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“I’m told the extermination squad left the city this morning?”

“Yes, the elite forest guardians from the three noble families in the Great Forest, along with those from the Count’s House, have embarked towards the eastern woods.”

“Hmm…”

Eunice Kalia quietly began to sharpen her sword on a whetstone while the noise of the dull blade regaining its edge echoed softly in the serene barracks.

There was a subtle yet pervasive tension in the otherwise dreary space, with only Eunice and the stubborn captain of the second squad present.

“Time flies faster than I expected. It feels like just yesterday we sent a new envoy to the family right after speaking with the young lady.”

Of course, among the knights of the third squad, there are those who act justly and faithfully according to their duties. However, they are few. Most of them are sly and crafty women, after all.

The knights in the second squad, who are also their own faction, were certainly more solid than those women. Eunice didn’t particularly like them.

Not to mention the razor-sharp tension between Allen and herself.

So when the third squad occasionally reported feeling an uneasy energy from the women of the second squad, she did not think much of it.

It’s not surprising that the women in the second squad didn’t like those in the third.

In fact, there had been several instances of friction even while guarding the borders. Perhaps that’s why they brought it up at all.

Coincidentally, even though the women who confronted the knights of the third squad masked their feelings, one could see the anger hidden behind their rigid expressions.

At that moment, she could not easily recall anything about magic.

‘It would be unimaginable for someone like the Marquis’s young lady to have a connection with demons…’

It should be impossible.

The kingdom was established by conquering demons. While the counts and barons here might be indifferent, any family higher than a count carries resentments about demons and has a history of participating in the great crusade against them.

Currently, the Marquis family focuses more on the issues posed by foreign militaries and close-quarter battles instead of dwelling on strange and dusty tales of demons.

We too, not forgetting the great crusade with our first king and ancestors, still feel deep pride in the traditions we built during that time.

Yet—

‘Allen Kalia.’

His younger brother who fell into ruin the moment he was given power.

‘He hasn’t learned a thing and only causes chaos pretending to be some noble knight…’

Dismissing the words spoken back when he remained within the family

She was compelled to rethink her stance after receiving letters from the retainers supporting her after her arrival at the Great Forest, along with the words she heard in the conversation with the count’s young lady.

‘Now, I’ll have to doubt even the remnants of faith I’ve held on to.’

The discomfort felt the first time she met Allen Kalia, the most suspicious circumstances.

The priest who couldn’t focus and the situation where there might be a connection with demons was quite the coincidence.

He, her brother, might just tarnish the great history her family holds. Not just with black ink, but with stench-filled rot.

No, at this point, it’s inevitable that he’s bound to sully the name of Kalia.

Eunice Kalia calmly lifted her broadsword from the whetstone. The sunlight, which had been gently filtering into the barracks, reflected off the blade, causing it to shine brightly.

“Very well sharpened. You should be able to excel in tomorrow’s hunt for the monsters in the northern woods.”

“Is that right? I’m glad to hear it; I’ve grown rather fond of this blade and want to use it for quite some time. There’s no greater honor for a blade than to gain achievements before it breaks.”

The knight nodded quietly.

She twisted the sword in various directions using her wrist, and sending mana to form a blue aura blade, Eunice smiled with satisfaction.

Yet, before long, she wiped the smile from her face and sang a cold note.

“Then, captain of the second squad, what do you suppose is the reason the envoy is so late in returning?”

“…She is a trustworthy knight. There is no way she would stray from her intended path or fail to reach her destination.”

“Can you assert that?”

“Yes. I can trust her.”

“Hmm. If the captain says so, waiting a little longer wouldn’t be a bad idea, but… given the circumstances, it wouldn’t hurt to call upon the elves’ power just as promised.”

Eunice Kalia stared sharply at the edge of her sword.

Her reflection appeared cleanly on the iron surface.

She gazed intently at the poison within her onyx-like eyes.

But it was just for a moment.

Slowly…

She sheathed her sword at her waist and coldly declared,

“I hope the retainers are properly prepared.”

The corners of Eunice’s mouth curled into a thin smirk.

Allen Kalia.

He’s absolutely unworthy of the noble title.

“When I return to the Marquis family, I’ll make sure to turn everything upside down.”

The head of the family must be her.

*

What disaster is about to unfold now?

Shione’s expression openly screamed “What’s happening?” as she began to show her concern.

I lightly tapped her wrist, pulling her attention away from her solitary thoughts.

“…Princess Shione, are you alright?”

—Myaaa…

Perhaps due to her growing size.

Even Orna, with her louder voice compared to before, felt the change in Shione’s atmosphere and was cautious.

Once I drew her attention, Shione finally looked directly at me, glancing around.

“…The whole forest feels just a bit cloaked in faint magic. What should I say… hmm…”

After a brief pause, she continued.

“Oh right. I’d describe it as a very thin mist spreading across the ground, just slightly enough to cause discomfort.”

“Ah.”

“This is my first time feeling something like this… it definitely doesn’t feel good. It won’t hurt to be a bit more careful—”

Shione boldly turned her head to look at me right beside her.

She kept her mouth shut, gesturing for me to come closer.

As I stood still, merely watching her, it seemed she had not anticipated my reaction.

A slightly troubled expression began to cross her face. It looked like she was about to bury her head low and wander through this treacherous forest.

Ultimately, I decided to stand by her side and began walking together as she wished.

—I should tell Changsik about this too.

‘…What now?’

—Even the great Park Shinwoo followed her orders without a fuss when she spoke.

‘……’

—If Changsik hears this, he might sulk again, huh?

‘What is there to sulk about this?’

—Remember when you were too busy with your Hunter duties and didn’t cut your hair on time? Changsik said he wanted to tie it up, but you absolutely refused. That’s just one thing…

‘……’

—You say you shouldn’t do something, but when it’s about the princess, you’re such a good listener. Won’t Changsik feel a bit resentful?

Tania buzzed around me, chuckling.

—Hehe, it’s poetic justice, so accept it!

With a bright smile, Tania said this just as Shione was about to say something about her.

“Over there, look!”

The wind spirit, Piel, who had been scouting the area, appeared before us, pointing excitedly.

“I’ve found some unpleasant traces over there!”

It seemed like it hadn’t been long since we entered the eastern woods, yet she already detected signs left by the cultists.

“Let’s move in that direction.”

With that, we began to follow Piel’s lead, as Faliel, along with Airine and the Count’s side, split their forces forward, with Chelness comfortably nestled between them.

Staying in our current formation, we advanced deeper and deeper into the heart of the woods, guided by Piel.

“The atmosphere is rather grim.”

Diolia looked up and remarked.

The forest, now thick with branches sprawling out, cast shadows as the sunlight barely filtered through the leaves, creating a rather bleak and somber ambiance.

Just how much further did we go?

“There it is!”

Right before Piel’s guidance was about to end, Shione suddenly grabbed my wrist tightly.

Simultaneously, the elf’s voice intertwined with Shione’s.

“It’s a monster. A particularly nasty batch infused with magic. They’re quickly surrounding us from all sides—”

“I’ve confirmed monsters approaching from the front.”

“There are many monsters behind us—”

“From the right—”

Shione swiftly began scanning the area, contemplating whether to pull an arrow from her quiver or draw her sword.

At the warning of the elves who were on alert through spirit guidance, other forest guardians began preparing for battle as well.

The tension in the air thickened.

I too quietly pulled an arrow from my quiver and began keeping an eye on the surroundings.

‘First, I need to get a grasp of the situation.’

Using mana, I heightened my senses.

I caught the foul stench of beasts wafting from them with my nose and strained my ears to pick up the unnatural noises of rustling bushes. My eyes carefully scanned between the wooden columns, ensuring no tiny movement escaped my notice.

I soon detected that numerous monsters were converging all at once.

‘Starting with the closest one.’

Diolia, who stood beside Shione with her sword drawn.

She concentrated on the energy of the approaching monster racing toward her.

Lowering her stance, hidden behind the wooden columns and shrubs, she deftly tracked the monster’s movements without missing a beat.

With no hesitation, she drew back the bowstring.

Using the Pinch Style to draw the string taut as it began to flex, channeling her mana into the arrow.

Swoosh!

With a powerful tension, the twang of the bowstring resonated. Gathering mana, a small spiraling wind swirled around the arrow.

“Kyahh!”

A massive spider-like monster, waiting right for its moment to pounce.

It leapt into the air, spreading its sickle-shaped front legs wide, and bared its sharp front fangs, enough to cleave its prey in two.

Its intended target was Diolia.

“Not on my watch!”

With a fierce battle cry, gathering aura, she unleashed a deadly strike before the monster’s fangs could reach her.

Boom─!

 

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