Am I Really Wanted by Anyone? - Chapter 9

The alarm bell echoed through the training grounds, and everyone halted their drills, standing by quietly.

A messenger’s magic spell flew over. The bird-shaped magic alighted on my shoulder and loudly relayed the information.

“Lady Ginette! A pack of kobolds has appeared in the southern forest. Approximately sixty in number. They haven’t breached the walls. They’re surrounding the perimeter. Those outside the walls have already been evacuated. Casualties: three patrolling soldiers. It seems they were ambushed suddenly.”

Why would kobolds, those small canine magical beasts, do this?

They usually live quietly deep in the forest. I doubt the patrolling soldiers did anything to provoke them.

“Kobolds won’t cross the city walls. Maintain vigilance. I’ll go investigate the cause.”

“Understood!”

—Piiii.

I used the dragon flute hanging from my neck to call Marilyn.

“Lady Ginette, it’s not wise to go alone.”

Lord Leo ran over, concerned.

“Would you like to come with me, Lord Leo?”

“Ah. If you’re alright with it.”

“Then, Rhoda, Caine, Zanatt, prepare with Lord Leo.”

“Yes!” “Yes!” “Yes!”

I equipped my breastplate and gauntlets and took up my greataxe. The people training moved to the sides to make room for Marilyn to land.

Meanwhile, Lord Leo and the others also prepared and mounted their small dragons.

Grrrrl.

“Marilyn! Please head for the southern forest.”

Marilyn brought her face close, so I patted her while making my request and climbed onto her back.

Marilyn lifted off and headed for the southern forest. From a distance, Lord Leo and the others followed.

It’s been a while since I’ve gone out with anyone.

I’m happy about it, but my duty to protect them weighs heavier.

I headed with Marilyn toward the area the kobolds usually claim as their territory.

…The forest had a gaping hole, exposing the ground.

Trees were mowed down, discolored in places by poison, with scorch marks here and there.

Had the kobolds been attacked by something and fled their territory?

Marilyn and I landed on the ground. Lord Leo and the others followed shortly after.

“I wonder what happened here.”

An enemy that uses poison.

We have to be careful.

What kind of poison is it?

There are hardly any magical beasts that breathe fire and use poison. It must be a mutant species.

“Lady Ginette, be careful.”

Lord Leo expressed concern as I was examining the poison.

“Thank you.”

While staying alert and scanning our surroundings, Marilyn focused on one point and let out a warning sound.

“Lady Ginette?”

“Shh! Something’s coming.”

The moment I stopped Lord Leo—

Shaking the trees, a two-headed Cerberus emerged from deep in the forest. It seemed to be a mutant, with a larger build. One head leaked fire from its mouth, while the other dripped venom.

“Fall back!”

At my signal, the three men stepped back, drew their swords, and took distance.

Lord Leo stood his ground with his sword ready.

…What should I do?

At this range, he might get caught up in it.

Just as I thought that, Rhoda grabbed Lord Leo’s arm, pulled him, and said, “Please keep your eyes on the enemy and fall back,” creating distance between us.

…Seems alright.

Marilyn also lowered her head, looking ready to fight.

Among us, I’m the smallest and the easiest target.

As expected, the Cerberus shot a fireball at me.

“Lady Ginette, look out!”

I heard Lord Leo’s voice just as I split the fireball with my greataxe.

I nodded in response.

It’s fine.

This much is no problem.

Using body enhancement, I leaped high and brought my greataxe down on one of the Cerberus’s heads.

Gyaaaa!!

I immediately swung the greataxe around and slashed the other head. Unfortunately, the second strike didn’t cut deep. The Cerberus sprayed blood and stepped back.

Grrrrl.

After my attack, Marilyn shot a fireball and pounced on the Cerberus. She dug her claws into its back, lifted it high into the air, and slammed it to the ground.

Gyannn!!!

As the Cerberus cried out and fell, she bit down with her claws still embedded, tearing off a part of its body.

She repeated this several times until the Cerberus finally stopped moving.

“It was a mutant Cerberus.”

I turned around, still covered in the beast’s blood.

“It’s rare for a mutant to appear around here.”

One of the men, as usual, took out a towel and handed it to me, while the other two began checking the Cerberus’s condition.

“Lord Leo, are you injured?”

“…Ah, ah. Do you always fight like that?”

“? Yes, I always go alone and work with Marilyn to take them down.”

“I-I see.”

Lord Leo’s complexion looked somewhat pale.

Is it because it’s his first time seeing me defeat a magical beast?

I was worried and peered closer, but Lord Leo averted his gaze.

“My lady, with blood on you, other magical beasts might be drawn. Let’s return immediately.”

“That’s right. Lord Leo, let’s go.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Normally, Lord Leo would offer me his hand, but this time, without looking at me, he mounted his dragon and swiftly returned to the estate.

“Marilyn, can you burn this Cerberus?”

Grrrrl.

Seemingly uninterested in Cerberus meat, Marilyn let out a cry at my words and breathed fire onto the Cerberus.

Once it’s burned enough, the poison will be neutralized, so if we leave it, the forest creatures will take care of the rest.

After dousing the fiercely burning Cerberus with a water spell to extinguish the flames, we returned to the estate.

“My lady, welcome back.”

“I’m back. Marilyn worked hard today, so make sure to give her an extra treat later.”

“Understood.”

After speaking with the stable staff, I returned alone into the estate.

“My lady, welcome back. You’ve worked hard again today. Your bath is ready.”

“Katie, thank you.”

I murmured softly.

“Maybe Lord Leo was tired.”

I closed my eyes and slowly eased my fatigue as I sank into the bath with a gentle splash.