episode_0038

The story I heard the next morning was a little different from what I expected.

“There were signs that the animals had run away. But it didn’t seem like they had run away after seeing the savages.”

My father, who returned from searching the surrounding area with the hunters, explained with a serious expression.

“It was not that he ran away to avoid the hunting savages, but he ran away before that. When he followed the traces, he was able to find many animals that were fine.”

“So, you’re saying you ran away after seeing the barbarians?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

My father shook his head in response to my question.

“ That’s not it, it means that he ran away before seeing the magic in the first place. ”

“That… … Is it possible?”

“… … .”

My father looked a little thoughtful, and then,

“We don’t really know what magic is. There is no wizard in the family. But I have heard a story about ‘how’ magic is done. Natural phenomena are manipulated by manipulating the magic power that fills this world. I heard that it is distorted and creates an unusual phenomenon.”

Father’s gaze turned towards Amelia.

Amelia nodded.

After Amelia confirmed, her father continued speaking again.

“So, we can infer that the magic used by the barbarians is a magic that distorts nature so profoundly that the animals realize the omen in advance and run away. Although it is not so much that we can feel it, such a case is. Isn’t it true? We have often seen animals that sense an upcoming snowstorm in advance and run away to the south.”

Certainly, what my father said made sense.

I don’t know if all animals react similarly to ordinary magic, but if such a thing were possible, the ‘portal magic’ would be very severe.

Of course, no one knows how the magic works. It’s not just the people of our family who can’t use magic in the first place, but also the wizards of the Magic Tower.

However, no matter how you look at it, the situation was extremely ‘unnatural’. It is difficult to compare it to simply creating a fireball, creating water, freezing something, or piling up dirt.

“And thanks to understanding the general situation, I was able to figure out how to resolve this situation.”

However, my father’s expression as he said those words did not look relaxed or confident.

Rather, it was the most serious expression on my father’s face that I have ever seen.

No, not only my father, but all the hunters who came to look around with my father had that expression.

“It was revealed that because of this phenomenon, barbarians can ignore our castle walls and attack. So we can’t just stay inside the castle like this. Since there are no new attacks for over ten hours after one attack fails, it’s not like we can use that magic as many times as we want. It’s the same, but it’s harder to prepare for it.”

Some people may ask, “Why not always be prepared?”

Easier said than done.

Humans are animals that need to rest when they work. No, not only humans, but all animals are like that. If a person is stressed and constantly on guard 24 hours a day, he or she will eventually inevitably break down mentally.

Moreover, there are many things to protect.

“We will prepare ourselves and eliminate the enemy. Of course, we will have to be careful, take our time, and definitely kill the enemy. If we just wait like we have done so far, we will only be defeated one-sidedly.”

My father got down on one knee and made eye contact with me.

Two thick, strong hands were placed on my shoulders.

“Elsie, you need to brace yourself. This place will be a battlefield for the next few years. It is unlikely that it will become as large-scale as the war they say in the south, but we have people we need to protect. You are one of them. ”

“… … .”

I had a wolf pack.

However, that alone is not enough to join the raid my father is talking about. In the end, the only last resort that can protect me on the battlefield is myself.

I will remain in the territory, but I may still be able to be helpful. Northern wolves are huge and strong. Judging from Gray and Snow’s fight against the barbarians, each wolf will be able to serve one hunter.

When I nodded, my father also nodded and got up.

And then turned towards Amelia.

“I think you will have to go back now. We will send a message to you. The sun has not risen, but it is still early in the winter, so the road has not disappeared, so there will be no big problem in returning.”

“Ah… … .”

“I cannot leave the Grand Duchess in a place where people like that can invade.”

When Amelia looked at me, her father declared in a voice as hard as stone.

“I will prepare for not only the Grand Duchess but also the Prince to return together.”

If you say it so clearly, there is nothing you can say even if you are the Grand Duchess Amelia.

Baron Delkisi was a de facto vassal of the Grand Duke of Grattenmount. However, even if he was a vassal, as a lord, his authority within his fiefdom was clear.

If the lord has to go back, he must go back. No matter how important the custom of hospitality is, asking a guest to stay when he or she may be in danger is abandoning one’s duty as a landlord.

I don’t know how far the portal can open, but considering that in the novel I read there was no mention of barbarians throwing the Kingdom of Alwen into chaos, Delkisi must have successfully completed the subjugation operation.

“… … I understand.”

Amelia finally answered her father’s words in that way.

It was a somewhat unconvincing voice, but it couldn’t be helped. No matter how righteous Amelia is now, she is still seven years old. No matter how seriously Amelia speaks, in the end, in the eyes of adults, she just looks like a childish crazy person.

Moreover, even if there were some left, it would be difficult to be of any practical help.

That’s how the conversation that day ended.

*

“It’s something that can’t be helped. It won’t be of any help if I stay.”

Unlike Amelia, who looked somewhat unconvinced, Prince Evan said so in a calm voice.

The prince is literally a ‘prince’. If this world were in a fairy tale, he could have literally become a righteous prince on a white horse, but no matter how much it was a romantic fantasy world, this was also reality. Of course, the prince was not a text, but a body of bones and flesh. It was done with fatigue.

Although he was only ten years old, he had been educated as a prince, so he could easily have figured out that stepping forward on his own would not be of much help in this situation.

Moreover, in fact, the reason the prince came here was ‘to solidify his position by making achievements relatively safely.’

Prince Evan was the first prince, but the second prince, who was a year younger than him, was now more capable than Prince Evan in many ways. It was not described exactly at what point in time, but at least the situation was reversed after Prince Evan became the crown prince.

These were events that would slowly occur until 10 years from now, so it was natural for the prince to move like this right now. To be exact, it was probably the intention of the adults close to the prince rather than the prince himself.

As a prince who has lived that way, it would be natural to obey the words of the ‘adult’ Baron Indelkisi to some extent.

“… … .”

“… … .”

There was an awkward silence as we both lost ourselves in thought for a moment.

“Prince, are you okay?”

The one who spoke first was me.

“What do you mean?”

“That barbarian… … You got cut.”

“Um.”

I hesitated a little. I knew it wouldn’t help to bring back those memories, but it was still a little hard to let go.

Because I survived thanks to Prince Evan.

At my words, Prince Evan looked down at his hands.

The prince, who was repeatedly squeezing and squeezing his hand, looked at me again and said.

“So are you okay?”

“… … .”

I hesitated to answer that question for a while before saying.

“Actually, it’s not that good.”

The prince’s eyes widened slightly at those words.

“The people of Delkish also say that.”

“Because Delkisi people are also people.”

“I see.”

Silence fell between the two again.

“Even in that situation, I could not awaken my auror.”

“… … .”

“They say you become awakened when your heart beats hard and your emotions become disconnected.”

Is this similar to when I awakened my abilities as a druid?

In the novel I read, the crown prince was already a sword master who knew how to wear a golden aura on his sword. I heard it was unusual for his age.

“The day will surely come when you will realize your abilities.”

That’s why I said that one thing with confidence.

“… … .”

I could have been irritated, asking why he was so assertive, but Prince Evan just shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, please take care of me then. I have a sparring appointment scheduled.”

Do you still remember that situation?

… … I just hope that we will forget about it in 10 years.