Chapter 40

This time, the mission is to go to a place called the Kalkuk Wetlands and exterminate the man-eating lizards.

We will travel to the site by carriage. The wetlands are shrouded in thick fog, and there are areas that are swampy, where horses cannot enter.

I immediately start preparing.

For this trip, I pack the new vegetable pickles, dried noodles, roasted nuts and seeds, and salted pork and mutton into my bag.

"Let's have something warm and delicious."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Although there is no snow, it is said to be quite cold. We are also bringing a tent for camping.

I plan to sleep next to Deputy Team Leader Berry at night.

"By the way, Riris, the medic. Are you really taking Amelia with you?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, she gets lonely when I'm not around."

If only she could stay quietly somewhere like Zara's lynx, but given the nature of the griffin, I knew it would be difficult.

"That's tough."

"Well, apparently it gets a bit better once it becomes an adult."

However, to go on an expedition right after the suspension is over. The upper echelons must be angry that I disgraced the expedition team. It's understandable.

Fortunately, I had brought some preserved food for the griffin from the storage.

"Wow, the griffin's preserved food is dried fruit."

"Yes. This is the high-end stuff you see in the back of the store."

"Hee, if I ate it, my lips might swell."

"Right."

I also brought a box of fresh fruit to put in the break room, and packed it firmly into my bag.

Perhaps because of the scent of the fruit, Amelia approached and peered into the bag.

"Que?"

"We're getting ready to go out."

I wonder if she will behave in the carriage. And at the site. I'm worried.

I sniffed her wings and back, just to be sure. I wipe her body every day, but just in case.

Strangely, she has no animal odor at all. Since she only eats fruit, her body odor is sweet. It's a mystery of the mythical creature.

"However, Amelia's luggage alone is a considerable amount."

"I'll help you carry it."

"Thank you."

Urgas, what a good guy.

Once the packing is done, we head outside. As I walk, I look back at Amelia, who is following me closely.

Suddenly, a noisy voice comes from the office.

"You can't just show up like this!"

"I have permission to be here!"

It sounds familiar.

Urgas and I exchange glances and try to pass by, but the door opens forcefully from the inside.

"It's no use trying to stop me! ... Oh, it's you."

"Umm, hello."

The woman arguing with the captain in the office is from the Mythical Creature Protection Bureau. It's the intellectual beauty with glasses who came to confirm my nudity.

Today, she is not in a white coat but in the uniform of the knight squad—why?

"Um, is there something you need?"

I have a bad feeling, but I ask anyway.

"I joined the knight squad to guard the griffin."

"Whaaat!?"

What a surprise!

I didn't expect her love to be this intense. I realize the terrifying power of the Mythical Creature Protection Bureau.

The woman is holding a staff. She is probably a mage.

"Are you, by any chance, a healer?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Umm, well—"

I can't bring myself to admit my inferiority to healing magic.

"I'm not a healer. I told you, I'm here to guard the griffin."

So, she must be a user of offensive magic.

I was surprised, but when I think about it, if I were left behind during an expedition, and a monster approached, I would have to run away with Amelia. I have no way to fight, and if we couldn't escape and were attacked, I would have no means to protect myself.

So, having a guard would be reassuring.

"Hey!"

The captain pokes his head out of the office and beckons us to come in.

In the room are Deputy Team Leader Berry, Gal, and Zara.

"… A new teammate."

The captain introduces her with a look of extreme displeasure.

"I am Liette Lichtenberg, a fire mage. I joined the knight squad to guard the griffin."

She is introduced again.

The name Lichtenberg sounds familiar.

Lichtenberg tilts her head, and Liette looks at her with narrowed eyes.

That nervous gaze seems familiar…

"Ah!!"

I remember. Lichtenberg is a marquis family!

The marquis is the head of the Mythical Creature Protection Bureau.

Is Liette Lichtenberg the daughter of the head? I ask just to be sure.

"Yes, that's right. The head of the Mythical Creature Protection Bureau is my father."

I almost blurt out, "This father and daughter are a pair!" but I hold back.

If I were adopted by the Lichtenberg family, Liette would be my older sister, and the marquis would be my father.

No way. The house would be suffocating.

However, can this lady-like woman really go on an expedition?

"Um, on an expedition, you can't take a bath for days, there are no toilets, and the food isn't good. Camping is tough, with bugs and night watch duties."

"I know. All for the griffin. I'm prepared."

Hmm. I see. She's determined to endure.

The captain had said that if I showed any weakness, he would kick me out on the spot.

"I'll go no matter what."

Apparently, she knew about the expedition and had brought preserved food and other supplies. She's quite thorough.

"What's the purpose?"

The captain asks Liette in a tone of exasperation.

"To raise awareness about mythical creatures and prove that they can coexist with humans."

"Is that a way to use mythical creatures for your convenience?"

"No. I want to show that mythical creatures are gentle beings and that humans and mythical creatures can understand each other."

The head is rigid-minded and only thinks about protection.

Liette argues that if there is a way to live with mythical creatures, it should be explored.

When the captain asks what the head thinks about this, she says she doesn't know.

It seems that after an argument, she left the Mythical Creature Protection Bureau and joined the knight squad. What a troublesome lady.

"You've involved the Second Expedition Team in a big family fight."

"What!?"

Liette confronts Zara.

The confrontation between two beauties is quite intense.

"I look forward to your breakdown."

"That's not going to happen."

"Who knows?"

"Watch and see."

Deputy Team Leader Berry stands up and mediates between Zara and Liette.

The captain has a fierce bandit-like expression.

Gal looks wistfully in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

Urgas and I can only hold our heads in our hands, wondering how we got here.

What will happen from now on?

However, the presence of a mage will be a great help in terms of combat power.

Mages are rare worldwide, and most prefer research positions.

Only a handful of mages join the knight squad, and they can choose their own assignments. Most go to the guard squad, where the pay is higher.

The expedition squad seems to have healers, but no offensive mages.

The addition of a new teammate is something to be happy about.

I greet Liette again.

"Hi, I'm Mel Riris, the medic. Please take care of me from now on."

"Y-Yes."

"Also, I named this one Amelia."

I report that I have named her and formed a contract through a naming ceremony. I show her the mark on the back of my hand, and she looks surprised.

"Co…"

"Co?"

I look at Liette's face. When our eyes meet, she quickly looks away.

Her face is bright red.

"Um, is something wrong?"

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for doubting you last time!"

The recent memory of the contract mark inspection in the bath.

Everyone was naked, and we checked until we caught a cold.

Thinking about it now, it's ridiculous and makes me laugh.

"I understand. Let's put that behind us."

I accept Liette's apology.

As protectors of mythical creatures, we can't afford to be at odds with each other.

"Let's protect the griffin together."

I extend my hand, and Liette shakes it.