As time passed, night fell.
We prepared for camp in a subdued atmosphere. It was full of inconveniences, unlike the Yellow City, where everything was abundant, but no one complained. While Sen tossed dry branches onto the fire, Belial simmered the stew with ingredients he'd received from the knights. Kyle's knights and the Blake knights fed their horses, spread out sleeping bags, and organized the vigil rota.
I looked at the knights, my expression slightly awkward. I hadn't expected them to follow him on the hunt. Apparently, they hadn't enlisted with Blake's forces as knights, but had offered their services on a personal level. They looked tired, but at the same time, they seemed willing. It demonstrated the deep trust Kyle commanded as a lord.
I opened the newly purchased . When I suddenly took out the books I had put in my inventory, the drivers looked at me curiously. This illustrated book will be a new product of the Love Love Corner.
Alright, alright. This was truly useful. Anything is meaningful only if you can use it. That's right. Strictly speaking, the itself wasn't a new product. Its content, however, was completely different from before, reorganized to focus on information about Eastern Demons and Ancient Monsters—precisely what was most needed in their current situation. Of course, changing its content had cost as many as three hundred hearts—a price that would have been flagship in the past...
"Your Highness."
"Yes."
[Current Holdings | ❤ ×699] [Current Holdings | ❤ ×703] [Current Holdings | ❤ ×707]
It climbs well. Part of me wanted to ask if I could exchange them for a miracle figure. It didn't seem like I'd run out of hearts anytime soon, so I'd be fine. I shook my head excitedly, saying it was nothing, and opened the book.
"Let's see..."
The beasts that primarily inhabited swamps and grassy forests often had a basic appearance derived from familiar animals. There were goats, frogs, wild boars, bears, and occasionally centipedes and even carps.
"It's not very different from the Northern Beasts. It's just a few more beasts that live in swamps and lakes..."
Kyle came closer to me and looked at the book together, then answered, "Most of the documented demons live near the territory, in the northernmost reaches of the North. Technically, this is also a northeastern forest, so it shouldn't be much different."
"The northernmost reaches of the North?"
"Yes. The plains and some forests are also considered the beginning. After that, from the fields, the snowy mountains, and the sea..."
"It's a completely different world."
Kyle asked with a cold smile, "Are you curious?"
"... Nope."
There are things in the world that hurt you if you know them. Of course, we will find out someday, but not now. When I flatly refused, he chuckled. Thanks to his laughter, I felt the tension ease slightly. He sat down next to me, as if his task was complete. I leaned my head on Kyle's shoulder, quickly reading the .
There were some unique beasts. As I turned the pages of the book, I pointed to the kobolds and said, "Are there kobolds in the North?"
"Yes. They're clustered in the ice mine. They are not very smart, but they are naturally tenacious, so once they become hostile, they're quite annoying. When they surround me tightly, I feel like I'm blocked by a bright blue wall."
I nodded and looked at the reference photo. The kobolds were small but looked venomous, and only the blue pupils in their sunken eyes shone sinisterly. However, the ones I was looking at were forest creatures, their overall skin color dark green, similar to beasts commonly found in forests. And on their long black nails...
"You should be careful of the kobolds in the eastern forest. Their nails carry a paralyzing poison. While I have an antidote, it spreads quickly."
At that moment, Belial's soft voice continued. "Individuals living deep in the forest are usually similar." He was right. In the , there was also a message telling people to be careful because the fingernails of kobolds in the Eastern Forest are poisonous. On another page, there was a warning about toxicity.
"Did you study demonology?" Sen asked. She was standing next to me, receiving the stew that Kyle was distributing.
Belial shrugged. "I thought I might be attending this 'hunt' someday. There's nothing wrong with being prepared." It was strange. His voice held no emotion, dry and distant, which made me feel even more bitter. What was it about the emperor that would make him throw away his one and only life? To be honest, it was hard to understand. The most urgent thing for me was always to survive. My pride, my momentary feelings, and some other ideals didn't feed me.
As I was thinking, Kyle took my portion of food and tasted it first, saying it was to check for poison. He smiled a little sweetly, so I said a little shyly, "Who would poison us all the way out here?"
He shook his head firmly. "Do you know who's the first to die in war?"
"Well, I don't know. Someone who doesn't even know their own limits?" It was Belial who provided the correct answer.
"The one who isn't nervous."
"..."
"This is especially true in this type of political contest. This isn't a fair duel; it's a game that ends when you eliminate your opponent by any means necessary. If you don't stay vigilant, you'll be stabbed immediately. On the battlefield, doubt is a duty."
Kyle added in a low-pitched voice, "There's a saying that the luckiest death in war is to be stabbed by the enemy's sword."
I felt strange. It was the princes of this empire explaining this. Even if they didn't become emperor, they would at least be granted the title of Grand Duke and live a comfortable life, wanting for nothing. Yet, both of them were suspicious, always confirming, and living with far more tension than anyone else.
'Living in poverty and harsh conditions is all the same...'
Afterward, we ate our portions in awkward silence. I didn't know what tomorrow would truly bring, so I had to eat and rest. Spurred on by our earlier conversation, I began to eat the stew with renewed enthusiasm. It's not just the opponent's sword that you need to be careful about. People can die from heat, cold, mountain animals, hunger, food poisoning, and exhaustion.
Kyle watched me, observing how well I ate, then offered me his portion of bread. I quickly pushed aside my thoughts and took it. After finishing my meal, I opened the illustrated book again and read the descriptions of "forest centipede," "one-horned deer," and "fir spirit." Kyle and Belial were there to share their experiences and knowledge. Sen, too, packed the things she needed for tomorrow, occasionally nodding or asking questions.
The night gradually deepened.
Before I knew it, my 'import' time was about to end.
"Divide into pairs and stand vigil. If a suspicious person approaches, kill them before they can report it." Belial's cold voice made the knights bow deeply and began to look around. I noticed them occasionally glancing our way, as if to check our safety, which made me unsure...
'It would be difficult to simply vanish right here.'
What should I do?
As I pondered this, Kyle patted my shoulder. "At night, your body temperature may drop. Drink this." Saying that, he handed me a glass, and I saw its contents: a warm drink. "It's safer if two people sleep together. Come to the sleeping bag over there."
...So, let's sleep together?
I looked up at Kyle, a slightly puzzled expression on my face, then understood his intentions when I caught his meaningful wink.
'Oh, no way.'
If I sleep next to him, I'll be covered by his size, and if I disappear in the middle, he won't notice immediately. I don't know when and where I'll need to consume miracle value, so it's better to save the cookies I bought for emergencies. However, I was still embarrassed to sleep with him. In any case, Kyle's proposal was the best choice in this situation.
I nodded and took a drink. It was as if the strong liquor was warming my throat from the tip of my tongue. I didn't finish it, but Kyle took the glass from me, emptied the rest of the drink, and gently pulled me by the hand.
Before I knew it, I was close to him in my spacious sleeping bag. The sleeping bag, which was carefully sewn with blankets, was perfect for concealment, so even if I went back to being a hamster right now, no one would know. But why did I not change immediately, and I stayed quietly in his arms for a while...
'...It's warm.'
It was warm. Kyle seemed to have a higher body temperature than the average person. It was also nice to hear his heart beating slowly. I hugged him carefully with a hesitant hand and rested my forehead on his shoulder.
"Your heart beats so slowly."
"Calm is a basic skill for those who fight."
I felt uncomfortable with that. My own heart was pounding so fast I felt its sound might leak out at any moment, yet he was calm. I looked up sheepishly, and in the darkness, Kyle offered a soft smile.
"Actually."
"..."
"My heart beats faster than usual now."
My murmur caught in my throat.
...You're running fast?Like me?
At that, my uneasiness melted away. I hadn't realized I wasn't the only one who felt so flustered. Instead of answering, I nestled my ear into his arm, listening to his heartbeat—a slow but clear sound. It was warm, soft, and friendly.
So I pretended not to know anything, burying my head as if I hadn't thought about what tomorrow would bring, and drifted to sleep.