Immediately after the letter arrived from Valendor, Duke Killiard dispatched the Knights of Philres there.
In total, 8 knights were being sent. This included the Duke himself as well.
The contents of the letter had stated that people had been going missing in the forest to the east of the territory, and that it seemed to be the work of a monster, so they were requesting assistance.
“Oh, you’re here. We’ve been looking forward to your arrival!”
As soon as Lord Valendor heard the news of the knights arrival, he rushed out with his large body to meet them. When he saw Duke Killiard standing with his knights, he was slightly taken aback. He was naturally stunned by the intimidating feeling radiating off the man.
However, he quickly recovered and continued his aristocratic greeting.
“I see Killiard’s star is here as well. I was surprised when I got the news that you would be coming in person. It’s my first time seeing you since the birthday party. I’m glad you appear to be in good health.”
“Count, you seem to be doing quite well yourself.”
Ash shook the plump man’s hand and the corner of his mouth rose. No matter how many of his people died, the counts greasy face and thick body, supported by the tax payers money, seemed to be worthy of the word ‘prosperous’.
‘Two weeks.’
It was the length of time since the first person had disappeared and the request for assistance had been sent.
However, because all of the missing people had been commoners, the count had ignored the incident at the time. He had ignored the pleas from the nearby villagers to find the missing people. Knights were a valuable resource. They must have though that the disappearance of mere commoners wasn’t such a big deal and refused to mobilize the knights.
Then, the cat the count was raising had disappeared while taking a walk near the eastern forest. The count had then urged the knights to immediately go into the forest to find the cat.
In the end, the knights, who could not ignore their lords orders, went into the forest and did not return.
It was only then that the count realized the severity of the situation and requested support from the Knights of Philres. Meanwhile, the number of missing people nearly doubled. The count should have submitted the request long ago.
Ash had known he was an idiot, but he never thought it would be this bad.
This was Ash’s first thought after hearing the circumstances surrounding the incident. Contempt passed through his eyes as he looked at the count.
The count burst into laughter.
“Haha, is it noticeable already? I recently started exercising and it seems the results are already showing.”
He moved his body as if trying to show off the muscles he had developed as a result of the exercises, but the more he did so, the more his large belly jiggled.
Cezanne whispered to Elaine from a short distance away.
“I guess he thought it was a compliment.”
“Shh, he might hear you.”
Cezanne was also one of the knights who had been dispatched on this mission. The other knights, including Sophia, were gathered behind. Meanwhile, Ash interrupted the count.
“Let’s get straight to the point. Guide me to the forest to the east, where the problem lies. There is no time to waste. We must check for any survivors.”
“Oh, yes! Hurry and guide them there.”
“Yes, Count.”
“A soldier pointed to by the count took the lead.
The entire eastern forest was used as a resort for the count. The villas and walking trails within the resort had been beautifully crafted with the taxpayer’s money.
Everything had started when the gardener who tended to the villas landscaping had disappeared. After that, the people who managed the lake and the horseback riding range disappeared, followed by the farmers who worked in the fields near the forest.
“It’s around here.”
The soldier stopped in front of a forest where the trees were densely growing. The trees in the forest, under the warm sun were dyed a warm brown. The forest, where hungry monsters might be lying in wait, seemed peaceful on the outside.
However, this was a forest that had swallowed up more than 10 people. No one knew what could be lurking inside.
According to the testimony of a villager, farmers working in the fields suddenly stopped what they were doing and walked into the forest. It was as if they had been possessed.
Ash gathered all of the knights together.
“It is presumed that the people who entered the forest were being controlled by something. It could be a type of monster that interferes with the mind through hypnosis or sound.”
He then took out the map of the forest he had received from the soldier and spared it out for all to see. The terrain was laid out so that from the entrance, the road split into three. One leg led to the lake, another to the central villa and the third to the horseback riding range. Then the lake and the range also had a path leading back to the central villa.
He pointed to each location and explained.
“Because there are missing people in all three locations, we don’t know exactly where the monster is residing. Therefore, we will divide ourselves into three teams and conduct a search. Dame Elaine and I will head to the lake, three of you will go to the villa in the canter and the other three will head to the riding grounds on the right.”
“What if we find any survivors?”
“Protecting any survivors is our top priority. If you spot a monster, annihilate it on the spot and if that isn’t possible, fire a signal or regroup at the central villa. And, although it is unlikely that this is the act of humans, we can’t rule it out completely yet.”
Ash, who had spoken up to this point, looked around at the knights. Elaine could feel the trust they had in him from the looks on their faces as they listened to him intently. He then gave his final order.
“There are always going to be unexpected variables, never forget that.”
“Yes!”
“Move out.”
“The knights saluted politely and split into two groups, disappearing into the forest. Ash and Elaine also entered.
The forest road was wide enough for a carriage to pass through, but Elaine still stayed close to Ash, keeping within a certain distance.
The different types of monsters typically shared the same habits within their species, but even so, there was always the possibility of encountering an irregularity, such as a different attack method or large differences in level. Therefore, even highly skilled knights had the potential to have accidents in an unexpected situation.
Thinking that there was a possibility for Ash to get injured, she couldn’t relax for even a moment.
‘It was okay during the training camp because the monster’s species was clear and there was only one…’
This time, they didn’t even know what kind of monster they were dealing with. She hoped he wouldn’t do anything dangerous, however, she had no right to interfere with his life.
‘He doesn’t deserve that.’
During the years she had been asleep, Ash had fought against the negative rumors and created a place for himself. Killiard and the Knights of Philres were also his, something he had built from the ground up. And now that she was here, what right did she have to interfere in his decisions?
So, Elaine had decided, she would protect Ash, his life, and everything he held dear from being ruined. She would do anything so that he could be happy.
All she had to do was eliminate anything that was a threat to him. Then he would be able to live his life doing what he wanted to do. She would always support him, no matter what. She was walking while thinking along those lines.
Suddenly, the bush near them shook violently. The two people paused. It was almost at the same time they turned their head to look at the bush and…
Ahhh-
A strange singing voice filled the forest. It was like a song without any lyrics.
“…!”
The singing voice was heard all around them in an instant. Elain intuitively realized that the sound was what had been possessing the people. Ash noticed it too. The two immediately moved their mana to block the singing that was flowing into their ears.
He then moved quickly, swinging his sword toward the bush. At the strike, a pained wail erupted from the blade.
Something then rolled out of the bush. Elaine frowned as she looked at the corpse that was now lying at her feet. Reptilian scales covered its entire body. A monster with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a snake.
“It’s Lamia.”
She’d had a rough guess from the moment the song had started, and she was correct. Ash narrowed his eyes and looked down at the corpse.
“These are the main culprits in the disappearance case.”
It was clear that the victims had been captivated by Lamia’s singing voice. Lamia had the ability to charm people by singing with her snakes’ tongue. She then sucks the vitality out of the possessed humans, or ate them alive. Her songs were extremely sweet to listen to, but the moment you were captivated by her tone, you would be strangled in an instant.
But, it wouldn’t work on a master. All they had to do was move their mana to block the sound.
It wasn’t difficult to deal with Lamia, as long as you weren’t captivated by the singing voice. Elaine and Ash took care of all the nearby Lamia and advanced straight to the lake.
The panoramic view of the forest quickly passed by. It was when they had almost reached the lake they saw a rotting body in the middle of the road. It was a corpse that was so damaged, the shape was unrecognizable. The only reason they were able to tell it was human, was a piece of cloth that has barely maintained its shape.
Elaine slowly raised her gaze, staring past the corpse.
There, she saw Lamia swarming around the lake in front of her. Not just one or two, but dozens, maybe even more.
“We shall destroy everything here.”
Ash calmly gave the order as he drew his sword. The two jumped into the swarm of Lamia at the same time. The Lamia who finally noticed the enemy, screamed and attacked.
Screech!
The monsters scream resounded wherever they passed. It was a scene closer to a massacre than a subjugation.
When the hordes of monsters that had swarmed the lake were completely destroyed, a red ray of light flashed across the sky.
“…!”
Red flare. It was used to signal danger.
Under the red lit sky, the flare originated from the horseback riding range.
