Skeleton Knight, in Another World (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Harbinger of Doom 

The Grand Duchy of Limbult was located on the Librout River, to the east of the Rhoden Kingdom. 

The stark white Meinsoir palace towered over the duchy, stretching into the sky—an imposing symbol of power to the lands it controlled. Off in one of the immaculately decorated rooms overlooking Aldoria Bay sat several women, talking among themselves. 

One of them perched daintily on a beautifully embroidered chair, brushing out her shimmering blonde hair in front of a large mirror. Her warm, brown eyes followed the movements of her chambermaid as she walked around the room behind her. 

“How would you like to have your hair done, Miss Yuriarna?” 

The chambermaid wore her own glistening, black hair up in a bun, her uniform barely concealing her figure beneath. Her eyes focused on the reflection of the woman in front of her. 

Yuriarna turned her gaze ever so slightly to look at her chambermaid. 

“Nothing too fancy. Can you do something mature and reserved, Ferna?” 

“Absolutely.” 

The woman brushing her hair in front of the mirror was the second princess of the neighboring Rhoden Kingdom, Yuriarna Merol Melissa Rhoden Olav. The woman now busily holding a selection of extravagant hair ornaments up to the princess’s hair and frowning back into the mirror was Ferna, Yuriarna’s long-time chambermaid and childhood friend. 

“I think this one looks good.” 

Ferna picked a polished silver hair clip in the shape of a flower petal and slid it into Yuriarna’s hair. 

The other chambermaids brought a trunk full of the princess’s dresses up to her for consideration. Yuriarna shook her head, and the chambermaids ran off to retrieve more. 

Ferna kept an eye on her fellow chambermaids as they bustled about the room. She tried keeping the princess’s mind occupied by engaging her in conversation. 

“We only just spoke to Duchess Seriarna about holding a meeting with the elves. I never believed we’d receive a reply so soon.” 

Yuriarna nodded. 

Duchess Seriarna was the wife of the duke of Limbult, and Princess Yuriarna’s older sister. 

The Grand Duchy was rare, in that it was the only human country that had a trade relationship with the elves. Yuriarna had come here to convince her sister to open talks between the Rhoden Kingdom and the elves. Seriarna had agreed and dispatched an elf messenger stationed at the palace at once. 

That was two days ago. 

*** 

“I’m curious to see what methods the elves use to communicate.” 

Yuriarna mumbled to herself as she gazed out the window at the coast opposite Aldoria Bay. If she squinted, she could just barely see the outlines of mountains and forests through the mist. 

The elven capital of Maple, where a vast majority of the elves lived, was protected deep within that vast, oppressive expanse of trees. If the stories were true, it was no easy feat for a human to travel there. 

In fact, even those engaging in trade with the elves had never set foot in the elven capital, so no one could quite be sure exactly where it was located. All they knew was that it wasn’t close to Limbult. 

And yet, talks had been arranged in a matter of days. 

“I’ll be meeting with the elf elders no less.” 

Yuriarna was still speaking more to herself than anyone else, but Ferna nodded along, prompting her to continue. 

“The high elders serve as the key decision makers for the elves, similar to the dukes in Rhoden.” 

This seemed to spark Ferna’s interest. “I thought talks with other nations generally started with lower-level officials.” 

“That’s true…” 

Typically, lower-level officials would work together to decide on the schedule and details of the talks before they actually took place. However, even in cases where an urgent request was made, it would still typically take around a month or so to get the parties in the same place. 

As the representative of the Rhoden Kingdom, Yuriarna had expected to wait here for at least a short while, since she hadn’t observed proper procedure when making her request. And yet, here they were, the date of the talks already upon them, just a few days later. 

“I have no idea what means the elves use to communicate, but the speed at which they do is nothing short of amazing. I’ve heard stories that the Rhoden armies suffered fatal blows due to the overwhelming strength of the dragons that guard the lands they tried to take from the elves, but they clearly have more than just strength in their favor.” 

Yuriarna let out a deep breath. 

Ferna smiled at the princess’s image in the mirror as she delicately arranged Yuriarna’s hair. 

“In that case, it would be an immense victory if we are able to win their assistance.” 

The princess took another deep breath and let it out again. 

“You’re right. One way or another, we need to get them to help us.” 

She faced herself in the mirror, looking far more resolute. 

“Ferna, could you change the hair adornment to something a little more colorful?” 

Ferna hid her surprise behind a soft smile. 

“Certainly.” 

Yuriarna would be solely responsible for deciding the path the Rhoden Kingdom took from here on out. With this firmly in mind, she looked back out of the palace window, toward the Great Canada Forest in the distance. 

*** 

Maple, the capital of the Great Canada Forest, was located deep within the endless sea of trees on the bank of the vast Great Servant Lake. 

A grove of tree dwellings rose up from within the two massive walls that surrounded the city, which served as the home to over 100,000 people. At the center of this grove, one tree towered above all the others. This was the central council’s chambers, and it served as the administrative center for the ten elders, each of whom oversaw their own villages and came together to decide on policies for the entire forest. 

On a balcony near the top of the central council tree, two men sat at a table, facing each other. Below, the lake spread out as far as the eye could see. 

One of the men was Elder Dillan, charged with overseeing the village of Lalatoya. His long, green-tinged hair whipped about in the wind as he brought a cup of tea to his lips. 

Across from Dillan sat a large, burly man with short-cropped white hair and amethyst-colored skin—the marks of a dark elf. An intimidating look was frozen on his scarred face. He stroked his long, white beard as he watched Dillan. This man was Fangas Flan Maple, one of the ten elders, and father of Glenys, Dillan’s wife. 

“I apologize for having you make so many trips here from Lalatoya. The cost in rune stones alone must be immense.” 

Fangas, large even by dark elf standards, spoke in a deep voice that, together with the expression etched onto his face, gave the impression he wasn’t someone easy to get close to. 

Dillan, however, had spent many years interacting with Fangas and offered a simple shake of his head before setting his cup back down on the table. 

“Actually, a guest of ours was kind enough to bring us eight sand wyvern rune stones.” 

“You’re talking about the mercenary my granddaughter hired? Can we trust him?” 

Fangas stared intently at his son-in-law. To anyone watching, it might have looked like he was trying to get a sense for the man sitting across from him. 

Dillan returned his gaze and offered him a shrug. 

“I admit he’s a bit of an odd one, but he’s definitely trustworthy. He’s done a lot for Ariane, and for that I am thankful.” 

“Well, if that’s how you feel about him, I certainly trust your judgment.” 

Fangas crossed his muscular arms and let out a huff. Ariane was still his adorable little granddaughter; the very idea that she was traipsing about with some man he didn’t know made him uneasy. However, Fangas hadn’t called the elder of Lalatoya to the central council just for small talk. 

Dillan was the one who broached the subject. “Why did you call me here, Fangas?” 

“We received a message from Limbult that a Rhoden entourage has traveled to the Grand Duchy to discuss the events surrounding Marquis du Diento’s death. Arrangements have been made to meet with them, and the central council has decided to send the two of us.” 

Dillan nodded, unphased, as if he’d already guessed the answer to his question. 

“Well, things have certainly moved quickly.” 

Fangas let out a sigh, looking almost disappointed at how nonchalantly his son-in-law was taking this news. 

“However, the representative from Rhoden is no simple envoy. It’s the second princess, Yuriarna, of the Rhoden royal family.” 

This time, Dillan’s face registered surprise, but it shifted into a smile as he reached into his coat to pull out a piece of wax-sealed paper. He handed the document to Fangas. 

“This is quite fortunate. I had just been thinking about arranging a meeting with Yuriarna.” 

Fangas looked the paper over, then glanced inquisitively back at Dillan. 

The elder of Lalatoya explained the story he’d heard from Ariane the night before about what had happened in Lamburt. 

Fangas stroked his beard, a broad smile stretching across his face. 

“I see. In that case, we may just be able to find some common ground after all.” 

*** 

The next day, a contingent of soldiers accompanied Dillan and Fangas to the central teleportation shrine. They teleported to Saskatoon, the elven village closest to Limbult. 

Saskatoon sat along the Sagune River, one of several large rivers feeding into Aldoria Bay, which served as the border between the Grand Duchy and the Great Canada Forest. 

The journey between Saskatoon and Maple would typically take many days, but Dillan, Fangas, and their soldiers were able to cross the distance in a matter of moments thanks to the rune-stone-powered teleportation points. 

The major port city and capital of the Grand Duchy would serve as the mediator between the elves and the Rhoden Kingdom, since Limbult was the only human nation the elves of the Great Canada Forest currently traded with. This meant that the city’s docks were constantly filled with human merchants from across the northern continent in search of high-quality, elven-made magical items. 

Thanks to this, the Grand Duchy had become an incredibly prosperous nation despite its small size, and this was nowhere more evident than in the capital. 

Dillan, Fangas, and their soldiers left Saskatoon and made their way down the Sagune River toward Limbult. They docked their boat in a section of the port reserved for elven use. After disembarking, they boarded several horse-drawn carriages that had been waiting for them. 

Under normal circumstances, mounted guards would accompany the caravan to provide additional protection. However, given how much time elves spent living among the trees, most of them weren’t very skilled riders. Fangas knew this well. Though an elder now, and currently protected by many guards, he’d once been a soldier, as evidenced by his hulking frame. The dwarf-made war hammer that hung from his waist was no mere decoration. He was still a brutal fighter and could crush a dragon’s skull if he swung his hammer in anger. Many of the elders, in fact, were talented warriors like Fangas. The accompanying guards were more for show than anything else. 

A contingent of soldiers from Limbult’s army marched up to the carriages and the whole procession lurched forward, straight toward the palace at the center of Limbult. The caravan crossed a stone bridge arching over the large moat that surrounded the palace walls. Once through the gate on the other side, Dillan and Fangas found themselves staring up at an imposing, chalk-white palace with numerous towers that jutted up into the sky, all covered in intricate carvings. This was the home of the Duke of Limbult. 

Though far different in design and style from the central council building back in Maple, it evoked the same sense of awe in all who saw it. 

Dillan was entranced as he looked out the carriage window. This would be his first time setting foot in Limbult Palace. 

As soon as the carriages stopped, several servants came rushing down the palace steps to greet them. They ushered Dillan, Fangas, and their companions inside and brought them to a room deep within the palace, where a woman with bright blonde hair and gentle brown eyes waited for them. 

The woman gently lifted the corners of her pale blue gown in a curtsy and greeted them with a smile. 

“It’s been a while, Fangas.” 

Fangas returned her smile and bowed low. 

“It is truly an honor to be in the presence of the great and honorable Duchess Seriarna Meria du Olav Ticient.” 

“Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Seriarna’s gentle grin elicited an even wider smile from Fangas. 

“Admittedly, we were quite intrigued that an envoy from Rhoden sought an audience with us.” 

“This envoy is my younger sister, Princess Yuriarna. I trust you’ll be easy on her.” 

“You have my word.” 

Seriarna led them to another room, even deeper within the palace. 

Though not as large as the last, this room was brightly lit by a massive window running along the entirety of one wall. It had been tastefully decorated and boasted a large, round table in its center. Three people were already seated at the table: two women, one of whom appeared to be a chambermaid, and a young man dressed as a knight. 

As soon as Fangas and Dillan entered the room, all three of them stood from the table, and the woman who wasn’t dressed like a chambermaid bowed. 

Her hair, done up in gentle curls, was the same bright blonde as Seriarna’s. She had a pale complexion and a beautiful face. Her gentle brown eyes, however, were tinged with a mix of apprehension and determination. She looked almost like a young girl, lacking Seriarna’s cool maturity. 

The woman curtsied as she introduced herself. 

“Thank you for meeting with me. My name is Yuriarna Merol Melissa Rhoden Olav, second princess to the Rhoden Kingdom.” 

Fangas offered another bright smile. 

“I am Fangas Flan Maple, an elder from the Great Canada Forest. I am a man of humble origins, so there’s no need for formality.” 

The knight standing beside Yuriarna tensed, but Fangas paid him no mind. 

“And this is…” 

“I am Dillan Tahg Lalatoya, elder of the village of Lalatoya in the Great Canada Forest. I look forward to speaking with you.” 

Dillan was much more polite in his introduction, and the tension in the room lightened noticeably after he’d finished speaking. He grinned. 

“My father-in-law may look intimidating, but he’s not as crass as he seems.” 

Dillan gestured for Yuriarna to sit, and, once she had, Dillan and Fangas followed suit. Seriarna sat between the two parties. After formal introductions, the Rhoden princess got straight to business. 

“I called you here to discuss events that have occurred in Diento, in the Rhoden Kingdom.” 

Fangas cast his eyes down, his large arms crossed as he listened to Yuriarna. Dillan assumed a similar posture, but kept his gaze on the young princess, his expression flat. 

“We were astonished and ashamed to learn that Marquis du Diento was kidnapping elves in violation of our treaty. However, we are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his assassination.” 

Yuriarna stopped there and looked across the table at Fangas. He sat motionless, merely raising an eyebrow in response. 

“I am still learning about the situation in its entirety, but no matter what else may have happened, Rhoden owes the elves an apology. This matter reflects poorly on the king for having done nothing about it for so long. Please understand that the royal family has no objections to the outcome of events in Diento.” 

Not only did Yuriarna already know that elves had been involved in the assassination of the marquis, she also affirmed their actions. 

Fangas broke out in a toothy grin. “Then what do you want from us?” 

Under normal circumstances, neither party would have been able to bargain. Assassinating a noble was generally frowned upon, even if said noble had been in violation of a treaty. 

The princess regarded Fangas coolly, undaunted. “I’m here to ask a favor. I would like the support of the Great Canada Forest in my succession to the throne of Rhoden.” 

Yuriarna stood from her chair and bowed her head low. Fangas nodded for her to continue. She resumed her seat, explained the situation with the royal line, then apologized for airing her family’s dirty laundry. 

Once she’d finished speaking, Fangas leaned forward, resting his large arms on the table. 

“And what do we stand to gain by backing you?” 

“My brother, Prince Sekt, has the support of the western Revlon Empire, the very empire that brought tragedy to the dwarves in the distant past. They are currently separated from the Rhoden Kingdom by the Furyu mountain range, but if Sekt is allowed to succeed to the throne, they will almost certainly begin meddling in the affairs of our country. I have also heard that the western empire is developing magical items using elf labor.” 

The tragedy she alluded to was of humans who had hunted dwarves across the entire northern continent, in an attempt to steal their superior metalworking techniques. The former Revlon Empire, before it had split, was at the forefront of these efforts. Ultimately, the humans’ desire had led to the dwarves disappearing from the northern continent entirely, leaving nothing behind but their name in the humans’ history books. 

Unbeknownst to humans, however, the dwarves had joined forces with the elves, who were also being hunted at that time, and had escaped to the city of Maple, deep within the Great Canada Forest. Their existence had been kept a secret ever since. 

“So, if we were to back you, then you would serve as a barrier between us and the Revlon Empire?” Dillan, who had been quiet this whole time, spoke up. He wanted to ensure he understood what she was offering. 

Yuriarna nodded. 

Fangas let out a heavy sigh, his muscular arms still crossed on the table. 

“We keep our distance from the affairs of humans. I can’t imagine we would be of much assistance.” 

“In terms of direct impact, you’re correct. That’s why I would like to discuss the possibility of opening up trade between the Rhoden Kingdom and the elves.” 

“Hmm, well, that’s…” 

Dillan glanced over at Seriarna, who had been silently listening to the entire exchange. 

Yuriarna answered his unspoken question. “I’ve already confirmed these matters with the Duke and Duchess of Limbult and received their blessing regarding the cultivation rune stones. Currently, Limbult is the only nation you’re trading these stones to. If we were to open trade with you as well, I believe it would not only improve the status of the royal family, but also bring many nobles into my camp out of their desire for the same.” 

“I see. And, Princess Yuriarna, do you have any plans to improve relations with us?” Fangas shifted his large body in his seat as he ran his fingers through his white beard. “I have heard that the lord of Lamburt has taken one of our own as his bride. If relations were to improve between our countries, and more humans had a better understanding of the elves, well then I think this would be worth considering. I cannot make any sort of trade agreement yet, but I will do what I can to ensure a positive response when we convene the elders.” 

Yuriarna gazed at Fangas in astonishment. She glanced at the chambermaid and the knight on either side of her, however they were just as stunned. Information of the lord of Lamburt marrying an elf hadn’t reached any of them yet. 

Fangas observed their surprise with a satisfied smile. He offered his hand to Yuriarna. She shook it, a look of relief spreading across her face. 

*** 

Leibnizche, in the Holy East Revlon Empire, was sandwiched between the Siana Mountains to the west, which formed the border with the Great West Revlon Empire, and the steep, volcanic Karyu Mountains to the east. 

The land between these two natural barriers mostly consisted of gentle, rolling hills. Thanks to its location in the southern part of the Holy East Revlon Empire, Leibnizche enjoyed a relatively warm climate—at least, warmer than the capital—and was dotted with rich, fertile farmland. 

Viscount Drassos du Barysimon, the lord of Leibnizche, was sitting in front of a large fighting arena. The center of the arena was an empty platform surrounded by tall stone walls with massive iron gates built into them. Raised seating along the outer wall gave spectators a view of this platform. 

A hulking, four-legged monster sat at the center of the platform, growling low. Five necks, moving about like snakes, protruded from its turquoise, scale-covered body. The beast was at least ten meters tall; a ferocious creature, said to be able to level an entire town all on its own. 

Men and women watched the monster from the safety of their seats. Among them sat a large man with a crude grin plastered to his face as he sipped from the glass of alcohol in his hand. He wore his black hair in a rather distinctive, braided style, and sported a scraggly, unshaven beard. Swirling tattoos covered his bare chest and body. 

Two scantily clad women were curled up with him, one under each of his massive arms, tracing their pale fingers along his muscular chest. One of them looked up and spoke in a lilting voice. 

“Oh, Fumba. Is that terrible monster really going to stay calm?” 

The man, Fumba, flexed his upper arms and puffed out his chest. He smiled confidently and gestured toward the platform. 

“Of course! That hydra is completely loyal to me. I’d never let it do anything to hurt one of my sweet little ladies.” He let out a loud belly laugh and poured the rest of the alcohol into his mouth. 

The second woman promptly filled his glass again, putting her arm around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest. 

“Are you saying you have the ability to command even a big monster like that?” 

Fumba raised his eyebrows. “Do you doubt me? Well then. Let me show you something exceptionally impressive. Heheh.” 

A sinister grin twitched across his lips as he jerked his chin. Just then, a small gate leading into the arena opened and two soldiers dragged out a man bound in chains. 

“Stop, please! I beg you!” 

The man pleaded with the soldiers to no avail. They continued dragging him toward the hydra. The creature’s massive body rocked as it stood, its five heads hissing, split tongues darting in and out of their mouths. 

The two women tensed as the man’s screams filled the arena. 

Fumba, thoroughly enjoying himself, pulled the women into him and whispered. 

“Watch closely.” 

He kissed them each on the shoulder, then stood and stepped forward, calling out in a loud, booming voice: 

“Halt!” 

The hydra’s five snaking necks went taut immediately. 

Taking their cue, the two soldiers dragged the chained man to a large ring attached to the platform next to the hydra and locked the man’s chain onto it, before beating a hasty retreat. 

The man, now half-crazed with fear, screamed for help. 

Fumba clapped his hands, the sound echoing throughout the entire arena. 

“And…go!” 

No sooner had the words left his lips that one of the hydra’s heads launched toward the man’s torso, its teeth sinking deep into flesh. 

“Gyaaaaaaaugh!” 

The man began frothing at the mouth, his gurgling scream cut short. His body began spasming as the hydra let out an immense roar. It then proceeded to swallow the man whole in a matter of seconds. Fumba grinned broadly, looking back and forth between his two companions who were desperately trying to maintain their smiles. One of them finally worked up the nerve to speak, her voice slightly shrill as she asked the exuberant Fumba a question. 

“I, uh, whatever did that man do, Fumba?” 

“I don’t know. He was probably a thief or something. As you can tell, that big, dumb beast down there is quite the eater, so we need to feed him a steady diet of criminals and slaves. You two better stay on the straight and narrow, or you might become a snack too. Gyahaha!” 

Fumba guffawed as he pulled the women close again, sliding a hand under one of their skirts. Her face tensed immediately, and she choked back a scream. 

“Come with me, and you’ll never be left wanting for liquor…or money.” 

Fumba smiled lecherously as he slipped his hand down the front of the other woman’s shirt. She tensed as well but made no effort to stop him; not after what she’d just seen. 

Emboldened, Fumba leaned over to kiss one of the women. However, he was interrupted by someone storming in unannounced from below. 

“Master Fumba! What are you doing playing around when you still haven’t finished your assignment for the emperor? And how dare you bring such, such…debauchery into a sensitive place like this?!” 

A vein bulged in the screaming man’s forehead. He had a narrow jawline and wore his reddish-brown hair neatly parted to one side, giving the strong impression that he was a stickler for details. What his clothes lacked in extravagance, he more than made up for in the way he wore them. He directed his burning gaze straight at Fumba, who still had his hands under the women’s clothing. 

Fumba sighed dramatically. “Oh, Drassos. Listen old man, I just got back from my expedition to capture this monster all right? I’m sure Emperor Domitianus would want me to have a little fun.” He chuckled to himself as he spoke. 

“You bastard!” 

Drassos, now fully enraged, strode toward Fumba and attempted to grab him. Fumba let out a low whistle, something huge stirred in the shadows. Drassos froze. 

A hulking wolf, about two meters tall, padded out from behind one of the pillars. Its body was entirely covered in white fur, and its tail gave off a faint, bluish glow. It had a shackle on one of its front legs, though the shackle wasn’t connected to any kind of chain. 

The wolf stopped in front of Drassos and bared its fangs, a low growl emanating from deep wihthin its throat. 

“Yeaugh!” 

Drassos scrambled back, glaring at Fumba. 

“No need to be so scared, old man. What do you think of my haunted wolf? He’s pretty smart. If it weren’t for my abilities, y’know, that employ ring wouldn’t be enough to hold him. But, as it is, he listens to my every command. Don’t worry. Once I’m refreshed, I’ll get back to the emperor all right? Quit being such a grump.” 

Fumba grinned again. He snatched the bottle of liquor out of one of the women’s hands and took a swig from it. 

“Oh, and you don’t need to worry about these two spilling secrets either. I’ve already trained them pretty good. If they say anything, they’ll be wolf food. Or hydra food. I haven’t decided yet. But you girls are too smart to let that happen, yeah?” 

The two women nodded emphatically. 

Drassos turned on his heel and stomped away, his footsteps echoing loudly down the hall. 

The viscount stormed through the palace with a heavy, purposeful gait, his body shaking with anger. Servants hurried out of sight as he barreled past. 

“That savage little… Dammit! Just because he has the emperor’s ear doesn’t mean he can just do whatever the hell he pleases in my palace!” 

For the rest of that day, Viscount Drassos du Barysimon, ruler of Leibnizche, could be heard screaming throughout his castle, casting a dark cloud over all the retainers serving under him. 

*** 

A light layer of clouds still covered the early morning sky when Ariane and I came across a town just a little way off the road. 

The town was surrounded by a three-meter-wide moat filled with water from the nearby Xpitol River. A light breeze blew through the crops that ran along the moat’s outer perimeter. 

The town was Luvierte, the first town I’d visited after arriving in this world. 

Not much time had passed since I’d last been here. It still felt fresh and familiar. 

What had brought me back here? Well, we were off to the Revlon Empire, and Luvierte was the closest town I could teleport to using Transport Gate. However, from here, we’d need directions. I’d looked at a map of the northern continent back in Lalatoya, but it hadn’t shown much in the way of roads or towns, and none of the elves knew much about human routes. 

As far as I could tell, all we had to do was head north and we’d hit the Holy East Revlon Empire. However, if we went straight north from Luvierte, we’d run into the volcanic Karyu Mountains. Given what had happened to us in Branbayna, I figured we needed to get a proper bearing first. 

I pulled out the copper travel pass I’d received as a gift for saving Viscount Luvierte’s daughter and handed it to the gate guard before asking him how to get to the Revlon Empire. It was rather common in this world for most people to live their entire lives in the same town, so very few could give any sort of meaningful directions. Most only knew how to get to the next town over. The gate guard was no different. 

We made our way inside to see if we could find a merchant or someone else who might know. We hadn’t gone far when a voice called out behind us. 

“Arc?!” 

I turned to see a familiar woman’s face staring intently at me with just a hint of surprise in her brown eyes. She looked to be in her twenties and was dressed in a servant’s uniform, her mussy red hair cut short at the nape of her neck. She was the very first person I’d spoken to when I’d arrived in this world. 

“Ah, Miss Rita! Fancy meeting you here.” 

Ariane eyed me inquisitively from beneath her hood. 

“I met Rita here when I happened upon her being attacked by some bandits.” 

Ariane’s eyes narrowed. “Are you always off rescuing someone?” 

I averted my gaze. I’d always loved that old show, The Unfettered Shogun, ever since I was little. Maybe that’s where my desire to help people in trouble came from. 

Someone behind Rita spoke up nervously. “R-Rita, who is this man?” 

I turned to find a well-built young man looking suspiciously at me. 

The man had soft blond hair and a pronounced nose. Judging by his figure, I would have assumed he was a noble, but the notched sword on his back said otherwise. Rita smiled gently as she introduced me to him. 

“Oh, Giovanni! This is Arc, the knight who saved us from the bandits!” 

The man, Giovanni apparently, snapped to attention and bowed deeply. 

“Excuse my ignorance. I am Giovanni Borloo, a knight here in Luvierte. I am forever grateful for your kind efforts in protecting the viscount’s daughter and Miss Rita.” 

I bowed in response. 

“I am but a humble traveling mercenary. I simply happened upon the events after getting lost. Miss Rita here has already thanked me enough.” 

Rita smiled. “Have your travels brought you back here to Luvierte, Arc?” She peered up at me, her eyes suddenly catching on something atop my head. 

I felt a cottony tail swishing against the back of my helmet and realized what she was looking at. 

“Ah, well, I’ve been traveling about here and there. This furball is my travel companion.” 

“Kyikyiiiiii!” Ponta let out a cheerful cry. 

By now, I’d become so accustomed to the fox atop my head that I frequently forgot it was there, or that it might draw attention from passersby. 

Rita giggled. “Wow, it looks like something straight out of a painting.” 

I assumed this was some sort of compliment. 

“So, where have your travels taken you?” 

“Hmm? Well, all around Rhoden. I stopped by Olav for one.” 

“You went all the way to the capital? I’ve never been there.” 

While Rita seemed to be enjoying the conversation, Giovanni’s face was a dark cloud. 

“The capital is an incredibly lively place,” I said. “Perhaps you should go for a visit sometime, Miss Rita. With your boyfriend.” 

The young knight blushed a deep red. 

“It’s not like that at all, Arc. Giovanni here worries about me when I go out shopping alone. He offered to serve as my bodyguard. He’s one of the best swordsmen in town, though, so his talents are wasted on me.” 

Though Rita had cheerfully laughed off my remark, Giovanni looked utterly dejected. 

I rubbed my hand against my chin, trying to think of a way to change the conversation. 

I suddenly remembered why we were here in the first place. 

The woman in front of me was the chambermaid to Lauren, the viscount’s daughter. Next to her stood a knight of Luvierte. They were both almost certainly better informed than anyone else we might run into around town. 

“Actually, we have some business in the East Revlon Empire. We came here to ask for directions.” 

Rita frowned at this. “I know the way, but… Well, there have been many monster sightings along the border lately. The number of merchants coming through has dropped dramatically.” 

Giovanni nodded. “She speaks the truth. It would be rather dangerous for you and your companion here to make the journey.” 

Ariane and I exchanged glances. 

“I have no concerns. Are you up for the journey, Arc?” 

Ariane patted the Sword of the King of Lions hanging from her waist and gave a sly grin. 

We were both quite powerful. Even if we came across a large group of monsters, we could always make a quick escape with Dimensional Step. 

“I don’t think we’ll have any problems.” 

Rita and Giovanni both frowned in response, but gave us directions to the empire nonetheless. 

After a few more minutes of small talk, Rita told us where we could find an inn for the night. I told her we were in something of a hurry, so we instead made our way toward the town’s west gate. 

After we’d traveled down the road away from Luvierte for a bit, the land slowly gave way to a sloping hill, which gave us a good view of our surroundings once we summited it. To our left, the Xpitol River snaked off to the southwest. 

We made our way down the hill, and the road forked off in two directions: one continuing along the river; the other heading northwest. The latter path would take us to the border town of Grahd. 

Once we passed through Grahd, we’d be in the Holy East Revlon Empire, though Rita didn’t know anything about the route beyond that. We’d need to ask around again for directions from Grahd to the next closest town in the empire. 

The trip from Luvierte to Grahd normally took a day and a half by carriage, but using Dimensional Step, we were able to get there in less than an hour. We came across quite a few monsters in the process, but none of them tried to come near us. I could only imagine how deeply unsettling it would be for normal people—people not used to playing video games—to see so many monsters. But as we flashed past them, I almost felt like we were in some sort of drive-through safari park. 

We didn’t run into any people or carriages along the way. Usually I had to be more careful about how I used my teleportation magic, since the roads were busy, but that wasn’t a problem here. We hardly had to walk at all. 

When Grahd came into view, I was surprised at how small it was,smaller even than Luvierte. It was more like a large village than the bustling border town I’d expected. The town was surrounded by a thick stone wall, probably meant to fend off the constant stream of monsters. 

The town was in the shape of a distorted oval, with fields spreading out from its wall. It looked like most of the towns I’d seen so far, except for the fact that the fields were completely empty. I thought perhaps I simply couldn’t see the people hidden among the thick crops, so I opted to walk into the village rather than using any teleportation magic. 

“Waaaaaaugh!” 

Ariane and I looked at each other, and Ponta darted its head about at the sound. 

A short distance away, among the crops, I caught sight of two young boys scrambling out of the fields. Behind them was a monster I hadn’t seen since Rata. 

It looked like a wild boar covered in dark gray fur, with four large tusks sprouting from its lower jaw. A fang boar. However, this was much smaller than the two-meter-tall beast I’d dealt with in Rata, maybe half the height. 

One of the boys was holding a simple wooden shield with a thin piece of metal riveted to the front in one hand and a small dagger in the other. He turned to face the fang boar. Looking closer, I could see red splotches along the monster’s body where it had been cut. It pawed the ground, glaring at the boy straight. 

In their attempt to kill the fang boar, it looked like the children had managed to rile it up. Just one thrust from those tusks would be enough to snuff out their lives. 

Ariane drew her sword and ran down the hill toward the children, her cloak billowing behind her. A large stone, summoned up by her spirit magic, flew through the air and crashed into the soft earth between the boys and the boar, sending a plume of dirt into the air. 

The fang boar darted out of the way before turning its head in my direction and letting out a snarl. Deciding that I was its new target for some reason, the beast charged toward me, though its movements were anything but speedy. 

By the time the snarling fang boar drew close, I’d already drawn my sword. I swung the Holy Thunder Sword of Caladbolg down, cleaving clean through its skull. The blade met little resistance and slammed straight into the ground, carving a deep gash into the earth. 

The two young boys stared in amazement, their mouths gaping open as they sat in the dirt. 

“Are you two hurt?” 

I wiped my sword on the grass and returned it to my sheath. The boy with the dagger staggered to his feet. He had short, brown hair that stuck up in back. 

“We’re f-fine! I was just about to give it the finishing blow, ya know!” 

The boy narrowed his reddish-brown eyes at me. He pointed the dagger in my general direction, but his hand was shaking so bad that I couldn’t tell exactly what he was pointing at. 

The other boy got up from the dirt, his face completely white, and rushed over to the boy with the dagger. 

“Cut it out, brother! What are you doing yelling at the people who just saved our lives?” 

The second boy, apparently the younger of the two, had light brown hair that he wore somewhat long. He seemed more easily spooked than his bravado-filled brother, though also possessed more common sense. The two boys shared the same reddish-brown eyes. 

The younger boy hit his brother on the back of the head and bowed politely. 

“I’m sorry for my brother! My name is Lefit and this is…” 

“I am Lyot Dalsen du Grahd, the future lord of Grahd!” 

Completely ignoring the chiding from his younger brother, the older boy crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. To be honest, I found it endearing. It was quite impressive that he could act this way in front of a black-cloaked knight in full armor and a mysterious gray-cloaked woman. 

“Cute kids.” Ariane snickered as she looked over the two boys. 

So, these two were the sons of a noble? I decided to ignore Lyot for a moment and instead asked his younger brother what the two of them were doing outside the town’s walls. However, before Lefit had a chance to answer, his cocky older brother stepped in. 

“Don’t call me a kid, got it?! There’ve been a lot of monsters around Grahd lately, so I decided to go hunting and bring the people some peace!” 

Like most kids, he clearly thought he was older than his years. 

“Well, don’t do anything too crazy. You could die, you know.” 

“This isn’t crazy, really!” 

Lyot grew red-faced, stomping angrily on the ground. We couldn’t spend all day here, however, so I turned my attention to the younger brother again. 

“Lefit, could you perhaps tell me the way to the nearest town in the Revlon Empire?” 

Lefit looked extremely apologetic as he shook his head. “The closest town? I don’t really know, but I’m sure Father does.” 

I hadn’t thought we’d need to bother the nobility just to ask for directions, but since it seemed like we’d be entering Grahd no matter what, I entertained the idea. Lyot, however, had other thoughts. 

“Don’t you ignore me! I’ll have you know…” 

“Kyiiii!” 

Ponta, apparently tired of the boy’s yelling, let out a mew from atop my head, sending a magical burst of wind into Lyot’s face. 

“Mwaaugh?” 

Lyot stumbled backward, the weight of the shield in his hand causing him to lose balance and fall on his behind. 

“What was that? You… You green little devil!” 

“Kyii! Kyiiii!” 

I decided to let the glaring boy and spirit creature be for the moment and hefted the fang boar over my shoulder by its hind legs. 

“Let’s make our way into Grahd. We can accompany you two back to your father.” 

“Th-thank you!” 

Lyot was busy wailing about something, but I left him in the dirt as Lefit led Ariane, Ponta, and me toward the town. 

A wooden bridge extended over the deep ditch that encircled the town’s wall, leading to a front gate where several guards stood watch. The men came rushing over to us when they realized who was approaching. 

“Lefit! Lyot! Where did you run off to?! Lord Dalsen has been gravely worried about you.” 

One of the guards gave the brothers a quick check, a look relief spreading across his face. However, the sternness never left his eyes. Lyot, in stark contrast to the bravado he’d shown earlier, seemed suddenly at a loss for words. Lefit explained the situation, and Ariane and I were allowed to enter the town without much of a fuss. 

The guards led us to an open square in the center of town, where a large group of people bustled about. The atmosphere was tense. There were around twenty knights, all armored, and another dozen or so mercenaries in leather armor, wielding various weapons. 

The guard who’d led us here ran to a man in the center of the group and saluted him. 

“Lord Dalsen, your sons have been found!” 

Dalsen was a large, muscular man outfitted in an exquisite suit of armor that stood out among the knights surrounding him. He looked to be in his thirties, clean-shaven with short-cropped hair. He shot me a scrutinizing glare, his eyes the same reddish-brown color as his sons. 

He could almost have passed as the leader of a group of mountain bandits or mercenaries, were it not for his lordship and his armor. 

Even from where I stood, I could see a vein bulging in Dalsen’s forehead, though he contorted his mouth into a smile as he walked toward us with long, powerful strides. He slammed his fists down on Lyot’s and Lefit’s heads with a dull thud. 

“Owwwww!!!” 

Lyot dropped to the ground and Lefit crouched, both holding their heads. 

Dalsen shook his fist in the air as he yelled at the boys. 

“You little bastards, getting everyone all worked up when we have other things to worry about!” 

He turned to me next, his words dripping with suspicion. 

“What brings an outsider like you here?” 

“My name is Arc. I am a wandering mercenary. This is my travel companion, Ariane.” 

Not wanting to be left out, Ponta piped up as well. 

“Kyiii!” 

Dalsen’s gaze came to rest on the fang boar hanging over my shoulder. 

“What’s that you’ve got there?” 

“Ahh, this. We came across this monster attacking your sons. I have no use for it and would be greatly honored if you would take it off my hands.” 

I lifted the fang boar with one hand and held it out to Lord Dalsen, drawing gasps of amazement from the onlookers. The man in front of me, however, didn’t seem intimidated. He focused his gaze on Lyot. 

Lyot scrambled to his feet and hid behind several of the nearby knights. 

Dalsen rubbed his temple and let out a snort of frustration before turning his attention back to me, giving the motionless fang boar a kick. 

“You said you were a mercenary, yes? If you were able to put this monster down on your own, then you must be quite the skilled fighter. Would you be interested in a short job? I’ll make it worth your while.” 

I glanced at Ariane. 

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m already employed.” 

Dalsen frowned and scratched the back of his head, letting out a sigh. 

“In that case, may I ask what brings you to Grahd?” 

“We’re traveling to the nearest town in the Revlon Empire, whatever that may be. Do you know the way, Lord Dalsen?” 

He grinned, looking over at Ariane. 

“Unfortunately, the road to the nearest town has been overrun by ogres. Heading into Revlon is quite a perilous journey at the moment.” 

I’d dealt with many ogres back in the game. They weren’t all that difficult to defeat, despite their high strength and attack stats, though they could be a bit of a hassle if you ran into a mob of them. Still, they were good for farming experience in the early and middle parts of the game. 

Ariane and I would have no problem tearing through them. We could even avoid fighting them altogether using Dimensional Step. 

Judging from Dalsen’s demeanor, however, it didn’t seem like he was going to give us directions. 

Dalsen turned to Ariane, probably assuming—correctly—that she was my employer. 

“I have a proposition. You see, we were about to head out to eliminate the ogres. Perhaps you’d care to join us. It’s rare for a mercenary to travel to the villages along the border, especially one with your man’s talents. We could really use your help.” 

Ariane’s golden eyes glanced at me. I nodded. 

If they were willing to tell us how to get where we wanted to go, then we could certainly take care of any ogres we encountered along the way. 

“That’s fine with me.” Ariane agreed to Dalsen’s proposition, eliciting a smile from the older man. 

“I appreciate your kindness. I will make sure you are both properly rewarded. Arc, was it? I trust this arrangement suits you?” 

“I have no objections. How large is this mob of ogres?” 

“According to our scouts, there are about fourteen of them.” 

I figured we’d be finished by noon. 

“We’ve got ourselves a strong ally, but that doesn’t mean we can let down our guard yet, men! Proceed with caution!” 

The soldiers let out a loud cheer. 

“Oorah!” 

Ariane and I watched as the knights’ friends and families embraced them, seeking promises of a safe return. Ariane shook her head. Apparently, she saw something I didn’t. Dalsen didn’t seem all that worried about the expedition. Then again, if the leader of a hunting party exuded hopelessness, then the chances of success were practically nonexistent. It also seemed rather remarkable that the lord himself was leading this expedition. However, given the size of the town and the number of knights, they probably needed all the manpower they could muster. 

Ariane stepped forward and looked pointedly at Dalsen. “Well, shall we get going?” 

Dalsen’s eyes went wide. “Actually, I figured you could stay here and await our return.” 

“I’m a powerful magic user and a gifted swordsman. You’re going to need me.” 

Ariane summoned a small flame in her palm, letting everyone get a good look at it before closing her fist and extinguishing it. 

“Well, well! It seems our luck has gotten even better, boys! I expect to see you all back here with me at the end of the day, alive and kicking!” 

“Oraaaaah!” 

The crowd of men let out a thunderous cheer. 

*** 

The soldiers marched along the road leading out of Grahd in a long procession. 

Lord Dalsen led his contingent of twenty knights and another dozen or so men from the town who could fight. Ariane, Ponta, and I followed along behind them. 

Less than an hour later, and not that far out of town, we turned off the road as it began sloping upward, making our way toward the western woods. 

A short distance into a small cluster of trees, I caught sight of a steep cliff in the distance, where the hill ended. Dalsen crouched down and motioned for us to do the same. We moved forward like this, doing our best not to make a sound. 

Once we reached the edge of the cliff, Dalsen motioned for everyone to look over the edge. 

At the bottom of the cliff, a large mob of ogres wandered about. 

The ogres were large and muscular, standing about two-and-a-half meters tall. They had ruddy skin, a small horn sticking out of each of their foreheads and tusks protruding from their lower jaws. Around their waists, they wore animal pelts, and they wielded various crude weapons such as stone axes and wooden clubs. 

Many of the men shifted nervously at the sight. 

Dalsen whispered to one of his knights. “Hand over the bows and arrows. We’ll launch the attack from up here.” 

He passed the weapons along to Ariane and me. 

I tilted my head to the side, unsure of what he wanted. Dalsen simply motioned over the edge with his chin. 

“First, we’ll fire off some arrows. Then, we’ll lead the ogres back to the road. It’s an easy climb up either side of the hill, so they could follow us up here if we aren’t careful. The arrowheads have been dipped in poison, but it’s only enough to slow their movement. The last thing we want is for them to disappear into the woods.” 

Humans’ greatest strength was in fighting as a group. I wasn’t sure the number of men with us was enough to assure victory, but I recognized that it would be even less assured with everyone running around the forest. 

I didn’t think it would have been much of a challenge for Ariane and me to simply head down the hill and take out all the ogres, but I figured it was best not to undermine Dalsen in front of his men. I wasn’t here to be the leader. 

I shot Ariane a glance. She shrugged, apparently thinking the same thing. 

I hadn’t actually used a bow before, but I figured I could copy the techniques of those around me. Since we were just trying to anger the ogres, I supposed it didn’t matter how accurate I was. 

“Ready your bows.” 

On Dalsen’s command, they all leaned over the edge of the cliff, nocked their arrows, and drew back on their bowstrings. 

Dalsen made a silent, sweeping motion with his arm, and, right on cue, all thirty of his men launched a volley into the ogres. 

I focused my aim on one ogre in particular and pulled back hard on the bowstring. 

However, right when I was about to release the arrow, I heard an awful snapping noise and looked down to see that the bow had broken in two. 

“Huh?” 

I’d heard that it was difficult for a novice to properly draw a bow, so I’d put a lot of strength behind it. Unfortunately, it looked like I’d overdone it. 

Ariane and Dalsen looked at me in stunned silence, mirroring the shocked expressions of the other soldiers. I always managed to stand out…but never in a good way. 

I slid the broken bow behind my back. “Uhh… Seems like this bow is…defective.” 

Ariane’s arrow had flown straight toward her target, grazing the ogre before embedding itself in the ground. She apparently wasn’t a gifted archer either. 

I resorted to throwing arrows down the cliff side, still feeling a bit dejected, though I was at least successful in drawing the ogres’ attention. They roared in anger. 

Several of the ogres now had arrows sticking out of them, but due to their thick, muscular bodies, not a single one had been killed. 

I looked around for more things throw. A stone from this height would at least be enough to knock someone out, but unfortunately, there weren’t any sizable ones nearby. I wasn’t sure a small rock would do anything but rile the ogres up further, but I picked one up and chucked it down at them anyway. 

The rock hit one of the ogres like a speeding fastball. I heard a loud thud and saw it drop to the ground, a gaping hole in its head. 

A cheer erupted from the men around me as they continued firing their arrows. I nodded to myself in satisfaction. 

Dalsen wordlessly handed me several more rocks, a smile on his lips. It appeared this was a good way of thinning out our enemies’ numbers. 

I chucked another rock and discovered that my first shot had been beginner’s luck. Any stone striking a target at breakneck speeds would almost certainly be lethal, but the faster I threw it, the harder it was to be accurate. Even given the ogres immense size, they still presented relatively small targets from up here on the cliff’s edge. 

The ogres roared again and started making their way up to where we stood via the sloping paths on either side of the cliff. I felled another one with a rock, leaving about eight remaining. 

“Kyiii!”” 

Ponta let out a surprised yelp from atop my head. 

Right as Dalsen was giving the order to retreat to the road, two more ogres suddenly broke through the tree line. The men froze in surprise. Even Ariane and I had been too consumed with our attacks—Ariane with her arrows and me with my rocks—that we hadn’t been paying attention to our backsides. 

One of the ogres made a beeline for Dalsen, waving its stone axe wildly. 

Ariane sprang into action. As soon as she saw the ogres come out of the woods, she discarded the bow and drew her sword. Just as the ogre’s massive, tree-trunk arm swung the stone axe down toward Dalsen’s head, Ariane slid in and brought up her own blade, easily deflecting the blow. The axe caught on her hood as it slammed into the ground. 

Ariane’s amethyst skin and golden eyes were now exposed for all to see. But this didn’t stop her, not even for a second, as she gracefully swung her sword into the ogre’s arm, which still clutched the axe. 

The ogre let out a loud shriek, releasing the axe and scrambling backward to get away from Ariane. She pursued it. 

It attempted to swing its massive fist at Ariane to keep her at bay, but its arm didn’t respond, due to the muscle damage Ariane had inflicted. The arm dangled uselessly at its side. Ariane lunged in, driving her blade deep into the ogre’s thick neck. 

The ogre collapsed, its hand pressed tightly over the wound as blood gushed out like a fountain. After a few moments of writhing about in agony, it finally ran out of energy and fell silent. 

Meanwhile, I had an ogre of my own to deal with. 

If it hadn’t been for Ponta’s urgent cry, I probably would have taken the ogre’s attack on my back. My Belenus Holy Armorwould have protected me from any real harm, but there was still the real risk that something could have happened to poor Ponta. 

The fox dropped down from my head and wrapped itself around my neck, as it did whenever I entered combat. 

I spun to face the ogre, grabbing its thick wrists. The ogre tried to swing its club, but I only increased the strength of my grip. A look of pain washed over its face as it struggled to escape. 

“Hehehe! You’re not getting away from me!” 

I could hear the bones in its wrists starting to crack. The ogre let out an agonizing cry. I head-butted it with all my might, crushing its skull and snapping its neck. 

I pushed the ogre away, just as Ariane finishing pulling her sword from her own ogre’s neck and drew her hood back up. 

Dalsen and his men were completely awestruck. 

“The rest of the ogres are almost here.” 

My warning seemed to wake Dalsen from his daze. 

“Fall back to the road!” 

The men moved in unison as they retreated. 

At Dalsen’s command, they broke into four-man squads once they reached the road, forming a line parallel to the woods in order to ambush the ogres as soon as they left the trees. 

The ogres, enraged at seeing their own kind struck down in front of them, rushed at us. Dalsen waited for just the right moment before issuing his next command. 

“Throw the oil pots! Miss Ariane, take it from here!” 

The squads hurled small, clay pots filled with oil at the oncoming ogres, drenching them as the pots shattered. Ariane began launching fireballs. 

The oil caught fire as soon as the magic made contact, consuming the ogres in bright red flames. The first wave of monsters writhed on the ground, causing the ones behind them to stop in their tracks. 

The squads broke from their line, each one focusing on a different ogre. They split off, raising their swords, spears, and other weapons to attack their targets from multiple angles at once. Each squad had one member with a large shield who took the ogre head on, drawing its attention and protecting the other squad members. They all moved about with ease, as if they were well accustomed to fighting together. 

I decided I could learn a thing or two from these shield bearers. 

A pair of screeching ogres, brandishing clubs, broke free and charged toward Dalsen, Ariane, and me. 

I pulled the round shield off my back and drew my sword, readying myself for the assault. 

I caught the first ogre’s club on my shield, throwing the monster off balance. I swung my massive sword, cleaving the ogre in two with a diagonal slash. 

I turned my attention to the other ogre and slammed my shield straight into its face before thrusting my sword through its stomach, severing its spine. The ogre went limp and fell to the ground with a thud. 

After making sure it wasn’t going to be getting back up, I checked on the progress of the squads and their respective ogres. Ariane and I split up to provide what support we could to the soldiers, quickly wiping out the remaining ogres. 

“I had no idea you were an elf, Miss Ariane.” 

Dalsen smiled warmly as he approached Ariane, his men busily cleaning up the road and collecting rune stones. 

“I can’t thank you enough for your assistance.” 

Ariane drew her hood back and crossed her arms. 

Dalsen didn’t seem at all taken aback by her appearance. 

“I’ve heard stories that elves used to roam the forests outside of town back in my great-grandfather’s days, but I’ve never seen one with my own two eyes.” 

The way he regarded Ariane was completely different from most of the humans we’d encountered, as if she were something exceedingly precious and rare. 

Ariane remained silent, a cautious look on her face. 

“You’ve never seen an elf before?” I asked. 

Dalsen nodded cheerfully. “My family has ruled Grahd since the time of my great-grandfather. It’s said that elves would often come to the aid of any humans who needed assistance. My great-grandfather himself, in fact, was once saved by elves in these very woods, though I never would have imagined I’d be saying the same.” 

Ariane dismissed his praise. “Even without our help, I’m sure you could have dealt with this situation on your own.” 

Dalsen shook his head. “If it weren’t for you two, I might never have seen my boys’ faces again.” 

Ariane waved her hand. “Really, it’s nothing. We simply did what you asked. Anyway, could you tell us the way to the next town?” 

“Ah, that’s right. But first, let’s head back to Grahd so I can properly pay you.” 

Ariane and I responded at the same time. 

“No, really.” 

“We’re fine.” 

Ariane nodded for me to speak. 

“Really, we’d like to continue on to the Revlon Empire from here. We’d appreciate it if you could tell us the way.” 

Dalsen looked surprised. 

“But…I don’t have much on hand. I can’t possibly repay you here.” 

He emptied the contents of a leather pouch into his hand—several gold and silver coins. 

“This is more than enough. After all, I did break one of your bows.” I tried to make light of the situation. 

Dalsen watched me closely. He opened his mouth again as if to say something, but Ariane beat him to it. 

She smirked. “You can finish repaying us by making sure that your children and grandchildren hold elves in the same high regard you do and continue to rule Grahd long after you’re gone. End of discussion.” 

I nodded, to show that Ariane and I were in agreement. If Dalsen’s family remained in power and continued to treat elves with respect and dignity, that would be more than enough payment. 

Dalsen told us how to get to the next town in Revlon. We parted with the hunting party and continued on our way. 

*** 

“Some humans aren’t so bad, I guess.” Ariane mumbled this once we were some distance from Dalsen’s men. 

“You can say that again.” 

The road turned toward the northwest, curving gently along with the forest that bordered it. The trees were now blocking us from the sight of the soldiers. I decided it was best only to use Dimensional Step for small jumps from here on out, since we were now entering the Revlon Empire. We’d been told that monsters were increasingly common here at the border, so it seemed unwise to teleport too far out and risk having to fight them. 

I also wanted to avoid taking the wrong path and ending up in a completely different town like last time, so I made sure to confirm the correct direction with Ariane every time we teleported. 

The road to Kaysehk, the closest town on the empire’s side of the border, was completely devoid of traffic. 

We’d decided to see what we could learn about Viscount Drassos du Barysimon while we were in Kaysehk. Under normal circumstances, it’d be essentially impossible to find someone in a country like the Revlon Empire, which was about five times as large as the Rhoden Kingdom. However, I was optimistic. Given that the viscount had captured and transported an elf internationally, it seemed likely that we’d find some sort of clue near the Rhoden border. 

“Hold up, Arc.” 

Ariane’s voice broke me from my thoughts, her hand on my shoulder from the last jump. There was a trace of worry in her words. 

I looked back at her. 

“What’s wrong?” 

We were standing in the middle of an unremarkable meadow next to a lone road that stretched off into the distance. It was all rather tranquil, really. There weren’t any large forests nearby, and, thanks to my keen vision, I could tell that there were no monsters near us. 

However, Ariane looked concerned. 

Ponta tapped its paw against the top of my helmet, begging for something to eat as its tail swished across my back. At least the spirit creature didn’t seem too worried. 

Ariane furrowed her brow. “The mana is really dense here. Far more than it should be.” 

I cocked my head, unsure what was menacing about this. Back in the Great Canada Forest, she’d mentioned the density of the mana as well, which was why there were so many monsters there. The denser the mana, the more powerful the monsters. 

“Usually mana is stored in certain types of trees and floats freely throughout the forest, or perhaps in pits or caves where it can’t easily dissipate. It’s almost unheard of to run into mana concentrations like this out in the open.” 

Apparently, mana was a lot like fog, in that it tended to settle in low spots. 

Now that she mentioned it, I realized that we had a perfect line of sight in almost all directions, with very little in the way. There weren’t any changes in the terrain or plant life for the mana to cling on to. 

Even though I could neither sense nor see mana, I could still feel the same odd tingling sensation on my skin that I’d felt back in Canada. Well, maybe skin wasn’t exactly the right word, but it certainly felt a lot like that. 

Ariane wore a heavy expression on her face as she lowered her hood, her golden eyes staring intensely at our surroundings, looking for something. 

She moved to a patch of grass just off the road and knelt, picking up some sort of fragment; a beautiful, purple splinter of crystal that caught the light. 

Ariane spoke in a low voice. “It’s a piece of a cultivation rune stone.” 

I was about to ask what a cultivation rune stone was when I spotted a similar fragment on the ground in front of me and leaned over to pick it up. 

“Is this also part of a cultivation rune stone?” 

“Yes. They’re made by the elves.” 

“What are they used for?” 

I rolled the shining, semi-transparent crystal shard around in the palm of my hand. 

“Usually, they’re broken into small pieces and spread throughout a field to cultivate a strong, abundant harvest.” 

“Huh…” 

It sounded like they were some sort of fertilizer. But if that were the case, then why were all these fragments out here by the side of the road in the middle of a meadow? There weren’t any farmlands or human dwellings as far as I could see. 

Ariane continued. “These need to be handled with care. Throwing rune stones around in a haphazard manner like this could lead to an excess of mana in the area and attract all sorts of monsters.” 

Back in my world, using chemical fertilizers could ultimately strip the land of its nutrients, but magical fertilizers drawing in monsters was a different problem entirely. 

“Do you remember all the massive trees and monsters that inhabit the forests in Canada?” 

I nodded. 

“Back when the founding elder first arrived, Canada was nothing but barren land. No trees, no forest—nothing. He created the cultivation rune stones and built up the land, giving life to the massive forest you see today.” 

Now that was impressive. Granted, the founding elder would have done this about 800 years ago, which was more than enough time for a great forest to spring up, but still. Ariane might not see this as a big deal, on account of her long lifespan, but for me, the very idea of turning barren land into a massive forest like that was quite shocking. 

“According to the stories, he shattered the cultivation rune stones and scattered them across the land in order to give the elves a place we could defend as our own home…and escape the humans who constantly hunted us. As the mana-rich trees grew, the roads were slowly closed off and monsters began to gather, creating a place that separated us from humans. That’s what gave rise to the Great Forest.” 

I scanned the ground, taking in the enormous number of cultivation rune stone shards scattered around us. 

It seemed unlikely that these had ended up here by chance. Someone must have done this intentionally. 

This had to be what was responsible for the sudden increase in monsters along the border between the Rhoden Kingdom and the Holy East Revlon Empire. But who was behind it? 

“Did elves leave these here?” 

I intended it to be a simple question, but Ariane’s eyes narrowed, and there was a certain edge to her voice when she responded. 

“What would elves have to gain from scattering cultivation rune stones at the border between two human countries?” 

I could think of a few ways elves might benefit from drawing monsters here, though I didn’t say any of them out loud. For example, if the region grew more dangerous for the human nobles who interfered in elven affairs, it would force them to turn their attention away from the elves. But I knew pushing the issue would only annoy Ariane even more. 

“Besides, these might be elven made, but we aren’t the only ones who have them. We’ve traded a lot of cultivation rune stones to the Grand Duchy of Limbult, and I hear that Limbult goes on to sell them to other countries.” 

These stones sounded like a prized possession among humans, thanks to their ability to make barren land arable. Limbult must have been making a fortune in exports if they were the only place humans could get their hands on them. 

Their rarity made it even less likely that someone would just scatter a bunch of these cultivation rune stones along the side of the road. 

“I can only imagine, then, that these stones might be a point of conflict among humans.” 

I crushed the shard in my hand and let the wind carry the dust away. 

“The elves originally created them to build the forest. When we started selling them to humans, we left out the fact that they attract monsters. We simply told them that the stones should be used with care.” 

“Oh? So humans don’t know about the side effect?” 

Ariane shrugged. “The world is full of greedy people.” 

“I see…” 

If breaking them up and scattering them about increased crop yield, then it stood to reason that higher concentrations would increase the yield even more. It was only a matter of time until someone ignored the elves’ warning. Sooner or later, the humans would discover the cultivation rune stones’ secret. Had the elves done this intentionally in order to turn the humans’ land into monster-filled forests? Was their hope, then, to conquer these lands? If so, that would make them quite the long-term planners. 

“Is there anything we can do to mitigate their effect?” 

For the time being, I’d wanted to see if we could at least keep this area monster-free. 

“That would be a challenge.” Ariane frowned. “Burying the exposed shards in the ground will eliminate some of the mana, but I don’t know how much has been spread around, or over how wide an area.” 

“Still, for all the mana in the area, I’m surprised there aren’t any monsters.” I prodded at one of the shards with the tip of my boot while Ariane surveyed the scene around us. 

Of course, there was the mob of ogres near Grahd, and the fang boar. But other than that, we hadn’t really run into any monsters, despite all the reports we kept hearing. Either they’d moved on, or there was something else we were missing. 

The best we could do for now was crush any shards we could find and let the wind carry them away. We couldn’t spend all day playing in the dirt. 

In all likelihood, this was the work of some noble and there wasn’t much Ariane and I on our own could do about it. It was about time for us to go.