LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 50
Chapter 50. Guide to the Hunting Grounds
As I was reading a book while patting Liliana’s head, I noticed the carriage was slowing down gently.
“It seems we’ve arrived.”
With a flap, Sophia closed her own book.
Peeking out from the carriage window, I saw that the pavement of the Korvto Tribe had ended, revealing a road with exposed earth leading to a rugged, cold village in the mountains.
Apparently, we had come near the fort where a runaway goblin had been sighted.
――The journey thus far had been rather leisurely.
Inside the carriage, I spent my time reading or learning spells from Sophia. The ride was mostly smooth, allowing me to read without getting motion sickness, and thanks to Sophia’s lessons, I had finally learned to use a soundproof barrier.
‘Now, I can chat in secret or engage in questionable activities to my heart’s content.’
Don’t call it questionable. ―But the soundproof barrier will surely be useful from now on.
During our camping times, I trained with Garunya or had battles with Virosa, preventing my body from growing sluggish. I also learned forest-walking techniques from the mercenaries and swung my sword around; I felt I was spending my time meaningfully.
‘—Your Highness has natural talent. One would not believe it is your first time holding a sword.’
While Virosa praised me, she looked quite vexed.
‘If only Your Highness were not in your current position… I would have loved for you to study swordsmanship seriously.’
I was being quite lazy with my sword training, yet apparently, someone of Virosa’s level could discern my skill at a glance.
She likely couldn’t imagine that I had acquired swordsmanship without any instruction. It seems she interpreted my sword skills as “natural talent.” The statement that if I were not a demon prince, I could fully pursue the way of the sword was likely the highest praise for Virosa.
Due to my position, I couldn’t pursue swordsmanship seriously, so I practiced spear techniques while Virosa wielded her sword, doing close-to-real combat practice.
As expected, Virosa was strong. Without magic, there’s no way I could compete with her now.
I want to reach a point where I can match pure spear skills evenly. I wonder how many years that would take.
“—Welcome, Prince.”
As I brought everyone to the village, I was greeted by an elderly beastman, presumably the village chief.
He had a cat-like face with a patchy pattern. Looking closer, I thought that Garunya must come from a distinguished lineage. The residents of this village seemed… mixed breed.
The villagers wore simple clothes, and I got the impression that their civilization was hundreds of years behind that of the countryside in the Alliance. But everyone appeared healthy, and their fur coats were in decent shape. They were surrounded by rich forests, and there were meager fields. From what I heard, hunting was the main source of their food, so they were not struggling to eat.
However, recently, goblins had been sighted around the dilapidated fort, reducing the number of prey and causing the forest to be trampled.
“I sent the men to the fort, thinking it was nine out of ten likely the goblins’ doing, but…”
The village chief looked down with a pained expression. Ten strong men from the village had gone out to slay them, but it seemed none had returned.
Those who got impatient and went to check also did not come back. In the end, the village chief took his own men to scout with a readiness for battle the next day, but—
Perhaps it was a sense of battlefield instinct. The village chief, having survived multiple battlefields as an old soldier, felt an unusual sense of foreboding just before entering the fort, and on his own accord, he decided to hold everyone back and turned back.
“If people see me as cowardly, I accept that. It is all my fault. I humbly ask for the villagers’ forgiveness…!”
The village chief was almost prostrate with his forehead on the ground.
…So that’s why the villagers’ faces looked somewhat grim.
Just when I thought it was a casual goblin-hunting expedition, the atmosphere seemed more serious than I anticipated. Is Platy okay?
“But this contradicts the report I read…”
Sophia was twitching her eyes in annoyance. Hey, don’t scare them too much. The village chief is nervous enough as it is.
“To sum it up, no one has entered the fort and returned since the disturbance in the forest?”
“I’m ashamed to say that’s correct…”
“Hmm.”
Even if goblins were breeding uncontrollably, it was hard to believe that ten trained beastman men would all perish.
If so many goblins were around that the men couldn’t escape, this village would likely have suffered some damage by now…
“It feels strange. Or do you think this is all part of the plan?”
I sought Sophia’s opinion.
Military actions often come with some form of unexpected events. It isn’t completely out of the question that Platy might have prepared a surprise for me as part of this exercise.
“I think it doesn’t seem like Lady Platy’s typical way of doing things.”
It seemed Sophia was sensing some discomfort too. Yeah, I find it doesn’t quite feel like Platy either.
“If this is a test to see how I handle unexpected situations, then there should be no other way to do it…”
“However, it would be difficult for Lady Platy to orchestrate this situation on purpose.”
“Exactly.”
It truly seemed we might be looking at an unplanned situation even in a supposed drill. The village chief was watching us with a concerned look…
“Could it simply be a paperwork error? Like we got the wrong location?”
“Since it’s the work of hobgoblins… it wouldn’t be impossible to rule that out.”
Sophia groaned as she pulled out a document from her chest and started double-checking it, her eyes wide like saucers. I felt it was somewhat pointless for someone with her memory to do this.
“Village chief. What is the name of this village?”
“It is Kako Village.”
“Hmm. There shouldn’t be a village of the same name within the Demon Lord’s territory… Just to be sure, when was this village reclaimed? What was the population last year?”
“Um, let me think…”
As I watched Sophia start interrogating the village chief, Virosa whispered to me softly, “Your Highness, three of my subordinates are ready for action.”
Virosa and two Night Elf mercenaries. Even for a casual goblin hunt, they were fully armed and ready to move at any moment.
“Scout the surroundings and the forest. Just check out the fort.”
I grinned.
“If there is anything there, it’s my prey.”
“As you command.”
With a bow, Virosa swiftly faded into the night with the mercenaries. No presence or breath, not even the sound of footsteps or rustling clothes—
It’s frustrating, but Night Elves are really dependable in situations like this.
“Well then…”
I turned back to the highway. According to Platy, there were supposed to be guards and escorts, but were they Reiju warriors, perhaps?
If it came down to it, I could have one of the servants—maybe Viene, I think she could use fire magic—launch a fireball into the air to contact the escorts.
But perhaps this was also part of the trial, and seeking help during my first exercise felt somewhat shameful.
If the Reiju warriors were to doubt my qualities as a prince concerning my escorts, that would also be a problem.
‘Oh, have you finally decided to seriously aim for becoming a Demon Lord?’
A teasing remark from Antendeixis. No, that’s not it. If my maternal clan looks down on me, that would definitely be troublesome.
I don’t mind using the Reiju tribe, but if they start to underestimate me and try to manipulate me, that would be irritating.
While I pondered these thoughts and surveyed my surroundings…
On top of a small hill that passed through the forest from the village, a spooky stone ruin loomed against the night sky.
In any case, it’s clear that the fort holds a threat strong enough to not let even ten capable beastmen escape.
A magical beast, or perhaps a stray undead…
‘Whatever it is, I feel like that guy named Virosa could easily handle it alone.’
…Honestly, I think so too.
Well, unlikely things shouldn’t happen.
I might just spend some time enjoying Liliana and Garunya.