I Became a Raid Boss

I stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the familiar mountain scenery.

“It’s lively today.”

It brings back memories.

Well, it was only about a year or two ago.

“Right?”

“Even after a long time, you’re still as rude as ever.”

“Why should I be polite to an uninvited guest?”

Swish.

The silver blade slid out of its scabbard.

It was an old, worn sword with cracks everywhere, yet it still held a chilling elegance.

“Or do you perhaps want this kind of courtesy?”

“I didn’t ask for it, but if that’s how you relieve your anger…”

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue and put the sword back.

“What brings you here? Did you come to pay respects since you killed him and now feel guilty? Or maybe you want to check if he’s really dead?”

“Don’t be so harsh. I ended up like a backroom old man because of the wounds he gave me.”

“Hmph. Backroom old man, really?”

It was true that I was injured, but that senile snake certainly wasn’t hiding quietly in a backroom.

Under the guise of recuperation, he must be lurking under the giant shadow of the Empire.

“I received a tip. An Apostle visited and said a girl named Kana lives in this mountain.”

“Hmmm.”

So, I got a tip, huh…

“So? Are you here to fight?”

“Don’t get carried away. We both know neither of us can afford that.”

I cautiously turned my body that was precariously perched on the cliff.

In front of a small clearing by the hut sat a man who looked to be in his twenties, with a tidy appearance.

“I’d rather you didn’t die, but instead come to the Empire. Talented individuals are always in short supply. What do you say? Are you considering coming now? You won’t be treated worse than any duke.”

“I’m not going.”

“You never had any patriotism for Grasis anyway.”

The man tapped the rickety chair he was holding with his cane.

“Wouldn’t it be better to live like this than to remain here?”

“If you can gift your heart to me, I might consider it.”

“Hmph, living in this mountain doesn’t seem so bad.”

The air is fresh, and the scenery is nice.

The man smiled cheekily.

Not wanting to see that, I frowned and snapped.

“Stop annoying me and get to the point. I’m holding back the urge to stab you right now.”

If I could, I’d have done it immediately—it’s just frustrating that I can’t.

This is why wizards are so bothersome.

“Rude. That’s the nature of swordsmen.”

“Remarkable. I happened to be thinking the same thing.”

The man clicked his tongue and slammed his cane down hard.

Instantly, mana surged and took on complex forms.

A Pact of Existence.

It was the magic circle of a pact, one made by wizards staked on their existence.

“I have a favor to ask of you. If you agree to it, I will protect this place you hold dear.”

“Protect? You?”

“Do you not trust even after seeing the Pact of Existence?”

“I’d rather trust the dimensional shifts than your words.”

“Fine. I’ll place a barrier here so no one can enter without your permission. For as long as I live. How does that sound?”

“….”

He’s so shifty, I could never tell what tricks he might pull with even a Pact of Existence in place.

But with conditions that specific, maybe I can trust him for now.

“What exactly are you trying to ask?”

“It won’t be a bad deal for you, so just listen.”

No matter how much I crossed my arms and glared, the man remained relaxed.

“As I said, the Apostle reported about you. That guy blabbing all over town has made things a bit troublesome.”

The man casually continued.

“As you know, your infamy is well known. After Grasis fell, you went into hiding, but…”

“You didn’t find me because you didn’t want to. I didn’t want to die.”

“…Ahem! Many still remember you. And many harbor grudges.”

“Sure. I still remember the things you’ve done.”

“Come on, stop interrupting me and listen. Anyway, one of the knight orders that received the tip has set out on an expedition.”

“…To find me? That’s odd. If they’ve seen me on the battlefield, they wouldn’t have thought that.”

“It’s not that they can’t think, but that they can’t. Most of them have become disabled or dead.”

The man smirked, turning my words back at me.

“And as you guessed, they aren’t warriors from the battlefield. It’s a recently formed knight order, and they seem to have developed a craving for honor. They set out on an expedition under the pretense of hunting monsters, but it looks like they really want to capture you.”

“From your perspective, I would be a monster, so that’s not incorrect. You keep calling me a monster.”

“How do you know that even Arkish doesn’t know?”

“I’ve heard it enough.”

With how often I’m called a monster, it’s impossible not to know.

I’ve heard it so much it’s like I have a stuck ear.

Besides, you usually learn the curses first when learning another language.

“Are you trying to warn me? Saying be careful? Or asking to spare my life if I’m captured?”

“No. Quite the opposite.”

The man rose from his chair, leaning on his cane.

Straightening his bent back cast a long shadow.

Like a snake.

“The sword is to be used according to the owner’s intention. A sword that runs wild outside its owner’s hand is not needed by the Empire.”

“Hmmm.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“Can’t you do that yourself?”

“As I said, I’m a backroom old man. It’d be troublesome if I was caught using my powers carelessly.”

“I don’t know how long you’ll carry on with this nonsense, but let’s say that for now. Regardless, this does seem like a one-sidedly beneficial pact.”

“Think of it as my respect for a rival. I also don’t want the rival’s death to be sullied. And it would be best not to underestimate me. Even a runaway sword can be quite sharp.”

“A sword can only be a sword, no matter how sharp it is.”

“So, you agree?”

“Hmmmm….”

I dragged out my response.

If I said there wasn’t anything strange about it, that wouldn’t be true.

In fact, there were tons of peculiarities.

However, even considering those, this guy’s pact seemed beneficial to me.

If this were the past, I would’ve rejected it without a second thought, but now I’m curious about something.

I was worried about leaving Garid’s grave unattended, and even though I’d rather not see that guy, as a Master Mage, I could at least trust him not to mess it up.

It’s suspicious how perfectly timed this is.

After some hesitation, I slowly nodded.

“Alright.”

“Great. Then give me your hand for the pact. …Not that one.”

“Stop being a bother.”

I retracted my right hand adorned with a ring and extended my left.

“I shall make a pact.”

As the man uttered a simple chant, the hovering magic circle melted back into the form of mana.

The gentle flow of mana enveloped me, shining brightly as it absorbed into my hand.

For a magic that could ruin a person’s life, its effect was surprisingly gentle.

Once the mana completely disappeared, the man pretended to wipe nonexistent sweat off.

“Phew, it’s done. You know it, but I have already set the barrier, so you can relax.”

“Now that it’s done, get lost quickly.”

“I was just about to leave. I believe you’ll handle this well, Kana.”

“…Don’t call me by my name.”

“Then what should I call you? Crimson Reaper? Bird of Death? Or Kana….”

Slash!

The swiftly launched sword tore the man’s form to shreds.

The scattered pieces of the man turned to mana without finishing his words.

…If only it had been his real body and not a clone.

Of course, if it had been his real body, that senile snake wouldn’t have stood in front of me at all, but it’s just disappointing.

As expected, he’s got the knack for making people mad.

“I don’t know what schemes you’re plotting….”

You found out through a tip?

With the Empire’s intelligence and that crafty snake’s ability, they must have known my general location already.

Besides, he made a pact that only benefits him without posing any harm to me.

And he even sent a knight order my way on purpose.

The snake said he didn’t know, but he couldn’t possibly not know.

Perhaps the deployment of the knight order was under his influence.

Everything seems exceptionally dubious, but….

“For now, I’ll play along.”

I was about to head down anyway since it was so noisy.

I thought I may finally escape this annoying war, but it seems peaceful living is truly not in my fate.

Standing before the Crimson Aegis, I fiddled with the hilt.

As if it’s begging to be used, the familiar texture reached my hand.

A precious Dragon Orb embedded, crafted through begging the proud Dwarf.

A sword forged with the intent of protecting Grasis, named Crimson Aegis (Crimson Shield).

Naming a sword after a shield?

So contradictory yet so Garid-like, it made me laugh plenty.

Though this sword became mine after Garid died….

“I’m not worthy to wield this sword.”

That senile snake said it, questioning why I lived here without patriotism.

True to his word, I have no lingering attachment to the fall of Grasis.

I only feel guilty for failing to protect Garid’s will.

Having failed to protect what I should have, what face do I have to wield a sword created for that purpose?

With my eyes closed, I felt the warmth of the sword, slowly pulling away my hand that seemed hesitant to part.

Instead, I have another Master Sword, so it’s alright.

As I stared blankly at the worn-out sword, I realized I hadn’t named it.

Well, I never expected to use it for this long.

I thought I’d just use it until it broke and toss it out, but who would’ve thought it would last this long?

Suddenly inspired, I decided to name the sword.

“Alright, from now on, your name is Fly Swatter.”

To cherish a sword enough to give it a name?

The blacksmith who forged this must be overjoyed if he saw this, right?

Yeah, I’m sure he would be.

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