Chapter 84: The Marquisate’s Work
On that day, Rest had taken a break from his academy classes and traveled to Count Valery’s Territory in the northern part of the kingdom. His purpose was to assist his future father-in-law, Albert Rosemary, with his work. The task at hand was to exterminate a type of monster known as the Locust Imp, which appeared annually around Count Valery’s lands.
The Locust Imp was a foe to farmers, wreaking havoc in their fields. They would appear just before the harvest, devouring crops and causing significant damage. In the vast granary region of Count Valery’s Territory, these monsters had been known to multiply in large numbers every year. Consequently, they sought aid from the Rosemary Marquisate, which was nearby and boasted a considerable number of magicians.
“We’re able to procure grain at a low price in exchange for exterminating the Locust Imps. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement,” Albert had explained to Rest before they arrived.
Thus, Rest had applied for a leave of absence from the academy and traveled to Count Valery’s Territory alongside Albert and Dibble.
By the way, it was not uncommon for noble children attending the academy to take leave for matters concerning their territories or families. The faculty understood this, and as long as a prior application was submitted, the absence would be counted as attendance. Kind instructors would even provide handouts summarizing the lessons missed.
“Fire!”
At Albert’s command, the magicians hidden in the bushes unleashed their spells in unison. There were just under twenty of them—private soldiers belonging to the prestigious Rosemary Marquisate. While they usually remained in their territory, they were called upon in times of emergency under Albert’s leadership.
“Squawk!”
“Good! Keep it up! Let’s wipe them out!”
“Yes!”
At Albert’s command, the magicians hidden in the bushes sprang into action. One by one, they cast their spells, taking down the Locust Imps that had been ravaging the fields. Though the Locust Imps had formed a swarm to devour the crops, they scattered in a panic, trying to escape the magical onslaught.
“Rest! Go ahead!”
“Understood… Body Enhancement, Accelerate!”
Rest cast spells to enhance his physical abilities and leaped into the fray. With the combined effects of the two enhancement spells, his leg strength surged, allowing him to close the distance to the Locust Imps in an instant.
“Squawk…”
“Wind Wear!”
Before the Locust Imp could let out its dying cry, Rest’s hand, imbued with the power of wind, severed its head. The attack, sharp and precise like a knife, dispatched the creature in a heartbeat.
“Ha! Hyaah!”
He swiftly took down two, three, then four more Locust Imps. Just then, reinforcements arrived, and the battlefield became a chaotic mix of allies and enemies.
“Wind Cutter!”
“Earth Thorn!”
All across the expansive fields, battles erupted between the fleeing Locust Imps and the magicians of the Rosemary Marquisate. The Locust Imps had low combat abilities, so there was little worry about being counterattacked; however, their rapid reproduction posed a significant threat. If they were allowed to escape, another massive outbreak could occur.
“Life Search, Amplify!”
Rest enhanced his magic to search for life signs, extending his detection range to nearly three hundred meters. He sifted through the information, pinpointing a Locust Imp trying to flee unnoticed by his allies.
“This way…!”
“Squawk!?”
He spotted a Locust Imp crouching low and swiftly severed its head. He continued to hunt down the hidden enemies, taking them down one after another. Within an hour, the battle concluded, with the majority of the Locust Imps eradicated, restoring tranquility to the vast fields.
“Alright… the battle is over. Everyone, good work!”
Albert clapped his hands, praising the magicians. A sigh of relief spread through the group, and the magicians gathered around Albert.
“Phew… it’s done.”
“I was worried about the sheer number this year, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy.”
“We managed to hunt them down without letting any escape, thanks to our son-in-law, right? Truly impressive, Dibble’s disciple.”
Several magicians approached Rest, patting him on the shoulder.
“When the young ladies suddenly took a liking to you, I wondered what kind of person you were… but you certainly delivered. Well done.”
“Thank you.”
Rest graciously accepted the compliments from the older magicians.
One of the reasons Rest had been called to this location was to meet them. The Rosemary Marquisate owned mansions in both the royal capital and their territory. Viola and Primula lived in the mansion in the royal capital, where Rest was employed as a butler apprentice. The territory was primarily managed by a steward, with Albert and his wife, Airish, occasionally returning to oversee it. The magicians present were all private soldiers stationed in the territory, and Rest had rarely had the opportunity to meet them before.
“Hmph… a commoner, huh?”
While many magicians praised Rest’s magic, a few wore displeased expressions. Most of them were young male magicians, seemingly unimpressed by Rest’s achievements, clicking their tongues in discontent.
“Now then… everyone, thank you for your hard work. With this, the extermination of the Locust Imps for this year is complete. Thanks to you, we were able to fulfill our obligations to our ally, Count Valery. I appreciate it.”
Albert clapped his hands again, addressing his subordinate magicians. Beside him stood Dibble, a middle-aged man in a butler’s outfit, who had appeared unnoticed.
“I will greet Count Valery with Dibble here before returning to the Rosemary Marquisate. You all may head back first. Rest assured, rewards will be given later. Of course, I will cover the carriage fare for your return, but… if you’re short on funds, feel free to run back using Body Enhancement!”
Laughter erupted among the magicians. Although Albert was a son-in-law, he seemed to be well-liked by his subordinates.
“Well then, see you later… dismissed.”
It seemed their work was done. Rest had contributed once again to the Rosemary Marquisate. With a sigh of relief, he decided to return to the territory of the Rosemary Marquisate, just as Albert had instructed.