Chapter 73
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 73
The Subjugation Unit finished setting up the Military Camp and ate a late lunch.
After the meal concluded, the members were given personal maintenance time.
The soldiers meticulously cleaned their armor and weapons, while the Physicians inventoried the remaining medicinal herbs and provisions.
"Shall we begin?"
The two mages then started preparing to lift me into the sky.
"I'll be back soon, Lucian. Listen well to what Xenon says, alright?"
"Okay!"
After changing into trousers, I entrusted Lucian to Xenon and followed Claude.
"This location should work well."
Claude stopped in an open area without trees—a place where nothing would obstruct my view.
Melissa then began her explanation.
"One of us will lift you into the air, while the other will control the wind currents to ensure you don't get swept away or land improperly."
"Please don't lift me too high. If the distance becomes too great, I won't be able to sense the magical energy properly."
"I'll be careful."
Melissa nodded and stepped back a few paces from me, preparing to lift me skyward.
'I'm a bit nervous.'
I wiped the sweat from my palms onto my trouser legs.
It wasn't that I distrusted them. It was simply that flying through the sky for the first time made me anxious.
"Don't worry too much. We have no intention of sending you far away."
"We'll keep you within our line of sight. As long as you stay within our vision, there's no danger to Lucella."
I offered a smile in response to Melissa and Ahin's attempts to ease my tension.
"Then shall we go? You have the map, yes?"
"Yes."
"Hold it tight so it doesn't blow away. Here we go!"
The moment Ahin finished speaking, a powerful wind surged forth. My feet, which had been firmly planted on the ground, suddenly lifted into the air.
"Oh!"
I instinctively flailed about, trying to regain my balance.
"There's no need to fight for balance. We'll control the wind well, so just relax and stay calm."
Following Melissa's words, I released the tension from my body. My wavering form soon found its proper posture.
"It works when you relax?"
"Yes. It's remarkable."
The sensation of floating in the air felt utterly foreign. It was as though my body had become as light as a helium balloon.
"I'll lift you higher now."
I nodded, and the wind grew even more fierce. My body rose steadily, defying gravity as it drew closer to the sky.
"Aunt!"
At the loud voice, I looked down. Lucian, now tiny as a doll, was waving his hands toward me.
I waved back to Lucian, then unfolded the map I held in my right hand.
From where I floated, the south of the Forest lay below. From this vantage point in the sky, the magical energy felt strongest toward the northwest on the map.
"Ahin, I'm heading northwest from here!"
I shouted toward Ahin. The considerable distance between my position and the ground meant I had to yell loudly for my voice to carry.
"Understood!"
Ahin rotated my body to the left. Simultaneously, the wind that Melissa had summoned swept me toward the northwest.
Low-tier monsters, including slimes, rushed past beneath my feet.
'I can feel it.'
The deeper I ventured into the forest, the stronger the magical energy became. I lifted the telescope hanging around my neck and carefully surveyed the densely wooded forest below.
Through the telescope lens, I observed various monsters inhabiting the forest. From the swift Leucrocotta darting about to goblin hordes living in groups—diverse creatures concealed themselves in the forest's depths.
'Wasn't it troublesome not finding the goblin habitat during the last subjugation?'
Goblins were monsters that lived in groups. To eliminate them cleanly without leaving stragglers, I had to strike their habitat directly.
Fortunately, from above, the goblin habitat was clearly visible at a glance.
I withdrew a pen from my inner pocket and circled the location I presumed to be the goblin habitat.
'For the first day, this seems like a good harvest.'
The thought that monster subjugation was proceeding more smoothly than expected naturally lifted the corners of my mouth into a smile.
"Lucella! How about we call it a day?"
Ahin's voice reached me from far below.
My voice wouldn't carry to where Ahin stood, so I drew a circle with my hand instead.
The direction of the wind shifted. My body, which had been flying deeper into the forest, began retracing its path.
Soon my feet touched ground again. At the same moment, the wind that had enveloped my body vanished without a trace.
The three people standing a few paces away immediately rushed toward me.
Claude was the first to speak.
"Are you injured anywhere?"
"What would I have to be injured from?"
"You're not experiencing motion sickness or dizziness?"
"No."
I smiled at Claude, who fussed over me like an overprotective parent. It was a smile meant to convey that everything was fine.
"It seems you don't have a fear of heights, fortunately."
Ahin gave me a thumbs up.
"Everything was good, but I wish the movement speed had been a bit slower. The speed was too fast for detailed observation."
"I'll adjust it."
"And I think we should establish hand signals to replace verbal communication. If I shout from the sky, the monsters might notice us. There's no benefit to revealing our presence to them, is there?"
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Since we have plenty of telescopes, hand signals would be a good substitute."
"We can explore the east and north tomorrow, but if we want to venture deeper into the forest, we should clear this vicinity first."
Increasing the distance between myself and Ahin and Melissa was practically impossible. Beyond the range where magic could be effective, the moment I left their sight, I'd be in danger.
"Then let's gradually expand our observation area as we proceed with the subjugation."
"Oh, and about the goblin habitat...."
We discussed monster subjugation as we headed back toward the Military Camp.
If things continued this way, I had a premonition that the lengthy monster subjugation could be completed quickly.
* * *
"Young Master, shall we practice swordplay today?"
I shook my head.
"Or perhaps I could read you a fairy tale?"
He shook his head firmly.
"Would you care for some sweet chocolate? That might lift your spirits a little."
Another emphatic refusal.
"Whatever shall I do to cheer our young master?"
The Maid released a heavy sigh at his continued rejection.
Ever since Lucella and Lucian departed for the monster subjugation, Edwin had remained in this state.
He wouldn't visit the Playroom, barely touched his meals before abandoning his fork, and refused even his beloved snacks.
The servants found themselves at a loss.
"I thought young Master Lucian's departure would please him."
"Well, their mothers are different, after all."
Everyone assumed the two boys' relationship would naturally be strained, as in most households.
Born of different mothers, one lavished with affection while the other received none—or so they believed.
Yet the bond between the two young masters was far better than the servants imagined.
'Brother never makes a single spelling mistake.'
'That's exactly why I'm your brother.'
If anything, it was remarkably good. Edwin followed his older brother faithfully, and Lucian was quite fond of his younger sibling.
Lucella's efforts had made their harmonious relationship possible.
Though the saying goes that the arm bends inward, Lucella showed no favoritism between the two boys. Whether it was Lucian or Edwin, she disciplined them firmly when they erred and showered them with praise for their accomplishments.
With such a caring person now far away, Edwin's current state was only natural.
"Wouldn't the Duke's visit brighten young master's mood?"
"Come to think of it, we haven't seen him since last week, have we?"
The Maids hurried to the Butler, hoping to have Edwin see his father.
But the Butler shook his head.
"His Grace won't be able to visit the Mansion for some time. He's an extraordinarily busy man, after all."
In other words, he couldn't be at Edwin's side.
"Then young Master Edwin must remain alone?"
"I think it would be best to send young master to the Territory. His friends from the Orphanage are there, so he wouldn't be lonely."
"That's something we'd need to ask His Grace about. He wishes for young master to remain with him."
Yet the Duke himself was nowhere near Edwin.
Everyone harbored the same thought, but none dared voice it aloud.
"What if we contacted Miss Agris?"
One of the Maids spoke up as if struck by inspiration.
"With the Marquis away on subjugation, Miss Agris must be lonely too. And young master does follow her quite closely."
"That's an excellent idea!"
The Butler's face brightened noticeably.
"Now that I think about it, His Grace seems to be considering Miss Agris as a potential betrothed for young Master Edwin."
"Truly?"
The Butler nodded at the Maid's question.
"Perfect. If the two of them interact and build familiarity, the betrothal could proceed quite smoothly."
The Butler immediately issued orders to the servants.
"Send word to the Agris Marquis Residence at once."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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