Chapter 105

The most important thing when fighting is the weapon.

No warrior on the battlefield carries a sword with all its teeth missing.

That would be literally insane behavior.

The same was true for Leandros.

The sword he had at the beginning of the novel was, at best, just an ordinary sword.

Even with the Leandros buff, while it might be possible to handle demonic beasts, it would still be burdensome to kill a god with it.

So he first planned to gather manpower from the east, but.

"Say it again. What did the heir to the Aisling Merchant Group say?"

"He said that since he couldn't find any basis in what Your Grace stated, he would like to visit later and discuss the matter at leisure."

That meant he wasn't coming, didn't it?

It was surprising that he would ignore the Duke's proposal, and even after reading it, he had the audacity to stick to his business in the east?

Something was strange.

Let him think slowly again.

In his second life, when he had passed information to Aiden, Aiden had been convinced based on the evidence he had built up that the east was dangerous.

And in the previous iteration, although there was no evidence that the east was dangerous, he had come running as soon as he received his letter.

Perhaps, then.

"...Is he not even suspicious yet?"

Maybe it was natural, since he was gradually advancing the timing of meeting each character in every iteration.

It would be similar to how Amelia, whom he met earlier than planned, had not yet let down her guard.

At this point, there were no signs that the east was dangerous.

Everything was going smoothly.

The eastern business was managed by the royal palace with substantial financial support, a national enterprise that anyone would find credible.

That's why Aiden was also in a state of having no interest in them.

He gestured to dismiss the servant from the bedroom and looked at Aiden's reply again.

Though the writing seemed infinitely courteous, the intention that occasionally peeked through was clear.

How could he bring this fox-like fellow over?

How could he provide evidence about the pit to someone who believed the east would be peaceful...

'Wait a moment.'

His eyes snapped open.

He could just create evidence.

He already knew how the pit was dangerous and what lived inside it.

Then all he needed to do was find a way to make it go berserk, right?

In the previous iteration and the one before that, he didn't know what kind of conviction Aiden had gained, but anyway, he just needed to give him the idea that the pit was dangerous.

Indeed, a change in perspective was important.

It felt like his perspective had turned about 270 degrees, but what did that matter?

He threw off the blanket and extended his feet out of the bed.

With each regression, his physical condition was getting worse, so he had been trying to move as little as possible, but.

In a situation like this, there was no choice.

When he stepped outside the door, a maid who had been moving sheets from a distance hurriedly approached.

She was one of the commoner employees that Arndt had brought in from the village while undertaking the renovation of the castle.

What was her name again?

"Your Grace, if you walk around barefoot, your feet will get injured. If you go back, I'll bring you some indoor shoes."

"No, it's fine. That's not an important issue. More importantly, where is Leandros?"

"If you're looking for the knight, I believe he went out to help with the patrol near the castle earlier."

"Call him. Tell him I want to see him in the reception room."

Oh my, he needed to bring Russel back quickly too.

This side was also suffering from severe labor shortage.

Not long after he sent the maid, Leandros came to the reception room.

"I heard you called for me."

"Change of plan from what I mentioned last time. It seems we'll have to go directly to the east."

"Did a reply come from the Aisling Merchant Group? It seems they said they won't come."

"Yes. I was a bit surprised at first, but thinking about it, it makes sense from Aiden's perspective. So I'm planning to go to the east to check the situation."

"But if Your Grace makes the journey in person, wouldn't it seem like you're being taken lightly?"

"That's an issue that can be resolved if Aiden doesn't discover me, right? Don't worry. No one will see me."

"Conversely, are you saying I can be seen?"

"That does seem to be the case. Why, don't you like it? Should I exclude you?"

"Not at all. I have no complaints. If I can prioritize Your Grace's safety."

Leandros spoke with a serious expression.

Though it wasn't new, Leandros truly had a strong single-minded nature.

For a person like this to leave him in the previous life, what kind of mistake had he made?

He should reflect, reflect.

"Then when should we depart?"

"Since Your Grace has never ridden a horse, if we need to procure a carriage, it will take about two days."

"No. I know how to ride a horse."

"...Your Grace, a horse?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

He had never learned horseback riding, but how much time had he spent just hanging onto Sleigh's back?

He slightly stroked the horn hanging around his neck while looking at the disbeliever who was sending a gaze that said, 'That can't be right.'

Doubt all you want, you.

"If preparations are possible, we can depart even tonight. Moving under cover of darkness is the norm for intruders."

"Considering the mountain paths, wouldn't it be better to depart during the day?"

"But we need to move around in the east at night, don't we?"

"I don't quite understand what you've been saying so far."

Leandros observed him with a peculiar expression.

Seeing his face that seemed to wonder if he might be making some big misunderstanding, he couldn't help but laugh.

He muttered sourly.

"Even just to be thoroughly prepared, it will take more time."

"Not necessary. You don't need to bring water or food."

Leandros was visibly perplexed by this radical statement, but it didn't matter.

He drove the point home.

"We depart from the castle gate when the sun has completely set. Don't be late."

* * *

There was nothing in front of the empty castle gate.

No carts, no horses, not even employees waiting to see them off.

Only torches quietly illuminated the vicinity.

Leandros stood there alone.

Though a faint yellow remained at the edge of the sky after sunset, the surroundings were already wrapped in darkness.

He still didn't understand his master's decision.

Why would he choose to move in such a dangerous state, without any supplies?

Had he acquired some artifact that would aid their travel?

While making various conjectures, he faintly sensed a presence.

Arenheit had just come out of the castle and was walking towards him.

His gait was peaceful, like someone out for an evening stroll.

"Sorry I'm late. Without Arndt, I couldn't find where I'd put my cloak."

"I was merely waiting ahead of time. Now that you're here, shall we go to the stable and select a horse?"

"No. I already have a horse to ride to the east."

Saying this, Arenheit pulled out the horn hanging around his neck.

Wasn't that the former Duchess's relic that had been kept by Lady Arnold?

It was a half-horn, and there was doubt whether it could even make a sound, but Arenheit put it to his lips and blew.

A small wind sound was made.

It wasn't a loud enough sound to call anything.

Even Leandros, standing next to him, could barely hear it.

Whatever Arenheit had been trying to attempt, it had probably failed, Leandros surmised and was about to open his mouth when.

Something moved in the darkness.

For a moment, Leandros thought his eyes were deceiving him.

The outline of a strange phenomenon as big as a massive tree caught Leandros's eye.

However, it gradually diminished, and from the shadows where even the torch's light couldn't reach, the faint sound of hooves was heard.

Fiery red eyes reminiscent of charcoal buried in fresh ash.

A black body, blacker than anything in the world and gleaming with luster.

Equally black mane and horsehair.

Like it was made from darkness itself, a perfect horse appeared.

"Sleipnir."

When Arenheit called out with full joy, the horse immediately approached him.

It was a horse that had never been seen in the Hartmann stable and had no reins attached.

Leandros instinctively sensed that it wasn't a real horse.

"Your Grace, what is that?"

"It's something my mother, the former Duchess, left for me. It's not dangerous, and it's a good fellow, so don't worry. You'll ride it a lot in the future too."

As the horse called Sleipnir lowered its posture, Arenheit mounted its back, which didn't even have a saddle.

Then he looked down at Leandros.

After a moment's hesitation, Leandros mounted behind Arenheit.

Arenheit, now the rider of the horse, stroked the mane and whispered.

"Let's go to the eastern wastelands. I'd prefer a place without people if possible, not the forest. You understand, right?"

-Neigh!

Responding with a high-pitched cry, the horse ran straight ahead.

Leandros, thinking they would hit the wall, hastily pulled Arenheit towards himself.

However, instead of a strong impact, there was an unpleasant sensation as if they were being sucked into somewhere.

There was no time to say anything.

And the next moment.

The place where he opened his eyes was not Hartmann Castle.

A vast expanse of wasteland,

Small torches twinkling here and there, and people still bustling about.

A land like a crater, faintly rising in the distance.

Only the moon hung eerily in the cloudless sky.

"What, is this."

Leandros muttered blankly.

Was this a dream? That couldn't be.

The lukewarm air of the east, the smell full of dust, could be clearly felt.

Arenheit pointed to the crater and said.

"That's what's called a pit. Demonic beasts are appearing from there. It's also the core of the wasteland project."

"Should we destroy it?"

"No. You have a separate task."

Arenheit's hand moved.

Not far away, there were tents, torches, and people bustling about.

"That should be the outpost. You go and evacuate the people in advance. Convince them that demonic beasts will soon emerge from the pit, and they need to leave right now."

"I don't think they will readily follow my suggestion."

"Then you protect them."

"Protect... did you say?"

"Yes. Protect those who couldn't escape, those who don't want to escape. It shouldn't be that difficult. I'll be there soon."

Not to kill, but to protect.

Leandros dismounted with a puzzled feeling.

It seemed like walking would be sufficient to reach the outpost.

As Leandros headed towards the outpost, Arenheit commanded the horse.

"Let's go above the pit. Can you run without being noticed?"

-Snort.

The horse carrying Arenheit unhesitatingly followed its rider's command.

The grass the hooves passed over wasn't even bent.

For a horse that ran like a gentle breeze, climbing over the pit wasn't that difficult.

A narrow piece of land where barely one person could stand.

Standing on it, Arenheit looked down into the pit.

The abyss he was peering into after a long time wasn't particularly welcoming.

"...Unpleasantly."

Muttering like that, Arenheit rolled up his sleeve.

His white arm was exposed under the night sky.

Without a moment's hesitation, Arenheit bit and tore his wrist with his teeth.

A bloody taste rushed into his mouth.

After spitting the torn flesh into the pit with a "ptui," he let the blood flowing over his palm drip into the hole.

It was something he had learned from Crown Prince Yurik once.

Arenheit remembered the moment when the southern god, which hadn't awakened despite countless mermen being sacrificed, was awakened just by offering his eyeball.

Then his blood would surely have an effect too.

As if responding to his expectation, a cool and disgusting wind blew from the hole.

[Star... flight... open eyes...]

An ominous sound that bubbled up. A harrowing cry that seemed to resonate directly through the mind.

Arenheit withdrew his hand.

Now it was time for the protagonist to shine.