Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

"I'm hungry."

They had reached the border at around noon, so the last time they had eaten was early in the morning.

Kurena had jumped off the Bird B summon to fight right away, not taking anything with her.

Kiel was carrying everything, so now Kurena asked him to give her some of the leftovers of the Horned Rabbit they ate the night before.

Kurena's efficiency dropped dramatically when she got hungry, so Allen always scheduled their meals to align with her stomach.

But if Dogora complained of being hungry, Allen would always tell him to bear with it for longer.

Because of that, Kurena had never really gotten this hungry since she entered the Academy.

"I'm sure we'll eat something soon. I'd assume they'll give us food at least, though they might even make a banquet."

Kiel was also exhausted after fighting for so long.

He answered being sure that they would at least feed them considering how much they helped.

"Ohh!"

Kurena held her stomach and continued walking forward, looking at the soldiers ahead full of expectation.

While her exchange with Kiel had been in a low voice, the soldiers heard her and twitched a little.

Many of them had been on the wall witnessing Kurena fight valiantly, resembling a warring demon or god.

They had been unable to even put a scratch on the A Rank monsters that towered nearly ten meters high, yet she easily cut them in two.

Her blade glided through them like cutting bread or a fruit.

They were taken to the one room inside the fortification.

Commander Muhan and nine other higher level soldiers awaited them there.

"T-thank you for coming, please come in."

Kiel stopped for a moment, looking around and admiring how spacious that room was, before being beckoned to go further inside.

Even Muhan's group looked nervous as they guided the two around the room.

They were grateful that they had rescued the fortification.

But both Kurena and Kiel possessed power that surpassed human knowledge.

Kurena trotted after Muhan's group happily, her sword dangling on her back.

Because it hung diagonally, the black Adamantite blade poked out at her side.

There was still blood clinging to it, which looked pitch black under the light of torches.

Ideally the soldiers wanted to offer to carry Kurena and Kiel's equipment for them, but they felt so much pressure from the two that made them stay back.

Some in the group would look at Muhan, their eyes saying "you do it."

His response was a look of "why me," followed by a loud gulp.

From that exchange Kiel assumed they were all probably of the same rank.

"I deeply appreciate you rescuing us today. I'm Lancopal Muhan, I presume I'm in the presence of some highly distinguished personages?"

Muhan chose to use the word rescue, not help, nor assistance.

Most of their current equipment came from the silver chests near the Iron Golem and the S Rank Dungeon, so it was all valuable and high level.

Not even the royal family of a small country would be able to afford such items, their monetary value exceeding ten thousand gold coins. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Kiel wore a pure white coat with golden patterns, and his staff had a huge scarlet gem encrusted in its tip, so Muhan assumed he was no mere commoner or even nobility.

"I wouldn't call myself that. I'm Kiel Von Carnell. And this here is Kurena."

Muhan had introduced himself with his family name, so Kiel did the same.

"The Carnell family?" said the soldier who had just refused to take the lead talking to Kiel earlier.

There did not seem to be anyone there who had heard of it.

It would have been weird for someone to know a noble family from Latash, a small country in the Central Continent, very far from Carvaluna.

But they did seem to be relieved hearing he was a noble after all.

Commander Muhan also looked a bit more relaxed.

Considering everything they had just gone through, they were about to believe they were some type of monsters as well.

Kiel was the team leader, so he thanked them for letting them while being careful to not agitate the soldiers.

It was true that they had rescued the fortification, but if he said one wrong thing it was possible they would get kicked out.

With how much power they possessed, it was possible for a misunderstanding to occur and them refusing to interact with the two.

They would never resort to violence though, so if that were to happen, Kiel and Kurena would have no choice but to move on.

Kiel remembered something Allen said when they split into three teams.

There's things only summons can do.

There's things only I can do.

And there's things that only people from the land can do.

Kiel felt like he understood what Allen meant with that after hearing what happened on Sophie's side.

Simply sending an army of summons everywhere would not resolve the issue at heart

Kiel began thinking what he could do on his side then.

There had to be something only he could do, and that was why Allen appointed him as team leader.

"Anyway, you truly were a huge help. The kingdom of Carvaluna will never forget this debt."

Commander Muhan led more than a thousand soldiers, so he did not necessarily speak with the tightest formalities to Kiel, who had likely lived less than half the time Muhan had, but he still seemed to be grateful from the bottom of his heart, and truly respected Kiel.

Muhan was also the eldest son of a noble family, which was how the role of commander was granted to him shortly after turning thirty.

"You really don't need to mention it."

Kiel felt like the conversation was straying too far from where he wanted it, so he tried to correct its course.

Guurr growl!!