Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: #5 Magic Beast Hunt (3)
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The Lady waited in the wheat field (26)
“Wow, I almost didn’t recognize you for real! Why’d you change so much?”
Luton burst into hearty laughter as he spoke.
Elric let out a wry chuckle in response.
“You haven’t changed a bit. Just got bigger.”
“Hey now? What’s with the formal tone?”
“This guy...”
Meeting someone from one’s cherished past was a joy, no matter how many times it happened.
Especially if that person was a close friend.
“Come on in first. You must be tired from the long trip.”
“Yeah, yeah. Oh, I haven’t greeted the Lady yet! I’m Luton, knight of the Gideon Family! Back in the day, I was the captain’s right-hand man here!”
“Pleased to meet you.”
Tiria gave a small bow as she always did.
Entering the manor, Elric forgot his original purpose in his excitement and began catching up on lost time.
“I heard you became a knight, but I didn’t expect it to be in the neighboring territory. Why not stay in Weibin?”
“They’re not hiring more knights here. The Gideon Family still runs a knight order just to maintain their status. Ah, not that I’m badmouthing Weibin?”
“No need to worry about that.”
“Good to hear.”
The conversation stretched on.
They talked about how each had spent the last ten years, updates on other friends, the recent harvest festival, and more—until it inevitably turned to reminiscing about old times.
Memories so vivid they felt like yesterday kept Elric smiling nonstop.
The talk broke off soon after.
“Family Head, sorry to interrupt the fun, but may we discuss business now?”
“Ah, my apologies. I got carried away.”
“Not at all.”
It was Tiria’s mediation.
Regrettable, but perfect timing—otherwise, they might’ve talked all night.
Luton chuckled and agreed with her.
“Anyway, I’m here on dispatch, so business first. Magic beast hunt, right? Lady, could you tell me more details?”
“It’s nothing complicated. A magic beast from the mountain behind the village came down and caused havoc. Our investigation points to a Caliso Wolf as the likely culprit, and the Family Head suggested we should have at least one knight for safety.”
“Hmm, if it’s a magic beast, I can definitely help. I’ve hunted a few in Gideon territory too.”
Elric smiled awkwardly as he listened to them.
It wasn’t a Caliso Wolf but a Blade Wolf, but explaining how he knew that with Tiria watching was tricky.
He could tip off Luton privately later.
Lost in such thoughts, Elric observed Luton closely.
‘Well trained.’
Luton’s mana was remarkably stable.
No surprise, given he’d always been tough as nails since childhood—grueling training wouldn’t faze him.
This level of skill meant they could go toe-to-toe with a Blade Wolf.
If he slashed its claws with his sword and Elric pierced it with a matchlock rifle, that should do it.
“...I see. Our side has three hunters with matchlock rifles and one guide. Not bad. Overkill for wolf hunting, really.”
Luton joked with a hearty laugh.
“Let’s head out right away. We can catch up on the rest later, Captain!”
As he stood, Luton glanced out the window and tilted his head in confusion. “Huh?”
Elric followed his gaze.
“What’s... hmm.”
Elric’s brows furrowed.
“It’s snowing.”
White flakes began drifting down from the sky.
Judging by their size, it would accumulate.
*
There were issues with setting out immediately.
Icy roads would hinder carriages and horses, but the real problem was getting soaked in the falling snow, which could drop body temperature dangerously.
Luton, as a mana-wielding knight, would be fine, but the others might not.
Still, they couldn’t just ignore the magic beast.
In the end, they reached one conclusion.
“Let’s move once the snow stops.”
Luton’s suggestion.
“It’s not all bad. Snow means clearer tracks from the beast. Easier to trace its path and habitat.”
“How long until it stops?”
“By afternoon, at least?”
Not too much time lost, so Elric and Tiria agreed.
After lunch and not much longer, the three finished preparations.
Luton asked,
“You’re really coming along?”
“Hm? Any problem?”
“Why wouldn’t there be?”
Luton’s eyes flicked to Elric’s knee.
Elric gave an embarrassed smile.
Fair enough—a guy who could barely walk without a cane tagging along on a mountain hike was worrying.
But to Elric, it was no laughing matter.
“I’ve circled the continent for ten years, injuries and all. This won’t slow me down.”
“Fair enough, can’t stop you then... But if the beast shows, stay right behind me, got it?”
“Understood.”
Truth be told, Elric would’ve preferred leaving Tiria behind, but telling her to stay home because his lame leg made it dangerous? Absurd.
Above all, her resolve to come along was firm—hard to argue.
Elric glanced at her.
‘She’s quieter than usual today.’
Distracted by Luton, he hadn’t noticed until now.
Was she tense?
Her expression seemed stiffer than normal.
That was when.
“Let’s depart.”
At Tiria’s word, the carriage moved.
They reached the village an hour later.
The hunters, guide, and village chief who’d arrived the day before greeted them.
“Huh, the Lord and Lady are coming too?”
The chief was shocked but powerless to stop them.
He could only bow reluctantly at Elric’s words—that was his limit.
Good for Elric.
“Don’t worry—just keep the villagers calm.”
Elric smiled brightly at the hunters.
“Everyone seems ready. Let’s move out.”
“Yes!”
The mountain trek began.
Though the mountain behind the village, it was part of a vast range. The path where the beast likely descended was a main trail used by nearby herbalists.
Elric watched the hunters and Luton as they climbed, scanning the surroundings.
To hint about the Blade Wolf.
‘Tracks should be showing up soon.’
Better than bluntly saying “This is a Blade Wolf track”—let them spot remnants and realize it themselves.
Easier than explaining mangled fences or village damage pointed to the species.
Elric had no intention of taking the lead.
“Found it!”
One hunter shouted midway.
Elric checked.
‘Ambiguous.’
His eyes narrowed.
It was a footprint.
Larger than a typical Caliso Wolf, but lacking Blade Wolf traits.
“Pretty big footprint.”
That was all he could say.
The reactions that followed were as expected.
“Big enough to wreck a village. A real monster.”
“Yes, looks like a hefty adult specimen.”
Footprints alone weren’t enough, then.
Elric sighed.
“Let’s keep moving.”
If only they found clearer proof.
The upside: plenty of time left.
Beasts usually nested after the fifth valley—they were only in the first, no ambush worries yet.
Above all, Elric’s spread mana net detected no beast presence.
‘It’s fine.’
So thinking, they’d climbed well into the second valley when Luton scowled.
“...This is insane.”
He was right—a maddening situation.
“Sky was clear, and now this damn snow starts up again?”
Dark clouds rolled in, snow piling thick once more.
Even Elric was flustered.
So far, manageable for walking, but more accumulation would restrict movement severely.
Worse problems loomed.
“Lady, you alright?”
“...Yes.”
Tiria looked pale.
Elric finally realized something was wrong.
Her flushed face—he’d thought just the cold, but no.
He removed his glove, touched her forehead: feverish.
“You’ve caught a cold.”
Elric’s face hardened.
Tiria’s gaze dropped.
“...It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? Why didn’t you say something in this state?”
“...”
Tiria fell silent.
The others looked troubled.
“Captain, what now? Head back down?”
Too far to retreat.
By the time they reached the village to warm her, the fever would spike and she’d collapse.
They needed quick action.
Elric’s mind raced, then locked on a spot.
“...Luton, head there.”
“Huh?”
“The cabin. There’s one in this second valley.”
Luton’s eyes widened.
“...Oh! The place where you learned swordsmanship from that bandit!”
“Knight, remember?”
“Whatever!”
Luton’s face lit up.
“Yeah! Perfect—shelter from the snow and warm the Lady up! Let’s go!”
“Lady, can you walk a bit more?”
Tiria nodded faintly.
Elric gripped her shoulder firmly.
“Hold on just a little longer.”
“...Yes.”
Elric supported her and quickened his pace.
Luckily, Luton remembered the cabin too—his lead was sure-footed.
*
Crunch, crunch—
Snow crunched underfoot everywhere.
In the midst, Tiria glanced at Elric.
His face brimmed with worry.
‘Didn’t realize the fever would spike this bad...’
Tiria silently scolded her carelessness.
But knowing ahead—would she have stayed behind? She shook her head inwardly.
Just worry.
This season, this range, with Elric—stirred memories.
Amid dizzying fever, the snowy mountainscape blurred with hazy recollections.
-Run first!
A brown-haired boy shouted, blood streaming from his nape.
His face desperate.
Behind him, a black magic beast with glowing yellow eyes.
-Hurry!!!
The cry echoed sharply in her mind, and
thud—
Tiria lost consciousness and collapsed.
“Lady!!!”
Elric’s startled voice was the last she heard.