Chapter 73 Knight’s Resolve꞉ The Dual Mission in the Demon Frontier
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Alvia-sama!”
”No need to worry! Haah—!”
A wolf-type demon monster sprang toward us, but I parried it with my shield, keeping my composure.
As the demon monster fell to the ground, the subordinates who had circled around it on the left and right thrust their spears into it.
”Good! We got it!” I declared.¹
”Yes, ma’am!” they affirmed.
”Zero casualties!”
We, the White Lily Knights², who have sworn loyalty to Viorga-sama, were currently exploring the shallow area of the Demon Forest.
Just recently, Barnail, riding a Skygoon, had delivered a letter from Viorga-sama.
The letter was addressed to me, and I carefully examined its contents with precise movements.
As expected, it requested that I search for Cleonora’s belongings. I believe remaining here was the right decision after all.
In the letter, Viorga-sama expressed deep sorrow over the near-certainty of Cleonora’s death.
’I want to at least bury her. Could you please explore the area and see if any personal effects remain? However, the Demon Forest is a dreadful place. Please, do not venture into the deep sections.’
It is certain that Cleonora died in the Demon Forest.
Viorga-sama made her request, but I really want to find some kind of relic. No… until we get a result, I cannot return to the Royal Capital.
Furthermore, Viorga-sama had a separate request: she asked us to remain in this territory for a while and establish a base near the forest.
’The nobles of the First Queen’s faction govern the nearby territory. I have some concerns, so could you please stay in that area for a period? I will arrange for the supplies and personnel needed for base construction.’
Upon reading this, I understood that Viorga-sama had sent us here for multiple reasons.
The presence of Viorga-sama’s knights stationed here is likely a deterrent against the First Queen’s faction.
The nobles of the First Queen’s faction were the ones who kidnapped Lady Liliarette. Though we lack concrete evidence, no one but that faction would want control of her.
Viorga-sama mentioned previously that a conflict with the First Queen’s faction might arise soon. If so, it would mean civil war.
She must be trying to hold the First Queen’s faction in check by keeping us here, and to establish a favorable position should the civil war begin.
As proof, supplies are constantly being delivered to our base. Even though it is necessary to sustain a forty-knight force, the sheer volume of material is excessive for a frontier outpost.
We were not dispatched to the frontier merely to check on Cleonora’s safety and the settlers’ work. That’s just like Viorga-sama… She is a compassionate person, but she also possesses the strength of a true ruler.
In addition, she is likely considering the possibility that the First Queen’s faction nobles might also search for Cleonora’s belongings.
Everyone wants to know Cleonora’s fate. If her remains are found, her life or death will be confirmed with evidence.
Viorga-sama is probably wary that the First Queen’s faction, having heard the rumors, might start exploring the Demon Forest.
But if we establish a base here, they will not be able to explore the forest easily.
Above all, Viorga-sama wishes for us to find Cleonora’s belongings.
Therefore, while taking some risks, we have been diligently exploring the Demon Forest.
”…That’s enough for today. Everyone, we’re returning to the base,” I commanded.
”Huh?”
”Alvia-sama! We can keep going!” one subordinate protested.
I appreciate their enthusiasm, but as the one in charge of the knight unit, I cannot afford to cause Viorga-sama any more grief.
Knowing her, she would be greatly saddened if any of us were injured just to fulfill her personal wish.
”If we stay out any longer, it will be difficult to return to the base once the sun fully sets. Let’s consider the map we’ve drawn up today a sufficient result.”
Fifteen people are engaged in the Demon Forest exploration. It is simply too difficult to move around with the entire forty-person unit.
But still… we haven’t found anything resembling Cleonora’s belongings so far. Has everything been lost already… or did Cleonora herself venture deeper in?
That possibility is high. She can activate the Secret Treasure Orb of the holy sword, Mizelic³, after all.
But for us to venture into the deep regions, we lack the necessary preparation. We may have to give up on finding her relics.
To begin with, the demon monsters living in the deep regions are all highly dangerous… and we don’t know where the miasma’s effects will appear. It’s hard enough to spend one night in this forest; we are absolutely unprepared for a full-scale incursion.
The Demon Forest is known as one of the most dangerous areas on the continent, but it has also been a place challenged by adventurers from various countries in the past.
Through the sacrifices of these pioneers, the conclusion was reached that the area was too early for people to challenge seriously.
However, the information brought back by those adventurers is still carefully passed down. I, too, researched it thoroughly before coming here.
There are three confirmed sections… the ‘Entrance,’ the ‘Deep Region,’ and the ‘Boundary Line’ that lies in between.
The Entrance refers to the area immediately after entering the forest. Demon monsters appear, but a well-armed group can easily handle them.
The records left by the adventurers suggest that no matter where you enter the forest, you first cross a small stream.
Crossing that stream leads you into the Boundary Line, which is the middle ground between the Entrance and the Deep Region.
The Boundary Line has thicker vegetation than the Entrance, slowing down movement. Venomous creatures, like snake-type demon monsters, also start to appear.
For now, we can only safely reach the Boundary Line. The number of people who have gone to the Deep Region and returned is extremely small.
Nevertheless, records of the Deep Region do exist, though few.
Famous among them is the demon monster, Gardaarn⁴, which is significantly taller than a person. Its form is also recorded, apparently having a lion’s head.
The roar of this demon monster is said to disrupt the flow of Magic Power, temporarily sealing off sorcery for sorcerers. It also prevents drawing abilities from Secret Treasure Orbs.
It would be the natural enemy for anyone possessing Magic Power. Our current equipment is nowhere near capable of fighting it.
Come to think of it, Barnail was able to survey the Deep Region with his Skygoon.
Barnail had previously mentioned that Viorga-sama asked him to dispose of some garbage in this Demon Forest.
He was the man who, during the Hero Summoning, was the only one to fall from the sky and possessed none of the Hero’s power.
Apparently, he looked no different from a demon monster. The fact that he was abandoned in the Demon Forest was only known to a select few whom Viorga-sama trusted.
Well, even if he can fly over the Demon Forest, I doubt Barnail would want to approach this place willingly.
We don’t even know how the miasma is carried by the wind up into the sky. He wouldn’t want to lose his valuable magical bird in such a way.
In any case, we might have to stay in this territory until the conflict with the First Queen’s faction is resolved… I cannot allow any injuries in the knight unit, and depending on the faction’s movements, we might have to move immediately. We can’t neglect managing our physical condition, let alone our supplies…
The most likely scenario is that we will be sent to inspect the First Queen’s faction’s territory as Viorga-sama’s representatives.
Searching for Cleonora’s belongings is important, but we must prepare for every possible contingency.
Honestly… that woman. Even in death, she manages to cause this much trouble.
—
Author:
The White Lily Knight party is now stationed near the Demon Forest, exactly as Viorga-sama intended.
In the next chapter, they will finally level up after a long time.
—
Summary:
Alvia-sama and her White Lily Knights are on a dual mission in the Demon Forest: searching for the lost Cleonora’s remains and acting as a vital political check against the scheming First Queen’s faction. The exploration is fraught with danger and Alvia struggles with the conflicting priorities of duty and safety. She realizes the true depth of Viorga-sama’s strategic genius, using a heartfelt request to conceal a shrewd political move. The knights are stalled at the forest’s ‘Boundary Line,’ unable to venture deeper where the fearsome Gardaarn lurks, but the political game is clearly just heating up.
—
Character Insight:
Alvia is the perfect soldier: dutiful, intelligent, and fiercely protective of her liege and subordinates. Her internal monologue reveals her ability to dissect Viorga’s motives, moving past the emotional request to see the cold political calculus. She’s exasperated by Cleonora’s lingering trouble, but her commitment to the mission is absolute. Her focus on avoiding casualties demonstrates her strong command presence and care.
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter solidifies the political landscape. Viorga-sama’s instruction to search for Cleonora’s relics is a brilliant cover story—a morally unimpeachable reason to station a powerful, loyal military force (the White Lily Knights) right on the border of the First Queen’s faction’s territory. This immediately puts political pressure on her rivals and prepares a forward base for the potential civil war she anticipates. The Demon Forest’s known dangers act as a natural limit on the search, protecting Alvia’s forces for the inevitable political conflict.
—
T/L:
¹ Alvia is speaking in a military, commanding tone here, reflected in the declarative sentence. ↩
² The White Lily Knights (White Lily Knight) are the personal guard/knights of Viorga-sama, symbolizing loyalty and purity of purpose. ↩
³ The holy sword Mizelic is a recurring item of power in the story, likely tied to the hero or a major plot point. ↩
⁴ Gardaarn is a powerful demon monster specific to the Demon Forest, notorious for its ability to suppress Magic Power, making it a natural counter to sorcerers and users of Secret Treasure Orbs. ↩
Notes:
• Alvia – A Captain in the White Lily Knights, a private military force loyal only to Princess Viorga. She is deeply devoted to Viorga and views all others, especially the exiled Cleonora and the incompetent Heroes, with disdain and suspicion. She is on a mission to verify Cleonora’s safety and the progress of the exile camp.The protagonist’s classmate and long-time crush since middle school. She is charismatic, a bit strong-willed, and has strong leadership qualities. She is considered one of the ‘idols’ of the high school. Her hair is black long haired. Daddy’s girl.
• Viorga – The First Princess of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is a beautiful, young woman with long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, always dressed in an elaborate crimson and gold royal gown. She is utterly ruthless, viewing all people—including the summoned Heroes and her own family—as disposable assets in her political games. Looks like Aileen Lauren from certain series.
• Barnail – The only man in the kingdom capable of riding the Skygoon magical bird. He is a crucial asset for fast information delivery between the capital and the frontiers.
• Cleonora – The second princess. Have a yellow blonde hair. Usually styled as hairbun. D-cup.
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
• Gin – A friend of Kiraurumi who craves excitement and is secretly a ‘lolita enthusiast’ complexed about her own tall stature. She sees the world-saving mission as a ‘plane ride over a river’ of boredom.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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