors listened to Clark's report and made immediate decisions.
The Fourth Generation spoke.
'Lyle, shall we seize command?'
I opened my eyes a little wide.
Seeing my reaction, Clark flinched slightly.
It stung a little that he was afraid of me.
(If we could just seize it, we wouldn't have a problem...)
I was an adventurer, and they were knights.
Even if the Seventh Generation wasn't quite as dismissive of adventurers as some, the knights would likely still see me as beneath them.
Since I wasn't a famous adventurer or part of a mercenary company, I had zero name recognition in Central.
The Second Generation spoke.
'...Lyle, go talk to the village chief. Have Clark speak to Norma. If they want to run, let them. Hey, this is your cue.'
The one tasked with this was the Fourth Generation.
'At a time like this, it's better to make a big splash, isn't it?... Considering the numbers... we'll need about five hundred gold coins in total, right? Not knowing the Griffon's price is a problem. I should ask Clara... or maybe try selling it in Central. They might buy it at whatever price we ask. Right, Lyle――'
The Fourth Generation seemed to be enjoying himself. He gave off the impression of someone who liked saving money and hated spending it.
'—For each Goblin, we'll pay one gold coin. Orcs and the like, five gold coins. Hippogriffs, fifty gold coins, and Griffons, one hundred gold coins!'
The pay rates were an absolute steal.
*(But when it comes time to spend, he goes all out.)*
Just as I was thinking that, the Fourth Generation went on—
'The collection goal is seven hundred gold coins or more!'
—As expected, he was the same old Fourth Generation.
*(What a cheapskate.)*
I asked Clark to convince Norma.
"Could you tell her that there are Griffons in the area? If you doubt my word, I have Skills, so I can provide proof. Also, I have something to discuss with the knights, so please have them gather as well."
Clark's expression remained troubled.
"What are you thinking? You're not planning to gather everyone in one place and storm in all at once, are you?"
He looked anxious. He probably thought I'd given up and was going to lead everyone in a suicidal charge…
Hearing that, I decided to smile.
Confidence is key.
Otherwise, the other party just gets anxious.
*(Come to think of it, this is the first time since Darion…)*
I flashed a smile and spoke to Clark.
"I'll be taking command. It'll be fine. When it's over, everything will belong to you and the Volunteer Soldiers. Look forward to the Griffon extermination bounty."
When I said that, Clark's mouth kept opening and closing like a fish.
The Sixth Generation speaks up.
"All right! Hold it right there!"
I place a hand on Clark's shoulder and speak.
"It's fine. I'll turn this into the best possible outcome. I want to see the faces of everyone at the palace light up. An expedition force they never expected to return, coming back with Griffons in tow... Let's march through the gates in formation down the Royal Capital's main boulevard."
Clark's face was still deathly pale, looking like he might throw up.
"Well, the palace... a triumphal return, you say..."
I press on.
"Annoying the court nobles we left behind while we claim all the glory... isn't that worth it?"
When my expression turned serious, Clark fell into troubled silence.
He seemed like a fairly conscientious person, so he was probably weighing all the angles.
Then his shoulders dropped.
"If what you're saying is true, there's no chance of survival. But how exactly do you plan to defeat the Griffons? As for our preparations, all we have are a few crossbows."
Hearing that they had brought crossbows, my ancestors began to celebrate.
The Second Generation spoke.
"This knight is competent. I wish you'd learn a thing or two from him."
He was commenting on my lack of preparation, no doubt.
"You'll see. In front of everyone."
After parting ways with Clark, I set off to find the village chief.
While searching for the chief, I spotted him giving orders to villagers.
He was directing the tent setup and asking the villagers to help prepare meals.
Everyone had grim expressions.
The Second Generation spoke.
"A hundred-strong expedition force in such a small village. And nearly forty villagers to boot... It's no wonder they're losing hope. Especially when the expedition force is just a bunch of useless soldiers."
(…Come to think of it, during the Second Generation's time, the Walt territory was still a collection of settlements rather than a proper village.)
The First Generation carved it out and subdued the barbarians.
The one who truly laid the foundation was the Second Generation.
He was the one who, even when compared to the First Generation by the villagers and complained about, still polished the structure and planned how to expand the village.
The Third Generation had said he simply did the work according to the Second Generation's plans.
I called out to the village chief who was giving instructions.
"Could I have a moment of your time?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. What is it, Sir Knight?"
Being called "Sir Knight" made me smile.
"I'm an adventurer. I took on a request from a knight in the expedition force and joined. Would you mind if I heard you out?"
The village chief wore a displeased expression.
He was probably busy.
But I couldn't back down here.
I took a small pouch containing silver coins from my inner pocket and handed it to the village chief.
After looking inside, the chief spoke to a young man nearby, "Give us a moment," and agreed to listen.
(He just keeps giving money.)
The Fourth Generation said.
"The power of gold is something else, isn't it? Well, when you think about this village's future, not having even a little would be a real problem."
Once we'd found a place where the village chief and I could speak privately, I went over the situation.
"When we were dispatched from Central, we were told the monster was a Hippogriff. Are you absolutely certain about that?"
The village chief's eyes went wide.
"That can't be! We clearly wrote 'Griffon' on our report! People in the village have even spotted it in the nearby woods! How could there be such a mix-up..."
From what I gathered, the local magistrate had fled and hadn't come back.
Fair enough — hearing "Griffon" would make anyone want to run.
"...You're going to flee too? Abandon this village just like that?"
The village chief stared at me with a haunted expression.
But I smiled and spoke.
"No. We'll slay it. It's just that I have my own concerns... that captain. She's a female knight, and she has the attitude that as long as she puts it down, some casualties are acceptable. It pains me to think of this village suffering losses. That's why—"
"W-why—?"
"I need your cooperation, village chief. It's simple. We'll protect the village and take down the Griffon. That's all there is to it. The problem is that our commanding officer isn't suited for this."
"...What exactly do you want from us? And what if word of this got back up above?"
"Above" would be the magistrate and whoever else managed this area.
The village chief looked frightened — terrified that they might draw Central's wrath and be destroyed by... by the knights themselves.
"Rest assured. I've already worked things out with the adjutant. If she objects, the captain will receive a glorious death in battle — having fought valiantly to the end."
Even as I said it, the words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
That was when I noticed the village chief watching me intently.
"...What would you get out of this? Going to all this trouble — and if it fails..."
If I fail, I'll die, but my main goal is...
The face that came to mind was Ralph's.
I'd always thought he was a serious father, but turns out he's quite the con artist.
Come to think of it, the man's lived as Court Nobility.
"There's someone I can't quite forgive. They're in Central, and my goal is to make sure they suffer for what they've done."
"H-Huh?"
The village chief wore an expression that was half-understanding, half-confused, and I proceeded to ask him for a favor.
(I'm starting to hate how much I'm learning about the world out there...)
Once I'd finished the preparations my ancestors had instructed me to make, I headed to where Novem and the others were.
— In the house where Norma had been resting.
In an abandoned dwelling whose owners had long since left, Clark was receiving an earful from Norma.
"A Griffon? Give me a break! We were dispatched here by the royal palace to subdue a Hippogriff. And you'd take the word of some suspicious adventurer at face value... That's exactly why you'll never amount to anything!"
Being chewed out by a female knight younger than himself, Clark held his temper and continued to explain.
"However, it does seem a bit too outrageous no matter how you look at it. That adventurer does possess Skills, and they offered to prove it... Exposing one's Skills isn't just significant for adventurers — it carries great weight for knights as well. You must understand that."
For Lyle to offer proof with his Skills meant he would be revealing what those Skills were.
Sharing that kind of personal information with someone who didn't know you carried real risks — and not just for adventurers.
Perhaps she picked up on this, because Norma's expression became uncertain.
"In the event that it truly is a Griffon, that falls outside our mission. Withdraw immediately! Bring that adventurer to me! If they can prove their Skills, we'll pull out as-is!"
For Norma, she wanted the glory, but her life mattered just as much.
If she deemed it too dangerous, she would retreat without hesitation.
If only she had shown that cowardice earlier, during the preparation stage...
Clark regretted it, but explained what would happen if they fled.
"If we run away like this, we'll never be able to live as knights again — branded as cowards. Even if we prove a Griffon was here, they'll condemn us for having fled. Besides, you must have heard the recent rumors, haven't you?"
"Rumors? What are you talking about?"
Norma looked genuinely clueless.
Clark remembered.
(Right. This girl... even her colleagues couldn't stand her.)
In her rush to climb the ranks, Norma treated everyone around her as an enemy, which meant she had few allies.
No — it would be more accurate to say she had none.
She was a female knight who had risen quickly through repeated acts of stealing credit from others.
Everyone around her was an enemy.
(I see. That's probably why she was chosen. And me, selected as her adjutant — I'm hardly one to talk.)
Feeling dejected, Clark explained the rumors circulating in the royal palace.
There were simply too many noble and knightly households.
Because of that, there was a need to reduce their numbers.
And they themselves had been selected to serve as that sacrifice.
"Even if it truly is a Griffon, we could still be held responsible and have our ranks lowered. Worse yet, if we end up branded with infamy, our lives as knights will be..."
Hearing this, Norma let out a scream.
"Wh-what do you mean?! Why?! Why was I chosen?!"
Watching Norma's confusion, Clark spoke.
"Calm down! Right now, we need to focus on how to achieve victory from this situation—"
"Victory?! Are you out of your mind?! If I could fight a Griffon and win, I wouldn't be a Ten-Rider Captain—I'd be a Hundred Knight Captain... no, a Thousand Knight Captain! There's no way I can just calm down in a situation like this—"
Watching Norma fall apart, Clark thought she was the least suited to be a commander of anyone he had ever assisted.
At the same time, he could understand the logic that continuing to fight under Norma's command would mean defeat.
As a single knight, she was excellent.
If she had paid more attention to the people around her, perhaps becoming a Thousand Knight Captain truly would have been possible, just as she said.
Then—
"Captain! Vice-Captain! The villagers are gathering! Some adventurer hired by a guy named Marcus told everyone to come to the square! And the villagers are saying they didn't see a Hippogriff—they saw a Griffon... What is going on?!"
"Should we restrain him?" The knight who asked this got a head shake from Clark.
Looking at the bewildered young knight, Clark spoke.
"The Captain should go too. Gather everyone together."
There was nowhere to run regardless.
The odds of winning if he took command were slim.
(Am I really going to bet on that boy...)
Clark was still wavering—
Standing before the villagers lined up in the square, I was giving a speech.
It wasn't something I wanted to do.
I was simply projecting my voice from my gut, speaking right after the voice of my ancestor.
The one handling it was the Sixth Generation.
I had gathered the villagers and was making my appeal that their cooperation was needed.
But even though this was for their own sake, not everyone was on board.
So I spoke up, just as the Sixth Generation told me to.
"All right, look at the children over there and say it! Ask yourselves — would it be fine for those kids to think their parents and grandparents were pathetic?"
Following the Sixth Generation's cheerful instructions, I spoke.
"Are you really going to show your own children a cowardly side of yourselves? Do you want your kids to laugh at you — to say their parents and grandparents were spineless cowards who ran from Monsters? Do you want them to spit on your names for failing to avenge the fallen?"
Gesturing dramatically, I decked out in the best-looking equipment I had, mounted Porter, and bellowed my words.
Voices rose from the crowd.
"Th-There's no way we could fight!"
"Exactly! Even if it kills us, we don't have the strength to fight — that's why we called the knights!"
"The magistrate ran away too! You lot would run just the same!"
Hearing the residents' voices, I noticed that knights and soldiers had gathered around us.
Some people were so panicked — not knowing a Griffon was here — that they were actually scrambling to prepare to flee.
Fleeing would be too late anyway. And even if they did manage to run, what awaited them at the end was no kind of life worth living.
Run from Central — and go where, exactly?
I drew my Saber, pointed its tip skyward, and cast a spell.
To make it as flashy as possible, I activated the First Generation's Skill — Limit Burst.
To really put on a show, I had deliberately cleared out a section of the plaza beforehand.
I cast my spell right into that open space.
"Thunderclap."
With the overcast sky already in place, thunder roared across the heavens and a bolt of lightning crashed down into the cleared area.
A violent sound echoed through the surroundings, and some of the residents had slumped to the ground, trembling.
(I-I scared them, didn't I? Wait, did it really have to go this far?)
I slung my saber over my shoulder, careful not to let any unease show, and spoke in a flat tone.
"Run, and it's hell. Stay, and it's hell. So... we've got no choice but to fight."
I imagined the Sixth Generation grinning as he surveyed the scene.
"The knights are gathering. The preparations are done too, Lyle. This is where it starts."
Picking up where the Sixth Generation left off, I continued my speech.
"Abandoned by Central... abandoned by the Royal Palace, and with nothing left but to be crushed here or turn to banditry. Doesn't that make you angry? The people in that palace who are just waiting for you to die—when word reaches them that you've all been wiped out, will they be satisfied? If you survive, they'll laugh and call you cowards. If you flee, you'll bring shame to every knight among you. Doesn't matter if you're soldiers or not. You'll be mocked forever, despised for all eternity... Are you really okay with that?"
Every pair of eyes in the crowd was fixed on me.
I had used flashy magic, and some of them were still looking at me with fear in their eyes.
This wasn't the noble idiot I'd shown back in Darion.
Right now, as Lyle, I was delivering a speech on this battlefield.
Some looked down at the ground.
Others crumpled to their knees.
They were all different, but every last one of them wore the expression of someone who had given up.
"...Or we go back and cut down every last one of those palace rats. If we do that, they'll have all the justification in the world, and we'll all be dead. They'd be thrilled, wouldn't they? But wouldn't you rather see the look on their faces when they're furious about it?"
Someone spoke up.
"When they're furious... about what?"
I pressed on.
"We take down the Griffon. We save the village. We accomplish all of it, and then we march back to the Royal Capital as heroes! Overnight, we'll be famous. The nobles in the palace won't be able to refuse a reward to the heroes who defeated the Griffon. Bards will surely sing of us in the Royal Capital. Maybe the whole country will hear it. We'll return in triumph as heroes, and we'll stand before them tall and proud! That's the ultimate revenge. Claim your gold! Claim your status! Claim... everything!"
Several of the residents rose to their feet.
And then, from somewhere, a voice rang out.
"I—I'll do it! I'm gonna take everything! I'm not about to end it like this!"
Then one or two more stood up.
As their number grew, the knights and soldiers rose as well.
From atop Porter's back, I could see Norma—their captain—and Clark, the vice captain, both looking up at me.
"This is the fight of a lifetime! Take down the Griffon and we'll be heroes! Your families will tell tales of this! ...Win this battle, and take everything!"
Many more stood, raising their voices.
"You want gold?!"
"YEAH!!"
"You want status?!"
"YEAH!!"
"You want honor?!"
"YEAH!!"
"Then fight! I'll make sure you win!!"
The residents, knights, and soldiers roared and broke into applause.
Well, not quite—
*"Man, you really see how important plants are at times like this, huh."*
The Third Generation dropped the punchline at the very end.
From the very start, every person who had stood up to voice their support had been arranged by us.
The Sixth Generation spoke up.
"Preparation is the key, after all. If they're just going to gawk at some magic, they'll lose interest later."
That was certainly true, but something about it felt off.
And then the Fifth Generation came over, since Norma and Clark were watching me.
"Now then — once you've captured their hearts, the next step is profit."
Profit. In other words, money.
After the speech, I had the village chief set out the tables I'd prepared in advance in the square.
Then I had Miranda bring over the boxes and flip them onto the tables.
Five hundred gold coins came pouring out, piling up into a mountain.
Standing guard around us to keep anything from being stolen were Aria, Marcus, and the trio that Bread had helped.
Novem and Monica were filling out paperwork.
Shannon was holding up the sign that Monica had made.
"Ugh, it's heavy — hurry up already…"
"You really have no stamina at all."
While Shannon trembled under the weight, I addressed everyone.
"Fight under my command, and you'll earn one gold coin per Monster! They tend to stick together in decent-sized packs, right? I've prepared separate rewards for squad leaders. And whoever takes down the leader of a group gets an additional bonus on top!"
On the sign Shannon was holding, it read: first place — ten gold coins. Second place — eight. Third place — five.
"Even a Goblin gets you one gold coin! Orcs and Ogres are worth five!"
Hearing that, the soldiers and knights swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the gold coins.
And to the townspeople as well—
"If you help me out, I'll pay you. Women are more than welcome too. There's plenty of work — cooking, chores, you name it."
The townspeople's eyes lit up.
The Second Generation spoke up.
*"See, having a reward really does make a difference."*
The Fifth Generation added.
*"Visible rewards are important. When all you hear is 'it'll work out in the end,' motivation just isn't the same."*
Watching them, I was reminded once again just how naive my thinking had been.
Even if it was money I could earn right away, there were people for whom obtaining it was incredibly difficult.
I wasn't saying it was wrong to be focused on what was right in front of you.
But I understood what my ancestors were trying to say.
"I'll draw up a contract. The payment will be handled properly. Even if I were to lie, you could come after me for it later."
One of the knights raised his hand.
"Uh, um... I, uh, with reading and writing..."
I said.
"It's the same document for everyone. Have someone who can read go over it with you. Anyone who wants to sign, line up."
As Miranda pocketed the gold coins, Clark came over to me.
"Lail... mind if we talk for a moment?"
Behind him stood Norma.
Every eye in the crowd was fixed on Norma.
Borrowing the village chief's house, I sat down with Norma and Clark — the three of us — to talk things over.
Regarding the Griffon extermination this time, that is.
But it turned out differently from what I had expected.
The Seventh Generation was exasperated.
'What a character. Well, it's better than having him run wild. Saves us the trouble.'
On my end, while I was glad that Novem didn't do anything rash, I was also exasperated with myself for feeling that way.
Novem, sitting across the table from me, wore a serious expression.
"In other words, the command authority for this operation ultimately belongs to me… and the results are mine as well. That's what you're saying."
She was negotiating with a dead-serious face, but I had never wanted any honor from Central in the first place. It would only be a hindrance.
If Novem hadn't agreed, I would have intended to let Clark take all the credit back with him.
"Captain, that's no way to phrase it—"
When Clark interjected, Novem declared sharply.
"This is important! It's the credit for Griffon extermination! On top of having someone else do the work for me, if they fail, it's entirely their own decision. There's no downside for me whatsoever!"
Given the current situation, that was probably accurate — there were very few downsides.
Novem was in the same boat as the rest of us; she couldn't run away either.
But even if she failed and died, it would be an honorable death in battle.
The Fifth Generation spoke.
'…Being able to switch your thinking instantly and not dwell on it is commendable. Not getting in the way is good enough.'
I nodded.
"If you follow our instructions, all the credit will be yours. However, you must also report the contributions of everyone who participated. If you don't, you know what will happen, don't you? Everyone here will become your enemy from this point forward."
Even Novem seemed to understand that much, and she nodded as well.
"I-I understand! I'll write in the report that everyone contributed! If that will help me advance in my career..."
Leaving Norma, who bowed her head with a dark smile, I turned to Clark.
"Clark, that's agreeable to you as well, I assume? I'd prefer if you cooperated."
Clark sighed and shook his head.
"If I refuse to recognize the command structure from this point on, the Captain and I will both be skinned alive. However, I'm content with just my share of the work. As long as the report reflects the facts, I'll cooperate."
Hearing this, Norma snorted contemptuously.
"Idiot. A classic case of an honest man being played for a fool."
Clark, hearing this, murmured sadly.
"Perhaps you're right."
With the command structure issue settled, I had duties to attend to, so I left the scene.
(Honest, huh...)
Clark did accept bribes.
It was engineered that way, but he wasn't simply a stubborn, earnest man.
Still, I found I couldn't dislike him.
(Why was he chosen for this expedition?)
I could only wonder.
If the Royal Palace side simply said anyone would do, then that was that.
When I returned to Novem and the others, a new problem had arisen there.
While Novem wore a troubled expression, Monica beside her was swiftly concluding contract after contract.
The other party was a child.
"I want to fight too! My dad is gone, and I only have my mom left, so if I don't fight then..."
The boy with short brown hair had a messy, unkempt head.
He couldn't have been more than ten years old.
Even Novem, composed as she was, was turning him down.
"You're still quite young—how about helping around the village instead? Besides, even if you say you want to fight..."
The reason for her hesitation was probably that the boy was dead serious.
With an earnest expression, he was desperately pleading his case.
"Come on, he's way too young for that."
As I said that and moved to step forward, the Third Generation spoke—but not in his usual cheerful tone.
"...He looks like you, you know."
His voice was earnest—no, more like tender.
It was tinged with sadness, and the Second Generation too—.
"He's the spitting image. His voice, his appearance... and that unwavering sincerity of his."
The Second Generation's tone was wistful, lost in reminiscence.
While I was wrestling with what to do, the Second Generation spoke.
"Hey, Laiel... just look after that kid a little. Even a little would be fine—could you just keep an eye on him?"
I couldn't object to the Second Generation's strained, almost pleading voice.