Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Knight Clad in Blue Light (4)
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“Is Holy Mage Grain alright?”
Clemence asked cautiously.
“Teacher just laughed it off. Seemed like he was used to it.”
Wedin furrowed his brow, as if it was hard to understand.
“So I used holy magic instead, and Teacher just gave instructions from the side. But the caravan master was so out of it from the drugs that he kept spouting nonsense.
Arbat are monsters, Loran are beasts, and Luar spread plagues...”
“Good lord, that's the worst. The worst nonsense I've ever heard.”
Shuren waved his hand in exasperation.
Wedin chuckled.
“He was yapping so much it got on my nerves, so I knocked him out. Teacher scolded me a bit, but the treatment was way easier after that.”
“You knocked him out?”
I asked in surprise, and Wedin wiggled his fingers to demonstrate.
“Yeah, I'm good at that. There's a spot at the base of the neck where the nerves connect. Press there and focus your holy power, and their mind just snaps off. Teacher said it's dangerous, so don't use it.”
“Well done, Wedin. After a good nap, maybe he'll think about who helped him.”
Shuren said that, but Wedin shook his head with a weary look.
“I hope so... Anyway, Lib, you stay away from that guy.”
“Yeah...”
Luar spread plagues? First time I'd heard that. It made my stomach churn for no reason.
Wedin was right; better not get too close to the caravan master.
Shuren was a Denan-Luar half-breed, so his hair was black, but as a pureblood Luar, I had the pale hair and eyes unique to us, along with our pale skin and the faint plant-like scent that was our natural aroma.
Anyone sensitive to races could spot those traits right away.
I glanced at Clemence sitting across from me.
Her face was pale as she pondered something deeply.
Come to think of it, she hadn't said a word for a while.
“Clemence, you okay? You look pale.”
“Oh... It's nothing. Just remembering something I heard before.”
“Something you heard before?”
“Remember when Grandpa investigated Lesion's situation for us? It was from that...”
Clemence's voice dropped a little.
I leaned in, and so did Shuren and Wedin, ears perked.
“Prince Raymond, who's in line for the throne, has been saying the same things. Arbat are monsters, Loran are beasts, and Luar spread plagues...”
A silence close to terror settled over the table.
Not the ravings of a drugged caravan master, but words openly spread by a prince of the realm...
The weight of that was anything but light.
“...Looks like the meeting's over.”
Shuren broke the silence, eyeing the White Guard Knight's tent.
I turned to see people emerging one by one as the entrance flap was pulled back.
White Guard Knight, Father, the administrative officer, and knights.
Among them, the Silver Guard Knight spotted Shuren and gave a light wave.
“Gotta go.”
It was the summons for the Silver Moon Knight Squad.
Shuren and the two other Silver Moon Knights at nearby tables rose and headed his way.
Meanwhile, Administrative Officer Wilton staggered out of the tent and headed toward the massive crystal pillar like he was entranced.
The closer he got, the wider his eyes grew and his mouth opened.
“...Guess I should go too.”
What excuse could I make for that thing?
I racked my brain furiously as I stood.
“There wasn't anything like this earlier.”
Administrative Officer Wilton fired the question at me the moment he saw me.
Unable to find a good excuse, I could only smile awkwardly.
“It's pretty unique, right? Next time, I'll design something less eye-catching.”
“...Please do. Anyway, does it function properly?”
“Yes, don't worry. It makes it hard for magical beasts to detect the camp, and it'll alert us if any get close.”
The barrier protecting the camp was the pinnacle of kingdom-style magic.
A protective shield over a set area, alarms for approaching magical beasts, and stealth functions via sound and light dispersion.
It packed all those camp-protection features into a few simple incantations for efficient mana use.
Replicating that with imperial magic would guzzle enormous mana and focus—not to mention staying awake all night.
“Good. You've worked hard today, Eldrian.”
I blinked. Praise I hadn't expected.
“...Th-thank you.”
Administrative Officer Wilton cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I heard you made the right calls in today's clash with the Gatra and helped turn the battle.
Seems I worried too much about you, Eldrian. I can trust you from here on... That alright?”
“Y-yes, of course. No worries.”
My reply was a bit hasty, and he looked skeptical again, but he nodded soon enough.
He patted my shoulder twice before heading off for his late meal.
“Looks like the officer's finally eased up on you.”
Father approached from behind with a laugh.
“Told you I'd handle it.”
I was in such a good mood my smile wouldn't fade.
Never thought being acknowledged would feel this good.
“The real work starts now. Good job today, though. Eaten yet?”
“Yes. You're heading to eat now, right, Father?”
“Yeah.”
I followed Father to the food distribution area.
Most people had finished eating, so only the cooks and a couple servants remained at the serving station.
Father and the other delegation officers and knights from the meeting gathered for their belated meals.
“Why'd the meeting drag on so long?”
I asked beside Father as we waited our turn.
“Mostly about the magical beasts. Over fifty Gatra. Not something to take lightly. And a Black Gatra showing up was a problem too.”
“Ah...”
The horde we'd run into right after leaving Prion City Lord Legros... mixed with a rare variant.
Was it because of me?
The sudden thought sent a chill down my spine.
“Not common, but not unheard of either. Nothing for you to worry about.”
Father seemed to read my mind.
Right, no need to overthink it.
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
Since leaving Prion's barrier, I'd been controlling my mana tightly.
No way I'd let demons or beasts sneak up disguised again—I'd trained desperately to prevent that.
Ash confirmed clearly: no more 'light' visible to him normally.
If I kept a good grip on my mana, demons and beasts wouldn't notice me.
“Scouts report magical beasts surging across all of Lesion. Grim rumors of a dragon in the capital Elgrace too.
If demons are sighted or stir, we'll need to tense up more, but luckily—or unluckily—it's just beasts so far.”
Father added it to reassure me.
Magical beasts arose from mutated normal animals and plants, so they outnumbered and out-varied demons by far.
“Still, we must prepare for the worst, so we're sending back the injured who can't move and requesting reinforcements. Might get help from the Lesion Royal Knights or army.”
“From Beldaine?”
“Right. They should arrive by tomorrow evening. We'll meet Lesion's welcoming party too...”
Father trailed off, turning toward someone approaching.
I looked back to see a silver-haired knight standing before us.
Silver Guard Knight. I'd thought he'd taken the Silver Moon Knights somewhere.
The Silver Guard Knight stared down at me impassively.
Behind him, Shuren covered one eye like he couldn't bear to watch.
“Liberic Eldrian, I need your help scouting the camp perimeter.”
“Pardon...?”
Before my short retort finished, Father yanked my arm and pulled me back.
“No.”
Father's voice was almost a growl.
The Silver Guard Knight turned to Father, who met his gaze sharply.
“I can't allow it, Silver Guard Knight.”
“I don't need your permission. I already have it from the White Guard Knight and Administrative Officer Wilton.”
Despite Father's sharp reaction, the Silver Guard Knight's tone stayed calm and emotionless.
People were starting to murmur and gather around.
Father didn't seem to notice the stares...
“Lib isn't under your command. He's with the delegation.”
“I know. Scouting the camp is delegation business, so I'm just borrowing the delegation mage. You, on the other hand...”
The Silver Guard Knight's gaze chilled.
“...as Blue Guard Knight, shouldn't interfere with delegation duties.”
Father gripped my arm tighter. It went numb from the pressure.
I grabbed Father's hand.
“F-Father. I'm fine. Really...”
Only then did Father look down at me and loosen his grip a bit.
His blazing glare softened slightly.
“Lib. This is...”
The rest were words Father couldn't bring himself to say.
For the sake of delegation duties—he couldn't argue against that.
As Blue Guard Knight, he knew better than anyone not to obstruct them.
Father stared at me with a conflicted expression, then squeezed his eyes shut and opened them.
The boiling emotions had subsided.
“Alright. I'll trust you.”
Father released my arm.
My relief was short-lived.
Father strode up to the Silver Guard Knight and roughly grabbed his knight uniform's collar with his left hand.
His right fist clenched, poised to swing.
I gasped at the suddenness.
Instead of punching, Father leaned in close to his ear and whispered low.
“If he gets hurt even a little, I won't let it slide this time.”
His voice was so quiet only the Silver Guard Knight and I heard.
The Silver Guard Knight didn't blink, and Father released him just as roughly.
“Go on, Lib. Come to my tent when you're back.”
“Y-Yes, Father...”
I barely managed to reply.
Father turned and pushed through the murmuring crowd back to his tent.
The Silver Guard Knight watched him a moment, then nodded at me.
“Follow me, Liberic.”
He strode off without waiting for my answer.