Moonlight filtered dimly through the clouds.
I dropped from the branch and walked over to where the Council knights had been. Studying the snow and grass they’d trampled, I muttered, “Hmm… Doesn’t look like they’re the Silvermoon Guard.”
The Silvermoon Guard—an elite unit of assassins directly commanded by the High Elder. It was one of the trump cards he’d once offered me when defecting to the Artezia Duchy. A group even the Grand Duke himself wasn’t supposed to know about.
Although… I hardly think the Grand Duke was really in the dark.
He didn’t hold overwhelming authority within the family, but he wasn’t a fool. More likely, he knew everything that went on. He probably went to the Demonic Realm fully aware, simply following the Emperor’s orders.
...Which might actually be more foolish, I guess?
In any case, the Silvermoon Guard consisted entirely of knights above the Aura Expert Beginner level. They specialized in covert operations—assassination, infiltration—not open combat.
If these knights had been Silvermoon Guard, I would’ve had a real problem. With their Aura-breathing technique, they could easily mask their level, and facing them alone would have been impossible.
But judging from the footprints and residual traces, they were just disposable pawns.
Makes sense. If the mission failed, the Council would want to cut ties cleanly. No way they’d send someone important.
One Aura Expert Beginner, a few Aura Adept Intermediates. In the Ducal House, you could find knights like that practically on every corner.
“Graaaaaah…” I stretched with a groan and stood up.
Now that I was sure they weren’t Silvermoon Guard, there was nothing to worry about. Honestly, even the Goblin Lord wasn’t a real threat if I pushed myself. And as for poison? That wouldn’t work on Lea anymore, anyway.
“Came out for nothing. Should’ve just stayed asleep.”
I scratched the back of my head and returned to my tent. Getting enough rest was essential if I wanted to use the Divine Archer’s techniques properly.
* * *
Ever since that day, the Elder Council's knights had been trying to poison Lea.
At first, they laced only her soup. When that failed, they started poisoning every dish she touched. Yet she remained perfectly healthy. Not even a cough.
“What the—why won’t she die?!”
The knights clutched their heads in frustration, at a complete loss. By all rights, she should’ve collapsed by now. At least shown symptoms.
Just then, another knight—apparently struck by a thought—turned to the deputy commander and said, “Sir… could it be… something’s wrong with the poison?”
“What?” The deputy commander froze, thinking.
That’s… certainly possible.
As a knight, he was no expert in this matter, but he vaguely remembered that poison could lose potency depending on external conditions. And this place—Gremlin’s Knoll—was cold enough to affect its chemistry.
Unless someone was an Aura Master, there was no way a person could survive this much poison, surely?
Some people are said to be born with resistance, but I’ve never heard of the youngest Praha Lady having that kind of constitution.
The deputy commander nodded to himself, then turned to a nearby knight, ordering, “You try it.”
“M-me, sir?”
“Or should I?” he said, glaring.
The knight flinched, shut his eyes tight, and swallowed the poison.
The result was immediate.
“Gah! Cough!” Foam bubbled from the knight’s mouth as he convulsed, then collapsed—dead.
The deputy commander blinked at the corpse.
“…???”
Eh? Why did he die?
* * *
Despite the slight mishap, the deputy commander didn’t give up the assassination. Frankly, the only casualty they had suffered so far was just a single knight.
…Tonight’s the real opportunity.
The deputy commander’s eyes gleamed as he silently signaled to his other knights.
Three days had passed since the poisoning began. In that time, the Goblins had come in endless waves, and the number of wounded among the knights and soldiers steadily climbed.
They hadn’t lost a single battle yet—but in a campaign like this, even one defeat would spell failure. There was nothing to boast about.
And if they failed to finish the subjugation and botched the assassination of Lea Praha, their lives would be worth less than a handful of ash.
I absolutely refuse to die like this…!
After clawing his way up this far, he wasn’t about to die meaninglessly.
Touching his hidden poisoned dagger, the deputy commander swung his greatsword at another wave of Goblins.
Tonight, he’d kill Lea Praha himself.
* * *
Louis watched the deputy commander from a distance, clicking his tongue before loosing an arrow to fell a Goblin.
Tonight will be the turning point.
Now that poisoning had failed, they were sure to act directly.
I debated killing them preemptively, but that would only give the High Elder an excuse. He’d frame me as a spy who came to sabotage the subjugation.
Tch. Do I have to wait until nightfall?
Just then, the deputy commander glanced our way and spoke to the subjugation commander. “The Goblin numbers are too high. There really is likely a Goblin Lord.”
“Wasn’t that expected?”
“It was. But the horde is larger than we thought. At this rate, we’ll be overwhelmed.”
The commander considered this, then asked, “What do you propose?”
“We divide our forces.”
“Divide them?”
“We have three Aura Experts. We can form three teams around each one. But since Lady Lea isn’t used to real combat yet, I’d best stay with her.”
I snorted at that.
He wanted to separate us from the main force. If no one was watching, it would be easy to frame me for murder or desertion.
“Let’s do that,” I said smoothly with a nod.
The subjugation commander let out a low grunt, then nodded in understanding.
“Very well. Then we’ll split the unit in two. Deputy commander, see to it that Lady Lea and Lord Louis are properly escorted. Are you clear?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s regroup at the third outpost at dawn. You have the map, yes?”
“Yes, sir. We’ll see you there. Good luck.”
With a thin, crooked smile, the deputy commander swiftly divided the troops and led his detachment west, toward Gremlin’s Knoll.
Not long after, he came to a halt and drew his sword.
“Haah… This should be far enough,” he murmured, jogging away from the goblin lines.
Most of the knights gathered around him served the Elder Council. A few weren’t affiliated, but from the silent looks they exchanged, it was clear they’d reached an agreement beforehand.
Probably promised a seat at the table or a hefty pile of gold.
With his usual easy smile, the deputy commander approached Lea and me.
“My lady, it’s grown late. Why don’t we rest here tonight and set out again in the morning? Would you permit that?”
Just as he spoke, darkness fell over the sky, and the night wind sharpened.
Lea glanced around briefly and nodded. “All right. But since the squires are split in two groups, I expect you and your knights to help with the work.”
“Haha! Naturally, my lady. Of course.” The deputy commander smiled as if she’d said the most reasonable thing in the world and ordered the knights to prepare camp.
The squires, relieved not to work alone, quietly returned to their tasks.
Before long, the tents were set, and everyone—squires and soldiers alike—fell asleep.
And then, finally… the Elder Council’s knights moved.
They advanced slowly toward the tent where Lea lay sleeping. Once they surrounded it, they exchanged silent looks and took up positions, sealing off every exit.
Their plan to poison Lea and frame Louis Berg had failed. But framing him for killing her in a sudden frenzy, then fleeing? That was still possible.
If they simply made him disappear, no one would find him. What could possibly go wrong?
The knights nodded to one another, took a breath, and slipped inside.
Inside, soft breathing came from someone asleep.
The knights raised their daggers and struck—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
After repeated strikes, the knights turned to leave, convinced their target was dead.
But just as they were about to rush back out, they found someone standing at the tent’s entrance.
“Going somewhere?”
A young man with black hair and wolfish features—Louis Berg. Calm and steady, he held a long spear, blocking the way.
The knights glanced around frantically, but no reinforcements were in sight. Just Louis alone.
They relaxed slightly, and one of them said, “We were about to come find you anyway. You saved us the trouble.”
Louis smirked. “Funny. I was wondering who the hunter really is.”
Stepping forward, his spear began to glow with Aura. It flickered and shifted, then burned black with fierce intensity.
The knights stared in shock.
“A-Aura Master?!”
Aura transmutation was a technique only true Aura Masters could wield—a skill demanding perfect control and immense power. It was the art of imbuing Aura with the forces of nature.
Of course, Louis wasn’t an Aura Master, let alone an Aura Expert. But through talent and training, he’d crafted a similar technique, born from his natural affinity for controlling Aura.
This is why I fought so hard to rise through the ranks.
His version of transmutation was naturally weak. But even to perform it required becoming an Aura Adept, which was why he’d tried so hard to reach that level.
“I didn’t want to use a spear again. It reminds me too much of those filthy Artezias.”
“Th-this is impossible! No way!”
“You can be proud, you know, dying by the hand of a former Artezia hound. It’s for good reason that they cut off my head, branding me as the leader of a rebellion.”
Louis grinned as he swung his spear, and heads began to fly.
The knights fell in seconds, necks cleanly severed—everyone except the deputy commander.
Louis stepped toward him and murmured, “Using this means I’ll have to be cautious for a while… but well, it leaves no trace. That’s a fair trade.”
“Demon! You’re a Demon!”
“Hmm… Funny hearing that from the likes of you rats.” Louis chuckled softly and drove his spear into the deputy commander’s chest.
Thunk!
“Guh—!”
Blood spilled as the man’s eyes reddened. He reached out, face twisted in disbelief and fury—then went still.
Louis shook his head in disbelief. “Anyone watching might think I’m the villain here.”
He pulled the spear free and wiped the blood away.
He’d vowed never to use this technique again in this life. But leaving no evidence was more important. Using a bow would have drawn suspicion too.
I even went as far as Aura transmutation to avoid it…
If they still doubted him after all that, he might just break down and cry.
“Ugh… What a damn pain.”
He exhaled and shook the blood from his clothes.
Moments later, the cries of goblins came from far off.
Louis fell in thought as he listened to the sounds.
Once he killed the Goblin Lord, the first stone in his path of revenge would finally be set.