Chapter 60

The knights muttered their greeting after Leonhard’s words and hurriedly left the place. After the knights were completely gone from their visions, Celine asked quietly.

“Why did they want to go together?”

“It’s obvious. It looks like a promotion review is scheduled.”

That person was not the first, nor the last, knight commander with an overinflated ego, who drove the entire knights to their extremities.

“I heard it’s His Majesty’s order…”

“His Majesty told them to do their best to help me, something like that.”

“Ah…”

Hearing his words, she remembered the knight commander with a load of strength on his shoulders like a peacock.

“And, His Majesty is kind to the North. He even sent the knights directly under him.”

“I see…”

The more she learned about this world, the more she doubted that the cause of Leonhard’s darkening was the incompetent Imperial Family.

They soon reached the cave that was the base of the dead warlock.

‘Nothing has changed…’

The quarries and caves were not at all different from when they killed the warlock. In addition, there was nothing to block the entry of outsiders.

“Originally, it should have been blocked by magic.”

Leonhard muttered angrily.

“They must have never thought that someone would come in.”

“I told them to burn the cave because other warlocks will come to find research materials for the warlocks who lived here.”

Celine lost her words.

“…That’s great. Even if you feed them, they won’t take it.”

“I guess. Sealing it with magic might reveal that it was actually a warlock’s base.”

“It’s still better than risking being taken over by the warlock again.”

“It is. It was a stupid decision.”

He agreed.

“I understand that, to some extent, there is nothing to be done. Still, I am angry.”

“It’s understandable.”

Celine nodded her head. She was even mad even when she was not related at all, though Leonhard deserved to be angry.

Soon, they slowly explored the interior of the cave.

‘…A lot has changed.’

She quickly realized that she had just been wrong about what she had thought.

This cave was just an ordinary cave. Insects crawled little by little on the wall, and there was water moss in some places, so life was felt. At the time, the warlock used it as a base so this was a sight that had not been seen at all.

“It doesn’t look like a new warlock is based here.”

“Is that correct?”

A woman’s voice sounded like a jade bead rolling.

At that, Celine hurriedly pulled Ringzor from her arms. A warlock dressed in a black cloak slowly emerged from the depths of the cave. The mouth, half exposed under the hood, drew an arc. In that next moment, Rashir drew a curve that glowed blue, and the warlock’s body split in half and crashed to the floor.

“This again?”

Leonhard murmured lowly.

Celine blinked her eyes. The warlock’s body which had been split in half, was ripped apart, showing a cross-section, and not a drop of black blood came out.

“What…?”

“It’s a clone. It’s one of their common tricks.”

“If it’s a clone, it’s like a ghost…”

“Think of it as a shell created by black magic. It’s weak, but their appearance is plausible. As you just saw.”

“How do you tell them apart?”

Leonhard laughed bitterly.

“The shells are less evil. Did you not feel it?”

“…Ah.”

Celine realized only then that there was no trace of the evil energy she should have felt if she was near a warlock.

“It’s easy to tell.”

“Yes. They can’t use black magic, so everything they do is just a shell.”

He then turned his back angrily.

“Seeing that this is the only trace of the new warlock, they must have been merely spying. Let’s go out.”

“Is this really just spying?”

Celine couldn’t believe it. They could not rest for a while because of this and came down to the zodiac.

“Yes. It seems that there is not a single person in the Capital who can be brave enough to wield a sword.”

Leonhard strode out of the cave.

“Has it ever been like this?”

“A lot.”

Then, he told Celine the story of him having to travel from the north to the southern border on a far more trivial matter than it was now.

“…Aren’t you mad?”

“I couldn’t bear it when I was young, but I do now.”

A small smile crept across Celine’s lips.

“I don’t think you’re too angry, even now.”

“Is it?”

Leonhard had a thoughtful look.

After some time, they crossed the quarry and reached the gorge at a sluggish pace. Celine rubbed her eyes. It was because before entering Agathirsus, the knights that Leonhard had chased away were now waiting for them in the canyon.

“Why are you still here? For now, the mission is over. It was a shell, so if you want to recover it, go and take it.”

“….?”

Celine looked at the Knights again.

‘Ah.’

Seeing that the pattern was very slightly different, it seemed that the knights were different from the previous knights.

“Lord.”

The knight leader wore a splendid helmet as much as the previous knight leader dismounted from his horse.

“As expected of the Lord. Congratulations on the quick resolution. Where are you going next? I think the border area…”

“I was thinking of taking a break for a while.”

“…Yes?”

The knight commander’s mouth was wide open.

“I think that just destroying this place is enough to deserve a break. Haven’t the monsters been reduced by a lot?”

“Bu, but—!”

At the call, Leonhard stared at the knight commander indifferently, but sparks flew in his eyes.

“I destroyed Agathirsus, where most of the monsters in the Capital resided. Doesn’t it allow me time to rest? Even farmers take a break after the busy season!”

“Lord, Lord…”

Even though the knight commander’s voice trembled, he did not shut his mouth.

“But soon, there will be Carpathia…!”

Celine looked at Leonhard with a puzzled face. At the same time, from his mouth came a smirk as if he knew only now.

“…Ha.”

“Sorry.”

The knight commander muttered an apology without meaning.

“That’s what it was. What was your name?”

“It’s Hobson.”

“Hobson, then do this.”

Leonhard took a moment to look at the tense knights.

“This Carpathia is decided by a hunting competition.”

“What…?”

“Won’t I be the one taking care of all the monsters and warlocks anyway? You follow me and make achievements. Isn’t that a fair victory?”

“….”

While Hobson couldn’t say a word back, Leonhard boarded Black with Celine.

“Let the other commanders know.”

“Yes!”

It didn’t take long for Celine to ask questions.

“What is Carpathia?”

He paused for a moment. The Carpathia event was an event that could not be known by the people out of the Imperial Capital.

“Have you never been there before?”

“Yes?”

“Carpathia.”

“Ah, ah! Yes. I just heard the name…”

Moments after, Leonhard began to explain in a soft voice that felt a little unnatural.

“Carpathia is an event to honor the knights who had struggled to eradicate monsters. Once every three years, they collect the achievements of the past to select a knight who could bear the title of Carpathia.”

“Then, those people…”

“It’s quite an honorable position.”

He was clearly sarcastic.

“It was, at least until I showed up.”

“Not anymore.”

“Right now, it is close to the position of a person who is good at paperwork and has a quick sense.”

A smirk escaped Celine’s lips. Even if the world changed and the dimensions changed, it seemed that people did not change as much.

“By the way, a hunting competition?”

“I’ve been patient so far… I just can’t stand it this time. I have to make sure that the most skilled person becomes the Carpathia.”

Leonhardt grabbed Celine and continued his words.

“Anyway, I’ve cut almost all of the warlocks and monsters, so the results will be just fine.”

“…Monster hunting?”

“Of course. It’s impossible to hunt a snow rabbit for the competition.”

“Would you release monsters?”

Leonhard looked a little surprised.

“No way. The further away from the capital, the more monsters will be infested, so I plan to send them one by one to see their work.”

“Then, Leonhard…”

“Of course, I must always be waiting. Still, I won’t be in the way of breaking the curse.”

Celine’s face darkened.

There was no quest to give her directions for this time, so she was troubled the entire time she rode the carriage to the capital. Besides, the next stage was a swamp. She knew without even asking herself that there would be countless swamps in this vast empire.

At the thought, she shook her head to shake off the anxious feelings.

‘…Think positively.’

Through Leonhard’s participation in the Carpathia as a kind of observer, she had time to think. There would be a lot of data in the capital, so she could find the swamp she saw in the game. Meanwhile, they ran a fair amount of time to reach the hotel.

The manager, who now clearly memorized Celine’s face, greeted them.

“Lord, Lute. Everything was perfectly prepared.”

“Thank you.”

Celine opened her mouth as soon as she entered the room they had always stayed in.

‘What is all this…?’

Fresh flowers were everywhere, wondering where they came from this midwinter, and expensive ornaments showed off their appearance wherever she looked. In terms of decoration, it was dozens of times more splendid than Leonhard’s bedroom in Bernoulli Castle.

Celine glanced down, especially feeling her feet slipping in. A mysterious silver fur was strewn all over the floor.

“It’s a sea fox.”

Even Leonhard was half amazed and half tired.

“Is it rare?”

“Yes. If you add up everything here… it could buy this hotel.”

“….”

Celine felt guilty about the extinction of a rare animal called the sea fox with its fur here, so she hurriedly stepped off her feet.

“Why are they doing this all of a sudden? Of course, it was gorgeous before, but up to this point…”

“Not all of a sudden. It must be because of Agathirsus.”

“Ah…!”

She could guess the situation roughly.

As soon as they destroyed Agathirsus, they attended the imperial banquet. Naturally, the Grand Hotel thought they would stay in the Imperial Capital for quite some time and changed the interior during the imperial banquet.

Nonetheless, the two left immediately for the southern part of the imperial banquet.

‘It’s fortunate for us to see the hotel even though it’s so late.’

If they hadn’t returned to the Grand Hotel, this extravagant room would have piled up dust until the Grand Ducal couple made a rare outing to the capital.

“What a relief.”

“The hotel?”

After hanging out together all day, it seems that their thoughts are similar, or Leonhardt seems to have had the same thoughts.

However, her guess was completely wrong.

“What do you mean, the hotel?”

Leonhard slowly approached her.

“….?”

Celine looked up, having no idea what he was trying to say.

His lips opened very slowly.