Chương 78: Chapter 78: Finding the Queen Part 3
"Darion, why did you come out from there?"
"..."
Darion was like a mute who had eaten honey and was unable to say a word. No, it's been two days since we left the capital of Lysette… Why is this bastard here? I crossed my arms and looked down at Darion.
"Coming here despite what I said means…"
"..."
"There must be a reason."
Perhaps my voice was too cold. Darion shifted his eyes back and forth before answering in a tiny, subdued voice.
"I'm sorry, Theodore."
"No, there's no need to apologize. Just explain why you're here."
I helped him up and brushed the dirt off his body. He still seemed tense and kept glancing at me cautiously.
"What's going on?"
I pressed him again, and Darion flinched, then hung his head low. It seemed he finally realized I wasn't in a forgiving mood.
"Tell me when you started following me and why."
This wasn't the grand mansion of Sylvanus where his parents could back him up, nor was it the capital of Lysette where elf soldiers could come running at any moment.
If he thought it was brave of him to come here without any escort, there was a grave misunderstanding on his part. I looked at him with icy eyes.
"….. Not long after you left, I slipped out of the mansion. I borrowed one of Father's beloved horses and following you wasn't difficult."
He had stolen a horse that was raised with great care in the family stables to come after me. Good grief… Paton Sylvanus would be furious if he found out.
"So, why did you follow?"
"That's…"
"Speak frankly. Did someone send you?"
"..."
"Darion."
"Coming here was entirely my own decision, Theo. I wanted to prove something to you."
"Prove?"
"Yes."
"What kind of proof?"
"That I too can be of help in rescuing Her Majesty the Queen…"
"Nonsense."
My patience was wearing thin. I sighed deeply and glared at Darion.
"I thought I had made myself perfectly clear, but it seems I was mistaken. Are you the type who doesn't understand unless it's spelled out? Well then, let me make it clear once more. Darion, you can be of no help."
"..."
"You're not a mercenary, just a young nobleman of the Lysette family. Unfortunately, you're only a hindrance in the search for your queen, just like now."
"..."
"You can't even hide your presence properly, and you've been attacked instead. Darion, if it weren't me but someone else instead, you would have died just now."
That's true. If it had been a monster, he would have been killed on the spot.
It's only because you approached so clumsily that you survived, Darion.
He looked utterly deflated and just stared at the ground. Yes, this must be the first time he's heard such words. He must have been coddled all his life.
So, this is the time to straighten him out.
"I won't tell you to go back right now. It's much more dangerous to return without an escort."
At that moment, Darion's expression brightened. Does he think he's been accepted? I coldly dashed his hopes again.
"However, from now on, you are not Darion of the Sylvanus family. You are just Darion, a wandering elf who has just started life as a mercenary. Do you understand what I mean?"
"..."
It must be humiliating. If he really hates this, he'll do whatever it takes—use a messenger or magic—to try to return to the capital, where his family and their large mansion are. Ah, perhaps that would be better. I waited quietly for Darion's response.
"..."
"..."
"Alright."
Darion gave an unexpected response. Did this kid really understand what I said?
"No, I agree."
"..."
"If I've just started life as a wandering elf mercenary, I suppose I should use honorifics with you who is a veteran mercenary?"
"...That's right."
"Thank you in advance, Sir Theodore."
"..."
This is really unexpected. I thought his pride would be hurt and he'd threaten to go back immediately… I was planning to appease him just enough to send him back to the capital. But this response?
Well, if he can pull off pretending to be a wandering elf, entering the Dark Elf village shouldn't be too difficult.…
He's already calling a person of uncertain origin like me "Sir Theodore". Considering how arrogant Darion was when we first met, this is truly a remarkable change.
Besides, I can't go back on my word now.
And when else will I have the chance to boss around an elf noble?
Let's keep him around for a while and then send him back. I'll send a message ahead, and then send him back before we enter the Dark Forest.
"Alright, Darion. I don't know how long this will last, but for now, let's get along well. El, can you prepare a spot for him?"
"Yes, Master."
El prepared a spot for Darion near the campfire. I took out a plate, ladled a generous serving of bush goat stew into it, and handed it to him along with a few biscuits. Darion smelled the stew with a suspicious look, then finally picked up a spoon. And would you believe it? He grimaced as if he was about to eat something utterly disgusting.
Elves are really troublesome.
Oh my, just how popular was the stew I made? Normally, mercenaries eat something akin to pig slop. I managed to suppress the urge to smack Darion on the back of his head and ladled a generous amount of stew onto my plate. The stew, enriched with various spices, was emitting a delicious aroma.
"Wow, this is delicious…"
Darion took a bite of the stew with his eyes tightly shut and expressed his surprise.
"Of course it is. Who do you think made it?"
El nodded her head vigorously at my words.
"It's been a long time since you made stew, Master, but it's still delicious! Maybe even more so than before."
"Thanks, El. I'm glad you like it."
I generously filled El's offered plate with stew. El started to eat the stew enthusiastically while soaking her biscuits in it.
"This wild flavor… I can feel some kind of robust energy."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"It is a compliment!"
Darion's eyes twinkled as he began to eat the stew with renewed vigor. Ah, this irritating guy… I glanced at him briefly before starting on my portion of the stew.
I never thought his mouth could get any bigger…
Well, it's not a big problem. He'll be sent back soon enough.
Still, it's nice to see him enjoying the meal.
"Lloyd, would you like some stew?"
"No, thanks. If I eat that too, I'll feel too heavy."
"Try tasting it at least."
"…Fine, just a little then."
After tasting the stew, Lloyd stood up.
"I'll go on a patrol."
Patrol, even though we're not in a danger zone yet? He's diligent. Or maybe Darion's presence is making him uncomfortable… Before I could figure out the real reason, Lloyd disappeared into the darkness. I whistled and called Ayla who had been gnawing on the leg bone of a bush goat.
"Ayla, follow him."
-Kung!
Ayla followed behind Lloyd. Her fur glinted silver in the moonlight before melting into the darkness.
***
The next day.
Everyone was ready to leave early except Darion. It seemed he had difficulty shedding his noble habits overnight, as Darion struggled to get up quickly.
"Ayla."
–Kung!!
At my command, Ayla grabbed and pulled the blanket Darion was sleeping under. Suddenly, Darion was thrown to the ground covered with morning dew and screamed in shock.
"Wh-What are you doing!"
"What am I doing? Darion, are you not going to wake up?"
"Ugh…!"
Darion finally seemed to come to his senses following my cold voice and abruptly got up.
"Si-Sir Theodore…"
"You're getting up too late. You're not a noble young master anymore, you're a lowly mercenary, understand? If you don't like it, you can leave right now…"
"No, no! I was just about to get up!"
He was lying. I gave him a sidelong glance before turning away.
"Get ready quickly. We're leaving soon."
To be honest, there wasn't much to prepare. Darion had hardly any belongings. He really was a hopeless case. I left him scrambling around and climbed into the carriage first.
"El, you drive the carriage until lunch."
"Master, isn't this something we usually have the youngest do?"
"That's true, but I don't think Darion is capable of driving the carriage right now. I'd rather not have it overturned, you know?"
"That makes sense."
El giggled and climbed onto the coachman's seat.
"Please take care of the horse Darion brought, Lloyd. You might find it easier than the carriage."
"Thank you."
Lloyd mounted a robust brown horse. Darion looked displeased but climbed into the carriage without saying a word.
"Rest until lunch. After that, I'll teach you how to drive the carriage."
"…Yes."
"If you don't like it, you're free to go back."
"No! I've always wanted to learn how to drive a carriage!"
This guy. I stifled a laugh that threatened to break out and opened the old book and map.
Starting with the first village, there were a total of six villages on the outskirts of Lysette.
The seventh village is inside the Dark Forest…
Passing through the six villages and entering the Dark Forest would take quite some time. I racked my brain for the quickest route, avoiding paths that were too dangerous or those that meandered too far, and eventually narrowed it down…
This will take at least a week.
No, it would be correct to expect it to take more than a week, especially considering the unpredictable events that could unfold in the Dark Elf village.
Can the Queen hold on until then?
The Queen I had seen was already petrified up to her knees. If the petrification did not stop there but continued to progress…
Then, it might be too late to save the Queen.
"…Darion, do you know anything about 'Grizel'?"
With a sense of desperation, I turned to Darion, who was dozing off. Startled by my voice, he woke up, rubbed his eyes, and replied in a groggy voice.
"Grizel…. That's a derogatory term for dark elves."
"I know that. But I mean, could there be another meaning? You might have heard it too, the Queen has ordered us to find 'Grizel'."
"Another meaning…"
Darion stroked his chin and was deep in thought.
"I don't know."
Of course he wouldn't. I shrugged and turned my gaze back to the old book.
"But there is something odd I've noticed."
…Something odd?
"What is it?"
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