MTLNOVEL 66
Time passed, and before we knew it, night had fallen.
We prepared for camp in a subdued atmosphere. Unlike the capital, where everything was abundant, the conditions here were nothing but inconvenient, yet no one complained.
As Sen tossed dry twigs into the campfire, Belial cooked a stew using the ingredients provided by the knights. Kyle and the knights of the Blake Order fed the horses, laid out sleeping bags, and arranged the watch shifts.
I glanced at the familiar knights with a somewhat awkward expression. I hadn’t expected them to join the hunt.
‘Blake’s knights weren’t supposed to move with us, though.’
It seemed they had come to support us on a personal level rather than as official knights of Blake. They looked exhausted, yet at the same time, they seemed willing. It was proof of just how much they trusted Kyle as their lord.
I opened the newly purchased Beastology Compendium. When I suddenly pulled the book out of my inventory, the knights occasionally cast curious glances my way.
As for this compendium, it was the latest product from the LoveLove Corner.
[（￣︶￣）+++]
Yeah, yeah.
This one was really useful. A tool is only as valuable as its applications, after all. No doubt about it.
Strictly speaking, the Beastology Compendium itself wasn’t new. However, its contents were entirely different. It had been reorganized to focus on the monsters of the eastern region and ancient beasts—exactly the information I needed right now.
Of course, rewriting all the contents had cost a whopping 300 hearts. In the past, I might have been appalled at the expense…
“Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
[Current Balance | ❤ ×699]
[Current Balance | ❤ ×703]
[Current Balance | ❤ ×707]
The hearts just keep rising. I almost wanted to exchange them for miracle points instead.
I probably wouldn’t run out of hearts anytime soon, so it should be fine. Shaking my head as if it were nothing, I opened the book.
“Let’s see…”
Most monsters inhabiting swamps and grasslands had forms derived from animals. Goats, frogs, boars, and bears were common, but occasionally, there were even centipedes and carp.
“They’re not too different from northern monsters. There are just a few additional ones that live in swamps or lakes…”
Kyle, who had approached without me noticing and was now peering over my shoulder at the book, responded.
“The recorded monsters are mostly the ones near territories, at the northern border. Technically, this place is part of the northeastern forest, so it won’t be too different.”
“The northern border?”
“Yeah. The plains and parts of the forest are considered the border. Beyond that, past the open fields, snow mountains, and then the sea…”
“A completely different world unfolds, huh?”
Kyle smirked coolly and asked, “Curious?”
“…No.”
There are some things in this world that are better left unknown. Of course, I’d probably find out eventually, but right now was not the time.
When I firmly refused, he chuckled. Thanks to that, the tense atmosphere loosened just a bit.
Having apparently finished his tasks, he sat down beside me. Resting my head on Kyle’s shoulder, I quickly skimmed through the Beastology Compendium.
Some of the monsters were quite unique. Flipping through a few more pages, I pointed at a kobold.
“Are there kobolds in the North too?”
“Yeah. They’re clustered around the ice mines. They’re not particularly smart, but they have an innate tenacity. Once they latch onto an enemy with hostility, they can be incredibly troublesome. When they swarm around you, it feels like you’re blocked by a wall of blue.”
I nodded and examined the reference illustration.
The kobolds were small but looked vicious. Their sunken eye sockets held blue, sinister-looking pupils that gleamed ominously.
However, the ones in this book had a deep green hue, likely because they lived in the forest. And their long, black claws…
“You should be especially cautious of the kobolds in the eastern forest. Their claws are laced with paralytic venom. We have antidotes prepared, but the venom spreads quickly.”
At that moment, Belial spoke in his usual calm tone.
“The ones living deep in the forest are mostly like that.”
He was right.
The Beastology Compendium had a note warning about the venom in the eastern forest kobolds’ claws. Other pages also frequently mentioned poison-related warnings.
“Did you study beastology too?”
Sen asked as she stood beside me, accepting a bowl of stew from Kyle.
Belial shrugged.
“I figured I’d eventually have to participate in this ‘hunt.’ It doesn’t hurt to be informed.”
It was strange. His voice was devoid of emotion, almost dry, yet that made it feel all the more bitter.
What was so important about the throne that people would throw away their very lives for it?
Honestly, it was hard to understand. What had always been most urgent for me was survival. Pride, fleeting emotions, or some lofty ideal weren’t what kept me alive.
Lost in those thoughts, I snapped back to reality when Kyle took my portion of food and tasted it first. He said it was to check for poison.
His faint smile was so gentle that I felt a little embarrassed.
“Who would bother poisoning us all the way out here?”
I joked, but he shook his head firmly.
“Shu, do you know who dies first in a war?”
“…Hmm, let’s see. Someone who jumps in without knowing their own limits?”
The one who gave me the correct answer was Belial.
“Those who let their guard down.”
“…”
“In conflicts like this, even more so. This isn’t some honorable duel. It’s a game where the only rule is to kill your opponent, in any way possible. If you’re not on guard, you’ll get a blade to your vital point before you even realize it. Suspicion on the battlefield is practically a duty.”
Kyle added in an even voice, “There’s an old saying that the luckiest death in war is to be struck down by the enemy commander’s blade.”
A strange feeling settled over me.
The people explaining this were the princes of this empire. Even if they didn’t become emperor, they would at least receive the title of grand duke and live out their lives in luxury, never lacking anything.
And yet, they were the ones who were more cautious than anyone, constantly checking their surroundings, living under the weight of tension.
‘In the end, life is harsh and unforgiving for everyone…’
After that, we finished our allocated meals in awkward silence. Since we had no idea what would happen tomorrow, we needed to eat and rest while we could.
Spurred on by the conversation, I eagerly finished my stew.
The only thing to be wary of wasn’t just an enemy’s blade. Heat, cold, wild animals, hunger, food poisoning, and exhaustion—any of these could just as easily kill a person.
Kyle must have liked seeing me eat well, because he kept watching me before finally pushing his own bread toward me. I initially thought to refuse, but that thought vanished in an instant as I took it and stuffed it into my mouth.
After finishing a hearty meal, I reopened the compendium and read through the entries on Forest Centipedes, One-Horned Deer, and Fir Tree Spirits.
Kyle and Belial occasionally added their own experiences and knowledge, while Sen prepared supplies for tomorrow, occasionally nodding or asking questions.
As the night deepened, time passed steadily.
***
By now, my Reload time was approaching its limit.
“Stand guard in pairs. If you see anything suspicious approaching, you’re allowed to kill first and report later.”
Belial’s cold voice made the knights bow deeply before organizing their shifts and scanning the surroundings. Occasionally, they glanced our way as if checking on our safety.
‘This makes it tricky to disappear right now.’
What should I do?
As I frowned, deep in thought, Kyle lightly tapped my shoulder.
“The temperature drops at night. Drink this.”
He handed me a cup, and when I looked inside, I saw warm liquor.
“It’s safer to sleep in pairs. Come over to that sleeping bag.”
…Wait. Was he saying we should sleep together?
I looked up at him, a little flustered, but when I saw his meaningful gaze, I understood his true intent.
‘Ah, I see.’
If I slept next to him, his larger frame would hide mine, making it less noticeable if I disappeared in the middle of the night.
Since I never knew when I might need to use miracle points, it was best to save the emergency-use cookies I had bought. The only issue was that sleeping next to him felt a bit… embarrassing.
Still, his suggestion was the most practical option in this situation.
I nodded and took a sip of the liquor. The strong alcohol burned from my tongue down to my throat, spreading warmth through my chest.
I couldn’t finish it all, but Kyle seemed satisfied with what I drank. He took the cup from my hands, downed the rest, then gently pulled me toward him.
Before I knew it, I was tucked tightly inside a spacious sleeping bag with him. The blanket, stitched together like a cocoon, was perfect for hiding my body. If I transformed into a hamster right now, no one would notice.
But I didn’t shift immediately. Instead, I remained quietly nestled in his embrace for a while, because…
‘…It’s warm.’
It was warm. Kyle’s body temperature was noticeably higher than most people’s. The slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat was also oddly comforting.
Hesitating for a moment, I cautiously wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my forehead against his shoulder.
“Your heart beats really slowly.”
“A warrior must always remain calm.”
For some reason, that made me feel unfairly wronged. My own heart was racing so fast it felt like the sound would escape at any moment, yet he was calm?
I looked up at him with a sulky expression, and in the darkness, Kyle smiled faintly.
“Actually.”
“…?”
“My heart is beating faster than usual right now.”
At his words, my mouth clamped shut before I could complain.
…Faster than usual?
Like mine?
A wave of emotion welled up inside me before melting away in an instant. I hadn’t realized how thrilling it would be to know I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
Instead of replying, I pressed my ear against his chest, listening to that slightly slow yet steady heartbeat.
Warm, soft, and kind.
So I pretended not to know anything, as if I weren’t thinking about what would happen tomorrow, and buried my head against him, letting myself drift off to sleep.