episode_0045

An exploration team to investigate the whereabouts of people with special abilities from the Empire who suddenly lost contact.

When Neferti said she would volunteer there, the Duke looked at his daughter for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“I will not allow it.”

“I see.”

This is an answer I had already fully expected. Of course I thought it would be like that.

So Neferti was able to give the next answer right away without being embarrassed.

“As you know. I am a student at Cradle and the student council president. And I am also a member of the contingent.”

“… That’s right.”

Because “. I can only move at my discretion in emergencies. Of course, you have to take responsibility for it, but if the situation is urgent, you can step forward. father. No, Your Excellency the Duke of Chester.”

There is nothing wrong with it. I’m not the type of person to lie about something like that.

The Duke of Chester, who knew this well, could not stop his daughter.

If it were simply a request from a daughter to her father, she might have rejected it.

However, this is a request I make to the Duke as a student of the cradle and a member of the contingent.

It is not far-fetched and even has its own legitimate reasons.

“Yes. It’s not like heading to the gate. There is no need to engage in combat with monsters. If it’s just for exploration, there’s nothing you can’t do as you want.”

“… .”

Duke’s permission. However, Neferti’s expression was not good.

That word. There will be no heading to the gate and no fighting with monsters.

To put it backwards, it meant that if there was a possibility that either of the two cases would occur, the exploration team would unconditionally retreat without delay.

As Neferti said, she is a student of the cradle. He is a member of the contingent.

But that’s it. He is not an imperial power with a duty to subdue gates and monsters.

So there is no problem in saying that you will never get involved in anything more than necessary.

“Why is there no answer? If you have changed your mind, please tell me.”

“… no. Your Excellency the Duke. I will join the search party.”

“Good. If you don’t mind, go ahead. Neferti.”

“I will go.”

After a brief greeting, I look at my daughter’s empty seat as she immediately disappears from the room.

My appetite is bitter. I finished drinking earlier, but it seems like I’m still drinking.

“Your Excellency.”

When he turned his head, the family servant was looking at him.

Behind him stood Deus, who had gone to guide the room a little while ago.

“Are you here too?”

The Duke speaks to the guests, telling them to come inside.

“Yes. It felt a bit noisy, unlike before.”

“Further south of the Duchy, there is a place outside of Sealstone’s sphere of influence. It seems that a gate appeared there, but contact with the imperial talents heading there was lost.”

“This is not a good situation.”

“I hope it doesn’t get any worse from there. I hope it was just a simple communication failure.”

The Duke paused the conversation for a moment, tapped the table and sighed.

It was a gesture full of frustration with the current situation.

“A little while ago, it looked like the chairman was leaving the office.”

“You guessed it right. Ineungseong requested support from our duchy and decided to form an exploration party. When he heard the news, he immediately came to me and asked me to give him a spot there.”

“Did you give permission?”

In response to Deus’ question, the Duke let out a helpless laugh, “Haha.”

And then I thought, ‘What else can I do there?’ He started rhyming.

“It was literally an exploration party, so we couldn’t reject it vehemently. The youngest one probably knew that too and tried to go there, saying he was a student at the cradle and part of the contingent.”

“… .”

“The reason is probably a silent protest to this father and a message to stop giving up now.”

They say no parent can beat their child. As expected, the words of the old sages are not wrong.

Holding his forehead and sighing lightly, the Duke was just looking at Deus.

“… you. What do you do?”

“Didn’t you tell me earlier? Chairman, please help me.”

“Even though I said so… for a moment. you. Didn’t you drink quite a bit with me just a little while ago?”

―tuk

Deus roughly took off his outer clothes, folded them neatly, and shook his head.

Muscles that seem to fold space and time at any moment are writhing in unison.

“You can recover to that extent with energy.”

At that moment, without realizing it, the Duke said, ‘Recovering from drinking with energy? how?’ I almost asked back.

The reason I was able to endure it was purely because of my intuition and instinct as a warrior.

The feeling that it might be better to just remain quiet in the face of that huge monster.

“I will also join the search party. Your Excellency.”

*

The duchy’s most experienced knights and soldiers were summoned.

At Lee Neung-seong’s request, we will go into a search party and search for people with extraordinary abilities who have lost contact.

“Hmm?”

Then, when they saw someone new, they looked visibly embarrassed.

“Princess?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all. How have you been?”

“It’s always the same for us… Why are you here all of a sudden?”

“I also joined the search party. Oh, don’t worry. I came here after getting permission from my father.”

The knights who were trying to stop Neferti, asking what she was talking about, all silenced.

If my lord, the Duke of Chester, has made a decision, it is right not to argue any further.

“You may not be able to sleep well and need to move around. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not long ago, I wasn’t sleeping well and was waiting in the crib.”

Neferti smiles and says, “Honey, don’t worry.”

The knights nodded and were about to get ready again.

“Excuse me. Are you sure these are the people going to the search stand?”

A huge monster appeared through the darkness, speaking human language.

“Huh.”

“Junior?”

I will correct it. Deus, a gigantic young man, was his true identity.

The fact that the knights are still freaked out hasn’t changed.

“What’s going on here all of a sudden?”

“I also joined the search party. I asked His Excellency the Duke a favor.”

“Why is your junior… No, more than that.”

Could it be that Neferti was sniffing? Make an expression like this

“Junior. Didn’t you drink alcohol?”

“That’s right. I had a quick drink with His Excellency the Duke.”

“Then instead of staying here like this, you should go in and rest!”

“This amount can be recovered through energy.”

“What nonsense is that!”

No matter how strong the chivalry is. An excellent wizard too. Even if it’s someone with special abilities.

The reality is that people cannot stand the deadly drug called alcohol and become confused.

But suddenly he regains his strength. What nonsense… .

“That makes sense. If it were me.”

“… .”

Not anyone else, but Deus. The man who beat the devil to death with his bare hands says that.

Even if you don’t trust the knights. Even if the soldiers don’t believe it. Neferti had no choice but to believe.

“What… Hmm. Wow, it just turned out well. They say they plan to operate two search teams, so I think my junior and I will be in charge of one area each. It would be good to have at least one person who knows how to use this ability.”

“I agree.”

After a brief conversation. This time we turn to the knights and soldiers.

“I came here a little unexpectedly. First, let me say I’m sorry. Even though I am a freshman, I am a student of the cradle, so it will be helpful. Thank you very much.”

Even if you are a freshman? You killed the demon with your bare hands.

Student of the cradle? Wouldn’t that be a cradle hero?

“Well, thank you.”

There is no need for Neferti to make the knights and soldiers of the family aware of that fact.

Before that happened, everyone was already bowing and groveling.

‘That…’ Right. hmm. that’s right.’

Being a duke’s knight or private soldier, things like that would have been erased from their minds a long time ago.

How could anyone be confident when such a fearless man approaches and greets them?

“Okay, I’ll leave right away.”

The search party that left the main castle moved at a speed that was neither too fast nor too slow.

Just in case, if the horses get tired, it will definitely be very embarrassing.

For your information, Deus did not ride on a horse, but on a carriage for transporting patients.

Unfortunately, there was no horse in the duchy that could handle that size on its own.

no. Even if you search the entire empire, it might be quick to conclude that it doesn’t exist.

“Junior.”

Skillfully handling the horse, Neferti sneaks up next to the carriage.

“Why did you suddenly join the search party?”

“His Excellency the Duke asked me to help the Chairman. Just like when I faced the devil in the cradle not long ago.”

“Your father was worried for no reason. After already begging me not to do anything.”

No need to worry. I’m worried for no reason.

“Chairman. It may be a presumptuous remark. No matter what your child does. Whether it is easy or difficult, dangerous or not dangerous. Aren’t all parents just worried?”

“… .”

Neferti sighed.

know. I know everything. How could I not know? Even my father already lost his child.

Sometimes I think about just doing what my father wants.

First he broke up with his wife, and then he let go of his second son in tears.

And if we lose our youngest, we really might not be able to hold on any longer.

“Not now. It might not be a bad idea to think about it deeply someday.”

“… all right. Thank you, junior.”

*

The duchy’s exploration team was divided into two teams.

There are four directions in which the Empire’s talented people can move, and two are said to be in charge of Lee Neungseong.

Since there are two paths left, this one has no choice but to be split in two.

“I’m having a hard time. Junior.”

“Be careful.”

Neferti, who parted ways with Deus, sped up with the members of the search party.

A couple of hours have passed since then, but no significant results have been achieved.

It was late at night and it became very inconvenient to move with the naked eye.

“Princess. I think it would be better to move again early in the morning.”

“Of course. Coincidentally, there is a village nearby, so even if that doesn’t work, there will be a place to camp… .”

Suddenly, Neferti stops talking and looks ahead closely.

Even the drivers who asked why at first turned their heads forward as if they felt something.

“… ! … !”

“… . … .”

The faint sound of conversation can be heard. It’s normal up to that point.

The problem is that now is not the time to come and go so peacefully.

After a while. What came into Neferti’s sight.

“Huh? What is it?”

They were two men and women who had a very sinister energy.