episode_0009

1.

“…Evan?”

I doubted my eyes.

Among the group under attack, Evan was there.

Leurwen slowly reached out her hand.

Could it be an illusion?

The moment her hand touched, it felt like smoke dispersing and disappearing.

“Ah…”

As Leurwen’s trembling hand was about to touch Evan’s face, she sighed softly and paused.

No, up close, it’s not Evan.

Except for the golden hair, there was nothing similar about him.

Evan’s eyes are horizontally slit, but this man’s eyes are round. And while Evan’s face changes from a wolf-like expression to a puppy-like one when he smiles, this man looks like a deer.

His ears are different.

His jawline is different.

His shoulder structure is different.

The length of his arms and legs is different too.

And most importantly, even if their eye colors are the same shade of blue, Evan’s irises have a slightly lighter blue hue.

When I regained my senses, it was indeed a completely different person.

Leurwen withdrew her hand.

In the southern part of the Empire, it’s rare to see blond hair, so she mistakenly assumed it was Evan just based on that.

“Thank you.”

The man who had been watching Leurwen reaching out her hand towards his face expressed his gratitude politely.

“…Yes.”

Leurwen nodded her head slightly.

“Thanks to you, I’m alive. I couldn’t have imagined encountering such monsters in the forest far away from the front lines. Thank you once again.”

Just because they are far from the Demon Realm front lines doesn’t mean only weak monsters appear. Even at this moment, demons are escaping from the Demon Realm and spreading throughout the continent.

So it’s not particularly surprising that such monsters appear in this rural area. I’ve encountered creatures even more grotesque than the ones I just faced.

“…But you don’t seem to be from around here.”

Leurwen looked at the man.

He was dressed in elegant attire, even at a glance. His speech conveyed politeness, and his upright posture exuded nobility.

“Yes, I am Heid Jegertree of the Jegertree family.”

Placing one hand on his chest, he greeted the nobleman. Meanwhile, with a hint of curiosity in his eyes, he softly looked at Leowen.

“…Leowen.”

“Are you an adventurer?”

Leowen shook his head.

“…Captain of the Guard.”

“I thought you were not an ordinary person because of your exceptional skills, but you’re the captain of the Southern Guard!”

“…No.”

Leowen lowered his head once again.

“…A member of a private security unit responsible for this area only.”

“Weren’t you part of the Imperial Army?”

“…Yes.”

“Of course, I assumed you were part of the Imperial Army. Surprising.”

He didn’t sympathize.

A frog that has been hopping around the world knows how small it is when it falls into a well. So no matter how much praise he received from others, it only felt like a mere formality to Leowen.

“But why is the Yagertree family here?”

The Yagertree family, who had Archerfield as their territory.

Traditionally known as a count family that produces great monster hunters, if you’re an adventurer, you’ve probably read the Yagertree Count’s Monster Compendium at least once. Leowen is one of them.

“I was crossing the forest heading east.”

As soon as he heard the direction, Leowen seemed to know where this nobleman’s destination was.

“…The Drager family?”

“Yes. I’m on my way to meet an old friend in the Drager family. He was serving as an Imperial Knight on the Demon Realm frontlines and recently returned due to an injury. So I’m going to visit him after a long time to pay my respects.”

Although he didn’t specifically ask about the purpose of his journey, he effortlessly revealed it.

“I’ll guide you to the forest exit.”

Upon hearing Leowen’s words, Haid’s face turned pale.

He was uneasy.

The knights of the Yagertree family accompanying him were undoubtedly capable, but they were defenseless against the trained monsters like the ones they had just encountered.

Although one might think that Leowen handled it too easily and they were weaklings, they were by no means weak enough to be ignored.

With just ten of them, they could turn several villages into ruins.

If it weren’t for her rescue, some might have succeeded in escaping or the entire group might have been wiped out.

“Thank you. Then I’ll be in your debt.”

After completing the emergency treatment of the injured party, they immediately departed.

Lewyn took the lead and guided them to the exit of the forest.

Heath, riding on a horse, saw Lewyn.

She seemed immersed in sadness.

Although her face was expressionless, there was an atmosphere emanating from her.

Her face resembled that of a widow who had received news of her husband’s death on the battlefield.

I wonder what happened?

Curious, I tried asking several times, but I was mostly ignored.

“Just follow this path all the way.”

Lewyn guided the Yggdrasil party to the forest exit and prepared to scout the forest again.

“I will definitely repay you for this task.”

“…It’s fine.”

Lewyn returned to the forest in a fluster.

His figure did not match the refreshing forest that was beginning to bloom in spring.

2.

Heath Yggdrasil arrived safely at their destination.

As soon as they got off the horse, they met Duke Drager and exchanged casual greetings, discussing the current situation of Count Yggdrasil. After finishing the conversation, they went to meet the eldest son of the Drager family to fulfill their original purpose.

“Oh, welcome.”

Alfred Drager, the eldest son of Duke Drager, who was having a rest in his bedroom, warmly welcomed his long-lost friend.

He had been bored lying in bed all day.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. I can return to the front lines right away.”

Alfred, who spoke cheerfully, was missing his right arm.

Although it wasn’t a full-blown war, they had been engaged in various battles near the entrance leading to the demon realm for several years. They were trying to stop the demons and the demon army from crossing over to this world.

“…How did it come to this?”

Seeing his friend smiling despite losing one arm, Heath felt a bitter feeling.

The two had been friends since they were young.

They graduated from the academy together.

Although they had different specialties, they always stuck together and looked out for each other.

Their bond was so strong that they could be considered brothers, so seeing his friend in such a state made Heath’s heart ache.

“Well…it happened while fighting…”

Alfred touched his right shoulder with his remaining left arm.

“The recent situation on the front line has worsened. It seems like they are preparing for war in earnest, and the demon army keeps trying to cross the front line. Moreover, high-risk monsters have started appearing frequently.”

The seal has been broken, and the Demon King has been resurrected, but it is not yet fully revived. It is speculated that the Demon King is still recovering from the injuries inflicted by the hero party 100 years ago.

Now, as the treatment is almost complete, the movements of the demon army have become more active.

“If things continue like this… a war will soon break out.”

Alfred filed a complaint.

He never expected to retire from the knight order.

It feels empty.

He was the one leading a battalion.

Late at night, they were ambushed by the demon army, and his arm was severed.

There were also significant casualties.

One entire company was annihilated.

They were torn apart by a monster that seemed to be a mix of various demons.

Alfred’s right arm was lost while fighting against that monster.

Although he gained a great advantage by sacrificing his right arm and taking the monster’s life, it seems impossible to return to the front lines in such a state.

“This is a big problem. The hero party needs to be completed quickly.”

An elite unit formed to defeat the Demon King.

The Empire is desperate to form a hero party, but they have yet to find a single suitable candidate. They have been unable to discover exceptional individuals like the heroes of the past.

They managed to select a few candidates for heroes, but they haven’t found anyone they truly like among them.

“Speaking of which, have you heard about the Guard Corps in Starflower Forest?”

“Starflower Forest?”

The forest’s name sounds unfamiliar.

Alfred tilted his head.

“I crossed that forest on my way here and was attacked by monsters that appeared to be part of the demon army.”

“What? The demon army has reached the southern part of the Empire?”

“It’s not certain if they are from the demon army. However, they seemed skilled, as if they had received professional training, and they coordinated well with each other. Anyway, when our knights were overwhelmed and in danger, the captain of the Guard Corps stationed in Starflower Forest came to our rescue.”

Heath recalled the woman who had helped them a few days ago.

“She was truly amazing. I’m not an expert in swordsmanship since I’m not a knight, but judging from observing you for a long time, your skill is extraordinary. It’s not something ordinary to defeat ten demon soldiers of the Demon King alone.”

“Alone?”

“It happened in an instant. Even if it was an ambush, not anyone can take on ten opponents by themselves.”

Recalling her swordsmanship that I witnessed at that time, I admired once again.

“I’m not sure about joining a hero party, but if you join the Imperial Army, it would be a tremendous help.”

“I don’t think you’re lying…”

“Why would I lie?”

Defeating ten demon soldiers alone is truly astonishing.

Even among demons, the strength varies. They are stronger and more powerful compared to other creatures because they possess the power of the Demon King. If they use magic, their hierarchy is even higher.

Wasn’t it also a demon soldier who attacked Alfred?

“I recommend meeting her at least once.”

Alfred pondered for a moment.

Skilled fighters are always in short supply.

Not necessarily forming a hero party like Hyde said, but having a skilled individual in the Imperial Army would greatly aid in defending the Demon Realm frontlines.

Who could this person be?

If someone praises someone else’s swordsmanship to the point where their friend’s eyes sparkle, it means their skill is far from ordinary. Although she was a student studying alchemy in the School of Magic, she never praised anyone for their swordsmanship during her time at the academy, not even Alfred, who graduated top of his class in the Swordsmanship Department.

The fact that she is praising someone’s swordsmanship like this feels unfamiliar and piques curiosity.

“Where is she?”