Alesya (2)
Chapter 12
The mountain is vast.
Even thoroughly exploring the backyard hills takes time, but attached to its side is the Sigini Mountain Range, which boasts one of the largest expanses in the Empire.
Standing at the edge of the Sigini Mountain Range and glancing around, Ray realized he was doing something completely insane.
“This isn’t going to work.”
The probability was far too low—almost nonexistent—even if Alesya had actually gone hiking and Ray had guessed the right direction.
After searching the mountain all day, the chances of encountering Alesya were close to zero.
Two hours later, after aimlessly combing through the mountain, Ray shook his head.
“Let’s call it quits.”
Without any tracking skills, this was truly hopeless.
“I thought dragging Jimy and Matthew along was too much of a stretch… guess I misjudged that.”
Despite clicking his tongue, Ray sat down on the ground with a surprisingly relaxed face.
By now, without any unforeseen events, Alesya would likely have been caught by the Count’s men and returned to the Manor.
If she really did go hiking, she’d probably just be wandering around near the hill behind the Manor.
“Maybe I should just head back to the orphanage.”
Traveling over the mountain in the opposite direction would lead to the village where Jimy’s loving orphanage was located.
As Ray brushed off his rear and was about to move, he slightly furrowed his brow.
“Stepped in something…”
Wiping his foot on the ground, Ray noticed some hardened black fur nearby.
“Hmm…”
Though Ray wasn’t an expert in tracking or hunting, these coarse black furs seemed oddly familiar.
“Should I look a bit more?”
*
Alesya was slightly disappointed.
She hadn’t managed to find a cave deep within the mountains before sunset, ruining her perfect plan to use it as a hideout.
But Alesya quickly regained her spirits.
With no immediate rain forecasted, there was no rush to find a cave.
However, for safe accommodation, she needed to start a fire.
Gathering stones and branches, Alesya carefully arranged them into a circle and stacked the wood neatly.
Looking proudly at her handiwork, Alesya scanned the surroundings.
To ignite the fire efficiently, she needed tools, but neither flint nor matches were available.
After confirming there was no one around, Alesya extended her hand toward the dry branches.
“Fire!”
Mana coalesced and resonated, finally emitting a burst of heat, igniting a small flame on the dry wood.
“Whoosh!”
“Yes! I’m already so good at magic. Truly, I am a genius!”
Smiling broadly, Alesya rummaged through her bag while the fire crackled.
[The Travelogue of Lucia, Spirit of Wind]
This travelogue had been Alesya’s favorite book over the past few years, despite occasional criticisms from someone pretentious. Regardless, Alesya continued to love and admire Lucia’s journey across the Empire.
While reading the section on “Precautions When Traveling Alone” beside the warm fire, Alesya felt a sudden irritation from behind.
“Hey!”
“KYAAAA!!”
Alesya jumped up in shock.
Ray gave her a disdainful look.
“That woman who wrote your book? She’s a fraud.”
“Hiiik! Wha… what?!”
After taking several deep breaths to calm herself, Alesya sighed in relief and placed the book aside.
“Oh, it’s just you, uncouth commoner.”
“That’s right, a commoner.”
Though it was dark, Ray’s sweat-soaked face clearly showed signs of exhaustion.
He must have searched for Alesya for quite a while.
Had she not started the fire, he might have wandered even longer or arrived too late.
Wiping his face, Ray scolded her.
“How many times do I have to tell you that most of Lucia’s travelogue is fabricated nonsense about places she never even visited, yet you still carry it around?”
“Enough! Stop talking about her like that! If you insult Lucia further, I won’t forgive you, no matter who you are!”
Alesya glanced around nervously.
“Anyway, Ray… Did you come here alone? To find me?”
“Initially?”
“Did anyone follow you?”
“Nope.”
“Ah, so there’s no one watching us today?”
Alesya smirked and tapped the rock in front of her with her foot.
“Then today, I shall grant you the privilege of sitting alongside a noble.”
“Hey, your tone is weird. Let’s just talk like we used to.”
“What?! You insolent commoner! Sit down immediately without arguing!”
Reluctantly, Ray sat down.
“Alesya, you’re young and may not understand yet…”
“Excuse me, but nobles shouldn’t speak so casually to each other!”
“…but there are many frauds in this world. Especially those like Lucia, who talk big but are nothing but con artists.”
“Frauds? How dare you call Lucia a fraud! What makes you think she’s one?”
“Sword Masters aren’t going to survive venturing into the Demonic Realm like Lucia described—they’d die 100% of the time.”
“Exactly! That’s why Lucia is celebrated as the greatest adventurer and traveler. Do you commoners not know such things?”
Ray chuckled.
“Sometimes I get confused…”
“About what?”
“Whether our Alesya is pure-hearted or just naive.”
“Ray! Enough! There are laws in the Empire! How dare a commoner speak so freely to a noble!”
After pondering for a moment, Ray spoke.
“Idiot.”
“You dare to insult me?!”
“Fool.”
“How dare you speak so freely to a noble…!”
“Shithead.”
“Hey!! Enough!!”
“Alesya, do you know something?”
Pausing for a beat, Ray pulled out his sword halfway from its sheath.
“In the wilds you love, there’s no distinction between nobles and commoners.”
Surprised, Alesya leaned back and muttered under her breath.
“We just met again, and all you do is criticize me. Don’t scare me unnecessarily and tell me something interesting instead. Please don’t make me sad.”
Alesya’s eyes began to water.
After thinking for a moment, Ray kept the sword partially drawn and adjusted his posture.
Interesting story, huh?
An appropriate tale came to Ray’s mind, and he asked gently.
“Miss, do you know how I found you?”
“Oh! I was just wondering about that. I thought surely Father’s knight would find me first.”
“Take a guess.”
“Hmm… Do commoners have some sort of sixth sense to detect noble blood?”
It increases their survival rate.
They instinctively recognize noble blood and crawl accordingly.
Alesya was proud of her logical reasoning.
Ray almost blurted out ‘Damn girl,’ but remembering she was only around ten years old, he forced a smile.
“Miss, do you know what sense neighborhood dogs have that surpasses even Master-level warriors?”
“Dogs having superior senses to Masters? That’s new to me!”
“Their sense of smell. Even ordinary stray dogs can detect odors better than average Sword Masters.”
“Fascinating. I’ve heard that dogs can track their targets using their sense of smell even after crossing a mountain.”
“Monsters are the same way.”
“Do monsters also have a good sense of smell?”
“Not exactly about smell. Monsters have an exceptional ability to detect mana.”
To monsters, mana is both alluring and dangerous.
Creatures imbued with mana are tempting prey, but those with powerful mana reserves are formidable adversaries.
Many monsters possess highly developed organs to distinguish between the two.
“In short, beginners who have just awakened their mana and can’t control it properly, leaving traces everywhere, become very tempting and easy-to-find prey for monsters.”
So much so that monsters from deep within the Sydney Mountains risk approaching human territories.
“Wasn’t that mentioned in Lucia’s book?”
“”
Sensing the serious atmosphere, Alesya swallowed hard and looked around cautiously.
“T-that, Ray, it’s actually a secret commoners aren’t supposed to know… But the truth is…”
“I wasn’t chasing after you.”
Raising his sword again, Ray explained.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t chasing after you. Even if I had a week, I wouldn’t have been able to find you.”
Swish
In the moonlight, the elegant blade revealed itself.
“I was chasing a monster. A very familiar monster.”
“Grrrr…”
The chilling night air was warmed by the growl of a beast.
Over Alesya’s trembling shoulders, a creature with crimson eyes slowly approached.
Ray couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Of all creatures, why you?”
Wildboar—a monster resembling a boar.
Only it was tiger-sized, and its body, infused with malevolent energy, was incomparably stronger than any ordinary beast.
This pitch-black monster was undoubtedly a powerful presence that even a skilled mana user might struggle to confront.
“Looks like we’ve got some history. Mostly involving intestines, though.”
“Grrrr…”
In sync with the Wildboar’s growl, Alesya’s entire body trembled.
Glancing behind her, Alesya let out a shriek and stumbled backward.
“Kyaaaah!”
Just as Alesya was about to trip over the campfire, Ray caught her.
Clutching Ray’s collar tightly, Alesya gasped.
“R-Ray! Can you handle that monster?”
“Uh, it’s kind of tricky. It’s strong, and among monsters, particularly tough. Swords don’t penetrate it easily. Its flesh, especially the intestines, is incredibly resilient… Basically, it’s really hard to cut.”
“So are we going to die…?”
“Don’t worry, Miss.”
Stepping forward, Ray faced the Wildboar.
“I’ll buy some time. You run away quickly.”
“Ray! How can I leave you behind…!”
“Go! Hurry down and call for help! Quickly!”
“Sniff, sniff! Ray! Hold on! I will definitely come back!”
With tears streaming down her face, Alesya hastily ran down the mountain.
Watching Alesya retreat, Ray slid his sword back into its sheath and addressed the Wildboar.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you chasing her?”
“Grrrrr…!!”
Alesya overlooked two things:
First, the Wildboar had approached the vicinity of human territory due to Alesya’s mana. Although Ray possessed mana too, his amount was minimal and well-controlled, so it didn’t attract the Wildboar’s attention.
Second, Wildboars have the habit of relentlessly pursuing fleeing prey. Therefore, turning one’s back and running was essentially an invitation for aggression.
“Grrrrk!!”
Completely ignoring Ray, the Wildboar charged straight after Alesya.
Soon, Alesya’s screams echoed through the mountains.
“KYYYYAAAAAAAAAA!!!”
“Careful, scam artist.”
Ray clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
