In the northeastern part of the kingdom lies a vast marshland. Although it is considered part of the Royal Capital, in reality, it is merely an untouched expanse devoid of homes or fields.
Beyond this marsh, the Ureri River flows, fed by the northern mountain range.
“The banks of the Ureri River have frequently seen magical beasts in the past. It wouldn’t be surprising if an Undead Beast washed ashore after escaping from a hunt in the north. Well, at least it’s fortunate that there have been no human casualties in this area,” muttered Lloyd, a senior knight mounted on his steed, as he gazed over the marshland before him, letting out a small sigh.
Currently, it was the dry season, and patches of cracked earth were exposed here and there. Thankfully, this allowed for some progress on horseback.
Inside a lavish carriage that seemed out of place for a mission to exterminate Undead Beasts, the king and the chancellor were present. Most of the soldiers dispatched for the king’s protection were members of the royal guard, with only Holy Knight Elliott and his aide, senior knight Lloyd, sent from the Royal Knights Order. The king’s command aimed to provide the inexperienced royal guards with firsthand knowledge of battling Undead Beasts.
The chancellor had even intended to bring along various guests from both domestic and foreign lands. However, Lloyd had vehemently argued against this, insisting that an increase in numbers would jeopardize safety in case of an emergency.
—This is hardly a spectacle…
With a gloomy mood, he turned around to see Elliott, adorned in an ornate ceremonial military uniform ill-suited for battle, mounted on his horse.
“You have it tough too…” Lloyd remarked.
“According to reports, there is only one beast. If it gets a bit dirty, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Elliott replied nonchalantly.
Feeling a sense of relief at Elliott’s calm demeanor, Lloyd shifted his gaze back to the marshland ahead.
In the distance, behind a large rock by the riverbank, a large black beast came into view. It resembled a dog or wolf but was significantly larger. What stood out most were the multiple eyeballs covering its forehead and its body, coated in a substance resembling dark, muddy sludge.
Though it seemed the creature had sensed the presence of Lloyd and Elliott, who had moved ahead of the group, it showed no signs of movement.
“It appears to be on the smaller side among Undead Beasts. But it’s strange…” Lloyd mused, observing the creature.
Just then, the sound of hooves echoed from behind.
“Hmm… With His Majesty present, I’m checking the surroundings just in case, but it seems there’s only that one beast,” he noted.
Turning around, he saw Bishop Powell from the Great Church of the Royal Capital, deep in thought atop his horse. Despite his advanced age, Powell carried himself with a dignified air, showing no signs of frailty as he expertly managed his steed.
Alongside the soldiers, several clergy members accompanied them to assist in the extermination of the Undead Beasts. Emily, still in her dress, had received permission to ride in the king’s carriage.
Many of the clergy, due to their divine protection over purification, were capable of visually confirming whether any Undead Beasts lurked within their line of sight. After ensuring the area was clear, the clergy members reinforced the king’s safety by erecting a barrier.
Elliott, Lloyd, and Bishop Powell dismounted quietly, confirming that the king’s carriage was at a safe distance before gradually closing in on the dark mass that was their target.
“That is… still…—” Bishop Powell began to whisper, but before he could finish, the wolf-like head with multiple eyeballs turned towards them, its grotesque mouth gaping wide as it kicked the ground.
“It’s coming!”
Lloyd shouted as he drew his sword, nearly in sync with Elliott, who kicked off the ground and unsheathed his sword. However—
“Ugh…!?”
“Elliott…!?”
Elliott, having drawn the Holy Sword, lost his balance as he attempted to swing it. This was a scene so unlike the Elliott Lloyd had witnessed on the battlefield before, creating a sense of dissonance. Nevertheless, Elliott managed to regain his stance and swung his sword down towards the approaching wolf-like creature.
A dull clang echoed as the blade met something hard.
The sword halted midway through the neck of the red-black wolf-like beast. Elliott furrowed his brow, gritting his teeth as he struggled to pull the Holy Sword free. Finally, with a decisive motion, he severed the head from the body, which fell to the ground with a squelch, shattering upon impact.
“…This one is indeed… not right,” Bishop Powell murmured as he examined the remains. The corpse was indeed covered in a decayed, mud-like substance, but remnants of black fur were visible—likely parts of the original magical beast that resembled a dog or wolf.
“Could it be that the Holy Sword didn’t shine earlier because of this…?” Lloyd asked in a hushed tone, to which Powell shook his head grimly, indicating he did not know.
Beside them, Elliott stood frozen, breathing heavily with a pale face. His arm, still clutching the Holy Sword, trembled as it hung limply at his side.
Lloyd cast a concerned glance at Elliott but suddenly gasped.
“Elliott, your… that is…—”
The beautiful blade, adorned with the Ivy Relief symbolizing the goddess, bore a chipped edge.