Chapter 77: The Tin Knight and The Land of Deep Green (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: The Tin Knight and The Land of Deep Green (7)
Adelaide von Lennart recalled a scene from a novel she had once read.
“Immediately after defeating the ‘Lord of the Lake,’ we were filled with hope.”
“Having vanquished such a mighty beast, we believed no enemy could stand in our way. That the infamous Forest of Death was nothing before us, the ‘Blue Westwind.’”
“It was all a delusion. The Lord of the Lake was no tyrant ruling over the entire forest, but merely a neighborhood bully.”
“We defeated them, again and again, but new enemies kept coming. Rocks, lakes, trees—there was nothing we could trust. We had to be cautious with every bite of food.”
“Ah, humanity. How powerless we are before nature.”
It was a fictional adventure story, a vivid depiction of the hardships and trials faced by first-rate adventurers exploring a forest under a witch's curse.
Adelaide vividly remembered the protagonists struggling to survive amidst an endless flood of monsters and unknown threats whose origins they couldn't even fathom.
And now, a scene remarkably similar to the one in the novel was unfolding before her very eyes.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ demands that you offer up your neck at once!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ asserts that your head would look best on a pike!]
For a full day and night, twenty-four hours straight.
A spectral knight of slaughter who roamed the forest without a moment's rest, save for brief pauses to replenish his mana, mercilessly beheading the strong and collecting their corpses.
“…Phew. It’s surprisingly tiring to keep releasing the ones I’m sharing my vision with. But I can’t let innocent people witness this. I suppose it can’t be helped.”
The one who had created this nightmarish environment, where one couldn't even ignore the smallest corpse lying on the path, let alone the allies who had fought alongside them just moments before.
The evil necromancer who had plunged the forest's creatures into despair and terror by raising an army of the dead, yet who herself was casually concerned only with prying eyes.
They were a pair who wouldn't have been out of place if they were dropped right into the novel Adelaide had been thinking of.
Of course, their roles would be on the side of the disaster tormenting the protagonists. What? The protagonists' side?
Adelaide’s favorite genre was, first and foremost, sentimental romance, followed by heart-pounding, heartwarming adventure tales. A nonsensical slaughterfest drenched in blood was not to her taste.
But what could she do?
These absurd, unreasonable people were her teacher, her benefactor, and her comrades.
“It’s truly incredible. A task that would normally require an entire army is being handled by just two people.”
However, the vampire watching the pair with her seemed to have a different impression.
Her eyes, a color somewhere between pink and red, flashed as Sophia gazed at the surrounding scenery with interest.
At first, they had been forced to sleep with nothing but fallen leaves for a blanket, lacking even a proper base. But once Dorothea began to use her necromancy in earnest, the situation changed dramatically.
A wide, flat clearing replaced the uneven, gravelly ground. Tents made from animal hides appeared, and several neat rocks were placed around the clearing to serve as desks.
Various materials were laid out on the rocks, undergoing processing. A single bone, for instance, might be used whole, ground into powder, burned, or steeped in a liquid with certain herbs—the processes were diverse.
“‘Necromancers are insignificant beings. The lowest, most disgusting, and weakest of all mages.’ That’s what I read in a book, but I’d love to see the author’s reaction if they saw this scene now.”
“The witch would be furious if she heard that.”
“But it is the common view. In my time, Alchemists were the most welcomed by the public, and Wizards were the most valued on the battlefield. Still, for all that, there was no shortage of aspiring necromancers. The barrier to entry was low, and the Queen of the Dead's infamy was so great that quite a few jumped into the field in admiration of her. Like master, like pupil, I suppose?”
“Wow…”
Adelaide was impressed.
Although Dorothea often scolded her for not doing anything properly, Adelaide respected Sophia’s knowledge and refinement.
Being sealed for so long had left her with some gaps in modern knowledge, but her innate intelligence was not so easily diminished.
Listening to her explain things in her pleasant, gentle voice, Adelaide would lose all track of time.
Then, a thought suddenly struck her.
Huh? The Queen of the Dead? Wasn't the witch's master the Witch of the East? And if she was already famous back when Sophia was active, then just how old is…?
[The ‘Tin Knight’ calls for his pupil with great urgency!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ announces the start of swordsmanship practice!]
“Ah, yes! I’m coming!”
Adelaide’s train of thought was cut short.
Letting her questions drift away into the air, the immature, young lion ran toward her master.
The green-haired scarecrow watched her go with a smile.
*
And so, a few days passed.
“Hmm.”
As Dorothea stood with her arms crossed, lost in thought, the Tin Knight spoke.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if there is a problem!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ guarantees he can bring you any head you desire, if you just name the target!]
“I don’t need any more heads. I’ve already restocked more than enough.”
Dorothea snorted, clearly displeased about something.
“The blood and flesh of corrupted beasts. Specially processed bones. Various herbs grown with abundant mana. Soil from land untouched by human hands for ages. I’ve gathered everything I originally intended to secure here. I’ve gathered it, but…”
“You haven't found the ‘something’ that is the source of this forest. So you feel unsettled. Is that it?” Sophia added, finishing Dorothea’s trailing sentence.
Dorothea shrugged.
“It’s something powerful enough to affect such a vast area. If I can secure it, it would be a great asset in the fight against the Witch of the West.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ agrees that farming for map-exclusive items is important!]
Adelaide spoke up.
“But we’ve been searching the forest all this time and haven’t found anything, right?”
“That’s the problem. Wolves, bears, snakes, spiders, and so on. I’ve caught all the big, strong ones that have ‘mutated’ and turned the forest upside down, but there’s been no particular reaction.”
Dorothea continued.
“Of course, there might be some that look fine on the outside but are different on the inside. But to catch all of those, we’d really have to wipe out every living thing in the forest. It's one thing if they attack us, but hunting down and killing every last creature that flees in terror at our approach is a bit much.”
It was unclear whether she meant she wouldn't do it because it was a hassle and a waste, or if it was a form of mercy not to kill those who didn't show hostility.
Sophia interpreted it as the former.
Adelaide felt it was the latter.
The Tin Knight thought it was both.
There was no way to know the right answer.
“I’ve had a look around using Sophia’s mana-infused vision, but I haven’t seen anything promising.”
So, the forest exploration ends here, Dorothea declared.
Even as she said it, however, she seemed a little disappointed, her expression reluctant.
Just then, the Tin Knight raised his hand.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ points out that there is still a place left to check!]
“Where?”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that besides a brief look when you first entered, you haven't properly explored the bottom of the lake!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ proposes checking the bottom of the lake again, following the principle of narrative closure!]
“Hmm.”
At the Tin Knight’s suggestion, Dorothea fell into thought.
Her expression showed that the idea was quite tempting.
Seeming encouraged by her reaction, the Tin Knight continued to offer new suggestions.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that last time it was just him and Sophia, but this time all four of you should go!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ confidently asserts that while it may not be as grand as an undersea expedition, it will be a rather enjoyable experience!]
“Ahaha… Sir Knight. I appreciate the thought, but… I can’t swim. Besides, an expedition would mean staying underwater for a long time. I’m sure you and Miss Sophia would be fine, but it’s impossible for me and the witch.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that Dorothaemon’s magic should be able to solve it!]
“Umm.”
Adelaide scratched her cheek with a troubled smile.
I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s no way such a convenient spell would just pop up on demand.
Clang!
Sure enough, Dorothea's staff came down on the Tin Knight's head.
“Stop making up names for me. And I do have a spell for underwater breathing.”
“Excuse me?”
Adelaide asked without thinking.
It was a single utterance filled with the sentiment, Wait, you have that?
Dorothea replied nonchalantly.
“The first time we fell in, I didn’t have the catalysts, and I didn’t have the leisure to use something like that. I can use it now.”
She recounted her experiences, saying she’d used it often while running errands for her master to escape from dangerous foes on land.
Adelaide was thrown into confusion. She was becoming seriously curious about what kind of past Dorothea had lived.
Dorothea scratched her head.
“There are two methods. One is to surround your body with a giant air bubble, and the other is to hold a stone in your mouth that lets you breathe underwater. Which do you want? The bubble is more convenient for moving and keeping your clothes dry, but if it pops, that’s the end of it, so you can’t swing weapons around.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests that Adelaide take the latter!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ burns with the desire to lecture, saying he will teach her the knack of underwater combat!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that to become a true heir to the domain, one must be skilled in land, sea, and air combat!]
“I can concede the land battles, maybe, but I really don't think sea and air combat will be necessary.”
Though she sighed softly, Adelaide silently began to check her attire and equipment.
It was the swift resignation of someone who had realized that verbal protests were pointless.
Dorothea carefully sealed the materials she had painstakingly re-collected to prevent them from getting wet again. Still worried, she stored a spare set of materials at their base before heading to the lake.
*
Dorothea and Sophia, each encased in a large air bubble. Adelaide, with a small, pebble-like object in her mouth. And the Tin Knight, who needed no such thing. As they plunged into the lake, fish began to cautiously gather around them.
Then, the Tin Knight’s command was issued.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ exclaims that they should start by lightly slicing up about ten of them!]
Adelaide felt the urge to protest and ask if the Tin Knight’s definition of ‘lightly’ was the same as hers, but with a stone in her mouth, it was impossible.
Fighting against the water's resistance and her own uncooperative limbs, Adelaide desperately battled the fish.
After a quick glance at the scene, Dorothea approached Sophia.
The large air bubbles naturally merged as if they were always one, creating a space for the two to converse.
“Let’s leave the fighting to them. We need to focus on exploring. Give me your mana.”
“Understood.”
Ignoring Dorothea’s outstretched hand, Sophia placed her own hand right on top of Dorothea’s head.
Dorothea's eyebrow twitched, and the air around her turned menacing.
“What are you doing.”
“Well, to see the effect, you need to channel the mana into your eyes, don’t you? This seems more efficient than transferring it through your hands. I’ve tried a few times before, but you have so much mana, Miss Dorothea, that in the brief moment it takes to transfer it from your hand to your eyes, most of its color fades.”
“Urk…”
Dorothea let out a groan.
She was clearly annoyed by the situation, but Sophia’s words were correct, leaving her conflicted.
“…Just do it quickly.”
At the permission given with a sullen face, Sophia inwardly thought how cute she was.
It remained just a thought, of course, as saying it aloud would have earned her a swift blow from the staff.
Thus, Sophia’s mana was transferred to Dorothea, who channeled it into her eyes.
And she saw.
She saw the ‘fissures’ scattered everywhere, far more numerous than what she had seen from above.
The corners of Dorothea's mouth curled up.
This time, it seemed, she was definitely going to find something.