Chapter 30

Chapter 30 - The First Subjugation War (1)

Three riders are exiting the forest.

The name of the ivory horse Valda rode was Elion. She said it was a friend who had been with her every time she ventured into the world.

"I am concerned about the mansion being left behind."

"Are you worried that the magic of delusion shall be dispelled after I depart?"

"Indeed. Since it's such a splendid forest, gatherers, hunters, adventurers, and all manner of people shall continue to enter. I worry if they might plunder the place where the memories of you two reside."

Homi nodded. She too felt a pang in her heart when she thought of the cabin she had left behind in her homeland. The precious home where the memories of Eugene, his mother, and herself resided... by now, greedy thieves would have rifled through it.

"Forest magic stems from the cycle of nature. While it's not as powerful as the magic of fire or steel, it's far longer in duration."

Creeeak.

As Valda reached out her hand, a branch of the tree before her descended. It placed a luscious fruit within her reach.

"It's a magic where one makes a small request of the nature that already exists, as seen here. The barrier to prevent intrusion shall also be maintained for quite a long time, so do not worry."

"That is a relief."

'Quite a long time' in the words of an Elf... just how long would that be?

Crunch.

Homi joyfully bit into the fruit she had received.

"You take one as well."

"You may simply toss it."

Eugene spoke to Valda, who was about to turn her horse to approach.

"I have never tossed food, however."

"Is it a rude act in elven etiquette?"

"It's not that. I simply have had no occasion to hand food to anyone."

The fruit Valda tossed flew at a precise angle. The fact that she had even considered an appropriate speed to make it easy to catch hinted at excellent motor skills.

Crunch.

Sweet juice moistened his tongue. A refreshing fragrance flowed back into his nasal cavity, filling his nose.

"It's delicious. I have not seen such a thing even in the Bonyard market."

"It's a special fruit that grows only in the wild. If we pass through a forest in our future journey, I shall pick them for you often."

Contrary to the impression he had heard through rumors, Valda was a good partner for conversation. She was candid yet possessed a heart that considered the other person.

Once they exited the forest, the old man resting before the potato field was seen. He was the one who had told Eugene the story of the maid who walked atop the wheat fields.

"That old man is the one whom Lady Valda encountered during the year of the famine."

"I remember him. Since I stepped forward out of childish sympathy and suffered for it with a fever."

The old man's eyes widened as he saw the party which had increased to three. The moment he confirmed the Elf atop the horse, his expression changed to one of astonishment.

"To think I could see you again! The gods have truly granted my wish!"

Valda dismounted and approached the old man, who had tears welling in his eyes.

"Because you saved the fields, the village was able to survive. My children as well were able to avoid starving to death. I was so anxious to express my gratitude all this time."

"I know that you have praised me incessantly to those who visit the village. Thanks to that, the name of the maid who walks atop the wheat fields has spread."

"Since I could not express my gratitude for such a great favor, I wished to at least make your mercy widely known."

The old man's face was lightened. As if his final remaining lingering regret had been fulfilled.

"I wished to offer my greetings before I died, and now I have no further regrets."

"Enough time still remains for you."

Valda wore a resolute face.

"Go to the son who loves you. I shall not permit you to wither away alone in this place."

"I shall follow your words."

The old man accepted peacefully. The stubbornness of the elderly cannot be broken by force, but once the sorrow in their heart is fulfilled, it melts away. The old man turned and walked vigorously toward his house. It was likely to pack his belongings for departure.

"Can he reach the neighboring village alone?"

The moment Eugene asked, the cry of a hawk was heard from the sky.

"There is no problem. It's a distance that can be sufficiently covered on foot, and thanks to you, there are no dangerous fellows."

When Homi dismounted and tried to escort her to mount, Valda waved her hand.

Hop.

She leapt nimbly and mounted the horse in one go. Her smooth and flowing movements without a single unnecessary action were like watching a ballet dancer. It's the exact opposite of the common image of a magician having poor stamina or lacking motor skills.

"I am one who has run through forests and smelled the scent of the battlefield. I am accustomed to moving my body and sweating. I can do most things on my own, so there is no need to try and serve me like a superior."

Valda spoke beforehand as if she guessed the inner thoughts of the two. While he was delighted to be with such a precious talent as a magician, Eugene, who had been debating how to serve her, found this to be good news.

* * *

Eugene was still in the position of a guest of Bonyard. Since his visit to the Emerald Forest was over, he had to return to the mansion for VIPs. It was a city where one could use the best accommodations for free and was suitable for seeking out the next destination.

"We shall camp here for today."

When night fell, they set up the campsite and prepared for guard duty. On the way there, he had rested comfortably thanks to Caliver's mercenaries, but now there were only the three of them.

"Homi and I shall take turns on watch, so pray, rest, Lady Valda."

Even with a trained body, a magician is a magician. Eugene thought she was not suitable for night watch.

"Since I, too, am a companion of the journey, I have no intention of doing nothing."

Valda picked up a fairly large wooden branch and began to carve it with a dagger.

"What is that?"

"It's a type of totem. Just as Grace created her avatars, I am carving an avatar to represent my will."

"I have never seen such a thing before."

Valda sat demurely upon a fallen tree trunk and moved her knife as if peeling a fruit. Upon the completed carving, she moved a quill pen to engrave a protective charm imbued with magical power.

"What manner of effect does this have?"

"It makes it difficult for current outsiders to perceive us."

"Like the magic that prevented us from going to the center of the forest."

"While it's incomparably weaker than that, it shall be sufficient to hide the three of us for a single night."

Eugene's eyes sparkled brightly. It was because he had seen something right before his eyes that exactly fit his definition of magic.

"Heh."

Valda let out a small laugh at the boyish side shown by the large and valiant knight.

"There is naught to be so impressed by. Your prayer of blessing that imbues power into objects is a much higher form of power."

"It doesn't happen to be of help in actual combat, however."

The magic of Holy Communion was an imitation of the Abbot's blessing. It purifies food or drink and imbues it with intense vitality. While it is the best as a tonic, it cannot be used in battle. To Eugene, who was a knight, he was more interested in the totem Valda had made. Was it not an item with much strategic utility?

"Does it also happen to repel insects?"

"Not as much as it does humans, but it shall block dangerous venomous insects or snakes."

"Oh!"

"And there is no need for either of you to stand watch tonight. A guardian who sleeps by day and is active by night shall watch over us."

Hooooooong!

Looking up, there was the eagle-owl that had delivered the letter. He sat on a branch suitable for scanning the surroundings, his yellow eyes glowing.

"Since there is no one who can hide from the King of the Night, you may sleep in peace."

"The journey ahead shall be comfortable."

Since camping with just Homi was a significant burden on their stamina, he had intended to hire mercenaries soon. However, mercenaries are existences that guzzle money just by existing. Moreover, their watch could not be perfect. If he could receive the help of a nocturnal bird, he would not have to worry about an ambush.

"Regrettably, we can only receive the care of those children in this vicinity. I am a magician who handles the power of the forest, not a Druid who commands animals."

"Are the two different? I thought that with forest magic, animals would naturally follow."

Moreover, Valda was already commanding the birds like her own hands and feet.

"Naturally they are different. Are there not knights who use double-edged swords, ones who use single-edged swords, ones who use swords solely for thrusting, and ones who use curved swords? Is each not different?"

"I suppose so."

Valda pointed at the eagle-owl.

"That child and the others are merely bestowing a favor as friends. The Emerald Forest is their home, and each has a mate they care for, a favorite hunting ground, or eggs that shall hatch before long."

"I suppose I should be grateful just that they have followed us this far."

Eugene was one who grew weak before a family that had to be protected.

As night deepened, the three sought sleep. However, both Eugene and Homi maintained their senses keenly. It wasn't that they didn't trust Valda's skills. It was simply that, having been born with the blood of a warrior, they were not of a character to sleep soundly and relax while outside.

Of course, her magic was the real deal.

Sniff, sniff!

Two stray dogs appeared near the campsite, but they did not discover the party. They pressed their noses to the ground searching for prey such as insects or small rodents, and approached to within six meters. Then, they naturally turned their bodies.

Sniff?

Sniff, sniff?

The stray dogs tilted their heads and scanned the surroundings repeatedly. It seemed they smelled something, but since nothing was visible, were they puzzled?

Homi was in the middle of glaring at the stray dogs. Her hand was resting on the crossbow on the ground, and if she intended to fire, it would not take even a second.

"There is no need to kill them. They shall retreat on their own."

Valda, who had been lying beside her, grabbed Homi's hand firmly. Her elven ears twitched; it seemed she too was a light sleeper.

Nod.

Homi quietly let go. She followed Valda, whom she had only recently come to know, as if she were her own older sister.

Once the dogs departed, the three closed their eyes and sought sleep once again.

"Sob."

However, Homi realized that the body of the Elf lying beside her was trembling. Valda was sobbing with bated breath.

Babbling.

The sound of the stream flowing washed it away, but it could not be hidden from Homi, who was right beside her. The deep sorrow hidden beneath a composed expression after parting from Grace... Valda was hiding and letting go of what she had suppressed into the flowing water.

Homi checked Eugene, but he was turned away.

Gulp.

Swallowing her saliva, Homi carefully embraced Valda from behind. Her long, thick tail was placed before Valda's chest.

"...!"

Though she was flustered for a moment, she quietly accepted the embrace. Valda's trembling body gradually became calm at Homi's body heat. Upon them, the silence and darkness of the night descended.

* * *

The following morning. The party finished camping, washed briefly, and then rode their horses.

"Victorious Knight?! W-Welcome!"

Upon arriving at Bonyard, the City Guard recognized Eugene and offered a disciplined salute.

"You may skip the inspection. Please, go right in. The city is yours, sir!"

"Thank you. Keep up the good work."

The party passed the waiting carriages and travelers and entered the entrance. Wagons loaded with preserved food and armaments were lined up in a row.

During their brief departure, the city had changed drastically. It was bustling beyond measure with mercenaries and merchants gathered from everywhere. They were those called in to subjugate the bandit pack that had settled in the forest northern of the city, taking advantage of the chaos of the trial by combat.

"Aiyoo, win money and win money! Is everyone finished betting?"

"The dice are rollingggg!"

As is usually the case where mercenaries are present, gambling pits were being held. While the liveliness was good, uncultured behavior and disputes had also increased.

"It's impossible! This is a scam!"

"Aiyoo, if you lost, you should clean your hands and leave; what manner of rowdiness is this?"

A mercenary losing money in a dice game and causing a commotion.

Ptui! Ptooey!

A mercenary spitting on the road.

"Is this what they call a jujube?"

"Try it. It's extremely sweet!"

A mercenary showing interest in exotic food.

Mercenaries with vastly different equipment, accents, and dialects were seen everywhere.

"Are you not uncomfortable? Compared to the forest, it's too noisy and filthy."

"It's fine. I have traveled through places far worse than this. Moreover, thanks to you, it's easy to travel the road."

As the heavily armed knight Eugene led the way, the crowds parted like a miracle of Moses.

Splash.

The Moving Castle fountain appeared before the party.

"It's a famous attraction of Bonyard. It is still popular, I see."

Travelers circling the fountain were admiring it incessantly.

"It's an ominous existence."

Among everyone watching joyfully, only Valda narrowed her eyes.

"Do you happen to know something of it?"

"I have once sensed the existence presumed to be that castle in the past."

"You did not see it, but sensed it?"

"The mansion where I stayed was a place where the power of the forest and magic was extremely concentrated. There, my senses for detecting magic also expanded widely."

This was a part Eugene also knew. Since Valda had noticed Eugene's Holy Communion through it.

"Just once. I sensed a massive mystery whirling from a far distance."

"So you are certain it is the Moving Castle."

"Since the aura was so massive that I could even gauge its form. It was very similar to that."

Valda pointed to the ark-shaped sculpture spouting water.

"No existence in the world, not even a dragon of legend, could endure a mystery of such a scale. It would be as if a single bee were trying to swallow all the honey filling a pond."

"Is the reason you called it an ominous existence because it cradles such a powerful aura?"

Valda shook her head.

"Something very wrong."

Dread was etched upon her face as she looked at the fountain.

"That was my impression at the time. It's difficult to express it specifically. Since it was the first time I had ever experienced such a bizarre aura."

"..."

Eugene led the way past the fountain quickly in consideration for Valda.

When they arrived at the mansion for VIPs, there were many guests he had not seen before. Though many invited knights had departed, the scent of iron had become even thicker as famous mercenary captains entered.

Not a duel on a clean stage, but a true war where hundreds against hundreds would engage in slaughter had drawn near.