Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Searching for the Queen (3)
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“Darion, why are you coming out from there?”
“…….”
Darion stood there like a mute who’d eaten honey, unable to say a word. No, it had already been two days since we left the capital of Lyset… So why the hell was this guy here? I crossed my arms and looked down at him.
“Even after I told you that, you still came all the way here….”
“…….”
“That means you’ve got some purpose.”
Was my voice too cold? Darion rolled his eyes this way and that before finally answering in a tiny, shrinking voice.
“I’m sorry, Theodor.”
“No, there’s no need to apologize. I just want you to explain why you’re here.”
I helped him to his feet and brushed the dirt off his clothes. He was still shrinking away, glancing at my face.
“I asked what’s going on.”
When I pressed him again, Darion flinched and hung his head low. He’d finally realized I wasn’t going to go easy on him.
“Tell me everything—from when you started following me and why.”
This wasn’t the Silvanus mansion where his parents could watch his back, nor the capital of Lyset where elven soldiers could rush in at any moment.
If he thought I’d praise him for bravely coming here alone without escorts, he was dead wrong. I fixed him with a cold stare.
“…I left the mansion shortly after you departed. I borrowed one of Father’s prized horses, and it wasn’t hard to catch up.”
He’d stolen a horse that his family had cherished and ridden it here? Good grief… Paton Silvanus would flip if he knew.
“Fine, so why did you follow me?”
“Well….”
“Be honest. Did someone put you up to it?”
“…….”
“Darion.”
“…Coming here was entirely my own decision, Theo. I wanted to prove it to you.”
“Prove what?”
“Yeah.”
“Prove what, exactly?”
“That I can be of help in rescuing Her Majesty the Queen….”
“What nonsense.”
That was as far as my patience went. I let out a deep sigh and glared at Darion.
“I thought I explained it clearly enough, but apparently not. Should I put it nicely, or are you the type who doesn’t get it? Fine, I’ll say it again. Darion, you can’t help at all.”
“…….”
“You’re not a mercenary—you’re just a noble young master from Lyset. Unfortunately, when it comes to finding your queen, you’ll only be a hindrance. Just like right now.”
“…….”
“The fact that you couldn’t even hide your presence properly and got ambushed proves it. Darion, if I hadn’t been here, you’d be dead right now.”
It was true. If it had been a monster, it probably would’ve killed him on the spot.
‘He survived only because he approached so pathetically, Darion.’
He stared at the ground with a completely deflated look. Yeah, he’d probably never heard words like these before. He must’ve been spoiled rotten all his life.
So it was time to straighten him out.
“I’m not telling you to go back right now. It’d be far more dangerous traveling alone without escorts.”
For a moment, Darion’s face lit up. Did he think I was accepting him? I spoke coldly again to crush any hopes.
“Instead, from now on, you’re not Darion of the Silvanus family. You’re just Darion. A wandering elf who’s just starting out as a mercenary. Got it?”
“…….”
Humiliating, right? If he really hated it, he’d use a messenger bird or magic or whatever to get back to the capital—back to his family and that big mansion. Actually, that might be for the best. I waited silently for his answer.
“…….”
“…….”
“Understood.”
Darion gave an unexpected reply. Had this guy really understood what I said?
“No, yes, sir.”
“…….”
“If I’m a wandering elf just starting out as a mercenary, then I should use formal speech with a veteran like you, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“Please take care of me, Sir Theodor.”
“…….”
This was truly unexpected. I’d figured his pride would be hurt and he’d throw a tantrum to go home… Then I’d coax him a bit and send him back to the capital. But this response?
‘Well, if he can play the part of a wandering elf convincingly, it won’t be impossible to enter the dark elf village….’
He was already calling someone of vague origins like me “Sir Theodor.” Considering how arrogant he’d been when we first met, this was a huge change.
Besides, I couldn’t back out of a promise now.
And when else would I get to boss around an elven noble like this?
‘I’ll hang out with him a bit and send him back. Send a messenger bird first, then ditch him before entering the Dark Forest.’
“Alright, Darion. I don’t know how long this’ll last… but let’s get along for now. El, set up a spot for him?”
“Yes, Master.”
El prepared a place for Darion near the campfire. I pulled out a plate, loaded it with a heap of bush goat stew, added a few biscuits, and handed it to him. Darion sniffed the stew suspiciously before finally picking up the spoon. And then he opened his mouth like he was about to eat something inedible.
‘Elves are such a pain.’
Come on, the stew I made was super popular. Normal mercenaries ate stuff like pig slop. I suppressed the urge to smack the back of his head and piled stew onto my own plate. The stew wafted a delicious aroma from the blend of various spices.
“I-It’s good….”
Darion, who had squeezed his eyes shut and taken a bite, said in surprise.
“…Of course it is. Who made it?”
El nodded vigorously at my words.
“It’s been a while since Master made stew, but it’s still delicious! No, maybe even better than before.”
“Thanks, El. I’m glad you like it.”
I heaped stew onto the plate El held out. El started devouring it happily, dipping biscuits to soak them through.
“This wild flavor… I can feel the robust energy.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is!”
Darion’s eyes sparkled as he dove back into his stew. Ha, what a ridiculous guy… I shot him a slight glare and began eating my share.
‘Never thought I’d pick up another chatterbox here….’
Not a big deal, though. I’d send him back soon anyway.
Still, it felt good that he was eating it so heartily.
“Lloyd, want some stew?”
“I’m good. Eating that would weigh me down.”
“At least taste it.”
“…Then just a bit.”
Lloyd took a small taste of the stew and stood up.
“I’ll patrol the area.”
Patrolling even though we weren’t in dangerous territory? So diligent. Or maybe Darion’s arrival made things awkward… Before I could figure out the real reason, Lloyd vanished into the darkness. I whistled, calling Ayla, who’d been gnawing on a bush goat leg bone.
“Ayla, follow him.”
-Woof!
Ayla trotted after Lloyd. Her fur shimmered silver in the moonlight before melting into the shadows.
* * *
The next day.
We finished preparing to leave early. Everyone except Darion. It was hard to shake off a noble young master’s habits in just one day, so he didn’t get up right away.
“Ayla.”
-Woof!!
At my command, Ayla yanked the blanket off Darion with her teeth. He was flung onto the dew-covered ground and bolted up in shock, yelling.
“Wh-What are you doing?!”
“What am I doing? Darion, are you planning to sleep all day?”
“Gasp…!”
At my icy tone, Darion finally snapped awake and jumped to his feet.
“S-Sir Theodor….”
“You’re up way too late. You’re not a noble young master anymore—you’re a lowly mercenary, remember? If you hate it, I can send you back right now….”
“N-No! I was just getting up!”
Liar. I shot him another glare and turned away.
“Hurry and get ready. We’re leaving soon.”
There wasn’t much to prepare anyway. Darion didn’t have any real gear. What a hopelessly unprepared guy. I left him scrambling and climbed into the wagon first.
“El, you drive until lunch.”
“Master, shouldn’t the youngest handle this?”
“Normally, yeah, but I don’t trust Darion to drive right now. Don’t want the wagon flipping, do we?”
“Right.”
El giggled and hopped into the driver’s seat.
“Have Lloyd handle the horse Darion brought. It’ll be easier for him than the wagon, right?”
“Thanks.”
Lloyd mounted the sturdy brown horse. Darion looked displeased but said nothing and climbed into the wagon.
“Rest until lunch. After that, I’ll teach you how to drive.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“If you don’t like it, you can go home.”
“No! I’ve always wanted to learn how to drive a wagon!”
What a clown. I swallowed a chuckle and spread out an old book and map.
Starting from the first village, there were six villages on the outskirts of Lyset.
‘The seventh is inside the Dark Forest….’
Passing through six villages to enter the Dark Forest would take quite some time. I racked my brain for the fastest route. Skip overly dangerous paths, skip overly circuitous ones, eliminating them one by one…
‘Even this’ll take a week.’
No, probably more than a week. Who knew what might happen in the dark elf village.
‘Will the queen hold out that long?’
The queen I’d seen had tree roots up to her knees. If the petrification kept progressing from there…
We might not be able to save her.
“…Darion, do you know anything about ‘Grisel’?”
Clutching at straws, I asked Darion, who was dozing off with his head bobbing.
Grisel… That’s the derogatory term for dark elves.
“I know that much. But I mean, does it have another meaning? You heard it too—the queen told us to find ‘Grisel.’”
“Another meaning…”
Darion rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
“No idea.”
Figures. I shrugged and turned back to the old book.
“But there’s something strange about it.”
…Something strange?
“What’s that?”