"Sir, we are almost at Fort Carmine."
Two horses galloped at full speed. The hero and his aide, the knight Gedrick Maxwell, were approaching Fort Carmine.
"Gedrick, scout the area. We'll meet at the fort."
There was no need to specify that this was reconnaissance, a sort of evaluation of the situation.
"Understood," Gedrick replied. The two separated, and Chreíos headed toward the fort alone.
In the distance, one could see that the knights were exhausted. Defending the fort was no small task. The monsters weren't particularly strong, but their sheer numbers made the situation overwhelming. If the fort were to fall, it would likely be due to exhaustion and a lack of supplies.
Upon seeing the hero approaching, the expressions of the guards improved immediately.
"Chreíos!"
"Chreíos!"
"Chreíos!"
The knights chanted their champion's name as if casting a spell, celebrating their most reliable ally, the hero who could meet their expectations. The hero carved a path forward, crushing the monsters in his wake.
Gedrick took advantage of the focus on the hero to move stealthily and scout the area.
You have slain a goblin. EXP +5.
You have slain an orc. EXP +7.
You have slain a goblin skeleton. EXP +3.
You have slain…
You have…
You…
The experience from these monsters was nothing more than a drop in the ocean. What the hero needed was to either clear the entire horde or kill higher-ranked monsters to level up.
After clearing the monsters around the gate, the knights opened it to welcome their champion. Gedrick rejoined him shortly thereafter.
Once inside the fort, there was a brief lull on the battlefield as the monsters withdrew. An emergency meeting was held to prepare for the next wave.
"Sir Hero, thank you for your assistance. Your presence here has greatly motivated the troops. We are grateful."
In the meeting room, Captain Nasios began with words of gratitude directed at Chreíos.
"Don't worry. As a hero, it's my duty. Besides, who would say no to free EXP?"
Chreíos cracked a faint smile, barely perceptible to those around him.
"EXP?" Nasios repeated, puzzled.
"Pay it no mind. Now, outline your strategy."
Everyone was seated around a table. In its center was a map of the surrounding area, including the fort and its environs.
Chreíos was there with Gedrick, along with four other men, including Nasios, the officer in charge of the fort.
"Based on the information I've received, I don't believe the fort can hold until the next supply convoy arrives. The men are exhausted," Nasios explained.
Everyone wore serious expressions. Until now, Fort Carmine had never faced a monster wave. It was built for human conflicts, not for dealing with monsters. The sudden siege left them with no time to organize an offensive.
All of this was likely tied to the demon troubling their minds. The significance of this location was becoming increasingly apparent.
"The wave is likely being led by an intelligent monster. After all, these creatures seem familiar with the concepts of charges and retreats. Moreover, the areas they are targeting are strategically vital," Nasios added.
"What can we do to remedy the situation?" someone asked.
You have only one brain cell among you, the hero thought as he observed the people in front of him. Normally, I would've offered you up as sacrifices to the monsters, then taken the fort back alone by killing the leader of these creatures.
"Hmm?" Captain Nasios tilted his head slightly, perplexed as Chreíos briefly pondered his plan.
But oh well, consider yourselves lucky to witness the bravery of this man, the hero continued to muse, winking at Gedrick. No one knew what Gedrick thought of it, but he nodded, as if fully aligned with Chreíos's thoughts.
Which he certainly was not.
"We will split into three teams. The first will clear the path with me at the front. The second will secure the supply line, while the third will defend the fort and handle any monsters that breach the first line. The supply convoy will soon arrive with an armed unit to attack the stragglers from the rear," Chreíos outlined.
"As for the first team, I will act as a mobile unit. Once the path is cleared, I will penetrate the enemy lines to kill the intelligent beast. This will break the monsters' unity and force them to scatter."
"Sir Chreíos, although you are powerful, it is unwise to venture alone in such an environment," Nasios interjected.
"Yes, Captain Nasios is right. Allow me to accompany you on the front lines. After all, it is my duty to cover your back," Gedrick added.
For a moment, the hero appeared startled. That idiot. Of course, you're coming with me!
Chreíos maintained the most serious expression he could, leading Gedrick to believe he was testing his resolve.
The truth was that, after his initial surprise, the hero was holding back laughter.
Here I was, trying to come up with a plan to cover his death, and now he's tying the noose around his own neck.
Dear Miss Maxwell, your husband tragically perished protecting the kingdom. I hope at least he won't be killed by some random monster. Out of respect for his moving speech, I'll be sure to collect his EXP.
"I'll leave my back to you, Gedrick."
The hero patted Gedrick on the shoulder. For Gedrick, this was an honor. He was proud of his mission, and the hero's trust exceeded his wildest expectations.
"Everyone, prepare for the next wave. We'll launch the operation at that moment."
"Understood."
The hero retreated to his assigned quarters and sat on the bed.
That bastard Gedrick. I let our past issues slide, and now he flaunts such a beautiful woman in front of me.
"I can't stand him anymore. He has to die, and that woman will be mine," Chreíos muttered.
He summoned the quest window, examining the quest's rank with disinterest.
"Tch. There's nothing to gain from this quest except the power of the egregore. My level won't increase much either."
Perhaps it was time to stop playing solo and assemble the hero's team to tackle dungeons or more powerful monsters, he thought. But assembling such a team wasn't as easy as it seemed. Thinking about it only aggravated him further.
"It's time."
Inventory
A window appeared, displaying all of Chreíos's current possessions.
"Earlier, there were skeletons among the horde. That means the enemy has a necromancer. I'll take this, then!"
Chreíos still didn't have the sacred sword. Given the circumstances of his summoning and the dissatisfaction of the other kingdoms, the temple had decided to delay its delivery.
Instead, he relied on other artifacts for advanced holy magic—just a precaution.
He was now fully prepared.
Status:
Name: ///////////////////////
Alias: Chreíos
Title: Iróas Ischyrós (given)
Race: Human
Status: Summoned Hero
Age: 17 years
Class: Knight-Mage, Alchemist, Healer, Thief
Level: 70
Mana: A-16/20
Strength: A-18/20
Skills: Military Swordsmanship, Presence, Elemental Authority, Negative Energy Resistance, Status Effect Resistance, Intent Resistance, State Alteration Resistance, Luck x3, Divine Blessing, Fireball, Cloning, Illusion, Divine Energy, Medium Healing, Charm, Night Vision, Clear Vision, Flight, Tornado, Slash, Life Giving, Eternal Rest, Divine Judgment, Remanence, Energy Transmission, Weapon Mastery, Perception, Invisibility, Piercing Damage Resistance, Projection, Hero's Soul, Summoning, Medium Alchemy, Magic.
"Perfect. Now, let's go kill the boss!"
Chreíos grinned wickedly at his own status window, already plotting his next move.
All the skills he had acquired in this world made him someone not to be underestimated.
Finally, the watchers reported enemy movement.