Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Shadow of Corin (14)
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We slipped out of the secret space and headed to a small room in the corner of the castle where the servants stayed. It was because Lewis's condition was poor. Having learned what kind of situation his father was in, he looked half out of his mind from the shock. It was only natural. The father he had respected so much had ended up like that. And to top it off, they hadn't been able to rescue him right away, so grief, anger, and frustration must have been churning inside him.
While the group took a moment to catch their breath, I started boiling water in what appeared to be a kettle used by the servants. Then I took out some well-dried white chamomile, steeped it, and poured it into cups for everyone. The largest cup went to Lewis.
"Drink this."
White chamomile has a faint apple scent and an effect that calms the nerves. It wasn't dramatic, but it would help settle his mind for now. Lewis stared at me with a gloomy face before bringing the cup to his lips.
"We've already found the most important thing."
Lord Corin's 'Frozen Soul.' Now, for the remaining time, we needed to search the castle for any other anomalies—evidence worth requesting help from the temple or the Empire.
In truth, the 'Frozen Soul' was the most definitive proof... but that very fact made it unusable. If we showed the Frozen Soul to the temple, they would undoubtedly help us, but that wouldn't catch the Crows. It would just turn Corin into a scorched field under the boot heels of holy knights in the name of the gods.
Even if we requested aid from the temple or Empire, we had to first grab the Crows by the tail—the one called 'Fabio' or whatever who was in cahoots with Dawood.
It was crucial to move one step ahead before he caught wind and did something.
'Fortunately, right now, I'm two steps faster.'
I knew the material for the Frozen Soul, and for the orc subjugation, we had Calisto hidden—a figure the orcs couldn't even imagine.
"Mr. Lloyd, check Lewis's room with him. You're sure to find something."
The biggest threat to Dawood inheriting the lordship was none other than Lewis. If he could have, he would have turned Lewis into a 'Frozen Soul' too. There was a high chance something was hidden in Lewis's room, from basic listening spells to long-term curses that clouded the mind.
"I can handle that on my own just fine..."
Lewis spoke up while drinking his tea, but I cut him off and shook my head.
"No. Even if everyone in this castle is on your side. You never know what people might do."
"But..."
"What if someone betrays you?"
"I'd kill them and make an example."
"Killing them after they've already leaked information does nothing."
I replied coldly, then gave Lloyd a look. He grabbed Lewis's shoulder, who flinched.
"You two are old friends, right? Two old friends talking isn't suspicious at all. Listening spells are probably in place, so keep up a conversation to avoid doubt while searching the room. Use notes for anything that really needs to be said."
"Got it."
With Lloyd there, I could rest easy. He could handle any outbursts from Lewis.
That left...
"El."
"Yes, Master."
I looked around. A servant's wardrobe was half-open. I pointed to it.
"Pick out something suitable and change into it."
El looked back and forth between the wardrobe and me, clearly flustered.
"Master, you don't mean..."
"Yes. What I'm asking you to do is quite difficult. For now, pretend to be a servant here. You can blend in naturally."
El had once been 'Elizabeth Reinhardt,' a noble lady. She was the one who could best mimic a servant, having kept them close. She looked like she was from the Empire, and her age was right, so she could fit in seamlessly.
"Don't worry too much. I'll be watching over you."
"H-how?"
"Want me to show you now?"
"Yes?"
"Don't freak out."
I took out Pippy and Legion, who had been nestled in my inner pocket for a bit, and used [Beast Form].
-Shrrr...
My field of view dropped in an instant. Very quickly. It felt like falling from a tall building, so I leaped up and spun in the air. And...
"Gasp!"
I 'looked up' at El, who had swallowed hard. Yes, right now I was a creature hundreds of times smaller than her.
-Pip!
I called 'El!' but all that came out was a high-pitched 'Squeak!' I approached her slowly so she wouldn't startle.
"You turned into a mouse!"
Of course. I nodded. El carefully crouched down, picked me up in both hands, and stood. My view rose again. In front of me was Lewis's shocked face.
"Now you can watch over me without getting caught!"
-Pip!
"Phew, I was scared thinking I'd be alone..."
El casually stroked my head with her index finger. Hey, this girl... Even as a mouse, I'm your master!
"...There are cats in this castle too. Isn't this dangerous?"
-Pip. Squeak.
No need to worry. Why? Because this body is the [Cat Lord]. Even in mouse form, all the cats in the world will recognize me as the [Cat Lord]. Definitely.
I stood confidently on El's palm, then leaped into the air. Spinning midair, [Beast Form] released, and I returned to my original shape.
"A witch has nothing on this."
"It's completely different from witch or mage methods. Better not say that elsewhere, or you'll be called ignorant."
"..."
She got me there. Think your dad's situation means I'll go easy on you, you cheeky noble brat? I put the little bird and lizard I'd taken out back in my pocket, then turned to El.
"So, El, don't worry. I'll always be watching over you."
"Yes, Master!"
"And..."
I pulled out the dagger I'd used for so long, made from black moonstone, and handed it to El.
"Keep this on you while you're here. Hide it below your ankle."
"...Yes!"
The black moonstone dagger I always carried at my waist had a special power: purification stronger than silver. No better weapon against the Crows. Knowing how much I treasured it, El nodded vigorously, touched.
"Alright then. Let's meet back here at midnight tonight."
* * *
Orc subjugation is like exterminating cockroaches.
Kill the endlessly spawning ones, kill and kill some more.
Even when you think you've got them all, more pop out—kill and kill and kill again.
It's utterly tedious, boring, and exasperating.
Who'd have thought I'd dive back into something like this.
"Haa..."
Calisto let out a deep sigh as she pulled her sword from where it was deeply lodged. The thick blade had pierced right through the center of the large orc's skull. As it came free, dark red blood spurted out.
The sticky blood soaked the grass. Orc blood was so viscous it clung messily to everything. But the twin swords in Calisto's hands gleamed coldly and nobly, without a single drop of blood.
Only natural.
Forged from white steel mixed with silver, enchanted with elven magic, and blessed by a priest, the twin swords had the power to instantly vaporize impure, foul things like orc blood. Orcs, trolls, and other contemptible, filthy monsters could only feel instinctive fear before these blades.
The blood evaporated on contact, so at least less cleaning.
'Time to head back around here...'
This was a standard orc subjugation. With too many mercenaries, it was less a hunt and more a 'massacre,' bizarrely easy. The orcs were all weaklings; some even dropped their weapons and fled at the sight of the elf Calisto. Having crossed countless battlefields and faced hordes of orcs, she could only find it ridiculous.
'Why did He send me here?'
An unavoidable question. No honor, no satisfaction—for Calisto, it felt like child's play, unworthy even of the name battlefield...
-Rustle.
It was then.
The sound of dry leaves crunching was too loud. Not a mountain beast's step. And definitely not an orc's. They stomped like they were pounding the earth. No matter how careful, it would thunder in an elf's ears.
So then...
"Who's there."
Calisto quietly directed the question toward the bushes. From the shadows emerged a man with a pale, white face. The moment she saw it, she knew he was the one Theodor had mentioned.
'But the lord's heir, coming alone...'
Last time at the subjugation muster, he was surrounded by guards. Sure, it was a pathetic, trivial battlefield, but alone without escorts?
"..."
On the other hand, this was a chance to eliminate him. She hadn't heard the details, but Theodor saw him as a 'problem.' Taking him out preemptively wouldn't be bad.
But.
'...If it was truly what He wanted, He wouldn't have kept quiet.'
Acting on her own judgment now might hinder Theodor.
In that case... whatever his intentions, she had no choice but to watch.
"You're that elf mercenary."
A mere human talking down to her like he was something.
At Dawood's question, Calisto smirked and replied in a voice devoid of courtesy.
"Yeah. What of it?"