Chapter 30: Evernode. (4)

"We're going to see the outside of the walls before we even see the inside of the castle."

My horse whinnied and trotted as if to answer me. I stroked its neck and mounted it. Around me, the people of Patrol Area One were ready. I, Georg, Daphne, Marianne, two soldiers from Evernode, and Archduke Quenor. While the members of the Hero party checked our equipment, the northerners stood outside the stables watching us prepare.

"It will be a different world from what we've traveled through. We will get to see the true face of the North."

Georg said. In his hands was a massive round shield. It resembled a small rampart made of rare metal. He held a morning star in his right hand that matched the image.

"I'm sure there will be quite a few monsters you've never heard or seen before."

"Of course. The climate is colder here, so animals like white wolves, ravens, trolls... there was also that stag that was hard to catch."

Georg's eyes widened in surprise as I named some creatures here. Somehow, he looked even more surprised than when Daphne had awakened her magic and when I'd shown the first stage of the Holy Sword. I smirked at his stunned expression.

"We'll still have to be wary of the 'crawlers.' With Archduke Quenor in our midst, we'll be safe from whatever comes our way, but if we're going to make a good impression, we'd better be on the lookout for those hidden dangers, right?"

Georg's mouth fell open even further, now truly at a loss for words.

"Wait... Elroy, since when do you go into such detail... I don't remember ever telling you about some of the monsters you mentioned."

I shrugged and lightly kicked the horse's flank.

"I had done some research."

"...What."

Georg's mouth fell open even further, now truly at a loss for words. Daphne fell in step beside me with a puzzled expression. She was bundled up in a winter coat with a fluffy fur hat.

"Those are monsters I've never heard of before."

"Many of them are unique, meaning you must be wary whenever you enter combat. Marianne, I need to teach you too, so why don't you come here?"

I briefly explained to the two of them the nature of northern monsters and how the northerners hunt them. I also discussed our role on this patrol. They didn't seem too concerned about how I had gotten this information.

After filling Daphne and Marianne in on the information, I called for Georg, who was alone in the stables, looking dazed. He said he had experience with northern dispatches, so I did not have to brief him on everything. He shook his head so hard it threatened to rip off his helmet, reined in his horse, and moved behind me. Archduke Quenor wasted no time mounting his horse after Georg got on his own horse.

We wasted no time at the outer gate. When the soldiers saw us coming, they all assumed their positions, ready to open the gates. A knight who was with us ordered in an echoing voice.

"Open the gates!"

Without a moment's delay, the grates creaked and slowly began to lift. Beyond the bars that blocked our view, we could see the outer road leading straight ahead. We urged our horses along, the Archduke leading the way.

The outer road led to a gentle ascent, a continuation of the way we had come. It wasn't as steep as the bottom of the mountain, carved by years of blizzards and rainstorms. Turning my head to the left, I saw that the mountain line continued in a series of high and low ridges, all covered by a vast coniferous forest with a canopy of trees. Looking back again, the citadel of Evernode seemed to be the dividing line between this landscape and the one before it.

"This is spectacular."

I let out an unfiltered exclamation. When I think of the North, I think of it covered in snow in winter, so seeing it in summer when the snow has melted was a breath of fresh air. In the original story, it was winter when Arjen came to the North. 'The North was greener than I thought. I took a deep breath and smelled the clean scent of northern air.

(It's been a while since I've been here.)

I could hear Holy Sword's sentiments as well. I wondered if there was a time when it had been active in the north.

(I have seen everything, and the northern summer is no exception.)

The emphasis on the phrase "northern summer" made it clear that he found the scenery very impressive. As I stared at the panoramic view of the north, Archduke Quenor came up beside me.

"People think Evernode is made of snow and ice."

The Archduke's voice rang out, his words filled with unmistakable pride.

"I wonder how many have spent a full year in the North."

I could feel the pride. I shook my head in recognition. I looked at the rest of the party, and they had the same look on their faces. If I looked in the mirror, I would likely see a similar expression on my face. The Archduke allowed me to take in the scenery momentarily before setting off again.

"Patrol area one begins here."

He jerked his chin toward the forest leading inward.

"The area is from here to where the 'horizon' is barely visible. Measure the distance and mark it down."

Even though I already knew this, I meekly listened to Archduke Quenor.

"Look for anomalies, and slay any monsters in your path."

With that brief announcement, the Archduke turned toward the forest, but his brow narrowed at seeing our formation. It was more of a puzzled look than a disapproving one, a look that said, "What are these idiots doing?"

"Why is the heavy armor knight with the shield at the front alone while you and the spearwoman stand at the back? Shouldn't the wizard stand behind you so you can protect them from being attacked?"

I shrugged.

"If we patrolled any other area, I would, but this is the northern forest. Doesn't it make sense to put the most perceptive among us at the back?"

"...And why?"

I stared off into the deep forest. The sun shone brightly in the sky, but the day was chilly, and the forest ahead was deep and dark. The forest was beautiful from a distance, but a creepy feeling slowly crept up my spine as I got closer.

"We're looking out for 'crawlers.' They're as powerful as the Ashen Bear but more cunning than the ravens and faster than a fleeing hare, and they usually follow their prey silently and then ambush them."

I gestured toward Daphne.

"To protect a mage vulnerable to surprise, it makes sense to have at least two people behind him who can react quickly. Scouting doesn't have to be done from the front. Anyways I trust Georg enough to notice any traps ahead of us."

Archduke Quenor's eyes shifted from suspicion to surprise as he realized what I was saying was true. Though he quickly returned to his expressionless face.

"...You are quite knowledgeable."

"My life as an adventurer before I became the Hero was by no means wasted."

'I definitely didn't waste my time reading novels.' I enjoyed his reaction, feigning nonchalance.

"Let us begin our patrol. Remember to be ever vigilant."

And with that, we headed out into the forest, the light and shadow engulfing us.

***

At first, Quenor was surprised when the Hero talked to him, his calm demeanor and intelligence contradicting the rumors he had heard while gathering information. I was surprised when he mentioned the 'horizon.' While it was a well-known concept in the Capital, almost none knew it was slowly approaching

I thought to myself, 'No, he's the Hero. He should know this.'

But the surprise was short-lived. I may have underestimated the hero in my heart after only hearing rumors in the first place. Even when I deliberately tried to trap him during the conversation, he let it go as if he already knew what I was doing.

It dispelled some of my doubts about the Hero.

"To protect a mage vulnerable to surprise, it makes sense to have at least two people behind him who can react quickly. Scouting doesn't have to be done from the front. Anyways I trust Georg enough to notice any traps."

The next day, I wanted to test his capabilities on the battlefield. The Hero who led the patrol acted as if he had done it many times before. It would have been easy to just go with the usual stable formation, but instead, he carefully laid out the patrol path, calculating the variables and risks. Along the way, he revealed his wealth of knowledge about monsters.

'...He doesn't seem to be someone to be underestimated.'

A few rumors about the Hero have been erased from my mind again.

But that wasn't the end of it.

"Hero, do you recognize those creatures?"

"A pack of white wolves. Georg has told me about them many times. If we take too long, the pack will gather, so we'd better act quick and kill them."

And with that, the silver-haired woman, expressionless and wordless at the warrior's command, swept the white wolves away with her spear. Her swift and decisive movement would even catch me off guard.

Of course, her spearmanship was terrific, but what was most surprising was the Hero's connection to his companions. The way he discussed strategy with the knight named Georg, the trust in the wizard's eyes as she glances at him, and the unconditional trust from the spearwoman to carry out his commands. It made it seem like his former companions were at fault.

Dismounting from his horse for a moment, the Hero looked around. He looked at the unnaturally fallen tree.

"There must be a troll nearby. The ground is disturbed, and several healthy trees have fallen with broken trunks. We should proceed with caution.

Accurate. The Hero's sharp eyes seemed to follow the trail, and not long after his warning, a troll appeared and roared. 'Is this something Georg taught him?'

"...A troll has appeared. Do you think you can defeat it, Hero?"

"I've already told you, so I won't give you an answer. However, I'll go ahead."

Without hesitation, he drew his Holy Sword and attacked the troll. His movements were less fluid and skillful than the spearwoman's, but he fought the troll easily and efficiently.

He moved into the troll's range as it flailed its arms wildly and pierced the relatively weak-jointed hind legs. As the troll reeled, he used his other leg to quickly move behind it and cut halfway through its ankles. The wound was placed on the other leg so it could not balance itself.

The Hero then howled and leaped on the writhing troll's back. The blade of the Holy Sword sank deep into the troll's skin.

"He's much stronger than I thought...."

How many people could take on a troll like that single-handedly without using aura? Moreover, he used his experience and intelligence as an adventurer to efficiently kill the monster. It might not be enough to defeat the Disasters and save the world, but it was enough to stir the hearts of Evernode's soldiers.

"...Why and how are rumors against him made?"

A knight at Quenor's side muttered.

"...Indeed."

The image of the Hero stepping on the troll's decapitated head was something they would not forget.