Chapter 313: Proclamation (2) (2/2)

“Yes, from what I’ve heard. Moreover… it doesn’t seem to be just a precautionary move.”

Right now, the two counts were leading the elites of their territory.

Even the Northern Jackdaws were preparing to move, so perhaps a major war against the empire was about to happen.

“We’ll know then… when we arrive.”

The order from the royal capital was not to head to the border. It was a command to bring the elite soldiers to the royal capital.

Why though?

What this a kind of plan?

The two counts looked forward again.

They crossed the border between the northern and central regions, and headed towards the royal capital.

***

The night they met Marquis Buckingham.

Since the Buckingham March was so vast, it took about two days to arrive at Grand Penn, a big city that could be called the territory’s capital.

Therefore, the group stayed overnight at the castle of Viscount Lennon, a vassal of Marquis Buckingham.

“A slate of the Solari denomination?”

Jude nodded when Scarlet asked as her eyes blinked.

“Yes, there are four of these slates, and we’ve collected three already. And I know where the last slate is.”

In Jude’s room, Cordelia, Scarlet, Lucas, Kajsa, and Kirara were present.

He had thought of calling Leon and Sarah too, but compared to the previous four, they were not yet close with them.

“Lord Jude, are you saying then that… you’re leaving to look for the fourth remaining slate?”

“Yes, we will be doing so. Now that we’ve met Marquis Buckingham, I think it’s fine to go slowly now.”

Moreover, the fourth slate was hidden in Zainan Gorge, one of the border points between the Buckingham March and the Shadow Forest. So considering their route, it was only right to go there now.

Cordelia also nodded and added.

“They say that if you collect all the slates, you’ll be able to obtain the last treasure left by the Solari denomination. I don’t know what it is, but it will definitely help in our fight against the demon followers. That’s why I think that it’s better to secure it before the war… the civil war begins.”

Solari’s treasure that one could get when all four slates had been collected had never appeared in Legend of Heroes 2, so even Jude and Cordelia did not know what it was.

But still, it was the legacy of Solari, the last treasure left by the denomination.

Even if it was not a combat weapon, it would be helpful in some way because it would have immense divine power.

‘We need to be prepared in the end.’

It was the same reason why they gathered as many allies as possible and increased their fighting power in preparation for the fight against the Lord Protector back then in the royal capital.

As Jude and Cordelia each finished their explanations, Kajsa scratched her chin and said.

“Anyway, is that why you’re going on a treasure hunt?”

“Well… you could say that.”

When Cordelia nodded, Kajsa grinned and hugged the neck of Lucas who was sitting next to her.

“Hehe, I like that. Lucas likes it too, right?”

“Eh? Yeah. M-me too. Noona.”

Lucas was neither used to this skinship nor calling Kajsa ‘noona.’

As he spoke with a blush on his cheeks without realizing it, Kajsa’s face turned red as well. For some reason, she smacked her lips too.

But unfortunately for Kajsa, Scarlet was present.

Scarlet grabbed Kajsa by the back of her collar and pulled her so that the two were no longer touching each other. She then turned to Cordelia and continued her words, ignoring Kajsa’s protests.

“Are we leaving immediately in the morning then?”

If one went further north from here, they would see the winding road to Zainan Gorge.

In response to Scarlet’s question, Cordelia suddenly wiggled her fingers.

“We’re going to leave but… well… It will only be me and Jude going there…”

The way her words trailed in the end was very suspicious.

So Scarlet’s eyes narrowed and she asked again.

“Are you two going alone?”

“Yes. It’s not like it needs a lot of people to go there. And I want the three of you to stay here and focus on strengthening yourselves. Yes, yes, that’s it.

Seeing that she was nodding her head while speaking, it seemed like she was agreeing to whatever she was saying.

Jude and Cordelia will be going to the Zainan Gorge alone.

This isn’t actually strange.

Because these two have traveled alone together before.

But why?

Is this something like a Rogue Master’s intuition?

Somehow, her words sounds different from usual.

“Hmmmmm….”

Scarlet narrowed her eyes even more, and Cordelia’s lips squirmed as she averted her gaze. And Kajsa sniffed it with her beastly intuition that was not inferior to Cordelia’s.

‘I smell something. You too, right?’

At Kajsa’s gaze, Scarlet nodded. It was obvious on what Kajsa was saying with her eyes given the atmosphere and circumstances.

So Scarlet smiled and spoke.

“Then why don’t you take Kirara with you?”

“Kirara?”

Not only Cordelia but also Kirara, who was sitting close to Cordelia, blinked their eyes.

Because her words were quite unexpected.

But Scarlet had her own reasons.

“According to what you said, the fourth slate is located in Zainan Gorge, right? Kirara can help you by talking to the animals there. There must be a lot of monsters there that Kirara can tame.”

Zainan Gorge was notorious for its rugged roads and being the home to large groups of Roc birds.

It was a remote place that was not passed through by people, so only the animals living nearby knew the way there.

“Yes, that’s right. If it’s Miss Kirara, she can ask the animals to find out the way.”

Lucas spoke and clapped his hands, and Scarlet nodded in agreement.

“Isn’t that good? You have to be back soon. Moreover, it’s not a place with much danger.”

Scarlet’s words were both wrong and right.

Zainan Gorge that was swarming with giant monsters was generally considered a dangerous place.

But it was not a dangerous place for the Grand Sword Master Jude and the Archwizard Cordelia.

“Eueueue…”

But if we do that, Jude and I won’t be able to travel alone!

Cordelia wanted to shout that, but she could not. Because she was still lacking in shamelessness.

So she just groaned, but an even more difficult situation happened.

“Wow, am I going with Master then? I like that. I can go together with your, right?”

Kirara hugged Cordelia’s waist and acted cute, so there was no way for Cordelia to refuse.

‘Ueueueue…’

There was no need to hide her thoughts if she and Jude traveled alone.

They did not need to hide it.

But it could not be helped.

She could ignore Scarlet and Kajsa’s evil smiles, but not Lucas whose innocent face seemed to be saying ‘Miss Scarlet is smart!’ and Kirara whose sparkling eyes seemed to be saying that she wanted to go with them.

“O-okay. Yes. L-let’s go together.”

“Really? That’s really nice. I like you very much, my master.”

“Eueueu… me too.”

Kirara rubbed her cheek against Cordelia’s chest in her joy, and Cordelia had an awkward smile.

As for another person.

After watching their conversation, Jude looked out the window and let out a long sigh.

It was a really long sigh.