Ch.166166. First Impression (3)

As the elf pair and the human entered the reception room, they sat facing each other formally, conscious of their respective statuses, as if they had important matters to discuss.

After observing the situation in silence, the first to speak was the master of the natural fortress—the family head, Illeina Kallia.

“Friends who have come from the Great Forest. I heard you have important matters to convey. We’ve had enough pleasantries, so perhaps it’s time you shared what you came to tell.”

Despite her increased age and wrinkles since her younger days when she had just inherited the position of family head, and though the sharp intelligence that once sparkled in her dark eyes had faded compared to when she personally patrolled the border and perfectly handled the Marquisate’s affairs—

One could still glimpse the deep dignity of nobility in each syllable she spoke, as if the accumulated years and experience of living as the head of a family and as a knight who had dedicated her sword to the kingdom were by no means in vain.

Illeina gazed directly at Friel and Elisa.

‘The family head from decades ago was quite impressive for a human, wasn’t she? But that predatory presence—’

Friel Arielt faced her with a calm expression.

‘She lost it along with her mana. I thought she’d become nothing more than an old recluse waiting to die.’

Friel didn’t immediately answer Illeina’s question.

Instead, she elegantly lifted the teacup placed before her. The liquid inside rippled with her movement.

After appreciating the tea for a moment, she moistened her throat.

‘So the saying is true—even a toothless predator remains a predator.’

Both during their previous meeting arranged through Eunice Kallia, and now facing her again, despite being merely human, her presence was truly remarkable.

Well, in any case, as the family head said, it was time to set aside unnecessary chatter and get to the main point.

“Family Head, are you aware that magic-contaminated monsters are roaming near your territory?”

“Regarding magia-infected specimens, I’ve heard that unlike before, several have been discovered recently. It’s not a good sign, but my second son is defending the territory with part of the 3rd Corps and the 1st Corps.”

“Hmm… so Allen Kallia is in charge of territorial defense.”

“Yes. Eunice seems quite wary of her brother, and lately his reputation hasn’t been good…”

Illeina’s voice trailed off as concern shadowed her face, as if her son’s misconduct somehow reflected on her as well. For a brief moment, between the cracks in her facade as a rational ruler, one could sense the deep worry of an elderly woman.

But only for a moment.

Illeina once again donned the mask of a ruler over her face. Naturally, as she always did.

“Well, regardless, the captain of the 1st Corps has declared his wish to follow him in the next generation, so he must have ability. If this is about the existence of creatures corrupted by magia, we’re already well aware of that. Is that what you came to tell me?”

“Yes, about half of it.”

“Half, you say…”

“The rest will be explained by the one who directly confronted these monsters, Family Head.”

Friel passed the turn to Elisa. As Illeina’s gaze shifted from Friel to her, Elisa bowed her head respectfully.

“Then I, Elisa, shall now address the Family Head.”

“Please proceed.”

“Yes. So far, we’ve encountered six groups of monsters in the western mountains of the Marquisate. Each group numbered more than ten.”

“…”

“All were intoxicated by magia, indiscriminately attacking nearby living beings and spilling blood.”

“What?”

Illeina’s voice betrayed her shock. Six groups with over ten creatures each meant more than sixty magia-soaked mongrels—a situation that could not be ignored.

“You’re saying this is happening in the western mountains?”

“Yes, we encountered and eliminated four groups at the midpoint of the mountain range. While patrolling the forest around our carriage, we found monsters that had come quite close to the center of your territory.”

“Close to the center, you say. Could you tell me more precisely where?”

“Their activity area likely extends from just beyond the nearest western mountain to about the midpoint where we first encountered them. Quite a wide range.”

At those words, Illeina’s expression soured.

“Recently, thanks to your help at the border, we’ve had some breathing room. Allen returned here and has been managing territorial security. The small village at the western midpoint is particularly important for security management, as merchants from the west and north stop there briefly.”

Friel responded to this.

“Yes, we stayed in that village for a day. There were quite a lot of carriages.”

“…And so Allen, who recently returned to the mansion, was in charge of security there. Yet I haven’t received a single report about this from my son.”

Illeina’s pupils had grown cold. But it wasn’t just the ideal state of pure rationality—there was also a hint of cold anger in her gaze.

“Can you swear there’s no falsehood in your words?”

“Of course. Both of us can swear before the spirits and the World Tree.”

“Haah…”

When elves invoke the World Tree and spirits, there’s no room for denial. The family head pressed her fingers against her temple to suppress a headache.

Friel watched her and said:

“It’s not normal for so many monsters to suddenly appear. We believe cultists or demonkin may be hiding in the western mountains.”

“…Cultists or demonkin? Isn’t that jumping to conclusions? There’s no way such elements could be here—”

“Family Head, last year cultists managed to breach tight security and attack during the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Recently, the noble guests from the County who came here with us fought a war against demons. The kingdom is in turmoil. At this point, it’s reasonable to assume that demon worshippers could be anywhere, capable of anything.”

Illeina pressed her lips tightly together.

“I’ve heard that cultists successfully infiltrated the Sianella County as well… and that several explosive magic circles were hidden in the walls.”

“…”

“All of it was sudden and unpredictable.”

Friel spoke with conviction.

“Sixty monsters consumed by magia. They couldn’t have suddenly appeared without someone’s influence. Moreover, these people can emerge anywhere, anytime.”

Her sharp blue-green eyes had taken command of the reception room’s atmosphere.

“This applies to both the Kallia Marquisate and, regrettably, our Great Forest as well. There’s no harm in maintaining above-average vigilance.”

“…You seem to have given this considerable thought. I’d like to borrow the elven insight—can you help?”

“Of course.”

“How do you think I should handle this situation?”

Friel opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for this question.

“…The third son of the Marquisate.”

Friel had an answer fitting the situation.

“Send him with members of the 1st Corps who aren’t part of the second son’s faction or sympathetic to him, to guard the west instead of Allen Kallia.”

“And your reasoning?”

All that remained now…

Was to create a convincing reason to match the predetermined answer.

* * *

With such beautiful weather outside, a person couldn’t just stay cooped up in a room all day.

After a light breakfast, Sione and I were spending time casually strolling around outside.

“The weather is lovely.”

“It sure is—”

Sione turned her head toward me with a smile.

“It’s so nice to be alone together after so long.”

“…?”

…Why is she suddenly saying such creepy things?

“Weren’t we alone together in the carriage as well?”

“Back then, Ray’s spirit was with us too. It was embarrassing to even hold hands with those two bright eyes staring at us.”

“Was it?”

“Yes, and even just holding hands like this.”

Sione grabbed my left hand with her right.

Then she made a fist with her left hand and brought it down on the back of her own hand.

Thud.

“It kept struggling to escape like this…”

Sione’s smile changed.

From fresh and spring-like to something rotten.

“…All my carefully thought-out plans were ruined because of that spirit.”

“…”

What plans is she talking about?

I wonder if my lady sometimes matures and then regresses again.

I could only sigh quietly at her words with their subtle creepiness.

“By the way, Ray, when are you planning to name the spirit?”

“A name? I’m planning to give it a name in the Great Forest.”

“In the Great Forest?”

“Yes.”

Giving a name to a spirit is by no means a trivial matter.

“I also want to name Cotton Ball when it’s in its best condition… and there’s something else I need to prepare.”

I plan to use the spirit stone that Siabel secretly slipped into my pocket after proper preparation, when giving it a name.

I intend to give it a proper name once we enter the Great Forest.

Since the spirit stone our future family head pilfered is no ordinary item,

I’m quite looking forward to seeing what happens to Cotton Ball.

While we were casually talking about Cotton Ball,

Before long.

“Huh? Lady Sione?”

A man’s voice I’d never heard before came from the side.

“That voice…”

Just as he knew Sione’s name,

Sione seemed to know him as well.

Her previously peaceful face quickly turned expressionless.

I wondered who she could have seen to react like that.

I turned to look as well, and couldn’t help but cool my expression.

‘That person is…’

About 165 cm tall.

Quite short and petite for a man in this world.

A man with features similar to Eunice Kallia, whom I had met at the royal palace.

He approached us with a woman who appeared to be a knight, smiling brightly.

“Allen Kallia?”

“I didn’t expect to meet Your Ladyship here! Were you sightseeing nearby?”

He was none other than Allen Kallia, the scoundrel that Friel, that pointy-eared one, so despised.

Rather than overtly trying to appear cute, this jewel of a man subtly infused his voice with seductiveness.

His coquettish voice, with a slight nasal tone as natural as breathing,

Had me desperately trying to prevent my face from contorting into something like a hideous demon.

No, this was too much.

Here he was, even looking us over with his wide, bright eyes.

I could only quietly exhale an empty breath.

No, if that’s the case, Bronte who openly uses a nasal voice to appear cute would be much better.

‘…Is this the skill that captivated the captain of the 1st Corps?’

I wondered whether this world was even more twisted than I thought,

Or if that knight captain’s tastes were simply strange.

My first impression of Allen Kallia was, indeed, close to the worst possible.