Griffin(4)
The knights somehow started chasing the first prince.
… … How much time had passed like that?
The sight they found at the end of their arrival.
“Eh, these are… … .”
Several griffons, helplessly dead. And there were white eggs about 30cm in size that were revealed from the floor dug up next to it.
The knights who joined with George could not hide their embarrassment at the scene in front of them.
Either way, I waved my fingers and gave instructions to the late arriving knights.
“Screw all over the cave floor and find the eggs. There’s a chance they’re buried some distance away, so don’t miss any.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The knights moved in unison at the words and began digging the ground around them. Literally, like plowing a field, it’s completely turned upside down.
Not long after that, the knights took out all the eggs from the ground and reported to me.
“Your Highness, there were a total of forty-four eggs in the ground.”
“Right.”
Should I say, anyway?
hatching cycles of several months. And if you calculate that it takes a year to grow up to an adult, it was a number that roughly matched the attack before the return.
I nodded and approached the stacked eggs. And my eyes caressing it began to carefully narrow.
‘I guess their spawning season has just ended.’
The reason why he captured one and lured it to the nest was, of course, to eliminate future troubles.
From noble mtl dot com.
Even if all the males that pose the greatest threat were wiped out, it was only natural that the threat would increase if at least one pup remained.
I will have to slaughter them all.
But they didn’t have many babies.
Rather, it had just laid an egg. And, unfortunately, they looked very good.
“Load all of them onto the cart along with the corpses of the griffons you caught. Be careful never to break it.”
“yes? these?”
“I will take it to the palace.”
“… … .”
The expressions of the knights who heard the order were momentarily blurred. You’re going to take a ‘monster’ egg to the palace and nothing else?
But my order is not over.
“And retrieve the magic crystals embedded in the walls of this place.”
A spirit stone with the power of wind.
It might be surprisingly useful.
* * *
The news of the return of the first prince who set out to subdue Griffon spread throughout the castle. There were testimonies that they had brought griffon corpses with them.
Thanks to this, it was the scholars of the royal castle who were busy.
“Your Highness brought the corpse of a griffon?!”
“Yes, I think you should go out and see!”
“this!”
The corpse of a monster called Griffon was rarer than expected.
Aside from the fact that it is difficult to catch them because they fly, the number itself is small, except for certain conditions, so it was impossible to obtain enough corpses to use for research.
Even more so if it is fresh.
Because of this, the scholars of Wangseong, who heard the news, rushed out, leaving behind what they were doing right away.
but… … .
“This, this… … !”
The first thing that greeted them were huge eggs boasting a clean white surface.
The scholars watching it did not think to shut their mouths.
The first prince set out to subjugate Gryphon… … And the egg brought from that place, no way… … !
“That, Griffin’s egg… … .”
“oh my god!”
The griffon itself was rare, but the griffon’s egg was especially so.
Not to mention there was almost no mention of seeing a griffon egg in the records, so no scholar would have thought that it was a griffon egg if it hadn’t been brought by Prince 1.
Of course, I didn’t care what they thought.
“Are you here, Your Highness, the 1st Prince?”
“hmm.”
I passed the scholars who were hastily lowering their heads, and looked at the egg placed on the cart.
And George followed behind him, scratching his head and asking.
“Are you sure you want to use this for research and hatching experiments?”
“okay.”
“… … Even though it’s not a wild bird, it’s a monster’s egg?”
“Does not matter.”
My shoulders were shrugged.
These eggs were intended for experimentation. An experiment to see if it is possible to artificially hatch monsters and if they have a ‘wild nature’ unique to monsters.
If you can find out the nature of the griffon, which has not been revealed in modern times, nothing could be better.
Because the king is a person who prepares for the future and puts effort into internal affairs.
“Then what if they go wild inside the palace?”
“Killing is enough.”
“… … .”
A simple answer.
It was a natural story.
And at that thought, George nodded softly and said,
“… … Well, you have to be born to know, but if you beat it somehow, you’ll hear it.”
It seems that my theory that I can finally roll it to him has been instilled.
George asked, caressing the still white gryphon egg with a curious look.
“Anyway with that. You don’t seem to have anything to do right now, do you want to wait until they hatch for a while?”
“There is nothing to do.”
“Haven’t the necessary things already been done?”
“no.”
I just said it and looked at him.
“Unfortunately, the work of the Holy Empire remains.”
“Ahh… … .”
The boy nodded and agreed.
The documents I checked before coming out said that they were clearly moving around there.
I had no idea how they were moving, but it was a self-evident fact that news of the present they had prepared would come sooner or later.
In addition, now that we have dealt with the guys who will be obstacles to the upstream. There’s nothing to worry too much about now.
If so, you just have to move accordingly.
‘I can’t wait to see what kind of gift they prepared.’
I shrugged my shoulders in satisfaction and touched the egg.
* * *
The existence of the saintess who remained in the royal palace was public, but it was also something to hide.
It was only natural that no one knew what was going on between Esteban and the Holy Empire.
So, among the nobles, in fact, there was more concern about him.
In fact, a saintess comparable to the status of a princess. Forcing such an existence to live in the royal palace was not a very positive story for the person himself.
However, unlike those concerns, Esteban’s life in the royal palace was surprisingly suitable for the saintess.
Unlike the restrained diet of Seongguk, various delicacies that come up every day. Freedom from boring and limited schedules. Even here, if there was something I didn’t want to do, I didn’t have to do it.
There is nothing bad about her.
‘No, maybe this is the life I’ve been dreaming of?’
For a moment, I think so.
Even though there are rules and restrictions on movement, they are also lighter than the Holy Land, so it would be better to describe this place as a paradise.
‘under… … good night!’
Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ve completely forgotten my duty… … .
“… … oh!”
A land in the west bordering the Holy Land. The saintess, who moved after receiving the call, finally found a large procession of priests who were on their way to Esteban.
Even if you estimate the staggering number, more than a few hundred. But it wasn’t the many priests who drew her attention.
“Garden High Priestess!”
“Holy Lady.”
The saintess’ expression brightened at the benevolent smile of her grandfather’s.
At the same time, she hopped like a rabbit and was hugged by the high priest.
You can feel the warmth even in the cold winter. Although he was a high priest who was notorious for being very fussy, even now he just smiled as if he was in trouble while welcoming the saintess.
“Huh, you really haven’t changed. When will you be an adult… … long time no see. how are you?”
“Yep! High priest?”
“I was full of worries until I met the saintess, but I feel relieved now that I seem to be all right.”
“… … really?”
“Heh heh, how could it not be?”
It was very gratifying to know that others were worried about him. Especially if the other person is like a family member.
Divine-like silver hair flowed down the lips of the saintess who smiled softly. The High Priestess looked at the situation with warm eyes, then slowly moved her gaze towards the party on Esteban’s side.
It was at that moment that such a welcome gaze formed a serious doubt.
“… … But, are they the only escorts and companions serving the saintess?”
“Yes? that’s right.”
In the place where the eyes of the High Priestess were directed, only a dozen paladins lined up next to the carriage in the temple could be seen.
The high priest narrowed his eyes and continued talking.
“The Holy Lady is no different from the representative of the Holy Land, representing the will of His Holiness. But how did you hire only a few people to help the saintess?”
“That, well… … .”
“How much more, aren’t they the only ones left in Esteban following the saintess? At least if you had contacted the nearby temples… … .”
“… … .”
“no way… … .”
At that time, the High Priestess suddenly became suspicious of the saintess. The gaze of such a saintess moved slowly and silently began to shed the gaze of the high priest.
… … Isn’t it ironic, like a naughty man on the verge of being scolded?
The high priest clenched his forehead at the ominous feeling that could be felt on the outside.
“I’m sure you’re not saying that it’s annoying to have to show a decent side.”
“I-I didn’t do that on purpose… … .”
“Holy Lady.”
“… … .”
The saintess’ shoulders flinched at that low call.
Why not? She wanted to fully enjoy the freedom that the Holy Kingdom did not have.
However, the opponent right in front of me was the most fundamentalist in the kingdom.
At this rate, I’m scolded again!
Therefore, it is impossible to admit the fact straight away.
Find the answer somehow… … .
The saintess hurriedly began to shake her head. And then.
“Kyo, doctrine! The doctrine clearly says that priests must abstain from luxury!”
Then, as if she thought it was the best excuse she could think of, the saintess nodded proudly.
However, it didn’t take long for Grand Master Garden’s fierce blow to strike.
“It represents only luxuries, including trinkets.”
“I-was it… … .”
“I’m sure you’ll need an education again.”
“… … .”
The saintess’ sullen mouth fell helplessly.
It was a feeling of a bit of sadness, but anyway, because of her beautiful appearance, she looked calm as if she was mad.
Of course, there was no way that Grand Priest Garden, who had been with them for a long time, could not read his mind.
It wasn’t even that I didn’t understand. It was Grand Priest Garden who watched more closely than anyone else how she had lived in a stuffy temple at an age where it was difficult to discern what was going on.
On the contrary, it was just that it felt more satisfying for him to show the bright girl like he is now.
But that’s it, and this is this.
It was the saintess who chose to remain for the sake of the kingdom. It was also an arbitrary decision.
And wasn’t it the high priest of Garden who trusted him and left Esteban?
At least I understand that mind, so I have no choice but to be stricter.
Shuk- Shuk-
“… … high priest.”
The high priest’s bark-like palm was gently rubbed over the saintess’s head.
“The saintess is the representative of the Holy Nation. I think the first prince would not have allowed me to go out, but did you ignore his advice?”
“… … 1 The prince has been spending less time in the palace these days. You must be very busy.”
“Whoa… … Even so, please do not act recklessly like this again.”
“Sorry.”
The saintess happily accepted the touch and smiled.
And it’s been awhile since we’ve had a good time like that. The great procession of priests began moving slowly toward Esteban’s capital.