Live
It was just in time that I, along with Razelia, managed to wipe out the monsters attacking the knights.
However, her expression remained troubled as she stood beside me.
"…It seems we were a bit late."
It was understandable. We had rushed here as quickly as possible. However, the result was that Graniph Fortress, which had appeared to be quite sturdy, was now tragically half-destroyed, and the surrounding area was littered with the corpses of both knights and monsters, piled up in a gruesome manner.
We couldn’t exactly say we made it in time.
"But… we’re not completely too late. The knights haven’t given up yet. Right?"
"…Heh, Vanitas, are you trying to encourage me?"
"No. I'm just saying there are still things we need to do."
"You’re not very straightforward. But… thank you. Yes, there are still things to do. ———— Those guys, I suppose."
Both of us looked ahead. In the direction we were gazing, there was a dragon of overwhelming presence that could not be described with the word ‘giant’ alone, standing at the boundary between the Sealed Forest and the plains.
Its massive body, towering like a rugged mountain, and its spiked back. Scales shimmering like layers of accumulated ore, and its four thick legs pressing into the earth, causing it to sink and be buried.
The sheer mass was beyond imagination. As we approached, I could feel that every movement of the dragon caused the ground to tremble significantly.
Moreover, the path it had passed through was marked by deep ruts, exposing the bare earth.
A dragon that could alter the terrain merely by moving.
However… one thing that concerned me was the collar around the dragon's neck. If my memory serves me right, that was a "tamed monster collar," a kind of identification tag for controlled monsters.
Typically, a tamed monster collar is given to monsters that are controlled and are to be used as allies or means of transport, in order to prove they will not harm others. It serves as proof of ownership in places with many people, such as cities or towns.
…Could it be that such a massive being is under someone's control?
If so, the situation is far worse than I imagined.
…And yet, to think that a malevolent dragon truly exists in the Sealed Forest.
There are other issues as well.
Standing beside the dragon were three figures. Though I couldn't identify the owner of the collar, their relaxed demeanor and position suggest that they are likely the cause of this commotion.
One of them was a man sitting on a large, many-legged centipede, watching us with a look of amusement.
The man grinned with a twisted smile, watching us with a sickeningly unpleasant gaze as he looked at me and Razelia, who had just defeated the monsters attacking the knights.
The malice in his eyes and the dubious smile made it clear that he was not a decent person, even though we had just met.
The second person was a man draped in a reddish-brown robe, standing silently. His entire body was covered in tattered cloth, and he had even wrapped his face in it, making it impossible to discern any expression or emotion.
…Or maybe this is normal. Given the way the other two had caused such havoc and yet seemed to reveal their faces with no concern, I began to doubt my own perception.
However, I felt no sense of battle intent or emotional fluctuation from him. It was as if he had no interest in what was happening around him, completely indifferent.
In a way, he was the most eerie figure, alongside the dragon.
And lastly… there was a woman I recognized.
The same woman I had met in the hot springs late at night. Though our interaction had been limited to sharing the bath, I recalled her name was Elimes.
She seemed to notice me just recently, stopping her idle fiddling with her hair and discreetly waving her hand toward me.
But the expression on her face was far from friendly. It was more of a delighted grin, as if she had just found a new toy.
None of the three spoke a word. However, with the exception of the man in tattered rags, the other two observed us as if watching a spectacle, their eyes filled with a condescending curiosity about how we would struggle.
…It was infuriating.
"H-Her Highness… why are you here?"
Mackerin, who was severely injured to the point it was surprising he was still standing, could hardly believe that Razelia was here.
He was conflicted and puzzled, unable to comprehend why Razelia was in such a dangerous place. Though Mackerin knew her well enough to reach an answer, his mind was rejecting it.
"Why? Of course! I am the Imperial Princess! I will never abandon the loyal knights who dedicate themselves to the Empire!"
"Your Highness…"
"Mackerin, you’ve held out well. I’m sorry I’m late to witness your bravery with my own eyes. I apologize."
"W-What are you saying…? For the Princess to apologize…"
Mackerin, staggering suddenly due to blood loss, was quickly noticed by Razelia, who gently supported him and helped him sit on the ground.
"Your Highness… I’m sorry—"
"Here, take this."
"This… is a high-grade recovery potion meant for royalty. Why for someone like me!? This is something for the Princess alone, not for me…"
"Mackerin… I would be sad if you died."
"That is…"
"I anticipated that you would be angry about me coming here. But, Mackerin, I am who I am. I am the Princess… Razelia Luandor. Let me do what I can for what I hold dear. Live, Mackerin. I still need you to witness my achievements."
"Your Highness… Such… undeserved words…"
"Call me Razelia."
"Razelia…-sama…"
Mackerin, of course, probably did not want Princess Razelia to be here.
But I could see that his frustration was melting away. He must have remembered how stubborn and unpredictable she could be. He realized anew how foolish it was to oppose Razelia’s decisions.
Heh, I too am often at her mercy.
But well, this time it’s different.
As I listened to the conversation between Razelia and Mackerin, I had my own tasks to attend to.
The mysterious trio, including the dragon, showed no signs of moving. This was something I had already discussed with Razelia on the way here.
I needed to take care of what I had to do.
"You."
"Eh? Oh, yes. W-what is it?"
I called out to a young knight, likely a cat beastman, who was struggling against a Raging Ogre. Though he was still quite flustered by my sudden approach, he had a job to do now, so I hoped he would pull himself together.
"Here, take this."
"Ah, w-what are you doing!? …A magic bag?"
"Yes, it contains recovery potions."
"!?"
"It looks like there are still many who are alive. This magic bag has a considerable number of recovery potions. Use them."
"But…"
"Why hesitate? People are dying while you stand here. Look. The knights are desperately helping each other to cling to life."
A knight was helping a comrade trapped under rubble, unable to move. Another knight, sweating and looking about to collapse, was applying what seemed to be recovery magic on his forehead. A third knight, while heavily injured himself, was wiping blood and applying first aid to an injured comrade.
"The monsters are dead. There is no one now to hinder the rescue efforts. If you understand, act quickly. Time waits for no one."
"Y-Yes! Th-thank you!!"
The cat beastman knight, holding the magic bag, ran towards the injured knights.
For now, this should suffice.
The training in the Sealed Forest and the preparation of additional recovery potions proved to be beneficial. In reality, it was Christina who suggested this out of concern for me. I had said that such a large quantity wasn’t necessary, but…
…I’m always being helped by her.
Well, even if the situation here becomes more chaotic, it’s highly likely that many lives will still be saved. Additionally, the other members, including Christina, who went to the temporary base should soon arrive here with the knights stationed at the base.
Once they arrive, rescuing, evacuating, and dealing with any new monsters emerging from the forest will be manageable.
Yes, for now, it’s just me, Razelia, and… Hildegard.
Strictly speaking, there is one more person, but she doesn’t count in the numbers.
We had been heading to the deepest part of the Sealed Forest. Upon hearing a deafening roar that we presumed came from the dragon, and realizing that our destination was Graniph Fortress, we split into two groups.
one group, led by me, headed straight towards the dragon’s destination, while Christina and the others temporarily returned to the base to gather supplies and reinforcements.
As we followed the dragon, the closer we got to the deepest part, the more numerous and stronger the monsters became. It was impossible to pass through without engaging them, and we were further delayed by monsters fleeing in fear of the dragon, which obstructed our path.
Seeing the state of the fortress and Razelia's shocked reaction, I wished we could have arrived sooner. But there was no time for regrets now. We had to do what we could.
I surveyed the surroundings.
The remaining issue was the observers who were standing by…
"Hildegard… How are you? Can you fight?"
"…Yes, Master, I’m fine."
I spoke to Hildegard, who was noticeably different from usual.
She was staring fixedly at a single point.
Her gaze reflected nothing but the dragon.
Her lifeless, dull silver eyes were fixed on the ground—focused solely on the dragon.
This happened just a few minutes ago.
We were still in the Sealed Forest, discussing how to deal with the dragon.
"Hildegard, what’s wrong?"
"That, that monster…"
…I should have realized it sooner.
I should have been more suspicious when she fell weakly from the tree after climbing up for reconnaissance, especially after hearing the dragon’s roar on our way to the deepest part. I should have paid more attention to her unusual behavior.
She was acting strangely.
She was trembling.
The usually carefree Hildegard was frightened by something.
"Hilde? What’s wrong?"
"Hilde-nee, did you get hurt from earlier…"
"I caught her properly. But injuries… Hildegard, does anything hurt?"
The concern from everyone didn’t reach Hildegard.
She murmured as if she had lost her mind.
"That’s… not the same. But, similar? …No way…"
"Hildegard?"
"That’s… Mother’s—enemy?"
"!?"
As if overwhelmed by unbearable fear, she hugged herself tightly with both hands and stared into the empty void.
He, who was reborn as Vanitas, did not know.
The lower-class monster under the Eclipse Dragon, the Moon-Eclipsed Dragon, was the one that had destroyed Hildegard's homeland and killed her mother.
This was the fundamental reason why Hildegard had become a slave.
She was now facing that very enemy on this day.
A being that resembled her arch-enemy.