A Spark of Humanity
Charlotte's achievements did not stop at necromancy; she was also highly skilled in portal magic. Why not just use portal magic to go straight to the Frozen Lands, then? Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. Portal magic required a medium at the destination to recognize the coordinates. The Chamber of Commerce's summoning tickets served as exactly that kind of medium. If the owner tore it, a summoning signal would be sent. Even if they didn't tear it, simply possessing it allowed the coordinates to be recognized, meaning one could travel there voluntarily. When Calandas first visited, he had used the demon merchant's belongings as a medium. It was the same when I first met Rosesha's avatar. Even Charlotte could quickly open a portal to return to the dungeon as long as there was a medium. If the crystal ball rang with an intruder alert, we could just portal back instantly. Conversely, to travel to the Frozen Lands, we had to find a proper means of transportation. And in a medieval setting, what other transportation was there besides a carriage? Originally, I had planned to go to a city and hire one.
"Sir Knight, where are you headed?"
"To the northwest."
"Oh! I knew it!"
Fortunately, before the sun even set on our first day, we managed to hitch a ride on a merchant carriage. Their destination was the Astoria Margraviate—a prestigious territory ruled by a margrave who defended the northwestern border of the Empire, which led directly to the Frozen Lands.
...But what did he mean by 'I knew it'?
A sudden chill ran down my spine, prompting me to ask. The merchant's reply confirmed my bad feeling.
"A monster wave is about to hit the Frozen Lands soon, isn't it? Didn't you come all this way on an expedition to win some glory, Sir Knight?"
"..."
Unlike the Demonic Realm, the Frozen Lands were home to mindless, frost-bitten monsters that periodically invaded the Empire. Since ancient times, the Margrave of Astoria had served as a shield against these beasts. Once a year, a massive monster wave would erupt from the Frozen Lands.
And that's happening right now?
I knew my luck was too good to be true. My timing couldn't possibly have been worse.
In the 72 Dungeon Strategy Record, there was indeed a sub-scenario involving the Frozen Lands' monster wave. It had been a massive pain in the neck in the game, and now I was about to experience it in reality.
Well, it's too late to turn back now.
I had absolutely no intention of helping the Margrave defend his territory. My goal was simply to find the dungeon buried deep within the frozen earth of the Frozen Lands. Of course, we would inevitably run into the monster wave along the way, but who were my subordinates?
First, there was Charlotte, a Level 83 witch capable of large-scale magic. Since her primary discipline was necromancy, our forces would only grow stronger the more monsters we killed. I had also packed plenty of mana potions just in case.
The Level 88 Isabella was also incredibly dependable. By unleashing her blood magic, she could execute wide-range area-of-effect attacks, and the blood of the fallen monsters would directly fuel her strength. Both of them were a witch and a vampire specialized in large-scale warfare.
And that wasn't all—we also had a Level 88 Dullahan. On top of that, we had a Boss who could safely manipulate the Holy Sword from a distance. The four of us could easily carve our way through any monster wave.
In fact, this might actually be a good thing.
We could treat it as a farming run to level up.
Still, fighting off the entire wave ourselves would just be doing the Margrave's dirty work for him. Why should I do charity work for a stranger? I decided we would avoid the wave as much as possible and only fight if we ran directly into them.
"You're right. I am on an expedition to the Frozen Lands."
"I knew it, Sir Knight! Please, climb aboard. Having someone like you with us makes us feel so much safer!"
Before climbing into the carriage, I glanced back. A bat was perched on a tree branch, staring intently in our direction. When our eyes met, it waved its wing happily.
She's keeping up.
I boarded the carriage first, followed by Charlotte. Inside, a group of rough-looking mercenaries welcomed us. Since it was a cargo carriage, it was incredibly cramped, with everyone squeezed together like sardines. But with a war on the horizon, it made sense that peddlers, mercenaries, and vagrants alike would flock here. Every single one of them was a mercenary looking to make a quick fortune by putting their life on the line.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sir Knight. I'm Hans, captain of the Frost Claw Mercenaries."
The man introduced himself and extended a hand. As we shook hands, the carriage jolted forward, starting our journey. Charlotte and I instinctively leaned back against the wooden panels. Hans's armor straps were loosely undone, suggesting he had been resting before we arrived.
"Is the young lady your squire, Sir Knight?"
This time, he addressed Charlotte. Indeed, her attire made her look like a squire. But to Hans, she looked more like a noble lady first. Since there were occasionally noble ladies who chose to serve as squires to knights, his question didn't carry any suspicion.
Charlotte gave a slight, barely perceptible nod. As expected, she was drawing the eyes of every man in the carriage. However, they only stared; none of the mercenaries dared to flirt with her. There was an invisible wall built by social status, after all.
Hans, who had been staring blankly at Charlotte, suddenly snapped out of it and turned back to me.
"Which house do you hail from, Sir Knight?"
"I am a knight of House Berion. I wander the lands in search of a master."
"Ah, a hedge knight, then."
I had no idea if a House Berion actually existed. Mercenaries didn't bother memorizing every noble family anyway. The Empire was filled with small, insignificant houses, making it nearly impossible to keep track of them all.
"Berion, you say? Since I've never heard of it, it must be quite a worthless house."
The voice came from the far corner of the carriage. My eyes met those of a knight clad in polished, gleaming full plate armor.
"I am of the Brittany Countship. A hedge knight, just like you."
The fact that he didn't even address me with a proper title made his blatant contempt obvious. He was clearly a knight brimming with an elitist attitude.
His first impression was obnoxious, but he was undeniably skilled. The knight boasted with a smug grin.
"I wonder if you've heard of Gohan, the Troll Slayer."
...What is up with this guy's name? First Valutak, now Gohan? Is he some kind of walking anatomical joke? I didn't even want to humor him, so I ignored him with a look of utter indifference. I heard a scoff, but I completely tuned him out. Charlotte, however, was glaring at Gohan with a murderous intensity. If I didn't stop her, she looked ready to blast him with magic right then and there.
"Patience," I whispered, gently touching her shoulder. Charlotte bowed her head in apology. If you make a move here, everyone dies. Please, just hold back.
But look at her...
Sitting next to Gohan was a young girl dressed in rags. Her entire body was covered in visible signs of abuse. There was no way a knight would treat a squire like that; she was, by all accounts, a slave. I had never seen a knight travel with a slave instead of a squire. Judging by his level and equipment, he was definitely a knight, but...
She isn't a sex slave, is she?
The medieval era was rife with all sorts of sick, twisted deviants. The nobility were often the worst offenders. Without exaggeration, lolicons and sister-complexes were considered relatively normal in this world. They were absolute beasts. At least he wasn't a necrophiliac—
Ah.
I glanced at Charlotte, whose level indicator was flashing a deep pink, before quickly turning my head away. In any case, the girl looked like Gohan's personal slave. I knew getting involved would only bring trouble, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern in the corner of my heart.
After that, Charlotte and I remained silent. It would take roughly a week to reach the Margraviate. I was worried about whether we could make it there without our identities being exposed. Charlotte had her illusion magic, but disguising her entire face required constant upkeep. Rather than wasting mana needlessly, it was better for me to keep my helmet on as much as possible and only show my face occasionally. While Charlotte and I maintained our silence, the mercenaries were incredibly talkative. I passed the time by eavesdropping on their conversations while pretending to be uninterested. Eventually, a topic came up that completely grabbed my attention.
"The state of the world is a mess lately. First the Tomb of Faith, and now the monsters from the Frozen Lands. It's crazy."
"One disaster after another. Everyone's talking about it. I mean, two Heroes died, didn't they?"
"Right? Compared to that, a monster wave is practically child's play. Haha... Comparing it to the Tomb of Faith actually makes me feel a bit relieved, strangely enough."
Well, the culprit is sitting right here. Since they were talking about me, I couldn't help but pay close attention.
"I plan to volunteer for the Tomb of Faith subjugation force," Gohan suddenly chimed in, drawing everyone's eyes to him. "I heard the Subjugation Command will be assembling a force soon, with the Rising Stars of the Empire at its core."
Gohan subtly scanned the carriage, gauging their reactions.
"Any knight who achieves great deeds in this Frozen Lands expedition will be eligible to apply for the subjugation force. I do not care for rewards or titles. I came on this expedition solely to secure a spot in the Tomb of Faith subjugation force."
"Oh, as expected of Sir Gohan!"
"A knight of a count's house really is cut from a different cloth..."
"Remember my name: Gohan, the Troll Slayer. Before long, I will be the knight who enjoys the glory of conquering the Tomb of Faith."
The sudden spike of murderous intent beside me was definitely not my imagination. I quietly tapped Charlotte's shoulder. In a bout of déjà vu, she bowed her head apologetically.
"I heard there's a witch in the Tomb of Faith as well. Did you know that?" Gohan yanked the slave girl's hair. "This brat is a witch too. It would have been a waste to just kill her, so I keep her around as a slave."
Oh, please, no. I prayed inwardly, stealing a glance at Charlotte. Surprisingly, the murderous aura I had anticipated was gone. Perhaps I had worried too much. True to her usual expressionless self, Charlotte didn't let her emotions get the better of her. She might release a bit of killing intent, but she wasn't the type to start a fight out of nowhere.
...Actually, I'm the one who's more worried.
In truth, the more I looked at the girl, the more my sympathy was stirred. Her cloudy eyes seemed even more devoid of emotion than Charlotte's. She didn't even flinch under Gohan's rough grip. She looked more like a doll than a human being. On one hand, I felt relieved to still be capable of such feelings. Lately, I had felt so indifferent to human death that I wondered if my heart was slowly turning undead. But this pity proved that my heart was still human.
I really want to just close my eyes and save her.
In the Frozen Lands, there was an NPC from the game: the Ash Witch, who lived in a secluded cabin. She was known to protect fellow witches and take in orphaned young witches. If I brought this girl to her, she would undoubtedly raise her well. But saving her would only bring me a sense of moral satisfaction; the consequences of doing so would be nothing but trouble. Of course, even if our identities were exposed, we wouldn't die. But it would certainly make things incredibly complicated.
What should I do...?
I spent the rest of the journey staring at the girl, lost in thought.
The chirping of insects and the whistling of the wind blended together in the quiet night, creating a lonely melody. Late at night, Charlotte and I volunteered for the first watch. The others insisted that a noble knight should rest, but honestly, I wanted to pull the entire shift from start to finish. What was the point of lying down when my body couldn't even sleep? I might as well stand watch and have a chat with Charlotte.
We sat side by side on a log, warming ourselves by the campfire. Charlotte used a dry branch as a poker to revive the dying embers. Feeling the chill of the night air, she stretched her hands toward the fire. For a long time, we sat in silence, neither of us speaking. Finally, Charlotte broke the silence.
"I apologize. I am not very good at conversation."
So she's aware of it. I didn't hold it against her. I had only been silent because I was debating whether to share my dilemma with her. Deep down, I wanted to ask Charlotte what she wanted to do about the young witch. Even though they were both witches, Charlotte didn't seem particularly bothered. Slave traders were common in this era, and Charlotte was a pragmatist who prioritized reality over sentimentality. Even if she wanted to help the girl, she was likely holding back because she knew I would have to bear the consequences. I felt the same way. There was nothing to gain from saving her. I knew that, yet my modern sensibilities kept nagging at me. It wasn't as if we lacked the power to save her, nor was the process particularly difficult. If we truly wanted to, we could rescue her and ensure her safety indefinitely.
"What do you think of that young witch?"
Unable to hold it in any longer, the words spilled out. Charlotte's eyes widened as she looked at me.
"Do you wish to help her, My Lord?"
I nodded without hesitation.
"If she were an ordinary slave, I would have turned a blind eye. But she is still just a young girl. And she is a witch, just like you, Charlotte."
"..."
Even if she was a witch who hated humanity, Charlotte was still human at her core. She wasn't a born psychopath or sociopath; her environment had simply made her that way. Therefore, she was capable of sympathy, and she couldn't remain entirely indifferent to the young witch.
"I feel the same, but..."
"Be honest. Do you want to save her?"
Charlotte bit her lip for a moment. Finally, she managed to speak.
"Yes."
"Then it is decided."
Only then did my conscience feel at ease. Come to think of it, my motivation was exactly the same as when I rescued Hellboki. I was well aware that dogs and children were my biggest weaknesses.
"Sometimes, Boss, you are truly kind."
I happened to glance her way, and the moment our eyes met, Charlotte quickly bowed her head.
"...That was a slip of the tongue. I apologize."
I wondered why she was apologizing, but then it clicked a moment later. Right, "kindness" didn't exactly suit a Boss of the Mugan 7 Palaces.