MTM 179

Elquir’s eyes shone as he sensed the danger. Perhaps he possessed the ability to see into the distance with his eyes; after concentrating for a while, he spotted something and whispered,

“There’s a group of orcs around the castle. Dozens… no, there might be far more than that….”

“Orcs…?”

Unable to hide his surprise, Zed pulled Harto into his arms and hid behind the rock. Elquir did the same. He held his breath and carefully looked around.

‘Huh? Why go to such lengths….’

Harto was confused by Zed and Elquir’s cautious behavior. He had only ever encountered two orcs: the one he saw at Black Crown and the librarian. Although he had been startled by the orcs’ fierce appearances, which was different from that of humans, the ones he had met in person hadn’t seemed particularly threatening.

“… They must be wild orcs.”

“Wild orcs…?”

Zed explained the ecology of wild orcs.

Wild orcs, who primarily inhabit the depths of ancient ruins, are a fairly intelligent species, but they live in strict groups centered around a leader. While most who strayed from the pack were summarily executed, a lucky few who survived and entered civilized society had even learned to socialize with humans.

“Yes, and… it seems they’re addicted to ‘Epimer’ as well.”

Elquir spoke with a stern expression.

“Epimer? You mean that flower actually exists?”

Zed’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“To humans, it’s known as a mythical flower, but it’s a real plant. The Forest of Life was originally its only habitat.”

“Epimer…?”

When Harto tilted his head in confusion, Zed explained that it was a flower that bloomed only in the Forest of Life; consuming even a single leaf caused one to lose their sanity and become frenzied, eventually transforming them into a bloodthirsty monster.

‘Whoa…. Now I understand why those two were so cautious….’

Only then did Harto realize that the gentle orcs he had met and the wild orcs before him were entirely different beings.

“Is there a way to get to the castle without being spotted by them?”

Zed asked as Elquir’s eyes returned to their normal state. The pile of fish they’d brought wasn’t enough to throw off the wild orcs’ keen sense of smell, and a direct assault was far too dangerous.

“If there were a stream nearby, I could have safely escorted you both on my own…”

True to his nature as the river’s guardian, Elquir was confident in navigating waterways, but all that surrounded the castle were puddles left by last night’s rain. Yet, detouring by climbing the cliffs would take too much time, and even if they hid among the burned-out houses and rubble, it would be difficult to evade the orcs’ keen senses.

“Then… how about we wait until it gets dark?”

Zed shook his head at Harto’s suggestion.

“It’s no use. Wild orcs are more active at night and have keen eyesight. It would only put us at a greater disadvantage.”

“Then what about this?”

Elquir and Zed discussed the optimal route to the castle in detail. Harto listened quietly to their conversation, then looked up and stared at the birds flying high in the sky.

“…The sky is empty.”

At Harto’s mutter, Zed turned his head.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Zed, the sky is empty.”

Harto spoke to Zed with renewed emphasis. His eyes had begun to sparkle at some point. Yet, as Elquir and Zed still looked confused, Harto slowly smiled and said,

“We just have to fly through the sky.”

***

After the rain stopped, Leon and Gerard followed the Royal Knights through the damp, chilly forest toward the cliff. Leon had been frightened by the idea of crossing the River of Life, but the current was calm after the storm had passed. Moreover, the river they had to ​stolen content​cross had receded so much that the pebbles on the riverbed were visible.

“Thank goodness…”

Just as Leon was breathing a sigh of relief,

“Leon!”

Robert, the mage from the Royal Knights, approached with a cheerful expression.

“It’s wonderful to see you again! Seeing you safe and sound puts my mind at ease.”

“Mr. Robert…”

Leon relaxed upon seeing the familiar face and smiled.

Robert patted Leon on the shoulder, then bowed politely toward Gerard standing beside him.

“I am Robert Gremore, a mage of the Royal Knights’ ‘Golden Wings.’ I was in such a rush last night that I didn’t get a chance to properly introduce myself. I was a bit overwhelmed all night, burning the corpses of the orcs poisoned by Epimer.”

As Robert laughed off last night’s commotion as if it were no big deal, Gerard and Leon’s gazes naturally drifted toward the cliff below. The devastation caused by the orcs, who had hurled boulders and collapsed the cliff the previous day, remained fully intact. Facing the chaotic scene, Leon shuddered slightly.

“Did you clean it up completely?”

“Yes, I used a dissolution spell to turn them all into dust. There were five of them in total, but they were so big that it took a bit of effort.”

Robert replied with a smile to Gerard’s question. Gerard stared at Robert’s face for a moment before speaking.

“Thank you.”

Leon was even more surprised by this sudden and unexpected expression of gratitude than Robert himself.

“If it weren’t for your magic, my life would have ended yesterday.”

Moved by the holy knights commander’s sincere words, Robert glanced at Leon.

“You should direct that thanks to Leon. To be honest, I was drawn [visit our site]to the cliff by the mage’s aura rather than the wild orcs. I’m glad I was able to help just in time.”

“I didn’t really do anything…”

At Robert’s exaggerated praise, Leon awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Robert ruffled Leon’s hair roughly before turning his head back toward Gerard.

“I’ve been told that you are the commander of the Knights of Carseon. Someone of your stature cannot possibly remain in such a dangerous place. The Royal Knights will now take over the search for Prince Ares, so you may return to Carseon.”

It was a perfectly reasonable argument. Now that the Royal Knights had taken the lead, there was no justification left for the commander of the Knights of Carseon to risk his life by accompanying them. Furthermore, since Gerard had already fulfilled the Archpriest’s order to the fullest, it would be a wise move for him to return to his homeland and consolidate his position. There was simply no reason for him to continue this arduous journey.

“……”

Gerard was silent for a moment. It wasn’t the first time he’d worn such a stern expression, despite his usual smooth-talking manner. When he saw Gerard looking both unfamiliar and somehow vulnerable, Leon recalled the conversation they’d had the night before.

‘But… I was powerless in the face of natural talent. I felt it acutely when I faced Prince Ares this time.’

It had been a passing remark, but it weighed on Leon’s mind. Perhaps Gerard wasn’t motivated by the Archpriest’s order or the prestige of being the commander, but simply by a pure desire to face Zed again. Even though he had suffered a crushing defeat at Zed’s hands, he might have wanted to witness the power of that innate holy power once more.

There was no way to know for certain what was in Gerard’s heart. But Leon felt a nagging unease in the back of his mind at the thought of simply turning his back on him.

“…I was the one who asked him.”

Perhaps that was why Leon spoke without even thinking.