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“What nonsense did the garrison spew this time?”

The Neokalitz unit harbored deep distrust toward the Erkal garrison. They were known for dumping all the real work on the Neokalitz unit.

Tarion had met with the Erkal garrison commander, bringing along a piece of the Black Bear’s corpse they obtained in the forest.

He intended to raise the concerns Damian had about the possibility of magic involvement.

Even if it wasn’t magic, it was crucial to understand the abnormal phenomena occurring in the forest.

Tarion spoke up, “We’re sealing off the Bronselian Forest for now. Not only the herbalists but even we won’t be entering the forest until the situation is clearer.”

“What? So, there won’t be any operations for a while?”

A strange expression of joy appeared on the face of Aaron, the second-in-command. The Neokalitz unit’s primary mission was to subjugate the monsters in the Bronselian Forest. If the forest was sealed off, it meant they had no work to do.

Tarion nodded. “Unless monsters emerge from the forest, there will be no operations for the time being.”

“Hooray!”

“Finally, some rest!”

As Tarion turned away, watching his subordinates celebrate, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. It might be a time of rest now, as his men said, but…

‘If this really is magic…’

He had no idea if their strength alone would be enough to handle it. It felt like walking on a frozen river, with every step potentially breaking the ice beneath him. Tarion sighed quietly.

The news spread quickly through the entire unit.

“The forest has been sealed off?”

“So, no operations for a while?”

“That’s right. We’ll deal with any monsters that come out of the forest, but otherwise, we’ll focus on training within the unit.”

“Hahaha! Finally, a break!”

“Whew… What a relief. With so many injuries recently, I thought it was getting too much.”

“I’m not sure how long we’ll rest, but we should focus on recovering from injuries during this time.”

The soldiers shared their thoughts on the situation, but the common sentiment was happiness about the forest being sealed off. Well, everyone except one person.

“…This can’t be happening.”

Damian sat with a devastated expression, as if his world had just collapsed. Kyle approached and asked, “Why the long face?”

“…It’s nothing.”

He couldn’t exactly say he was upset about not having any operations because the forest was sealed off. As the other soldiers mentioned, many were injured and needed time to heal.

‘It’s all good, but… why now…?’

The forest had been sealed off to investigate the abnormal occurrences happening inside. If they were sealing it off, it likely meant they had acknowledged the mention of magic.

There was a chance that priests or mages might get involved. But aside from that, the situation would only worsen as time passed.

Even if a reconnaissance team was sent, without a subjugation force, they wouldn’t be able to penetrate deeply enough.

‘It ultimately means they need clear evidence of the cursed object imbued with magic…’

For now, he could only wait.

Damian remained silent, watching the situation unfold. They’d have to see what happened after the first reconnaissance team entered the forest.

‘If I act too hastily, I might just draw unnecessary attention.’

Sometimes, staying put was the best option. Despite his frustration…

“…Sigh.”

Damian could only sigh.

But then…

“What? Who are those guys?”

“Why? Oh, what are the garrison troops doing here?”

The Erkal garrison troops, visible outside the barracks, caught everyone’s attention. A dozen of them were entering the unit’s camp and heading towards Tarion’s office. The soldiers in the barracks looked at them with puzzled expressions.

Why would those usually lazy guys come all the way here?

“What brings you here?” Tarion asked.

“Your report led the temple to agree to assist. They sensed an evil aura from the corpse.”

“…”

Tarion’s expression hardened at the garrison commander’s words.

Was it really as Damian had said, related to magic?

But the garrison commander shook his head. “It’s not confirmed yet. It’s just a suspicion. So, the temple decided to send a priest to join a reconnaissance operation in the forest, but…”

“You don’t mean to suggest that we conduct the reconnaissance, do you?” Tarion cut him off, sensing something off about the situation.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. The garrison commander replied, “Not at all. It’s just that, given the unusual nature of the situation, they’d like to take along a soldier who knows about magic.”

“Umm…”

A small wrinkle formed on Tarion’s brow. The garrison commander’s request wasn’t unreasonable.

Given the extraordinary circumstances, it made sense to want the help of a soldier who had detected something unusual.

Normally, he should agree.

“But that soldier is a new recruit who just arrived. It’s a bit difficult to send someone with no field experience.”

“But he is still a soldier, isn’t he? Besides, it was in the forest that he discovered this information, wasn’t it?”

“That’s… true.”

The garrison commander had the upper hand in the argument. Tarion could refuse, but he couldn’t predict the consequences of such a decision. Tarion fell silent, staring at the Erkal garrison commander.

And then…

“Bring Damian here,” Tarion said quietly. He intended to hear Damian’s thoughts before making a decision.

‘If he finds it too dangerous and refuses…’

He wouldn’t send him, no matter what. Reconnaissance and search operations in the forest were the garrison’s responsibility.

“Glory to the kingdom!” Damian saluted as he entered the office.

Tarion explained the situation to Damian, recounting his conversation with the garrison commander.

“You can refuse if you don’t want to.”

With that short sentence, he gave Damian the choice.

But…

“I’ll go!”

“…What?”

Damian responded without a moment’s hesitation.

Tarion’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly shaken by the unexpected answer.

“If I can be of help, I definitely want to go.”

Damian’s statement left no room for doubt.

* * *

It hadn’t been long since the Erkal garrison entered the commander’s office when suddenly, an administrative soldier burst into the barracks.

“Damian, the commander is calling for you.”

“…Me?”

“Why is he calling for you?”

“How would I know?” Damian shrugged in response to Kyle’s question and followed the soldier to the office.

“Glory to the kingdom!”

Normally, they didn’t bother with formal salutes due to the relaxed atmosphere within the unit. But with an outsider present, Damian couldn’t afford to show a lack of discipline.

As Damian saluted, Tarion gave a small smile, placing his right fist gently over his left chest in response.

“Damian, the Erkal garrison has requested your assistance in the upcoming reconnaissance mission,” Tarion began, summarizing the conversation he had with the garrison commander.

“It seems they need your help because you were the one who noticed the abnormal situation… but since a priest will accompany you, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

‘Does this mean I can enter the forest?’

Damian’s eyes lit up at the prospect. He had been frustrated by the forest’s closure, and now an opportunity had presented itself.

Damian thought to himself, ‘This is a chance…!’

He knew he would regret it deeply if he let this opportunity slip away.

“I’ll go!”

“…What?”

Damian was well aware that Tarion didn’t want to send him. As a new recruit, and given the danger the forest posed, Tarion likely judged it too risky. But…

‘If I don’t go now, it might be too late.’

There were numerous valuable herbs in the forest, and…

‘I’m more likely to find the cursed object imbued with magic if I’m the one searching.’

If that happened, they could quickly form a subjugation force and cleanse the Bronselian Forest.

‘Once it’s safe, I can contact the Hamel Trading Company to secure a stake in this area.’

If the people who could foresee future events caught wind of this, even with just a hint, they would understand the potential.

Damian smiled broadly and said, “If I can be of help, I definitely want to go.”

With that, he put a definitive end to the discussion.

The garrison commander smiled, but Tarion’s eyes wavered. With Damian’s firm statement, there was no longer any valid reason to refuse.

“…I see.”

Tarion let out a small sigh and nodded. “Then so be it. You may go now. I’ll inform you of the details once they’re finalized.”

“Yes, sir.”

Damian returned to the barracks, trying to calm his racing heart.

‘…I did it.’

That was enough for now.

However, shortly after the Erkal garrison left, Damian was summoned by Tarion again.

* * *

The monster’s front paw, with its long, sharp claws, had already begun to rot, emitting a foul stench.

“…There is indeed an evil aura lingering here.”

“How could such a thing happen…?”

“Are you saying that a dark mage has appeared?”

Dark mages were supposed to have been eradicated from the kingdom.

Everyone knew, of course, that a few had managed to survive, continuing their existence in secret.

But that was all anyone thought—they were no longer a threat.

“…Could they be trying to make a comeback?”

“It’s impossible to say. But if they are attempting to rise again… we must root them out completely this time.”

The priest, clad in a white robe embroidered with gold thread, a white cap covering his short-cropped hair, and a cross hanging from his neck, spoke firmly.

He then turned to the priest standing before him.

“Priest Claire.”

“Yes, High Priest.”

Claire, with her neatly tied platinum blonde hair, brown eyes, and fair skin, listened intently.

The High Priest spoke in a low voice, “Go and discover the source of this evil power. May the grace of the gods be with you.”

Claire, holding her staff adorned with a cross in the center of a circle, pressed it to her forehead in prayer before looking up.

“I will find it, no matter what.”

Determination filled Claire’s eyes as she resolved to banish the evil power.

* * *

Preparations for the Bronselian Forest reconnaissance proceeded quickly.

Tarion, who had accompanied Damian to the forest entrance, asked, “…Are you sure you’ll be alright on your own?”

“Yes, it’s better for me to go alone,” Damian replied.

When it was announced that Damian would join the Erkal reconnaissance team, the entire unit was thrown into an uproar.

Tarion had initially insisted on sending ten veteran soldiers along with Damian, unable to let the rookie go alone into the dangerous forest.

However…

―It would be better if I went alone.

Damian had convinced Tarion. He argued that if veterans accompanied him, they might be forced to fight if a dangerous situation arose.

―I’ll run away on my own if necessary.

Damian’s abilities had already been somewhat proven through training, and they believed he could at least escape on his own if needed.

“Remember, no combat is allowed under any circumstances.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll also gather plenty of herbs for our injured comrades,” Damian added, using the promise of gathering herbs for the injured to further persuade Tarion.

In the end, after much persistence, Tarion allowed Damian to join the reconnaissance team alone.

But now…

“…Sigh.”

Watching Damian head off with the reconnaissance team, Tarion couldn’t shake his unease. He let out a small sigh, repeatedly urging Damian to prioritize his safety.

Damian saluted and said, “I’ll return safely.”

And with that, the reconnaissance team set off into the forest.

Tarion remained behind, watching them go.

“…Quite the unusual recruit we have,” remarked Aaron, the second-in-command, who was standing beside him.

Tarion nodded silently in agreement, his eyes fixed on the direction the reconnaissance team had disappeared into.

—