Chapter 63
「Wretched Orcs, lament over your bad luck of attacking us as you die!」
The girl said so while swinging a large weapon.
「What’s wrong, don’t you want to obtain me? Then show your power! I will never leave my body to a man weaker than myself!」
Shouting like so, the girl wielded her sword whip. Fiercely, she whirled the sword whip around as if dancing. Though he realised it was aiming for his life, the Orc still lost his life while admiring the good looks of the girl. Blood splattered and several drops of blood fell onto her white skin as she forcefully cut off the neck of the Orc. The blood only became makeup, highlighting the beauty of the girl.
「As expected of Elena-sama. Orcs are nothing much.」
The female knight watched Elena, who seemed to be hunting Orcs while dancing, with an enchanted expression. She was in her late teens, a little younger than Elena. Her name was Ara Skarlay, one of the members of Elena’s escort. Her surname indicated that she was a noble, she was the third daughter of the Earl Skarlay, who belonged to the Nobles faction.
「Ahh, our Miss is beautiful but also scary, or should I say that she’s beautiful because she’s scary……」
A knight in his early twenties, Vel Sails, gave a wry smile in amazement. He was also a member of the escort and was the second son of Viscount Sails, who also belonged to the Nobles faction.
「Still, Orcs appearing on the highway……it’s strange that even Orc Archers and Orc Mages appeared.」
Ara muttered while looking admiringly at Elena. Vel heard those words and replied in his usual light tone.
「I heard that there recently was a subjugation force sent out from Gilm to destroy an Orc settlement nearby, perhaps these are the survivours.」
「……You, even knowing the events in such a remote frontier.」
Vel had a wry smile as he saw the look of surprise on his colleague’s face.
「Naturally. I have to gather information as it is the city we’re heading for, as the person working behind the scenes. The city of Gilm isn’t part of the Nobles faction but the Neutral faction. Moreover, it’s the territory of Margrave Rowlocks, who is regarded as a big shot in the faction.」
「……That’s true. We can’t neglect gathering intelligence in order to protect Elena-sama.」
「Well, because Elena-sama is stronger than all of us together, there’s not much meaning to an escort.」
「Hey you!」
Facing Ara who shouted at him, Vel turned his eyes to Elena to change the topic.
「Look there, the fight will be over soon. We will be late to arrive in the city of Gilm if we are delayed cleaning up. I also want to collect some of the magic stones of the Orcs Elena-sama defeated.」
「I don’t think there’s a need to collect the Orc materials in particular.」
「Don’t say that. You know, if we take the magic stones and sell them at the city of Gilm, don’t you think we will be able to raise our familiarity a bit?」
「Then, is just the proof of subjugation fine?」
「Well, as for that……at any rate, we haven’t registered with the guild. It would be silly to register with the guild just to sell the proofs of subjugation.」
「If you say so, it’s so. But even if you don’t belong to the guild, you can still sell the proofs of subjugation.」
While Ara nodded, Elena, who had wiped out a small party of Orcs without a scratch, approached them.
「Should I say, as expected of the frontier. I did not think we would come across such a group of Orcs along the highway in the middle of the day.」
「Thank you for your hard work, Elena-sama. Have this. You have blood on your cheek……」
Ara gently held out a silk handkerchief.
「Thank you Ara.」
While gently wiping the blood off her cheek with the silk handkerchief, she called out to Vel to cut out the magic stones from the heart in the Orcs’ chests.
「Vel. Though it’s fine to recover the magic stones, do it quickly. It will be troublesome if other monsters smell the Orcs’ blood and approach.」
「Yes, I’ll finish it at once.」
Following her orders, Vel skillfully removed the magic stones from the Orcs. Looking from the side, you could tell that he was experienced with the work.
「Elena-sama, the magic stones have been collected, let’s leave this place. As Elena-sama said, it will be troublesome if new monsters come, attracted by the smell of blood.」
「Umu~, let’s do that. There’s still some distance to the city of Gilm. You two keep it up for a little longer.」
「What are you saying. If I’m at Elena-sama’s side, I’m always fine!」
「Fufu~, Ara is in high spirits. ……Vel, are you ready?」
「There doesn’t seem to be any damage to the carriage. ……As expected, it’s impressive.」
Vel glanced at the carriage for an instant.
「Umu~. I have to thank father for this. It’s because of it that we can travel along frontier highway with these kids without worrying.」
While saying that, Elena stroked the two warhorses that were pulling the carriage.
「Bururururu!」
As it was stroked, the warhorse gave a small neigh as it seemed to smile comfortably.
「It’s just a little more to the city of Gilm. Do your best.」
After saying that, Elena entered the carriage. Ara followed after her and entered the carriage as well. Vel sat in the driver’s seat of the carriage and started moving.
「Kuust, I wonder if he’s fine?」
「What is it?」
While placing the freshly brewed tea on the table in front of the sofa where Elena was relaxing, Ara murmured.
「You know, if Kuust is talking with another noble, he’s quite polite, but he gets bad mannered if the other party is not a noble. I don’t want to cause too much of a commotion where we go, as it is the territory of a noble from the Neutral faction and not one from the Nobles faction that Elena-sama is part of.」
「Ara.」
「Yes?」
「My father is certainly a central figure in the Nobles faction. However, I’ve said myself many times that this doesn’t mean I’m part of the Nobles faction. ……Moreover, I’m not part of the King’s faction or Neutral faction either.」
As if the fierce fighting earlier was a lie, Elena said so while gracefully carrying a cup of tea to her mouth.
「Elena-sama, I’ve said this several times before but other people automatically consider you to be part of the Nobles faction because your father, Duke Kerebel, is a central figure in the Nobles faction.」
「……Being a noble is such a troublesome thing.」
「When Elena-sama says that while faithfully doing the obligations of the nobility, those words have great persuasive power.」
Placing a plate of cookies that had been prepared onto the table, Ara put on a wry smile.
「I know my obligations as a noble. Because we live off taxing people, I will not hesitate to dedicate myself to protecting the people. However, I have no desire to put my hand into the power struggle.」
「However, because of your relation to Duke Kerebel, who is an influential person in he Nobles faction, Elena-sama’s existence has already become a symbol of the Nobles faction. 」
To Ara’s words, Elena brought a cookie to her mouth while smiling bitterly.
「General Princess. Honestly, I find it to be an old nickname.」
「What are you saying. That fight where Elena-sama defeated the general of the Bestir Empire in single combat has already spread through the entire Mireana kingdom, let alone the Nobles faction.」
「That story aside. Our future schedule is……」
「Yes. When we arrive at the city of Gilm, we first have to meet with Margrave Rowlocks. After staying the night at the lord’s residence, we are scheduled to immediately leave for the dungeon the day after.」
「The dungeon is it. ……The Altar of Inheritance. I really didn’t think such a thing would be discovered.」
「I agree. Fortunately, no one in the city of Gilm seems to be aware of its true value.」
「The biggest problem is whether or not we can get there safely……should we employ a thief in the city of Gilm? Even if you say Vel is familiar with those skills, this will be the first time we will be going to a dungeon.」
「Though I think so as well……anyhow, Vel said it would be okay himself.」
「Hmm. ……Adventurers in a frontier city. There may possibly be people stronger than me there.」
「Elena-sama……I want you to stop openly declaring that you would entrust yourself to anyone who could defeat you.」
Even Ara, who idolized Elena, spoke up saying that it was not allowed.
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