episode_0083

A fairly large open space spread out on the side of a mountain.

Below the cliff, we can see a small lake and the forest we just passed through, and thanks to the high altitude, we can see the vast grassland beyond the forest in the distance.

It felt like all the stress that had built up over time was washed away just by looking at the wide open view.

“It’s been a long time since I climbed a mountain.”

But I didn’t come here to play.

“Is that the dragon’s nest?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Towards the foot of the mountain, there was the entrance to a huge cave that looked to be about ten meters high and wide.

However, perhaps because we arrived too late, the sun was just about to set, and everything was already being consumed by the huge shadow that had been cast.

On the other hand, what is surprising is that a tent village of various groups was formed in front of the cave.

“Oh my, there are new people here. Hello. We are the people from the top of Elash, and we specialize in purchasing artifacts from dungeons. Since you are here, I think you are an adventurer. What is your name…?”

“Oh, don’t make a mistake and get out of the way. An adventurer? Even at a glance, you clearly come from a noble family with a noble spirit. But does this merchant have no discerning eye? Ahem. Excuse me, Your Majesty. We are a member of the Apoth Group, which handles purchasing and even consignment sales. We are located in the place where the red feather-decorated hat flag is. If you need anything, please call us anytime. We do not have much prepared, but we will serve you with all our heart. ”

It seems that not only those who seek the treasures hidden in Dragon Lair, but also those who live off of it, have all come here.

There were adventurers and those who looked like knights or mercenaries, and it was not hard to spot other instructors and cadets from the familiar knight training school.

“I’ll come back later, so don’t bother me now.”

“Oh my, yep. Of course.”

I slowly looked around after beating off all the suspicious merchants who approached me.

“Are those guys from Instructor Karlstein’s side?”

“Well? Should we go and find out?”

“No. Not you, Huey. I asked our kids. Hey, Sienna!”

“Ma, that seems right. I haven’t seen Instructor Karlstein yet, but I’m sure.”

“What about over there? Don’t those guys look familiar to you?”

“Oh, that’s right. Those people are also trainees in our training school. They don’t interact much with the male cadets, but I’ve seen their faces a few times as I go back and forth.”

“Siena Cadet is interested in male trainees too? She even remembers their faces.”

“Huh? Oh, no! Remembering faces is a habit from my days in the Adventure Group…”

“That’s enough. I’m just kidding.”

I want to find out more, but the sun sets quickly because we’re halfway up the mountain.

Bonfires are burning here and there, and the smell of various meats being cooked in the fire wafts from all around.

We also need to hurry up and find a seat and have dinner.

‘If things continue like this, the competition will be quite fierce tomorrow.’

You need to eat well and sleep well to maintain your condition now.

Just so we don’t fall behind the other guys here.

“Huey. The guardian with the key appears and you said it usually takes three days to find it?”

“Yes. But he said that’s only when there are a lot of people looking for it. And if you’re unlucky and it takes a long time, it can take more than a week. ”

“A week? That’s too long. As soon as possible… If possible, I’ll finish it in one day.”

“Huh? Oh, one day?”

It’s not that I’m impatient or trying to be greedy.

“Look at that crowd.”

“Ah… Well. From what I’ve heard, there has never been a search on this scale.”

“Yeah. As the number of people increases, it will be faster to find them.”

Although we are in the same situation, it seems that there has never been a large-scale key search that involved mobilizing even cadets from the training center.

This time, all these groups will be scattered and start searching at the same time. Will it be possible for us to beat them all and get our hands on the key?

I’m a little worried, but I guess it’ll work out.

“And just in case, do you guys see that?”

“Yes?”

“To that cave.”

“I can’t see anything. Do you see anything?”

Huey had an unsightly, stupid expression on his face.

“You.”

“We can’t see anything either.”

‘Hmm… well, that’s to be expected.’

Right now, I see things that other guys can’t see.

I don’t know if it’s because I learned the magic of conjuring, or because Adrian’s eyes are special, but wouldn’t it be possible to use this to find the guardian holding the key?

“By the way, it’s chilly.”

Perhaps because it was the place where the dragon that froze the entire village lived, a bone-chilling cold air was spreading from deep within the cave.

“Ainel!”

“Huh? Oh, yep!”

“What are you just standing there for! Why don’t you light a fire quickly!”

“Yep. Okay, I’ll light it right now!”

* * *

The commotion broke out when everyone had finished eating and was enjoying their own rest.

As I was warming myself up by the fire and drinking black tea, which I usually don’t enjoy, perhaps because of the cold air flowing out of the cave, a new carriage arrived at the campsite noisily, piercing through the pitch-black darkness.

There’s more competition again.

Everyone thought it was nothing special, but guess what?

As the figures escorting the carriage were revealed, eyes could not help but gather here and there.

That’s understandable, since the seven knights are comprised entirely of women.

From his gait to his every action, his movements were so measured that it was impossible to take your eyes off him. Not only were his cadets in the training school different from those of the knights who had yet to find their masters and were wandering around.

“Is this really a noble procession…”

One of the interested onlookers muttered.

We were the last to arrive here, aside from that carriage.

In other words, words and actions that seem to compare me.

It wasn’t that unpleasant.

Unlike me, they arrived here properly prepared, with seven knights to escort them.

Even though they are both nobles, they would be completely different from one another in the eyes of other people.

As the onlookers were watching, curious to see who would get out of the carriage.

“Have you seen it! From now on, I forbid you from looking at the carriage!”

But what came back was the knights’ shouts like a scolding.

What was truly surprising was how well people followed these knights’ words.

As if trying to avoid something dirty before a precious battle.

I was the only one who couldn’t take my eyes off their movements.

So, before I knew it, a chilling blade was placed in front of my neck.

‘Fuck. The nobles of this country even control people’s gaze!’

Of course, I’m not the type of person who would listen to threats like this.

“Do you want to die?”

I said to the insolent knight.

“Are you Adrian Floyd?”

But my name came out of the knight’s mouth right away, and I couldn’t hide my embarrassment.

“But?”

“Follow me.”

“What?”

“Wait in the carriage.”

“Who?”

“If you follow me, you will know.”

It was only then that I realized that things were taking a strange turn.

‘Damn it. Could it be that Queen Emilia is here?’

All sorts of thoughts came to mind.

Even though I knew that the queen, who was in the middle of a factional fight, wouldn’t be stupid enough to show up in a remote place like this with only seven escorts, I couldn’t think straight because of the unexpected situation.

‘It would be counterproductive to root it out…’

Whether or not the one riding there was the queen, if I thought that each and every one of these knights were of the same skill level as Dalot, there was no way I could handle them now.

So I decided to comply obediently.

If you were going to kill me, there would have been hundreds of more effective and novel ways to do it.

‘If you came to see me in person, at least you’re not trying to kill me.’

So, I moved slowly, mindful of the eyes around me, and got into the luxurious carriage that was still stopped in the same spot.

“…!?”

“Long time no see. Adrian Floyd.”

“You are…”

There was a really unexpected person waiting for me in that carriage.

* * *

Princess Charlotte.

I vaguely know why she, known as Purah’s older sister, appeared here.

Our last meeting was in front of the director’s office at the training center.

The conversation we had then quickly flashed through my mind.

– I can’t tell you here that the princess hid in the closet and peed. If you call me next time, I’ll come and find you.

Since then, several letters have come my way, but I have tried to ignore them.

If it were just the two of us, I could threaten or roast her as much as I want, but in Yeongju Castle, where her maternal grandfather is firmly established, the mere fact that the two of us are staying in the same space together would put my life in danger.

Because I am known to have assaulted her older sister, Princess Purua.

The maid, under Princess Charlotte’s command, glanced at me and then went out of the carriage with a very serious expression on her face.

At the same time, the noise-blocking magic tool in the princess’s hand was activated.

“Okay. Now you can talk comfortably. There won’t be any noise from outside, and I have ordered that no one open the carriage doors until I give the order.”

I was dazed for a moment, wondering what the heck was going on, and then I quickly thought about it.

The princess came to see me.

By traveling a distance that can only be reached by riding a carriage all day from Yeongju Castle.

I don’t know if it’s a means to hide his own shortcomings from his subordinates, but since he personally uses magic tools, first of all, one thing.

It became clear that he had no intention of killing me.

“You’re not going to say anything? You must have something to say to me. Do you know how many times I’ve written to you to come see me?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“What!?”

The princess’s eyes widened.

I stared into the princess’s eyes.

“Hey, don’t lie! If you had, you would have done it earlier…”

“It’s not a lie. It’s just that there were too many eyes watching in Yeongju Castle, so I couldn’t help it. I was just eagerly waiting for the time when we could have a conversation alone without worrying about what anyone else thought.”

The princess, who had been staring blankly at me with her rabbit eyes and surprised, shook her head and frowned as if she thought this was not right.

“Don’t make me laugh! Do you know how hard my days are because of that curse you put on me!?”