Chapter 344: The Vanguard and the Ogre Brother

Rest and his five escorts joined up with the vanguard.

At the rally point outside the capital, nearly a thousand soldiers had already gathered.

“Oh, it’s Lubase.”

There among them was none other than the “woman-hating Sword Saint,” Wilhelm Lubase, with whom Rest had shared drinks after the recent war council.

Several guards stood near Wilhelm as well. Rest didn’t know their names, but he recognized their faces—they were once students from the knightly academy.

“Mm…”

The moment Wilhelm’s eyes met Rest’s, he awkwardly looked away.
Apparently, he’d remembered collapsing drunk that night.

(There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Having one or two weaknesses makes a man more approachable, in my opinion.)

He couldn’t talk to women, and just a sip of mild wine had knocked him out.
Surprisingly full of weaknesses for someone so unparalleled with the sword.

“There are more familiar faces here than I expected…”

Among the vanguard were nobles and knights Rest had met at various social gatherings—quite a few acquaintances.

“Ah… so you’re Count Clover?”

A man approached and spoke.

It was Valeya Catreya, vice-captain of the knight order, whom Rest had also seen at the war council.

Valeya had been appointed commander of the vanguard. Once they reached the border fortress, he would be the top officer in the campaign against the tribes.

“An honor, Vice-Captain. I look forward to serving under you.”

“The pleasure is mine… I’ve heard much about you. Your exploits are already quite famous.”

Valeya looked to be in his early twenties.
Unusually young to be the knight order’s number two.

Of course, being the eldest son of Marquis Catreya—the knight commander—must have helped. But rumor had it that his position came mostly from his own ability.

(A young vice-captain, the crown prince’s close aide, and heir apparent to the knight command… No doubt, this is a man one cannot underestimate.)

“Your deeds, both in defeating the monster Sabnock and in quelling the recent rebellion, were most impressive. Let us continue to support the Kingdom of Iwood together.”

“Yes, of course…”

Even as he answered, Rest felt a prickling hostility stabbing at his skin.

(Wait… that’s not just an intimidating aura. Isn’t he actually directing open hostility at me?)

His tone was calm.
The words themselves were not antagonistic. But his voice carried a strange heaviness, a pressure that weighed down on Rest with every syllable.

“Um…”

“By the way… how is Yuri doing these days?”

“Ah…”

At that moment, Rest finally realized.

If Valeya was the son of Marquis Catreya, then… he must be Yuri Catreya’s older brother.

“She’s naïve about the world, so I worry. She hasn’t caused you trouble, has she? I hope no unscrupulous man has deceived her…”

‘You haven’t taken advantage of my sheltered little sister, have you?’

“If anything happens to her, I’ll be the one cleaning up after it. Don’t hesitate to tell me immediately.”

‘If you so much as touch Yuri, I’ll deal with you myself. Consider this your warning.’

Though Valeya’s words were outwardly kind, Rest could almost hear the unspoken “subtitles” underneath.
Maybe it was just his imagination… but that gaze was intense. Very, very intense.

“From here on, treat my sister properly, with dignity and restraint. My father has approved, and for Yuri’s sake, I’m prepared to do what I must as well.”

‘Lay a finger on her and you won’t get away unscathed. Father may approve, but I never said I did!’

“…Of course. I’ll be sure to treat Lady Yuri with the utmost sincerity.”

“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Valeya extended his hand.

Rest clasped it reluctantly, only to feel his hand being crushed with terrifying strength.

Had he not preemptively reinforced it with magic—【Body Enhancement】 and 【Hardening】—his bones might have snapped.

“Tch…”

Unable to crush Rest’s hand, Valeya clicked his tongue quietly and walked away.

Rest, activating 【Healing】 to ease the pain, watched his back retreat.

“…What an overbearing brother.”

“I have heard that Marquis Catreya and his sons dote excessively on the young lady, as though she were a princess in a cage. It seems the rumors are true.”

Dibble, who had watched the whole exchange, chuckled wryly.

Rest knew Yuri was allowed to stay at House Clover with her father’s permission.
But clearly, her brother Valeya wasn’t satisfied with that arrangement.

“Now that I think of it… doesn’t Yuri have other brothers as well?”

“Yes. At the border fortress, you’ll find her second brother, Carlius Catreya. And in this very vanguard, her third brother, Toya Catreya, has also joined. Let us hope this does not turn into trouble…”

“Don’t jinx it, please… I’m already getting a bad feeling something will happen!”

A cold shiver ran down Rest’s back.

Even before the war had begun, Dibble’s words had already drained his morale.

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