“Razing All Villages Near the Monster Habitat to Build an Outpost? That's Insane!”
“Wiping out all the villages near the monster habitat to build an outpost base? That's absurd!”
Viscount Volta burst into the tent and immediately started railing at me in anger. Pel, who had followed me inside, let out a low growl. The viscount flinched at the sight.
“Calm down and have a seat, Viscount Volta.”
“Ahem, yes.”
Realizing he'd gotten too worked up, Viscount Volta cleared his throat and sat down in front of me.
The frontier regions bordering the monster habitat, including Volta, hadn't been properly managed for the past few years. The duke falling under a curse and shutting himself away was the biggest reason. And the monsters weren't multiplying explosively like before. As a result, Viscount Volta, along with the other frontier counts managing those areas and Marquis Parma, had delegated authority to their subordinate viscounts and retreated to the background.
Ultimately, I'd need Marquis Parma's permission, but the one I had to convince first was Viscount Volta. Starting with him, I had to steer the entire frontier region in the right direction.
“You know this incident lets us wipe out most of the monster hunters, right?”
The captured ones were spilling information more cooperatively than expected. The Bellio Knights were even disappointed they hadn't gotten to properly interrogate them. At this rate, rounding up all the hunters who'd been such a headache for Volta was only a matter of time.
But if we kept neglecting the frontier, we'd just invite more hunters in the future. I reminded Viscount Volta of that point.
“If we slack on management, similar problems will crop up again sooner or later. To prevent crime in advance, we need thorough oversight.”
“But driving out people who are living peacefully...”
“People living peacefully?”
I scoffed at Viscount Volta's words.
“Do you really think that?”
“Mm...”
Viscount Volta let out a small groan and fell silent. This was probably the first time he'd come all the way to a frontier village like this. At best, he'd sent inspectors occasionally to pretend he cared. A quick look around the village showed how dire things were—it wasn't something the man in charge should be saying.
If we'd left them to get through the winter like this, who knew how many would survive come spring.
With one hand, I tapped the table with my fingers. With the other, I stroked Pel's fur as he lay at my feet.
“The other villages seem much the same. Am I wrong?”
“Well...”
Viscount Volta hemmed and hawed, unable to answer properly.
“How long did you plan to keep managing things this way?”
When I asked pointedly, like a threat, he bowed his head. Truthfully, it wasn't entirely his fault. With the duke and Marquis Parma uninterested in governing, a mere subordinate like Viscount Volta couldn't act on his own. I knew that, but I still had to rebuke him. It was the only way to justify clearing the villages.
“First, compile reports on the frontier villages from the past five years. Understood?”
“...Yes.”
Viscount Volta, sweating profusely, gave a heavy reply and left the tent.
The viscount himself wasn't a big issue. Ultimately, I needed the duke's approval. To convince him, I'd have to learn the frontier regions in detail myself.
“Whew.”
There was so much to do. I felt exhaustion creeping in and furrowed my brow. Pel, lying at my feet, looked up at me with his bright yellow eyes.
[Are you tired, my master?]
“Yeah, a bit.”
[Well, you haven't slept properly since leaving the mansion.]
Pel's head shook side to side, as if clicking his tongue. For a wolf, his speech and mannerisms were utterly human. I looked at him with fresh curiosity.
“Come to think of it, you've been able to come out a lot more lately.”
After the Tentamen trial ended, Pel had shown himself to people and then slept like the dead. He'd said it was because the seal had lifted after so long, draining his mana. I hadn't called him often because of that, but lately he kept coming out and sticking by my side without tiring.
[That's because your mana has finally become usable.]
“What does that mean?”
[Hm.]
Pel paused for a moment. His yellow eyes slowly scanned me. For some reason, they seemed able to see things I couldn't.
[Mana stabilizes the more you use it. Especially mana received from others.]
“Ah.”
[You've started using mana frequently lately, so the supply to me has increased. Enough that I don't need to stay in the pendant anymore.]
“That's good news.”
I nodded and scratched under Pel's chin with my fingers. His cold, gleaming eyes half-closed. Seeing the wolf's relaxed, pleased face, I chuckled.
“So, can I ride you instead of a horse from now on? The ride felt pretty comfortable.”
I recalled the time I'd unexpectedly mounted Pel while chasing the hunters. He was small inside the tent now, but his true form was a dire wolf larger than a horse. The soft fur over firm muscle hadn't felt bad at all.
Mentioning that made Pel scowl deeply.
[Do you intend to treat me like some lowly horse, my master?]
“Hahaha. Mad now?”
[You're the first to see a dire wolf as mere transportation.]
Dire wolves, like dragons, were sacred beings in the north. Of course, they ranked below dragons and were treated as monsters rather than divine beasts. Still, they were apex predators among monsters. And Pel—Fenrir himself—was no one I could treat lightly. I had no idea why such a prideful being served me as master.
“Sorry, sorry. Don't be upset. I won't ride you anymore.”
[...Hmph. I didn't say not to ride me.]
“Wait, really?”
I stifled a laugh as Pel whipped his head away. If I laughed now, he'd really sulk. I clamped my mouth shut alone when someone entered the tent.
“Lady Abigail. Are you resting?”
“Ah, come in, Teacher.”
Xavier entered the tent, startled at the sight of Pel lying there. But when Pel ignored him, he relaxed and approached me.
“You must be exhausted. Have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
I poured tea prepared by the mansion maids and handed it to Xavier. His face looked much gaunter than when we'd left the duke's residence. I felt sorry for him, working so hard.
“The climate here is so different from the south, right? It doesn't feel like summer at all.”
“Haha, indeed.”
The Magic Festival had come and gone in midsummer, but the south was still sweltering in late summer heat. Here, it felt like summer didn't exist. Nights were already chilly enough that short sleeves wouldn't do. I shuddered, imagining winter.
“The task you requested is proceeding smoothly.”
“Ah.”
I bowed my head to him.
“Thank you so much, Teacher.”
“No need. Thanks to you, I finally got to come to the northernmost reaches—something I'd always wondered about.”
“I'll support your research fully.”
“Haha, yes.”
Xavier had agreed to help with my personal project while pursuing his own studies: building outposts across the entire northernmost area. The Bellio Knights would handle the remaining hunters, and Xavier was drafting the basic plans for the outposts. Having a framework would make it easier to convince the marquis and the duke.
I whistled, pleased at how things were progressing.
“By the way, Lady Abigail.”
“Yes?”
“Do you really think the monsters will increase?”
“Well...”
I couldn't tell Xavier I knew the future. I just said it seemed likely. He'd advised that vague speculation wouldn't convince the duke.
“Surveillance on the hunters won't be persuasive enough either. Once this incident dismantles their organization, they won't be causing trouble anymore.”
The captured hunters were spilling everything so ridiculously easily. We probably didn't even need outposts for that. Smart hunters would lay low from now on. Xavier was right on all counts. And the duke would surely say the same.
But...
“If Noah and Seri had died in this, how could I face Annie?”
“...”
“Even if only one person gets hurt, I believe we must do our utmost. Even if they weren't the family of someone dear to me, the people living in this territory are all under my protection.”
I didn't know exactly how the monster surge would unfold six years from now. But it was obvious: lax management like this would lead to uncontrolled growth, and they wouldn't cope.
Poor villages that couldn't even survive winter, left alone. No proper checks near the monster habitat, leading to abductions and sacrifices. Just because visible monster numbers had dropped and reported victims were few didn't mean we could ignore the handful who suffered. We'd been turning a blind eye.
When I pointed that out, Xavier fell silent for a moment.
“...You're remarkable. I feel ashamed as an adult.”
He rubbed his faintly flushed face. I smiled brightly at him.
“No. If I hadn't come here and seen it myself, I'd have thought it was a waste of money and manpower too.”
Plus, I was the only one who knew about the future monster surge. It was natural for others to think I was odd for insisting on outposts to guard against monsters.
“We need more detailed information. Proof that there are many struggling like in Rimen Village.”
To sell the outposts, I had to emphasize they weren't just for monsters and hunters, but for relief of the territory's people. That would convince the duke and the frontier count. Xavier nodded at my words.
“I'll help as much as I can.”
“That's reassuring.”
Xavier would analyze all the data Viscount Volta brought. I looked at him with a pleased smile.
“When will you return to the mansion?”
“I'll need to head back soon for my father's permission. Ah, but before that...”
“...?”
I grinned at Xavier's puzzled expression.
“I do have to stop somewhere first.”
The frontier count. Marquis Parma. Having read the original story, I knew him well. What kind of man he was, what he'd do next. While reading, I'd given him a nickname: Spineless.
I thought of him as I finished the remaining tea.