Chapter 231

“An ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍honor it is, Your Grace, that you have visited us! We pray that you will find comfortable rest in our village.”

Indeed, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the village of Bonbure was wonderfully tranquil.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍truly seemed to be a village that belonged to his fief; the moment we arrived, every preparation inside the village had already been completed.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍bathtub filled with hot water was waiting to ease our travel-worn bodies, and once I finished washing, freshly baked white bread was laid out to fill my empty stomach.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sun would be setting soon.

Given ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍how short a day was for a farming village, it should have been time for people to go to sleep, and yet Bonbure’s arrangements were remarkably thorough.

“Mm, I am truly grateful. Thanks to you, I will be able to rest well before I continue on.”

“N-no, Your Grace. It is only the hospitality that we ought to offer. There is no need for thanks. Please, withdraw such words.”

At my compliment, the village chief of Bonbure bowed his head deeply, insisting he was unworthy. In this era, it was tradition and custom to treat passing travelers generously and, in return, hear news of how the world was turning. And I was not merely an ordinary traveler. The one they were hosting today was me—whose reputation rang far and wide—the Sacred Guardian.

In a sense, it was a deed they could boast of for generations. Even so, I had no intention of dismissing the trouble they had gone through.

“I mean it. Even now, look. Are my vassals and companions not plainly satisfied with your efforts?”

Rather, I deliberately brought it up once more.

That way, after this, if the visibly flustered Lord Gertman decided to grant this village a reward, he would be more inclined to give them even more.

Sure enough.

“That is correct. Ha-ha. I will instruct my people to bestow a generous reward upon the villagers, Your Grace. Chief, give thanks for His Grace’s benevolence.”

The quick-witted second Lord Gertman stepped forward at once, speaking to the chief. Only then did the chief seem to realize the stroke of fortune that had visited the village, and he offered his thanks. In this manner, no small sum of reward money would surely fall to the village.

Just as the matter seemed to be settling—

“Meeee! As expected of a benevolent lordniiiim. Meehehheh.”

Our troublemaking goat beastman, Bishop Marco, abruptly sprang forward.

“Mm? Do you have something to say?”

“Meeee. Just like lordniiiim said, the chief is so admirable. Meehehheh. Since it has come to this, would it not be good if lordniiiim handled one problem for this village? Meeee.”

“…Oh?”

To think he would say something worthy of a bishop who served the divine. Had a strange wind blown?

“That sounds like a fine idea.”

“Mm-hm. I think so as well. They treated us to such a feast, so we can take care of a small problem for them, can we not?”

“Ahem, ahem. That may be so, but….”

Faced with the expectant looks on everyone’s faces, I cleared my throat.

What sort of problem could a village like this possibly have? At most, it would be a lovers’ quarrel, or some minor monsters—goblins or the like—roaming about.

Surely some enormous, dreadful beast would not suddenly appear.

Surely.

“This is not even our fief. Would that be all right? And we must rest and reach the royal castle quickly, must we not?”

As I spoke, I cast a sidelong glance at the second Lord Gertman.

To resolve a problem on another man’s land could easily be seen as infringing upon that lord’s rights.

If, while traveling, one happened to encounter a problem and solve it, it could become a laudable tale now and then. But acting that way with the ruler standing right beside you was another matter entirely.

“Mm. Bishop Marco. There is no great problem in this village. Ahem.”

Having listened in, the second Lord Gertman spoke with a faint flush, as though he felt uncomfortable.

Of course, the trap was that our troublemaking goat beastman, Bishop Marco, was utterly devoid of tact.

“Meeee. Those beneath a ruler always have sorrows they cannot speak of. Mehr. Now, speak quickly, human chief. Meeee. Our lordniiiim is generous and will hear it all. Meehehhehheh.”

“Ah, th-that is….”

Then the chief of Bonbure glanced around, reading the room, and cautiously opened his mouth (though I had no idea why he had found the courage today of all days).

“Meeee. That is?”

“Recently, something ominous has been happening in the forest near our village. Those who entered have died, and some have gone mad. Surely it is eerie magic….”

“Did I not already send soldiers at my knights’ command? It was not evil magic—just defeated soldiers causing trouble. Did we not subjugate them?”

“H-however, even after that, it has happened several more times.”

It felt unpleasant, but if I listened calmly, the second Lord Gertman’s words seemed reasonable.

Rather than sinister sorcery, was it not more likely to be the cruelty of defeated soldiers who had made the forest their den?

But—

“Meeeeeeee!”

Our goat beastman, Bishop Marco, seemed to think otherwise.

“That. That. Is that not a curse? No—magic, magic! What do you think, lordniiiim? Meeee.”

“Did not Lord Gertman say it was not? He even said he subjugated them. Why would a curse come out of this?”

“Meeee. Did they not say another incident happened! Lordniiiim.”

“Then perhaps another band of defeated soldiers arrived. Is this not simply something to handle by sending soldiers again? Is it not so, Lord Gertman?”

“Ah—? Yes, indeed. As soon as I return, I will send a subjugation force. The world has certainly grown unsettled, and there seem to be far more defeated stragglers than before. Ha-ha.”

It seemed to be wrapping up neatly enough. At my words, the second Lord Gertman laughed awkwardly and promised he would send soldiers at once to deal with it.

“Meeheeeee….”

However, our goat beastman, Bishop Marco, clearly did not like that. Letting out a bleat unique to his kind, he jutted out his lower lip in a sulk.

“I am certain something is there. Mehrrrr. Human chief. What do you think? Surely there is a terrifying legend about that forest, is there not? Meeee.”

“H-how did you know?! As it happens, there is a legend that, long ago, wicked heretics offered sacrifices to the god of darkness in that forest.”

“Meehehheh. I am a bishop. A bishop. Meeee.”

At the chief’s words, the goat beastman, Bishop Marco, looked back at me with a smug expression.

His face practically said, See? Was I not right? But I only let out a sigh.

Good grief….

Should I just—

It was plain to see that the second Lord Gertman was uncomfortable, and yet that bastard was trying to keep dragging the conversation forward without the slightest tact. I truly wanted to break his legs.

“Does not nearly every village have folk tales like that? It sounds like a common sort of legend…. Are you going to investigate one in every village we pass through, Bishop Marco?”

I said so while rubbing my throbbing temples.

“And what if it is nothing? We must hurry to the royal castle. If we miss our schedule, will you take responsibility?”

“Meeee?”

At the word responsibility, the goat beastman, Bishop Marco, sprang up in alarm.

As always, he hated taking responsibility more than anything. Really now.

“Yes, yes. You are wonderfully consistent, which is… admirable. In any case, let us end this matter here. Has the night not grown deep? Lord Gertman will resolve the rest properly. Is that not so?”

“That is correct, Your Grace. Thank you for your consideration. The moment I arrive, I will take immediate measures so that the chief’s worries will disappear. Ha-ha.”

At my concluding words, the second Lord Gertman responded with light banter.

In any case, it felt as though it had ended safely enough.

Now the night was deep, so I could sleep soundly in a comfortable room.

Or so I thought….

…….

…….

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

“Y-Your Grace! I believe there is a problem.”

Damn it.

Why did problems always seem to follow me?

---

Late at night, a camp near Bonbure village.

“Halt. Halt!”

“Who are you! Who dares come this way in the dead of night! Identify yourself!”

The soldiers on watch shouted, startled by the sudden intruders.

Men wandering at this hour! Even if this was the heart of the kingdom, monsters still prowled about ominously—anyone out here this late had to be insane beyond measure.

“What is it? What is going on?”

“Some lunatics are running straight at us.”

“Yes. Well, they are probably bandits. Is that not common enough? They must have mistaken us for an ordinary merchant caravan.”

“My word. I have seen include all kinds of madmen now.”

Having spotted the men rushing toward the camp, the soldiers alerted those around them, then raised spears and shields and fixed their eyes forward.

If it was a gang of bandits charging in to rob them without a shred of fear, they would seize them at once, strip them naked, and hang them from a treetop.

The soldiers, robbed of their precious sleep, snarled to themselves as they thought so.

But then—

“Uh…. Hm?”

“These bastards…. They do look like bandits… but….”

As the figures drew closer in the firelight, the soldiers grew uncertain all at once.

The approaching men.

They seemed to be a thieving band of defeated soldiers, and yet their behavior—their very appearance—was…. strange.

-S-spare us!

-We are bandits…. Ah, are we bandits after all?

-You mad bastard, shut your mouth. We are not bandits. We are defeated soldiers. Understood?

-Ah, understood.

They had thrown away all their weapons and come running barehanded. After whispering among themselves, they raised their hands high and shouted.

“These bastards. Will you not shut your mouths?”

“How dare a band of defeated soldiers—no, mere bandits—wag their tongues!”

Even so, the soldiers did what they had to do, though they could not hide their disbelief.

THUD! THUD!

-Aaagh! Why in the world!

“Silence!”

First came a beating with cudgels. Only after the soldiers had thoroughly thrashed them did they finally catch their breath and question the collapsed group of defeated soldiers.

“Why have you come here? Do you not know that desertion is punishable by death? And it seems you committed robbery as well.”

“Uh?!”

“Hic.”

Only then did the defeated soldiers realize what they had done, and they all began hiccuping.

They had fled the tiger only to leap straight into the wolf’s jaws!

Yet there was a reason behind their actions. One of them, trembling despite understanding his situation, shouted with all his strength.

“A monster, a monster lives in the forest! Mad heretics have unleashed a devil! You must tell people at once!”

“?”

“Our comrades were taken by that monster too. At least several dozen were torn apart and killed.”

The other defeated soldiers gained courage from him and began shouting in a panic.

“It is true. It is a monster. No, it is a devil. With sharp claws it tears through armor and everything else as if it were nothing.”

“And it eats people. It chews them up—crunch, crunch—so it must be a truly wicked being.”

At the chorus of voices spilling out, the soldiers fell into confusion.

A devil…. had truly appeared?

Could they be lying after fighting among themselves? But judging by the faces as they wailed, it did not seem false.

Besides, if it were a lie, why would they run here at all? They would be executed anyway.

The soldiers who heard the story exchanged sidelong looks.

“It seems…”

“Yes. We must report this to His Grace.”

After all, devils were the specialty of our pious lord—were they not?

The soldiers immediately reported the matter up the chain.

And not long after, a knight, bearing the news, rushed urgently to my room.

And that was how—

“So…. precisely when I arrived, in that forest, the devil that has lived only as a legend has descended?”

“Y-yes, Your Grace. I believe you heard correctly.”

“…….”

That was the full story of why I had been awakened at this ungodly hour.

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