Chapter 118: Chapter 1
Riftan looked Maxi up and down as though just noticing her attire. His evident shock made her bunch the loose trousers in her fist and nervously lower her gaze.
His lips twisted in irritation. “Why are you dressed like that? Goddammit! So you’ve come fully prepared, have you?”
He rubbed his forehead as if suffering from an intense headache.
“Why the devil are you being so stubborn? I have already told you that this does not concern you.”
“Y-You are the one who is being stubborn, Riftan! Please, don’t just say no... and consider it properly. I-If by subjecting myself to a little... a little hardship... can get the whole party safely to Livadon... d-do you not think it is a sacrifice I should make?”
“Her ladyship is right,” Hebaron said in a calmer voice, attempting to persuade Riftan once more. “We can’t keep delaying when we do not know what kind of danger the initial party is facing right now. But that does not mean we can ask the rest of the knights to endanger their lives needlessly. We are between a rock and a hard place.”
“Are you implying that it is an acceptable risk for my wife to be endangered?”
“We can keep her safe!”
“Stop spouting nonsense! If-”
Riftan cut himself off and clenched his jaw.
His face contorted in a grim expression. It was clear that the conflict between not allowing his wife to take any risks and expecting the opposite of his subordinates was weighing on him. Seeing his dilemma, the knights began to chime in one after the other.
“We are not suggesting that we take her ladyship into the thick of battle. Once we arrive in Livadon, we will be able to request a hierarch from the church. Her ladyship could remain in the church’s care while we travel on to Louivell.”
“He’s right. We only need to cross the border and reach the port, and then we will be traveling by ship. It will not be that dangerous.”
“The journey to the port is the problem!” said Riftan, refusing to meet Maxi’s gaze. “Drake lairs are scattered all over the route to Livadon, and it is currently the season when they are most active. Bringing a noblewoman who is not even capable of basic defensive magic along would only hinder us.”
Furious, Maxi cried, “Y-You are wrong! I-I am capable of defensive magic!”
“What can you possibly do with something you only learned a few months ago?”
“If you find it so hard to believe, why don’t we put it to the test?”
Everyone’s eyes darted to the owner of the voice that had suddenly chimed in.
The dark-skinned knight, who had been standing quietly with his arms crossed, shrugged and said, “I am suggesting we test the strength of her ladyship’s defensive magic. If she is able to guard herself against our attacks, that would mean that she is capable of defending herself against most monsters.”
“What a great idea,” said Gabel. “I agree with Edon. If her ladyship’s magic fails, we will put this matter to rest, and her ladyship must also give up on joining the campaign.”
Maxi hunched her shoulders. Although she had confidently vouched for her abilities, she was uncertain if her barrier was strong enough to block a blow from one of the Remdragon Knights.
While she hesitated, the discussion progressed in the direction of testing her ability so they could settle the matter once and for all.
“And if her ladyship succeeds in blocking our attack, you must stop objecting, Commander. It would be foolish for us to depart for Livadon on our own when we have a healer capable of basic defensive magic. Please do not force your comrades to take such a risk.”
Gabel regarded Riftan steadily. Left with no more reason to object, Riftan grimaced and glared back and forth between Maxi and the knights. He held the silence for a while before speaking in a low voice.
“Fine. Let us test her skills. Come outside.”
He spun on his heels and walked out the door. Hebaron gently patted Maxi on the shoulder when he saw that she was frozen to the spot.
“If you succeed, my lady, the commander will no longer be able to object. Please knock him down a peg.”
That was only if she succeeded. What would she do if she failed pathetically after all the commotion she had caused? Maxi swallowed hard.
No, it should be fine. My barrier... will not break that easily.
In a test of its strength just the other day, her barrier had withstood Melric swinging at it with a metal hoe used for plowing the fields. However, a garden tool wielded by an emaciated old man was entirely different from a blow from a trained knight.
As she followed the others out to the training grounds, Maxi assessed their muscular forearms and legs that looked as sturdy as a stallion’s. Riftan ordered the men sparring on the grounds to make way.
He turned to Maxi. “Go ahead. Cast your spell.”
When the knights saw him grab the hilt of the sword strapped to his waist, they rushed forward.
“Hold on! Let us be fair, Commander! Only a handful of mages in this world are capable of blocking your attack!”
“God! Where is your conscience? Even Ruth cannot block you!”
“Stop your whining. I was going to dull the blow.”
Everyone, including Maxi, looked doubtful. One would have to be a fool not to know that he was bent on breaking her barrier.
“This is unacceptable,” exclaimed Hebaron. “We refuse to accept the result if the blow does not come from a knight other than you, Commander!”
“As if I would allow that! It is obvious that you are all going to go easy on her!”
“And what if we do? Not many mages are able to block an all-out offensive from a Remdragon Knight! Would it not at least prove she can block a troll-level attack?”
“Come now, both of you. Calm down,” Gabel said, inserting himself between the two men snarling at each other again. “Instead of wasting our energy on pointless squabbles, why don’t we do this: we shall let her ladyship choose her attacker. Besides, we will all be able to tell if the blow is weak.”
Riftan turned to Maxi, his gaze imploring her to choose him, but she quickly looked away. She would be mad to select him. Instead, she surveyed each of the knights. Hebaron was bulkier and a little taller than Riftan, and the rest of the knights were broad-shouldered and muscled.
As she carefully assessed each of them, her gaze landed on Gabel. The young knight was lithe compared to the others.
“Y-You... want me to choose, correct?”
“Yes, my lady. You may choose whomever you wish.”
“Then... I would like Sir Gabel... to be my opponent.”
Gabel’s smile quivered slightly. After a brief silence, he said, “May I ask why you have chosen me, my lady?”
“B-Because... I find you the most trustworthy.”
Maxi could feel Riftan’s icy gaze boring into her cheek, but she deliberately ignored it. As if gauging the real reason, Gabel regarded her with knowing eyes before stepping forward with a sigh.
“I understand. I shall test the strength of your barrier.”
He drew his longsword from his waist and ducked into a fighting stance. Feeling overwhelmed, Maxi hastily gathered her mana. A light tremor fanned out from beneath her feet as she circulated her mana, and the earth shot up into the air a few steps ahead of her. Maxi drew the enhancement rune Ruth had taught her, and the barrier of dirt grew thicker.
“I-I am ready!”
“Then, here I go!”
...
Maxi summoned as much mana as she could and made it shoot around the rune. Her heart pounded, and cold sweat dripped down her spine. The sound of boots crunching the ground was followed by a loud impact that violently shook the barrier.
Maxi nervously eyed the wall of earth. A few more thuds followed, but it did not break down.
Even she could not believe it. After staring in bewilderment, she turned to Riftan triumphantly. He towered amidst the cloud of dust, his expression inscrutable. The smile faded from Maxi’s lips when she saw it.
Undaunted by Riftan’s forbidding aura, Hebaron walked over to him with a grin and laughed. “That should be more than enough to convince you, eh, Commander?”
Riftan whirled around. “You can do as you please.”
With that, he stormed off.
Hebaron shrugged. “Do not dwell on it too much, my lady. The commander is a reasonable man. His anger should abate soon.”
Praying that Hebaron was right, Maxi anxiously gazed after Riftan’s retreating form. Her heart felt heavy for flagrantly going against her husband’s will. Shaking her head, Maxi gathered her courage once more. Come what may, he had given his permission.
If it meant she could go with him, she would gladly endure his cold shoulder and thunderous gaze.
***
The knights immediately set about preparing for the departure as Maxi returned to the great hall to collect her belongings.
...
Ludis began packing for her like an overanxious mother. It was a mission trying to stop her from cramming fifteen dresses inside a leather bag.
Rodrigo and the other servants were desperate to help as well, and they kept bringing items to her. Even the dressmaker couple offered a hat and veil in case of harsh sun.
Maxi opted to take only the few things she deemed essential. She folded a pair of sturdy trousers originally meant for the young squires, three undergarments, a pair of socks, and two tunics. Her bag ended up full after that.
With the tiny room that was left, she managed to cram in a pouch of herbs, Ruth’s medical tools, and three magic stones. And, because she couldn’t bring herself to give them up, she tucked an ivory comb and half a bar of soap into a quilt pouch tied to her belt.
The illustrated book on monsters and her books on magic were too heavy and expensive to bring, so she packed some of the parchments Ruth had prepared for her instead.
She was tying the cords of her bag into a tight knot when Ludis said in a shaky voice, “Must you really go somewhere so dangerous, my lady?”
Maxi blushed in pleasure at the usually stoic maidservant’s show of affection. “D-Do not worry. I am going with the strongest knights i-in the Western Continent, remember? Nothing bad is going to happen.”
Ludis took Maxi’s hands in hers. “Please... look after yourself, my lady.”
Gazing into the maidservant’s dark brown eyes, Maxi nodded. Ludis smiled sadly and squeezed her hands as she stepped back. After hugging and giving each of the yowling cats a kiss, Maxi left the room.
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