I Became a Raid Boss

Chapter 45

Aeron remembers the first day he met the little girl standing in front of him.

Upon hearing that a horde of monsters was attacking, he rushed to assist, only to find the city already in chaos.

Canaria was one of the survivors of that city.

‘This child will definitely grow up to be great.’

Garid said while looking down at the girl asleep in his arms. Despite facing overwhelming odds, she had shown courage, cold judgment, and an unyielding spirit—qualities one wouldn’t expect from a girl who seemed to be only five or six years old.

Aeron, recalling how she had fought against the monsters, agreed with Garid.

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

Even though Aeron knew it was futile, he asked the question anyway.

Her clothes were torn and tattered, her face and body filthy. While her face was cute enough to mistake her for a noble’s daughter, her ragged appearance told a different story. Her parents were either gone or had not survived the chaos.

‘Let’s

“Lately, Libery’s been having a hard time dealing with the Apostles.”

Brought to Ardina through Edel’s guidance, these newcomers, while helpful, were causing more than a few problems. Aaron, as the Head Instructor, focused primarily on educational matters and didn’t involve himself deeply in administration, but he was well aware of the current atmosphere in Libery.

Most welcomed Edel’s people with open arms, but…

“There are definitely some complaints.”

Existing mercenaries had spent years building up their skills and records, only to finally pass through rigorous evaluations and earn higher ranks. But the Apostles were different. Their evaluation process was far simpler—practically just needing a minimal record, which was much less than what was previously required.

Many mercenaries felt the stark preferential treatment was unfair.

“People are saying things like, ‘Does Edel’s favor give them a free pass?’ and ‘Shouldn’t the evaluations be fair, no matter what?’”

“Can’t they just follow the same rules?”

“It’s not that easy. If we simplify the evaluation process for current mercenaries, it will likely increase the number of deaths.”

Apostles didn’t need to be perfect in skill; after all, they could always revive, thanks to Edel’s blessing. But the people of the Ardina continent had no such luxury. Lowering the evaluation difficulty could lead to mercenaries taking on jobs beyond their capabilities, risking their lives.

Libery aimed to nurture mercenaries, not send them out to die.

“Then do the opposite.”

“…If that were possible, we would have done it already.”

It sounded simple, but the problem lay in how fast Apostles grew stronger compared to the pace at which they accumulated achievements. Even if they were slightly less skilled, their physical power and mana levels were on par with veteran mercenaries.

But the real issue was something else entirely.

“How can we go against what Edel has personally declared? It was a divine revelation, no less.”

“…Edel did?”

“We’re stuck. Can’t do this, can’t do that. It’s maddening.”

There was no place on the Ardina continent, not even the mighty Lo Arka Empire, that could ignore Edel’s divine will. Even they, with all their influence, bowed before Edel and the Sedeth Kingdom.

“Not only did he bring people over from across the sea, but now he’s telling us how to handle them… What could he possibly be thinking?”

“Who knows.”

As Kana listened to Edel’s complaints, she fell into thought for a moment.

“Across the sea to the continent…”

“Do you know something about it?”

“…No.”

Kana shook her head.

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

To ask Edel.

***

“Are you really going to ask Edel?”

Aeron rubbed his ears as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Besides, the oracle that was issued this time is said to have occurred only once in hundreds of years. Do you really think that’s possible?”

“If it can’t be done, then it can’t be. But trying is still an option.”

Aeron showed a rather negative reaction, looking sulky.

“I’m saying that it seems like you won’t even get the chance to try. I can imagine you saying, ‘I want to talk to Edel,’ but do you think Edel is just a childhood friend living next door? If you say that, do you really think she’ll respond with, ‘Oh, I see! Come right in!’?”

“…I wasn’t thinking that—”

“Of course you weren’t! How long have I known you, Captain? You’re just trying to fool someone who’s already been fooled.”

“…”

I couldn’t deny Aeron’s words. I, too, felt I would have acted the same way as he said.

Pouting my lips timidly, Aeron softened his tone and said,

“Well, it might not be completely impossible.”

“…You just said it was impossible.”

“According to the gods, Edel hears all the prayers made in the prayer room. So if you offer your prayer sincerely, she might give you an answer.”

“But I’m not a believer.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to believe in Edel this time.”

“…”

I had no intention of suddenly becoming religious, so that advice wasn’t very helpful.

“I’ll think about it after I go.”

“Do as you wish. When have you ever listened to what I said?”

“I didn’t ignore everything.”

“That’s why you’re so desperately avoiding vegetables.”

“…Are we back to that topic again?”

The conversation had somehow looped back to my picky eating habits.

Having heard the same thing for ages, I shivered and changed the subject.

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

Aeron, who had a lot to say, eventually swallowed his words and sighed deeply.

“This is what I learned. How could I do something else? I didn’t want to go to the Empire, but when they offered me a position as the educational officer in Liberi, I accepted it to finally escape my eternal vice-captain status.”

Eternal vice-captain.

That was one of the jokes we used to tease Aeron.

He was the vice-captain when Garid was the captain, and when I took the vice-captain position, he briefly returned to being a regular member.

After Garid died and I became captain, he returned as the vice-captain again.

So, strictly speaking, he wasn’t a ‘forever’ vice-captain, but it was a teasing remark to imply he’d never be a captain.

I had a vague memory of a similar expression in my previous life related to a pro gamer, but unfortunately, I couldn’t recall it.

“Should I get a job here too? Like you, as the education officer.”

“Please, spare me.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

I hadn’t meant it seriously; it was just a joke to tease the eternal vice-captain.

As I was about to say it was just a prank, Aeron beat me to it.

“Isn’t it sad for the mercenaries?”

“…?”

…Was that the problem?

“Why are the mercenaries sad?”

“…Do you really not know?”

“Yes.”

Not knowing, he was asking. If I knew, I wouldn’t bother asking, right?

He slapped his forehead in frustration.

“Enough. In any case, please try to refrain from teaching anyone.”

Because it would be sad for the person learning from the captain.

At his additional comment, I blinked in silence.

I kept blinking without replying for a long time.

Maybe sensing something, Aeron lowered his hand from his forehead and carefully asked.

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

“…”

“Oh dear, Kana…”

It had been so long since he called me by my name that I involuntarily flinched.

Aeron clasped his hands together.

“What kind of sin did that person commit in their past life to meet you… I hope they go to a good place.”

“…Don’t treat the person as if they’re dead.”

After all, they wouldn’t die since they are an apostle.

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