Chapter 208. Blunder (3)
By the time they had passed through the dark city and reached the massive steel barrier surrounding the outskirts of the 19th outsourcing district.
The Dragoon corpsmen in charge of the inspection at the barrier gate stopped them, but upon recognizing Enoch at the front, they exchanged glances among themselves.
Then, without a word, they shook their heads and stepped back one by one.
It seemed they were soldiers who had been deployed under a separate order from the high command.
One of them gestured towards the path to the gate and said.
“You may pass. Good luck……? Huh?”
But the next moment, he looked behind Enoch and made a strange expression.
“A m-maid……?”
A step behind Enoch, the figure of a silver-haired maid quietly following him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The corpsmen stared at Lien with a blank expression for a moment.
It seemed that the fact that a maid was accompanying a solo operation was quite eye-catching.
Those who had been staring at Lien in a daze, when they saw Alicia, they hesitated and then averted their gaze.
Enoch did not miss that scene.
The reason why they, who were fellow Dragoon corpsmen, wouldn't even make proper eye contact with Alicia was obvious.
The mission Enoch was currently being deployed on was almost certainly seen as nothing short of an execution even among the Dragoon Corps.
“…….”
Glancing back at Alicia, who was walking a little behind, her expression was filled with tension.
“Alicia, are you alright?”
“Yes? Yes! I’m completely fine!!”
The Dragoon girl replied, startled. Her long, ash-brown hair bounced slightly on her back.
Judging by the fact that she didn't seem to have noticed the reputation of the mission, was she just focused on the operation at hand?
***
After leaving the dark outsourcing district, a long journey to the entrance of the forest continued.
Because of the rain that had poured down, his shoes were already soaked from brushing against the grass, and it didn't feel very good. The thick smell of earth after the rain filled his nostrils.
“I heard that this forest was used to extract resources from the 19th outsourcing district in the past.”
Alicia muttered with a slightly tense expression, looking at the surrounding scenery that was passing by.
Although she had become less talkative since the journey to the operation area began, perhaps because of the continuous silence, Alicia seemed a little anxious.
Of course, not many people could maintain their composure while heading into a dark forest full of magical beasts.
However, Enoch was looking into the darkness with a nonchalant face. He had become quite used to fighting in the dark.
Glancing to the side, Lien was also staring straight ahead, her blue-silver eyes shining emotionlessly.
Alicia, as if she wanted to change the silent atmosphere of the group, was chattering like a small bird with a cute voice.
“Ah! Come to think of it, this forest has been here since long before the Empire was founded, so it seems they used to extract naturally occurring mana stones. Since the Victoria domain is a main house of gem magic based on mana stones.”
“…….”
“But after the resources in the explorable areas of the forest were depleted, it seems this place was virtually abandoned. They only secure wood occasionally, but I heard that’s been rare recently too……”
After saying that far, Alicia suddenly leaned her upper body towards Enoch and puffed out her cheeks.
“Hey, are you all listening?”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
At Enoch’s answer, Alicia glanced at him and let out a sigh as if she was fed up.
As they continued to advance, the boundary of the vast forest gradually grew larger in the distance.
Soon, Enoch crossed the borderland of the outsourcing district and finally stepped into the forest, which was lined with giant trees.
At the entrance of the forest, there were the ruins of a small city that looked like it had been abandoned in the past, which he had seen during the previous battle.
Enoch walked on, relying on the light of his flashlight to read the map and compass and confirm his direction.
By the time his sense of time had become blurry from walking, he narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance, and he could faintly see the vast darkness created by the forest trees.
“Wow.”
For a moment, Alicia, who had even forgotten her sense of caution and was looking around, let out a small exclamation of admiration.
“I think after we pass these ruins, the forest that the colonel mentioned, where the experimental magical beasts are hiding, will officially begin.”
“I suppose.”
“By the way, I saw it when I came here last time, but the trees here are huge. It’s like a world of giants.”
Enoch also purely agreed with her words.
Enoch looked up with an expressionless face at the sight of the huge trees, which were at least 80 meters tall, soaring here and there and covering the sky.
In this world full of all kinds of mysteries and wonders, Enoch’s general common sense about terrain did not apply.
Even though it wasn't a proper jungle yet and was just the entrance of the forest, if he continued to walk like this, he felt as if his entire body would be overwhelmed.
“I guess it has to be this big for the 50-meter-tall Anarchilon to hide its body.”
“Umm, that’s probably true. But if it’s hiding in a forest this big, it would be hard to find it quickly.”
Enoch remembered Aslin’s explanation from before. From the moment the operation started, the time Alicia could be with them was limited.
Dozens of kilometers to the borderland of the forest.
Judging by the distance to and from, and the speed of their movement, the calculation was that they could return in a little less than half a day, but of course, it wouldn't be as easy as that.
No matter how well things went, it would take at least three times as long.
In other words, it was also a battle against time.
“We should hurry.”
“Yes. We have to be on guard for the surrounding experimental magical beasts, and even if we get out of here, the task of safely finding and defeating Indiviltal and returning alive remains.”
Alicia lowered her head slightly.
“I hope it goes well……”
After saying that far, she looked around with a worried expression and added.
“Umm, and the fact that it’s so dark around here also bothers me.”
With her hands clasped together, Alicia said, looking around cautiously.
“I wonder if it’s because they turned off all the lights in the outsourcing district so as not to provoke the magical beasts, but if we go into the forest like this, it’ll be hard to see ahead.”
“Certainly, we’ll have to move carefully at least inside the forest until the sun comes up.”
But contrary to that worry, the entrance of the forest, which they arrived at not long after, was not as dark as they had thought.
Not only were their eyes gradually getting used to the darkness, but since it was the entrance of the forest where the trees were not yet dense, the scenery was of bright, silvery moonlight pouring down between the branches.
In many ways, it wasn't that dark all around, but that impression seemed to apply only to Enoch.
“Ugh, it’s dark around here, it gives me the creeps.”
Suddenly, from the side, Alicia, as if she couldn't stand the atmosphere of the night forest, rubbed her arms.
Then, as if to change the atmosphere, she gave an awkward laugh and turned her head this way.
“Ahaha! On this occasion, shouldn't we get to know each other too? Let's at least introduce ourselves! I mean, we haven't had time to get to know each other while fighting……”
An introduction in this situation? Enoch let out a small laugh.
“Alicia, just in case.”
Looking at her eyes, which seemed to reveal everything, Enoch nonchalantly asked back.
“Are you scared of the dark?”
“Ugh……! Th-that’s!!”
It must have been a direct hit, as Alicia’s face turned beet red and she fidgeted with her hands.
Then, as if she was embarrassed that her inner thoughts had been revealed, she closed her eyes tightly and shouted.
“I-it’s true. But I’m serious about wanting to know more about you, Lord Enoch! And there’s something I’m very curious about too!”
“You’re curious about me? What is it?”
At those words, Alicia’s eyes snapped open. Then, she turned to Enoch and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Your magic, Lord Enoch!”
At the sudden, direct question, Enoch flinched slightly and looked back at Alicia.
Her clear blue eyes, which met his beyond her long, ash-brown hair that was shining in the moonlight, were sparkling with anticipation. To an almost burdensome degree.
“I-I’ve heard a lot of rumors about you, Lord Enoch. That you’ve manifested an incredibly powerful unique magic! But I haven’t seen you fight directly in this operation!”
Was it because she was genuinely curious and not just saying it? Alicia’s figure, leaning her upper body forward and asking.
However, Enoch nonchalantly faced her and shook his head.
“Well, you won't regret asking, will you?”
“Huh?”
“I’m sure you’ve also heard some bad rumors about me.”
“Bad rumors?”
“Yes, for example……”
Enoch paused his steps for a moment and leaned his head close. Then, he deliberately stared at her with cold eyes and whispered.
“Something like, I might have dabbled in some unknown, evil black magic.”
However, Alicia replied immediately with a bright expression.
“Ah! I don’t think that’s true!”
“……Huh?”
It was such a refreshingly firm statement. To be honest, it was such an unexpected answer that even Enoch couldn't help but tilt his head with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
He had thought of scaring her a little so that she wouldn't be able to dig in any further, but it seemed to have had no effect.
Feeling like he had been hit with a good one, Enoch tilted his head and asked.
“……That was a quick answer. On what basis?”
“Ah, well, you see? My mom used to say that people involved with black mages are all selfish!”
Enoch tilted his head with a faint smile.
“Does that mean I don't look like that?”
“Yes! Of course!”
Alicia said with a bright smile.
At her innocent gaze, Enoch, who had lost his momentum, let out a small sigh without realizing it.
From Sirocco, who relied on her beast-kin senses, to Alicia. Was it just his imagination that the girls around him seemed to have amazing insight?
“……Somehow, Equistelle said something similar last time. I can certainly see who you learned from.”
“Of course! She’s my proud teacher!”
Alicia, who clenched her fists with a pure expression. Enoch, who was staring at her, who seemed to not have properly understood the meaning of his words, slightly changed the subject.
“Come to think of it, you’ve only been calling me ‘Direct Lineage Member’ since the battle started. Is there a reason?”
“Ah! Well, since I’ll be joining the Direct Lineage Member’s follower family soon on my teacher’s recommendation, I thought it would be better to be formal.”
“Formal? You can be comfortable with that.”
Enoch shrugged his shoulders, thinking of Sirocco.
“After all, the dependent who’s living in my room is also far from polite.”
“Huh? A dependent?”
“Um, well……”
Just as Enoch was wondering how to respond to that, Alicia asked Lien.
“Um. Maid, do you happen to know what that means?”
Lien, who was walking quietly a step behind Enoch, glanced at her and replied.
“Currently, the Young Master is living together in the same room with a member of a follower family.”
“L-living together in the same room?!”
At those words, Alicia’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, for some reason, her gaze turned to Enoch and her shoulders began to tremble.
“N-no way. Then, could it be that the ‘rumors’ about the Direct Lineage Member are true……?”
“Rumors, you say.”
Alicia’s cheeks turned beet red and she made an expression as if she was hesitant to answer. Then, after glancing at me a few times, she turned her head away and shouted.
“W-well! That the Direct Lineage Member gathers all the beautiful girls of the squad and enjoys the black magic of the night—!!”
“What? Black magic of the night?”
Enoch stared at her blankly.
Black magic of the night? He had no idea what kind of rumors were being twisted and spread.
But Alicia, her face still beet red, began to mutter as if she was on a rampage.
“And that the only thing you look at when recruiting squad members is their face, so as long as they’re beautiful, you’ll extend your demonic hands to anyone, whether they’re a dangerous beast-kin or a saintess who is an idol of The Order, you lecher……!!”
“No, that can't be. There are rumors like that?”
Enoch, who was so dumbfounded by the unimaginable rumors, shook his head.
Apart from his reputation having gone up, it seemed that such cheap rumors were also spreading like wildfire. To make matters worse, the fact that there were some truths mixed in, such as the beast-kin and the saintess, was even more troublesome.
But as if her curiosity was further piqued by Enoch’s denial, Alicia leaned her head forward.
“Ah! I-it’s true, right? You’re really not that kind of pervert, are you, Direct Lineage Member?”
A pervert, she says. Enoch let out a small sigh.
“If you’re curious, you can ask them yourself.”
Perhaps the truth was being strangely distorted and spread due to the vague information control imposed by the main house.
Even though he knew that such rumors could spread, he still felt a little wronged. Being accused of being a black mage was enough, but he had never heard of the black magic of the night before.
But as if that wasn't enough, Alicia leaned her head forward and asked.
“But there are so many beautiful women around you! If the rumors really aren't true, are you not interested in any of them, Lord Enoch?”
“Isn't that question a little too extreme?”
Enoch replied with a bitter smile.
But as she said, the girls around Enoch were all women who could be called peerless beauties.
From Lien, to Sirocco, Saintess Amelia, and then April and the engineer Nano. And the same went for Lily, the nun who had been half-forced to participate in this mission.
Although it was easy to forget due to their talents and outstanding skills, even Enoch would hold his breath at the dazzling sight of Lien and Sirocco standing together, or Nano and April together.
So, was that why the rumors were spreading even more? With that thought, Enoch shook his head to clear his mind.
“So, where did you see that kind of thing?”
“In a r-romance magazine.”
Seeing that it contained such content, was it some kind of third-rate magazine that exaggerated gossip to attract people's attention? Enoch let out a small sigh.
“It's all baseless rumors, so don't believe it. It seems to be a magazine without any proper information.”
“B-but it was fun.”
“A romance magazine like that?”
“Yes!”
Alicia said that and, as if to make up for her previous words, confessed hesitantly.
“A-actually, when I was living in my hometown in the countryside, there were no boys my age, and I’ve never been in a relationship at the officer’s academy either, so I was interested in that kind of thing……Ugh!”
Alicia, who was laying out her love life on her own, suddenly seemed to realize it and, turning to Enoch, her face turned beet red.
“Ah! W-what are you making me say!”
“I didn't say anything.”
Enoch almost smiled as he watched the cute behavior of the Dragoon girl, who was doing everything on her own.
Alicia, who was looking around in a flustered manner, soon glanced at Enoch and smiled bashfully.
“I’m sorry. This is my first solo operation, so I think I got a little excited. And……. After this mission is over, I’m supposed to join Lord Enoch’s follower family, so I got interested.”
“I would have been the same. I understand.”
“Ehehe, although it’s not my place to say that since I couldn't join the follower family during this operation……”
“That doesn't matter, but.”
Enoch added, facing her.
“There’s one thing I’m worried about.”
“Huh? Worried?”
To Alicia, who was tilting her head, Enoch faced her with a nonchalant expression.
“To put it another way, Alicia, you might also have such rumors with me. Are you okay with that?”
At those words, Alicia’s face immediately turned beet red and she shook her head from side to side.
“S-such rumors? But that’s only for very pretty and sophisticated young ladies like the members of Lord Enoch’s follower family……”
“No, I’m talking about you now.”
For a moment, Alicia was startled and, with wide eyes, looked up at me.
Enoch nonchalantly stared at her and added.
“Alicia, you’re pretty from the start, so I don’t think it would be strange if the same rumors spread after you join the follower family.”
“Huuuh!!”
At that, for some reason, Alicia’s entire cheeks turned redder, as if a ‘pop’ sound could be heard, and she stared at me intently.
Then, she opened her lips blankly.
“Ah! T-that……. A-are you really serious?”
“Is there a problem?”
Enoch tilted his head.
As if she didn't even know that her speech had turned into her dialect, she momentarily looked at me with her reddened cheeks and began to shake her head from side to side.
Then, as if she was very confused, she slapped both of her hands on her cheeks and muttered.
“I-I’m, I’m pretty……. Th-that’s……”
“I didn't lie. I just told the truth.”
Enoch replied calmly. At that, for some reason, Alicia couldn't even make eye contact and whipped her head away.
“U-ugh. How embarrassing……”
Enoch, who was staring at the muttering Alicia, suddenly noticed her state and smiled faintly.
“Judging by the way you’re talking, are you a little less scared of the dark than before?”
“Hah!!”
She, as if she had come to her senses, lightly covered her mouth once. Then, with an awkward smile, she looked back at Enoch.
“I-I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern, I think I was a little nervous because of the previous battle. Ahaha……”
“Nervous, you say.”
“Yes. I couldn't help it.”
Alicia lowered her head slightly. Her clear blue eyes deepened a little.
“When I thought about this battle, a struggle for survival between the Monarch-class magical beast legion called Anarchilon and the citizens of the 19th outsourcing district, I just…”
Enoch silently looked at her.
He hadn't thought that the girl from the Dragoon Corps, who were called an elite force, was simply afraid of the dark because of her soft heart, but now he could see a little.
Had Alicia been under some kind of pressure ahead of this mission?
“It’s okay.”
Enoch said, glancing at her.
“I have no intention of losing to the magical beasts.”
“Yes! The people of this city will also be pinning their hopes on us.”
Alicia’s eyes sparkled.
“Because they must be thinking that we will win the battle and protect the outsourcing district!”
Alicia, who had muttered softly as if to realize the situation once again, soon turned her head. Then, she faced Enoch with a determined gaze.
“So, we can never lose!!”
“That’s a good attitude.”
Enoch added that and looked to the side.
“And perhaps, we’re not the only ones who don’t want to lose this battle.”
At the same time, Alicia, who had noticed Enoch’s gaze, drew her Bombardment Lance and, pivoting on her left foot, spun half a turn, aiming the spear at the side as if to stab, and pulled the trigger.
Tuuuuuung!!
An orange flash raced through the thick rocks, pierced something, and exploded.
Alicia, who had lightly swung the lance that was emitting white smoke, slammed it into the ground.
At that timing, the darkness was brightly illuminated by the flash scattered by the bombardment, and it lit up the gap between the rocks.
A human-shaped magical beast. It had the appearance of wearing black armor, but its body was as inorganic as a rock, and a green light was leaking from the gaps in its carapace.
Even though it was a bombardment with its scale extremely suppressed, the magical beast, whose heart area had been completely blown away, slammed its head forward and collapsed.
Alicia said, glaring at it.
“They’re experimental magical beasts. Are they scouts set up by the resting magical beast horde?”
“That would be so. We have to break through this area anyway.”
Enoch nodded his head and looked around.
In the darkness of the forest before them, the various forms of the ambushing magical beasts were being revealed one by one, glowing with a green light.
Lien, with her silvery hair fluttering in the darkness, silently took a step forward and stood in front of Enoch.
And from Enoch’s side, Alicia stepped forward and, aiming her huge Bombardment Lance, shouted.
“Let’s deal with them as we move!”