Sighting of a Magical Creature II

"Yes, although we can't yet confirm what kind of Magical Creature it is, it's certainly a large one. A hunter in the mountains saw its footprints firsthand. This is beyond doubt. What's perplexing is that Magical Creatures typically don't dwell near human settlements. If they do appear, it's usually in the wild forests along the southern borders of the empire. The entire Lir Province hasn't seen any Magical Creatures in decades. No one knows where this one came from." Peter smiled wryly. "My men and I have been ordered to hunt it down. But by my estimation, it would take at least twenty soldiers to kill such a beast. With the vastness of Half-Edge Mountain, we'd need at least a hundred men for an effective search."

Magical Creature... that sounds intriguing.

Freyr couldn't help but feel tempted. Ever since he had found a glimmer of hope for learning magic, he had developed a keen interest in anything related to it. And now, a rare Magical Creature had appeared in the heart of the empire's southern region! How could he resist getting involved?

"Excellent! I have forty guards with me, each one a seasoned Russell family cavalryman, and my captain here is a fourth-rank knight. I am willing to let them accompany you to Half-Edge Mountain to carry out this mission. After all, letting a Magical Creature wreak havoc without doing anything about it goes against my principles," Freyr declared nobly.

Peter was momentarily stunned. "You mean... you're willing to lend me all your guards?"

"Master, this won't do," Andrew interjected for the first time. "You must have protection at your side. If we have to go, I will take twenty men. That should suffice."

Andrew was willing to help, being a knight who adhered to the chivalric code.

"No, no, you needn't worry about my protection," Freyr said with a smile. "Because I will be going with you. I believe being in your company is the safest place, isn't it?"

Both Andrew and Peter immediately voiced their objections.

Peter, in particular, began to regret informing the young Russell lord about this matter. Taking him along? Catching the Magical Creature was secondary; if anything happened to this young master, he would be in serious trouble.

"No need to argue," Freyr made his decision firmly. "Don't worry about my safety. Don't forget, I have a highly skilled Wizard by my side."

He gestured to Ryan, who sighed in resignation. Though not exceptionally powerful, Ryan's status as a Wizard was genuine.

Peter's eyes lit up. A Wizard? With the assistance of a capable Wizard, the mission should be manageable!

But still... the young master's safety...

The subordinates couldn't convince Freyr otherwise, much to Andrew's headache. It seemed their young master was determined to venture into the mountains to see what this Magical Creature looked like.

Andrew eyed Peter the knight with some hostility. To him, this whole mess was caused by Peter. If the young master were to suffer any harm—even a minor scare—Andrew knew the blame would fall squarely on his shoulders. Despite his growing fondness for the unpretentious and kind young master, Andrew found the decision to enter the mountains to see a Magical Creature utterly reckless and childish.

With no other options, Andrew sighed, silently vowing to stay by Freyr's side at all times once they were in the mountains. He trusted that his own swordsmanship would be sufficient to protect his master. Besides, in these plains, the creature was unlikely to be anything too formidable. Andrew consoled himself with this thought, noting the peculiar nature of Magical Creatures on the continent of Wallace.

Magical Creatures, which naturally possessed magical abilities, had an interesting pattern: their danger level often inversely correlated with their size. Typically, the larger the creature, the less dangerous it was. Truly perilous were the smaller ones. Given that Peter mentioned a large creature, Andrew felt his skills would suffice.

Peter, on the other hand, was in a bind. The safety of the young Russell heir worried him more than the Magical Creature. But Freyr had insisted on going, even if Peter refused his help. After weighing his options, Peter decided it was better to accompany them. With more people, they stood a better chance of ensuring safety.

The mercenaries proved efficient, ready in full gear within half an hour. Freyr left a group of servants to guard the inn and set out with two squads of cavalry. Freyr donned light armor, which, despite his still frail appearance, offered some reassurance. Calista, familiar with hunting Magical Creatures for bounties, joined the group as well.

Peter gathered the remaining twenty soldiers from the local garrison, bringing their total to around eighty or ninety men. Although still somewhat inadequate, the sight of the well-equipped Russell guards reassured Peter.

Together, Peter and Andrew, the highest-ranking knights, divided the men into three squads. They mixed the local troops, mercenaries, and Russell guards to ensure each squad had a balanced mix of infantry and archers. Peter's two lieutenants led the other two squads, while Peter and Andrew stayed with Freyr.

Determined to prioritize Freyr's safety, Peter resolved to protect the young master at all costs. If anything happened to him, Peter's military career would be over, regardless of the outcome of the mission.

Freyr's squad was the largest, with forty men: thirty Russell guards and ten of Peter's best archers. Peter even gave Freyr a valuable military crossbow for additional protection, recognizing that the young master likely had no archery skills.

Thus equipped, Freyr's squad was formidable, featuring forty elite soldiers, two fourth-rank knights, and a genuine Wizard.

The three squads set out, each taking a different path into Half-Edge Mountain. They planned to converge in the central Half-Edge Valley, equipped with signal flares to summon each other if any squad found the creature.

Freyr rode into the mountains, surrounded by his men. He seemed blissfully unaware—or perhaps deliberately ignorant—of the fact that he had become a burden to the group.