Lea stood frozen on the cliffside path, staring down at the spot where Louis and the knight had fallen.
Normally, she would have ordered a rescue without hesitation. But this time, she didn’t.
...He looked so calm. Like someone stepping out for a casual stroll.
His expression—slightly annoyed, almost lazy—was burned into her memory.
And hadn’t he said, just before falling, that he’d bring the knight back?
“…I have to trust him.”
Lea couldn’t picture him dying in a place like this. Even in their short time together, he’d shown her things that defied reason.
“Will you begin a search for them, my lady?” the knight beside her asked.
Lea shook her head. “No. For now, we’ll regroup with the Subjugation Commander. Lord Louis and Sir Lancelot are surely alive.”
“...As you command.”
The knight bowed, glancing warily down the sheer cliff. In truth, he thought their chances of survival were slim—but he didn’t argue. He was simply relieved she hadn’t ordered them to descend.
“Let’s move. And you, sirs—look after the squires. One day, they may become knights of House Praha.”
“We obey, Lady Lea.” The knight bowed low, silently praying that the Goddess of Life had granted a miracle to the two who had fallen.
* * *
“So, what’s your name?”
“My name is Lancelot.”
“Quite the grand name.”
“Are you trying to pick a fight?” Lancelot scowled.
The man already looked like a gorilla—twisting his face like that didn’t help.
“Mm, you should smile more, my good knight. Even someone with a face like yours needs to get married eventually.”
“...I am ever so grateful for that, really.”
“For what? Isn’t it a noble’s duty to speak the truth?”
As I grinned, Lancelot scowled fiercely again.
“...Should I just hit him?”
“I can hear you.”
“Haah, whatever. Do you even know where the Goblin Lord is, Lord Louis?” He shot me a skeptical look.
Apparently, he couldn’t trust I’d been leading the right way this whole time.
“The North is different. Didn’t you hear? Even Yetis freeze to death if they get lost here.”
“Never heard that. But I doubt we’ll get lost.”
“Hah! That confidence is going to get us lost in no time! I think you’re seriously underestimating Northern snowfields.”
...Is he cursing me?
I eyed him disdainfully and said, “You might as well pray we do get lost. I’ve been leaving traces behind this whole time.”
“Huh? When, sir?”
“Focus your Aura into your vision. You’ll see the lingering trails.”
Lancelot turned, scanning the path behind us as if he didn’t believe me. After a moment, he blinked and muttered under his breath.
“...How long have you been doing that?”
“Since the moment we fell. Heaven forbid my wife gets lost while searching for me.”
“...Since the beginning?” He stared at me like I was insane.
Well, to be fair, leaving residual Aura trails was incredibly taxing. Most people wouldn’t even attempt it—it required immense control to leave only the bare minimum, or it would dissipate too fast to be useful.
But it wasn’t a big deal for me.
Every one of my master’s techniques required intense control.
After years of that kind of training, this was nothing.
“It’s not a strain. Don’t look at me like that.”
“...Considering what you did to those Goblins earlier—are archers normally this strong?”
“It’s not that archers are strong. I am strong. The others can’t do what I do.”
“Ah… of course,” he replied flatly. Probably thought I was full of myself.
He’d be stunned if he met other archers.
I didn’t bother replying and kept walking.
Soon, I noticed the signs: snapped branches, scattered skulls, and the Goblin Shaman’s runes carved into the dirt.
The Goblin Lord’s territory was close.
I slowed my pace and tightened my grip on the bow slung at my waist.
“From here on out, we’ll likely encounter Goblins. Be careful. Don’t get reckless and hurt yourself.”
“Hah! I may look like this, but I’m one of Lady Lea’s personal guards. You think I’ll die so easily?”
“Now that there is sad news to my ears. You’re a personal guard? I’ll have to ask for a list of these guards when we return.”
“What, are you seriously—?!”
Thwip!
Thunk!
Just as Lancelot started to protest, I fired an arrow. A Goblin had been descending behind him—and now it lay collapsed at his feet.
“Stay focused. Getting distracted in enemy territory? You really are a failure as a knight.”
“Grrrr! I’ll deal with you later, sir!”
Grinding his teeth, Lancelot drew his sword and charged the Goblins. His blade carved through them like a storm. One after another, they fell like leaves in the wind.
“Hmm... His movements are solid, but his shoulders are stiff. Too much wasted Aura. And what’s with those flashy swings? So many openings.”
I watched him, picking apart his technique. It was like watching a younger version of myself—though to be fair, he was physically stronger than I had been. But that habit of adding unnecessary flair stood out.
“He’s got a lot to work on.”
With a sigh, I raised my bow and aimed at a Goblin crouching in the back.
Unlike the others, this one carried a staff. A Goblin Shaman. A monster more dangerous than your average Goblin—closer to a Goblin General in threat level.
It used magic. That alone, magic forbidden to humans, made it lethal.
Eliminate high-risk targets first. That’s standard procedure.
I loosed the arrow. It shot toward the Shaman—but the creature sneered, raised its staff, and conjured a barrier.
Crash!
The arrow bounced off, landing uselessly in the dirt.
The Shaman smirked, raising its staff again. Then—
Pow!
A second arrow hit from the right, blowing its head apart—a Curve Shot. Even Aura-archers take years to master it. For me, it came naturally.
“Feels good. Been a while,” I murmured, satisfied.
The Shaman’s death triggered something. The remaining Goblins ignored Lancelot and rushed toward me, eyes blazing as they snarled with rage.
Drawing my bow, I aimed at the oncoming swarm.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thirty arrows flew, each finding its mark.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
The Goblins dropped in heaps, and Lancelot could only stare.
When the last of them fell, I exhaled and turned to him. “Let’s keep walking. We’ll get cold if our sweat dries.”
* * *
After a while...
“Found it,” I muttered, gazing down at the habitat sprawled beneath the hill.
Lancelot and I were perched on a ridge overlooking the Goblin camp. It was larger than expected—and much more organized than I remembered from my past life.
“They’re acting like people,” Lancelot said with disgust. He seemed offended by the sight of Goblins in armor, standing guard like trained soldiers.
“Let’s charge in and kill them all. Just looking at them makes my blood boil.”
“Wait. We can’t do something that stupid with just the two of us.”
I had called it stupid outright, but Lancelot nodded anyway, agreeing. “Fair point. Then what’s the plan, sir?”
“First, there’s a place we need to visit.”
“Visit?”
I pointed at the large hut in the center of the camp. It stood out—decorated with bones, trophies, and more elaborate carvings than any other.
That had to be the Goblin Lord’s dwelling.
I should search that place first.
One of House Artezia’s darkest secrets lay buried in that place.
If I could get my hands on it, I could break one of the wings of Artezia’s future.
A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth as I turned to Lancelot. “We’re heading to that hut over there.”
“???”
“What is it?”
“Didn’t you just say charging in head-on was the dumbest move possible? That place over there—anyone can tell it’s the Goblin Lord’s lair!”
“Sharp eyes. You’re right. That is most likely the Goblin Lord’s den. Look at those defenses—tight as a drum, aren’t they?”
“Exactly! That’s the problem! So how are we supposed to get in?!” Lancelot snapped, his voice rising in frustration.
I simply grinned at him. “Fire.”
“…What?”
“Set it ablaze. Big and loud. The North is dry this time of year—a single spark’s enough to bring down an inferno.”
* * *
WHOOOSH!
“Kra! Kra-kraagh!”
“Kraaagh!”
As night fell, a massive blaze erupted in the Goblin settlement. Goblins scrambled in a frenzy, grabbing their young and rushing out of the burrow.
Who plays with fire under a full moon?
The flames leapt from roof to roof, throwing a dazzling festival of destruction, and the Goblins could do nothing but stare in stunned horror as their homes and food stores went up in smoke.
“Kra! Kraaa!”
Lancelot frowned at the sight of the Goblins panicking. “I hate it most when monsters pretend to be human like that.”
“You don’t seem fond of them.”
“Isn’t that natural? Thanks to those things, more than a hundred Northerners have died. Honestly, if I could, I’d march straight into the Demonic Realm and slit that so-called Demon God’s throat myself.” He muttered bitterly as we slipped into the now-vulnerable settlement.
Judging by the look on his face, he’d have charged the Goblins right then and there if I weren’t around. Thankfully, he held himself back.
“If you really want, I can send you to the Demonic Realm.”
“And you would do that how, exactly?”
“You seem confused, seeing how you keep forgetting how to address me properly. I’ll have you know I’m the legitimate heir of House Berg. I can get a name like yours added to an expeditionary list with little trouble. For now, just stay quiet and follow me.”
With that, I shut him up and slipped into the largest hut.
Inside, a hulking Goblin snored loudly on a pile of treasure. Behind him, a hoard of gold and silver glittered in the dim light.
Among the riches were human bones—and one in particular gleamed unnaturally bright.
There it is.
I smiled faintly as my eyes fixed on a skull. Around its neck, a pendant adorned with a blood-red gem sparkled like fire.