ISGJV 66

Chapter 66

Our footsteps grew quicker and lighter.

It was only natural. Until now, we had been wandering around without even knowing the exact location of Lamberto Castle.

‘But now it’s different! We know the direction for sure, and we’re heading straight for it!’

After confirming the castle’s location, Juto seemed to be feeling much more energized as well.

The speed at which he climbed trees to periodically check the castle’s position became noticeably faster.

After coming down from what must have been the third or fourth check, Juto smiled and said,

“Castle! Bigger!”

As he said that, Juto held up his thumb.

Earlier, when he had first spotted the castle, he said it had been no bigger than a fingernail.

This was truly a huge improvement.

“Do you think we can reach it before sunset?”

“I don’t really know. I didn’t see it directly, and even if I had, I wouldn’t be able to judge the distance.”

“I guess so.”

Edmund and I let out deep sighs.

But compared to before, both of us got up much more quickly.

Our expressions were far brighter, and our arms and legs moved faster.

That was how strongly our hope was driving us forward.

We walked diligently for half a day.

Except for when Juto climbed trees to check the castle’s position, we barely rested at all.

And just as the castle had grown considerably larger—

A terrible obstacle lay in wait before us.

In the middle of a vast subarctic coniferous forest that spread out like the sea, a single white rocky mountain rose high into the air.

Standing atop that chalk-white rock was Lamberto Castle.

It was the northernmost castle not only in the Kingdom of Pfalz, but on the entire continent.

The long, towering gray wall that spread out from the castle served as the final shield protecting the human world from monsters.

Because of this, the House of Lamberto was called the “Shield of White Chalk,” and used a white shield as its family crest.

That very Lamberto Castle was now filled with turmoil.

“Please, please let me see the Duke!!! I am Willis Baltin! A mage who studied abroad in the Mage Kingdom under the patronage of the late Lady Munisa and the Duke!”

Covered in blood and soot, looking like a rag used to wipe ashes, Willis shouted desperately.

Beside him lay Miriam, Kasia’s nanny, unconscious and barely breathing.

The two who had volunteered to act as bait to protect their respective masters had not only barely survived, but had actually arrived at Lamberto Castle first.

Though they did not know it, this was a butterfly effect caused by Kasia setting the carriage on fire.

The burning carriage eventually sparked a fairly large forest fire.

Nearby monsters were drawn to the flames like moths.

Thanks to that, both Kasia’s group and Willis’s group were able to minimize direct encounters with monsters.

Even so, the number of monsters Willis had to deal with—having volunteered as bait—was far greater.

To handle the forest fire and eliminate the monsters drawn by it, the Knights of Lamberto were dispatched in force.

By their hands, Willis and Miriam were saved and brought to the castle alive.

And the moment Willis regained consciousness, he began thrashing about like a madman.

“Duke! Where is the Duke?!”

The knights, flustered, tried to calm the panicking Willis.

“Treatment comes first!”

“And in that state, how could you possibly see the Duke? At the very least, you must tidy your appearance first—!”

Among them was someone who recognized Willis.

Sir Mahut, captain of the Lamberto Castle guard, recognized Willis’s face despite the blood and soot covering him.

“It really is you, Willis!”

Someone of authority recognized Willis’s status.

Willis burst into joy, rushed over, and shouted at Sir Mahut.

“Hurry! We must save him! We need to send out the knights to search!!”

“Him? What are you talking about?!”

Willis’s scream echoed across the sky above the white chalk castle.

“Lord Edmund! The only son of Lady Munisa, and the Duke’s only grandson!”

At the unexpected answer, Lamberto Castle fell deathly silent, as if cold water had been poured over it.

“He’s out there in the forest disaster right now!!!”

KAAA—!!!

A shriek shook the forest.

We ran with all our might.

A grotesque monster was chasing us—its massive body resembling a giant bear nearly three meters tall, with the vicious head of an owl attached to it.

The first to sense the monster’s presence and immediately identify it was Juto.

“Owlbear!”

Every time it swung its thick arms, trees thick as human embraces snapped apart.

When it twisted its neck a full 180 degrees and slammed its massive beak down where we had just passed—

Boom!

A crater-like pit was instantly carved into the ground.

‘If we fight it head-on, we’ll definitely die!’

Thankfully, because of its massive size, its speed was slow enough that we could at least attempt to run.

‘But! Our stamina will give out first!’

We had been wandering the forest for far too long without proper rest or food.

No matter how slow it was, that owlbear was surely far more enduring than we were.

‘At this rate, it’ll catch us!’

We needed a plan.

Before our stamina completely ran out.

Somehow—anything…!

By then, my already slowing steps were nearly overtaken by the owlbear.

Whoosh—!

With a chilling sound, a forepaw bristling with long, blade-like claws swung toward me.

Without time to think further, I threw myself forward with all my strength.

Crash!

By the narrowest of margins, the owlbear’s paw struck the ground instead of my body.

The sound of rock and tree roots shattering sent chills down my spine.

“Kasia!”

Juto rushed in from the side and pulled me up.

We then ran forward almost as if fused into a single body.

Edmund, his face pale, was gathering mana.

Hoooo—.

The signet ring emitted a red glow.

Seeing that, an idea suddenly struck me.

“Edmund! Light! The red light—can you shoot it upward? Into the sky?”

“What? But if I’m attacking the owlbear, I shouldn’t fire it into the sky?”

I shook my head.

“It’s impossible with our abilities anyway! Calling for reinforcements is faster!”

The last time Juto checked, Lamberto Castle was already quite close.

That meant there was a good chance the flare of mana Edmund fired would be visible from the castle.

“We need to let them know we’re here! The castle!”

“…!”

Like in a movie, where a villain or a hero announces their presence by lighting up the sky with their symbol.

“Yes! That’s what we do!”

I pointed at the ring on Edmund’s hand.

The Cohen family crest was engraved on the signet ring.

“Let them know you’re here!!!”

Understanding my words, Edmund clenched his teeth.

Then he began forcing out mana with all his strength once more.

Using magic again so soon after mana exhaustion was dangerous.

But surviving came first.

I shouted to the other two.

“Split up! We need to buy time!”

The three of us ran in different directions.

The owlbear hesitated briefly, then saw the red mana flickering around Edmund’s body and let out a roar.

KRAAA—!!!

It charged straight toward Edmund.

It must have judged him to be the greatest threat.

“No!!!”

Before my thoughts could fully form, my body moved on its own.

Looking back, it had always been like that.

From the moment I first met Edmund.

‘Before fully grasping the situation, before making a complete judgment, my body always moved first.’

Just like before Moretti’s whipping.

Just like before the arrow.

This time again, I was throwing myself forward.

Before the blade-like claws of the monster.

Slash!

A horrifying sound rang out.

A searing pain tore through my body as if splitting it in half.

Edmund’s red eyes were wide with shock as he stared at me.

“Kasiaaa—!!!”

At the same moment, the red mana enveloping the boy’s body began to blaze violently.

Its sunset-like hue—

Was instantly stained pitch-black, like a sky after the sun had fully set.

No, darker and more ominous than night itself.

An overwhelming jet-black light.

The moment I saw it, I knew.

‘Black… magic…?’

A forbidden power.

And that ominous black light was the last thing I saw before my consciousness faded.