Chapter 62
“Don’t get hurt yourself.”
Elia smiled faintly and waved her hand.
“Don’t worry, I won’t push myself. Both my body and heart have grown much stronger than three years ago.”
Unlike before, she didn’t collapse at the slightest strain anymore.
Perhaps because she had turned the entire duchy into the World Tree’s domain, there hadn’t been any monster invasions either.
In other words, the duchy was safe thanks to Elia.
Of course, other regions were still in danger.
She had heard that Count Zamel’s territory was especially serious.
Now that the duchy was safe, the monsters had shifted their attacks elsewhere.
Because of that, House Zamel had been humbly bowing their heads before the dukedom, practically begging for help.
If only they had acted wisely before it came to this.
Naturally, Alexis’s character didn’t allow him to abandon those in peril.
Instead, he made sure proper compensation was given, since Elia had emphasized again and again that kindness had its limits.
Thus, every time the dukedom resolved a monster threat, Count Zamel had to pay a hefty sum.
A proper written contract was drawn up too.
Elia had insisted that verbal agreements without contracts carried no weight.
Not only House Zamel, but the allied House Holland also received help—though strictly on a give-and-take basis.
Sometimes Alexis felt Elia was a little too calculating, even cold, and suggested showing some mercy. But Elia, who had lived in a place where mercy was a luxury, couldn’t accept his view.
To her, people were selfish by nature.
If there was no benefit to be gained, they wouldn’t even look you in the eye.
Having grown up in an environment where weighing profit and loss was everything, she hardly understood loyalty or affection.
Still, the duchy was far safer now than before, functioning smoothly even if Elia or Alexis were absent for a time.
The people of the duchy were inherently honest and upright, so corruption or crime didn’t exist among them.
Their innocence and purity were precisely why outsiders had taken advantage of them all this time.
“Have a safe trip. Here, I picked this up for you.”
Noah tossed Elia a small item—a roughly carved wooden medallion.
It bore an engraving of a laurel tree, symbol of good fortune.
“They say it symbolizes luck.”
“Did you make this yourself?”
“I said I picked it up on the way, didn’t I? I gave it to you, so that’s that.”
Clearly embarrassed, he hurried away.
Elia chuckled softly and hung the medallion around her neck.
She could feel the sincerity and care etched into the clumsy charm.
“So stubborn about being honest.”
It wasn’t a bad feeling.
At the very least, Noah no longer seemed to hate her.
That alone made Elia deeply satisfied.
The Day of Departure.
Everyone in the duchy came to see Elia off.
Meryl wiped away tears with her handkerchief, telling her to return safely, while Norman packed snacks for the road.
Even the maids, gardeners, and cooks pleaded with Alexis to keep Elia safe.
They worried more for her than for their own duke.
Elia thought they were strange people indeed—but her chest tightened warmly at their sincerity.
“Lady Elia, please return unharmed,” said Deputy Knight Commander Campbell with concern.
This time, Dmitri was going along since he’d lost at rock-paper-scissors again. He admitted he must be terrible at the game, and likely wouldn’t play again.
Felix and Jasper, being far away, sent their regards through communication. Austin had arrived at the duchy with Zirc.
“Kiddo, don’t lose the charm I gave you.”
“It’s safely around my neck.”
“What’s with that ugly necklace?”
Elia wore both Austin’s pendant and Noah’s medallion together, and Austin had commented after spotting it.
“Ugly? I made that one, Teacher.”
“You did, Your Highness? Truly, you have no talent with your hands.”
“Talent improves with practice, I was told.”
“Not in this case, Your Highness. You need to be born with genius talent, like me.”
He smugly boasted of the pendant he had crafted.
“Both of you, enough already. I’m leaving now.”
“Eli, come here.”
Alexis lifted Elia up in his arms, seated her on his horse, then mounted behind her.
The others mounted their horses as well.
“Campbell, while we’re away, I’m entrusting Norman and the castle to you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll guard it like an iron wall.”
“Your Highness, continue your training diligently.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Master of the Tower, you’ll visit the castle now and then, right?”
“Don’t worry, Duke.”
Alexis gave reminders to everyone—clearly uneasy about leaving.
“Then let’s depart. Eli, hold on tight.”
Elia nodded and gripped the horse’s mane firmly.
With a pull of the reins and a tap of the stirrup, the horse set off. Behind them followed the Iron Eagle knights and mage Zirc.
They rode for a full day before reaching the mountains.
“From here on, we go on foot.”
The path was too narrow and rough for horses.
Under Alexis’s orders, the knights tied the horses to nearby trees. Zirc then cast protection and concealment magic over them, making the animals vanish from sight.
“Elia, stay close to me.”
“Yes, Duke.”
For the expedition, Elia wore a custom-made outfit: a sturdy shirt with light armor, trousers, and boots. The shirt’s fabric was specially woven to resist tearing.
“Duke, I’ll scout the path.”
“Go ahead.”
Elia summoned Gaji.
‘Gaji, help us find the way.’
[Wait here.]
Hopping down from her shoulder, the little branch spirit padded into the forest. Elia watched its tiny form disappear among the trees.
Gaji went deep into the woods and asked the towering trees,
[Show me the traces of a dragon.]
Sssshhh—
Branches swayed in the wind.
The trees guided Gaji to the oldest tree in the mountains.
[You’re saying I should ask it instead?]
Sssshhh—
The trees shook again.
Gaji returned to Elia.
[They said there’s an ancient tree here. If you ask it, it will know.]
Elia nodded and relayed the message to Alexis.
“Then let’s head there first.”
The party set off toward the place Gaji indicated. But it turned out to be the lair of fog monsters.
These creatures controlled mist to conjure the illusions of a human’s deepest fears.
Anyone ensnared by the illusions would have their life force drained until they became a mummy.
But Elia had Gaji.
[Stand down.]
Fwoooosh—
A golden light spread from Elia’s body.
The fog monsters instantly retreated without a sound.
Seeing this, Dmitri raised a thumb.
“Thanks to our guardian lady, I’ve got nothing left to do.”
Elia only smiled.
Once they passed the misty zone, a colossal tree came into view. Its size and age were beyond imagination.
“Incredible…” Dmitri breathed in awe.
“Dmitri, stand by.”
“Yes, Duke.”
Alexis and the Iron Eagles stood at Elia’s back.
Elia sent Gaji to the ancient tree.
[Ancient one, I have something to ask.]
[It seems you’ve come seeking the dragon’s lair.]
[Yes. Where is it?]
[I can tell you, but I cannot promise your survival.]
[Why not?]
[Because it is guarded by Mnesol.]
[Mnesol?]
[Indeed, O World Tree.]
Gaji looked at Elia with a grave expression.
‘What’s wrong?’
[The ancient one says Mnesol is there.]
‘Mnesol?’
[Yes.]
‘You mean the Mnesol I know?’
[It must be. The ancient one told me so.]
Mnesol was a terrifying monster, born from a shard of the ancient god of memory.
To think such a being was guarding that place—astonishing.
