I Became a Druid in Another World

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Shadow of Corin Part 14



After leaving the hidden space, we headed to a small room tucked away in a corner of the castle where the servants usually stayed. Louis wasn't in good shape. Learning the truth of his father's situation had dealt him a severe blow, and he now looked half-dazed. It was only natural; to see his father, whom he had revered so deeply, in such a state must have filled him with a tumultuous mix of sorrow, anger, and despair. Especially when he couldn't even save him immediately.

While the others took a moment to catch their breath, I began to boil water in a kettle that seemed to have been used by the servants. Then I took out some well-dried white chamomile, brewed it, and poured it into cups before offering each one to the others. I chose the largest cup for Louis.

"Drink this."

The white chamomile, with its faint apple scent, had a calming effect. It wasn't so dramatic, but it would help calm him for now. Louis looked at me briefly before bringing the cup to his lips with a sullen expression on his face.

"We've already discovered the most important thing."

It was Lord Corin's "frozen soul". Now, with the time we had left, our task was to see if there were any other anomalies in the castle. Anything that would provide evidence that we could use to seek help from the Temple or the Empire.

In reality, the "frozen soul" itself was the most concrete proof we could have, but… that was exactly why we couldn't use it. If we presented the frozen soul, the temple would certainly help us, but that approach wouldn't allow us to capture the Crows. The holy knights, bearing the name of the gods, would simply storm in and turn Corin into a wasteland.

Even if we were going to ask for help from the Temple or the Empire, we had to capture the Crows first, starting with this "Fabio" or whatever his name was, who was supposedly in cahoots with Dawood.

It was crucial to act before he caught the scent and did something drastic.

Luckily, I'm two steps ahead for now.

I knew the whereabouts of the frozen soul, and on top of that, I hid a person named Callisto whom they couldn't even imagine in the orc subjugation.

"Lloyd, check Louis's room with him. I'm sure you'll find something there."

The greatest threat to Dawood's succession to his lordship was Louis. If they could, they likely would have turned him into a "frozen soul" as well. There was a high chance that something had been hidden in Louis's room, from basic eavesdropping spells to possibly even enchantments that could muddle his mind.

"I can handle something like that on my own…"

Louis, who had been drinking his tea, began to protest but I cut him off with a shake of my head.

"That's not an option. Even if everyone in this castle seems to be on your side, you can never be certain how things will turn out."

"But…"

"Suppose, for example, that one of them decided to betray you. Then what?"

"I'd kill them to set an example."

"Once they've already passed on the information, killing them won't do you any good."

I replied coldly and gave Lloyd a signal. He took hold of Louis's shoulder as Louis flinched.

"You two are longtime friends, aren't you? It won't seem odd for two old friends to have a conversation while searching the room. Keep talking to avoid suspicion, as the room is bound to have some eavesdropping spell, and exchange notes instead for anything truly important."

"Understood."

I felt relieved to have Lloyd around. Even if Louis acted impulsively, Lloyd would be able to keep him in check.

Then, the next task…

"El."

"Yes, Master."

I looked around and noticed a half-open wardrobe used by the servants. I pointed to it and spoke.

"Choose something suitable from there and put it on."

El looked between the wardrobe and me and was visibly flustered.

"Master, don't tell me…"

"Yes. What I need you to do is rather difficult. You'll need to act as a servant here for a while. You should be able to blend in naturally."

El had once been "Elizabeth Reinhardt"; she used to be a young noblewoman. She was the one best suited to mimic a servant's role since she once had servants close by her side in the past. Since she looked like someone from the Empire and her age fit in well here, she would blend in naturally.

"Don't worry too much. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

"H-How?"

"Do you want me to show you now?"

"What?"

"Don't be surprised."

I briefly took out Beepy and Legion, who had been nestled in my inner pocket, and activated [Beast Transformation].

– Swish…

Then my field of vision suddenly dropped. Very quickly. So quickly that it felt like I was falling from a tall building. I instinctively jumped and spun in the air to regain my balance. And then…

"Hah!"

El gasped, and I found myself "looking up" at her. That's right; I was now a creature hundreds of times smaller than her.

– Squeak!

I tried calling out "El!" but all that came out was a high-pitched "Squeak!" I slowly approached El so that she wouldn't be surprised.

"You've turned into a mouse!"

Indeed. I nodded my head. Carefully, El crouched down and scooped me up in her hands, then stood up again so that my perspective rose again. In front of me was Louis, staring back at me with a shocked expression on his face.

"This way, you'll definitely be able to watch over me without anyone noticing!"

– Squeak!

"I was getting anxious thinking I'd be on my own…."

El stroked my head with her index finger without hesitation. This brat… Even if I looked like a mouse right now, I was still her master!

"…Aren't there lots of cats in this castle? Isn't this actually pretty dangerous?"

– Squeak. Squeak.

That wasn't something to worry about. Why? Because I was the [Cat Lord]. Even if I appeared as a mouse, every cat in the world would recognize me as the [Cat Lord]. Without fail.

I stood confidently on El's palm, then leaped into the air. As I spun once in midair, my [Beast Transformation] wore off and I returned to my original form.

"There's no mistaking you for a witch."

"A witch and wizard's ways are entirely different from those of a druid. If you go around saying that, you'll only be seen as ignorant, so I'd advise against it."

"...."

Score one for me. Did he think I'd go easy on him just because he was looking dejected about his father? Arrogant noble brat. After putting the small bird and lizard back into my clothes, I turned to look at El.

"So, El, don't worry too much. I'll always be watching over you."

"Yes, Master!"

"And also…."

I took out my long-used dagger, which I crafted from ground black moonstone, and handed it to El.

"While you're staying here, keep this on you at all times. You can tuck it away just below your ankle."

"…Yes!"

This dagger which was made of black moonstone and hanging at my waist, held a special power. Its purification power surpassed even silver. There was no better weapon to face the Crows with. Knowing how much I cherished my dagger, El nodded her head eagerly with a moved face.

"Well then, let's meet back here at midnight."

***

An orc subjugation was like eradicating cockroaches.

You killed them, and killed them, and kept killing them as they swarmed out.

Just when you thought you'd finished them all off, more would crawl out, and you'd kill them again, and again, and again.

Truly, there was no end to the maddening, exhausting, utterly nauseating task.

And yet, here her was, about to throw himself into it once more.

"…Haah."

Callisto let out a deep sigh as he pulled out his sword, which had been embedded just as deeply. As the blade withdrew from the middle of the thick, massive head it had pierced, a gush of dark red blood burst forth.

The thick, sticky blood soaked into the grass. Orc blood was highly viscous; it clung to everything in a filthy mess. However, the twin swords that Callisto wielded shone proudly and coldly, not a trace of blood marring their surface.

Of course, it was only natural.

Forged from a mixture of white steel and silver, enchanted with elven magic, and consecrated by a priest, these twin blades possessed the power to evaporate anything as unclean and foul as orc blood upon contact. Orcs, trolls, and other foul creatures instinctively feared these swords.

With the blood evaporating upon contact, at least there was no need to bother cleaning the blades.

Maybe it's time to turn back…

This was an ordinary orc subjugation, with so many mercenaries present that it felt oddly effortless; it was more like a "slaughter" than an actual battle. Only weak orcs appeared, and some even threw down their weapons and fled at the sight of Callisto, an elf. For Callisto, who had faced countless orcs across numerous battlefields, it was simply a series of laughable situations.

Why did he send me to this place?

It was a question that couldn't be helped. There was no honor, no reward, nothing but an empty field that felt more like a child's game than a true battlefield worthy of the name.

– Rustle.

It was then.

The sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot was unusually loud. It wasn't the sound of a wild animal's footsteps. And, of course, it wasn't an orc either. Orcs stomped around with heavy footsteps. No matter how cautious they wanted to be, always sounded like thunder to elven ears.

Then who…

"Who's there?"

Callisto quietly directed the question toward the bushes. In response, a man with a pale, white face emerged from the shadows. The moment Callisto saw him, he realized this was the man Theodore had spoken of.

But for the lord's heir to be out here alone…

The last time Callisto had seen him, he had been surrounded by guards on his way to the subjugation. And yet, no matter how trivial and lackluster this battlefield was, here he was alone with no escort?

"….…"

From another perspective, this was an opportunity to eliminate him. Though he hadn't heard the full story yet, Theodore had spoken of this man as a "problem". Taking care of it in advance wouldn't be a bad idea.

But.

…If this was truly what he wanted, he would have told me.

In fact, dealing with this on his own judgment might end up hindering Theodore instead.

If that were the case… whatever the other side had in mind, he had no choice but to watch for now.

"You're that elf mercenary, aren't you?"

For some mere human to act as if he were something important and speak to him so arrogantly.

At Dawood's question, Callisto gave a slight smirk and responded in a tone utterly devoid of respect.

"Yes, so what?"


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