Chapter 89 - March to Subjugation (Part 4: The Return)
It seemed the lead engineer had also gained new insights, thanks to My Friend’s suggestions. They discovered that even the materials they used to discard held considerable value. And with a monster corpse over ten yalds long, there were more harvestable resources than usual.
After thoroughly stripping the Hydra of all usable parts, they carried out final disposal using a deep pit and magical fire—then sealed the pit shut. The cave itself had been battered by repeated area-effect spells, frozen over, corroded by venom and miasma, then doused with holy water. In the end, it collapsed during the burial process, reduced to rubble. But the wasteland would eventually return to the forest. The dense ambient mana would summon trees back to the land, and the forest’s regeneration here would be swift—unnaturally so.
The caved-in remains became a grave, not by intent but by fate, for the Hydra who had become a ‘monster’ against its will. A record of its existence—its life—was now carved into maps as a marker. At the end, we bowed our heads and prayed for the Hydra’s eternity. It had been a monster, one that would have demanded a brutal fight to fell if left alive... Yet, even so—there was no denying it had been a life born into this world.
The prayer we offered... echoed the very words My Friend had quietly spoken earlier:
“May it be reborn in the cycle of life, and next time... may it know peace and serenity.”
We wished this from the depths of our hearts—That it might cast aside its suffering and despair in this lifetime, and begin anew, as a soul unburdened.
And so, we began our journey back from the field. My Friend was clearly exhausted, but couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across his face—likely thinking about the rare materials we had obtained. As a court mage of the Royal Magitech Academy, that expression might have been unbecoming... But that was just who he was. As per his request, First Shooter Squad had been assigned as his escort. And since My Friend refused to leave my side, it meant they were effectively my escort too.
Though we remained vigilant of our surroundings, the tranquil state of the forest didn’t demand high alert. After a series of night camps, we set out again under the light of dawn. With the sun above us, I felt no particular sense of unease about our march. Night marches would have raised the threat level considerably, but in daylight, the nocturnal beasts stayed dormant. That alone made our journey much safer. We avoided the glowing blips on our scouting magitech tools and made our way through the Shallow Forest, hauling a mountain of spoils.
“...That person. Just who is she, really?”
“You mean My Friend?”
“Yes. His sudden presence in our ranks caught all of us off guard. We were told our new mission was to escort a court mage—under imperial appointment. That, we could accept as duty. At first, I thought he was someone unfamiliar with forest marches, but... His pace never slowed us down, and the way he scans the forest—like a seasoned hunter—it was... uncanny. I just... I can’t figure him out.”
“Understandable. He’s far too unorthodox for someone of noble standing. But at the same time, he’s a rare noble who’s actually reached the truth of the forest. In this harsh land of the frontier, he chooses to step into the Demonic Forest in pursuit of knowledge. He was born a researcher, through and through. And truth be told, he intends to continue this work—for the sake of those living in these neglected lands. To develop new magitech tools, to research, and to provide answers. That’s why I accepted him. You’ve already benefitted from his efforts. So has the guerilla unit. And even this backwater knightly family has as well.”
“...Yes. I do understand that. But...”
“But?”
“For some reason... he’s been looking at me with this oddly warm, gentle gaze. It’s just... well...”
“Perhaps he’s taken an interest in you?”
“No, I mean... not in that way. It’s hard to explain...”
“You’re not being very clear. I’m not good with subtle emotional matters, but if she intends you harm or harbors impure intentions, I’ll take proper measures. Is that it?”
“Ah, I appreciate that, but—no, that’s not what I meant either. It’s more like... well... like the way my father used to look at me...”
“Hmm… I see. I can’t say I entirely understand, but I’ll keep an eye on it regardless.”
“Th-thank you very much!”
It was, ultimately, a matter of human emotion—something delicate and elusive. As for what My Friend truly felt toward her... I decided to ask him directly another time. He was a man of honor, of that I was certain, but did that mean he sought some kind of bond beyond mere camaraderie? I couldn’t quite tell. Back at the Academy, I’d often heard talk—gossip, really—of the various relationships that could bloom between women. But such things had always existed at a distance from me. I had never experienced anything of the sort. Even in memories of my past life, that chapter remained blank. Yes... further observation was warranted.
Honestly, trouble just seemed to find me wherever I went.
We emerged from the Shallow Forest as scheduled. By the time we reached the large village at its edge, the sun was already sinking below the horizon. This was where we had first established our supply camp, and it would serve again as our resting ground for the night. The multitude of materials we had recovered from the forest had already been loaded by the logistics unit and were en route to the fortress. Until the final order of operation complete was issued at the fortress, we remained in the midst of an ongoing mission.
We had every reason to stay alert. Night fell. Stars began to glitter in the clear sky above, and a warm breeze whispered through the camp. The scent of field rations being prepared drifted into the air, bringing a sense of familiarity and ease. We would spend the night here and return to the fortress at first light.
I made my way to the command pavilion—the largest tent in camp. There was still a report that needed writing, a detailed account of the operation. Fortunately, we had suffered no casualties. Not even a single injury among the troops. It had been thanks to My Friend’s plan—a strategy executed with stunning precision. I recorded it all in detail. Tomorrow’s march would follow the main road; we’d travel by horse and wagon. Those arrangements had already been completed. Perhaps it was exhaustion setting in, but even My Friend—usually boisterous to the point of being a nuisance—had fallen silent.
It was... quiet. Truly, a peaceful night.
――― § ―――
We returned to the fortress early the next morning. All of the guerilla unit that had departed with us had now returned. Once the official operation complete order was given, each team seamlessly resumed its standard duties. There were no new alerts from the comms room. Lately, the so-called “Demonic Forest” within our knightly family’s domain had been—strangely enough—peaceful.
I completed my report and sent it to my elder brother at the main estate. The Hydra’s magic stone was also entrusted to a soldier I could rely on—someone trustworthy—and transported back home. It served as indisputable proof of the monster’s defeat. Even the messenger, upon learning its contents, wore a look of pride and elation.
Several hours later, my brother arrived at the fortress. Alone. On horseback.
No escort. No warning. When I asked—in surprise—what he thought he was doing, he flushed bright red and pulled me into a fierce embrace. Later, he would explain it had been a surge of anger, relief, and a whirlwind of emotions too tangled to name. In the moment, I simply found it a little... embarrassing.Doing my best to maintain composure, I asked a middle-aged communicator to prepare tea and invited him to sit in the reception area.
“What’s happened?” I asked.
His voice, though measured, held the undercurrent of restrained frustration.
“Did I not tell you not to act recklessly? You were supposed to observe it—up until the last possible moment.”
“I did, Brother. I watched it closely until the very edge of that threshold. But if I had delayed any further, the damage would have grown beyond control.”
“A-and still... why couldn’t you wait? The High Countess’s wedding ceremony proceeded without incident—splendidly, in fact. Everything went exactly according to plan. Those who were informed of this threat—including myself—were to begin coordinated action upon my return to the estate. The knightly family’s house had made full preparations to mobilize. Every soldier was ready. The operation—”
“I’m grateful for that. Truly. But it would not have been in time. The creature we faced was a mid-sized serpentine monster—a Hydra, one that spread deadly miasma and venom. If allowed to move unchecked, the devastation would have been immeasurable. That’s why I made the call to strike first.”
I spoke calmly, without emotion. And at that, my brother choked—literally. Those who lived on the frontier knew what it meant to face a Hydra. It wasn’t just a dangerous monster. It was a walking, breathing natural disaster. Its body corrupted the very land it occupied with foul energy. Its breath was a cloud of poison, lethal to all life it touched. To bring one down usually required the deployment of a full battalion of royal troops, if not an entire legion.
The mere idea of defeating such a creature with a modest knightly family’s guerilla unit... it was madness.
And yet, we had done it. To my brother, the news must have felt like lightning crashing down from a clear sky. No warning. No sense. I couldn’t blame him. Had I stood in his place, I would have felt the same.
...Forgive me, Brother. The situation left me no choice but to act.
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