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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills ,Volume 2 - Chapter 37

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Chapter: The Holy Sword Brigade

Inside one of the lavish rooms of the Holy Sword Brigade’s mansion, their leader, Kirsas, sat facing three of his subordinates—Albel, Dazzle, and Camilla.

“A report just came in from the Flame Dragon Brigade,” Kirsas began, idly running a hand through his long golden hair as his sharp eyes swept over them. “It says the Dolls Church set a trap, and many adventurers lost their lives. Yet you three managed to survive. That, at least, is commendable.”

He leaned back slightly, voice calm yet edged with steel.

“However... there were problems. Weren’t there, Dazzle?”

“Ah—”

Dazzle’s body gave a noticeable twitch.

“Because of the false information you gave them, they ended up trapped in a cave, correct?”

“T-That wasn’t my fault!”

A muscle spasmed in Dazzle’s cheek.

“Anyone would have been fooled! And in the end, it was Melt from the Flame Dragon Brigade who decided to go inside. It’s not on me!”

“Regardless, the fact remains: a member of the Holy Sword Brigade was deceived. That will go on record.”

Kirsas’s eyes turned cold, like a blade sliding from its sheath.

“Your mistake has further tarnished the Brigade’s reputation.”

“Ah... ggh...”

Sweat trickled down Dazzle’s face in heavy drops.

“Dazzle, your next paycheck will be halved. Any objections?”

“H-Halved?!”

His voice cracked in disbelief.

“Because of your blunder, the Holy Sword Brigade’s honor has been damaged. You’ll bear part of the cost.”

“B-But I was planning to buy a new dagger—”

“Then take on more piecework jobs. Double your output, and your pay won’t change.”

“...Y-Yes, sir.”

Dazzle clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white.

Kirsas’s gaze slid to Albel.

“Now, Albel. There’s something I need to ask you.”

“What is it?”

Albel tilted his head slightly.

“The report says an E-rank Paper User defeated the Plant Dragon. Was that Yakumo?”

The question hung in the air. Albel was silent for several seconds before finally speaking.

“...Yes. Yakumo killed the Plant Dragon.”

“Well, well. How impressive,” drawled a voice from the corner.

It belonged to Elena, an A-rank elf adventurer standing with her arms crossed.

“Unlike the rest of you, it seems Yakumo actually accomplished something.”

“That’s not true!”

Albel’s voice rose sharply.

“Sure, Yakumo killed the Plant Dragon—but only because A-rank Kinako supported him, and because he had an incredible weapon!”

“A weapon, you say?”

“The dagger his party’s alchemist made—it could change its blade shape, and its sharpness was insane. With something that powerful—practically a national treasure—I could’ve killed the Plant Dragon too!”

“A national treasure, hmm...”

Kirsas murmured the words under his breath.

“In that case, it makes sense he could cut through the dragon’s scales.”

“That’s not all.”

Camilla, standing beside Albel, chimed in.

“At that time, everyone was attacking together. The Plant Dragon had already taken damage. We hit its hind legs too.”

“Exactly.”

Albel nodded in agreement.

“Yakumo just got lucky and landed the finishing blow. It’s not like he’s actually strong!”

“Perhaps... but still...”

Kirsas swept his gaze across the trio.

—These three talk big, but their results are mediocre at best. And Dazzle even made a mistake worth reporting.

His lips curled slightly.

—Still, they each possess multiple combat skills. There’s a chance they’ll reach B-rank eventually. For now, they’re worth keeping.

“...Fine. You three will take the Icefang Wolf extermination job in Watch Village.”

“Understood.”

The group left the room. Once the door closed, Elena stepped toward Kirsas.

“...Kirsas.”

“You’re thinking about Yakumo, aren’t you?”

Kirsas smiled faintly.

“Seems I was a little off in my assessment.”

“A little?”

“Yes. Yakumo turned out to be slightly stronger than I expected—and luckier. In hindsight, maybe I should’ve kept him.”

“‘Maybe’?”

Elena fixed her emerald eyes on him.

“I don’t see it that way. Yakumo should absolutely have stayed with the Holy Sword Brigade.”

“Not so sure about that.”

Kirsas shrugged.

“Yes, Yakumo made a name for himself. But like Albel said, that was luck and a good weapon. The Plant Dragon was already under siege when he got the last hit in. That happens all the time in large-scale hunts.”

“It wasn’t just luck or a weapon. Yakumo’s situational awareness was better than theirs. That’s why he saw the opening.”

“Even if that’s true, that’s his limit. He has no combat skills. His unique skill, Paper User, is trash. At best, if he works himself to the bone, he’ll reach D-rank someday.”

Kirsas narrowed his eyes slightly at her.

“You’re overestimating him because of one success.”

“Hmm... overestimating, huh?”

Elena frowned slightly, then sighed.

“Well, it’s too late to worry about Yakumo now. We’ve got another problem.”

“The new recruits?”

“Yes. We advertised for thirty people, and only four applied. At this rate, we can’t take on large-scale jobs.”

She let out another sigh.

“Losing twenty-eight members in the battle with the demons really hurt us. And to make things worse, the Moonlight Brigade took down that demon, so people are doubting our strength.”

“I’ll handle that.”

“You can?”

“Oh yes. I have a way to restore the Brigade’s honor.”

The corners of Kirsas’s lips twisted upward.

“You’ve heard of Zeldia, haven’t you?”

“Of course. One of the Six Demon Stars.”

“If I take down Zeldia, we’ll have hundreds of new recruits lining up.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious.”

Kirsas pointed at a map of the Leste Kingdom pinned to the wall.

“We’ve learned Zeldia is in a village built by Dolls Church followers, on the Eknis Plateau.”

“He’s outside the Demon King’s territory?”

“That’s right. And he’s acting alone, away from the Demon King’s army.”

“Even so, he’s still one of the Six Demon Stars. Honestly, even as an S-rank, I doubt you could win.”

“Alone, no. But the Sacred Tree Brigade is moving.”

“The one led by Aslom, one of the Twelve Heroes...”

“Exactly. And there’s a chance Sylphiel from the Moonlight Brigade will join in too.”

“Two of the Twelve Heroes...”

Elena stared hard at him.

“You’re planning to use them, aren’t you?”

“Not a bad plan, right?”

Kirsas’s grin widened.

“If I join the fight while Aslom and Sylphiel engage Zeldia, our chances of killing him skyrocket.”

“And then you become one of the adventurers credited with slaying a Demon Star. Your name soars.”

“And the Brigade gets the recognition—and the recruits—it needs.”

“That... might work,” Elena admitted, pressing a finger to her lips in thought.

“Still, it feels full of uncertainties.”

“It’s worth the risk. If it works, we’ll earn a massive bounty and restore the Brigade’s fame.”

“I know how strong you are, but this feels reckless. Dozens of S-rank adventurers have died to the Six Demon Stars.”

“No worries. If things get too dangerous, we let Aslom handle it and retreat.”

Kirsas laid a hand on her shoulder.

“And you’ll be coming too.”

“Me?”

“Of course. You can use healing magic, and the other A-ranks are tied up with different jobs.”

“...Fine. But I’m not fighting Zeldia head-on.”

“Neither am I.”

Kirsas licked his upper lip slowly.

—I’ll let Aslom and the others do the heavy lifting. Then I’ll swoop in for the kill. If I play this right... I could become the Thirteenth Hero.

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