Chapter 149
－Entol Kingdom: Knight Commander POV－
Perhaps the excitement of seeing the phoenix has dulled the knights' sense of danger somewhat.
If we continue the investigation like this, someone could get hurt.
There's a clearing nearby, so let's use this spot.
The knights should calm down if we give them some time.
"Halt. We'll rest here for today."
We've walked quite a distance, but perhaps because of the excitement, I don't feel tired.
Like everyone else, I need to calm down as well.
"Deputy Commander, Aide, come with me while I check the area!"
"Yes, sir."
These two are good at responding, at least.
The deputy commander goes off the rails at once, and the aide is a little absentminded.
...Why did I choose these two?
"A lot has changed over the past month."
"...Ah, you took part in the investigation a month ago."
"...Commander, surely you haven't forgotten what your subordinates did?"
"Of course not..."
The deputy commander's stare is painful.
Looking around, I can see several rivers between the trees.
When I peer into the river, something transparent is there.
I can't see it, but it might be something called a spirit.
"There's something here, isn't there?"
Apparently, if my magic power were higher, I could see spirits a little more clearly.
But that's impossible for me right now.
I'd like to see one, even just once.
The moment a breeze blows past, I notice a presence approaching.
The deputy commander and I reach for our swords, while the aide reaches for their bow, and we scan the area.
Something is approaching us.
There are so many of them that I can't make out the whole group.
The influence of the Evil Eye has weakened, but it's still difficult to read magic power.
Because of that, I can't tell whether the approaching creatures are magical beasts, monsters, or familiars.
I've heard that familiars don't move in large groups.
Then is this a large group of monsters or magical beasts?
The aide draws their bow.
They're getting closer.
Rustling and the sound of my quickening heartbeat echo in my ears.
Something leaps out from behind a tree at almost the exact moment the aide looses an arrow.
The aide's face turns pale as they realize their mistake.
A beastfolk child emerges from behind the tree.
I try to protect the child with magic, but I'm too late!
The worst possible outcome flashes through my mind, but when the child is enveloped in white light, the arrow is knocked away just before it hits the child.
"Thank goodness."
I hear the aide's voice.
The deputy commander also seems to let out a deep sigh.
But I can't take my eyes off what lies before me.
...The sheer number of children appearing one after another from the depths of the forest.
...
"I'm exhausted."
There are 198 children.
The five- and six-year-old children were all slaves.
Without Kaju, who had once been a slave, we might never have gotten things under control.
How ironic that the commands used during his time as a slave proved useful here.
Several hours later.
The morning sun is shining through the forest.
I pulled an all-nighter... Phew.
"Excuse me."
A former slave named Kaju enters.
He had calmed the children down and listened to what they had to say.
"Thank you. I'm glad you were here, Kaju."
Kaju smiles happily.
The children were identified as slaves of the Emperas Kingdom by the slave marks on their backs.
However, a mage confirmed that all their slave marks had lost their power, just like Kaju's.
But these children differed from Kaju and the others in one major way.
They were being protected by someone.
That power had deflected the aide's arrow.
Who was protecting them?
Because the light was white, the mages were extremely eager to investigate.
I just hope the children aren't frightened.
"...Huh?"
What had they just said?
A monster had brought them food?
Um... According to the children, it seems a monster had been bringing them food.
...Could that really be possible?
"E-excuse me!"
One of the mages rushes into the tent, visibly excited.
"The magic protecting the children! Ah—the magic contained in the wind flowing through the forest is th-the same magic!"
Huh?
Is this guy all right?
"...Calm down. Say it again, slowly."
"W-well... Phew."
"The magic protecting the children and the magic in the wind flowing through the forest are similar, or rather, the same!"
Which is it?
"Is it the same, or is it similar?"
"They're so similar that I can't tell them apart! ...No, at that point, you could call them the same..."
No one could make a calm judgment in this state of excitement.
The wind flowing through the forest?
The records said that the wind flowing through the forest carried the magic of Yggdrasil.
...Hm?
...So does that mean Yggdrasil's magic was protecting the children?
Or maybe it's only similar.
Magic resembling Yggdrasil's... Could it be the Forest King?
...
"We're returning to the kingdom!"
Can I really handle this?!