Ch.305EP.64 – The Reason for Helping That Knight.

Thud….

“…….”

The black puppy, which resembled a newborn husky, accidentally dropped the hourglass it had been holding in its mouth.

The hourglass was clearly a high-grade treasure, filled with gem powder instead of sand, and seeing it rolling unceremoniously on the ground was nothing short of horrifying.

However, the baby husky… no, Orthros, the high-level magical beast with two heads and a serpent’s tail, couldn’t close its gaping mouth.

Despite being a magical beast, Orthros was highly intelligent and expressive, and now it…

“Woof, woof.”

Shudder!

It trembled all over as if wetting itself, completely overcome with terror.

And for good reason.

Thud, thud, thud…….

No less than 30,000 magical beasts had been dismembered like butchered meat, forming a mountain of remains!

The terrifying fact wasn’t just the number 30,000, but that none of the creatures among them were weaker than Orthros.

Even the seemingly weakest magical beast was on par with an adult Orthros, and such equal-level creatures numbered only about 10,000. The remaining 20,000 were all stronger than Orthros, with many possessing higher intelligence as well.

Seeing all these superior magical beasts displayed like decorative pieces, it was no exaggeration to say that Orthros felt dizzy.

But the reason fear outweighed dizziness was….

Pat, pat.

“You really are smart. Good job guiding the way.”

“…….”

“Hmm? What are you looking at?”

“…Keh….”

“Ah, that? It wasn’t intentional. They just piled up as I was cleaning things up. Anyway, with 30,000 of them, it’s overwhelming, truly overwhelming, tsk.”

It was the “work” of this lone human male.

“…….”

Orthros realized that this male, whether human or monster, had indeed been sparing it all along. In its dazed state, it meekly accepted the hourglass that the human male offered like a bone.

“Take good care of it. It’s borrowed.”

“…….”

“You should answer.”

“Waaang!!”

“That’s right, answer with energy.”

Orthros was humiliatingly petted like a dog, but showed no signs of resistance.

If it dared to resist,

“…Woof.”

It might become part of that mountain too….

* * *

Though he appeared relaxed in front of the dog, Ihan was actually quite bewildered.

It had been a while since he’d been this confused—

Wait, what?

“Why are there so many of them…?”

The numbers were strange.

He had thought ten or so people would be a lot, but this was over 400 people, wasn’t it?

He had sensed familiar presences and realized reinforcements had arrived, but he hadn’t known exactly how many. Now, intuitively grasping that over 400 reinforcements had come, Ihan kept blinking in confusion.

What was all this about?

‘…I’m sure I just asked for help if they were free.’

Before entering Bidon, Ihan had written and sent out five letters.

They were addressed to five acquaintances who were, as far as he knew, relatively trustworthy.

The content of the letters wasn’t much.

He didn’t explain the situation with Modred, nor did he state why he needed them to come.

Just….

[Come help if you’re free], …that short sentence was all he wrote.

Some might criticize him for sending such a brief message, but the people he sent letters to all had debts and connections to him, so he calculated that they wouldn’t ignore his request even if it was this vague.

‘It would have been too much to handle alone.’

He knew.

No matter how strong an individual might be, they couldn’t solve everything alone.

Rushing in recklessly by oneself was nothing but foolish arrogance or childish stubbornness.

Ihan wasn’t like those immature knights who confused courage with recklessness, and in that sense, requesting reinforcements for contingencies was simply common sense to him.

That’s why he was bewildered that so many people had gathered in response to a message he’d sent just two days ago.

Also….

“Why did that lady come in person?”

Crown Princess Isis Elaine de Pendragon.

The next heir to the Pendragon royal family was controlling the situation in an elegant military uniform, and Ihan wondered if she was in her right mind.

Unless she was crazy, why would she come to a place like this in person?

Perhaps,

“Has she gone senile already?”

-[…Insolent fellow. There’s nothing you won’t say.]

“It’s not that I’ll say anything, it’s just a natural question. What are you doing coming to a place like this?”

-[…You don’t seem very surprised?]

“I’m confident I wouldn’t be surprised even if you transformed now.”

-[…….]

Ihan took in stride the talking mole that suddenly emerged from the ground.

There was no sense of hostility, and the aura felt somehow familiar, so he had his suspicions, which were confirmed.

“Is it some kind of familiar?”

-[It’s a golem. Made in animal form.]

“All sorts of strange things exist, huh?”

-[When you grind people into…, no, when you put in various efforts, these are the results you get.]

“……”

Momentarily speechless at her statement, Ihan soon sighed.

Whether it was a golem made by grinding people or whatever, what mattered now was:

“So why did you really come? You could have just sent my classmate and junior.”

Why did she come in person, and why did she bring the white cats?

With their skills, they wouldn’t survive here.

-[This is still a royal princess’s procession. It’s natural to be accompanied by troops. Besides, they are knights, even if mediocre ones. They’ll serve well as a supply unit.]

“……”

-[And as for why I came in person… don’t you know the reason?]

“?”

-[You requested ‘help,’ didn’t you?]

“So what?”

People can ask for help sometimes, what’s the big deal?

Ihan tilted his head, showing that he didn’t understand her words, which made Isis the bewildered one.

-[They say knowing oneself is the hardest thing, and you’re exactly that case.]

“??”

* * *

– ……….

Whether by coincidence or similar thinking, the five people who received the letters, including Isis, were greatly shocked by Ihan’s request for help.

– This rogue is asking for help?

– It’s a sign of the apocalypse….

Galahad’s champion, whose expression had never broken regardless of circumstances, doubted his eyes in confusion, while Lionel’s great warrior, who usually took everything lightly, rarely stiffened his expression.

That’s how serious Ihan’s SOS signal was.

Why?

…Because he had never once asked anyone for a favor until now.

No matter what crisis befell him.

Who was he?

A person who had done many favors for high nobles but never asked for even a single coin in return.

Someone who always resolved crises himself, never asking for help.

Those who had fought alongside him or exchanged fists with him knew how uncharacteristic it was for him to request help, and it was tantamount to predicting a ‘disaster’ that he couldn’t handle alone.

Therefore.

– Your Majesty, I’ll be away for a while.

– Brother, I’ll be going out for a bit.

Reasons or justifications for helping?

They didn’t bother with such things. They simply followed their hearts and didn’t hesitate to head to Modred.

And the reactions of the two monarchs were….

– Wait.

– Your Majesty?

– Take the knights with you.

– Your Majesty?!

As if triggering a chain reaction, Galahad’s sentinels followed, and…

– Take the knights with you as well.

– ?

– An opportunity to repay the debt I owe because of you has come.

– What did I do?

– ……Let me not speak further.

– ??

Lionel’s lions rose to their feet, and…

– Ho ho, fortunately it’s a nearby place.

– Mother, please prepare the inspectors.

Tristan and Ophen also hastened their preparations.

It was a moment when forces capable of toppling the Empire if they so desired had gathered.

This was probably one of the most miraculous events in Pendragon’s history.

Because those heavy-bodied, utterly uncooperative high nobles had united their strength.

…Perhaps no one could have predicted.

That the reason they all mobilized was because of a letter sent by a single knight.

Not because of a lengthy or desperate plea, but because of a light, simple sentence that merely said, ‘Come if you’re free.’

……Incredibly,

-[Do you understand now? What you’ve done?]

“……”

-[Congratulations. You’ve created an achievement that will be recorded in Pendragon’s history for ages to come, hoho.]

“…Well now.”

Ihan couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly after hearing her explanation.

I mean, what….

‘Is this the right interpretation of me just asking for a little help?’

While he was grateful, it was also somewhat embarrassing.

“Hmm!”

Ihan let out a groan.

-[…Instead of being embarrassed, you should be proud, if anything.]

Isis muttered to herself, inaudible to him, with a faint smile.

He seemed unable to accurately judge what he had done, but Isis could evaluate it precisely.

‘From this moment on, you have become the knight representing Pendragon. Whether intended or not, your actions and your resolve have moved them.’

And such a feat….

‘Is something even that Lion King couldn’t accomplish.’

Isis was almost jealous of the achievement her adoptive brother had accomplished.

…Though she was also proud.