26: The Daughter of Count Jibril
The story I heard from Jarnal made me want to say, “Wait a minute.”
Apparently, the survey team that I had heard about from Neil was attacked by the subject during the survey and was annihilated. The soldiers who barely survived brought back information, and after reviewing it, it was determined to be a special individual of danger level 5 .
That’s so fine far. What I want to complain about is that the subjugation of it was assigned to the lord’s army and adventurers.
Actually, I had thought a little bit about this when I heard it from Neil.
No, at a time like this, it should be His Highness Daine, my older brother, who should come out.
There is no doubt that in order to gain merit, it would surpass the special individual of danger level 4.
But this time, it was assigned to someone else.
Certainly, there may be things like distance and so on. There may be various reasons, such as the fact that there are not enough soldiers because the war has started, but I can’t help but have doubts.
If he had fought so bravely, he should have taken the lead in participating this time as well. After all, the number of soldiers and adventurers (Adbel) participating this time is great.
Perhaps because I frowned so much when I heard the story, Jarnal made a troubled face. He must have understood what I wanted to say clearly.
“Is it possible that the reason you went out today is related to that?”
“Yes. Coupled with the war, food and other things will definitely move. Well, other lords will probably move to support, so it may not have that much of an impact, but the most difficult thing is recovery medicine.”
“Hmm.”
Certainly, if there were many people who could use recovery magic, it would be one thing, but that’s not the case. There are probably many people in the church who believe in the seven gods, but they basically don’t get involved in such matters in the first place.
“Do you know when the request will come to the mediation office?”
“It will probably be a while. We need to spread the information to the relevant parties and adjust how much force is needed. Well, that’s if the magic beasts stay put until then. At the very least, several villages and towns will be destroyed by then.”
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“Hmm.”
Even though it was about the people of my own country, I didn’t feel any heartache at all. That’s because this time, it happened in the lord’s territory. If it were the royal territory under the direct control of the king, it would be a different story, but if it’s not, then it’s the lord’s responsibility.
The king thinks of the country first, but he doesn’t take the damage of a small territory seriously. If it were to cause damage to the entire country, the situation would be different, but that’s not the case.
And I was originally supposed to be the one to become king. I had been educated to be king since I was old enough to understand. I have already lost that qualification, but I cannot deviate from that way of thinking.
And Jarnal doesn’t look at me with eyes that blame me for that.
“I guess I should prepare.”
“Yes. Did you renew your equipment for that?”
“That’s part of it, but it’s not limited to this time. I just thought it would be better to buy it, that’s all. I thought so during the escort the other day.”
“If you had told me, I would have prepared as much as you wanted.”
“I was worried, but the first time I thought about it was after I had already bought the equipment, so I thought, ‘Well, whatever.’ Oh, but could you just look at the clothes later? I’d like to have some spares too.”
“Of course. Take as much as you want.”
“No, I’ll pay for it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Jarnal would really give it to me.
“Well, that’s about all for now. I’ll come back tomorrow for the clothes.”
“I understand. I’ll be waiting with bated breath.”
“Take your time.”
With that, I said, “Well, then,” and stood up. I put the two-handed sword that I had placed next to me on my back and headed for the door.
“No need to see me off.”
“I understand.”
As I said that and before I left the room, I asked a sudden question.
“Jarnal.”
“What is it?”
“I heard that when such a request comes out, it affects the evaluation of the credit rating if you refuse. That means it will also go to you, who guaranteed my evaluation.”
I stared him in the eye.
“What if I do something that makes me lose all my reputation?”
“That’s obvious.”
“Oh?”
Journal laugh.
“Your actions are the most righteous in this world. Those who judge them as wrong are fools. I have no regrets, no matter what happens to me as a result.”
“I see.”
I laughed when I heard that. He would always be my loyal subject. For some reason, that made me incredibly happy.
And so, waving my hand, I left the guild.
*
In the morning, I bought clothes, comfortable shoes, and underwear at the Bernard Guild, and then I ran out of the city at full speed.
Right now, there is a very high demand for medicinal herbs, and they are said to sell for a high price. In addition, it seems that there are towns and villages where the supply is not keeping up with the demand.
To solve that, and as a little reward for Jarnal, I decided to go out today to collect the scarce materials. However, the habitats are quite a distance apart, so I had to hurry.
It might be easier if I took a few days, but I can’t afford to take it easy when I don’t know when a request will come in.
That’s why I’m moving at full speed right now. I even created a new magic (color) for this purpose. I’m surprised at how fast I’m going, so maybe it was a good opportunity.
Since my goal is medicinal herbs, I’ve been hiding in [My Own Room (Colorless Room)] since the beginning of today.
I run through the grasslands and into the forest, using [Eyes of All (Mana Read)] to search for the medicinal herbs I need. I leave just a little bit for the next time and then collect different kinds of herbs one after another.
I cut off the heads of the magical beasts around the collection site as a bonus. I tried out the sword I just bought without any enhancement, but it has a pretty good cutting edge. When I tried to enhance it, I didn’t even feel the sensation of cutting. This is good.
I decided not to worry about the fact that I’m wielding a two-handed sword with one hand.
I thought I was moving north, but then I ran back south, and by this time it was already past noon. I’m starting to get worried that I might not be able to get back by sunset, but I keep running.
Even so, I don’t feel tired at all. Then I wonder, how monstrous were the heroes who are said to have existed in the past?
From the legends, it seems that they had abilities that were close to the 7th rank. Otherwise, there would be no way that they could have fought a giant magical beast for three days and three nights.
I’m supposed to be close to the 7th rank now, but I can’t imagine myself being like that. Maybe there’s something other than ability rank that real heroes have.
As I was thinking about this, time passed. As I was moving, thinking that I had only one more type to collect, something strange appeared in [Eyes of All].
It seems to be a carriage and several people riding in it, surrounded by many people and horses.
Looking closer, I see adventurers, mercenaries, guards, maids, and what looks like a noble lady. The noble lady and the maid are riding in the carriage, and the rest are gathered around it.
The noble lady’s name is Samantha La Misa Jibril. Since the name of this territory is Jibril, she must be related to the lord. Since she doesn’t have the “Do” that indicates a title, she must be a daughter or a relative .
I moved to a position where I could see the scene and used [Enhanced Vision (Sap)] to increase my vision. It seems that Samantha’s carriage is under attack.
What concerns me is that there are adventurers on the attacking side. If they were on the guard side, I could understand. They must have received a request to guard her. But not on the attacking side? Did they betray her?
mercenaries and mercenary dropouts, adventurers basically don’t participate in battles against people or in acts of banditry like this. That’s because they mainly hunt magical beasts, collect materials, and explore uncharted territories.
Also, adventurers have the most dealings with the dispatch center, and if their criminal activities are discovered, they won’t get away with it. There are even times when they themselves become the target of subjugation.
Such adventurers would attack a relative of a noble? And together with mercenary dropouts?
“Hmm.”
As I watched, I noticed that the guards were strong. Maybe because they were protecting the carriage, their movements were difficult, but they were easily cutting down the mercenary dropouts who approached. The adventurers’ support sometimes got in the way, but basically the guards seemed to have the upper hand.
“Ah.”
In the midst of all this, a spherical flame cast by an adventurer’s magician (colors) hit the ground at the foot of the carriage. The carriage rolled over and over in the explosion. The inside of the carriage must be in a terrible state.
Perhaps taking advantage of the guards’ confusion, the attackers attacked all at once.
As the guards gradually fell to the attack, some of them even started to attach themselves to the carriage.
I thought I would just watch and see what happened, but then I realized something. Wouldn’t this incident affect the actions of the Lord of Jibril?
The subjugation request this time is supposed to be led by this lord.
Surely not? A noble, just because his daughter died or was kidnapped, would stop participating in the subjugation?
What if something happens and they take the young lady hostage and demand that we participate in the subjugation? But that wouldn’t benefit those who are attacking.
“Hmm.”
As I pondered various possibilities while observing the situation, I was about to conclude that there was no problem or connection when suddenly, for some reason, my mother’s face flashed through my mind.
When I was judged incompetent and deemed unworthy of being Crown Prince, it was my mother who grieved the most and tried to protect me.
For example, if I were to be captured and some demand was made of the royal castle, what would my mother, and by extension, my father and grandfather do?
“Troublesome.”
Before I knew it, my body had turned into wind. In an instant, I approached and landed in the middle of them, uttering a single word.
“【Earth Pillar (Grand Icicle)】”
A giant spear of earth erupted from the ground beneath their feet, piercing the attackers in an instant. This wasn’t a battle. This was an extermination.
Looking around, I saw soldiers cowering, fallen, or standing with trembling knees, trying to protect the carriage with their swords.
I imagine the magic I was using for the first time. I should have practiced this a few times.
It would heal the pain and injuries of those who were hurt, as well as lack as everyone who must be injured inside the carriage. Since my imagined specificity, I had no choice but to supplement it with the magic language (Color Spelian).
“‘Pain be gone, healing hand. The time of respite has come.'”
That should do it.
I looked up and saw them standing up or looking at their palms. It seemed to have worked. There was nothing I could do about the blood they had lost. I would have to think about that later.
“Are there any more injured?”
I asked, looking around, and they hesitated.
Then the man who seemed to be the captain approached the carriage and called out, and a maid came out, followed by a girl who looked like a noble young lady.
She was probably about my age.
“What happened? My wounds are gone.”
“That man helped us. He healed our wounds too.”
“Oh my.”
After that conversation, I waited for the young lady, who was being led towards me by the captain in small steps. Behind her was the maid, and the soldiers were surrounding me somewhat.
Well, she was with her master and an unidentified man who had helped her, even if he was a stranger. I could understand why they would do that. But it was annoying.
“Thank you very much for your help. I am Samantha, the second daughter of Count Gibree.”
“I see.”
I didn’t even bow to Miss Samantha, who had lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and curtsied gracefully. I was Jasper now, and if she wanted me to bow my head, she would have to bring the king himself.
In the first place, it was not the place of an adventurer of lower rank to curtsy to a noble.
My attitude must have offended her, because I heard the sound of swords moving on either side of me, and the maid looked at me with obvious displeasure.
“Just to be sure, were you attacked?”
“I don’t know… Dominic?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The man called Dominic, who seemed to be the captain, explained the situation.
As I had guessed, the adventurers were indeed those who had been hired as escorts. They had been active in the Gibree territory for some time, and although their adventurer credit rating was only 3, they had gained actual trust through their dealings.
They were escorting the young lady back to the lord’s mansion when mercenaries suddenly attacked, and the adventurers attacked at the same time.
They were overwhelmed by the sudden betrayal and the difference in numbers, and Samantha’s carriage was about to be attacked when I arrived. Well, that’s how it happened, in a nutshell.
I would probably get angry if I said I had been watching for a while.
“Adventurers, huh…”
That was the most suspicious part. I approached and looked at their necks, and they had adventurer’s certificates (Adbel cards), which showed the credit rating that had been mentioned. Since they had been active for some time, it was unlikely that they were forged.
Well, it didn’t matter to me now.
Looking away from the adventurer, I stood up and asked flatly.
“You’re all good now, right?”
When I asked Dominic or whatever his name was, he made a strange face. There was still a horse, but the carriage was broken…or rather, it was.
Looking at it, one of the horses pulling the carriage was lying on its side and was probably dead. The other one had its leg bent in a strange direction, as if it were broken.
The other horse that the other soldiers must have been using was alive, but one of the carriage wheels was broken. No one would say that the carriage could move after seeing this. At least I couldn’t.
For a moment, I thought about fixing the carriage with magic, but I couldn’t imagine how. I would need to practice after looking at the structure a bit.
I don’t know if she saw my subtle expression, but Miss Samantha smiled.
“Um, I would like to thank you for your help, so I would like you to come to my mansion once.”
For nobles, it is a shame not to be able to return a favor. It doesn’t matter if the other person refuses. The result of not returning it is all that matters.
But I want to tell Miss Samantha. It’s not the time for that now.
“You don’t have to say that, but Captain, right? Can you go back?”
“If Miss Samantha rides a horse and walks…it might work. But”
His expression was one of agony.
Well, that’s right. The young lady’s outfit is a normal dress type. It’s impossible to ride in this. Even if she could ride a horse, her weak butt would start to hurt after a few minutes of walking. And since she wouldn’t be able to ride a horse by herself, she would have to ride with a soldier. Riding a horse while being close to the master, and a young lady who seems to be unmarried, could be a capital offense if done poorly.
Having said that, walking back to the castle is out of the question. Look, the maids are glaring at Dominic or whatever his name is. The young lady is also tilting her head with a troubled expression.
Um, no, is it okay to leave this alone?
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