75 - Griffon
After defeating the Hippogriff, there had been no movement from the monsters lurking in the forest.
Lying in Luca's house, I would wake up several times in the middle of the night under a blanket and use my skill.
I woke up every few hours to observe the monsters' movements.
"About thirty were taken out. But there are nearly two hundred left... they're increasing."
I felt threatened by the monsters, who had increased in number since the beginning, but the reinforcements were being carried out throughout the night.
I stationed Novem in the center of the village to focus on healing, and decided to let Aria and Miranda-san rest at night.
The only ones awake were likely Clara and Monica.
I had suddenly paid nearly forty gold coins and shown a posture of ensuring rewards would be given.
Just as I was thinking about going back to sleep, the Sixth Generation spoke to me.
"What, can't you sleep? This is a matter of habit. Rest when you can! It'll be bad if your body won't move when the time comes."
Around me, Luca and his parent were sleeping, and Shannon was lying down as well.
Miranda-san and Aria were also asleep.
After confirming that no one was awake, I replied to the Sixth Generation.
"I'm fine without sleeping to some extent. It's just that when I think something might happen, I wake up."
Then, the Sixth Generation said.
"Trust those around you a bit more. You saw Aria's skill. Entrust what needs to be entrusted, and you do what you need to do."
The main attraction of this event, the Griffon—.
I would be the one to face it.
In terms of ability, I'd want to surround it with party members and beat it down, but that would leave the village's defenses thin.
Feeling someone move, I closed my mouth and eyes.
(It was Luca who woke up.)
"...Father."
It sounded like he was talking in his sleep.
(His father was attacked by the Hippogriff. In that case, already...)
Luca had seemed dissatisfied because I had forced him to evacuate during the monster extermination.
He probably wanted to avenge his father.
Since he resembled the eldest son of the Second Generation, I had promised to look after him when I had free time.
Confirming that dawn was about to break, I raised my upper body. I stood up, stretched, and woke Luca.
As I shook his small body, Luca woke up.
"Huh? Lyell-sama?"
"Can you get up?"
As I said that, Luca woke up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"What? C-could it be—"
To Luca, who misunderstood that the enemy had arrived, I put my index finger to my mouth and said "Shh!" to silence him.
To Luca, who covered his mouth with both hands, I said.
"Come outside. I'll teach you a little."
With that, I led Luca out of the house.
The place where I had set up a target in the village was prepared for practicing with the crossbows.
From the surroundings, I could hear the voices of the men working to reinforce the village perimeter.
"At this rate, the planned portion will be finished by noon."
I couldn't say for sure that the Griffon wouldn't come by then, but preparations to win were progressing nonetheless.
And then, I watched Luca fire an arrow at the target.
The arrow didn't hit the target and flew in a different direction.
"Huh? That's strange..."
I had lent Luca the small bow and arrow I possessed.
Since I had bought it for use in the labyrinth, it had a small build.
But it was still too large for Luca.
"Look, aim carefully. Keep looking at the target until the end."
He was tensing up and averting his gaze, so his aim wasn't steady.
"Definitely don't pull it back past your ear. Yes, just like that."
The next arrow also missed the target.
"Is this broken?"
I gave a wry smile, took the bow from Luca, and took one arrow. Then, I aimed and fired, and the arrow pierced the center of the target.
"Amazing!"
"Learn the basics properly. I'm not a professional, so I can't teach you anything extra."
Then, Luca looked at the saber hanging from my waist.
"Lyell-sama, I want that too. Or maybe a spear, like that red sister."
I patted Luca's head.
"Today is the bow. I'll teach you if I have free time. More importantly, Luca, can you read and write?"
Luca looked away.
"...It's fine if I can become the village chief or a prominent citizen. Because it's difficult."
I said.
"There's no loss in remembering. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important."
Looking grumpy, Luca held the bow and aimed an arrow again.
"I'll get strong and avenge my father!"
The arrow he fired after saying that did not hit the target.
The Second Generation, who was watching that scene, let out a voice that sounded either happy or sad.
"He's thoughtful of his parent."
The Third Generation seemed worried.
"It's a good thing, but at this age, really... Lyell, please keep an eye on him every now and then."
Just like that, I continued teaching Luca the bow until the time came.
The reason I taught him the bow was... just because.
After finishing teaching Luca the bow, I ate breakfast and started work.
And if anything happened, I headed to the site and gave instructions.
The planned reinforcements and trap installations were finished before noon passed.
As expected, perhaps because there was payment of rewards, the villagers' work was fast.
I borrowed a horse and went around the village, searching for places that needed further reinforcement, paying additional rewards, and assigning work.
I had prepared a generous budget from the start, but as expected, it didn't go according to calculations.
Thanks to my ancestors, who had made a plan with plenty of leeway in advance, the minimum preparations were in place.
It was after lunch that I gathered the porters and confirmed the current situation.
Clark-san, who had conducted the soldiers' training, explained the current state.
"We're having the crossbow bolts made, but some were ruined during training, so I want more. Even so, dividing the work into those who shoot and those who load the bolts into the crossbows in pairs... they'll hit if it's close, but aiming for flying enemies is difficult."
I nodded and listened to the report from the village chief.
"The village reinforcements are finished, and now those who were resting are centered on the additional work... those who worked through the night are resting now."
I marked the places where work was being carried out on the map, and then received a report from Monica.
"Food consumption is fast. To be honest, we can't hold out and fight like this for even two weeks. Any more than that, and even if we exterminate them, the village's food will run out."
Even though it was after the harvest, it couldn't be helped since the number of people was large and the amount they ate had increased.
Novem reported.
"The treatment of the injured is finished. I think it will be difficult for the soldiers who were seriously injured to participate, but their lives are safe. I think they'll be fine to move by the time we return to the royal capital."
There were those injured during work, but also soldiers who fought over who claimed to have defeated a monster.
There were surprisingly many people who caused such unnecessary trouble.
In the current situation, all we could do was wait.
Since it would be bad to tire them out by prioritizing work, I arranged for sentries and had them take breaks in shifts.
Then, the village chief gave me his opinion.
"U-um... there are people whose houses and fields were destroyed. Once the work is finished, would it be alright to allocate manpower to that area?"
Hearing that, Norma-san rejected it.
"Are you an idiot? I want to let the soldiers and civilians rest, so any more unnecessary work—"
Seeing Norma-san speaking the truth, Clark-san held his head.
The Second Generation quickly spoke to me.
"Accept it. Also, put out manpower from our side. Let's see... put out Clara and have her help with the village maintenance. Marcus and the others too."
I wanted to let them rest, but following the Second Generation's opinion, I accepted the village chief's proposal.
"I'll provide manpower from my side. Please tell me if you need help. However, please don't overdo it."
"Y-yes!"
Seeing the village chief feel relieved, Norma-san was glaring at me.
She probably had something she wanted to say, but since I was the commander, she was likely staying silent.
She's surprisingly steady in some ways.
The Third Generation said.
"...This girl might have become an excellent knight if she had learned properly under someone."
She might be excellent in a different sense.
I continued the meeting with the village chief, asking which tasks needed manpower and thinking about who to send.
Clark-san seemed relieved watching that scene.
On the third day, when there was no monster attack, Clara came to report to me in the evening.
Clara, who had been sleeping from morning until noon, had been asked to use magic as soon as she woke up and start on the village maintenance.
She had helped the work using magic and seemed to have been greatly thanked.
"...Are you okay? You seem a bit wobbly."
When I expressed concern, Clara was sitting in a chair drinking a beverage.
Steam was rising from the wooden cup.
"No, being relied upon by people and thanked to that extent was just somehow..."
Helping the work with simple magic. Just for that, she was thanked, and it seems Clara felt an indescribable emotion.
Normally, she could have done much larger things, but in order to limit her magic power, she helped in small bits and was thanked.
She probably had her own thoughts about it.
"Isn't that good? I'll have you work hard tomorrow too. Besides, if it comes down to it, I'll have you operate the Porter."
Looking at the Porter, I judged that it would have power simply by slamming it into monsters.
(...If I attach arms or something, it could hold weapons.)
Since a future modification plan came to mind, I looked at Clara.
"I wasn't thanked this much in Alamsars. There were plenty of mages of my level."
Clara looked down slightly.
"...You were able to be useful and they were happy, so isn't that fine? As for me, I worked hard to be recognized, but it was impossible until the end."
When I said that, Clara made a surprised expression.
"Lyell-san? Lyell-san is, to put it modestly, at a level where you could aim to be first-class as an adventurer. I even think there's a possibility you could leave your name in history."
"Me?"
I replied with a laugh, but Clara seemed serious.
"In less than a year of becoming an adventurer, you broke through the fortieth basement floor of the Alamsars labyrinth. That's an amazing thing."
I remembered the time I broke through the fortieth basement floor on Damian's request.
"I wonder? Damian was there at the time. Besides, I was kicked out of my family home."
Clara looked puzzled.
"They kicked Lyell-san out? For my part, you don't seem to have many problems."
"...So you won't say there are none at all."
When I said that, Clara nodded expressionlessly. Looking at me, she told me my flawed parts.
"I think there are various things. Actually, you consulted me in Alamsars too. I'll say it now, but I was surprised at the time. Usually, things a rookie worries about after a few months, you worried about after breaking through the fortieth basement floor."
I had decided to challenge the labyrinth with my raw strength, limiting the use of skills. For that, I had asked Clara about the necessary things.
As I gave a wry smile, Clara smiled a little.
"But I'm also grateful. Being in Alamsars was good, but by going outside, I can have various experiences like this."
After saying that, Clara drank the contents of the cup, her face turning slightly red, and entered the Porter.
The Fourth Generation gave a critique.
"At that point... you should have said something like 'I'm happy to be able to travel with you too'!"
What is this guy talking about?
While I was thinking that, Clark-san called out to me.
"Oh, are you alone?"
He had a crossbow on his back and a tired expression.
He was probably conducting training in preparation for the case where monsters attacked.
"That seems tough for you too."
When I said that, Clark-san laughed.
"Actual combat is all about how much of what you did in training you can put out. For an ordinary person, it's very difficult to exert great power at the critical moment like a hero."
Saying that, Clark-san sat in a chair.
Since there was a bonfire nearby, I poured soup from the pot hanging there into a cup and handed it to Clark-san.
"Thank you."
The humble Clark-san looked at me as if he wanted to say something.
"Something wrong?"
"...Lyell-kun, were you originally a noble? Not a royal court noble, but I think a territorial noble... well, it's fine if you don't want to answer."
Slightly surprised, I decided not to speak in depth and nodded.
"I was kicked out."
"I see. Then it's better not to ask about the circumstances. But honestly, you really saved us. If you, who are used to the field, hadn't given instructions, I wonder if I could have done that much... besides, Captain Norma wouldn't yield the command authority."
I said.
"She yielded it easily, though?"
"It was surprising that she would do such a thing. Maybe the magic at that time and the large amount of gold coins worked."
Laughing, Clark-san seemed to have understood that I was originally a noble.
It wasn't because I used magic, but he had thought so from my behavior.
"I've been in this job for a long time. I've seen various people. The reason I thought you were a territorial noble is probably because you considered the villagers' emotions."
He was probably talking about when I listened to the village chief's request at noon and provided manpower.
"Is that rare?"
"...Royal knights, you see, are inevitably dull in those areas. If you're unlucky, you won't get cooperation and things can get prickly. When that happens, work doesn't progress. Those who understand that are probably the territorial nobles."
It seemed he had struggled with various things.
The Fifth Generation said.
"This guy is like that. He probably thinks Lyell is the heir to a small-scale territory."
The Seventh Generation agreed.
"I suppose so. Even I couldn't give an opinion like the Second Generation."
Both of them were probably praising the Second Generation.
However, the Second Generation said.
"...Don't compare me to you, who are real nobles. How to make a small territory larger, what should have been done? I've thought about various things in a modest way. Well, this was the only way for me."
The Third Generation said.
"Thanks to that, I was able to take it easy. Man, it was easy. Since the Second Generation had prepared various things, I just had to move according to plan."
While listening to the bright voice of the Third Generation, I continued chatting with Clark-san.
Three days passed, and I welcomed the morning of the fourth, then the fifth day.
I, who had woken up early to teach Luca how to handle the bow, watched as the village, which had completed preparations to repel the attack, gradually brightened.
Then, I heard the sound of an arrow hitting the target.
"I did it! I hit it!"
Seeing Luca overjoyed, I praised him.
"That's good. It's amazing that you're able to hit it by the third day."
The distance was short, and it only hit the edge of the target.
But even so, considering until now, the rate of improvement was fast.
The Second Generation, who was watching that, said.
"Is this also thanks to Lyell's skill? Next, teach him how to pull back more and shoot."
The Second Generation also started chiming in on Luca's bow instruction.
He seemed happy.
(The power of my skill [Experience], huh... well, I can't make a judgment.)
It's a constant-activation type skill that acquires a lot of experience points, but I still didn't know to what extent the effect was appearing.
Since it's constantly consuming magic power, it's also a shackle for me.
"Hey, teach me the sword next!"
"No. Besides, even if you learn the sword, you probably won't be able to use it."
"Don't say that, please~"
To Luca, who was acting spoiled, I laughed and had him aim the bow. But I immediately looked toward the forest.
"Lyell-sama?"
Luca looked anxious.
I turned a smile toward him, took the bow and arrow from Luca, and said to him.
"Go wake everyone up, Luca. ...Today will be busy."
The monsters that started moving in the forest were not trying to come out in small batches like before. As many monsters as could move, moved.
With my skill, they looked like they were writhing in the forest.
"I-I'll fight too!"
"No."
Saying that, I warned Luca.
"Listen. Protect your mother. The adults will deal with the monsters."
Taking Luca back to the house, I woke Shannon and had her raise the signal fire.
――Bread, who was woken by the sound of the bell being struck many times, jumped up and grabbed his equipment.
Those around him were also surprised and hurriedly grabbed their own equipment.
Then, Bread glared at a hand stretched out from the side.
"This is my equipment!"
The knight next to him clicked his tongue and moved his gaze to try and snatch it from someone else.
Bread, who quickly put on his equipment, took his weapon and went outside, where he was called by Marcus, who had also put on his equipment.
"Hey, go to the center immediately!"
"I know without being told!"
For the past few days, he had only been used for the work of repairing the village.
(No rewards because of the debt. I have to make a big achievement here.)
Bread was anxious.
Promotion—.
His father was not a knight with a hereditary position, but a knight for a single generation.
His older brothers had given up on becoming knights and had left home after finding work.
In a house where there was almost nothing to inherit, only Bread had decided in his heart to become a knight and had learned reading, writing, and arithmetic.
He also learned the sword from his father and swung it every day.
He had sometimes felt angry that while he was putting in effort, there were knights who did nothing and couldn't read, write, or do arithmetic.
More than anything, what he couldn't forgive was Lyell, who had fallen to being an adventurer.
Despite losing his status, he had brought out a large amount of money, having succeeded as an adventurer.
The one who contributed most to this Griffon extermination was undoubtedly Lyell.
(And yet...)
And yet, Lyell said he didn't need any merit.
He felt as if the merit he sought was told to be worthless.
He couldn't forgive it.
As he dashed out, the trio he had met during the march approached.
The youth who was the leader said.
"Hey, could this be!"
Marcus replied.
"You know without me saying it! Look at the sky!"
The signal fire was rising along with the sound of the bell.
It was the signal that the monsters were starting to move.
"If I can excel with this—"
Because he had been by Lyell's side, he had no opportunity to excel during the first attack.
For Bread, it was a complete miscalculation.
When Marcus found the Porter, a certain number of people had already gathered there.
Lyell was making preparations and giving instructions.
(This time for sure. An achievement enough to definitely become a knight!)
The enthusiastic Bread arrived beneath Lyell—.
I gave instructions in order to the squads gathered near the Porter.
"We will handle the Griffons and Hippogriffs. Be careful not to get injured. Also, we'll use the traps while they have momentum. Knights, be ready to defeat the monsters that enter!"
The Second Generation gave instructions.
"There's still time. Let them eat before sending them. You can't put out strength when you're hungry."
"Please eat, even if it's just a little, before heading out! Monica!"
When I sent a gaze to Monica, she had already prepared a large amount of bread with fillings and warm soup poured into cups.
"The great Monica makes no mistakes. You'll be weeping with gratitude later."
"I'll rename you Poyopoyo! Once you've finished eating, head to your deployment locations! Also, the messengers are—"
While I was giving instructions, Marcus-san and the others ran over.
"Lyell, what should we do!"
I looked at Marcus-san and the others and gave instructions.
"After eating, standby near the Porter. I'll have you work hard as a mobile unit."
Actually, just participating in this battle would be a merit.
I could add the portion I defeated to their merit later.
Since they were also targets of protection, I didn't want them to be reckless as much as possible.
But Bread-san shouted.
"That's... we came to fight too! If you place us at the front, it'll be a feat!"
Since I didn't want to place them in the most dangerous spot, I said.
"I'm having you stay here so that I can deploy you to dangerous places! Aria!"
Aria, who was eating bread, looked at me.
"What?"
"The front is tough. If it's a Griffon, it's okay to run."
Aria washed down the bread with soup and wiped her mouth.
It was a manly gesture.
"I know. I'll leave it to Lyell. Make sure you finish it off."
I, who was giving instructions one after another, looked at the sky once everyone had headed to their deployment locations.
"—They've come."
In terms of time, I had made it.
Three monsters soared into the sky—.
One was larger than the other two, and it let out a cry that could be heard from far away.
Goblins and orcs were dashing out from the forest.
The number I confirmed with my skill exceeded two hundred.
The head of an eagle and wings.
And from the neck down, the body of a lion.
Possessing sharp claws and flying through the sky, its figure was majestic.
Someone there said.
"—It really is a Griffon."
The boss of the monsters who hadn't shown themselves until now spread its wings and came toward them.
The battle with the Griffon was about to begin.