Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Undead and Magic Beasts
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"Hilia has disappeared? On the very day I set out?"
Northmond Alic, one of the empire's top powerholders, raised his eyebrows, and his retainers all trembled, bowing their heads low. The day they had dreaded had finally arrived.
Of course, they hadn't just sat idle. They'd scoured the entire capital just in case and even sent men to comb through the nearby cities. But Hilia's whereabouts remained a complete mystery. In the end, they had only one conclusion.
"It seems... she joined the subjugation force... Your Grace..."
"...What the hell are you lot even doing! If that's the case, you should have said something before the subjugation force departed! Or at least reported it later!"
"We have no excuses, even if we had two mouths..."
In the end, they had kept silent out of fear of the duke's wrath. They had no excuses to offer.
"Sir Johan!"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Go to the subjugation force immediately and find Hilia. And check inside the capital as well, in case she's slipped in."
"Understood."
As the knight commander left to search for Hilia, the duke glared at his retainers like they were bugs and waved them away dismissively. Only Duke Northmond and the duchess remained in the room.
"Hoo... Nothing but incompetents, every one of them... If only there were at least one man like Viscount Lucas..."
"Who's Viscount Lucas?"
"A noble I've had my eye on lately. A mercenary who rose to nobility purely on his own merits."
"Still, don't be too harsh on them. You have to take care of your retainers, don't you?"
The duke clicked his tongue at the duchess's words.
"If they did their jobs properly, I wouldn't have to say any of this. And I'm disappointed in you too, my lady. Why on earth would you suggest hiding it?"
As the arrow turned back on her, tears streamed from the duchess's eyes. The duke panicked and hurriedly embraced her.
"Agh... I wasn't trying to say anything against you, my lady... I just meant... Don't cry..."
If the nobles had seen this, they would have been shocked speechless. The fearsome Duke Northmond showing such weakness? And the duchess too. If the retainers had witnessed her tears, they might have dismissed them as crocodile tears.
The duke always justified it by saying a harmonious household was key to success in all things, but others would just call it blatant nepotism. Perhaps Hilia's situation was partly his fault for raising her so indulgently.
"In any case, I must enter the palace now... You should go as well, my lady."
At his words, the duchess wiped her tears and looked at him with worry.
"Will you be all right? What if His Imperial Majesty holds you accountable...?"
"Nothing of the sort will happen. He's not that cruel. Don't worry—just wait for me."
Alic said this as he prepared for his audience. Preparation amounted to donning appropriate ceremonial attire. When he arrived at the imperial palace, Alfred—who had been informed ahead of time and was waiting—rushed out to meet him.
The duke was momentarily surprised by the crown prince's sudden appearance, eyeing him carefully.
"Duke Northmond!"
"Crown Prince."
"I've heard the news. The outcome of this war isn't favorable."
In the middle of the imperial palace courtyard, the two conversed about the war for a time. The surrounding knights tactfully excused themselves to the nearby maids and cleared the area. Their conversation wasn't particularly sensitive, so it wasn't strictly necessary, but still.
"Hmm... I see..."
As their talk concluded, Alfred glanced cautiously at the duke—uncharacteristically hesitant.
"I know it's improper to ask this now, but... is Lady Cligrove safe?"
Only then did the duke realize why the prince had been waiting so anxiously. Even as the head of the crown prince's faction, there was no need for such eagerness.
"We relied heavily on her this time. And she has many capable people under her command."
"Then how about bringing her into our faction?"
Alfred's eyes sparkled. The young crown prince was more interested in personal gain than expected. Smiling faintly, the duke replied. If handled well, he now knew how to staff the upcoming envoy delegation.
"I'm planning to request the lady's participation in the envoy delegation. That would give us more opportunities to recruit her."
"The envoy delegation..."
The crown prince's direct involvement carried risks and was unlikely, but if it happened, Northmond stood to gain twofold: pressure on the elves from imperial presence, and a strengthened faction if negotiations succeeded. He smiled at the pondering Alfred.
"You should turn back now while you still can."
"I... wish to... follow... Viscount..."
"I've heard more than ten times already that you're doing this for mercenary work."
My head was starting to ache. It had been about two days since leaving the capital when I spotted the duke's daughter trailing at the end of our procession.
While inspecting the line, I noticed her walking at the rear. Shocked, I asked why she was following, and she claimed she was heading to Cligrove for mercenary jobs.
Should I tell her I know she's the duke's daughter and send her packing right now? But they say a woman's grudge brings frost even in midsummer. What would happen if the duke's daughter held one? A blizzard would surely bury my future.
If only she weren't the duke's heir...
I'd have grabbed her by the scruff a dozen times and sent her back. Cligrove? Nonsense. She'd surely slip away when we reached my territory midway and head straight to my lands. And now that she was exposed, she clung tightly to my side.
"Haa..."
"Why the constant sighing?"
As I sighed, Edward—much more relaxed than before—approached. Still gruff, but a far cry from the spicy version who'd constantly picked fights with me. Back then, he picked at me even when I did nothing.
"It's nothing. Just some personal matters... More importantly, we've come this far already."
A bit further, and we'd reach the territory bordering my own lands, Lucas. It was small and unremarkable—I didn't even know the lord's name.
"I saw your exploits on the battlefield. Your skills have improved dramatically."
"Is that so?"
As we chatted and rode on, a forest marking the territory's border came into view. Forests were commonplace here, often used as natural boundaries.
The issue was monsters, magic beasts, or starving animals prowling occasionally, making it hazardous for commoners. But nobles preferred it that way. Losing labor without effort would be infuriating.
That said, nobles didn't entirely neglect it. When serfs complained too loudly, they'd subjugate the threats as a bonus.
As we neared a village by the forest, a man burst from it, waving his arms and shouting.
"My lords! Please stop for a moment! Help us, I beg you!"
Around thirty years old? The middle-aged man's yell halted the army.
"What's the problem?!"
A lead cavalryman pointed his spear at the man and bellowed. He bowed hastily.
"I'm the village chief! I know blocking noble steps is a grave sin, but please help us!"
"Help with what?"
The self-proclaimed chief pointed toward the forest at the cavalryman's question.
"The forest is crawling with undead! And magic beasts too! Heavens! I've never seen such terrifying creatures in my life!"
Undead? Magic beasts? That forest bordered my territory. A bad premonition hit me—something troublesome and tedious was about to land on my plate.
"Undead actually exist?"
"Aren't they just fairy tales?"
Regardless of rank, everyone murmured fearfully at the chief's words.
Magic beasts, starving beasts, or monsters were somewhat common here—like encountering a deer or wild boar. But undead...
It was akin to spotting a tiger in Korean mountains. For reference, seeing a werewolf was like stumbling on a national treasure by the roadside.
"You're certain? Have you reported to this territory's lord?"
Lenia's question made the chief instinctively recognize her as the highest among us; he prostrated fully.
"The lord joined the subjugation force, so territory affairs have been neglected for ages! Please help us!"
Lenia glanced at me.
"What say you?"
"I'll handle it. Lady, please return to Cligrove without worry."
This incident fell to me anyway. It was this lord's duty, but he was absent. Plus, harvesting magic beast hides could earn some pocket money. Not a bad deal.
"Are you sure?"
"Isn't magic beast hunting my specialty? No need to fret."
The other nobles and knights nodded approvingly.
"Indeed! Viscount Lucas grabs werewolves barehanded, doesn't he?"
"Magic beasts are mere warm-ups for Viscount Lucas!"
Praise was nice, but no one offered to help. Different territory, after all.
"Then we'll part ways here."
Her gaze mixed reluctance and concern. But when it shifted to the duke's daughter beside me, her eyes narrowed. And then...
"Viscount Edward!"
"Yes, Lady."
"Lead the army back first. I have business in Lucas territory for a bit."
"What are you saying?!"
Edward furrowed his brow and shouted. I'd react the same. He had mountains of work waiting—yet he'd follow another lord? Alone? But Lenia eyed him with resolve.
"Isn't Viscount Lucas under my command? He's new to governing, so he might need assistance."
"......"
Lenia won out. No vassal defies their lord. Instead, Edward pleaded desperately with me—uncharacteristically earnest.
"Finish it as quickly as possible... The territory work is piled sky-high..."