The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

19 – Episode 19: Don’t Come! Wolfgang’s Forest / Casey

Wolfgang hummed a tune while lifting a log.

The log on his shoulders didn’t feel heavy at all.

Since sending the well-packaged head of the guard captain as a gift to the queen, he was feeling some sort of satisfaction.

‘I’m finding Dominic’s enchantment skills quite handy.’

Because spellbinding was globally shunned due to its sinister nature, basic knowledge about it was not widely known unless one was a spellcaster. Consequently, even simple spellcasting could have a significant impact.

Just like the horrifying nightmare in the recently risen royal palace.

After binding the soul of the captain of the guard, the well-regarded queen herself trembled and wet herself in fear.

Despite working on renovating the collapsed inn, Wolfgang’s humming didn’t cease.

After the sunrise, Wolfgang surveyed the forest around the inn.

He could now examine the forest ecosystem that wasn’t visible at night in more detail.

Contrary to his initial perception of it being a place teeming with garbage like cockroach-infested trash, it was actually an area abundant with food and resources.

Going a bit further inside, he discovered a small stream.

Having roughly grasped the surrounding terrain, Wolfgang made a decision.

“Let’s stay here!”

Although it was a bit distant from the retirement life he had dreamt of, given the circumstances of becoming an enemy of humanity, this environment was more than satisfactory.

“Surely, with the warning given, Terosa won’t track me down for a while.”

Even if the soldiers who witnessed him returned to Terosa and reported his location, Wolfgang knew that the queen, gripped by fear, wouldn’t dare to attack this place.

And those traitors, standing by the weakening queen, wouldn’t stick around forever.

Support for the cult, Eastern unification, non-human autonomous regions, and the Human Unified Army…

The promised hero was no longer in existence, and the queen’s judgment would only become more clouded over time.

Naturally, Terosa’s influence would decrease, and when that happened, it was obvious the traitors would betray in the same way.

By then, Wolfgang wouldn’t be a significant problem for them anymore.

He imagined watching his betrayers miserably collapse, crossing the river without concern, envisioning a peaceful future without interference.

Just thinking about it brought a smile to his face.

“Catch a monkey with a monkey.”

The guests in the inn, who were also witnesses, had no need to worry.

If those traveling merchants spread frightening rumors here and there, naturally, fewer people would set foot here, making it advantageous for Wolfgang.

However, once the rumors spread, there might still be curious people who would come, and there was a slim chance that, despite the warning, they could continue sending tracking parties from Terosa.

It seemed wise to be prepared for any possibility.

“I guess I’ll have to use my hands.”

The former owner, Audeus, might not have known, but in reality, the holy sword held a hidden power.

Wolfgang took the holy sword from his pocket, assumed a stance, and swung it through the air several times.

The greatsword was of a size that could be considered a claymore, but its weight was well-balanced, making it easy to wield.

“The Holy Sword is the only greatsword that can annihilate demons…”

Wolfgang reversed his swing, gripping the Holy Sword and forcefully driving it down toward the ground.

With the sound of the blade piercing the ground, it was deeply embedded.

“It’s the only shield that protects from all dangers.”

From the Holy Sword stuck in the ground, a transparent emerald light emanated.

The beams of light drew large circles on the ground around Wolfgang and the remnants of his temporary lodging, then extended into the air and converged at a point.

The converging point and the ground began to be filled with a transparent barrier.

Soon, a giant dome-shaped protective shield enveloped Wolfgang’s dwelling.

Wolfgang stepped outside the shield and inspected his abode inside the protective barrier with a satisfied expression.

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“Ah…”

The poorly crafted edge of the roof protruded slightly outside the barrier.

“…I’ll have to do it again.”

***

Casey observed the shattered inn from the cover of the trees.

Due to her departure from the procession of the Guard Captain, she arrived here only as dawn approached.

The Guard Captain was tied up, half-naked, inside the partially collapsed inn, while Wolfgang lay next to her, asleep.

In that moment, Casey tried to rescue the Guard Captain but changed her mind and decided to watch the situation unfold.

“I might not be able to handle it if Wolfgang wakes up just because I rashly intervened…”

Her fear of Wolfgang also prevented her from acting recklessly.

In anticipation of a more opportune moment, she continued to wait.

As time passed, Casey, who unknowingly dozed off, opened her eyes at the sound of the Guard Captain’s voice coming from the inn.

Through the gap between her hands, shielding the warm sunlight, she saw Wolfgang, who was pounding the Guard Captain hanging from the gallows with renewed vigor.

“He… insane… monster…”

Shivering at the brutality, Casey was lost in thought.

‘If I can hit his vulnerable spot right now, maybe I can buy some time to rescue the Guard Captain…’

She took out her rifle and aimed through the scope.

She precisely aimed at Wolfgang’s head, took a deep breath, held it, and placed her finger on the trigger.

In that moment, a sudden thought flashed through Casey’s mind.

“Will the Commander die here?”

The Commander held the greatest trust from the Queen.

Since Casey’s time in the guard, back when Terosa was still a small city-state, the Commander had always been by the Queen’s side, protecting her.

So, it was a fact known to every citizen of Terosa that he would hold a high position in the upcoming ‘Pan-Human Unified Army.’

The person the Queen would rely on the most, even more so now that the heroes had perished. If such a person were to disappear, could Casey herself fill that position?

The thought occurred to her that the opportunity to obtain a higher position in the Unified Army, even the coveted position of the Queen’s closest confidant, might now lie within her grasp.

She lowered the rifle.

As expected, Wolfgang seemed uninterested in sparing the Commander.

About fifteen minutes passed.

As Casey had anticipated, Wolfgang prepared the execution of the Commander.

He drew the Holy Sword and decisively struck his neck without hesitation.

The Commander’s condition was so dire that the act felt like Wolfgang’s sole act of mercy towards him.

Wolfgang did something strange to the Commander’s head, almost like a bizarre enchantment, then took out a black handkerchief from his pocket and meticulously wrapped it around.

“A blue flame? Some form of necromancy, perhaps.”

Wolfgang chanted another spell, and this time, the shattered bones of corpses near the ruins of the inn began to rise.

He cloaked the skeletons in black robes and handed them a handkerchief containing the Commander’s head.

Muttering something to the skull, a black smoke started rising around it, enveloping the monstrosity.

When the smoke cleared after a moment, the skull had vanished without a trace.

“Where on earth did he learn such necromancy?”

Casey admired Wolfgang’s abilities but trembled in fear, realizing how powerful a monster he truly was, venturing even into forbidden realms.

As if he had finished his task, Wolfgang started to leisurely survey the surroundings.

After a while, he seemed determined and began gathering a lot of wood, piling it up in front of the severely damaged inn.

It seemed like he was planning to use this collapsing house for something.

“What’s this? Is he planning to make this his base?”

Finding his behavior peculiar, Casey decided to observe him a bit longer.

Later on, as Wolfgang stuck the Holy Sword into the ground, a protective barrier enveloped everything inside, rendering it all transparent.

Wolfgang, seeming dissatisfied with the shield’s position, drew the Holy Sword again and readjusted its placement.

After repeating this a couple of times, he soon wore a satisfied expression.

Then, he began weaving wooden planks together to create a signboard, on which he started writing something.

Casey zoomed in with her scope to confirm the contents written there.

[Restricted Area]

Private Property

Regardless of what you know or why you came, whether by chance or intention, it is advised to leave immediately upon reading this warning.

If you ignore this warning and step foot here,

Your family, colleagues, friends, and even the organization, village, or country you belong to

Will be set ablaze right before your eyes.

Exercise restraint and resist the curiosity that arose from reading this message to ensure the preservation of your life.

In any case, consider yourself warned.

Once you’ve read this, get lost.

Wolfgang, in the throes of injustice, vomited words while tied up in the cell.

Retirement.

Casey was convinced that the warning on the signboard supported the fact that all of Wolfgang’s observed actions so far were part of the preparation process for retirement.

“Are you really settling down here? Why? Wasn’t it natural for you to seek revenge against us?”

Casey marked the current location on the map and quickly gathered her belongings.

“Thank goodness… As long as I don’t provoke Wolfgang for no reason, I won’t have anything to worry about.”

If Wolfgang truly had no intention of revenge, Casey thought, it was akin to entering into a sort of peacekeeping agreement.

She hurried back to report this information as quickly as possible.

However, her report did not reach the queen’s ears.