Chapter 341: We Ended Up Camping

I stored the dead man in the mana bag.

The procession started to move, and when I looked back the griffin was looking this way. This way, or me, I could not tell. From there, if it spat that hellfire we would all become fire-dummies. There might not even be a trace. But I felt the griffin had no such will. I do not know if the voice that rang in my head was the griffin’s. But I believe it was. We advanced along the winding road. When the cliff hid the griffin and I could no longer see it, I finally let out a breath. Not only I. The whole procession.

Everyone looked back, confirmed there was no griffin behind, and raised a cheer. Everyone said the same things.

"We were saved!"

"We are alive!"

"I thought we would die!"

And,

"I never thought that monster would understand human words."

"A monster, and clever."

"That one was an idiot."

There are people who whip the dead.

"He died in our place. I thought the same thing."

They piled more on. I think you would have tried the same thing.

"Me too."

Voices of joy at surviving continued, and words that did not even regret the dead idiot continued, and in small voices,

"Could Lord Marie not drop that monster?"

"He could have just taken it easy with the bow, yes?"

they said so I could hear. I looked toward the voices. Knights. The two started.

"Yes. If I fought I might have won one in ten thousand. While I fight, will you stop the flame that monster puts out? I would be intent on fighting. I could not protect you, of course, or even Her Majesty. If that is still all right I would have fought. Is that all right? You saw that hellfire, yes? Please protect Her Majesty from that. I ask you!"

I said it in a strong tone. The knights made startled faces, then awkward,

"No, Lord Marie, I did not mean it that way..."

they made excuses. At that convenient time the griffin came running through the sky. Wings spread large, coming this way.

"Look. The monster is coming this way. I will fight as you said, so you stake your lives and protect Her Majesty. One blow of that hellfire and the whole procession may become charcoal. Please."

I said it and took a sword from the mana bag. The knights saw the griffin, went white,

"S-stop! Sorry! You do not have to fight. Let it pass! Peace is best, best!"

They were flustered enough to be pitiful.

A hunch, but I do not think the griffin means to attack us. I feel it came with a feeling of thanks for letting it eat the wyverns! Or it thought there were still wyverns at our place.

The griffin dropped height a little, circled once over our heads, and went back the way it came.

"Hieh!"

"We were saved!!"

"Do not say extra things!"

"Do not even think of fighting a thing like that!"

Various voices rose. Yes. Silence is gold. The knights who had said extra things were still trembling.

In the end we did not reach the next town that day. So we ended up camping in a wide place inside the gorge.

The food was only emergency rations. Hard bread and still harder dried meat. And nasty wine. Her Majesty’s would be a little more decent, I think, but she would not be eating anything that fine.

Idiots well up no matter how many there are.

"I want to try eating that wyvern meat from earlier."

I heard a voice saying that. Then,

"Idiot! If the smell of roasting meat draws that monster again, what then!"

they were scolded. Truly there is no medicine for an idiot. Having that kind of idiot as a subordinate would be hard, I think.

"If we advanced another half day it would have been the next town."

the driver said while sucking on the same hard dried meat with me.

"The people saying that kind of thing do not understand we are in the middle of a magical-beast nest. Tohoho."

"Is this still that kind of place?"

"Yes... If we do not get through the gorge no matter what, it is extremely dangerous. No one has passed here, so they make noise, but if they do that kind of thing the magical beasts will gather. From their side, fine prey has gathered here."

The driver lamented.

"Will the people of the next town worry about Her Majesty’s whereabouts and come searching?"

At my question the driver shook his head.

"That is impossible. They may put out search troops, but at most to the entrance of this gorge. That monster earlier, griffin you said? That kind may not come out because it is night, but there are many beasts that move at night too. There is no time to sleep at all."

He fanned unease with all his force. It cannot be helped. I will tell Blueford. I thought and started to get down from the carriage, and the driver seemed to understand my thought.

"I will go. I should call that high person, yes? Leave it to me."

He stopped me, got down himself, and went to search.

"Lord Robbie, Her Majesty is calling."

Lily’s voice from inside the carriage. I got down from the driver’s box, went to the door, the door opened, and I saw Her Majesty.

"Lord Marie, about that talk just now."

Anouk asked. I had not been talking that loud, and still Her Majesty had heard?

"Is this place all right?"

She asked something extremely vague. Asked that, I cannot say anything, but I can only answer,

"It is all right. I will protect you."

Only, even if I protect I think the force is not enough.

"I will say something very rude. May I have leave?"

"What is it?"

"I want to ride on the carriage roof and protect. From the driver’s box I cannot see behind. On the roof there is no blind spot, so I can handle a beast from anywhere. Having me over Her Majesty’s head will be unpleasant, but for me I think this is the best position."

Anouk and Her Majesty said something. Then Anouk said,

"Her Majesty says she permits it. Only do not be noisy."

Leave came easy enough to let the air out.

Then Blueford and Dee came. And they talked with Her Majesty. The driver had gone somewhere again. Then he brought Agnes and the others. Agnes and the others’ faces were stiff. They recognize that much that this is a danger zone. Those Agnes people joined and they talked. Whatever result comes out, my standing as Her Majesty’s guard does not change.