Chapter 90

Chapter 89

Creak...

“Y-Your Highness! Please don’t come out yet!”

“It’s fine. Cough... cough.”

The girl, who appeared as the door opened, seemed quite dizzy, likely from running so fast, and swayed slightly.

“Your Highness!”

At the same time, women who looked like maids rushed out of the carriage to support her.

“It’s okay... Marie.”

The girl was petite.

Shorter than average and slender, she seemed so delicate that she might break if held too tightly. Her features were distinct yet soft.

But she was different from humans.

This was because, above her bright teal ponytail, a pair of the long ears characteristic of the fox-type beastkin was visible.

Moreover, they drooped as if she were quite exhausted or depressed, making her look pitiful.

Her tails, if she had any, were hidden by her large evening dress, but it was clear that she was a fox-type beastkin, different from the human knights.

Her uniqueness didn’t end there.

Her face was completely covered by a peculiar white mask.

All that was known was that she was a young girl and a beastkin.

From her hands to her toes, she didn’t expose a single inch of her skin.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Despite the mask hiding her eyes, she accurately turned her gaze toward the knights.

In response to her quiet question, the knights bowed their heads to her in unison.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. We are prepared to risk our lives to protect you.”

“Sir Halus, Sir Luxa, and Sir Hibena are not here...”

The small murmur made the knights flinch.

“That’s right... the ambush...”

The small girl, who was speaking, bowed her head deeply as if choking back tears.

“I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, everyone... because of me, a beastkin...”

Though her face was hidden by the mask, her voice, filled with sorrow, clearly showed how depressed she was.

“Princess, Your Highness!”

The maids beside her bowed their heads in alarm.

“Your Highness! It is a great honor to serve you! Please stop crying!”

“To say it’s because you are a beastkin! That is an outrageous statement!”

“Yes! Who could ever consider the existence of the princess as lowly!”

The knights then knelt before her in unison.

“Because of our lack of divine power... we have caused you distress! Please punish us!”

“Stop it! I... I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me anymore.”

Her voice became even more choked with tears.

“Yes... for Father... no, for His Majesty the Emperor, I must be strong.”

“Those despicable assassins who dared to raise their swords against the royal family of the great Lindis Empire. Your Highness, we will thoroughly investigate this matter and root out every last person responsible!”

“Sir Velos...”

The girl’s voice trembled as she looked at the resolute old knight.

“I, the royal swordmaster, Ghost Cloud Sword Velos, swear. I will avenge the unjust deaths of your subordinates.”

The girl was not an absolute altruist. In fact, she was quite greedy.

Yet, the reason the knights followed her so loyally was that she loved and cherished her people with all her heart.

That’s why, despite being a beastkin half-breed and having almost no backing, she was deeply loved by her retainers.

That’s why Velos, despite being a distinguished swordmaster, became one of her personal knights, a group that numbered less than twenty.

“Thank you... thank you, Sir Velos...”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness... It’s tough, but we’re almost at the empire’s border. Please bear with it a little longer.”

The girl, who had stopped crying, nodded and calmed her trembling shoulders. She was then helped by the maids and quietly sat back in the carriage.

Her cute ears, though subtle, twitched.

“Sir Velos, what was that lightning?”

“That... I’m sorry, but even I found it hard to judge.”

“No, it’s fine. Just...”

“However, it was difficult to consider it natural lightning. I’ve never heard of or seen hundreds of lightning bolts falling from the sky naturally.”

“Then if it was caused by someone?”

“Perhaps the sages of the continent could attempt it if they all gathered.”

As the carriage started moving again, the knights began to murmur.

The carriage, which had been rushing, and the knights guarding it had all witnessed the same thing.

It was a sight that wouldn’t seem out of place in a tavern, where people would say, “Stop making up stories and just drink more.”

“Captain, what was that really?”

“We can’t be sure. However...”

The old knight, Velos, spoke quietly.

“The lightning seemed to target the assassins.”

“One of them, who was fleeing in terror, was pursued by lightning and turned into ashes. I’ve never seen lightning turn a person into ashes. It was clearly abnormal.”

“The important thing is that you survived. There’s a lot to think about, but it’s hard to understand rationally. If a human really created that...”

He paused and closed his eyes.

“Perhaps the ranking of the great mages known on the continent would be completely overturned. Though, that’s unlikely.”

“Yes. If someone could cause such a disaster, they would be a magical progenitor from a fairy tale, like a dragon, not a human.”

The knights’ conversation, which had been tense, continued for a short while.

“Haa...”

The girl, who had been listening to the knights, let out a short, weary sigh as she sat on the carriage’s plush sofa.

No one else seemed to notice.

But she, with her superior vision, sense of smell, and hearing, which were exceptional even among beastkin, had seen something.

‘...He had black hair...’

She saw a man floating in the sky and the numerous purple magic circles around him.

‘And... he saved us on purpose.’

Their eyes had met for a moment.

Of course, she was wearing a mask, but for some reason, she felt that the man had met her gaze directly.

A brief moment.

But it was enough to leave a strong impression on her.

After the lightning disappeared, her sharp sense of smell caught a fleeting scent of the man.

‘A gentle, simple, and reliable... the fragrance of forsythia...’

She clenched her hand, determined not to forget, and silently gazed at the stormy forest they had just left.

Chapter 36: Things That Will Eventually Be Known

“Mr. Davey, would you like a drink?”

I narrowed my eyes as Yulius, who somehow always managed to find rare alcohol, smiled and offered me a drink.

This guy, surprisingly, really likes to drink.

He was drinking heavily the day before, and now he’s at it again?

No matter how you look at it, this is not right.

Thinking this, I firmly replied.

“Of course. Please come in, despite the humble surroundings.”

In front of the rare and appropriately deep-flavored alcohol, I ended up being a weak man.

-At least I’m not so foolish as to become a fool.

If I do, the main lady will kick me awake.

Ignoring Perserk’s muttering, I let him in, and Winry and Baris, who had been watching from behind, also poked their heads in with grins.

They had been quite busy with the aftermath of the fiefdom, but they finally seemed to have regained their composure.

“Where is Viscount Gorneo?”

“He seems a bit uncomfortable with such gatherings. Perhaps he feels some responsibility since this incident clearly falls under the jurisdiction of the Disease Management Corps he belongs to.”

I didn’t ask further at Baris’s words.

If he wants to do it that way, that’s fine.

In fact, accommodating the remaining members of the Disease Management Corps, who were essentially responsible for the deaths of over 300 innocent fiefdom residents, was a significant decision by Baris.

“They are also victims. And, I’m quite interested in Viscount Gorneo’s dedication.”

Baris’s calm response made Winry laugh.

“Hah! How can someone be so soft?”

“Says you? Just shut up.”

“What? Hey!!”

Winry, who let out a yelp, bowed her head deeply, aware of Yulius and me. She then cautiously sipped her wine, avoiding eye contact.

At least she’s drinking now that she’s an adult.

“You’re all adults now, and you’ll be entering the royal court for your next birthday.”

“Looking at the current state of the capital, I’d rather stay silent for a while.”

Baris’s teasing gaze turned to me.

“Brother.”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask a question?”

Their faces showed a desire to resolve their curiosity.

I had been brushing things off too much. If I were someone who had been doing something, it might be understandable, but there was no way these three could understand with their minds.

A swordmaster who can draw an Aura Blade.

Martial arts skills that can go head-to-head with a swordmaster without a sword.

Not to mention, the possession of a holy scar and medical knowledge of unknown origin.

And, finally, the 5th Circle magic that sent Yulius and Winry flying to the fiefdom.

Is this the power of someone not even 20 years old?

From my perspective, the answer is definitely ‘No.’ I’ve been through that path myself.

It’s difficult unless you’ve spent a thousand years with time twisted like I did.

Even the legendary genius princess, Illina, who started learning swordsmanship and writing at the same time, hasn’t reached the wall of swordmaster at 17.

Yulius, who was called the greatest prodigy on the continent, is only now starting to chip away at the master’s wall in his thirties. For a 17-year-old, who spent a third of his life in a coma, to easily surpass this is unbelievable.

It wouldn’t be strange to ask if some other monster had taken over my body.

“Hmm...”

“Stop it, idiot! You’re being rude to your brother. What are you interrogating him for?”

“Hey! You were curious too!”

Winry, who said this, was actually curious.

“Actually, I... if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask, Mr. Davey?”

Yulius smiled and looked at me.