Our Family Has Fallen

"Great! What is the name of this sword?"

Lance, carrying the giant sword, returned to the two of them. He looked at ease—the signs of his previous exhaustion had vanished.

This was not the result of him refreshing his status but rather the effect of his extraordinary physique; his body had recovered in just a few breaths.

"It has no name yet. Please, My Lord, bestow one upon it."

"A name..." Lance lifted the giant sword, a look of indecision on his face. If I were any good at naming, I wouldn't have called the white wolf Wang Cai. This task really gives me a headache.

"Let's call it 'Giant Slayer.' This sword is forged to combat those powerful monsters."

"That is a fine name, My Lord. You are truly cultured."

"Enough, Winston. Spare me the flattery." Lance set down the giant sword and proceeded with the introduction.

"This is the master of swordsmanship I mentioned—Reynard, the current Hamlet Cavalry Instructor. Your sword will not be neglected in his hands. On the contrary, it will become as renowned as his name and might even be displayed in an exhibition hall as part of a legendary tale."

Winston still held a grudge over Reynard's earlier skepticism towards the giant sword, but he couldn't help but feel a newfound respect upon hearing these words.

The reason was simple: if the sword were really to be displayed in the hall, he, as the craftsman who forged it, would certainly be remembered.

"Hello. The Longsword forged by the Master is indeed excellent, a masterpiece that could be passed down through the ages. May I ask its name?"

Reynard took out the Longsword he carried. He was not particularly good at buttering people up, but his words were genuinely filled with admiration.

"Indeed. This sword is the one I am most satisfied with from all my years of work. It's called 'Champion's Proof,' inspired by a competition I participated in at the time..."

Winston was always pleased by others' recognition, not to mention that Reynard's knowledge of weaponry sparked many topics of conversation between them.

Damn it! Hearing that name makes my own attempt sound far too simplistic.

He left them, slightly embarrassed, as his purpose for being there—acquiring the weapon—was fulfilled.

In the original work, the protagonist would lead a small team into dungeons, usually carrying all sorts of miscellaneous items like food and torches. All these items were carried by the game's protagonist, which is why his backpack always seemed so small.

But Lance was different. The Collector's contribution of an Exhibition Room meant he didn't need to worry about supplies; his logistics were already at their maximum.

"Wang Cai!" Lance called out.

Shortly after, there was movement in the backyard as a white whirlwind rushed out, ready to pounce on him.

Just as he'd anticipated, Lance firmly caught the two paws trying to jump on him.

"Don't lick! You're not a bootlicker; you're a wolf. Show some dignity."

Lance forcefully pushed Wang Cai down. Although he took care of its food and drink, he had no time to walk the dog. Leaving such an energetic creature to play on its own in the backyard had driven it mad with boredom.

Lance walked out the gate with Wang Cai, seeing the others by the carriage.

As soon as he let go, Wang Cai bounded about energetically, circling them and sniffing their scents. Luckily, it recognized everyone and didn't bite wildly like a mad man.

When Wang Cai bounded in, Fergus was visibly frightened and retreated behind William's legs.

William wasn't much better off. He appeared somewhat tense, and it was unclear whether he feared Wang Cai or the impending venture into the wilderness.

Boudica, on the other hand, didn't seem afraid and even looked like she wanted to go play with it. However, Wang Cai would not tolerate her antics, baring its teeth and growling a warning at her.

Boudica responded by baring her own teeth at Wang Cai. When Wang Cai instinctively darted away, she laughed, appearing as carefree as a child, completely devoid of pressure despite the mission's requirement to venture deep into the wilderness, far from civilization.

Only Paracelsus was calmly organizing his belongings, arranging various potions and his finely sharpened, flame-shaped Short Sword.

"Let's depart."

Lance didn't hesitate. Having arranged everything, he quietly led the team away from Hamlet.

After stepping off the carriage, they arrived at several tent laboratories constructed at the edge of the wilderness and the labor farms.

"Come now, let's take a look at the enemies you will soon be facing."

Barton's massive defeat was largely due to a lack of intelligence. Furthermore, high-ranking officials withheld information from their subordinates, leading them to underestimate their foes, believing them to be mere refugees.

The shock of encountering the monsters, coupled with the significant psychological blow, shattered their reason and caused them to flee without fighting.

Lance wouldn't make such a foolish mistake. He had instructed Paracelsus to discover how the pathogens spread and to understand the enemy's weaknesses. He would then share this information with the team to mentally prepare them.

This expedition was also a reconnaissance mission aimed at collecting intelligence.

He needed to understand what exactly was happening in the wilderness and to what extent, before he could determine the next step.

This was the responsibility of a Commander, not to charge in blindly.

The tent flap was opened, revealing the test subjects inside to everyone.

"I reckon this is a mushroom fella?"

"Ooh~ the evil of witchcraft."

It must be said, the disturbing, twisted scene unsettled even the usually carefree Boudica, causing her to frown in discomfort.

Not to mention William, an honest man who had always lived in the town; he now understood what their Lord was confronting.

Wang Cai also seemed to sense the threat, baring its teeth at the parasite and emitting a low, warning growl.