* * *
The Foyle River springs from beneath a small mountain range in western Heisen and runs through the heart of Solemio County's domain.
This river stream extends vertically down to the Grand Duchy of Arilit below.
Rice harvested from the fertile fields of Elieshinesi and Kakia Kingdom flowed through this river via Heisen.
To the south, to the United Kingdom of Xenota opposing Agareth, to the east, to the Norn Empire checking Eligoth.
Not just a simple waterway, but a lifeline through which the fate of the eastern continent flows.
It's a core trade route where military provisions that feed the armies of two great powers come and go.
Naturally, there had to be fierce competition for rights over such an important waterway.
Especially the discontent of the United Kingdom side, which doesn't get along well with Norn, was very great.
Crack!
And other groups are also aiming for this river.
For example, monster groups that rush in at the sight of food.
Or pirate groups chasing gold.
Or even more dangerous groups where the two are in collusion.
-Grrrr...
The moment the blue waves of the Foyle River sparkled in the morning sun, the mast of the sailing ship shook ominously.
It was the moment when disaster struck the Zalet, a sailing ship cutting through the great river loaded with trade goods.
"Take everything and kill- them all!!"
"Enemy!!!"
Shouts and screams mixed, cutting through the quiet dawn.
The vanguard of this disaster was an orc warrior with green skin climbing the outer wall as quietly as possible.
-Kuwaaaaak!!
Crack!
As if no longer needing to keep silent, the orc warrior who let out a roar immediately split the head of a sailor rushing from the side into two.
-Kyaaaak!
"Kill them!!"
Numerous orcs and goblins, pirates, even lizardmen and other monsters climbed up the outer walls of the sailing ship.
Leaving all sorts of claw and blade marks on the surface of the ship, numerous shadows poured into the ship like ants climbing the outer walls.
"Block them!! Block them!!"
"Don't let them come up!!"
Crack! Clang!
Along with the desperate cries of the sailors, all sorts of metallic clashing sounds began to echo from all around.
As it was a merchant ship with national business at stake, the forces inside the ship were not insignificant, but the numerical superiority of the pirates was overwhelmingly dominant.
"We won't retreat...!!"
"Help, help me!"
Even fierce resistance was powerless in the face of numerical difference.
The eyes of the human pirates who drove the ship were full of greed for gold coins, while the eyes of the monster warriors were full of hunger.
Their alliance was more deadly than expected.
Of course, it was a disaster from the perspective of the castle lords with cities on the riverbank or the sailors on the sailing ships.
-Kirrrruk!
"Prey... eat! Eat all! Kill the humans!"
-Kyaaaak!!
"You fools! Don't eat now, secure the ship first!"
"Leave them! They're fighting anyway!"
The sharp screams of goblins.
Lizardmen swinging their tails to beat the sailors.
Orcs grinding their teeth and chewing on human heads.
Even the shouts of humans scolding to control the monsters.
The ship was filled with chaos, slaughter, and gluttony.
The despairing screams of the kingdom's people and the maniacal laughter of those filling their bellies with that despair mixed on the deck.
Under the clear morning sunlight, the deck was dyed with blood and death.
That's when it happened.
""「Dragon of Ice」.""
A low but clear voice.
The moment several voices resonated as one, the river water surged.
Swoosh!
No, the river water came alive.
-Grrrr...
A huge body broke through the water surface and rose up.
The scales on the long body shone in rainbow colors as they caught the rising morning sun.
Three huge ice dragons, as if carved from transparent jewels, widely split their ferocious jaws.
-Kuooo...!!
A roar echoes.
The river water vibrates, and the whole air trembles and echoes.
An overwhelming presence that even monsters filled with madness and pirates full of greed had to falter before.
-Kieek...!!
"Wh-what is that!!"
When everyone took a step back with terrified cries-
Kwaaaa-!!
Crack!
The breath blown out by the first dragon struck their ship hidden beside the sailing ship.
The ship shattered into ice and wood fragments, and immediately the other dragons began to move.
Bang!!
"Hiiieek!"
Crunch!
"Kuaaak! Help, help!!"
The screams of those trying to escape echo in vain.
A moment when they couldn't even struggle.
The second dragon struck the water surface with its tail, knocking out swimming pirates or sweeping the corners of the sailing ship, while the third dragon picked out monsters and swallowed them.
Every time the ice moved beyond the transparent body, the red light of crushed corpses spread.
"What... is this...?"
While the sailors were dazed, the river regained stability.
A beam of light appeared above the heads of the dragons holding their heads high, drawing the sailors' attention.
Her hair fluttered softly like silk spun from silver, and the scales on her lower body sparkled like pearls.
"Humans. Are you alright?"
When the beautiful white snake with water-colored lamias behind her asked about their well-being, the humans nodded blankly.
"Wh... who are you?"
"For now, let's just say I came because I wanted to help you."
As battles and plunder were frequent, the castle lords owning cities centered on this river were thirsty for relationships with new armed groups.
With a powerful group that can operate underwater and cooperate with humans.
What Echidna aimed for was that longing.
"My goodness..."
One sailor muttered with a look of wonder.
They wouldn't know.
The sneer that passed over the lamias' lips, and the contempt reflected in Echidna's eyes.
What they welcomed was not a protector, but a predator wanting something bigger.
Beauty became a deadly weapon blinding their eyes.
What's more ironic is that there are also those who don't care even if they find out.
In the face of present benefits, future threats were just like distant mountain fires.
The great Foyle River, which becomes human food and the path that moves that food, began to flow quietly again after swallowing humans and monsters.
Along with the shadow of the monster queen who revealed herself in it.
[This vast river will all become yours.]
The benevolent smile on Echidna's lips, recalling her Master's promise, deepened even more, wrapping around the darkness.
* * *
"I haven't seen this kind of contact method in quite a while..."
The voice of the mercenary captain flowed out from a dark inn room in Cheu, a city in the rear of Damamollon domain.
Evangeline's gaze turned to him upon hearing that voice.
Rugged equipment of a monster hunter and a deep hood covering his face.
Due to the suspicious attire, the mercenary captain's gaze hadn't left her since earlier, but a relaxed smile hung on her lips.
The suspicion felt by the mercenary captain wasn't important at all.
A lot of gold.
The card she held was a tempting condition that no ordinary mercenary could refuse.
"...Where are you from?"
Wariness and faint expectation seeped through the mercenary captain's voice.
It was natural.
Before this meeting, the price she had suggested was that attractive.
"I came from the north. But I'm working in Heisen now."
Evangeline's answer was very calm.
Elegant enough to sound refined even to someone who knows nobles well.
"The north. Is it still busy there?"
There was no sign of doubting her origin.
That's because the accent she was using now had a lot of real northern pronunciations mixed in.
"As it is everywhere that borders demon realms."
Evangeline nodded and recalled the reality of the eastern continent.
The north, where there are no great powers like Xenota or Norn, was always filled with tension.
Thanks to the relatively large food-producing country of Kakia Kingdom serving as a support, the countries on the front line are holding on, but that wasn't enough.
'The number of resident mercenary groups or adventure groups isn't that high either.'
Mercenaries and adventurers drunk on money preferred the more relaxed south over the difficult north.
Only those who had their hometown there remained.
There was no way to have leisure when the number of those who could fight was small.
"We have some leisure here. Enough to do this kind of nonsense."
The mercenary captain's tone had subtle annoyance at working in the center rather than on the southern front line.
This was also a natural reaction.
The southern part of the eastern continent where great powers directly or indirectly in contact with demon realms are located.
Mercenary and adventurer activities here were relatively safe, and the pay was generous.
It was thanks to the influence of the great powers.
In the end, it was money for mercenaries.
"But why is someone from that north showing interest in this domain war?"
"Let's just say it's a personal feeling. I don't have very good feelings towards Norn."
For armed groups on the front lines, the Norn Empire was always a thorn in their side.
While they were busy fighting head-on, the empire would subtly reveal its ambitions for territorial conquest whenever there was a gap behind their backs.
'Both betrayed me though.'
Evangeline inwardly held a sneer.
Both the empire's ambition and the mercenaries' greed were entangled in her death.
This was one of the reasons why she, who once even took pride in her own death, 'chose' the inclination of the scales.
Of course, the biggest reason was much more personal.
"Ah. Those Norn bastards. Certainly."
The mercenary captain's face brightened at hearing words he could sympathize with.
It was one of the open sentiments of this era that if a war involving the empire broke out, they would rather hope for the empire's defeat if possible.
Of course, excluding citizens of the empire.
Especially in the case of adventurers or mercenaries who had experience fighting on the front lines, this was even more so.
In front of big money, if given a reasonable justification, they were prepared to accept any proposal against the empire.
"What I want is just disruption on the Grand Duchy of Arilit side. I won't interfere with you taking private gains in the process, but don't think about mentioning me there."
"Of course."
The mercenary nodded with a seemingly reliable appearance.
Although it looked like a soldier who had rolled on battlefields for decades swearing loyalty to his lord, Evangeline inwardly sneered.
'The outside always looks plausible.'
She didn't believe in mercenary honor.
Their promises were only valid until the moment compensation was guaranteed.
In the face of bigger money or immediate threats, they were the kind who could betray at any time without it being strange.
"I'll trust you. Then, we should talk about the compensation."
"Hmm. I've been waiting."
The mercenary's gaze turned to the small pouch that had been on the table since earlier.
There wasn't much expectation in that gaze.
Judging by its size, he seemed to think it wouldn't be a very significant amount.
But when Evangeline slightly opened the mouth of the pouch, the mercenary's eyes changed clearly.
"My goodness. These were all gems...!"
His voice trembled slightly.
"This is just the completion fee. The advance payment is this."
"Hmm. As expected."
When Evangeline took out another pouch containing silver coins, the mercenary captain's face wrinkled slightly.
Although not small as a reward for one request, it seemed quite insufficient to him who was used to lavish compensation on the front lines.
"This isn't a scam, is it?"
Contrary to his suspicious words, his eyes were already fixed on the gems.
This amount was enough for their mercenary group to play around for a month.
It was natural to be greedy and want to confirm.
"I'll leave it with the mercenary guild here, so you can collect it after getting confirmation of the request completion."
"Oh. Then I can trust it."
The mercenary nodded a couple of times, then soon reached out his hand to shake hands with Evangeline and smiled brightly.
"Look forward to it. I'll show you the Norn bastards' necks."
"Do that."
Evangeline smiled while shaking his hand.
And as if imprinting the last impression, she applied strength to her grip.
When the mercenary who frowned shook his hand once and looked at her incredulously, she let out a glib remark.
"Sorry. I have trouble controlling my strength after hunting monsters."
"No. ...That's amazing strength. Well then, I'll complete the request and send news. Where should I send it?"
"I've told the guild about that too, so don't worry."
"Understood."
Evangeline, who got up from her seat, smiled feeling several presences following behind her.
What was contained in that refreshing smile was danger opposite to that image.
Those things won't be able to follow her anyway.
She won't kill them, but they'll faint and collapse at some point, and she'll cut one part of their muscles as a warning.
If they don't see a priest quickly, the danger to their lives will rise almost vertically.
'Next is...'
After completing the follow-up work, her appearance moving towards another mercenary group had already changed to that of a magician wearing a hood pressed down.
Evangeline diving into the shadows.
There would be no one in this city who could figure out her true identity.
Even if it were Gray Eyes or the Information Guild.