When the cloud of dust finally settled, Pernoa surveyed the state of the magical beast.
It was the second beast he had dealt with since reports first came in that they were exhibiting sudden, erratic behavior.
If Pernoa had been even a moment slower in sensing the disruption in the creature’s mana flow—
The person inside that carriage would no longer be alive.
Rosinante arrived at Pernoa’s side in a rush, his face drained of color.
“Young Lord.”
“Report.”
Rosinante flinched at the immediate command.
The situation was not good.
Reports were already flooding in about magical beasts going berserk simultaneously across the forest, and yet—
There was something even worse.
Rosinante steadied his breath and began his report in measured tones.
“Young Lord, I have an update. The total number of magical beasts released into the Knoum Forest is fifteen. Of those, the number that have abandoned their designated areas is—”
But the report faltered before it could reach its end.
Rosinante bit his lip, his heart sinking.
Pernoa’s brow furrowed.
“Say it.”
“…Twelve.”
“Twelve?”
The binding magic circles had been crafted directly by the Mage Tower.
Any beast that attempted to leave its designated zone voluntarily should have been immediately obliterated.
And yet twelve of them had broken free?
“What is the estimated time the abnormal behavior began?”
“At minimum, thirty minutes ago.”
“Then they won’t have made it out of the forest yet.”
Pernoa assessed the situation quickly.
The Knoum Forest was classified as one of the largest forests in the empire.
Fortunately, judging by the gait of the beast he had just dealt with, the creatures could not yet have crossed through the entire expanse of the forest.
“Make sure no damage reaches the villages outside the forest. Tell Milia to map out the full terrain of the forest.”
“That’s already underway. However—”
“Is there more?”
“The nobles who had been at the competition hall attempted to escape, but an unidentified teleportation gate activated at the location, and they all reappeared in the middle of the forest.”
“…”
It was an absolute disaster.
“So the nobles are the target.”
Whoever had orchestrated this clearly had harming the nobles as their primary goal.
What they stood to gain from it remained unknown.
Pernoa swept a cold, hardened gaze across the surrounding area.
Before the Hunt had begun, the entire forest had been inspected by teams of five—each group including a mage dispatched from the Mage Tower.
Not a single mage had raised any issue with the binding circles.
Which meant—
“The culprit is still somewhere in this forest.”
Pernoa murmured.
Rosinante’s eyes went wide.
If the culprit was someone who could move freely through the forest without arousing suspicion from anyone—
“Surely you don’t mean… a noble, or someone from one of their households?”
“At present, that’s the most likely possibility.”
And then—
Pernoa’s gaze drifted to Cedric, who stood rooted to the spot, his face white as a sheet.
A familiar face.
He had already committed the list of Hunt participants to memory.
Cedric Triat.
“I was under the impression you couldn’t wield a sword.”
“…I, I can wield one.”
“Yes. Apparently quite poorly.”
“…! How dare you say such a thing. Even if you are the Young Lord of Arachrene, I will not let that remark go unchallenged!”
Cedric, who had been gripping his sword in an awkward stance, gave a visible flinch before his face flushed crimson.
It felt as though he had been stripped bare before Pernoa’s eyes.
To conceal the humiliation of having his little scheme laid nakedly bare, Cedric fumed with exaggerated indignation.
But Pernoa only regarded him calmly and narrowed his eyes.
“I’ll apologize for that. It’s possible your swordsmanship has improved with whatever effort you’ve put in since.”
“…”
“But not to the point of being able to hunt a magical beast in that short a time.”
Of that, he was certain.
As a rule, even the least talented sons of noble families—second-born or later—typically enrolled in an imperial knighthood. Most ended up in the Second Imperial Knight Order, which existed largely for appearances.
Cedric, however, had never been given even that opportunity.
His swordsmanship had been so painfully poor it was nearly worth weeping over.
“So—what of it. …Are you suggesting I’m the culprit?”
Cedric’s eyes flew open as he recalled the exchange between Pernoa and Rosinante moments ago.
Beneath the outrage, though, anxiety was quietly taking hold.
…Surely this isn’t because of this sword?
The merchant had explained it clearly—it was nothing more than a blade capable of calming magical beasts.
Cedric bit his lip, his gaze darting with unease.
Pernoa, who had observed every shift in his expression, spoke in clipped tones.
From this point on, anything even remotely suspicious needed to be verified.
“For now, we’ll treat protecting the young lord of the Triat family as our first priority.”
Under the guise of protection.
Cedric caught the implication immediately and shook his head in alarm.
If he followed Pernoa now, everything that had transpired between himself and Lady Ariana would be exposed to the world.
That, above all else, could not happen.
“Wh-who gave you the right to decide you’ll protect me? I refuse.”
“Is that truly your answer?”
Pernoa tilted his head slowly.
“Even knowing you might encounter another magical beast on your way back alone?”
“…!”
“And this time, there may be no one nearby to help.”
“…”
“You heard my aide’s report just now. You’re well aware the situation is far from favorable.”
At that, Cedric clamped his mouth shut.
“Th-then I’d like to request protection only until someone from the Triat County arrives.”
“That can be arranged.”
Pernoa gave a faint smile.
Just then, from within the carriage came a fit of coughing—a woman’s voice. Only now did he realize he had completely forgotten the presence still inside the carriage.
Pernoa clicked his tongue and signaled to Rosinante with a look.
Rosinante caught it at once and quickly pulled open the carriage door to check inside.
“Cough—! Cough, cough!”
“Are you all right? Are you injured anywhere?”
“…Hah, hah. I was so frightened. I want to go home. I want to go home.”
Ariana, who had been briefly unconscious, stumbled out of the carriage clutching Rosinante’s arm and on the verge of tears.
She could barely hold herself upright.
As she emerged from the carriage on unsteady legs, Cedric squeezed his eyes shut.
It’s all ruined…!
The worst possible outcome—Ariana had survived.
The moment she stepped out of the carriage, without so much as glancing at Cedric, Ariana spoke in a cold, clear voice.
“Young Lord of Arachrene. I am Ariana of the Marquess Yushis household.”
Her eyes gleamed as she spoke.
Rosinante, catching that icy gaze at close range, felt his shoulders involuntarily stiffen.
“I was present during these events, and I wish to provide a witness statement. I would also like to request an escort until I am safely returned to my family’s estate.”
“A-Ariana, my lady. We had agreed you would return with me—!”
“You’ll grant my request, won’t you?”
Cedric mustered every last bit of breath he had to raise his voice, desperately trying to suppress what had happened in the forest today—but Ariana did not turn her head even once.
Having witnessed her betrothed abandon her and flee in a moment when her life was at stake, every last trace of affection had simply died.
“What shall we do, Young Lord?”
In truth, Ariana’s testimony was unlikely to be of great use.
She had been unconscious for most of it, after all.
Even so, Pernoa gave a slight smile and nodded.
If Ariana stepped forward to give testimony, Cedric—anxious about what she might say—would almost certainly follow along of his own accord.
“By all means. If you’d like, I’ll also arrange for a knight escort when you return to the Marquess household.”
“Thank you.”
As Ariana was expressing her gratitude, Cedric called out against his will.
“W-wait a moment!”
“Was there something else you wished to say?”
Rosinante, who had long since read Pernoa’s intentions, smiled pleasantly as he turned back to Cedric.
“Ah, Lord Cedric is free to go now, of course. Since Lady Ariana, who was present at the same location, has offered to give a statement—”
“No! I will tell everything I saw—everything, all of it! So please, Lady Ariana—”
Cedric turned a desperate gaze toward Pernoa.
“Then you’ll come along as well.”
“Th-thank you.”
Cedric scrambled over and positioned himself beside Ariana.
In that instant, Pernoa’s cool gaze dropped to the sword in his hand.
“Rosinante.”
“Yes, Young Lord.”
“Where is Riersha?”
Given everything, he was going to need Riersha’s assistance to keep this situation under control.
