SML Ch 52

Chapter 52

Rest Story (4)

When Reynald’s group finally managed to row back to shore, the knights who had been anxiously pacing along the lakeside rushed toward them in a panic.

“Prince Arun, Prince Serna, Commander Reynald! Are you all safe?”

“Why am I still being addressed as ‘Commander’? Correct that at once. Anyway, both princes are unharmed. We will now check for any injuries, so lend your assistance….”

Arun gently laid the unconscious Volant in a comfortable position so he could breathe easily and silently observed Reynald as he took charge of the situation. Fortunately, no one appeared to be gravely injured. Some bore broken bones or bruises from fighting the monsters in the torrential rain, but such wounds could be easily healed once they returned to the castle and applied potions.

The knights unloaded some of the fish that had been piled in the cart and placed the wounded in the now-empty space. The abandoned fish were handed over to the Anuras, who had contributed greatly in today’s battle. Without those foolish frog-like creatures, they would not have survived the Serpent’s assault; this gesture was the least they could do to show gratitude.

The Anuras, visibly elated, eagerly accepted the fish and even waved their hands at the humans, almost as if to greet them. It seemed they were slowly beginning to understand human body language.

While Reynald was busy managing the chaos, the previously unconscious Volant groaned softly and stirred awake.

“Are you alright? You were out for quite a while.”

“Huh, Prince Arun…? What exactly happened?”

Arun explained the situation to the young man as best as he understood it: that the Orthos Serpent had attacked them due to a minor misunderstanding and that the creature had become agitated after being assaulted by the same people who had once killed Volant’s family.

Volant appeared startled when his family’s past was suddenly mentioned, but after hearing the full explanation, he calmed somewhat. Arun carefully observed his expression, but it was hard to discern whether the youth felt anger or sorrow at what he had just heard.

He was naturally poor at reading other people’s emotions, and having only recently met this young man, it was all the more difficult.

“Still, if what Prince Arun says is true… I suppose I owe the lord a great debt this time as well.”

“Hmm? Is that how the story goes?”

“I think so, yes? Thanks to the lord’s efforts to clear up the misunderstanding, I was able to learn a little about the whereabouts of the bastard who… killed my family.”

Though tracking him down now would be impossible, Volant added with a bitter smile. He turned his head to quietly gaze at Reynald’s profile; the look in his eyes resembled gratitude but carried a faint trace of longing beyond that.

Has this young man perhaps grown attached to Reynald?

It was plausible. His swordmaster was a man who poured extraordinary care into those around him, and thus anyone who crossed paths with Reynald inevitably developed deep affection for him. It was only natural to feel fondness toward someone who treated you with kindness—human or monster alike.

Of course, Arun was no different. Without his stern yet gentle mentor’s teachings, he would never have grown into who he was now. Among his father and brothers, none resembled him; frail and insignificant as Arun had been, Reynald alone had painstakingly cared for him.

—There is no need to feel anxious or impatient just because things aren’t going your way right now. Am I not here by your side? Until the day you mature into a knight worthy of standing on your own, I will always remain with you and fulfill my duty.

Arun could hardly imagine a life without Reynald. Admittedly, Reynald’s monster-hunting duties kept him away from the royal palace more often than not, yet in Arun’s mind, Reynald was always the mentor who eventually returned to smile at him and continue teaching him. The idea of Reynald leaving the capital for good was unfathomable—especially after making that promise.

Of course, if Reynald ever learned of this, he would likely be flustered and say something like, “Prince, you are twenty-three this year, are you not? At twenty-three, surely you are grown?” But Arun had never once considered himself a full-fledged knight, and so he firmly believed Reynald would keep his word.

Thus, one day, his master would return to the capital with him. For now, Reynald merely lingered here because there were others in need of him.

Serna was right. There is definitely something suspicious about this domain.

Though they were fortunate to resolve the recent conflict with minimal casualties, the Orthos Serpent remained a pre-draconic creature destined to become a white dragon someday. Dragons did not settle just anywhere; they typically claimed as their lair the place they inhabited right before ascending into dragonhood. This meant Reynald’s domain was fated—sooner or later—to become a white dragon’s nest.

Moreover, the Serpent they encountered seemed on the verge of completing its transformation. The final step required for its growth was the unification of the two heads’ consciousness: whether dominance fell to the feral, emotional head or the rational, composed one, only by merging into a single will could the transformation occur.

Judging by its behavior, the calmer head seemed to hold sway. The recent outburst had likely been triggered by wounds inflicted by an intruder last year—had that incident never occurred, the Serpent might already have become a dragon and established its lair by now.

If it truly becomes a benevolent white dragon, it may not pose much harm to humans… But now I see why Reynald keeps such a close watch over this land.

The unknown entity dwelling in the Swine Forest’s mines, the Orthos Serpent dangerously close to becoming a dragon, and the mysterious intruder who had injured it—Arun and Serna had been in this domain barely a week, yet already three suspicious elements had surfaced.

Reynald had been here far longer, so he must have discovered even more unsettling clues. It was no wonder he wished to remain. Of course, no one would fault Reynald if he chose to abandon these mysteries and return to the capital… but—

His master bore a weighty sense of duty. This was something Arun had to understand.

“Volant? You’re finally awake?”

“Ah, my lord! I’ve been awake for a little while. Prince Arun already filled me in thoroughly….”

“I see. Are you in any pain, or having trouble moving? You might still be under the effect of paralytic venom, so we must check carefully.”

At that moment, Reynald approached and examined Volant closely. Thankfully, Arun wasn’t childish enough to begrudge the thorough and caring attention Reynald gave the youth. Volant had suffered a sudden misfortune and endured much hardship, so of course he deserved such care.

Especially since, to some extent, Serna bore partial responsibility for that misfortune. As soon as they returned to the castle, it would fall to Arun, as elder brother, to scold Serna and compensate Volant for the lost necklace.

I must do everything I can to assist Reynald—so that the issues plaguing this domain can be resolved once and for all…

Arun prayed for this land to become peaceful enough that his mentor would no longer have reason to worry. As he mused so, he absentmindedly looked up at the sky. Across the sunset-stained heavens, dozens of bats flitted lazily.

Deep within the mines beneath the Swine Forest.

A figure cloaked in black robes clutched a crudely carved wooden bat effigy in both hands, groaning in distress.

[No, no. None of this makes any sense…!]

“……”

[The new lord from the southern village is a dragonslayer? I only ever worried about the royal knights or those princes, but this is turning into a far bigger mess than I thought!]

“……”

[Then again, maybe it’s not worth panicking over. If he had killed the Orthos Serpent, I’d have to act immediately—but since he spared it and even let it go, perhaps he’s not as dangerous as I feared.]

“……”

[Who knows, he might even prove useful to this land. Of course, there’s always the chance his kindness is an act, or that even genuine goodwill might someday sour… but no, I’m overthinking it. There’s no guarantee he’ll turn bad.]

The Swines, carrying plates of bread and fruit, tilted their heads curiously at the robed figure. Without a word, they extended the food toward him, as if urging him to eat. He set down the wooden bat and accepted the plate. He had already learned what he needed for now; spying on the humans through the bats could resume tomorrow.

When he finished the meal, the Swines retrieved the empty plate. As the robed figure sprawled out on the ground, one of the Swines nudged him upright with its foot.

[Ow, ow, ow. Why are you pushing me? I’m just lying down for a bit.]

“……”

[Ah, fair enough. Lying down right after eating does cause indigestion… Fine, fine. I’ll walk. Thirty minutes, alright?]

Though “walking” here meant nothing more than wandering the mine tunnels, the figure decided to humor the Swines. After all, their nagging stemmed from care, and despite their rough nature, these pigs were remarkably attentive. There was no harm in obliging them.

[Well, for now, all I can do is watch. Hopefully those people just muddle along, clash with each other a bit, and leave quietly when they’re done… but who knows if things will really go that smoothly, not in times like these.]

Unlike the royal knights, that lord did not harm children or nonresisting creatures. So long as that remained true, perhaps there would be no immediate danger. Ideally, they would simply leave without entangling themselves further with this land.

Having roughly convinced himself of this, the black-robed figure began shuffling slowly through the tunnels, fulfilling his thirty-minute “daily walk” quota at the Swines’ insistence.