Chapter 54

From a distance, tents scattered across the campsite came into view. At the front, the golden-embroidered flag of the Kentri Empire fluttered in the wind.

As the carriage bearing the imperial crest approached, the sound of a horn echoed. Knights gathered at the sound, their faces lighting up as they saw the supplies.

When Eched stepped off the carriage first, the knights exclaimed, “Commander!” But when they saw her alight after him, they hesitated, looking puzzled. “Chief?”

“Commander! …And isn’t that the Chief?”

It was unmistakably the voice of Taltos. Turning her head at the cheerful voice, she saw him approaching.

“What’s the situation?”

Eched, as usual, skipped any pleasantries and went straight to the point.

“There’s nothing unusual. No monsters have emerged from the forest, and their numbers haven’t increased significantly either. We’re just dealing with minor nuisances.”

“Sir Taltos, it would be best to unload the supplies from the carriage first.”

“Oh! We were just about to run out of food and other provisions. I didn’t expect you and the Chief to deliver them personally.”

His wide grin exuded a sense of boldness. Without delay, Taltos ordered the knights to unload the supplies.

Throughout the unloading process, the knights kept glancing at her. While Eched’s presence was understandable as the person in charge, her sudden appearance as the Grievance Counseling Office Manager puzzled them.

“Could this be for mental health support…?”

Ah. That would make sense. 

They whispered among themselves, speculating that this might be a welfare initiative from the palace to support knights exhausted from hunting monsters.

“But the Chief’s counseling is so blunt…”

Someone quickly interrupted the knight before he could finish his sentence.

To clear up the misunderstanding, she shook her head and explained, 

“We’re married. We’re on our honeymoon right now, and we stopped by briefly to deliver supplies and for the Commander to assess the situation.”

“Oh… so you’re married now.”

For a moment, silence fell over the area. Though the knights weren’t completely shocked, having left for deployment after the news of their wedding was published, they still seemed somewhat incredulous.

Someone muttered about whether it was already the Water Festival season.

‘Believe it or not, we’re officially married.’

She thought. They had submitted their marriage vows at the temple, making them a legally wedded couple.

“They’re probably just surprised that the Commander actually got married.”

“Don’t mind them. Honestly, I can’t believe Eched got married either.”

To be precise, she couldn’t believe that she and Eched had gotten married.

Taltos laughed and asked if they planned to stay at the campsite tonight and leave for the Kulnensi Marquisate tomorrow.

Although the Haltonea Forest had been reached quickly via the Mage Tower’s warp circle, it would take a full eighteen days on horseback to travel from there to the imperial territory.

But who was her backer? None other than the Emperor of this empire.

She pulled out a parchment inscribed with the Mage Tower’s highest-grade teleportation spell and showed it to Taltos.

“With this, we can move instantly.”

Though she had to wrestle it away from the Master of the Mage Tower, she had won, so it didn’t matter.

“It’s already late today. What are your plans?”

The sun had already set after a full day of travel. Camping out was a new experience, and seeing the knights huddled around the campfire made her want to join them.

“I’ll sleep in the carriage, so don’t worry about me.”

“And the Commander…?”

“He’ll sleep in the carriage with me.”

“….”

It was only natural for a married couple to share a sleeping space. Yet, she found herself embarrassed for no reason.

Even the usually bold Taltos was momentarily at a loss for words. The surrounding knights froze in place.

‘Please… It’s not what you think.’

People should know how to read the room.

‘Oh, right. He’s not really a person.’

Feeling her lips go dry, she licked them and finally spoke up.

“I’ll sleep alone. It would be too uncomfortable for two people to share the carriage.”

She calmly explained her reasoning as if she were talking to a child.

Eched looked down at her silently.

“The contract…”

“…can be adjusted flexibly.”

She shrugged, implying that this was one such situation.

Eched, quick to acknowledge reason, nodded in agreement but frowned as if he still found it difficult to accept.

“Will you be alright sleeping alone?”

“Yes.”

“But…”

“I’ll be fine.”

She playfully told him not to treat her like a child, assuring him that she wasn’t that much of a coward.

In truth, she had been thinking for a while that she could sleep alone now. Nights no longer frightened her as they once had.

Still, she had continued sharing sleeping arrangements with Eched because of their contract forbidding separate rooms and because she didn’t particularly mind his presence.

Having successfully convinced Eched, she spread a thick blanket on the carriage floor, which a knight had provided.

Soon, she stepped out of the carriage after hearing that dinner was ready. The knights offered a stew, a special treat prepared with various ingredients unique to the campsite.

The stew, true to its name as a specialty, was a delightful dish. Its rich flavors weren’t overwhelming, making it just right.

Campfires scattered across the campsite illuminated the darkened surroundings.

The night sky felt vast. Stars sparkled densely above, forming what looked like a river in the heavens.

In the distance, the cry of a beast echoed. It came from deep within the Haltonea Forest.

Hearing the sound of a monster’s cry for the first time sent chills down her spine, but sitting among the knights with Eched by her side made her feel unafraid.

The increase in monster activity in the Haltonea Forest didn’t seem as urgent as she had feared, judging by the relatively relaxed demeanor of the knights.

“Still, since our Commander got married, how can we not have a drink on such an occasion?”

Taltos pulled out a hidden stash of alcohol.

Eched’s brow furrowed instantly, suggesting that drinking was prohibited at the campsite.

“It’s just one sip.”

But Taltos wasn’t one to be deterred by a stern glare. Ignoring Eched’s cold gaze, he confidently poured drinks into small cups and handed them out.

The alcohol was only a few bottles, and with so many people, there was just enough for everyone to have a single sip.

Even so, the knights’ faces flushed faintly from the rare treat of alcohol.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Congratulations!”

Receiving a celebratory drink from his subordinates, Eched had no choice but to accept it graciously, a mark of a good leader.

She suppressed a small laugh as she watched Eched quickly wipe away his reluctant expression.

Drinking under the open sky while receiving congratulations made the clear liquor taste even better. It was a shame there was only one sip.

Glancing at Eched’s cup, she noticed it was still full. As she licked her lips, the sharp-eyed man caught her gaze and promptly downed his drink.

Eched grimaced at the bitter taste before returning to his usual stoic expression.

“Tsk…”

“It’s better to cut back on drinking.”

She quietly ignored his nagging.

Eched blended in naturally with the knights. Although he mostly responded only when spoken to, he seemed at ease among them, which she found a bit surprising.

As they exchanged lighthearted banter and laughter, the night deepened, and it was time to sleep.

“Shaterian.”

“Huh?”

Eched suddenly called her name and reached for the sword at his side. The knights, who had been relaxed until then, immediately tensed up, and the peaceful atmosphere vanished.

A horn sounded in the distance.

Thud, thud!

The ground shook. Eched grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

“It’s an ogre. A monster has emerged from the forest.”

Ogres, known for their massive size but lack of intelligence, were relatively easy to deal with.

“Shaterian, your sword?”

“I have it.”

She touched the hilt of the sword at her side, a promise they had made before the journey: she would always carry a weapon.

“The sword is to protect yourself. Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

“I know.”

She was well aware that her skills weren’t sufficient to take down monsters.

The knights stationed at the reconnaissance camp were all highly capable. Her role was simply not to hinder them.

‘I understand my position.’

The tremors grew stronger. Each thundering step sent vibrations through the ground.

The monstrous roar, resembling a giant human’s cry, echoed nearby.

“Harpies!”

With the sound of rushing wind, a gust swept through the campsite. Shadows loomed as three harpies descended.

At someone’s shout, swords clashed, and the campsite turned into chaos.

The ogre, charging with earth-shaking force, quickly broke through the camp’s center. Eched drew his sword and, with a single strike, cleaved the massive ogre in half.

Thud!

The ogre’s fall was as loud as its footsteps.

Eched glanced at the harpies circling above before scanning the camp, where knights were still battling the ogre. The harpies seemed to be observing rather than attacking.

“Ranon, Tee. Protect Shaterian. Taltos and Iason, follow me into the forest.”

“Wait. You’re going into the forest?”

The full moon, nearly round, appeared behind the harpies. Entering the forest seemed far too dangerous.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Eched had only recently recovered from a cursed wound inflicted by a dark sorcerer. The slow healing process had left him weakened.

Despite this, he insisted on entering the monster-infested forest during the full moon, when divine beasts were at their weakest.

“It’s faster to deal with them inside the forest.”

Eched remained firm in his decision. Without hesitation, he and the knights ran into the darkness.

The harpies followed, as if they had been waiting for him.