CH 70

After following the airflow for four days, she was able to find another Mana stone mine. 

The purity was high, and the amount of mining was expected as the area was determined by grade.

There was constant exclamation among those who saw the Mana stone mine for the first time. 

On the other hand, Serdel was nervous in a different sense.

‘Will they know if I wander here?’

It took her 4 days to get here, even though she just came as instructed.

“The forest is bigger than I expected.”

As if thinking the same thing, Falden clicked his tongue.

“Even though we’ve entered quite deep, we haven’t met a single monster. How deep are these brat hiding?”

He mumbled that he would have a hard time subjugating in this way and left the cave first.

Looking at the back for a while, Dell’s voice filled with excitement rang.

[I, it’s good!] 

‘Huh?’

As she bowed her head, he was already working hard on one of the higher-level mana stones.

[It’s cold, sweet, and delicious!]

‘…Huh?’

[I want to eat it!]

‘No. Get your teeth out!’

Flustered, Serdel pulled Dell, who drooled, behind the mana stone. 

It felt like his eyes would turn over once he started tasting it.

‘No I mean, can you really eat Mana stone in the first place?’

[I think it’s going to be delicious—]

Seeing the twinkling lights in his eyes made her feel weak for no reason.

[Hehe.] 

The boy who sneaked closer to the mana stone looked around and stuck out his tongue. 

“Hey, you brat, why are you doing this! Look at how sharp this is, what if you cut your tongue!” 

Redan, who was approaching, grabbed Dell’s face.

[Ung?] 

“No, you can’t! Tsk! Is this brat hungry? I’ll give you beef jerky, so don’t do it!” 

[I want to eat dried fruits]

“I’ll give you dried fruits, too.”

[A lot]

“I’ll give you a lot.”

Even though he couldn’t understand Dell at all, Redan somehow continued the conversation with him.

He took out plenty of jerky and dried fruit and placed them in front of Dell, and he didn’t stop there. 

“Drink water first and eat it. Because you will have an upset stomach.”

He poured water into the bowl.

Chop, chop, chop.

“Is it good?”

Redan, who reached out, slowly swept Dell’s head.

Dell didn’t avoid it.

He didn’t even make a sound, but he accepted Redan’s touch quite comfortably.

It was very fascinating.

After eating, he even licked Redan’s hand.

[Hyung-ah, Dell wants to eat sweets.]

Perhaps he didn’t notice it this time, but Redan threw his eyes away.

In front of Redan, Dell, who was lying down, wagged his tail and acted cute.

Ang. Awng, Ungg. 

[Sweets. Sweets. Hyung-ah. Dell wants sweets.] 

No matter how hard he sent the signal, Redan continued to pretend he didn’t see it. 

Then Dell, with his front paws up, touch Redan’s arm.

In the end, Redan, who couldn’t help but look down, gave three candies at once.

[Hehe.] 

“No, it’s not rat anymore now. Won’t you be satisfied with one for now? Look at his size.”

As soon as our eyes met, he laughed out loud at Redan, who was arguing like an excuse.

Serdel left a mark here as well and went out of the cave.

Blenn followed.

Falden, who had come out first, was just taking out the communication device.

In order to communicate with several people at the same time, the screen is divided, and then triple transmission is attempted.

The first to receive it was Belters. His figure appeared on the screen on the right.

“….”

It seems that there was a battle just before.

The view behind him was windy. It felt like the bloody smell was being transmitted all the way to here.

Belters was neat and didn’t go well with such an atmosphere.

At first glance, there was a sense of solidity.

If it wasn’t for the background behind Belters, it would look like a person who went out for a walk. 

“Are you okay? It looks like you’re okay. Let’s start by reporting the situation.”

[All the wounded were healed by the wizard, and there was no death. Let’s talk about the situation before the attack. Suddenly, strange energy began to spread in the forest, and a number of monsters appeared without any signs. It’s like falling from the sky.] 

“Suddenly appear?”

[Yes. I expected that the monsters would be in a different state because it’s an unknown forest, but this is more than that.]

“How was it?”

[All of them were deeply engulfed by the energy of the forest with their pupils relaxed. It’s like being controlled by someone.]

At that moment, a slave market came to mind for some reason.

Of course, the circumstances and places are different from back then, but the phrase ‘engulfed’ strangely caught her heart. 

“Is there someone with the ability to foster the energy of the forest and control multiple monsters? Like a monster magician?”

[Yes, it seems that many of them are located somewhere in this forest]

The faces of Belters and Falden became dark.

Amidst the heavy silence that was about to fall down, Addis received the second call. 

Her figure appeared in the middle of the split screen.

Serdel’s mouth opened.

Her heart was pounding.

She seems to have fought a fierce battle, too.

The area around where Addis stood was a sea of blood.

Several human bodies were also seen between the bodies of monsters scattered here and there.

Her fingertips were shaking.

Serdel’s eyes hurriedly looked back at Addis again.

The blood dripping near her cheeks and neck shook her body.

[Serdel!]

“Lady!”

“Young Lady!”

If it hadn’t been for Blenn, who was standing right behind her, to catch her. 

She would have fallen down as it was.

It felt like blood was draining from her body.

[Are you okay!] 

Addis’ face was pale as she quickly asked all the questions she should have asked.

“—Sister, sister, are you all right?” 

[I’m fine. Oh, this blood is not mine, so don’t worry. Serdel]

Addis smiled awkwardly and wiped the blood off her cheek with the back of her hand.

Then, when the handkerchief wrapped around her wrist was stained with blood, she frowned.

[Oh, my. You made it for me]

She carefully untied the handkerchief and put it in her arms.

As she took each action in her eyes, she was about to cry.

[I’m really okay. I’m not hurt anywhere, so don’t worry]

At the gentle voice that comforted her, every corner of her chest shook violently as if a wave had filled her.

In order not to cry, Serdel gritted her teeth.

Just in time, Redan, who came out of the cave with Dell, approached.

Surprised to see her almost in Blenn’s arms, he reached out.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? Are you sick?”

“…I, I’m okay.”

“What do you mean okay! You look so pale. Are you sick? Stay still, Potion. Potion—”

“It’s okay, brother. I don’t need a potion.”

It wasn’t that she was sick that she had to drink potion. 

“You always say you don’t need it!” Why are you saying it’s okay!”

Redan burst into anger as if he were upset.

Then he turned his head and stopped at Addis’ reflection over the communication device. 

Soon he asked calmly.

“What is it? Did you meet a monster? Are you okay?”

[Yeah. I’m okay.] 

“That’s all that matters.’

It ended with that. 

Redan, who turned his attention from Addis, continued to watch only Serdel.

On the other hand, Serdel’s gaze didn’t know how to turn from Addis.

“Hey, are you really surprised to see your sister like this? Don’t worry. You know what kind of person your sister is.” 

The casual muttering was annoying.

“Even a genius knight is a human too.”

She’s not invincible. 

Without luck, she could have died in an instant.

Serdel’s voice was filled with anger.

Redan, who was scratching his face, carefully put his hand on her head.

“What are you doing—”

“Don’t worry. Addis Robbesta will never die.”

Redan’s eyes were serious.

“I don’t know if it’s me, but Nuna will be fine.”

“….”

Ironically, her feeling, which had been trembling enough to cause motion sickness, was calmed by those words.

Her firm eyes were no longer like before. 

Like a deep trust towards Addis.

And his firm confidence suppressed her anxiety.

[Yeah. Serdel. Don’t worry about me]

[The vice leader of each Golden Hawk Knights is not weak at all. I guarantee her strength, so you don’t have to worry too much]

Belters also helped with what he said.

As Serdel’s face gradually returned, Addis was relieved.

Although he didn’t show it, it was the same for Falden, who was looking at Serdel with concern.

“Now, let’s start it.”

[Yes, Your Highness. The injured were treated by a wizard, and 2 squires, 4 soldiers, and a total of six people died during the battle. Fortunately, the damage is not so great, so I think we can continue the expedition as soon as the report is over, what should we do?] 

“Yeah, that’d be good. Keep moving, Dame.”

[Yes, I understand. Then, I will show you the location information I moved to yesterday and today.]

She unfolded a simple map and reported in detail the direction and terrain she explored.

This was carefully marked on what Belters and Falden each had.

At the end of her report, the Belters continued to report, and Falden also solved the information and filled the blank side of the map once again.

That’s how an hour has passed.

After the report.

They were waiting for Damon to receive it, but for some reason there was no call from him.