LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 235
Chapter 235
“Alright, take your time and tell me what happened.”
I held Leo’s hand and tried to calm him down.
Leo, who was anxious, seemed unfamiliar. He suited a slightly brazen, sly, and relaxed demeanor.
“We’ll decide soon where the reinforcements will go, and you’ll leave for that place. Right?”
“Seems so. I’m the commander, after all.”
I answered his obvious question with a slight tilt of my head. Leo exhaled deeply, brushing his bangs aside.
“Then the opportunity will slip away. After that, we won’t be able to predict what will happen. We don’t know when the war will break out.”
That was indeed the case. Moving to another region could change the situation completely, and Leo would need to stay at the royal castle, making it impossible to remain as close as we were now.
We had to leave as soon as possible to meet the Silver Wolf Beastmen.
“But… do you know where that is?”
Feeling a bit lost, I stroked my chin and asked Leo.
The precise term was ‘Silver Wolf Beastmen.’ However, due to their magical fur that changes color depending on where you see it, they were sometimes referred to as ‘Moonlight Wolf Beastmen’ or ‘Ashen Wolf Beastmen.’
Over a century ago, a massacre of Beastmen led to the extinction of most of their kind across the continent. The few that survived were scattered, leaving no trace behind; the only Beastmen remaining in the form of a tribe were those.
The Silver Wolves managed to maintain their lineage through the wisdom of their leader, retreating into the forests in the northwest of the continent. However, that was only the extent of the information we had; no one knew exactly where they resided.
The forest was vast, extremely dangerous, and their security was tight, so their exact location remained a mystery.
‘If we end up wandering around for weeks as a king and commander, it would be quite troublesome.’
If Leo and I put our minds to it and rolled up our sleeves, we might actually find them. But that would be too exhausting, and having the royal position of Atara vacant for weeks alongside the commander of reinforcements was absurd.
‘At most, we need to finish this in less than three days.’
In this wartime situation, no matter how much time we took, three days was the maximum we could afford to leave our posts.
“I’ve been investigating since I found out that Leisha is a Silver Wolf Beastman. I’ve gathered all my intelligence resources. I wanted to finish this myself. Actually, up until now, I hadn’t found anything…”
Leo, catching his breath, continued his words, clearly showing signs of tension. His nervous demeanor was unfamiliar, so I watched without urging him.
“This morning, I received information. They found their habitat.”
His light green eyes sparkled decisively.
“Is the information trustworthy?”
“They said they directly saw Silver Wolf Beastmen coming and going, so it seems reliable.”
“Then we have to go.”
While I wanted to help Leo who was determined to find Leisha, on the other hand, I also thought about seeking their cooperation.
‘If the Silver Wolf Beastmen help the war effort, it might become much easier to gain the upper hand.’
Beastmen, mixed with human and beast blood, had transcendent powers. Among them, the Silver Wolf Beastmen were reputed to be the strongest tribe.
In terms of individual strength, aside from dragons, they were among the top, and their might was tempting. I wanted their assistance.
“Yeah, we have to go, but…”
Leo lowered his gaze. The hand he held onto mine trembled slightly.
“You… you’re scared.”
At my quiet murmur, he buried his face into my shoulder. It had been a long time since he looked this vulnerable.
“What if I meet Leisha’s family?”
The thought of finding the relatives of someone dear was unimaginable. Hesitant to say anything, I patted Leo on the shoulder.
“I’ll be with you then.”
I might not be able to offer anything else, but at least I could be there in that moment.
“If not now, I don’t think I’ll ever find the courage again.”
Leo whispered softly. It seemed he had made up his mind, so I sighed and nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
It was time to meet the Silver Wolf Beastmen.
“If news spreads that you and I are absent from the royal castle, the enemies will likely take advantage of the situation. So, it would be better to only inform our closest allies and leave quietly.”
“Sounds good.”
“Is there someone special you need to tell?”
“Well, I don’t think so.”
I hesitated at the thought of Serenon, Julian, and Cassia, but we should minimize the chance for any leaks. I decided to return and offer my simple apologies, stuffing my hastily packed belongings into the spatial pocket.
Though I made a quick decision, I had actually pondered quite deeply.
Leo had often left the castle, so everyone was accustomed to it, but it was ridiculous for me, someone without the royal power, to leave the castle without permission.
With only one body, I had to judge what was more important—
I had to make a decision on my own, not just follow orders, and I ultimately concluded that enlisting the Silver Wolf Beastmen was currently the most crucial task.
If I had already sent troops, it would be different, but the current reinforcements were safely secured within the castle.
I was the commander, yet leaving my post during a secure period for a few days wasn’t extremely risky.
“I just need to tell my aide before I go.”
“The… the black guy who looks like he’s been burned?”
I chuckled and nodded at Leo’s blunt remark about Jonathan.
“Yeah. That guy.”
“He seems a bit ominous, though.”
Leo said apprehensively.
“Still, he’s my deputy.”
He was the one who would stand in for me when I was absent. At my firm reply, Leo shrugged his shoulders.
“Am I supposed to go against your words? Let’s do it your way.”
I took out the communication artifact from my pocket.
Honestly, I hadn’t planned to tell him in person. If I went on explaining, it would get cumbersome, and it was awkward to explain everything in detail.
[I’ll be out for a couple of days. It’s hard to explain the situation in detail. Report any urgent matters immediately. Count on you.]
Even as I wrote it, I felt it was quite audacious, but there was no other choice. Suppressing my sense of guilt, I strapped my sword sheath to my waist.
“Let’s go.”
Leo extended his hand to me.
Once again, we were heading into the unknown.
I could be uncertain about anything, but I was grateful to have him with me. Especially because it was Leo.
“Okay.”
Without hesitation, I grabbed his hand.
We used a teleportation artifact to reach just in front of the forest. It would have been nice to teleport directly to the Silver Wolf Beastmen’s stronghold, but the forest was surrounded by barriers that restricted magic usage.
Given the highly developed mage engineering of Atara, I could break through the barrier if I wanted, but they would surely notice the moment the barrier faltered and start guarding against us.
It would be better to move on foot.
Tap, tap, tap.
Leo and I moved quickly, stepping on the branches that stretched into the air.
With Leo knowing the way, he led us. His back running through the dense forest looked reassuring.
“We’ll reach the Silver Wolf Beastmen’s base in another 30 minutes. It’s a bit awkward to intrude at this late night, so… let’s camp here for the night.”
Leo stopped where it seemed suitable for camping. He had chosen a flat area without the scent of wild animals, showing his experience.
I thought someone who had grown up in the royal castle wouldn’t know much about this, but he must have had a hard life running away from his brothers, and I felt a bit sorry for him.
“Reminds me of when I was a mercenary. We used to camp all the time back then.”
I mumbled while skillfully setting up the tent. It had been a while since I worked as a mercenary, but my body remembered how to pitch a tent. Leo laughed lowly.
“Do you know how worried I was when you went out for mercenary work and didn’t come back for so long, leaving me alone in the cabin?”
“I did it all to support you.”
“More for your younger sister, wasn’t it?”
“Why are you saying such a hurtful thing? It was all part of it.”
We exchanged playful banter as we built the fire.
We set up two tents, where both of us could use spacious and comfortable spaces. As Leo skillfully prepared the soup, he glanced at my tent.
“If you get scared at night, you can come over.”
“What a mess. Can’t you sleep alone at that age?”
“Can’t you comprehend anything at that age?”
We both burst out laughing. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, naturally easing the tension.
By the time we finished our meal, the sun had completely set.
We exchanged light farewells and entered our respective tents. There was no need for a sentry. Both of us were sensitive enough that we would wake at any approaching presence.
‘I wonder what the Silver Wolf Beastmen are like.’
Lying down, I closed my eyes, filled with worry and anticipation.
Compared to the room I usually stayed in, this shabby accommodation was uncomfortable, but I had spent most of my life living like this, so it felt quite familiar.
Just as I began to drift away.
‘… I won’t be able to sleep comfortably.’
I let out a groan and opened my eyes wide.
The only light in the dark night came from the campfire outside. Even though the tent enclosed me, I could still feel it.
A warning tickled my senses, the smell of approaching beasts.
I silently grabbed my sword, focusing on the presence coming from the opposite tent. It seemed Leo had also woken up.
I held my breath, aiming at the direction of the approaching presence.
Suddenly.
Through the thin fabric of the tent, violet-colored eyes glimmered under the moonlight like something fluorescent.
Sizzle!
BANG!
As something sharp tore through the tent, I jumped up and drew my sword. A massive foot stamped down where I had been standing, shaking the ground violently.
Grrr…
The beast’s howl echoed low.
Fur shimmering mysteriously in the moonlight. It resembled a wolf but was about 1.5 times the size of a regular wolf. Its slit pupils were a captivating shade of violet.
Four Silver Wolf Beastmen surrounded Leo’s and my tent.
“Hey, are you awake?”
“I wasn’t even asleep in the first place.”
Leo peeked out of the tent, drawing his sword just like me. I sighed briefly and forced a friendly smile.
“Would you be willing to talk instead?”
Grrr!
One of the wolves howled loudly. It didn’t seem likely we could resolve this without a fight. I wasn’t disappointed because I had anticipated this part, but considering the ongoing issues, a groan escaped me.
“Then let’s start with a physical conversation.”
As the wolves’ fur bristled around us, I coated the blade with a black aura and bowed my head slightly.
“Nice to meet you. I am Kashmir Chrisis.”
GRAAAAH!
As I began my introduction, the wolves charged at us from all directions.