35 - Marquis Maron
Episode 35
In just one day, neat rows of fields had sprung up, planted with seeds of unknown origin, and the kitchen was filled with the aroma of baking bread.
Having diligently packed food for the journey, I pointed to the luggage cart and said, "Those with weaker stamina ride. We won't be camping and will continue on, so those who are sleepy can take turns napping in the cart."
"What about you, Marquis?"
"I'm strong. I can walk even if all of you collapse."
Because I can go while eating Magical Energy.
However, the people's eyes were wavering again. They kept whispering among themselves and glancing at me, which was quite unpleasant.
I had chosen Rango as a guide, but Reikart insisted on coming along, so there were more people than I had initially anticipated.
By the way, why isn't Fatima coming out of the kitchen when she's supposed to go and live with these people?
"Fatima! This is really your last chance! I won't take you even if you beg me next time!"
"I told you, I'm not going!"
"Are you going to grow old and die here? You don't have a man, and you won't date or marry?!"
"I'm originally a singleton!"
She really is.
Next was the lumberjack, who was cutting down trees outside the castle walls with loud shouts.
"Hey, Mister! Come here quickly! Do you know how many times I've called you?"
"I'm not going!"
"Why! Why not!"
"I'm going to freeload on the Marquis's land!"
"Hey!"
These leeches.
My throat sore from shouting, I coughed and grumbled. Then, I yelled at Rango for no reason.
"Start moving, quickly!"
"Hey, why are you yelling at me…."
"Can't you drive the cart?"
"I can."
"Grab the reins, quickly!"
Rango grumbled and grabbed the reins. Doraji, who had come to the front gate, was waving her small hand enthusiastically.
Tears welled up in the eyes of the women who were saying their final goodbyes to my fairy.
"Fairy, don't forget to fertilize the potatoes when they bloom. Don't starve, okay?"
"Goodbye! Thank you!"
"Fairy! Eat a lot and grow big!"
"Bye!"
What a load of crap.
I started walking irritably. The road to Grandis was long. I had to manage the Magical Energy so these people wouldn't be contaminated, and there were problems to think about along the way.
As we moved away from the purified area and the heavy fog of Magical Energy began to appear, the frightened people quickly retreated into the cart. Those who had been walking outside with me also hunched their shoulders and looked around warily.
Rango, holding the reins, asked again, "Marquis, this time it really won't be contaminated, right? Really?"
"Ugh, how many times do I have to say it."
"I'm just too scared. I can't get used to it!"
"If you're so scared, why did you come along! You could have stayed in Selbon and escaped on your own! You came here just fine, why are you acting like this again!"
"What kind of situation would I be in if I stayed there! The Order is strange these days!"
Rango shouted.
"Do you know how many years it's been since the rumor that the Order has been taking people among the assassins? Before, it was just a rare ghost story, but the frequency is increasing. Decisively, I became convinced when I got that list for you, Marquis…."
"Contamination."
Before Rango could finish speaking, a lumberjack pointed ahead.
Just as the horses were about to stop, I strode into it.
"Come quickly."
The black Magical Energy quickly receded, creating a space.
Operating Magical Energy was similar to Wizards handling Mana, but also different. The ability to accumulate it in the body or release what had been accumulated was similar, but Magical Energy felt more like a living creature, clinging to me and following me.
As I became more adept at manipulating Magical Energy, I was able to push it away from my surroundings as I moved.
"Wow…."
Someone on the cart, passing through the contamination, let out a long exclamation. Then, people began to peek out and look around.
"It's amazing no matter how many times I see it."
"Is it because the Marquis is a Wizard?"
"No, he said he's not a Wizard anymore."
"Then what do we call him?"
I heard everything, even though I didn't want to. I deliberately put on a wicked smile and said slyly, "It's because I'm the Demon Marquis."
Scary, right?
Really scary, right? Scared it'll come out in your dreams, right?
However, the eyes of the lumberjack and his family, looking at me, were filled with slight curiosity and deep gratitude instead of fear.
The road to Grandis was quiet.
The forest with Magical Energy was originally silent, and the people exhausted from the journey had crammed themselves into the cart and fallen asleep, leaning on each other's shoulders long ago.
I was thinking about the protagonist.
Maybe it was because I had met Eugene, but these days, the female protagonist of this novel often came to mind.
Asta Rosa Kasnatura.
I wonder what she's doing now.
Asta was originally supposed to solve the Snowbeast problem in Grandis and become an envoy of reconciliation between Nieve and Holt, earning the title of 'Princess who prevented war with wisdom.'
After that, she was supposed to show her presence as the world's only Spiritualist who fought against Demons in Selbon.
These two events were the important reasons why the second male lead, Michelan, proposed to Asta, and the reason why the Order hastily brought out the title of 'Saintess' to secure her.
All of that didn't happen.
Because of me. I unintentionally solved everything. Because of me, Asta didn't solve the poacher problem in Grandis, and she didn't defeat the Demons in Selbon. It wasn't a Demon, but a Demonized Holy Knight, but in the original story, the two were not greatly distinguished.
Anyway, at this point, it had to be said that there was a big difference from the original story.
Where is Asta now, and what is she doing?
After the coming-of-age ceremony, she would have left the royal palace, saying she would go out into the world, and it was written that she arrived in Grandis in the middle of summer.
Could she be in Grandis right now?
Of course, it was irrelevant to me, but I should avoid getting involved with the original protagonists as much as possible, even now.
Reikart asked, "What are you thinking about so deeply?"
"I was thinking about how pretty the lost princess of Kasnatura must be."
"What? What does that have to do with you?"
"I'm just curious. A face like a white peach with pink beige hair. It's so fascinating. I wonder what it would feel like to see her in person. Would it be fluffy like a puppy or sheep's wool?"
"What's pink beige?"
"It's a color like a mixture of pink and cream, like the soft and calm inner leaves of a rose, or cotton candy."
Reikart tilted his head with a face that said he couldn't understand at all.
If there were roses nearby, I would find something similar to show him, but there were no such conspicuous flowers in this lush forest.
"But how do you, who doesn't even take a step out of this remote place, know about the princess of Kasnatura?"
"I have ways of knowing everything."
"How?"
"Why are you so persistent again? Persistent men aren't attractive. Get lost."
"Suspicious women are even less attractive."
"This guy doesn't know anything. Suspicious women are so attractive. Why are there so many beautiful women in spy movies?"
While we were having such a silly argument, Rango slipped in.
"That princess is a Spiritualist."
"I know."
"Huh? How did you know? This is really recent news?"
"I have ways of knowing everything."
"They say she summoned a huge bird at her coming-of-age banquet… what was it called? Spirit Bird Ventus? They say it's a creature that only appears in myths, and people were shocked and gave her a standing ovation…."
"You know a lot more than I thought?"
I looked at Rango with a surprised expression. I thought he was only good at killing people, but he was surprisingly knowledgeable about things in a country far from Grandis.
Is he bad at thinking but good at hearing? No, if you're bad at thinking, shouldn't your memory be bad too?
