Chapter 66

I'm very sorry for the wait.

Recently, I've been neglecting updates, using my busyness as an excuse.

I had lost confidence.

I was wondering if the stories I write are really interesting.

While I was struggling, I talked to many people and decided to try my best.

At first, everything was vague and I couldn't see the future.

Since I've managed to continue this far, I now have the determination to finish it to the end.

I'm grateful to everyone who has read this far.

I'll do my best!!

We decided to move to the knights' garrison for the time being.

I suggested that the injured leader rest at Tristan's mansion, but he insisted on coming along.

"I want to go with you. You'll need a guide, right?"

The leader stood up, showing no signs of pain.

Indeed, he was the only one who knew the exact location of the monsters.

Tristan seemed to be convinced by his words and agreed to let the leader come along.

On the way to the garrison, the leader shared his thoughts on the monsters.

"Recently, the abnormal behavior of monsters has been noticeable. It's rumored that the country is secretly investigating it."

I had a hunch about what the leader was talking about.

Al and Sophia, who received orders from the Alliance of Five Great Nations, are still traveling around various places.

Monsters have a certain degree of territoriality.

To put it simply, the monsters by the river can't survive in a dry desert.

If a weak monster enters the territory of a strong monster, it will be chased away or even eaten.

There have been more and more reports of monsters ignoring these natural laws.

Until now, it was only confirmed in a few remote areas, but the abnormality has spread so much that it's becoming a topic among travelers and adventurers.

The reason the leader mentioned this now is that he thinks the Orthus is affected by this.

"Orthus is indeed a mystery, but I've never heard of it being that big."

Alice nodded.

"I've heard that Orthus can control fire. It feels unnatural for it to live in a swamp."

It could be a sudden mutation or it might have been forced out of its territory for some reason.

In any case, it will be difficult to defeat it without knowing its true nature.

The leader thought so and approached the guild to see if my skill could be of use.

We arrived at the garrison.

Following Tristan's instructions, the members hurriedly went to prepare their equipment.

"Noah!"

Luke, out of breath, entered the room where I was spreading out a map.

"Noah, I heard from the guild! Are you really going on the hunt?"

"Yeah, Luke, you know the situation, right? If my skill can help, I'll go."

"Even though you know it's dangerous? Noah, you don't have to do this. Your power is valuable and should be cherished. Doesn't the captain think so?"

I used to think that way. I thought that as long as I was useful, no one would say anything bad about me for not going to dangerous places.

I used to make excuses to myself and avoid reality.

"I want to help Tristan and the others, just as they protected me."

When I was in Japan, I couldn't feel the impact of news about gruesome incidents or major accidents.

Even though I felt sad, I ultimately treated them as someone else's problem.

When I heard that the leader's subordinate had died, I had the same detached feeling.

But I decided to participate because Tristan and the others are not just anyone.

Eugene was saved because I could nullify magic. If I had done nothing and regretted not using my power, I would have felt a cold chill in my stomach.

If Tristan and the others didn't return like the leader's subordinate, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

I'm not sure how to explain the spirits to everyone yet, but if there's a place to use my skill, I should use it.

"Mr. Quincy must have talked you into it, right?"

"Talking me into it, that's a bad way to put it."

Quincy, who was in the corner of the room, snorted.

"Luke, it's not like that. I made the decision myself."

Luke seemed determined to stop me.

Sensing my firm resolve, Luke paused and then said seriously,

"Listen, Noah. Your power has already surpassed the level of personal handling. From now on, you'll work for the country."

"Luke, what will happen to me from now on?"

"…I think you'll have to leave the guild. You'll be given a room in the royal castle and live comfortably."

"I see…"

The usefulness of the ability scores and my existence gradually became known throughout the regions.

If a group like the Blackberry Bandits appeared, the Kingdom of Albion couldn't ignore it just because I'm a guild employee.

Under the guise of protection, I will be taken into custody by the Kingdom of Albion.

It doesn't matter what the Roth Empire or anyone else says.

"I think the former king will explain the details. Probably, you'll be in charge of coordinating the dispatch of knights and the royal guard for the hunt."

"Got it. Since you're here, the former king knows about the Orthus hunt, right?"

Luke nodded, unsure of my true intentions.

"Is the former king telling me not to go on the hunt?"

"…No. Ah, I shouldn't worry so much!"

Luke blurted out his true feelings, as if giving up.

As I suspected.

I knew from the moment the guild made the request that the former king wasn't against me going on the hunt.

Since the incident, I can't quite figure out what the former king is thinking.

Anyway, I might still be a guild employee and this could be my last free time given by the former king.

Luke tried to stop me, not because of an order from the former king, but out of concern for me, not my skill.

"Luke, it's okay. I won't be on the front lines, and I have the knights, Alice, and Quincy with me."

"Alright, I get it!"

The serious atmosphere from a moment ago was gone.

Luke, trying to act as usual, exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.

"It would be more reassuring if you were there, Luke."

I said to Luke, smiling naturally.

Luke, who had been looking away, turned around as if waiting for it.

"Noah, you're so demanding. I'm not a handyman, you know?"

"Your words and actions don't match, Luke."

"What a farce."

Alice calmly pointed out, and Quincy waved his hand in exasperation.

"Quiet, quiet! Mr. Quincy, make sure to pass on the plan to your comrades outside!"

Quincy's mercenary comrades are also participating in the hunt.

The knights, led by Tristan's First Squad, will be joined by the Third Squad, which has combat experience, and the Ninth Squad, which is skilled in magic.

The Second Squad will be stationed a short distance from the capital as a reserve force.

One member of the mysterious Tenth Squad has already arrived at the scene.

Fran, who officially became a knight, is assigned to the Second Squad. Sol is in the Sixth Squad, so he will stay behind.

After we finished understanding the terrain and preparing our equipment, we left the conference room.

As we headed to the square where the members were lining up, we saw a dragon.

"Good, good. It looks like we made it in time."

Luke said, relieved.

The dragon, a small dragon trained for riding, had a saddle on its back.

"I borrowed it from a dragon knight. I thought Noah could observe Orthus from the air."

Luke had clearly thought about what to do if I hadn't agreed to be persuaded.

"The problem is who will ride with you…"

"Then I will ride with you. I have experience handling animals and I am a qualified knight."

Alice volunteered to ride with me, as I couldn't ride the dragon alone.

I've heard that dragons are noble creatures and even trained riders find them difficult to handle.

Alice learned how to ride dragons from her father.

Trained dragons that are accustomed to humans are rare.

I think there was a rule that only knights of a certain rank could ride the dragons of the dragon knights.

We couldn't afford to weaken the Menthis Knights, and Alice met all the conditions.

"Perfect! As expected of me!"

Luke boasted, but there was an unfamiliar figure behind him.

A man with a scar over one eye stood next to Quincy, one of his mercenary comrades.

After a brief conversation, the one-eyed man nodded quietly and left the scene.

It was finally time to leave the capital.

As we passed through the second wall, I felt the air change, just like when I first came to the capital.

I was in the same carriage as Alice, Luke, Quincy, the leader, and a few apprentice knights.

Only Quincy seemed to notice my change.

"Did you feel it too? There's a lot of magic power here."

When Alice asked what he was talking about, Quincy muttered, "Never mind," and continued.

"The walls of Albion are cursed. It's like a barrier that prevents large-scale magic from being used in the capital."

I didn't know the capital's walls had such a secret.

Those with a lot of magic power can sometimes feel the air change.

Quincy said he felt lighter. Although he never showed any signs of heaviness, he must have been affected in some way.

I didn't feel any significant changes in my body, so I assumed Quincy's magic power was stronger.

As soon as we left the capital, the bracelet on my wrist reacted.

I could sense the spirits stirring, but it felt more like a greeting than a warning.

Most spirits don't seem to cross the capital's walls, but I don't know if it's because of the barrier or because they prefer nature.

The wind that blew in through the gap caressed my cheek.

To me, it felt like a long time since I had heard such a whisper.

The carriage passed through a large arch with a crest and left the capital behind.

Mr. Tsuda Boukou, the author of "The Tale of the Unmotivated Hero," wrote a review of this work!

Thank you!

This gave me the motivation to update!

January 12, 2015 - Revised