I Became a Raid Boss

Aaron remembers the day he first met the small girl standing in front of him.

He rushed to provide support after hearing that they were being attacked by a horde of monsters, but the city was already in chaos.

Kana was a survivor of that city.

‘This girl is definitely going to grow up big,’ Garid said, looking down at the girl sleeping in his arms.

Facing an overwhelming opponent, she showed courage that didn’t falter, a cool judgment, and an unyielding heart.

All of this didn’t seem like something a girl who looked to be only five or six years old should possess.

Aaron agreed with Garid’s words as he recalled the image of the girl fighting against the monsters.

‘So… what are we going to do? Should we look for her family?’

Aaron asked, even though he knew it would be futile.

Her clothes were torn and tattered. Her dirty face and body made it hard to believe she could be a noble’s child, but her appearance was that of an adorable girl. Yet, her condition revealed a far cry from any noble background.

She either had no parents or, if they were around, they likely didn’t survive the chaos.

‘Let’s at least try to find them. If we can’t….’

‘…if we can’t?’

‘Should I adopt her as my daughter?’

‘…What? All of a sudden?’

Aaron had often seen Garid show sympathy for children who had lost their parents or were in poor circumstances, but he had never seen him put it that bluntly before.

Seeing Aaron’s surprised expression, Garid grinned.

‘I just like her.’

The girl, accepting the offer to become his adopted daughter, became Garid’s child.

Since Aaron and Garid were more than just colleagues but true friends, Aaron often visited Garid’s home and took care of Kana in his stead.

Even though he treated her with respect, Kana was a child he was as fond of as one of his own daughters.

“Commander, you’re still the same.”

“…What do you mean?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean? Of course, I’m talking about your height. I told you not to just eat meat since you were little, that you needed to eat vegetables too, but neither you nor Garid listened to me—”

“Ah, ahhh— I can’t hear you—”

Kana covered her ears and wiggled her body, clearly not wanting to hear the scolding.

Seeing her sulky behavior, Aaron decided to stop the nagging, and only then did Kana stop squirming.

“You know it’s not because of picky eating. If it weren’t for that creepy lizard, you’d have been at least twice this size.”

“…You’re the only one who would say that about Lord Gracis. And what do you mean by twice?”

Only Kana could say such a thing without fear of retribution.

“Creeps are called creeps. What else would you call them?”

“…Let’s just drop it. By the way, where have you been all this time? You just disappeared right after the war ended; I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Aaron had a rough idea of where she might have been.

“Garid’s grave.”

“I knew it.”

Kana’s response was just as Aaron had anticipated.

“…Did you know?”

“Besides not making friends easily, there’s nowhere else for me to be. If you say where you’d find the Commander, it would only be there.”

“Aaron had no clue.”

“You ran into Aaron? What is that guy up to?”

“Yeah. He’s working as the head of the Ordo guard.”

“…The head of the guard? That guy? I can’t picture it at all…”

“He’s getting older too.”

“…?”

How old was Kana right now?

Aaron recalled that when he first saw her, she was six years old, and it had been a little over ten years since then….

‘About seventeen, I guess.’

It was amusing to hear someone not even twenty talk about someone much older than him like that.

Moreover, Kana looked younger than her actual age, making Aaron find her words even funnier.

“Why didn’t you come looking for me, even though you kinda had an idea? Garid will be disappointed.”

“Sometimes you need a little alone time.”

“…Huh?”

In response to Kana’s question, Aaron just smiled softly.

“Well, since the Commander is out now, I guess I should visit later.”

“Sure. But, while I’m away, you can’t. The Snake Brat set up a barrier.”

“…Snake Brat? Are you talking about that guy?”

“Is there any other Snake Brat?”

“…What on earth happened? Is this related to why you came outside?”

“Well, it’s not entirely unrelated. Thanks to the Snake Brat, I could come out to solve some curiosities.”

Kana dragged over a chair for guests and sat down.

Her small frame was almost hidden behind the large desk, and all Aaron could see was her head.

“I’ve become curious about the Apostles.”

“The Apostles….”

“Do you know anything?”

“No. Just—”

Aaron sighed.

“I heard the Apostles have been causing quite a headache for Liberi lately.”

Suddenly appearing in Ardina, led by Edel.

It wouldn’t be a lie to say they were not helpful, but they were causing a fair number of problems.

Aaron’s position was that of chief instructor.

He only managed educational matters and wasn’t deeply involved in other administrative issues, but he was well aware of the current atmosphere in Liberi.

Most people treated those brought by Edel favorably, but….

“There’s definitely some discontent.”

Existing mercenaries had to toil for years to build their skills and achievements, going through strict evaluations before they could finally be recognized as the next grade of mercenary.

But the Apostles were different.

Their evaluations were much more simplified compared to existing mercenaries; effectively, if they had achievements, that was enough, and even those requirements were far lighter than before.

Many mercenaries were dissatisfied with this obvious preferential treatment.

“Did they really think, ‘As long as you have Edel’s favor, that’s enough. But evaluations should still be fair?’”

“Wouldn’t that be the case?”

“That’s not so easy. If we make evaluations for existing mercenaries simple, there will be an increase in people losing their lives.”

Apostles can afford to be a bit weaker.

After all, they could live indefinitely due to Edel’s grace.

However, the lives of people from the Ardina continent were not infinite.

If the evaluation difficulties are lowered and high grades are given to just anyone, they might take on requests beyond their abilities and die.

Liberi wanted to nurture mercenaries rather than treat them as expendable pawns to go out and die.

“Well then, why not do the opposite?”

“Ha…. If it could’ve been done, it would’ve happened.”

It was a simple solution, but why had it not been possible?

The rate at which they gain strength was far too fast compared to the rate at which their skills accumulated.

Even if their experience was a bit lacking, their physical strength and the mana they possessed were unrivaled compared to ordinary mercenaries.

But the really important thing wasn’t that.

“You can’t ignore what Edel herself said, right? Can you even understand? She made that statement through divine revelation.”

“…Edel?”

“It’s like you can’t do this and that. It’s maddening.”

There was hardly anywhere in the Ardina continent that could ignore Edel’s divine revelation.

Even the lofty Lo Arka Empire bowed its head to Edel and the Sedeth Kingdom.

“Not to mention pulling people from across the sea and saying such things. What on earth is she thinking?”

“Who knows.”

Kana, who had been listening to Aaron’s complaints, fell into thought for a moment.

“Beyond the sea, huh….”

“Do you know anything?”

“…No.”

Kana shook her head.

“That’s why I’m going to the Holy Kingdom.”

To ask Edel about it.

*

“You’re going to ask Edel?”

Aaron reacted as if he had just heard something utterly ridiculous.

“They say that the revelation has come down for the first time in hundreds of years; does that even make sense?”

“If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t.”

I can at least try to see.

Aaron showed a rather negative response, as if to say it was impossible.

“I said that because I thought you wouldn’t be able to try at all. You’re definitely going to say, ‘I want to talk to Edel,’ but do you really think she’s just some neighbor’s childhood friend? Do you think she’d say, ‘Ah, I see! Come right in!’?”

“…I wasn’t thinking that—”

“Sure you weren’t. How many years do you think I’ve known you? You’re just bluffing someone who can’t be fooled.”

“….”

I couldn’t quite deny Aaron’s words.

I thought I probably would have acted the way he described.

As I sulked, Aaron’s voice softened a bit.

“Well, it’s not like there’s no chance.”

“…You just said it wouldn’t work.”

“According to the gods, Lady Edel hears every prayer offered in the prayer rooms. If you pray sincerely, she might give you an answer.”

“I’m not one of her believers.”

“Why not take this opportunity to believe in Lady Edel? It may not be such a bad idea.”

“…”

I didn’t really want to suddenly have a religion, so that wasn’t exactly helpful advice.

“I’ll think about it once I go.”

“Do as you please. When was the last time you listened to what I said anyway?”

“I didn’t ignore you that much.”

“That’s why you desperately avoided vegetables.”

“…Are we back to that again?”

The conversation cycled back to the old discussion about vegetables.

It was a topic that had been thoroughly exhausted long ago, so I shuddered and changed the subject.

“Forget the ridiculous vegetable talk. Why are you working here?”

With a look that seemed to have plenty to say, Aaron eventually swallowed his words and sighed deeply.

“It’s what I’ve learned, so how can I do anything else? I didn’t want to go to the Empire either, but since Liberi offered me the position of chief instructor, I figured it was a good opportunity to finally break free from being the forever deputy and accepted.”

The forever deputy.

It was one of Aaron’s teasing nicknames.

He was Garid’s deputy when Garid was the Commander, then briefly became an ordinary member when I sat in the deputy seat.

After Garid died and I became the Commander, he returned to being the deputy again.

So, strictly speaking, he wasn’t a ‘forever’ deputy, but it was a teasing remark implying he’d never hold the position of Commander.

I vaguely recalled similar teasing from a pro gamer in my previous life but couldn’t quite remember.

“I should apply here too. Just like you, as educational staff.”

“Please refrain from doing that.”

I shrugged.

I hadn’t said it seriously; it was just a tease to poke fun at the forever deputy.

Just as I was about to clarify that it was a joke, Aaron opened his mouth first.

“Don’t you feel sorry for the mercenaries?”

“…?”

…Was that the issue?

“Why are the mercenaries…?”

“…Do you seriously not know why I’m asking?”

“Yeah.”

If I knew, I wouldn’t ask, would I?

Aaron facepalmed.

“Forget it. Just do your best not to teach anyone.”

Because it would be unfortunate for anyone to receive teachings from the Commander.

I remained silent, blinking my eyes at his additional comment.

For a long time, I blinked without replying.

Whether he felt something, Aaron lowered his hand from his forehead and cautiously asked.

“…You don’t mean what I think you mean, right?”

“….”

“Oh, Kana….”

Hearing my name from him after such a long time, I involuntarily flinched.

Aaron clasped his hands together.

“Why on earth did that person commit some crime in their past life to meet Kana? I wish them to go to a good place.”

“…Don’t treat someone who’s not dead like they’re dead.”

After all, they were an Apostle, so they wouldn’t die anyway.

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