Chapter 2 Part 4
Just as I was opening my mouth to respond—
Suddenly, an unexplained loud noise and commotion erupted from outside.
Though just for a moment, it was a strong enough impact to make the entire temple shake violently.
When Tia and I, startled, went outside, numerous priests were hurriedly walking back and forth along the corridor with grave expressions, constantly whispering among themselves.
“Excuse me, what happened?”
When Tia grabbed a passing priest and asked about the situation, the priest glanced briefly at me before explaining in a low voice.
“Young Lord Feros from the Black Forest has sent a request for reinforcements. It seems we’ll need to dispatch several high-ranking priests to assist him.”
…Huh? Young Lord Feros means Hyle, right? I haven’t even released the monsters yet, but he’s already requesting help?
True, the fog I spread in the Black Forest had some poison mixed in, but it wasn’t strong enough to be life-threatening.
This… something’s strange. There’s no way Hyle would request help just because of fog.
I need to return to the Duke’s residence right away and find out what’s happening.
After finishing my thoughts, I immediately bid farewell to Tia.
“Tia, I must go now. Thank you for listening to my concerns.”
“Wait, El! I haven’t done anything…!”
“No, you have – my mind feels much lighter now.”
I lifted Tia’s hand and placed a brief kiss on it.
She must have never received such a show of respect before – her cheeks had reddened, and her hand trembled.
“El…?”
When I gripped her hand more firmly, Tia tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
“This is my gesture of sincerity to the prospective Saint.”
Of course, I wasn’t actually showing sincerity.
That kiss was necessary contact to place a tracking spell to monitor Tia’s location.
The spell would be temporary since the contact was brief, but this would have to do for now.
Since she took time to humor me, isn’t it only fair that I get this much in return?
As I was about to leave after finishing my business, Tia’s urgent voice called from behind.
“Um, El! Could we meet again?”
Well, I don’t want to meet you again.
Just thinking about the humiliation I suffered from Hertiana and Abel in my previous life, I didn’t want to be near them for even a moment.
Of course, they were probably just following the original story like me… but for me, this was no longer just a book – it was reality.
So it was really unavoidable that I’d feel repulsed by meeting the protagonists who drove me to death.
I hurried my steps without answering her question.
As I moved further from the Grand Temple, Hertiana’s plaintive voice calling for me invaded my ears like an echo.
* * *
“Raphla.”
Having arrived at the Duke’s residence in an instant, even using magic power I should have been conserving, I quickly summoned Raphla.
Appearing with a grave expression, Raphla immediately projected an image of the Black Forest into the air.
“…What’s this situation?”
Through the projection, I could see Hyle and the Feros knights busily engaging with monsters in the fog-covered Black Forest.
‘Daniel! Cover the Young Lord!’
‘Take care of yourselves first. If your stamina drops, you’ll fall to the fog’s poison.’
‘Yes, Young Lord!’
High-ranking monsters showing fierce aggression were threatening to rush at Hyle and his knights from all directions.
Though they were all fighting the monsters while emanating Feros’s characteristic pure white holy power, their attacks were considerably slow due to being outnumbered by the enemy.
‘Young Lord, the Grand Temple has responded saying they’ll send two high-ranking priests!’
When someone urgently relayed the Grand Temple’s response, bitter outbursts erupted everywhere.
‘With multiple Grade 2 monsters and even a Grade 1, they’re only sending two? Young Lord, we absolutely cannot let this slide!’
‘Young Lord, they’re looking down on House Feros! We must formally protest!’
‘That’s right, ever since we got involved with House Laté and the Imperial Family, even the temple people are looking down on us! We can’t stay quiet about this!’
The knights’ angry voices mixed with the monsters’ roars, creating an eerie sound.
Some knights were even cursing heavily, blaming everything on House Laté.
‘Don’t waver. High-ranking monsters with high intelligence grow stronger from our weakness. Focus on your assigned directions until the support priests arrive.’
However, Hyle showed not the slightest disturbance as he perfectly commanded the knights while focusing on destroying the monsters before him.
Seeing Hyle’s impressive presence as he unflinchingly severed monsters’ necks, the other knights gained strength and began efficiently eliminating the monsters that were rushing in like a storm.
“…Hmm, this is strange.”
Watching this, I furrowed my brow in confusion.
Why are the monsters already there? I haven’t released any monsters yet.
But looking around roughly, I think I understand the situation.
Those monsters are all…
“Raphla, you have a job to do.”
…Fergio’s monsters.
“Go and put them all to sleep with your cry. Every monster rampaging in the Black Forest, all of them.”
As a Grade 1 magical beast, Raphla required more magic power to control than other creatures.
If Raphla were to put all those monsters and knights to sleep, there would surely be a strong backlash.
Maybe… it might even collapse.
But now isn’t the time to worry about that.
The small fry from the temple will arrive soon.
Even I would be in trouble then.
I don’t know how Fergio knew or what he was thinking while releasing monsters there… but let’s save Hyle first.
With the involvement of Fergio, who charges in recklessly without thinking, it’s only a matter of time before the monsters harm them.
Above all, I don’t want to see anyone else die because of me anymore.
I’ve seen enough of that in my previous life…
“Really, Fergio, making me waste magic power unnecessarily.”
Clicking my tongue in displeasure, I stood up to move.
Once Raphla, who went to the Black Forest first, carries out my order and puts everyone to sleep, I planned to bring Hyle back to the Duke’s residence.
It would probably be good to keep the Feros knights in a safe place too, just in case.
First… I hope Hyle will just quietly fall asleep.
