"A mage, huh…"
Partek's expression darkened instantly.
At that, Glad and Raban—who had been quietly following alongside—couldn't contain their curiosity and cautiously chimed in.
"Boss, have you ever seen a mage?"
"Isn't it a good thing if there's a mage with us?"
"It is. From the perspective of the one who owns the Demon Realm, it's very reassuring. But most mages are—"
As Partek explained what he knew about mages to the two mercenaries, the slaves listened in with interest as well.
Meanwhile, Mirian stuck close to Eugene, chattering away.
"Tsk! Even our big teddy bear doesn't know much about mages. My lord, mages aren't anything special. They die just the same if you stab them. There are plenty of mages who got too cocky around knights and lost their heads."
"..."
"Our seniors used to say that you should be more careful of mages whose names and schools aren't well known. The ones with some reputation are already soaked in worldly affairs, so they're easier to deal with."
But Eugene was paying attention to something other than the mage.
Didn't they say that no high-tier monsters have ever been confirmed in the labyrinth in Evergrow territory?
At least, according to the information from the Paleyn Trading Company, that was the case.
And yet, it had been said that this was the first time in nearly five years that the count's family had hired a mage.
In the end, either they're planning to explore uncharted areas to expand the hunting grounds… or else
There's also the possibility that something has gone wrong inside the labyrinth.
Eugene recalled Pretzella's words.
It seemed that, once he met Galfredic, there would be a lot to talk about.
* * *
After traveling for two days from Maren, Eugene's party finally arrived at the territory of the Count of Evergrow.
The count's castle—modest in scale for his rank—had its gates wide open, and the guards, seemingly already instructed, let Eugene's group pass without delay.
"Sir Yan of the Eugene family has arrived. Please enter, my lord."
Guided by an elderly chief steward, Eugene tucked his helmet under his arm and stepped through the open doors.
Inside the spacious, neatly kept office were four people.
Ignoring the others, Eugene walked straight toward the young noble seated behind a large desk in the center of the room, placed a hand on his sword hilt, and inclined his head slightly.
"Pleased to meet you, Duke Jebin. I am Yan of the Eugene family."
"You're younger and more handsome than I'd heard. I was told you have an elf among your ancestors?"
Jebin—the eldest son of the Count of Evergrow and heir to the territory—was a handsome man in his early thirties with gray hair.
Though the count himself was still in good health, Jebin had been handling several matters on his behalf for the past two years, including affairs related to Demon Realm subjugations.
"Yes. That's what I was told by my late father."
"Even if the blood has thinned, elven beauty doesn't just disappear, does it? Now then, have a seat."
"Yes."
After sitting down in the plush chair, Eugene finally turned his attention to the other three.
"Let's make introductions. As you know, this is Sir Yan Eugene. And over here is Sir Entler, and beside him is Sir Lugeits."
Eugene exchanged silent greetings with the two knights.
He might not know Entler, but he was well familiar with Lugeits' name.
The knight who had won the tournament hosted by the Count of Evergrow last year.
Galfredic had once said that, at least in swordsmanship, Lugeits was his equal.
Though Galfredic also said the result would've been different if he hadn't been injured in the semifinals. And he claimed the jousting event was suspicious as well.
Lugeits had a rough, intimidating face that oddly didn't suit his shoulder-length, flamboyant blond hair.
Judging a knight by appearance was foolish, but for some reason Eugene felt that Entler—the one sitting beside him—seemed stronger.
"And this person is…"
At Jebin's continued explanation, Eugene looked toward the figure sitting quietly between the count's heir and the knights.
"This is Duke Romari. One of the mages who carry on the Sandstone School. They say she excels at tracking human traces using Magic Sand, one of the earth-element spells."
The mage, who had been sitting with her face half-hidden beneath a hood even in the presence of the count's heir, lifted her head slightly.
A woman?
Eugene was a little surprised when he saw her hollow, fish-like eyes beneath long eyelashes.
It was his first time seeing a mage in person—and he had never imagined it would be a woman.
The mage, too, seemed slightly surprised by Eugene. For an instant, a strange light passed through her otherwise vacant eyes, then vanished.
"Now then, Sir Eugene. First of all, I'd like to thank you for arriving earlier than scheduled. However, the situation isn't good, so I hope you'll understand that we need to discuss the subjugation immediately."
"I don't mind, Duke Jebin."
"Hm. A knight with consideration to match his reputation."
Smiling as befitted a high-ranking noble who knew how to display proper manners when many eyes were watching, Jebin continued.
"I had planned to hold this meeting with just the three of them, but since Sir Eugene has arrived, we'll proceed together. Oh, before that…"
Looking back at Eugene, Jebin spoke in a slightly somber voice.
"I hear you shared a close friendship with Sir Galfredic?"
"Oh… you could say that."
Eugene wondered if it was really grand enough to be called a "close friendship," but given Galfredic's personality, he could easily imagine him talking it up that way, so he nodded.
"As I thought. Then I must deliver some unfortunate news. Two months ago, during the last labyrinth subjugation, Sir Galfredic failed to return."
"...!"
Since his regression, Eugene had never been so shocked.
"Of course, his death hasn't been confirmed. Sir Galfredic and his entire team are simply missing. As for what happened…"
Like the well-educated heir he was, Jebin calmly and clearly explained the full course of events.
"…And that's why we hired Duke Romari and Sir Eugene. Do you understand now?"
"Yes. Then may I ask one question?"
"Go ahead."
Eugene directed his question not at Jebin, but at the man who had been wearing a bored expression for some time now.
"Sir Lugeits. Are you participating in this subjugation?"
"...!"
Staring straight into Lugeits' startled eyes, Eugene continued.
"You were the last person to see Sir Galfredic. If you were to join the expedition, you'd be a great help in finding him."
After glaring briefly at Eugene, Lugeits quickly glanced at Jebin and replied,
"I'd like to, but under our territorial regulations, knights of the domain are only allowed to participate in subjugations twice a year. You might not know that, being a free knight."
The way he emphasized the last part clearly implied that there were different "ranks" even among knights.
And his words weren't exactly wrong. Nobles who owned Demon Realms didn't often send out the knights they had formally invested.
Hiring free knights or mercenaries was usually sufficient, and there was no need to risk valuable territorial knights in a Demon Realm.
Still, leaving elite manpower completely idle wasn't ideal either, so they typically allowed them to participate two or three times a year.
"So it's about maintaining combat readiness?"
"You catch on quickly."
At Lugeits' smile, Eugene turned his face back to Jebin.
"Duke Jebin, the Sir Galfredic I knew was an exceptionally capable knight. If he were to return safely, wouldn't he be a great asset to Evergrow's military strength?"
"...!"
As Lugeits' expression visibly soured, Jebin stroked his chin.
"You're not wrong. However, as I said, the problem is that Sir Galfredic joined the subjugation without having formally received investiture."
Though Galfredic had successfully led the opening subjugation of the Tiwyn family's Demon Realm, the Count of Evergrow had not granted him investiture immediately.
Instead, he set a condition: if Galfredic participated in the subjugation of the Morrison Mountain Labyrinth—which he personally owned—and earned outstanding merit, he would accept him.
You could call it reasonable if you put it kindly—but it was also so thoroughly calculating that it truly felt like the way a real noble would act.
"From the start, the reason things turned out this way is because Sir Galfredic was too greedy for merit in the first place. Honestly…"
At Lugates's low mutter, Eugene shot him a sidelong glance.
There wasn't a single thing about the man he liked, but with the count's heir present, Eugene couldn't openly retort. Instead, he turned to Jebin.
"Then the labyrinth expedition will be conducted by Sir Entler, myself, and Lady Romari?"
"That's correct. We'll also have fourteen mercenaries and four porters."
That made twenty-seven people including Eugene's party—an average-sized force for a demonic realm expedition.No, with a mage added, it would be a much stronger force.
"Since the main objective will be searching for Sir Galfredic and the others who went missing, we'll pay an additional success reward of three hundred silver coins. I've already informed the Pailin Merchant Guild as well. Can you depart tomorrow morning?"
"That's fine."
"Straight forward—I like that. Then let me explain the plan for this expedition."
Jebin's explanation continued for several minutes.
Sir Entler, one of Evergrow's domain knights, would serve as expedition leader, while Romari had been hired as a mage to locate the missing people.
"Any questions?"
"No."
"Good. I'll have quarters prepared for Sir Eugene and his party. Guards."
At Jebin's order, a steward who had been waiting outside personally came to guide Eugene.
"Sir Eugene, may I have a moment of your time?"
Just as Eugene was about to follow the steward, the mage—who hadn't spoken a word in the study—quietly addressed him.
After excusing himself from the steward, Eugene approached Romari, who was standing a short distance away.
"What is it?"
With a strange gaze that seemed slightly unfocused, Romari asked in a low voice.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to speak with you privately later."
"Eek!? Is this wench trying to seduce our lord right now!? I don't approve! Get lost!"
Ignoring Mirian's outburst, Eugene replied calmly,
"I see no reason to, and I'm not particularly interested."
"It won't be a conversation that disadvantages you, Sir Eugene—only one that may help. Could you spare a little time after dinner? I'll come quietly to you."
"Hm. Fine. Do as you like."
After a brief consideration, Eugene nodded.
Unlike priests, mages were known to be relatively less hostile toward vampires, and Romari was likely to be a great help in finding Galfredic.
* * *
"Missing, huh…"
Entering the quarters prepared for him in a separate building, Eugene clicked his tongue softly.
From his very first expedition under contract with the Pailin Merchant Guild, things were already taking an odd turn.
Just then, Mirian landed on Eugene's shoulder and began chattering.
"My lord, my lord. Not just that big bear, but that raccoon-looking mage girl—don't you think she's kind of strange?"
"How so?"
"She said she's from the Sandstone School, but I didn't feel much earth energy from her. And the way I see it, she kind of gave off a vibe similar to the dark kin. Didn't you feel it?"
"Hm."
It was Eugene's first time seeing a mage in person, but he thought Mirian might be right.
Whether it was instinct, or the intuition of a vampire—when his eyes met Romari's, he'd been surprised she was a woman, but at the same time, she'd felt oddly familiar.
If that was due to some subtle magic, there was nothing he could say—but Eugene trusted his instincts, which had almost never been wrong.
"Well, she said she has something to tell me. I guess I'll find out later."
"Hmph! Still, you shouldn't just let it slide! The seniors say mage girls are always chasing men!"
"I'm not interested at all."
"Kekeke! I knew I could trust our Eugene, my lord!"
Ignoring the spirit, who had instantly changed her tune after causing such a fuss, Eugene thought of Romari again.
'What does she want to tell me? She didn't seem particularly dangerous.'
If—however unlikely—Romari turned out to be a threat, then today would become the first day he ever drank a mage's blood.
(To be continued)