~Chapter 12~
As we ventured deeper into the forest, the path grew increasingly treacherous. I lost count of how many times my feet caught on the unruly roots sprouting without order, nearly sending me sprawling. Had it not been for Ethan and Ebel, I would have long since tasted the earth.
“Miss Rinnegrim, shall I carry you?” Ebel asked hesitantly for the seventh time, but I firmly declined, unwilling to impose.
“Mage! It must be past midnight; are we still far?”
At Ebel’s question, a shadow—presumably Luce’s—loomed before us.
“Draw your sword.”
“Excuse me? Why the sword?”
Before Ebel could finish his question, Ethan suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist as heavy footsteps sounded nearby.
—Growl…
A beast’s low cry echoed from just beyond. The chilling resonance made my body instinctively recoil.
“This is…”
No ordinary stray dog made such a sound. The animal, akin to a dog but exuding a bone-chilling low rumble—
“A wolf.”
My legs trembled. In the darkness, fierce eyes glinted ominously.
The rustle of foliage preceded the appearance of an immense wolf, far larger than any I had encountered before—bigger even than a bull, as I glimpsed while hiding behind Lord Ethan.
“Avoid combat if possible. That is the Divine Beast of the Rudel clan.”
Even in such a moment, Ethan’s steady voice anchored me, restoring my composure.
“Lady Rinnegrim, are you well?”
“I’m… alright.”
My voice barely escaped my parched lips, trembling relentlessly.
Fear could not bind me to hiding; I must recall why Nilsson sent me.
“I shall attempt to parley with the Divine Beast. Lady, please observe its condition.”
“Yes…!”
Ethan raised both hands overhead in a gesture of peace and spoke loudly:
“We come in peace to the Rudel clan of the western forest. Please forgive our sudden visit. I am Ethan Kroyt, Captain of the Holy Knights serving the Rihwiella clan.”
—Growl…
The scratching continued unceasingly. I edged slowly away from Ethan’s back to watch the wolf.
Moonlight cast its glow, revealing the beast’s bloodshot eyes, pale gums slick with excessive saliva, and a trembling front leg spasming erratically.
The creature was clearly unwell.
Yet the cause remained elusive.
“I’m not certain why…”
Surface observation revealed little. How I wished to study it more closely.
Instinctively stepping forward, I was halted by Ethan’s raised hand.
“This is unwise. It is not yet in a state fit for communication.”
“But—”
Perhaps provoked by my movement, the wolf leapt fiercely, pounding the ground.
Its shadow fell ominously beneath the moonlit form.
“Captain!!”
“Miss Rinnegrim!!”
Drawn swords rang out with shocked cries from all sides.
A sour stench tickled my nostrils.
Crack!! A dreadful sound rent the night—something hard giving way.
It came from Ethan’s arm, which barred my path.
“Lord Kroyt!!”
A shrill voice pierced the forest darkness.
Clutching my chest as if unable to breathe, I sank to the ground.
“Hah… hah…”
What was I to do? Ethan was injured in my stead. Unlike Luce, Ethan was no mage.
A wound from such a colossal wolf would be terrible. What if he could never wield a sword again because of me?
“I… I stood foolishly still…!”
“Why blame yourself?”
A calm, unwavering voice answered, devoid of pain.
I looked up at Ethan, bewildered.
“H-His arm…”
Long, thick fangs were embedded in Ethan’s arm, yet he stood upright, expression unmoved.
“I am fine. Rail, Betton, who authorized a counterattack? I told you to avoid combat.”
At Ethan’s low murmur, Betton hastily sheathed his sword.
“S-sorry!”
“Better than that carefree Ebel who stood idly by, no?”
Rail defended boldly, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Ebel, hands clasped behind his head, replied nonchalantly.
“That’s because I knew, even as a Divine Beast, I could not let the Captain be harmed. Unlike you who doubted him, I followed orders faithfully.”
“True! But there’s always a ‘what if’!”
Rail pounded the ground in frustration, yet none of it registered.
“You say he is unharmed? How…?”
Stammering, I asked Ebel, who swiftly came to support me.
“Miss Rinnegrim, are you alright?”
“I am. But Lord Kroyt—are you truly unharmed? That was a terrible sound!”
“Oh, worry not. The Captain is a Sword Master! Even the teeth of a Divine Beast cannot pierce his physical form!”
Unlike my pale face, Ebel smiled brightly.
“S-Sword Master…”
I had heard of them before—the few whose bodies transcended human limits, forged by relentless discipline into impenetrable fortresses.
No blade, however sharp, could pierce a Sword Master’s flesh.
“So Lord Kroyt is… a Sword Master?”
—Growl!!
As if answering my whisper, Ethan trapped the wolf’s neck with his arm. The massive beast was but a puppy in his grasp.
“Ah, some imperial citizens remain unaware the Holy Knights’ Captain is a Sword Master! Captain, you must inspire them!”
“Ibel, silence. Lady Rinnegrim, are you unharmed?”
“Thank heavens…”
I had no words for Ethan, but found strength to stand despite trembling legs.
“Thanks to you, Lord Kroyt. I am grateful… I am relieved you are safe.”
Though weak-kneed, I showed genuine concern for the Sword Master—a sight that might provoke mockery, yet came from the heart.
“…I apologize for causing worry.”
“I too am ashamed for standing frozen and failing to dodge…”
“It is alright. Did I not promise?”
“A promise?”
“Yes. I vowed to protect you.”
[And still… if you accompany us, I shall keep that promise.]
“I merely fulfilled my vow. We caused your plight; you need not blame yourself.”
Ethan survived because he is a Sword Master. But what if it had been Rail, Betton, or Ebel?
Could I remain composed seeing them hurt in my stead?
“Lord Ebel, just so you know, do not risk yourself so recklessly to save me.”
“Of course not! I am not of such caliber! If danger arises, I shall flee first—don’t worry!”
“Nowhere did I say that was necessary…”
“By the way, where is the mage? Surely he didn’t flee in terror—”
Ebel’s words were cut short as he twisted suddenly—roots whipped toward him like whips.
As expected, at the root’s center stood Luce, whose pale fingers flickered with blue flames.
“Shall I burn that cursed tail of yours?”
“Yikes. Just joking~ I was trying to lighten the mood so Miss Rinnegrim wouldn’t cry again~”
Why did I suddenly become the subject of teasing when I had just been crying!
The twisting roots curled tightly around the wolf’s body.
“Helping?”
“You may keep holding it if you wish.”
Soon the roots bound the wolf completely, leaving only its head dangling awkwardly.
—Growl!!!
The wolf struggled, but the sturdy roots restrained it utterly.
“Miss Rinnegrim, what are your observations?”
Ebel inquired, watching the struggling beast.
“I’m not certain—”
—Howl!!
The wolf roared loudly, emitting an even stronger, sourer stench than before.
“That smell… I am sure I have encountered it before.”
“Smell? What do you mean?”
“The sour scent from the wolf’s mouth! Like lemon but stronger… Ah! Lapas mushroom!”
I recalled the mushroom from my herb preparations. The tropical Lapas mushroom is astringent, effective against diarrhea, but carries dangerous side effects—hallucinations, paralysis, and strong addiction.
The lemony scent stuck in my memory. It seemed the Divine Beast had consumed the Lapas mushroom and suffered its effects.
“Bloodshot eyes, excessive saliva, and paralyzed front legs—all symptoms align with Lapas mushroom poisoning.”
“Is there a cure?”
I approached the underbrush.
“Luce! Light the way!”
“Exploiting me comes naturally.”
“Please, just a bit more help!”
Grumbling, Luce brightened my surroundings.
Thanks to him, I found the herb Lonna, commonly growing under damp trees. It aids rapid elimination of bodily toxins.
“The cure for Lapas mushroom poisoning is surprisingly simple.”
I uprooted the herb and held it by the roots.
“We must purge the mushroom from its system, then provide plenty of water to neutralize the toxin.”
Lonna is a remedy given to animals who ingest toxins. Even a single leaf induces vomiting; a whole plant will force a beast as large as a wolf to purge its stomach.
Wiping sweat from my brow, I rose as Ebel applauded.
“Impressive, Miss Rinnegrim! But how will you feed it to such a rampaging Divine Beast…?”
Before Ebel finished, I stuffed the herb into my mouth and began chewing.
“Miss?”
“Ptooey! Lord Kroyt, please assist me.”
“Yes? How may I aid you?”
“You said the Captain’s flesh is impervious even to those fearsome teeth—”
Looking at Ethan with determined eyes, I made my request.
“Please open the Divine Beast’s mouth.”
Though it may seem disrespectful to the Captain of the Holy Knights, it was necessary to save the creature.
“…Very well.”
After a moment’s pause, Ethan approached the wolf and grasped its thrashing head firmly.
“Forgive my rudeness.”
Then he pried the beast’s jaws wide open.
“Wow! Marvelous, Captain! Even a wolf the size of a house is as tame as a lamb to a Sword Master!”
“Speak no blasphemy, Ebel. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible. The Divine Beast is under the influence of a potent poison.”
Ethan’s reprimand silenced Ebel, who wisely decided discretion was best.
See they tease you til you die~