When morning broke, Lea and the knights stepped out of their tents—only to freeze in shock.
“W-what... what is this?!”
Overnight, half of the force had been slaughtered. The bodies were mangled, torn apart by something brutal and primitive.
“It was Goblins at work,” a voice explained.
As the knights recoiled at the gruesome sight, a man emerged from behind the tents—Louis Berg.
He walked up, dragging the corpse of a Goblin General behind him with one hand.
Thud. THUMP. The General’s body hit the ground with a dull impact that reverberated faintly beneath their feet.
“The work of Goblins?” one knight echoed.
“There were Goblin Generals nearby, lying in ambush with their squads. The wounds match their weapons. More importantly—this is a Goblin General.” As he said it, Lea unconsciously nodded.
Goblin Generals were the strongest of their kind, aside from the Lord. While Goblin Lords were dangerous due to their command traits, Goblin Generals were lethal because they wielded Aura—an unnatural ability for a monster.
“The knights were likely overwhelmed by sheer numbers, but they still managed to injure the enemy. That made it easier for me to finish the job.”
“…We can’t take the knights’ bodies with us, can we?”
“If you kill the squires and use their backs as carriers, maybe.”
“…We can’t do that,” Lea said quietly, her expression grim.
With no horses available, if they wished to retrieve the bodies, the squires would have to carry everything. And if they ran into monsters while doing so—they’d all be wiped out in an instant.
Specifically, the squires would be wiped out, Louis mused.
But that aside…
…I couldn’t sleep a wink dragging these things back, he thought, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes.
After killing all the Council knights stationed here, Louis had immediately moved to erase the evidence.
His body still ached from pushing beyond his level. Even so, he’d washed the blood off, tracked the Goblin Generals, hunted them down, and returned.
He considered disposing of the knights’ bodies too, but figured Lea would want to see them. He knew how she was.
Besides, there simply hadn’t been time.
Speaking of which… I’ll need to have her toughen up, if only for the future.
He glanced at Lea. That plan could wait. Right now, the priority was getting out of here.
“Let’s move. With the force this depleted, continuing the mission isn’t realistic.”
“…You’re right. We should regroup with the commander,” Lea said with a soft sigh. Still, she kept glancing back at the fallen knights.
Louis said, “If it bothers you that much, bring it up with the High Elder. Ask him to reward them. Say you and I survived thanks to their sacrifice.”
“…That’s a good idea.” Lea nodded. Judging by the look on her face, she’d probably storm into the Council chamber the moment they returned.
I’d love to see the Head’s expression when that happens, Louis thought, a dry chuckle escaping him.
The High Elder sent them to assassinate him, and now he had to reward them for saving his life?
It’d be a miracle if he doesn’t drop dead of anger.
Feeling strangely refreshed, Louis walked on, the fatigue of the previous night already lifting.
* * *
Their rendezvous point with the subjugation commander was the third base camp—set atop a small hill on high ground. It was one of the routes leading to the suspected location of the Goblin Lord, and the terrain made it relatively easy to defend.
The only problem was getting there.
“Damn it…!” one of the knights cursed as he stepped onto a narrow cliffside path, hugging the rock face. The footing was slick. Despite being clad in Aura-infused armor, the cold bit through the seams.
He looked down, seeing nothing but a sheer drop. One slip and he’d be lucky to survive.
“This is really the only way?!” the knight barked.
Since Louis had suggested this path, the reaction was almost expected. If Lady Lea had given the order, he wouldn’t have said a word. But seeing that man swagger around like the future son-in-law? It rankled.
“This isn’t a path—it’s a death sentence! Think of Lady Lea and find another way!”
“Oh dear… hiding behind your mistress? That’s a very bad habit,” Louis said airily.
“No! We could really die! What if she gets hurt?!”
“My lady is sturdier than you, so you need not worry. Besides, you’re an Aura Adept. Who exactly are you worried about?”
The knight’s face twisted in annoyance. I’m reporting this entire farce to the Grand Duke!
He bit his tongue, took another step and—
CRUNCH.
“…Huh?”
The path gave way and his foot dangled in empty air. Then his entire body dropped, vanishing over the edge.
“You, bastaaaaaard—!” the knight managed to scream as he fell.
“…Why’s he the one falling now?” Louis muttered. Then he leapt.
Lea shouted something behind him, but the wind swallowed her voice as Louis plunged down. He darted from foothold to foothold along the vertical cliff, descending rapidly.
Just before impact, he caught the knight by the collar.
CRASHHHHH!
Snow exploded around them as they hit the bottom. The ground shook as snow exploded around them.
Unfazed, Louis flung the knight to the snow-covered ground.
“Too damn heavy. Go on a diet.”
“I’m a perfectly healthy weight!” the knight shouted, more indignant than grateful. Then, staring up at Louis in disbelief, he asked, “Wait—how are we alive? I mean, why are you even down here?”
“You’re awfully fussy for someone who just got saved.” Louis brushed snow from his armor.
A regular Aura Adept would’ve died from that height. Louis had kept control by precisely channeling Aura to his legs—but explaining all that would’ve been tedious.
“You just got lucky.”
“Is that even possible?!”
“You whine a lot. Most definitely the unpopular type with women.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you!”
Louis shook his head, unable to comprehend why the man whined so much. He shouldered the Divine Archer’s bow, and limbered up.
“Save your complaints for later and let’s start walking. We stay here, we freeze.”
“Hah! Northern knights don’t freeze from a little snow!”
“You’ve got snot running down your face.”
“…Do you have a tissue, sir?”
“Are you mad?”
* * *
After a while of walking with the knight, the man sniffled and asked, “Do you even know where you’re going?”
“We’re heading to the Goblin Lord.”
“…What?!” The knight recoiled, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. But I didn’t react, simply trudging forward.
The trap the knight had fallen into earlier? I had set that. I spent all night preparing it for myself—but then this guy stepped on it, ruining everything.
…I planned to go alone.
I was after something hidden in the Goblin Lord’s territory. With my independent operational authority, I could’ve broken off, retrieved it, and returned. That was the plan.
But now?
This is my only shot.
Sure, I could still leave at any time. But doing so in plain sight would raise suspicions. There were still Council knights with the main force—word would get back to the High Elder.
Better to keep this guy with me.
And if he got in the way… I could always kill him.
Meanwhile, the oblivious knight glared at me, yelling hysterically. “How the hell are we supposed to fight a Goblin Lord?! Have you lost your mind?!”
“Aren’t you a Northern knight? This is your shot at glory and you’re turning tail? The North would weep.”
“You think I’m stupid enough to fall for that?!”
“Oh… so your brain does work. Congratulations. You’ve officially evolved into a Homo sapiens.”
“Damn it, man! Will you be a bit serious?!”
At least he had a strong voice. I chuckled at that.
“We have to kill it. If I don’t, Lea will have to fight it. As a man, I can’t let my wife do that in my place, can I?”
In truth, I was doing this for revenge. But since I couldn’t confess that to the knight, I chose the kind of lie he might like.
“...Shit, seriously,” the knight muttered. He seemed to buy it.
The knight ran a hand through his hair, then let out a long sigh. “Fine! Let us go then! Since we’re going to die for Lady Lea, what’s not to like about it!”
“Hmm… You seem awfully loyal to her.”
“She’s my liege. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Hmm. This man had potential.
I gave him a closer look. Solid build. Disciplined movement. Not much Aura, but that could be trained.
He probably never made a name for himself in my last life. Too little Aura.
If I didn’t even know him, then he probably wasn’t considered important within the Duke of Artezia’s own circle.
And that was probably still true now.
…Should I try training this one?
At a time when I needed to keep the Elder Council in check, having a decent knight on my side was an attractive prospect. Even better if he had blind loyalty.
As for teaching him, well, I just need to follow the way my master taught me.
In any case, reaching Aura Expert wasn’t something only my Master could teach—I could manage it on my own.
I’d already reached that level. How hard could it be?
Finishing the thought, I gave a sly grin as I looked at the knight. Killing him to keep things quiet was out of the question. Instead, I’d work him to the bone until he was on my side.
Just as I smiled, outlining my plan, the knight quietly asked, “But… is being a Homo sapiens a good thing?”