Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Half a day after the main army heard the explosion, a warrior came to give Alaric an urgent report.

“Your Highness, there is news from the ten-man scouting team!”

Hearing this, Alaric was pleasantly surprised. He gestured at the warrior to keep talking. “Go on. I’m listening.”

“A total of three people have returned from the team and all of them are injured. As for the others… There is a high chance that all of them are already dead.”

Alaric’s expression darkened. “What? Where are the survivors?”

He didn’t care about the other members, but he also sent Aldrin with them.

“They are being treated by our healers at the moment. Would you like me to bring you there?”

Alaric took a deep breath and nodded. “Bring me to see them.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Alaric followed the warrior to where the auxiliary unit was located. The healers of the army are in this unit and they were tactically placed somewhere in the rear of the formation.

When he arrived at the unit’s position, he was taken to a tent where the survivors of the ten-man scouting team were being treated.

As soon as he entered the tent, he saw a group of medical personnel bandaging the wounds of three people. One was an elven woman and the other two were barbarian warriors.

Aldrin isn’t here…

Seven of them are missing, including Varys. Just what happened out there?

Alaric’s heart sank at the bottom of the abyss.

He approached the only conscious person of the three and crouched in front of her. “Dame Lesley…”

Upon hearing his voice, Lesley opened her eyes with great difficulty.

Her body was covered in cuts and bruises. There were also arrows stuck on her shoulders and legs. She had the worst condition of the three, but she managed to remain conscious probably because of her innately superior constitution as an elf.

“Y-Your Highness…” Her voice was barely audible and it looked like it took her a great deal of effort to utter those words.

“Dame Lesley, where are the others? What happened to the rest of you?” Alaric asked with a frown.

Lesley suddenly cried as she replied.

“E-Everyone… they are probably dead…”

Dead?!

Alaric was stunned.

“What happened? Can you tell me everything you know?”

Although she was struggling to move, Lesley weakly nodded her head. She then recounted everything they had discovered.

When she mentioned that there were more types of monsters in the colony, Alaric’s face turned grim.

Kobolds, half-barbarians, and other humanoid creatures…

While he was ruminating on her words, Lesley continued.

“Varys wanted to go inside the colony to gather more information. We didn’t agree with his decision, but he insisted on entering the monster nest.”

“Sir Bane and Sir Aldrin went with him…”

“The entrances to the monster nest looked complicated so I don’t know what happened. That is all I know since we parted ways afterwards.”

After hearing what happened, Alaric fell into deep thought.

Based on her words, there was a high chance that the three caused the explosion in the monster nest. However, until they gathered more evidence, this would only remain a speculation.

“Thank you…” Alaric thanked her and told the medical practitioners to make sure that everyone would be treated well.

He then stepped out of the tent and was about to inform Lucas about what happened when he saw two warriors on horseback coming towards him.

Seeing their faces, Alaric was relieved.

Aldrin… he’s alive…

He felt as if a heavy boulder had been lifted off his chest.

The two got down from their horses and greeted him.

“Your Highness!”

They had various wounds all over their bodies, but they were surprisingly in better shape compared to Lesley.

“It’s good that you two are alive.” Alaric gestured for them to sit down.

“Where is Varys?” He asked tentatively.

The faces of the two warriors changed all of a sudden.

“Varys… is dead,” Aldrin muttered while clenching his fist.

Hearing his confirmation, Alaric sighed. He could see the deep trauma on their faces. It would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel guilty, but he hardened his heart.

He knew that sacrifices were necessary to prevent more casualties.

“It must have been hard on you all…”

Aldrin looked like he wanted to say something, but Bane suddenly stepped forward and said.

“Your Highness, I will tell you everything that happened…”

He recounted what they had discovered in the monster nest. The types of monsters present, the layout of the complex cave structures, the approximate number of monsters, and everything else. He didn’t miss a single detail.

He also informed Alaric about what they had done in the storage cavern.

“Your Highness… Varys didn’t…” Bane wanted to tell him that it wasn’t Varys’s fault, but Alaric raised his hand and stopped him from saying anything.

“Your task was only to gather information, but you have contributed more than what you were supposed to do. I don’t blame you guys.” Alaric smiled helplessly.

He didn’t expect Varys to be so courageous as to do something so reckless. He was truly a rare talent.

Such a pity that he was killed.

He lamented the death of such a capable warrior.

“You two should go and get yourselves treated. Leave the rest to us. You may return to the elven kingdom once you have been treated.” Alaric didn’t want them to join the battle in their present condition. Besides, they had already accomplished far more than what they were supposed to do.

Just as he was about to leave, Aldrin’s voice fell into his ears.

“Your Highness! Please allow me to join you in battle!”

Taken aback, Alaric glanced at him. He saw the determination, guilt, anger, and other complex emotions in his eyes.

Alaric saw his own image on Aldrin.

He looked just like him in his past life.

Seeing your comrades die before you would make you live with guilt and regret.

With a heavy sigh, Alaric nodded. “Alright, but you must get treated first.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Aldrin lowered his head gratefully.

“I will also join the battle, Your Highness!” Bane opened his mouth.

He had the same fierce determination in his eyes.

“Alright. You two can come and find me once you are done with your treatment.”