Chapter 35

Thank you always for your support with bookmarks and evaluations.

Today, I will only post one chapter. It seems that I will be posting one chapter per day from now on.

I will post again tomorrow at 8 or 9 AM.

---

After reconnoitering the forest, Noel and the party of knights headed towards the vicinity of the pioneer village.

The extermination work in the forest was to be carried out from a campsite by the river. They had also found a good water source.

They were heading to the pioneer village for a purpose unrelated to the extermination.

Before entering the village, Noel and the senior knights had a secret discussion.

Rumors about this northern pioneer village had been circulating.

"The villagers are slacking off."

"They are diverting the supplies provided by the kingdom."

Noel learned about this by chance. For Sir Sirius and the Knight Commander, it was an unexpected incident.

Noel had overheard the Knight Commander and the Deputy Commander discussing the matter. They were planning to send a squad of knights to the village after Noel's attack magic training was complete.

Noel, however, had been using the wind magic "Eavesdropping" to learn about the squad's dispatch, so it might not have been a mere coincidence.

So far, the palace has not gathered enough evidence. However, the rumors have gained credibility from the gradually accumulated information.

Therefore, they had first conducted a preliminary investigation.

They sent scouts secretly to avoid evidence being destroyed. The scouts' investigation should already be well underway.

If the village is found to be guilty, the squad will go and arrest them. The knights are already moving, assuming a high likelihood of guilt, but they are still waiting for the report.

It is expected to be a large-scale arrest. As a result, Noel's party is quite large. Not only a squad of knights but also several platoons of mages are accompanying them.

The scale of the arrest team is so large because there is a high possibility that the entire village is involved in the wrongdoing. Regardless of the actual situation, everyone will be arrested and interrogated.

However, the arrest will take place after Noel's training is complete, about three days after the knights' arrival.

By then, the scouts should have identified the relationships of the merchants and the village chief involved. The knights will arrive early to prepare.

This time, the investigation of the pioneer village coincided with Noel's training. Sirius used this to ensure Noel's safety during the journey by having her travel with the arrest team.

Noel was indignant that her husband was using the knights for personal purposes.

However, it is true that the nearby forest was not suitable for training. If they had to go to a distant forest, it was necessary to adjust to the knights' schedule.

When the arrest operation is underway, Noel will set off for the capital with the Knight Commander and a group of guards.

The issue of the pioneer village's wrongdoing is unrelated to Noel.

Sirius had made sure that Noel would not be involved in any way. The Knight Commander had no intention of letting Noel meet the rough villagers of the pioneer village.

This was the thinking of Sirius and the Knight Commander.

However, Noel found out.

"If that's the case, it might be better to arrest them before my training.

They might run away, which would be a problem.

I can hunt in the Demon Forest with a clear mind. It will make me feel even better.

I'll help too."

This was unacceptable.

There was quite a bit of arguing, but Noel did not back down.

If the timing was wrong, the suspects might escape or destroy evidence, so it would be good for the knights to arrest them first—though Noel's help was out of the question.

They decided to wait for the scouts' report before making a decision.

Of course, this was kept secret from Sirius.

◇◇

As the party of knights approached the area where the pioneer village could be seen in the distance, a scout knight appeared.

He was dressed as a hunter. Though his movements were those of a knight, he pretended to be a local hunter during investigations.

The scout knight was clearly taken aback by the appearance of the queen and the Knight Commander in riding attire. His mind must have been full of question marks... Everyone sympathized with him. The scout quickly regained his composure, a testament to his experience.

The Knight Commander and the senior knights listened to his report.

"Guilty."

The scout stated without preamble.

"Any evidence?"

"Only recorded audio. We need more substantial evidence.

I witnessed the merchants engaging in under-the-table deals. From the conversations I overheard, it's clear this has happened multiple times.

We can search for a ledger or something similar after the arrest."

"Well, if we have evidence of even one instance of diversion, we can make the arrests.

It seems the development of the village has not progressed at all."

The Commander answered with disgust, and the surrounding squad leaders nodded.

The primary task of the pioneer village is to prevent the Demon Forest from spreading.

The Demon Forest expands as the number of monsters increases.

When more people are attacked and villages are abandoned, the expansion of the Demon Forest accelerates.

Especially when there are many human casualties, the miasma increases, making it easier for monsters to thrive.

As the number of monsters increases, the miasma increases, further accelerating the growth of monsters.

This vicious cycle continues indefinitely.

As this process progresses, changes occur in the forest.

The trees in the forest transform into "Demon Trees." The trees, having absorbed too much miasma, turn black, and their fruits become food for the monsters.

Once the Demon Forest is formed, the number of monsters increases dramatically.

Therefore, the knights thin out the monsters in the Demon Forest. They concentrate on exterminating the monsters and set the forest on fire to reduce its size.

However, the Demon Forest is not easy to burn. Each tree is difficult to ignite. Even in the dry season, it is hard to burn. Still, it has the effect of preventing further expansion.

The first task of the pioneer village is to set the Demon Forest on fire regularly.

Then, they thin out the monsters to prevent their numbers from increasing.

If this is done consistently, the Demon Forest will gradually retreat, like the tide going out.

It is a long-term task.

However, from the reconnaissance of the forest, there were no signs of the forest being set on fire. Moreover, the number of monsters had increased significantly. They must have been neglecting the thinning.

Yet, they were still receiving supplies from the palace.

The knights compared information based on the scout's report.

"Those guys are here just to have parties every day.

There isn't a single proper hunter. Where have they all gone? They're all troublemakers.

When I brought the game to the local branch of the Hunter's Association, they were surprised. The branch isn't functioning.

There was no one at the reception, and a random person told me to 'feed myself.' The inn was also closed.

They don't thin out the monsters at all. They only go to the edge of the forest to hunt when they want meat.

They divert the support supplies to get money, which they use to buy alcohol and prostitutes.

I heard the village chief say multiple times, 'I hope the knights come to thin out the monsters again.'

They have no intention of doing it themselves."

"I see.

They really want us to do the thinning for them.

We'll give them what they want."

The Knight Commander's temples were pulsing.

They had worked hard to slay the dragon species and establish the pioneer village in this northern forest years ago. At that time, they had significantly reduced the number of other monsters, and the miasma concentration had dropped.

However, the village had neglected the thinning for years, causing the number of monsters to increase again.

"Can't stand it, can we? Let's do it, Knight Commander!"

When Noel said this, the Knight Commander nodded with a very good smile.