The Extra Wants To Live

Just one monster could literally bring down almost the entire town in the territory. This was why monsters that could travel on rivers were more fearsome than medium-sized monsters like trolls that only traveled on land.

"Did you spread the news to the neighboring estates?"

"Yes, we are sending troops to monitor the river and track their traces."

It was a blessing in disguise.

This was where Carl's creation of the Laurel Union shined.

In the past, they wouldn't have cooperated regardless of whether a monster appeared or not, and it would have been impossible to spread the news this quickly.

While the nobles were exchanging letters and saying things like, "I'm great," "You're great," the entire village might have been destroyed.

"There will be no further support."

"Yes, unfortunately."

He spoke as if he had chewed over what Billford wrote. No matter how small, a river was a river. It was not a task for one or two soldiers to carefully monitor a long river that crossed several territories.

If discovered there, they must respond immediately, deploying as many knights and soldiers as possible. All knights who used mana were naturally deployed, and regular knights and soldiers had to use siege weapons such as ballistas, requiring a large number of personnel.

Naturally, distribution problems arose.

In a situation where all personnel and supplies in the territory were being mobilized, there was no room to send additional reinforcements.

This seemed like a contradictory decision, as it neglected the forests of Gilin, an area inhabited by monsters. What's the point of watching the river when there's a monster roaming the forest?

But there were reasons why the lords made such decisions.

"After the 2nd unit joins, they charge into the forest."

The defender of the eastern part of the Empire, who had never been defeated and had never failed in his mission.

The man who single-handedly united this vast land in just one year.

The 4th Prince, Grand Duke of the Empire, the One Who Plants Laurel Trees. They believed that the Laurel Unit led by Carl would do well this time too.

"Prepare for when things don't go as planned."

Even if the situation had already reached a point of no return, Carl would definitely do it.

"Prepare to burn the forest to the ground."

By any means necessary.

***

Catherine was a bit far away, so she was late in joining them. Carl discussed many things with Billford and Dillon. Fortunately, thanks to Billford's quick actions, they were able to hire guides from the surrounding villages who knew the terrain of the forest well.

Having had a hard time with the accumulation of maps in the previous Palton Territory, Billford was the first to take care of it.

The forest was like a gift from nature. It was a treasure chest from which countless resources endlessly sprang up.

Of course, all the nearby villages had been maintained for tens or hundreds of years, and the people living there had inherited knowledge and wisdom from their ancestors.

Not only were the rivers that ran through the forest mapped, but also the locations of swamps, pools, and caves where monsters were likely to settle down after the rainy season were carefully identified.

Furthermore, they could find out about monsters that appeared, poisonous plants to avoid, herbs that could be used as medicine, and roots and fruits that were edible.

It was thanks to everyone, regardless of whether they were members or not, who tried to provide as much information as possible to the Laurel Unit as they set out to subdue the terrible monster.

"Search the interior of the forest and check for pools of blood."

When faced with the sudden appearance of such a monster, the first thing that came to Carl's mind was, of course, the pool of blood he had seen in Hilfin and Palton.

"What do you do if you find a pool of blood?"

Camilla spoke in an icy voice, a stark contrast to when she used to seduce Carl in a soft voice, given the circumstances.

"There will be a blood-stained statue inside. Destroy it if you can."

If monsters kept springing up from the pool of blood, it would be unmanageable.

The territory could have been destroyed by the play, and Garten, if left alone, could have collapsed the empire. But such powerful monsters pouring out one after another?

Even if they dispatched all the masters and wizards of the empire, the eastern part of the empire would still become a land of monsters. If possible, they had to decide at the first meeting.

"Also, if there is any special object, kill it immediately."

Furthermore, if there was a being like the red-maned plaything, it had to be killed. This was considered especially important to Carl, who still regretted not having killed the bastard back then.

"If you could kill me, would you?"

"Okay."

Carl responded coldly to Camilla's soft voice. But Camilla seemed satisfied with those words.

Even if it meant death, He could say that.

Maybe he just thought it would be a shame to lose such a great tool as Camilla here. But whatever it was, the fact that Carl cared about her came back to Camilla as joy.

"What if there isn't any?"

To Camilla, who changed her attitude again and asked about the bloody ring, Carl replied indifferently.

"Just report back with the number and location of the monsters, and leave them alone."

"Is it okay if I don't kill you?"

Camilla asked again at Carl's command. It would be right to silently follow what the lord told her to do, but Camilla didn't do that. And Carl didn't tell her to just shut up and do what she was told.

"That's what the Laurel Unit should do."

He wasn't talking nonsense like taking responsibility for the given task.

There was a political intention to clearly demonstrate that the Laurel Unit had successfully dealt with this enormous threat, to prove its necessity and importance, and to further solidify its position.

Although the Laurel Unit was always active, they were so thirsty for expertise that they even created problems out of nothing. If judged to be useless, the very foundation of the Laurel Union might be shaken.

"Yes, then."

Camilla answered from Carl's shadow. But instead of leaving for the forest straight away, she looked up at Carl.

"Do you have anything to say?"

Carl felt her gaze and asked. Camilla was silent for a moment, then whispered softly.

"Are you going to compliment me again this time? Words alone aren't enough."

"… … ."

Carl didn't answer the deep, muffled voice, and Camilla also disappeared without waiting for an answer.

"Lord Carl. I brought you some water."

"Come in."

Carl calmly responded to Harmon's words.

Carl washed his body briefly with the water Harmon had prepared and then changed his clothes. He spread out a thin mat filled with cotton, lay down, closed his eyes, and thought about various things.

A plan that must be modified to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. Things to do going forward. Engagement with Elke Gasto for an alliance with Gasto.

Camilla hovering around and tempting. And now, the smile of his mother that he would never see again.

Mother's last letter. Not too often, but occasionally.

Even though his mother said so, Carl thought of her every single day, without fail. That might be why he couldn't shake Camilla off. Because the warmth that hugged his back as he burst into tears that day did not disappear.

Carl closed his eyes and spent sleepless nights reading his mother's letters. He felt the silver cane necklace that had been touched so often that it had become shiny and glossy.

***

"Sorry I'm late."

"No, you aren't late. You worked hard."

Catherine joined Carl two days after his arrival.

No one blamed her, knowing that she had rushed as fast as she could after hearing the news from the messenger.

He came in such a hurry that he left the entire carriage loaded with luggage behind and brought only the bare minimum.

"We'll jump right in tomorrow. First, let the soldiers get some rest."

"Yes, Lord Carl."

You can't just push your exhausted soldiers into a swampy forest to fight that giant monster.

Dillin knew it too, but because he was anxious, a look of discomfort appeared on his face.

Even though I know there's nothing I can do, I still feel anxious because the issue is what it is.

If you enter the forest tomorrow, it will be a full seven days since Billford first discovered the monster.

Who knows what might happen in the forest in the meantime?

After Catherine heard the details of the situation and the operation, she left and spoke privately with Billford.

"Great. You handled it well."

Catherine praised Billford with a soft smile that she didn't usually show.

"…thank you."

Billford, who was now a head taller than the petite Catherine, said awkwardly, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and pride at Catherine's compliments, just like when he was a child.

"Of course, dealing with monsters and dealing with humans are completely different, so you should always be careful not to let your guard down."

"Yes, Lady Catherine."

"Yes, Sir Billford."

Billford's eyes widened at Catherine's words.

Now the two are equal knights with equal status.

But to Billford, Catherine felt like a teacher and a knight to be served, as always, and he felt like a commoner servant who served her.