Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: I Thoroughly Protect What's Mine. (1)
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The grating screech of metal echoed as the gate swung open.
"Ah, h-hello there."
A guard rushed down from the sentry post beside the gate. Even though the stairs were steep, he descended at a rapid pace without a care.
"I greet Lord Abel Ovest Kindriel."
The guard's face had drained to a pitiful pallor. His naturally droopy-eyed, gloomy expression looked even more feeble with the added ashen hue.
Well, when would someone from this rural backwater ever encounter a noble like me?
"Yeah."
I gave a casual nod and tugged on Blackstar's reins.
The guard watched me pass through the gate, looking utterly at a loss. Then he shook his head side to side and cautiously asked,
"Uh, what brings you to our territory, sir?"
"This."
I patted the sack attached to Blackstar's body. It was securely tied, so nothing would spill out.
"Eek!"
Like being startled by a turtle only to jump at an iron pan next, the guard leaped back in place.
"Wh-why do you have a monster...?"
"Not your concern."
There was no point explaining to someone making a fuss like he'd never seen a monster before. More importantly, I needed to meet the person responsible for handling this properly.
'This is the reason I came to this territory, after all.'
I jerked my head indifferently.
"Where's the lord's office? The guard captain should be there."
This small territory had no building grand enough to call a castle. They just used a slightly larger house than the residents' as the lord's residence, handling administrative and military functions there.
"Ah, yes."
The guard looked a bit surprised that I knew the territory's layout so well.
"Understood. Please follow me."
But he quickly turned and led the way.
I followed behind him, habitually running a hand through my hair. Dust clung to it scattered everywhere.
"Ah, damn it."
Grumbling, I brushed off the dirt, and even more sand poured out from deep within my locks.
"Ugh."
I could only grit my teeth and stop.
'Abel Kindriel looking like this? What a sight.'
Me, who always maintained the image of a pristine young lord, reduced to this filthy state. But it couldn't be helped.
'It took a week to get from Ovest Territory here.'
It would have been stranger if I'd arrived looking clean.
My life lately had been complicated yet monotonously simple.
Mad dashes, killing, eating, sleeping.
Just repeating that had brought me to Bezerc Territory before I knew it. The number of monsters I'd slain along the way...
'Hmm, killed so many I can't quite remember.'
There were about fifty heads in the sack.
But when I'd killed multiple of the same monster, I'd only taken one head. So the actual count was surely higher.
In any case, I'd arrived at Bezerc Territory just as my prepared rations ran out.
'Can't wait to wash up. Sleep in a soft bed.'
Even if the lord offered me his best room, it would be shabbier than mine back in Ovest Territory.
'Still, way better than camping in the woods.'
Now I just needed to rest here for the night, recover, stock up on supplies, and head to the capital.
'Three days left? Should make it in time.'
No, probably faster. Given the pace so far, I'd likely arrive ahead of schedule.
'Got things to prepare in advance if I get there early.'
I mentally organized what needed doing upon reaching the capital.
"Grrr."
Blackstar's growl snapped me out of it.
"Grrr!"
He bared his hostility toward the nearby humans, teeth gnashing as if he'd chew up anyone who crossed him bones and all.
"Eek!"
"M-Mommy!"
Passersby scattered in panic.
"Grumble, grumble!"
The more they did, the more Blackstar ramped up, barking louder like a dog lunging at every human around the house.
'No, this guy?'
Unable to stand it, I lightly flicked his forehead.
"I told you no. I get you've been wronged by humans a lot, but quit the attitude."
Blackstar wrinkled his snout indignantly.
"Whine, whine."
"......"
I ignored his plea, pretending to look around. He started batting his eyelashes pitifully.
"Hiiing."
The sound he made when hungry and whining.
"No way."
I didn't flinch.
"You ate your fill before we left."
Blackstar loved chomping live creatures whole. So for the past week, I'd diligently hunted small animals for him.
"Eaten that much and still not satisfied?"
He'd devoured two-digit numbers of them. Funny how even that mimicked me.
"Or do you want some of this?"
I patted the sack, but Blackstar shook his head with a hing hing.
He wouldn't touch flesh drained of life by Requiem.
'Like human food gone cold, I guess.'
Or maybe spoiled from age.
"I'll give you something tasty later, got it?"
I whispered softly, scratching his snout.
"Snort."
Only then did he nuzzle against me, anger subsided.
Despite his ferocious look, he had a real pet-dog cuteness to him. Spending the journey together had only deepened the bond.
"The guy."
I murmured fondly, turning my head. The guard was staring at me in awe.
"Th-that's really a horse?"
"What else would it be?"
"No, I've never seen such a huge one. And those eyes are unusual."
The guard shook his head.
"Thought it was a monster at first."
......The guy could see through to the truth sometimes. But admitting it might make the timid guard faint.
I brushed it off indifferently.
"Humans come in all shapes, right? Horses too."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
"It won't eat you, so hurry up."
"Y-Yes!"
The guard's steps quickened. As I followed, passersby's gazes gathered.
"Wow, did you see that horse?"
"Amazing. So huge!"
"Who's that guy?"
"Never seen him before......"
The villagers buzzed with interest over the enormous horse they'd never laid eyes on and the outsider unfamiliar to the village.
But they didn't dare approach me as I walked with an expressionless face. Probably due to the subtle aura and ingrained noble intimidation.
Then one person mustered courage and approached the guard ahead of me.
"Everett?"
The named guard startled, shaking his head wildly. He mouthed silently,
'Tell you later, later.'
The villager shrank back at the sharpness.
Thus, an invisible circle formed around me. I walked slowly, not minding the reactions much.
'Hmm, interesting.'
Felt just like being in Ovest Territory. Of course, back then it was Abel's infamous reputation doing the work.
In a rural village like this, I dominated the surroundings naturally without introduction.
Everyone here was probably thinking the same thing right now.
Thud, thud.
That my modest footsteps sounded like the reaper's tread.
As I walked, my gaze suddenly caught a passing woman. More precisely, the bucket she carried.
"Hey."
"Y-Yes?"
"Water. Just enough to wet my throat."
I spoke in a tone brooking no refusal. The woman glanced nervously at the onlookers, then stepped forward hesitantly at my "Hurry."
"Here."
I unslung the canteen from my neck and held it out. She carefully filled it.
"Go on."
I waved her off casually and gulped down the water.
Moisture hit my parched throat, making me feel alive. Water had never tasted so sweet.
The canteen emptied over halfway in seconds.
"Ahh, much better."
My voice softened involuntarily.
I eyed the remaining water, then upended the canteen over my head.
Cool water soaked my hair and trickled down my jaw.
"Fuuu."
Sighing languidly, I swept back the wet strands. My sand- and sweat-caked face felt cleaner.
"......!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. They stared at my now relatively tidy face.
"Wow, he's handsome."
Someone blurted it out. Onlookers jolted; even the speaker clapped a hand over their mouth in shock.
"......"
I whipped around toward the voice, narrowing my sharp eyes before,
"Thanks."
flashing a brief smile.
Crash!
A housewife dropped her bowl.
"Oh dear me."
A bit extreme, but the crowd's reactions weren't much different.
They gawked at my smile, entranced. People tripped while staring blankly as they walked.
Sheesh. Even villagers shouldn't react so blatantly.
'Abel is handsome, after all.'
As expected of the story's acclaimed pretty boy. When he kept his mouth shut, anyway.
Stirring that minor commotion, I crossed the village center. At the far end stood the largest, nicest building among the shabby ones I'd seen.
"Th-there it is! Take your time!"
The guard dashed ahead, flung open the office door, and vanished inside. I smirked, imagining the chaos within.
'Bet it's pandemonium in there.'
I counted slowly in my head.
'1, 2, ...... 10.'
As I reached the last number,
Bang!
The door burst open again. Out tumbled a man in his forties, dressed finer than the earlier guard.
'Hmm, guard captain, huh.'
He scanned wildly, spotted me.
"......!"
His mouth gaped in silent shock. His eyes flicked between me and... something, before he sighed, "Ugh."
The captain turned and bellowed into the office.
"Fetch the lord at once!"
He shut the door and faced me.
His expression, waiting for my approach, was grim. The look of 'It's here.'
"Lord Abel Ovest Kindriel?"
"That's me."
I acknowledged with a hand wave and headed to a pillar by the office.
"No separate stable, huh. Mind if I tie him here?"
"Yes. No, let me—"
Mid-wave, the captain froze. He blinked rapidly, eyeing Blackstar again.
"D-did you ride this here?"
His face said it all.
'This isn't a horse—it's a monster, right?'