Two days later.

Having finished all preparations, Arkle and I boarded the carriage headed for Kelston.

Surprisingly, there were far more knights accompanying us than I had expected.

‘I thought Martha would definitely reduce the guards significantly since Arkle is coming along….’

The retainer standing next to the head of the knights bowed to Arkle and me.

“I am here to see you off on behalf of the head of the family. The head expressed regret for not being able to accompany you due to poor health.”

Martha, who had asked me to keep her secret, excused herself from the expedition by claiming illness.

Since she had been working nonstop since returning from the capital, no one doubted when it was said she collapsed from overwork.

I was curious about what excuse Martha would use, but it seems nothing beats feigning illness.

“With hopes for your safe return, the head has carefully selected outstanding individuals to accompany you.”

“I’m not worried since Arkle is with us… but it feels more reassuring!”

As I spoke cheerfully, Arkle, who had been standing silently beside me, flinched slightly.

“Of course, I can protect you safely by myself.”

He spoke with a strangely confident look on his face.

“But… there’s no harm in being cautious. It’s something I learned from wandering the battlefield.”

“Of course, of course.”

I nodded repeatedly, looking at Arkle’s cautious expression.

Indeed, there was no harm in being more careful about safety, as he said.

‘It’s surprising that Martha didn’t reduce the guards….’

Arkle seemed to have the same thought, muttering quietly to himself.

“I didn’t expect my sister to allow it… I’m glad I followed your advice.”

“What?”

Did I give Arkle any advice…?

As I tried to recall, Arkle smiled lightly as if it was nothing.

“Shall we?”

I took Arkle’s hand and climbed into the carriage.

Arkle followed and sat across from me, and the retainer who had bowed closed the door.

Soon, with the sound of the horses, the carriage started moving.

Heading towards the land of the Undead, Kelston.

❖ ❖ ❖

Inside the rattling carriage.

‘If this mission succeeds, I can surely gain Martha’s trust. Moreover….’

I fiddled with the oval-shaped magical tool hanging around my neck.

It was something I had asked Juan to get, a recording magical tool that captures the shape of objects using mana… a video stone!

This item that I had been trying to get for days was essentially a camera.

‘A land of zombies… I must capture it in photos. I’ve learned how to use it perfectly…!’

At that moment, the carriage jolted slightly, and Arkle, who was sitting across with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

“My lady… that’s.”

Arkle’s eyes wavered as he saw the magical tool in my hand.

“Oh, I asked Juan to get it for me. There’s something I want to record on this journey.”

I answered with a smile, but for some reason, Arkle’s expression became strange.

“…I see.”

I thought he would ask more, but he simply cleared his throat lightly and closed his mouth.

Then, he started carefully tidying his hair with one hand while looking at his reflection in the window.

When I looked at him as if asking what he was doing, Arkle spoke calmly without a change in expression.

“I want to leave a neat appearance if possible.”

‘…Did he mistakenly think I wanted to take pictures of him?’

What I wanted to capture were the living corpses far from neatness, but seeing Arkle looking expectantly, I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth.

“I will also try to ensure you capture many beautiful things on this journey, wife.”

Arkle said, adjusting his side hair.

“Haha… yes.”

I nodded awkwardly with a laugh.

Arkle continued to focus on tidying his appearance, occasionally muttering regretfully, “I should have worn different clothes.”

❖ ❖ ❖

After some time, I woke up with a start. The scenery outside the window had become completely dark.

I blinked sleepily at the view outside when Arkle, sitting across from me, spoke.

“We’ve arrived.”

With those words, the carriage began to slow down.

Eventually, the carriage came to a complete stop, and the coachman carefully opened the door.

Arkle, who got off first, extended his hand to me.

Taking his hand, I got off and looked at the village a little distance away.

‘That’s Kelston….’

Being a village under a high mountain, it was shrouded in a dense fog.

The knight commander standing behind Arkle with a lantern murmured.

“From the outside, it looks like an ordinary village….”

“No, it doesn’t.”

At my short reply, the knight commander turned his gaze to me.

I continued speaking nonchalantly.

“It’s this dark, yet not a single house has lights on. That means it’s not an ordinary village, right?”

“…….”

The knight commander swallowed hard without a word.

“…Indeed, you’re right.”

The knights lined up behind him all wore tense expressions.

‘It’s understandable. In a way, it’s like coming to a haunted house.’

Even those who knew no fear on the battlefield would find such supernatural entities unfamiliar and frightening.

The mage who cast holy protection spells on everyone before entering the village also looked tense.

Though unsure of its effectiveness, the protection spells were cast on both Arkle and me as well.

Right after, Arkle looked around the knights and laid out the plan.

“Our goal is to find the shaman hiding in here. First, those I point out will enter with me. Leave the horses behind.”

After pointing out a few knights, he turned to the knight commander.

“You stay here and wait. If I don’t return by sunrise, come looking for us.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Worry about yourselves.”

Arkle continued speaking indifferently.

“If I don’t return, it’s all in your hands. That’s why I’m leaving more of you here.”

“…Understood.”

The knight commander nodded with a solemn face.

Arkle turned to look at me.

After a moment of thought, he spoke.

“Wife, you should stay….”

“I’m going with you.”

I quickly interjected.

“Being with you is the safest place for me. Don’t you agree, Arkle?”

“…….”

“You need me too, Arkle.”

Arkle looked at me silently.

He seemed to understand I was referring to the possibility of his magical resonance acting up.

I looked at Arkle with earnest eyes.

“Please, Arkle….”

“…….”

After a moment of looking at me, he turned to the knights he had chosen to enter with him.

“In case of any incident, prioritize the lady’s safety.”

“Understood.”

Still feeling uneasy, he had six knights surround me on all sides.

‘This way, I can’t see anything around….’

Surrounded by knights so thoroughly, Arkle’s voice reached me.

“I’ll take the lead.”

‘Finally, we’re moving.’

I slowly started walking, following the knights.

Inside Kelston, it seemed like an ordinary village at first glance….

‘But there really isn’t a single house with lights on.’

Moreover, the entire place was shrouded in a dense fog, making it feel as if I was walking through an illusion.

“There’s no warmth at all.”

I murmured absentmindedly, and the knight to my left flinched slightly.

“Th-there’s n-nothing to worry about, ma’am.”

‘He definitely messed up in the middle, right?’

He was trying to act nonchalant, but he seemed quite scared.

I, on the other hand, was rather intrigued.

‘It feels like I’ve stepped into a horror movie…!’

The scene reminded me of a certain movie with a shirtless man wearing a triangular head.

‘Silent Hill…! That movie was really fun. Ah, I suddenly want to watch it….’

Lost in nostalgia, I heard the knight’s trembling voice again.

“M-my lady will be safe. Master is with you… there’s nothing to fear. Absolutely.”

‘It’s like he’s hypnotizing himself….’

I looked at him with pity.

We walked for quite some time, but we didn’t see a single undead or even a rat.

Then, one of the knights ahead spoke to Arkle.

“We seem to have come quite far… how about resting here for a while?”

Silence followed, and after a moment, a response came.

“Alright.”

The place where Arkle stopped was an empty square with an old fountain in the center.

On the fountain stood a rusted crow statue. Naturally, there was no water.

“Rest here. Stay alert.”

At Arkle’s words, the knights began to sit around the edge of the fountain to rest.

They all looked quite exhausted after walking for a long time while staying vigilant.

Only Arkle seemed unaffected, calmly surveying the surroundings.

‘Maybe I should sit for a bit too.’

My legs were sore as well.

As I approached the statue, the knights moved to make ample space for me.

I nodded slightly in thanks and carefully sat on the edge.

Sitting down made me feel much more alive.

As the tension left my body, fatigue washed over me, and I closed my eyes for a moment.

‘Arkle should rest a bit too. Should I suggest it?’

“Arkle….”

It was just as I slowly opened my eyes.

“Wife—”

Arkle, who had swiftly approached, quickly wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

Pulling me into his embrace, he shouted loudly.

“Everyone, prepare for battle—!”

It was a deep voice I had never heard before.

It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.

‘They’ve appeared.’

In Arkle’s embrace, I tried to turn my head.

Then Arkle looked down at me.

“No, wife. Don’t move.”

His serious gaze continued as he spoke firmly.

“Stay by my side.”