Chapter 11 (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Venturing out in the otherworld was not quite a romantic affair. Between those exciting relics, magic, monsters, and stories of heroes, there were more practical problems that had to be faced such as eating and sleeping in the wild.
The journey to escape was rushed especially when the castle was breached, and the remaining few guards fought to the very end. No one had the time to prepare a bag full of rations coming out of there. Moreover, the place where they had set off from was the ancestral tomb, and that seemed like no place for food to be stored…
So, when Amber was hungry, everyone became aware of the real problem at hand.
They were surrounded by barren land with not a single patch of grass in sight. Opposite of the hill was Cecil territory, which had been turned into a fiery wasteland, but there was a dense forest a little further down the hill.
In the magic medieval world, forests outside the town areas were synonymous with danger. The places where the lights of civilization could not reach had nothing besides beasts, robbers, and monsters. But it also meant that there were more food in the forests.
Moreover, in order to reach Tanzan Town in the north, they had to pass through this dense forest.
The group found a flat and open place to rest near the edge of the forest. Then they began assigning people to search for food.
Gawain first glanced at the dunce-like maid. The young lady called Betty had a presence that was hardly felt. But she was quite bold. Back when the dragon flew past, she did not come out crying out of fright. Of course, she could also have been scared silly thus explaining her lack of reaction. The young lady was still grasping the saucepan tightly as she stood there nervously. Noticing Gawain looking at her, her neck cringed slightly.
“Betty, Herti, Rebecca, the three of you will stay here. Byron, you stay and keep guard,” Gawain said, “The rest will go hunting with me. That includes you, Amber.”
Betty had no combat ability. Although Herti and Rebecca were mages, they were not suitable for hunting beasts in the woods. Besides, they had already used up lots of energy. Since the battle in the castle, they have not had a chance to meditate and restore their energies. This was a critical problem for spellcasters as they need to be in a healthy state of mind to use their powers. Thus, it would be better for them to stay put and restore their mana as soon as possible so that they could continue to battle in the journey ahead.
The three loyal family warriors had of course no complaints to such an arrangement, but Amber’s eyes widened. “Why must I go too? I’m also exhausted!”
Gawain glared at her. “Touch your ears. You’re at least a half-elf. Do you have the cheek to say that your ancestors lived in the trees if you don’t come with me into the forest to hunt?”
Amber flattened her mouth and complained, “You’re discriminating against my race. Who told you that elves must all hunt in the forest. I learn stealth, not rangering…”
“You dug my grave.”
“… Oh well.”
Gawain led the three soldiers and the half-elf, who claimed to be inexperienced, to go hunting in the forest, leaving behind the loyal Knight Byron and the three ladies to stay in their temporary camp.
After casting some alarm runes with what little magic she had left, Herti sat down wearily on the stone. Rebecca had led Betty around the area within Knight Byron’s guarding capabilities and came back with a small bundle of dried branches gathered nearby.
After stacking the branches on the ground, Rebecca stepped back, raised her staff, and recited the most basic fire incantation. Then an unstable bursting fireball formed in the air.
Herti stopped her before the fireball exploded. “I’ll do it.”
After setting up the bonfire with a more appropriate magic flame, the coldness accumulated from walking in the underground tunnel and being exposed to the early morning breeze was finally forced out of their bodies. Herti heaved a breath of relief, and looked at Rebecca languishing, “When are you going to learn a magical skill that is not fireball…”
Rebecca looked down shamefully. “Sorry, Aunt.”
“Stop looking so worthless. Even if you apologize, don’t lower your head like this.” Herti rubbed her forehead in greater frustration. “You’re someone with a title of nobility, okay? Your performance today… To be honest, Ancestor is probably very disappointed in you though he didn’t show it.”n
Rebecca suddenly became nervous. “So… what should I do?”
Herti was stumped for words. She sighed and said, “Sigh, what can you do? From the looks of the clan’s current state, I’m afraid that not a single one of us descendants would be able to please Ancestor’s expectation. The state of us today… is far from the glorious state of the clan back in those days.”
Rebecca pursed her lips tightly. As a child, who obediently followed the path of typical children of nobility, the recent series of events was more than what she was ready for. She had no teachers that taught her how to deal with these things, whether it be the Dark Wave or the attack of the monsters, or how her ancestor came climbing out of his coffin. The young viscountess was left bewildered in the face of all these events.
After some silence, Rebecca finally plucked up her courage and said, “Aunt, do you think Ancestor… Is he really resurrected?”
Herti looked into Rebecca’s eyes. She could easily guess what her niece was thinking.
“Are you suspecting that Ancestor, or his resurrection?”
“Actually I know I shouldn’t be suspecting this, but this… is really quite hard to believe.”