Chapter 72

Thank you for always reading!

The names for Cerberus are steadily coming in.

I hope to announce the chosen name in the next chapter. Until then, I'm still accepting suggestions~

No hard feelings, no matter which name is chosen! Thank you in advance!

"Alice's hair is longer, huh?"

"Until a little while ago, they were about the same length. Camus is getting tanned, though."

"Yeah. He's a hard worker. My father always says he's a big help."

After the conversation had a brief pause, Melissa prepared some drinks for us.

Gratefully accepting them, Camus and I were searching for differences between the twins.

"Hey, Melissa..."

"Being stared at like that makes me feel embarrassed..."

Both of them blushed slightly and scratched their cheeks at the same time.

Seeing this, Camus and I exchanged glances.

"\"We really do look alike\""

When standing next to each other, Camus was slightly taller.

Of course, there were also differences due to their genders.

After talking for a while, Luke came to inform us about the next day's plans.

"The response from the capital should arrive by morning. The problem is what to do with Cerberus' offspring..."

"Camus, if you were to train Cerberus, how long would it take?"

When I asked Camus, he briefly explained the "Pony Dog" skill.

"This skill temporarily strips a monster of its reason. If used consecutively, it could potentially kill Cerberus."

"The skill makes the monster obedient, and it's imprinted on them that this is the norm. Camus, from the start, has a constitution that monsters like, so he's very good at training them."

Melissa said this with a proud tone, as if it were her own achievement.

"Since I'm not training it to see me as its master, it will take longer than usual."

If Camus uses the skill, making it obedient is easy, but getting it used to others is difficult.

Camus said he would need at least twenty days.

Luke nodded in understanding.

We had dinner and went to sleep soon after.

The quiet village was filled with the sound of horses neighing. The voices of the guild members gradually grew louder, and the signs of people waking up became evident.

I snapped awake.

It was still dim, and it seemed there was still some time before dawn.

They said the response from the capital would come in the morning, but this was a bit too early.

Nevertheless, since I was wide awake, I decided to get up and head downstairs.

When I opened the door to my assigned room, Alice poked her head out from the opposite door. Nodding, Alice and I quietly descended the stairs together.

As we passed through the dining room and went outside, we saw Tristan, Luke, and a messenger from the capital.

"Noah, you're just in time!"

"Luke! Tristan too. What's going on?"

Luke, spotting me, turned in my direction.

I tried to keep my voice low as I asked them what was happening.

"Noah, pack your things. We're leaving at dawn."

Tristan said this matter-of-factly. Luke, unusually frowning, added more details.

"The king has ordered us to return to the capital as soon as possible."

Tristan explained succinctly. Luke, with a rare furrow in his brow, added more details.

"Specifically, to bring Cerberus' head and its offspring to the castle."

The messenger from the capital, upon hearing the news of the successful slaying from the knights, had rushed to this village on horseback.

I understand why they want to present Cerberus' head and offspring to the king, but why the rush?

Moreover, the knights and mercenaries were the ones who slew Cerberus. I don't see why I need to hurry.

"You've been summoned too, Noah."

I had a bad feeling. What could I be summoned for?

"The king's order is for you to enter the city with us and proceed directly to the castle."

Tristan said this as if to say there was no point in arguing.

If it's an order, Tristan has no choice but to follow it.

Luke, who works under the previous king, is just a staff member in the information department.

He can't argue with the current king.

Tristan immediately began gathering the guild members.

Luke went to wake Camus and explain the situation, as the beastmaster's help would be needed to transport Cerberus to the capital.

"Did I do something wrong...?"

"Don't worry, Noah. I'm going with you."

The sudden summons from the king made me feel a chill. Alice, noticing my pale face, patted my shoulder to reassure me.

After the slaying of Cerberus, I was indeed supposed to work at the castle.

But I had thought I would be living under the previous king.

It's understandable to feel nervous about suddenly meeting a king I've never directly interacted with.

Camus said a brief farewell to Melissa and stood by the carriage carrying Cerberus' cage.

Tristan instructed me and Alice to ride in this carriage as well, as we would be traveling with minimal luggage.

We quickly packed our few belongings and boarded the carriage with Alice.

Quincy would ride alongside us on his horse.

The sun began to rise.

With Melissa seeing us off, we hastily left the village for the capital.

As the sun was about to reach its zenith, we passed through the gates of the capital.

Perhaps the castle had already been informed.

The gates were wide open, and the procession of knights with Cerberus' heads proceeded straight down the main road of the city.

It was unusually quiet.

At this time, the third district should be bustling with shoppers, and the main road should be congested with carriages.

"The noise of the city is missing."

"Alice, you noticed too. It's strangely quiet..."

The soldiers of the castle led the way, and the Mencius Knights pulled Cerberus' two heads as they entered the main road.

Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted.

"What's going on?"

Camus, confused, looked at Alice, but we were just as clueless.

The carriage carrying the cage followed, passing through the stone arch and entering the main road.

The road was lined with people, as if the entire population of the city had gathered.

"Long live the Mencius Knights!"

"Look at the size of Cerberus' heads! How enormous must its body have been!"

I don't know how the news spread, but the knights were being welcomed as heroes who had saved the capital from Cerberus.

"Some idiot must have stirred up the people's fear. Many in the capital have never even seen a monster. They're using words they usually reserve for polite conversation to curse the dead body of Cerberus."

Quincy, riding alongside us, laughed with a face more menacing than Cerberus.

The capital is far from the land of death. The people of the capital believe that within these walls, they are the safest.

This might be the first time they've truly felt the threat of such a large monster.

Seeing the people, who had previously criticized the Mencius Knights as mere decorations, now gratefully thanking them, I felt a mix of emotions.

Tristan, leading the way, marched down the main road with a dignified demeanor, unaffected by the intense gazes of the crowd.

"To the king, this is a way to ease the city's anxiety and show the people our defensive capabilities. We're just a spectacle."

Quincy muttered this, glancing sideways.

The sounds of people marveling at the size of Cerberus' heads and praising the knights filled the air.

The noise startled Cerberus' offspring, which let out a growl.

The crowd's attention intensified. Camus reached into the cage, reassuring each of them by petting their heads.

Even this act drew the crowd's interest, and the commotion grew louder.

"The offspring of Cerberus! What a fearsome face!"

"Is that guy a beastmaster? He's petting such a terrifying Cerberus!"

Their gazes shifted to Alice and me, who were standing nearby.

"That's the female knight who defeated one of Cerberus' heads!"

"How impressive!"

"Then, is the man in the guild uniform the one who discovered Cerberus' weakness?"

"I heard it would have been dangerous without him."

Alice pulled her hood further down.

Even if she shouted that it wasn't true, no one would hear her.

While it's possible that the news of Cerberus spread, it's strange that specific details about who did what are known to everyone.

The information is likely being manipulated, probably by the person we're about to meet.

As Quincy said, we are a spectacle.

With no place to hide, I could only smile and wave at the cheering crowd, standing between Camus and Alice.

2015/01/12 Revised