Kays Translations

Chapter 415: This Is No Game

House Mulan’s knight commander had investigated thoroughly. The map marked several places where medicinal herbs, detox grass and mana grass grew, including one relatively close to the territorial capital.

“This will be our destination. We placed markers asking others not to harvest there, so the plants should still be available.”

Would that really work? A marker might as well announce where the herbs were. Still, several alternative locations lay nearby, and if necessary I could use my Search skill.

“We will depart in the afternoon. Please make your preparations by then.”

Once the commander dismissed us, Fabienne and Caro returned to their rooms with their attendants to change into practical clothes. Their flushed faces suggested excitement at their first expedition.

“Julius-sama, we should prepare as well.”

“Yes. Giles and Christopher are joining us, so after changing, let’s check the knights’ preparations.”

“Julius-sama, is it alright if we come along as well? We’d like to greet them first.”

“Of course. Let’s meet at the knights’ quarters.”

After parting from Axel and Ijidol, I changed into clothes suitable for combat and fastened my sword at my waist. I was glad I had brought it. Nero was equally prepared, with a short sword at his side.

At the knights’ quarters, Axel and Ijidol were already talking with Giles and Christopher.

“Did we take too long?”

“Not at all. There’s still time before we head out. Once greetings are done, we should warm up a bit.”

“So that was your real aim, Axel.”

“Haha…”

His laugh did not fool anyone; he clearly wanted to spar with me. I had no reason to refuse, and observing my disciple’s progress sounded worthwhile. After greeting the knights and checking the preparations, we began our mock battle.

I sparred not only with Axel but also with Nero, Giles and Christopher. Naturally, I won every match.

As a joke, I steadily increased the number of opponents. More knights gathered to watch, but I ignored them. In the end, I faced all four at once—and still won easily.

“You still have a long way to go.”

“You’re a monster…”

“That’s harsh, Axel. Calling someone a monster like that.”

“But, Julius-sama, you’re just too strong…”

Christopher sounded close to despair. If a defeat like this crushed his spirit, he needed mental training as well. The surrounding knights murmured, but I ignored them. In the Heine Margraviate, this was hardly unusual.

“Julius-sama, you truly are strong.”

“Oh, Fabienne, you were watching too?”

Fabienne stood nearby in fitted riding clothes. The sleek silhouette made my heart race; I had not expected such practical attire to suit her so strikingly, and it emphasised her figure more than her usual dresses.

“I was watching from the moment you all started fighting. I never thought you would actually win, though.”

“Axel said that Julius-sama was much stronger than him, and it turns out he was right.”

Caro wore almost identical clothes and looked equally refined. Neither carried a weapon, which suggested they intended to flee rather than fight if trouble arose. That was sensible.

“You both look great. With this, you should be able to walk through the forest safely.”

“Thank you. I’ll do my best not to hold everyone back.”

“If anything happens, I’ll do my best to run away.”

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, Caro, I’ll protect you.”

“Axel…”

Leaving the two gazing into each other’s eyes, I turned to the gathered knights and asked about the forest. We knew our destination, but I wanted the latest information on monster movements.

The scouts had ventured deep into the forest without finding a single monster. The forest appeared to have returned to its former tranquillity.

That made me more uneasy, not less. The monsters that had attacked the region could not all have been exterminated. Some must have escaped back into the forest—so where were they?

A pack had attacked a village on our journey to House Mulan. Another group could easily have formed elsewhere. The complete absence of solitary monsters was therefore troubling.

When I raised the concern, Lionel and the other knights agreed, although one of House Mulan’s knights posed another question.

“Julius-sama, for monsters to act in groups, they would need a leader to unite them. What do you think about that?”

“That’s true… Lionel, was there any monster among those that attacked the village that stood out as a leader?”

The knights thought hard. Their inability to answer immediately meant that none of the monsters at the village had stood out as a leader. Somewhere in the forest, then, an even stronger creature might be commanding the others.

“I see, so that’s what you mean. There was no such monster among them. That would mean a powerful creature controlling the monsters is hiding somewhere in the forest.”

Lionel’s conclusion cast a heavy silence over the group. The Eastern Margrave’s forces were still searching the forest, perhaps because they had reached the same conclusion and driven the unknown creature deeper inside.

That should make the area near our destination comparatively safe. The scouts had found no monster groups, and as long as we did not venture too deep, we ought to be fine.

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