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"Lord Jason, I hope you are safe and sound."
Watching Jason's retreating figure, Raphtalia planted her long sword firmly into the ground, clasping her hands together in a prayerful gesture.
"Don't worry, Lord Shield Hero will be fine," one villager reassured her.
"Absolutely! With such a powerful Shield Hero, he easily defeated even the giant zombie captain. Nothing will happen to him!" another villager chimed in.
"That's right! After all, he is shield hero, the savior of this world!" the villagers of Lute Village added, their faces bright with hope.
Feeling their encouragement, Raphtalia's unease began to dissipate.
"Master Jason will be fine. I need to do my best!" she resolved.
Drawing her long sword, she announced, "Everyone! Please join me in fighting off this wave together!"
"Let's go!" the villagers replied in unison, their spirits high.
...
"A significant number of monsters have been defeated, and with Raphtalia's skills, they should manage the situation well alongside the village militia." Jason thought to himself, urgency propelling him forward. "I need to hurry; if the main boss behind this disaster wave is eliminated while I'm occupied, all will be lost."
With that in mind, he quickened his pace.
As he moved, some wasp-like monsters attacked from above, but he dismissed them; they were not a threat to him. His primary focus was reaching the source of the disaster wave.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn.
Suddenly, a barrage of fireballs erupted from the forest ahead, soaring through the air like raindrops, heading straight for him.
With no time to react, Jason raised his shield just as the fiery projectiles began to fall.
The rain of fire descended, bringing an unbearable heat that would be overwhelming to ordinary people.
The hornet monsters surrounding him were quickly obliterated by the fireballs, exploding into larger bursts of flame as they hit the ground.
In moments, Jason found himself surrounded by a raging sea of fire, flickering flames casting eerie shadows across his figure.
While this level of attack posed no threat to him, it fueled his irritation.
"What's going on? Monsters? No... Monsters summoned by the disaster wave wouldn't attack their own. That means—"
As Jason stood enveloped in flames, his expression darkened, the killing intent radiating from him causing the fire around him to sway violently. Even in the intense heat, a chilling aura seemed to permeate the air.
At that moment, a group of armored humans emerged from the trees, advancing in precise formation.
"Haha! Just as I expected from Lord Shield Hero—there's no issue here. Don't look at me like that; I am the commander of the Knights of the Kingdom, and we're here to assist you in eliminating the monsters in the vicinity."
A man with a prominent mustache stepped forward, smiling smugly.
It was clear that he was the one who had orchestrated the fire attack that had narrowly missed Jason, yet there was no hint of an apology for the collateral damage.
"The Knights of the Kingdom? Just in time. But tell me, was such a large-scale attack really necessary with the few monsters around? Or were you trying to kill me instead?" Jason stepped forward, emerging from the flames, ice in his gaze.
Jason recognized the group leader as one of Myne's loyal followers, his face a mask of self-importance.
"Hehe... Of course not! We only wish to eliminate the monsters. Moreover, it seems you're just fine, aren't you?" the leader retorted, brushing his mustache nonchalantly.
"Really? I don't think so. Your attack was too weak to harm me, yet I could see a flicker of disappointment deep in your eyes," Jason replied, moving closer until he locked eyes with the leader.
"Even if you are a hero, you shouldn't slander others without cause," the leader said, his bravado faltering under Jason's scrutiny.
Under Jason's intense gaze, the leader's expression turned rigid, but he quickly regained his composure, the arrogance returning to his demeanor as he sneered:
"What? Do you intend to attack me? I am the commander of the Knights of the Kingdom, representing this nation. If you go against us, you go against the country itself. Even a hero must face the consequences of the Kingdom's laws."
It was impossible not to find his brash attitude—and the absurdity of his mustaches—entirely irritating.
Jason's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Of course... a hero wouldn't attack the Knights of the Kingdom indiscriminately."
"Good, then step aside! Even if you're a hero, you shouldn't interfere. We have monsters to deal with."
The leader's tone dripped with arrogance as he stood before Jason, his confidence swelling.
"But what if you're not really the head of the Knights of the Kingdom?" Jason responded, still unfazed. The smile on his face brightened, and now it was more reminiscent of someone reveling in chaos.
"What do you mean by that?" The commander frowned, a hint of unease creeping into his demeanor as he sensed something amiss.
"Now, I'm certain that you're actually a spy for the calamity wave, trying to manipulate the Knights of the Kingdom to attack the hero in an effort to destroy the country!" Jason's voice thundered with accusation.
"Bull—" the leader stammered, but his rebuttal was cut short as Jason surged forward, his fist arcing toward him.
Boom!
With a single punch, the leader was sent flying, crashing into a nearby tree and crumpling to the ground, bloodied and barely recognizable beneath his helmet—a mangled mass of flesh.
The surrounding soldiers of the Knights stood frozen, stunned into silence.
"Did… did the leader just die in one blow?"
"How could he? One punch was all it took to take him out?"
Jason's voice broke through the numbness. "I've eliminated the spy hidden in your ranks. Now, I command you to head to Lute Village and aid the villagers against the monsters."
The blood still dripped from Jason's fist, and his imposing figure, coupled with the energy he radiated, left the soldiers trembling.
The Knights shuffled uncomfortably, glancing at each other, uncertain of how to proceed.
"The deputy commander of the Knights accepts the orders of the hero! Let's move! To Lute Village!" A charismatic soldier stepped forward, his authoritative voice cutting through the confusion.
"Yes!" the others echoed, rallying under this new command.
With renewed determination, the soldiers began to march toward Lute Village, ready to support the desperate fight against the ongoing threat.
"Enough time wasted; let's hurry!" Jason said, striding ahead. As he continued on, some monsters began to descend from the trees, drawn by the scent of blood. They tumbled toward the corpse of the fallen commander, hungry and unrelenting.
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