episode_0042

We moved towards our destination as quickly as possible.

Emma, who no longer had to worry about what others thought, continued to run almost without stopping.

As a blessed half-human and half-horse, she could run faster than any famous horse in the empire, so the speed at which we ran toward Britannia was astonishing.

As soon as I quickly arrived at the port in the northwest, I went to the Imperial Navy with the order given by the Empress and the badge of a gold-level adventurer, and was able to board a ship with soldiers that departed immediately.

Nevertheless, I could not be completely at ease on the galley heading to Britannia.

Considering that Katenis’s power would already extend to some extent in Britannia in the first place, no matter how quickly we arrived in Britannia, we would be starting one step late.

Of course, I heard that the governor had banned entry beyond the wall to prevent any further unrest.

However, considering the power of the Catenis family, it was difficult to think that they would not find a way to sneak out.

‘But the Empress already knows this… Even taking that into account, she probably judged that I would be able to catch up to some extent in the end.

So what should I really be worried about is when we get ahead or when we catch up.’

If it were a task to catch an immortal monster cursed with an unknown cause, Catenis probably wouldn’t have finished it by using simple mercenaries or combat slaves.

There was a high possibility that Yong A-byeong had given instructions directly to them.

Female warriors created by pulling out the teeth of Concordia, a dragon enslaved by Cathenis.

They slaughtered each other as soon as they were born armed, and those who survived have been working as his henchmen ever since.

‘Considering that there are already rumors that there are dragon soldiers in Britannia, if they received the news from Katenis, they would have already made their move.

If you haven’t caught them yet, you have to find and catch the monster first, and if they’ve already got the monster, you have to stop them from leaving the island and heading to the mainland of the empire.’

This request I received also had the purpose of keeping the attention of the Catenis family here while the Empress took care of matters in the islands, if possible.

Even if we couldn’t take away the monster they caught, if we could sufficiently delay the monster’s fall into Catenis’s hands, our steps toward Britannia were meaningful enough.

Of course, if you think about how excellent warriors they are, beings that came out of mythology, it wouldn’t be that easy.

On the other hand, if the monster is strong enough that even mercenary soldiers would have a hard time… then-

“Are you really worried about this incident?”

Luvia suddenly came to my side and spoke to me in a soft voice, probably because she noticed my increasingly serious expression.

“I’m fine. Rubia. It’s just that there’s quite a lot to think about. How is Emma?”

“It’s not that I don’t feel dizzy at all, but my condition is still much better than when I was on a boat before. It seems that sitting like that makes your body more stable.

It’s definitely comfortable because you don’t have to worry about what other people think.”

The centaur that ran through the plains every time I took a boat was Emma, who was suffering from severe seasickness, perhaps because she was not suited for the sea, so hearing that made me feel much more at ease.

Moreover, considering the difficulty of this quest, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if I could gather my energy a little more.

“Thank goodness. Actually, ever since I said I was going to Britannia, I was worried that I would have trouble again.”

Luvia nodded at what I said, was silent for a moment, and then continued talking again.

“I… master. What do you think about that monster?”

“…The mercenaries are certainly excellent warriors, but I also have direct experience confronting them. I know roughly how they fight.

However, there is very little information about that monster other than old lore from people beyond the Wall. I’m preparing, but I’m not sure if it’ll be enough…

Honestly, it’s true that it bothers me.”

However, even after hearing my answer, Luvia had a strange expression on her face. As if that part of the story was not discussed.

“If you have anything you want to say, you can do so at any time.”

Luvia hesitated for a moment in response to my words, but only after some time had passed did she open her mouth again.

“Of course, I am also worried about how dangerous the legendary immortal monster will be.

However… I’m a little concerned about the fact that what was originally an ordinary human turned into a monster…”

Her expression, which tried to maintain her usual sly expression while saying those words, showed her anxiety and fear through the broken mask, even though her efforts were futile.

Or maybe it’s just that I’ve known Luvia for so long that I can see right through her, but I finally understand why she brought this up.

“…You are not a monster. Rubia.”

“It is like that now. That monster… must have been like that at one time.

It’s honestly a bit scary that I don’t know why that being abandoned its humanity, accepted the curse placed on it, and became a monster, and that I probably won’t ever know.”

Luvia swallowed the words, ‘I wonder if she changes like that without me even knowing’, turned her head and took a step closer to me.

Then he buried his face in my arms and took a deep breath. As if trying to feel and smell my warm blood flowing beyond it.

“Master, you are the only one who can quench my thirst for blood.

What happens to me if I can no longer quench my thirst? Will I be able to live a normal life mixing in with people like this then?”

I couldn’t answer Rubia’s question. Because I didn’t know the exact answer to that either.

However, I could tell a different story.

“That means as long as I continue to be with you, Rubia, you will never become a monster, right?”

“…For you to say that, it seems like you have a job with a very high mortality rate.”

“Nonetheless, he’s still alive. I plan to continue to do so in the future.”

“…You can’t keep doing that, right?”

Luvia, who was forced to gain immortality that she did not want, asked with a bitter smile.

Fortunately, this time it was a question I could answer.

“No. It could continue like that.”

Luvia’s eyes widened in surprise at my answer, so I waited for her to calm down for a moment before speaking.

“I have no intention of doing things that humans should not do because of that. Because Katenis clearly showed how ugly it was.

But in another way, I wish for a way to be with the people I cherish forever, not only with myself but with all of them…

I don’t think that’s wrong. It’s also possible to achieve that wish in the right way.”

Luvia said nothing for a moment. I just leaned against my body and continued to listen to the heartbeat.

Even though I wonder if that sound can really ring forever like my words, I hope that I will keep that promise.

So that we can overcome together the future madness that she feared will come at any moment.

In the middle of the night, the ship continued to move through the sea.

Morning broke and the port where we landed was not that far from the wall.

From the time the port was built, it was designed so that newly arrived reinforcements by ship could quickly reach the barrier in case the situation in Britannia turned critical.

The impact of the wall on the empire’s control of Britannia was significant.

The defenses built during the heyday played a big role in helping the imperial army, which was unable to project military power at the level of the war of conquest, defend the cities it had built in Britannia with fewer troops.

It was understandable that the governor chose this place to meet us.

It won’t be easy to leave your seat these days, especially as things that require your attention continue to happen beyond the wall.

“Ah, you are the famous hunter. Welcome to Britannia. I am Avelius, who is serving as governor of this place by order of His Majesty.”

The governor personally welcomed me inside the barracks of the legions stationed on the wall.

“Nice to meet you. Governor Avelius. This is Liber Catenis, a gold-level adventurer.”

Since the governor was from the Empress’s side anyway, he would have known which family I came from and the fact that I was in conflict with that family, so there was no need to hide my last name.

As expected, he didn’t show much of a reaction and went straight to the main topic.

“I heard you don’t have much time, so let’s move on to the story of the request you received.

Hunting the monster that appeared beyond the wall was what the Empress asked you to do, right?”

“That’s right. Could you please allow access beyond the wall?”

“If it is something the Empress has requested, of course I should do it.

Moreover, the tribes beyond the wall were in an uproar upon hearing that the monster had been released, so I would be grateful if they came forward to solve the problem.

Because it will be able to calm down the current situation, which seems as if it could explode at any moment, at least a little.

I’m just sorry that it’s difficult to provide large-scale support to the soldiers for this incident. Right now, there aren’t enough troops to protect the wall.”

“No. Support is ok.

In any case, tracking and hunting monsters would be better with just a small group of me and my slaves rather than leading a large group of soldiers.”

“Hmm… You’re a more expert on this than me, so you’re probably right.

Well then, I have some information you need to hear before you set off beyond the Wall, so I’ll just pass it on to you.”

“What information is this?”

The governor sighed and answered my question.

“Despite the fact that I strictly forbade them from crossing the barrier to avoid further provoking the already unstable situation, it seems that some of them ended up crossing that wall somehow.

Most of them said they were hired by women who were rumored to be Katenis’ mercenaries.”

“…As expected, it was moving even before we arrived.”

“Okay. But… some of the mercenaries and adventurers who followed them beyond the wall over the past few days have returned.

They said that instead of secretly crossing the wall by hiding like when they left, they begged the legionnaires who were patrolling the wall to let them back in.

Of course, now they’ve arrested him and locked him up in prison. Would you like to meet them sometime?

I might have some useful information for you. Above all, it seems like they have personally encountered the monster you are chasing.”

“Yes, of course.”

Finally, for the first time, I was able to hear first-hand testimony about the monster I was hunting, and I immediately followed the governor out of the barracks.

And after a while, I had no choice but to ask a somewhat embarrassing question back to one of the mercenaries trapped in the prison.

“…Rabbit?”

Because they were saying that the monster was actually a rabbit.