Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love

*Thump!* *Thump!* *Thump!*

The red goblin champion's heavy footsteps resounded loudly, making the ground violently vibrates as it dashed toward Lyan.

"It's fast!" One of the mercenaries exclaimed in surprise.

Their distance vanished in a short moment, and the powerful strike of the red goblin champion came. A side strike from the red goblin champion's ax. Predicting its attack from its stance, Lyan avoids it by bending his body forward before the quick strike is launched.

(With a bit of Arturia's mana) (Lyan)

*Slash!*

Lyan slashed the knee pit as he went through the gap between the goblin champion's legs. It's always the best point to attack when facing a big opponent.

"Whoa! He counterattacked!"

"He got this!"

But an unexpected thing occurred. The wound that he just gave to the goblin champion suddenly closed itself after some it bleeds for a while.

(It got healed immediately!?) (Lyan)

The other mercenaries also witnessed the scene.

The red goblin champion that should have lost its full capability of walking regained its stand and let out a sinister snicker. Once again, loud thumping from its heavy footsteps resounded as it rushed towards Lyan.

This time, it's a vertical blow.

*Boom!!*

The ground cracked as the ax hits the ground with powerful force.

Just like before, Lyan dodged before the goblin champion even strikes, but this time, he can't get into the goblin champion's back through the gap between its legs again since the goblin champion had ready its legs to stomp him. Lyan dodged to the side, but with the goblin champion's speed, it raised its ax and launched another strike at an unbelievable speed that didn't match its size.

*Clank!*

One of Lyan's swords collided with the red goblin champion's ax. Visible sparks could be seen because of the metals colliding with each other powerfully.

*Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!*

Another series of bouts happened, but this time, with two swords in each hand, Lyan delivered a counterattack for every attack the red goblin champion launched on him. But-

"Tch! That variant keeps on healing, this might be bad. Change of plans, we need to help him," Borton readied his ax as he glanced at the Valkyries, Raine, and Ravia that had already readied their weapons since a while ago.

*Clank!*

Both of them exchanged one last powerful blow towards each other weapon before the goblin champion suddenly retreated. Lyan didn't let the opening miss and rushed forward, but that's the moment the red goblin champion is waiting.

(It's coming) (Lyan)

"Watch out! It's a breath!" Emilia's voice sounded from the side.

*Whoosh!!!*

Raging flames got shot out of the goblin champion's mouth. As if telling Lyan not to come near, he shot out a large amount of fire from its mouth to its surroundings, and at the same time, it had readied its large ax in an overhead stance. Everyone present saw how the large ax glows red on the red goblin champion's hand. Violent mana of flame suddenly emitted from it, and the temperature of the surroundings rose rapidly.

At that moment, everyone realized what that ax is.

"Magicians!! Barriers!!!" Alice's voice sounded as she command the magicians to apply their barriers.

There are about 50 magicians from various mercenary groups in the army. Not all of them are strong, but all of them could make a decent barrier to protect themselves. They are placed in the same place as the archers.

"Tch! We need to go ourselves!" (Alice!)

"Yeah!" (Surena)

"Raine!" (Ravia)

"Yes, sis!" (Ravia)

The Mythril-ranked mercenaries together with Ravia and Raine immediately rushed to the place to help Lyan and stop the goblin champion from launching its attack with its magic ax, but they are too far from it.

(We wouldn't make it! Judging from the amount of mana gathering on it, that ax might blow the area up!!) (Alice)

Alice lamented on herself for letting the mercenaries didn't help Lyan battling the red goblin champion as she hold the magic crystal that could be used to summon a barrier to protect her and her friends in her hand.

At that moment, everyone saw it.

*Whoosh!*

Appearing from the midst of flames breathed out of the red goblin champion's mouth.

"Sorry but, it seems that your move is too dangerous, goblin," His calm voice resounded through the panicking crowd.

*Slash!* *Slash!*

Goblin blood splattered from the red goblin champion's hand and neck. The red goblin champion's hand that is holding his ax got cleanly cut together with its head.

*Thud!* *Clatter!* *Clatter!*

The red goblin champion fell to the ground headlessly together with the hand holding the ax that started to lose its red light.

"H-He killed it!!"

"The rookie defeated it!!"

"Whoa!!!!"

Cheers broke out from the mercenaries that watched the battle unfold. Praises and Applauses rained Lyan, but Lyan's eyes got stuck to the tattoo on the shoulder of the red goblin champion.

It's a tattoo of a black skull, but he felt like he saw the eye sockets of the skull shining with a black light for a moment. Was it just his imagination?

Suddenly, a figure jumped towards him.

"You did it, Lyan! You surprised me for a while there! I thought you're completely dead, you know!?" Raine's white hair pricked Lyan's nose as she hugged him.

"Seriously. You really made us worry, Lyan. How should I face Belle and the others if you died," Ravia breathe out a sigh of relief as he approached him with her hands on her hips.

"Sorry for that. I got too excited with the fight. But if you're worried then you should have helped me from the start, you two," (Lyan)

"Well, now. Isn't it a good time to let everyone see your strength? It seems like you'll get quite the attention for a while after this," Borton motioned at the surrounding mercenaries that are looking at him with awe and admiration.

"I don't know whether I should be happy or sad about this..." (Lyan)

"That was a great fight, Lyan," said Surena as she approached him with Alice and Emilia.

"Thanks for the praise. But I guess we shouldn't let this battle delay our advance any longer, huh," said Lyan as he stared at Alice. He's always interested in the genius Small General, and this is the first time he ever has a contact with her directly.

"It's fine. It was quite the battle so catch your breath for a while. We'll continue after the others finished harvesting the goblins' ears as well," Alice replied with a shrug indifferently.

"Then I humbly accept the chance," (Lyan)

Lyan took the red goblin champion's ears and the normal goblin champion's ears that he defeated before and put them inside his loot bag. The big magic ax of the goblin champion got stored inside one of the loots' wagons of the Valkyries, and after they finished harvesting the goblins' ears, the march continued.

Unlike before, the mercenaries around started to treat Lyan with more respect just like how they treat the other Mythril-ranked mercenaries.

"It seems that most of them had accepted you as part of the Mythril-ranked mercenaries. You got a bright future upon you,"

Lyan shifted his gaze and saw the familiar cloaked guy, William, approached him with his horse.

"If that means that they'll be respecting me and even hear my commands, then it's fine, I guess," Lyan replied with a shrug.

"So what are you going to do after this quest? Are you going to make your own mercenary troupe and lead hundreds of mercenaries like the other Mythril-ranked mercenaries? Or will you join of the troupes?" (William)

In the mercenary guild, there are two types of groups. The first is the mercenary group or mercenary troupe, which is a large group of mercenaries who act as one organization, and they usually accept big-scale quests from countries of big merchants. While the last type is parties, they are the small groups that are formed to take quests that need a small number of people.

Mercenaries usually aimed to either join one of the famous mercenary troupes or make one of their own. Amongst the Mythril-ranked mercenaries, the only party that didn't lead their own troupe is the Valkyries. For unknown reasons, they proceed to accept quests with only the three of them without taking any underlings under their wings.

"Not really. After finishing the quest, I don't really intent to continue staying in the city. I'm interested in going North," (Lyan)

"North? The Astellia Kingdom?" (William)

"No. My aim is to the further north. I want to see the winter region. I'm interested in traveling, you see. After looking at the world, maybe I'll register as an adventurer as well along the way. The money from this quest will be enough for it," Lyan's eyes look at the distance as he talked about his future plans.

"I see... Then what if, Lyan. If you suddenly got appointed as a noble of a certain kingdom, will you accept?" (William)

"Noble, huh... I'm not really a type that likes to get tied down. I like to have a single place to be my permanent home, but I like to travel around and have an adventure so being a noble where I need to get tied down is not my preference," (Lyan)

"I see... Freedom, huh... I'll consider it," (William)

____________________________________________________________________________

<Mercenaries Respect +80>

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Gold-ranked Mercenary

Money: 49,722,400 Elnes

Weapon: None

Equipment: Black leather cloak, Leather Armor, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 2 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 2 Health potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire's Companions: 8 High Spirits, Shadow Hobgoblin, Papilio Slime, Galewing Butterfly, Rock Golem, Deadlight, Moonlight Butterfly, Ice Golem