By Zephyria 
Of course, the Sierran Empire would have planted spies in all five kingdoms.
If the spies planted in Owen were fully active, Duke Widrow would also know about the new Divine Revelation that came down in Owen. Perhaps everyone in the Sierran Empire already knew that Shierun Academy graduates were restricted from entering Owen.
However, it was up to us to inform them about the whereabouts of the black magician, and the incident that was speculated to be the reason for the Divine Revelation. From the moment the Divine Revelation was mentioned, the group abandoned the arrogance that they could resolve this matter easily.
Everyone was in a hurry.
With their sleep reduced as they rushed forward, there was no time for idle chatter.
As we ran on in silence, we encountered and defeated eight monster hordes.
We also met mercenary groups five times and heard news from the surroundings.
The mercenaries unanimously stated that the monsters in the plains between the northern part of the Duchy and Dunmel Canyon were ordinary monsters, no different from before. The ones we encountered were the same. They were ordinary Kobolds, ordinary Orcs, and ordinary Trolls. Their numbers and colors were no different from before.
As we were nearing the Duchy, a group of mercenaries recognized us and passed by with a nod. I returned the greeting as a matter of course, but Marianne’s expression hardened.
“I just thought of something.”
“…What is it? Why are you so serious?”
“Aren’t we too conspicuous?”
“Hmm?”
“No, to be precise, it’s Mikael. We can’t do any secret operations or anything like that. Just look at your hair color.”
You said my hair color was beautiful and that I was superior.
But listening to you, that was also true. There was no one in this land who didn’t know I associated with Rubel. If anything were to threaten Rubel’s safety, it would be monsters, but if someone were targeting him, wouldn’t they naturally track my movements?
Thinking about it, I felt uneasy and couldn’t enter the Duchy. I worried that if rumors spread about knights who went out to the plains returning after encountering something suspicious, it would cause unnecessary harm.
Hugh Benson’s opinion was the same.
“In times like these, it’s suicidal for Second Prince Rubel’s every move to be conspicuous. I’ll slip in alone, so you all hide somewhere appropriate.”
“Yes. Will you return immediately after meeting the Duke?”
“Probably. If I don’t return by tomorrow evening, I’ll contact you.”
I didn’t bother asking about the means of contact. I trusted that Hugh Benson would take appropriate measures in whatever way he could. The group hid themselves at a distance of about half a day’s journey from the Duchy, calming their tired bodies and minds.
In the quiet, only the crackling of the campfire could be heard.
I had also grown quite close to Elvin during our time together. We hadn’t had deep, soul-baring conversations, but we were past the point where we couldn’t ask each other simple questions. I had also heard that while he was clumsy with speaking, he was good at listening.
So, I didn’t hide the question that came to mind and blurted it out.
“Do I still have the scent of an oasis?”
“…Yes.”
A light answer returned to match the casual question. I wanted to hear a more detailed explanation, but I didn’t know how to ask, so I closed my mouth. Instead, Marianne, who was beside me, perked up her ears and chimed in.
“The scent of an oasis?”
“…Yes. Hyoo Senior once explained that it refers to a predetermined destiny.”
“Then why are you asking Elwin Seonbae about it?”
“Seonbae… because he’s from the desert, and his spiritual awareness is awakened, I learned about it…”
Is this interpretation correct? I mumbled the end of my sentence as I spoke. Should I have asked when Hugh Benson was here? Elvin, leaning his back against a large rock in a relaxed posture, gazed at me intently before sitting up straight.
“It’s called ‘His-sert’. It refers to something whose beginning and end are predetermined.”
“…”
“Among them, some stars are larger and brighter. You can connect with the greater flow. Just like Young Master Mikael.”
Benjamin asked abruptly.
“Do I have something like that?”
“Yes.”
“The scent of an oasis?”
Elvin chuckled softly.
He was a man who rarely smiled. Therefore, the smile that twisted his lips looked somewhat awkward. However, those of us who had faced him for a long time could tell that he was currently very amused. The rest of us, one by one, also laughed foolishly.
“Young Master Benjamin… is like rock salt. He smells of salt.”
“What is this? Is this like fortune-telling? Then what about me?”
“Haha. Marigold?”
“Seriously, what is this? You’re just saying anything.”
“Perhaps so. It’s not precise.”
The light tone made me feel more at ease. It wasn’t a statement meant to carry great significance.
However, Elvin, who had been silently watching the campfire for a moment, added one more thing.
“But I hope we can visit an oasis once.”
“Will you guide us, Seonbae?”
“Probably.”
“Because of Mikael?”
“…”
Elvin Brooks did not answer further. After a long period of contemplation, he merely nodded his head once. He leaned his back against the rock again. Seeing that he wouldn’t answer any more, everyone gave up on asking further questions. Marianne also grumbled a few more times about what that meant before giving up.
It was a night in early August, with the summer constellations fully adorning the sky above the group.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next morning, Hugh Benson returned with a stranger by his side.
The carriage he sat in the driver’s seat of was a four-horse carriage. Two carts were hitched behind it, pulled along together. A woman sat in the seat next to the driver, shielding her eyes and looking this way.
The woman, who appeared to be in her early forties, had a robust build like a horse. Her wheat-colored hair was cut even shorter than Marianne’s, and she had playful, light brown eyes.
She introduced herself like this.
“Nice to meet you all. My name is Tedros, but everyone just calls me Teddy.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you, Teddy! I’m Marianne Philodendore. Please call me Marianne.”
“It’s an honor.”
Marianne was the first to shake the hand she extended bravely. The child introduced herself with a friendly smile and then introduced us one by one.
It was clear that she trusted us because we came with Hugh Benson, regardless of who we were.
I also introduced myself without much thought and was introduced again.
Teddy. Her impression somehow overlapped with someone. Professor Cedric, the Alchemy professor, had a similar impression. Of course, there was the difference that he was much more robust than her, but her cheerful, bright, and confident demeanor was alike.
After we had exchanged names appropriately, Hugh Benson, who was still sitting in the driver’s seat watching the scene, beckoned us. He wanted us to come closer as he had something to explain. Everyone nodded without a word and stood beside the carriage.
Up close, Hugh Benson looked very tired. He sighed once and opened his mouth.
“It seems the force of the mutated monsters in the Yuil Mountains is greater than we thought.”
The Trolls we encountered numbered in the hundreds, but the mutated monsters gathered in the Yuil Mountains numbered over thousands. It was not easy to kill the small and large monsters that swarmed us, but it also required human effort to dispose of the slain ones.
Furthermore, a few days ago, the mutated monsters, which were in overwhelming numbers, crossed the mountain range connecting the Yuil Mountains to Mount Eldos, and finally reached the Duchy of Grimesbane.
If the capital had not sent troops to Grimesbane in advance upon hearing of the subjugation plan, it would have been a truly terrible situation. Fortunately, they were currently using a pincer movement, but it seemed like a complete mess.
They were gathering all the skilled mercenaries from the plains, as well as knights and wizards, and sending them up the mountains. All available knights were being sent that way.
Fortunately, the large-scale involvement of high-level knights ensured that the citizens of the two duchies were still safe.
However, some wealthy individuals were even causing evacuation panics, stating their intention to move south. Because of this, even those who were not Martial artists were being drafted for public security.
He explained that there were simply no spare personnel left.
“And, they seem to have discovered Aventa Bump mediums in the Yuil Mountains. Four of them.”
“What form did they take?”
“One was a rocket, two were daggers, and one was a shield.”
“Could it be… those were also items belonging to the Imperial Knights?”
“Probably.”
Everyone in the group fell silent. Amidst the painful silence, Hugh Benson sighed deeply again. It was the eighth sigh I had heard since our reunion. The situation was that dire.
Elvin, watching the scene, suddenly climbed onto the driver’s seat and patted Hugh Benson’s shoulder. Hugh Benson pushed Elvin’s hand away with the back of his hand and continued speaking.
“It’s true that we need to solve the cause. But if what we’re chasing is the tail, and what the Yuil Mountains subjugation force is chasing is the head… the latter is undoubtedly more important.”
“…But…”
Marianne tried to object, but Hugh didn’t give her time to retort.
“Therefore, we’ve decided to take a look at the Owen matter first. If we can resolve it, we will, and if not, we’ll abandon it. With just six of us against one black magician below 4th Circle, we’re hardly short of personnel.”
“…Hmm.”
Ruben, who had been quietly lost in thought, asked in a low voice.
“Did they try using tracking magic on their end as well?”
“No. The high altitudes of the Yuil Mountains accumulate contaminated mana too quickly, so they couldn’t even try. They narrowly managed to avoid disaster, but everyone managed to evade it.”
“…That’s a relief…”
“Whether it’s a relief or misfortune, in any case, we’ve borrowed a talented individual because of that situation.”
Our gazes shifted back to the woman who had just been introduced.
She was not a knight. Since she had no surname, she seemed to be a commoner, and I wondered what kind of talent she possessed that she was informed of this situation and brought here.
The woman who introduced herself as Teddy, with her sleeves rolled up to her forearms on her loose shirt, smiled faintly. Her already kind impression, coupled with her gentle smile, made her seem like a very trustworthy person.
“Shall I introduce myself again? I’m an informant who mainly operates in Owen, and my specialties are disguise and makeup. My hobbies are tanning and sewing. I look forward to working with you for the next few months. So, how would you like to transform?”
“…Hoo.”
Exclamations of admiration naturally burst forth. The children each let out hollow laughter.
Yes, she was the perfect person for the current situation.