Chapter 46

Will was fully engrossed in catching insects.

As Shiro had instructed, he was being careful not to show the insects to any girls.

Leading four clones with enhanced detection abilities, he repeatedly searched for and caught insects, then released them in a corner of the yard.

A little distance away, his sisters were practicing magic.

Nina was learning basic magic, while Selena was being taught how to create a Clayman by the earth spirit.

At that time, Will was also given a brief lesson on petrification and the roar of a golem.

However, due to the punishment for breaking the shrubbery, Will was put off learning basic magic for the time being.

(You little troublemaker!)

It was entirely Will’s fault.

Cecilia came out of the kitchen and used a tree attribute magic to fix the broken shrubbery, and Will also learned this.

(Now, even if I break it, I can fix it!)

Despite this, Will was reflecting on his actions and did not complain.

Most importantly, he was allowed to play with the Clayman.

But playing alone was a bit lonely.

The wind spirit was watching Nina’s practice with great interest.

The maids, except for Ren, Ellis, and Aika who were in the yard, had gone somewhere to prepare for the luncheon.

"It’s okay. I have Levi."

When Will said this and stroked Levi’s head, Levi looked up at him happily.

"Let’s go, Levi."

And so, Will devoted himself to catching insects.

After going back and forth between the yard and its edge several times, Levi stopped at the edge of the yard.

"What’s wrong, Levi?"

Will tilted his head, puzzled by his partner not following.

Levi was staring intently at something outside the yard, not moving.

Upon closer inspection, his ears were twitching.

When Will ran over to Levi, Levi looked up at him.

"I can hear something..."

From outside the yard, a faint sound of a flute could be heard amidst the slight commotion.

The Turquis residence was located at the edge of a quiet residential area.

It wasn’t that no sound could be heard, but a noisy situation was unusual.

Will thought about asking someone, but everyone was busy with the sisters.

He could go and check, but he was hesitant after being scolded.

In the end, Will gave up.

He turned his gaze back to Levi.

Levi was still looking up at him.

"Should we go check it out, Levi?"

As Will started walking towards the main gate, Levi and the clones followed.

---

"It’s an emergency call!"

John, who was in the gatekeeper’s hut, sprang out the moment he heard the whistle.

There are several types of whistle signals used by patrolling knights.

John, a former knight, still remembered the differences accurately.

This was the simplest and most straightforward signal, used to urgently alert allies to danger without any regard for consequences.

John had heard this whistle a few times before.

When he was young, during a night raid on the battlefield.

When a scout was ambushed during a national beast extermination campaign.

(This is right in the middle of the capital!?)

It wasn’t a battlefield or a beast habitat.

There was more to his anxiety than that.

The whistle had stopped abruptly, cutting off suddenly.

(They must have been taken out! Damn it!)

Cursing in his heart, John recalled the old emergency procedures in his mind.

(Guard the main gate, then report to the master... but...)

Currently, only John was in the hut.

Unfortunately, Edil had just stepped out and wouldn’t be back for a while.

If he waited for him, the report would be delayed.

It might be nothing, but he couldn’t count on that.

This was an emergency that a knight would risk his life to report.

A delay in reporting could lead to a fatal situation.

John suppressed his anxiety, thinking hard, and rushed out of the main gate.

Residents who had noticed the sound were peeking out, checking the situation.

There was no change yet.

The whistle wasn’t coming from nearby.

If he ran at full speed, he might just make it.

"What the hell is going on!"

Thinking wouldn’t give him an answer.

John ran into the entrance hall.

At this moment, John made a small mistake.

A minor one.

Instead of going around to the yard side to gather the maids, he prioritized reporting the emergency to Shiro as quickly as possible.

This decision would lead to further mistakes.

---

With a hop, Will appeared from the yard and made his way to the gatekeeper’s hut.

"Hey!"

He knocked on the door, but there was no response.

"Huh?"

Usually, someone was always there.

"Mr. Clayman, give me a lift."

Will picked up Levi and had one of the clones give him a piggyback ride.

The clone looked like Will but was a clay figure created by magic.

There was a world of difference in strength.

"Sure enough, no one’s there."

Peeking through the window of the hut, no one was inside.

When Will turned his gaze to the main gate, it was half open.

"Did they go outside?"

The commotion outside was definitely getting louder.

The sound of the whistle could also be heard. Still on the clone’s shoulders, Will and the others pushed the gate open and stepped outside.

"It’s wide open. I know, it’s called being careless."

It’s careless, Master Will.

Outside, adults who had noticed the sound were peeking out.

Will remembered a similar scene.

The street was lined with shops, and flutes and drums were making cheerful sounds to attract customers.

Shiro had carried him around the lively streets to see various things.

"I get it. It’s a festival!"

Will was convinced.

It must be a festival, which is why the whistles were sounding and everyone was making noise.

"Let’s go check it out! ♪"

When Will gave the command, the clones all ran in the direction of the sound.