Screw Them Up

A new day began.

The rising sun brushed the Reed River's surface with soft golden light, driving away the last trace of night's chill. Yet the closer the days drew to the coming storm, the more tranquil and peaceful the riverbank became.

For Old Beaver Kenken, this was the busiest time before the storm arrived.

He had to hurry and reinforce his precious dam, lest the floodwaters wash it away when the storm came.

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

Crisp, rhythmic gnawing echoed along the quiet riverbank, accompanied by the gradually approaching clatter of busy hoofbeats.

"Clip-clop... rumble..."

A dull, sustained tremor traveled through the damp earth by the riverbank, followed by the clear rolling of wheels and the snorting of horses.

The arrivals were humans and Demihumans, just as busy.

Since spring came and the ice and snow melted, this road had grown increasingly "lively."

In the past, perhaps a small party of adventurers would hurry by once every few days.

Now, from dawn till dusk, the sounds of wagon wheels, footsteps, and gurgling chatter barely ever stopped.

Trip after trip, endless as salmon in heat.

Kenken stared in the direction the wagon had vanished, his tiny chest heaving as he let out a dissatisfied rumble.

Hmph. Those noisy sounds were definitely tests his precious dam had given him.

He would not pay them any attention.

Kenken lowered his head, and the sound of crunching once more echoed along the riverbank.

Death Swamp, to the south.

Withered dead trees stood scattered by the roadside. Without leaves to block the view, the drifting mist was only a thin layer here. Adventurers who reached this place could barely make out the foul swamp fifty meters away, where poisonous bubbles rose and burst.

Across the riverbank, weeds and reeds grew everywhere. Yano's adventurer group had temporarily camped beside the swamp road, where several white tents stood amid adventurers coming and going.

"Morning, Captain."

"Morning, William."

Yano smiled and waved at the passing adventurers. He appeared humble and composed, carrying a touch of aristocratic bearing.

This adventurer group had been formed for profit. Strictly speaking, it could not really be called a "group"; it was merely a loose organization made up of several adventurer parties.

The title of captain was only a name. The only people he could truly command were the adventurers under his own party.

Most of these adventurers were kingdom drifters or rough men who licked blood from the edge of a blade. They were used to being loose and undisciplined. Compared with the rigorously trained knights of the Border Guard Legion, they were worlds apart. The fact that they accepted him as captain was already an enormous concession.

Even the Adventurers Guild's task clerks could not help sighing over the charm of "Miracle" Yano.

Of course, Yano knew very well that the so-called "miracle" was no miracle at all. The true miracle was the one behind him.

Yano parted the tent flap. Inside the tent, where no one could see him, he shed all his aristocratic airs and carefully took a Slime from his robe.

He asked softly, "Boss, is the signal good yet?"

"Al... almost. I... am... on my way."

Yano sighed in relief and wiped away sweat that did not exist on his forehead.

"That's good."

"According to the intelligence, the Gnolls are still huddled in their tribe. They do not seem to intend to help the Scaleclaw Tribe's Lizardfolk."

"The Rotten Moss Tribe's Lizardfolk have already gone to scout the locations of those Corrupted Lizardfolk. It should not be long before—"

Before he could finish, a burst of noisy commotion rose outside the tent.

He put away the Slime and pushed open the flap. The Rotten Moss Tribe's Lizardfolk had returned.

But worryingly, most of the Lizardfolk wore anxious, ugly expressions, as though something unexpected had happened.

The adventurers had gathered into a crowd, shouting noisily, making it impossible to see what had happened.

"Make way."

And strangely enough, whenever Yano passed through, the adventurers automatically parted and opened up a path.

Only then did he see clearly—the Lizardfolk ahead lay on the verge of death, one thigh apparently struck by a trap, blood gushing from a bloody hole.

Indignant Lizardfolk stood all around. The Seja sisters were among them, their expressions far from pleasant.

After learning the details, Yano discovered that the Corrupted Lizardfolk had known they were coming. They had set traps in advance and retreated deeper into the swamp, toward the edge of Swamp Forest.

Alarm immediately rose in his heart, and he reported to the little Slime through his thoughts.

"Boss, this is bad! Those Corrupted Lizardfolk are lingering around the edge of Swamp Forest."

"We'll go over now and wipe them out."

Yano came back to himself and saw that the adventurers and the tribal Lizardfolk were still arguing.

The subject of their argument was simple enough.

These adventurers did not want to risk going so deep into the swamp, and suggested returning in a few days.

But the Rotten Moss Tribe's Lizardfolk could not wait that long. They cursed the adventurers for breaking their promise.

And so the two sides began arguing.

Yano shook his head slightly. Faced with such a lazy bunch, even the captain of the Border Guard Legion would probably have a headache like his.

But as the boss's "rider," as a qualified bearer of Demon's Favor, he needed to know how to stir people's hearts with a speech.

His eloquence was not particularly outstanding. Fortunately, he had expected this scene and had memorized a draft in private long ago.

He raised a hand to stop the noisy adventurers. When everyone saw him, their voices gradually quieted.

Yano immediately slipped into character, revealing a calm and confident smile.

"Brothers, have you forgotten who is here with you?" His voice suddenly rose, echoing through the camp.

An adventurer murmured hesitantly, "'Miracle' Yano..."

"That's right!"

Yano suddenly strode forward, his blazing gaze sweeping across every hesitant face.

"'Miracle' Yano! I am standing right here, standing before all of you!"

He spread his arms as though he meant to embrace the entire danger-ridden swamp.

"A mere muddy pit, a few bog holes that eat people, a few nests of insignificant venomous insects—do they deserve to be called dangerous? Do they deserve to make men like us, who lick blood from the edge of a blade, stop in our tracks?!"

"Since I led you to accept this task, I did it with the goal of making every single person in our adventurer group—yes, every single one of you!—make a goddamn fortune! I did it to stuff your purses so full they burst at the seams!"

His finger suddenly pointed into the mist-shrouded depths of the swamp.

"Look! Open your eyes wide and see clearly what lies in there! Danger? Death? Dead wrong! Those are living, breathing gold coins! Gold coins waving at us!"

"This damned miser of a swamp does not welcome weak-kneed cowards! It does not welcome spineless bastards who have already soaked their own crotches! And it especially does not welcome—"

"Those paupers who would rather drink lousy ale in a tavern, so poor they cannot even afford to buy a wildflower for their sweetheart!"

Yano drew the longsword at his waist and plunged it into the ground.

"Cowards, stay behind."

"Those who want money, follow me!"

As his words fell, the adventurers' eyes burned hotter and hotter, and they drew their swords one after another.

"Damn it!"

"I'm not even afraid of being poor. Why the hell would I fear these tail-growing things?!"

"That's right!"

"Pah, I get it now. Being a coward is the biggest reason I'm poor."

"Captain Yano, I'll follow you."

"Me too!"

The adventurers surged with fervor and followed Yano into the swamp.

The Rotten Moss Tribe's Lizardfolk caught up with them, and Seja breathed a sigh of relief.

Behind her, Semiya carried a spear on her back and gave a cold nod as well.

Within Swamp Forest.

"Little Card, charge!"

"Ka-ka!"

Several hundred Stinger Bees cleared the way. Little Crocodile crawled with all his might behind them, carrying a Slime on his back, yet he was surprisingly fast.

It was as though, with a king present, none of the forest's dangers were frightening anymore.

"Wait, Yano sent me a message."

Chen Yu received Yano's earlier message and his heart-stirring speech.

"Not bad at all."

"Since those Lizardfolk are at the edge of the forest, there's no need to run this far."

Chen Yu's pair of round little eyes glimmered.

Eh.

He seemed to have an idea.