Chosen by the Northern Grand Duke

Chapter 37: Scouting (1)

There was a distance between the fief and the garrison in front of the Wall.

The supply troops used carts and horses, while the knights tended to run.

Serzila knights could usually run faster than horses, after all.

Elaine chose to walk.

Not at a normal pace, though. Even at a leisurely walk, I was faster than an ordinary person’s power walk.

‘Much faster than when I’m Ellen.’

Elaine and Ellen were the same person, but there were these small differences.

‘I do try to hide it to some extent.’

As Ellen, I try to hide my strength as much as possible.

It's not like I'll get caught no matter what I do, but it means I’m still conscious of it.

Harad kept up with me without difficulty. He wasn’t pushing himself. His face was calm.

“You’ve changed.”

My eyes narrowed.

His stride had widened. His slightly hunched back had straightened.

When I first saw him, his center of gravity was slightly tilted to the right, but now it was balanced.

It was because his muscles had grown.

The bigger muscles had supported his unbalanced body. In such a short time? Logically, it was impossible.

“Your body has changed. How did you do it?”

At my question, Harad let out a dry laugh.

‘It’s been a while since I tempered myself.’

Elaine had only just noticed that fact today.

It meant that until now, Ellen’s interest had not been in Harad himself, but only in the experiences she could have through Harad.

‘She really had no interest in me.’

It was a good sign.

It meant she was finally starting to take an interest.

“It’s thanks to devouring a few mages.”

“Ah, I heard from the Intelligence Bureau. That you went recently.”

Elaine added to the setup.

“Do your muscles grow when your mana increases?”

“Crops also grow when they bask in the sun. You can think of it like that.”

“I see.”

Harad’s eyes widened.

“They say not understanding is also an answer. Magic is a vague thing.”

I said with a smile.

It was what Harad had said to Ellen.

“I heard you’re on good terms with the 1st Knights.”

On the contrary, they were on great terms.

If they weren't, there would be no reason for them to be going to the garrison together like this. The 1st Knights had included Harad on the hunting day because they were curious about his magic.

“It’s a good sign. If you intend to become a military asset for Serzila, a close relationship with the knight orders is essential.”

Elaine acknowledged Harad’s goal of becoming a vassal of Serzila.

It was a change that happened overnight, which meant the dream's influence was greater than I thought.

“What do you think of the 2nd Knights?”

“We haven’t had any particular contact.”

This year was the 2nd Knights’ rest period.

The 2nd Knights were residing in the Inner Fortress or the fief, not the garrison.

But Harad had not yet encountered them.

“The 2nd Knights Commander. Do you dislike him?”

The night Ios was dealt with.

The 2nd Knights Commander, Cassion, had secretly placed the severed head by Harad’s pillow while he was sleeping.

It was under the pretext of sharing the accomplishment.

It was reason enough to dislike him.

But my question didn't seem to be just about that.

In his past life, the 2nd Knights Commander had forcibly pushed Harad into a tunnel.

I had seen that scene in a dream.

I was conscious of that dream.

“I have no feelings. Because he’s ambiguous.”

It was the truth.

The tunnel incident was a future that had disappeared. Moreover, the Harad of his past life had already gotten his revenge for it.

“Don’t hate him too much. The 2nd Knights Commander is the inflexible type. He wouldn't have had any ill feelings.”

“Does the Grand Heir like the 2nd Knights Commander?”

“There isn’t a knight I don’t like. Lord Cassion is a key military asset of the main fortress. A peerless loyal subject.”

“I see.”

A loyal subject.

* * *

The hunting day referred to the day Elaine accompanied the boundary scouting.

It was a measure by Serzila for Elaine, who wanted real combat, but contrary to her wishes, the knight orders called that day the hunting day.

Because when Elaine stepped up, it became a hunt.

Not a battle.

It wasn't that Elaine was just that amazing.

The problem was more with the knight orders’ scouting routes than with Elaine.

“Was today snow, snow, grass, ice?”

“Yes. It’s number 42. Bear, ghost, tree, little giant.”

Serzila had 70 scouting routes in the First Stage Boundary.

The two vassal families and the five knight orders were each in charge of 10 scouting routes, and they never deviated from those paths.

It was because of an imperial decree not to provoke the Otherworld.

Because of that, Serzila had been scouting the same routes to the point of exhaustion for 20 years.

The original purpose was lost, and only the shell remained.

‘It’s surprisingly vast.’

There were 70 paths, and even with those paths, they had not been able to map out even half of the First Stage Boundary.

“Number 42 is this scouting route.”

It was when Harad was once again marveling at the vastness of the boundary.

Gullen, beside him, explained the knights’ conversation.

“Snow, snow, grass, ice refers to the sequence of the environment and terrain of the scouting route.”

Bear, ghost, tree, little giant were the nicknames for the magical beasts that inhabited each environment.

Like this, the knight orders knew everything about the scouting routes. It was because the routes had not changed for 20 years.

“Although they call it grass……”

“The chill and the wind are usually the same. Even if the environment changes.”

There were exceptions like the Sanctuary of Fire, but among the 70 scouting routes, none led to that exception.

“……Do you know about the boundary too?”

“Actually, I’ve secretly been there.”

Gullen’s eyes widened.

“I’ve also been to the Second Stage Boundary.”

“Oh, come on.”

Gullen clicked his tongue and chided himself for being surprised.

Because there was no tale more absurd than saying one had been to the Second Stage Boundary.

“If you’re going to lie, at least make it sound plausible.”

“It’s true…… Hmm, I’ll do that from next time.”

Harad changed his words.

It was because Elaine’s gaze was sharp.

The tunnel was still a secret.

The fact that Harad and Ellen were experiencing the boundary through that tunnel was even more so.

“Hey, Harad.”

Deputy Commander Derrick spoke to him.

As he did, he handed over something. It was a map.

A map of the First Stage Boundary with the 1st Knights’ scouting route drawn on it.

“Is it okay to show this to me? I thought it was confidential.”

“Aren’t we going together?”

Derrick tilted his head.

His reaction was one of not understanding why he shouldn't show it, and Harad found it absurd.

They had only been involved once, yet this was their relationship.

Serzila knights were simple like this.

If it was already like this, what would happen when they became closer?

‘I am curious.’

In his past life, the only one he had such a relationship with was Gullen.

This time, it might be different.

“By the way, Harad, aren’t you cold?”

“To me, Serzila is on the warm side.”

Harad pretended to look at the map intently before returning it to Derrick.

“You’ve already memorized it all?”

“I’m a quick learner.”

Harad had already memorized all of Serzila’s scouting routes.

Those paths do not change until the North falls.

‘I’ll have to change them.’

That too must be the role of a regressor.

The Elaine he remembered would surely have wanted that.

‘She might even prefer killing the emperor.’

It wasn't something he could do just because he wanted to.

And it didn't seem like the opportunity would come so easily.

“Jambel. Tursten. Parman. Gullen.”

Derrick called out the knights in order.

It was in order of seniority, and instead of answering, they struck the Serzila crest drawn on their left chests with their fists. Thump! A sound resembling a heartbeat echoed across the Wall.

Derrick also struck his own heart.

He too was a member of this scouting mission. Thump-! The last beat was louder than any other. It was Grand Heir Elaine’s.

It meant they would offer their hearts, but Harad thought it was a formality.

But that formality definitely had meaning. The higher the person doing it, the more so.

If a very high-ranking person did that, morale surprisingly rises easily. The Elaine of his past life was very good at such things. Harad was on the clumsy side.

Five knights. And Elaine and Harad.

Six of the seven looked at Harad.

Harad, taking the hint, struck his heart.

Without Aura, it was shabby compared to the preceding beats, but they were still satisfied. Receiving their gazes brought a new feeling.

The five knights who had followed the scouting party pulled on the iron chains connected to the pulleys. Their muscles and Aura expanded to their limits.

The castle gate opened, scraping against the snow.

As befitted a ridiculously large gate meant to block the boundary, its speed was slow.

“May you be safe.”

The five knights, who had opened the gate just enough for one person to pass, said, panting.

As Elaine replied with a calm smile, Derrick took the lead.

His steps were slow, but the tension was palpable.

Even Derrick, the most experienced of the seven, was like that.

The boundary was such a place.

Even after experiencing it for years, one might get used to it, but never comfortable.

Soon, Derrick stepped beyond the castle gate.

That step was incredibly heavy and cautious. However, there was no fear. Rather, a sense of excitement could be felt.

The further one went into the boundary, the loyalty of protecting Serzila, the possible life-or-death struggles. The knights of Serzila were, to a man, fanatically loyal subjects and battle maniacs.

Harad was the last.

He watched Elaine and the knights pass through the gate before crossing it himself.

The five waiting knights hastily closed the gate as soon as the scouting party had passed.

What came over them was a sense of severance.

They had only taken a few steps, but the world had changed.

An immense chill and a sharpened wind washed over them.

If not for Aura, they would have frozen solid the moment they crossed the gate. And that ice statue would have been torn to shreds.

Snow covered the ground in all directions.

At first glance, it was an ordinary northern landscape, but this was snow that held the chill of the boundary.

To one without Aura, it was no different from poison.

Derrick deliberately stepped on that snow without Aura.

The snow dug into his boots made of magical beast leather. His feet tingled.

Pshh!

A blade of wind grazed Derrick’s cheek, long and thin. A curtain of blood spread out, drenching his cheek.

It was a habit and a vow of the knight named Derrick, to sharpen his senses with pain and release tension by shedding blood.

Soon, Derrick became aware once again that today was a special scouting day.

Jambel, Tursten, and Parman were veteran knights. They were accustomed to the boundary and had experienced the hunting day several times.

On the other hand, the youngest, Gullen, still had little scouting experience. It was also his first hunting day.

Moreover, today was no ordinary hunting day.

Grand Heir Elaine had even brought Harad along.

So Derrick, who was in charge of today’s scouting, had to pay attention to Harad as well…….

“You really don’t need Aura. Can I get a bit closer?”

It was then. He suddenly heard Elaine’s voice.

Elaine was next to Harad. It was not a scouting formation.

So normally, Derrick should have given a stern warning.

Because in the boundary, experience is prioritized over status, and efficiency over experience.

“……”

But Derrick could not open his mouth.

Gullen was also by Harad’s side.

Even the veteran Jambel, Tursten, and Parman were there too.

“Lord Derrick, you come too. It’s warm.”

Elaine beckoned to Derrick.

Derrick approached as if possessed. And he felt a warmth that could not be felt in the boundary. That warmth blocked the boundary’s chill and wind.

It was clearly thanks to Harad.

* * *

Knights die if they stay in the boundary for too long.

Regardless of attacks from magical beasts or mages, they will die if their Aura runs out.

That was why the knight orders set a time limit for scouting.

In the boundary, one cannot even rest, let alone sleep.

Because even during that time, Aura is consumed.

How many knights had died like that.

Although the scouting routes were limited and had become safer through repeated scouting, in the end, the boundary was the boundary.

A few big shots like the Grand Heir were special, but most knights feel death while scouting the boundary.

That shadow of death, Harad had cleared away.

“I told you, the boundary is on the cool side.”

Harad said to Gullen’s surprised face.

Deputy Commander Derrick had to pop his dislocated jaw back into place from shock.

Being with Harad, he couldn't feel the boundary’s unique chill and wind.

Even without raising his Aura, his body did not freeze, nor was it cut by the wind.

This was clearly the boundary, but Harad’s surroundings alone were not the boundary.

“Can we rest too?”

“We can sleep too. Though we’ll need to stand watch.”

We can even sleep?

Derrick’s jaw dropped once again.

“Ah, Derrick. That’s a magical beast.”

Harad pointed to Derrick’s left foot, which was about to touch the ground.

Derrick stepped back and stabbed the snow on the ground with his sword. Then the snow screamed. It was a real magical beast. A magical beast disguised as a snowdrift.

“How did you know?”

“It’s only natural for a mage to be more sensitive to mana than a knight.”

Advancing through the scouting route, surprise attacks from magical beasts were inevitable.

“Over there. Five of them.”

Harad noticed everything.

“Why are the chill and wind generally everywhere?”

“Because this is the end of the North. The environment of the North has been altered by mana and strengthened.”

Where Harad pointed, there were magical beasts, and where Harad spoke, there were no secrets.

“How does grass grow in a place like this?”

“The mana of the Origin of earth, grass, life, something like that, has been altered. The mana that is its origin was stronger than the altered chill.”

Derrick’s ears kept perking up.

He wasn't even angry at Gullen for asking questions so casually in the boundary. In fact, Derrick felt similarly.

This was the boundary, yet Derrick felt comfortable.

Even as time passed, even as he kept walking, his Aura was not consumed.

He didn't need to be on edge for a possible surprise attack from a magical beast.

“Ten. Trees. One of them has particularly deep roots. Just be mindful of that one.”

When the time came, Harad would point out where the magical beasts were.

Derrick and the other knights just had to draw their swords then.

“Seven. Wendigos. Were those the little giants you were talking about?”

The magical beasts were weaker than usual.

It wasn't that they had gotten weaker, but that they had gotten stronger. Because their Aura was full.

Other than when fighting, their Aura was not consumed.

It was something impossible in the boundary.

“What’s that flag?”

“……It’s the turning point.”

It meant the scouting route ended here.

Already?

Derrick’s eyes trembled as he looked at the flag. The other knights had the same expression.

The time limit for scouting route number 42 is four days.

A normal scouting party fills up those four days.

If four days pass, the knight order considers the scouting party dead.

They must reach the turning point within two days.

But today, they arrived in just a few hours.

Those few hours were not rushed at all.

On the contrary, it was only comfortable.

It was as if they were on a hunting tour, the kind popular in the Imperial capital.

Derrick was a tourist experiencing a nobleman’s hunt, and Harad was the guide.

A guide who finds the prey and shows the way.

It was something that could never happen.

Scouting the boundary was one of the duties of the Serzila knight orders. Harad had come to experience that duty.

But when they actually did it, their positions had been completely reversed.

“……Harad.”

Derrick spoke, suppressing the emotions rising from his chest.

“Join the 1st Knights.”

“Hmm?”

“Please join us.”

Derrick looked as if he would kneel at any moment.