The Missing Persons Case (1)
By the time the two of them returned to the manor, the day was nearly spent.
"Who are those people?"
In the distance the count's manor came into view, and at the entrance stood a cluster of figures. Milia tilted her head, puzzled. If her memory served, no visitors were expected today.
"Do you know anything about this?"
"No… I haven't heard a thing either…"
Schwarz had already checked the manor's schedule in advance; there was no chance he had simply forgotten. That left only one possibility—unexpected guests.
"Let's go down and see."
"Yes, My Lady."
Schwarz gave a low rumble of assent and banked downward. The people below spotted them and hastily drew back. Careful not to buffet anyone with the force of his wings, Schwarz settled gently onto the ground.
"My Lady. You've returned."
One of the manor guards bowed the moment he recognized her. At the same time a group of men turned toward them. They wore light leather armor and carried bows and quivers—hunters, every last one of them, by the look of it.
"Who are these people?"
"Hunters from Parus Village, My Lady. They say they've come to petition the Count."
"Parus Village?"
Parus Village sat in the northern reaches of the countship, closest of all the settlements to the Black Forest. From time to time monsters wandered out of the woods, and hunting them was the villagers' livelihood. As a result, every man and woman of Parus was an exceptional archer.
"That hair… You must be the young lady of the house! An honor to meet you, My Lady!"
One of the men stepped forward, having recognized her, and bowed deeply.
"Name's Max—head of the Parus Village hunters. It's a privilege, My Lady!"
"A pleasure. So what brings you here?"
Milia returned the greeting with a slight tilt of her head. Anyone arriving at this hour was unlikely to be bearing ordinary news.
"Well… there's been a string of disappearances in the village."
"Disappearances…?"
Milia's eyes widened. The people of Parus were all skilled hunters. Individually they were formidable, and their tracking skills in particular were legendary. If even they had been forced to petition the count for help, the matter was anything but ordinary.
"Yes…"
"Come inside for now. I think you'd better speak with my father. Would you fetch him, please?"
"At once, My Lady."
One of the guards nodded and hurried into the manor. Milia led Max and the other hunters inside. Schwarz watched her disappear through the doorway; she gave him a small nod, and with a low rumble he turned and made his way toward his own quarters.
The manor's reception room.
"So… seven people missing in total, is that it?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Bernus set down his teacup and regarded Max, who answered in a voice tight with nerves. According to the hunter, the missing numbered seven: several village children who had vanished near the Black Forest, two hunters who had gone in after them, and two more who had been sent later—all of them gone without a trace. To prevent further losses, Parus Village had halted the search and come to the count's house for proper aid.
"I understand. The count's house will take charge of this matter."
"Th-thank you, my lord!"
"Thank you!"
Max and the hunters rose as one and bowed deeply.
"At first light tomorrow I'll have a search party assembled at Kelebor Fortress to look for the missing. Is there anything else you need?"
"Nothing, my lord! We are deeply grateful for your grace!"
"Truly, thank you!"
The hunters bowed once more and followed Robert out of the reception room.
"Father."
Milia, who had been watching the hunters leave through the window, called to Bernus.
"What is it?"
"Shall I go take a look myself?"
She turned toward him as he answered in his usual even tone.
"You simply want an excuse to go out and play, don't you?"
"Was I that obvious?"
Milia stuck out her tongue with a mischievous smile. Bernus set down his empty cup.
"Still, it wouldn't hurt to check the situation on the ground. And with the two of you, there's little to worry about."
"You're giving permission?"
"I am. Just don't let your guard down."
Milia's eyes widened in surprise; Bernus merely sighed and nodded.
"Yes! Then we'll be off!"
She all but skipped from the room, voice bright with excitement. Schwarz followed her into the corridor.
"Schwarz."
Bernus's voice stopped him.
"Yes, my lord."
"Look after Milia."
Schwarz halted and met the count's gaze.
"…Understood."
He bowed and continued after Milia. A short while later, a black dragon rose from the manor courtyard and climbed into the night sky.
The northern reaches of the Valentine Countship.
A vast mountain range thrust skyward, dividing the countship from the wastelands beyond. Year-round it lay buried under snow, lashed by howling blizzards—the Skyring Mountain Range. Nestled at its feet sprawled the immense woodland known as the Black Forest.
"Well? See anything?"
"No. Nothing at all."
The two of them were circling high above the Black Forest, scanning the canopy. Even in broad daylight the woods were dark as night; from the air, observation was all but impossible.
"Looks like we'll have to go down after all…"
"Seems that way."
Schwarz nodded as Milia gave a low murmur of frustration. Strictly speaking, no one would have faulted her for simply glancing from above and turning back. That she was willing to risk descending spoke volumes about the sense of duty she carried as heir to the count's house.
Then—
"Wait. What's that?"
"That is…"
Not far away, in the very heart of the forest, something was glowing. A violet light, stark against the midnight dark, shone clearly between the trees. Whatever it was, it was no ordinary thing.
"Is there anywhere nearby we can land?"
"I'll look."
Schwarz began a wide circle, searching for a clearing large enough to set down. Before long he spotted a narrow but serviceable open space, and they banked toward it.
In the silent heart of the forest a dragon's cry rang out as a massive form settled onto the ground. The moment Milia slid from his back, Schwarz shifted forms.
"Ah… achoo!!"
"I told you it would be cold."
Schwarz's voice was half exasperated as Milia sneezed loudly. The night air was already chill; they had been flying at altitude; and they were near the eternally storm-lashed Skyring range. Even in summer the wind aloft cut like midwinter.
"I didn't think it would be this cold…"
Milia sniffled, sounding faintly defensive.
"Next time, dress properly."
Schwarz sighed, reached toward her, and murmured a quiet spell.
"Heat."
A soft radiance enveloped Milia; the air around her warmed at once. She exhaled in relief and smiled at him.
"Ahhh… much better. Thank you."
"By the way—do you remember which direction it was?"
"Hmm… that way, I think."
Schwarz answered, reconstructing the memory. They had landed some distance from the spot they had seen, and from here the violet glow was no longer visible.
"All right. Let's move."
Milia started forward—only for Schwarz to stop her.
"One moment, My Lady."
"Hm? What is it?"
She turned, puzzled, then noticed the grave way he was scanning the darkness. Her grip tightened on her halberd.
"There's something out there."
"Looks that way."
Milia nodded. From the shadows between the trees, tiny points of violet light began to appear—dozens of them.
[Grrrrrrr…]
[Kuheong—!! Kuheong—!!]
Beastly growls swelled until they filled the night. The violet eyes drifted slowly through the dark, surrounding them.
"Light."
A bright orb of radiance rose above Schwarz's head.
[Kwaaang—!!]
The sudden glare lit the clearing—and a shape burst from the shadows, charging straight at Milia.
"Hah!!"
She twisted clear of the flashing fangs and swung her halberd in a sharp arc. With a wet crack the creature that had lunged at her was cleaved cleanly in two and thudded to the ground.
"What is this? A hound wolf?"
Hound wolves—monsters the size of small bears that made their home in the Black Forest, competing with Green Skins such as orcs and goblins. Milia frowned at the bisected bulk of the wolf-like beast. Around them the growling rose to a fever pitch.
"I don't think they're going to back down quietly."
"No. Doesn't look like it."
Schwarz settled into a ready stance. Milia nodded, flicked the blood from her blade, and braced herself.
In the next instant, as if that motion had been a signal, every pair of violet eyes surrounding them surged forward at once.