LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 99
“…What a lunatic!”
A moment of silence hung in the air following Aria’s words.
No matter how much of a second daughter of the Marquis family she was, calling the first daughter of the Count family outright insane was hardly a commendable remark…
However, Siabel didn’t show any signs of displeasure at her dear friend’s words; instead, the corners of her mouth curled up into a smirk.
It wasn’t a reaction born from any kind of negative feelings.
If anything, she seemed to enjoy Aria’s harsh words, perhaps because they were such close friends.
Siabel lifted her mouth into a grin and extended her hand towards Aria.
“Long time no see, Aria.”
Yet, Aria merely looked down at her outstretched hand without gripping it.
“Get lost.”
“Now that you’ve gone up north, did the harsh winds freeze even our friendship?”
“That’s not funny. Siabel, would you really want to hold hands with someone whose hands are covered in blood?”
As Aria snorted and wrinkled her nose, Siabel pulled her hand back.
After this exchange, Aria’s gaze flicked over the orc corpses that had met their end in a magical blaze and the exhausted soldiers from the Count’s house slumped on the ground.
In the meantime, Siabel and I, standing behind her and staring blankly, caught Aria’s attention.
“Looks like not only Siabel but familiar faces are here too.”
She offered a slight smile and inclined her head forward momentarily.
In response to her small greeting, both I and my lord returned the gesture.
As Aria raised her head, her eyes landed on Shione, then shifted to me.
She noted the sword at my waist and nodded, then she spotted the bow hanging on my shoulder and tilted her head in curiosity.
Well, she’d only seen me wielding a sword to protect Adelhaite; she’d never witnessed my archery skills.
Of course, it would be puzzling for her to see the guy who just chopped two demons with a sword now holding a bow.
‘Siabel must’ve filled her in previously.’
Aria wanted to talk to me.
Based on that look, if time for a conversation were to be arranged, I’m sure she’d ask about everything from royal castle happenings to archery.
It seemed likely that just like those involved in the royal affairs before, she would engage in discussions with me too.
After scanning me for a moment, Aria opened her mouth.
“…Let’s keep the greetings brief. We need to hurry and sort out this situation.”
“Can you help? Our soldiers are pretty worn out.”
“Of course.”
With that, Aria turned to face the knights and wizards from the Marquis family waiting behind her.
“Clear a path for the carriage to pass and move the fallen soldiers into the available carriages.”
“Yes!”
At Aria’s command, many swiftly began to move, executing her orders with precision.
Damn it, it was only now that the raging snowstorm outside began to calm down a bit.
*
The Alenarr Marquis is renowned for its spears and magic.
The founding head of the Marquis family was a spear master who pierced the heart of a demon alongside the royal family of Aicilia.
Though the descendants have lost their magical prowess, they still possess an innate talent for spear skills.
The spear techniques passed down within the Alenarr family preserved the family’s legacy, while the Marquis continued to nurture wizards to better withstand the bitter cold of the North and the frequent incursions of monsters.
The Alenarr wizards exhibited high levels of magical comprehension and mana control, all while showcasing their unique talents that set them apart.
Namely, overwhelming firepower.
Even amid the chilling northern winds, they unleashed flaming pillars strong enough to turn the resilient spirits of monsters who have survived in the merciless North into mere ashes.
The firepower of the northern wizards could easily be matched against that of the royal wizards.
One among them gazed at the path swept clean by northern magic.
“…When am I supposed to clean this all up.”
Ravi Crunel, a wizard who had become quite familiar with Aria Alenarr to the point of sharing a carriage with her, muttered as he observed orcs rolling on the ground.
Orc corpses scorched by the relentless flames and those who had perished before the Marquis could intervene littered the path.
‘There might be survivors hiding among them.’
Inhaling the burnt scent and the chilling sharp winds, Ravi cautiously began to survey the vicinity.
He was checking whether each orc was still breathing or not.
As he walked slowly along the path, he suddenly noticed an orc corpse that caught his eye.
“Hmm?”
Ravi paused, glancing at an orc half-heartedly as his steps halted.
Wizards generally excel in perceiving objects and phenomena.
Ravi, like any other wizard, shared this exceptional trait.
The more he scrutinized the fallen orc, the narrower his eyes became.
“What the…?”
At first glance, it merely appeared to be an orc that had succumbed to extensive blood loss from an arrow lodged in its abdomen.
However, beneath the cold, solidified blood, Ravi could make out concerning lacerations.
Surrounding the arrow in its belly were several distinct gashes.
These weren’t cuts made by a blade.
Ravi could confidently say that he had seen this type of wound too many times in his lifetime as a wizard.
“Magic?”
Typically, wounds left by wizards who wield the winds resembled these kinds of gashes.
Sharper and fiercer than blades, cut into the victim irregularly yet deeply, inflicting lethal injuries through the howling wind.
To Ravi’s eye, these lacerations appeared to be the result of magical attacks.
‘But this is not an orc we defeated.’
Besides, we incinerated the orcs using explosive fire, not by dispatching them using wind magic…
Ravi pulled the arrow embedded in the orc’s abdomen.
He could see it clearly then.
Where the arrow had pierced, it seemed as if magic had burst forth, revealing the orc’s insides splattered around.
Despite the gruesome scene, Ravi viewed the arrow without a hint of disgust.
‘…Did someone pack magic into the arrows?’
Ravi was astonished.
The Alenarr Marquis, famous for its potent wizards.
Even though he was in the Second Unit, he held the rank of the head of the wizard unit under the Marquis, deeply versed in magic.
No matter how he looked at it, it appeared as though someone had captured the orc using arrows filled with magic.
‘Who on earth?’
It would be impossible for anyone but an elf blessed by the spirits to imbue such powerful magic into arrows.
Who could possibly have committed such an act?
Ravi glanced around, scanning the area.
‘At least it’s clear that they’re not part of the Marquis’ forces.’
It was our wizards who decimated the orcs, not the archers.
Moreover, our wizards didn’t manipulate the wind.
If that was the case, it wasn’t the Alenarr Marquis but the Shianella Count family members who had caused this to happen…
“There were three of them.”
Out of the figures from the Count’s house holding bows, there were three in total.
The platinum-haired Young Lady Shianella, a man whom she was supporting, and a wholly ordinary-looking woman who had collapsed in exhaustion.
Ravi habitually pulled out a notebook and pen from his inner pocket.
“Let’s exclude one for now.”
Even if a man awakens his mana, he would be incapable of handling magic due to the overwhelming lack of it or the inability to finely control it.
Naturally, the man holding the bow was not worth considering.
Among the two women left, the one who seemed capable of such an act would be…
‘…the Young Lady Shianella.’
Not the ordinary woman, but the second daughter of the Count family, donned in armor drenched crimson from battle like her sister.
Surely Aria had mentioned her name before—
Ah, Shione Shianella.
Ravi flipped to the page in the notebook where he had organized the information on the figures from the Shianella Count family mentioned by Aria.
The listed individuals were Siabel Shianella and Ray.
One was Aria’s close friend, while the other was someone Aria had found interesting during the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.
“Ray / Shianella’s exclusive attendant
1. Killed two demons.
2. Adept at swordsmanship.
3. According to Lady Aria, appears to handle mana in a manner less masculine than expected.
4. Seems to be hiding something.”
…If it’s Ray, I think I just heard Young Lady Shianella call that man by his name a moment ago.
‘He seems to handle mana in a less masculine manner.’
…Could it be?
Ravi shook his head, dismissing the dubious thought that had momentarily crossed his mind.
Even if one could manipulate their mana internally, conjuring magic that required one’s will was an entirely different field.
He moved his pen, slightly frowning, focusing on certain undeniable facts—
Scratch scratch.
“5. I haven’t seen him properly yet, but from what I’ve gleaned, he’s quite handsome.”
Having noted that down, Ravi continued to write the name of a new figure on the next page.
“Shione Shianella / Second Daughter of the Shianella Count family”
The pen kept moving, writing concise cursive letters on the blank page.
“1. Appears to be able to manipulate magic with arrows. Might possess exceptional skills in archery and magic similar to an elf…”
Ravi momentarily observed the back of Ray and Shione, who were standing close together, then resumed his writing.
“★ Ray / Shianella’s exclusive attendant”
“★ Shione Shianella / Second Daughter of the Shianella Count family”
“Hmmm…”
Ravi nodded, glancing at the asterisks marked next to their names.
She put away her notebook and returned it to her pocket, examining the orc’s wounds once more.
Both the Young Lady and her attendant generated sufficient curiosity to intrigue a wizard overflowing with inquisitiveness.