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n-Entor Kingdom’s Knight Commander’s POV-

nPerhaps it’s because of the excitement of seeing the phoenix, the sense of danger among the knights was somewhat diminished.

nIf we continue our investigation like this, there’s a chance that it would only lead to injuries.

nWe know an open space and we just have to rest there.

nGiven enough time, the knights will calm down.

n「Stop. We’re going to rest here today.」

nWe traveled a lot but I didn’t feel tired because of excitement.

nLike everyone else, I need to calm down too.

n「Vice commander and adjutant, come we me as I look around!」

n「「Yes」」

nGiven their replies, they’re in good condition, aren’t they?

nThe vice commander is someone who runs out of control immediately while the adjutant is a little airhead.

nI wonder why I chose these two.

n「A lot has changed in the past month.」

n「…ah, right, you participated with the investigation a month ago.」

n「…commander, how can you forget the actions of your own men?」

n「Of course not….」

nMy vice commander’s gaze kind of hurts.

nIf you look around, you can see many rivers among the trees.

nIf you look in the river, you’ll notice something transparent.

nThey are basically invisible but they are called spirits.

n「There’s something there, isn’t it?」

nI heard that if your magical power is high enough, you’ll be able to see them more clearly.

nIt’s impossible for the current me to see them.

nI would like to see them even once.

n-0-

nAs the wind blows, I notice something approaching.

nMy vice commander and I equipped our swords and looked around.

nSomething is approaching us.

nAnd there’s a lot of them that I can’t even count.

nThe influence of the evil eye has faded but it is still difficult to read magic power here.

nThis makes it impossible to determine whether those approaching are demon beasts, monsters, or the kings of the forest’s family.

nI heard that the family of the kings of the forest doesn’t move in large groups.

nThat means they are either a horde of monsters or demon beasts.

nMy adjutant is already pulling his bow.

nThey are getting closer.

n-0-

nAs the rattling sound gets louder, my heart beats faster.

nSomething jumped out from behind a tree and my adjutant released his arrow at the same time.

nMy adjutant’s face turned pale after.

n-0-

nWhat jumped from behind the tree was a beastkin child.

nI tried to block the arrow with magic but it won’t make it in time!

nI’m already prepared for the worst but the beastkin child got enveloped in white light and the arrow deflected from him.

n「Great」

nI heard my adjutant’s voice.

nMy vice commander also sighed.

nHowever, I couldn’t take my eyes off what’s happening in front of me.

n….beastkin children appeared one after another and they came from the depths of the forest.

n-0-

n—Scene Change—

n-0-

n「I’m tired.」

nThere were 198 children.

nAll of the children are either five or six years old and all of them are slaves.

nIf it hadn’t been for the former slave that was with us, the children won’t come with us.

nIt was ironing that ordering the slaves means nothing this time.

n-0-

nSeveral hours have passed since then.

nThe morning sun is starting to show up.

nWe were up all night…hah.

n「Excuse me.」

nThe person who came to me was the former slave named Kaju.

nHe calmed down the children since they only listened to him.

n「Thank you. I’m glad you came with us, Kaju.」

nKaju smiled happily.

nThe children were identified as former slaves of Emperors given the slave crest on their backs.

nFormer because the mages confirmed that all slave crests were no longer in effect just like Kaju.

n-0-

nHowever, there was a big difference between these children and Kaju’s group.

nThat is, they are being protected.

nThat power showed up when my adjutant shot them.

nWho is protecting them?

nIt was a white light and the mages were quite motivated to find out.

nI hope the children are not scared.

n「….Ha?」

nWhat did you just say?

nMonsters brought them food?

nEhto?….according to the children, the monsters were carrying food.

n….is that possible?

n「E-excuse me!」

nOne of the mages rushes into my tent with much excitement.

n「The one that’s protecting the children! Ah, it has the same magical power as the magical power flowing in the forest!」

nWhat?

nAre you okay?

n「….calm down. Say it slowly.」

n「E-e-ehto….fuh… The magic that protects the children and the magic flowing in the forest are similar, no, they should be the same!」

nWhich is it?

n「Are they the same? Or are they similar?」

n「They are indistinguishable!…No, I’d say they are the same but…」

n…it’s impossible to come up with a calm judgment if he’s this excited.

nMagical power flowing in the forest?

nAccording to the ancient text, it was written that the magical power flowing through the forest is the power of the world tree.

n…Hnn?

nEh….in other words, the magical power of the world tree is protecting the children?

nNo, it could just be a resemblance.

nWhat kind of magical power is similar to the magical power of the world tree…the kings of the forest?

n…….

n「Let’s get back to the country!」

nThis is something out of my league!

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