The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 37

“Then, I’ll be counting on you.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

Si-on, who had prepared to leave the lord’s castle with the personnel from the Si-on Duchy, was seen off by Jenna and the retainers of the August Estate.

Though fewer than ten mercenaries remained to assist Jenna, the retainers of the lord’s castle dared not entertain any other ideas.

No one knew exactly what had happened, but the attitude of the noble from the Si-on Duchy had completely changed.

Even Yonas, who had initially clashed with Salen, became overly friendly within just two days, his expression practically dripping with honey.

And then there was Sirvan, the arrogant prince of Paloma.

When it was heard that he had gotten his eyes bruised during a sparring session with Piotr, some even secretly hoped this incident would strain relations with the Si-on Ducal Family.

But.

“Haha! If that’s my nephew’s wish, then it can’t be helped, right? Please take care until you reach your maternal family.”

“Yes, Unc… Uncle.”

The sight of Piotr patting Sirvan on the shoulder, with Sirvan awkwardly smiling beside him, left the retainers of the August Estate dumbfounded.

He was clearly supposed to have a bruise on just one eye from his bout with Piotr, but somehow, he ended up with bluish bruises on both eyes—it was rather odd.

(No one knew that the furious uncle had delivered a physical lesson.)

Anyway, it was hard to comprehend why even the prideful prince Si-on would suddenly change his stance and behave so humbly within a single day.

However, one thing was certain despite the numerous questions.

– Unless the August Estate planned to move far away, they had to heed the words of the Si-on Ducal Family, the rulers of this region.

Therefore, they had to listen carefully to the words of Jang Salen, whom the ‘representatives’ of the Si-on Ducal Family were showing such deference and respect toward.

If they dared harm his proxy in his absence, the wrath of the Si-on Ducal Family (a stronger, immediate force) would reach them much faster than the distant, severe laws (physical) of the royal family.

With these thoughts in mind, the retainers of the August Estate awkwardly bid farewell to Si-on, who was mounting his horse.

Si-on took one last look at the retainers.

“I have no doubt that you will all do well.”

Although he smiled kindly, the retainers, who knew the warning and threat behind his smile, quickly responded in unison.

“As you wish, sir!”

“We will do our utmost to assist Madam Jenna!”

“Hey, who are you calling Madam….”

“Leave it to us, Sir Salen!”

Jenna, who wasn’t even married, flared up, but Si-on, who ignored her and nodded with satisfaction, suddenly locked eyes with someone.

Si-on inwardly chuckled as he noticed a woman who quickly turned her head away in surprise.

“It seems like the wildcat can’t quite give up on her fish. Keep an eye on her, and if she makes any foolish moves, contact me right away. Use the name of the Si-on Ducal Family freely, no matter who comes or what they say. Just stall for time.”

“Yes.”

Jenna bowed her head after glancing at the Baroness of August, who was fanning herself despite the not-so-hot weather.

‘Is she a fox type? Hmph, it won’t matter.’

Jenna was a wildcat skilled in tearing foxes apart.

“Let’s move.”

Soon, Si-on, the Janstrick Mercenaries, and the people from Paloma led by Yonas departed from the lord’s castle.

* * *

Though some of the Janstrick Mercenaries remained at the lord’s castle, the group, now numbering over fifty thanks to the addition of Yonas’s people, moved in an orderly fashion, departing the lower village of the lord’s castle and heading south.

Due to the presence of a five-year-old child, they couldn’t pick up much speed, but the mostly armed group was able to travel without any disturbances from bandits or monsters.

After traveling along the path for about five to six hours with short breaks in between, the group reached a low, gentle hill.

It was there that Piotr, Stelman, and others from the northeast encountered a sight they had never seen before.

“Wow!”

“Whoa!”

“This is insane…”

Voices of awe and surprise erupted from various directions.

A lush green forest stretched as far as the eye could see, and beyond it, towering mountains with peaks touching the clouds loomed like the outstretched palm of a giant.

The forest covered an area that appeared to be dozens of square kilometers, not on flat terrain, but rather consisting of hills ranging from 50 to 100 meters in height.

However, the towering peaks of the mountain range on the distant horizon were so high that they created the illusion of being on flat ground.

“…!”

Piotr stared, mouth agape, at the scene before him, while Sirvan, feeling a bit proud, stepped forward.

“Uncle, this must be your first time seeing this, right? From here on, it’s the famous Haruel Mountain Range.”

“The Haruel Mountain Range… It’s truly impressive.”

“It’s not just the scenery that’s amazing; it’s extremely dangerous inside. You have no idea how many predators and monsters are lurking within. That’s why there are no villages around this area.”

“That’s understandable. But don’t we have to pass through that forest to enter the duchy?”

“Yes, the path leads into the forest.”

As Si-on shifted his gaze to where Sirvan pointed, he saw a road snaking like a serpent, leading into the forest.

“If it’s as dangerous as you say, it makes sense why no one is seen using this route.”

“You’re half right and half wrong.”

“Hm?”

Piotr tilted his head, and Sirvan, seemingly excited, continued his explanation.

“The forest is definitely dangerous, but it’s not like no one goes through it. Most hire mercenaries to pass through, but not just anyone can go.”

“What do you mean by not just anyone?”

“Oh, well—”

Sirvan’s enthusiastic explanation was cut off by Si-on’s voice.

“Fewer than five carts or wagons. Groups of fewer than thirty, regardless of gender or age, can pass, but larger groups need special permission.”

“Oh… Sir Salen is right. You know quite a lot, don’t you?”

“Hey! Watch your tone!”

Yonas, who had been sticking to Si-on’s side all day and watching him intently, glared at his nephew.

Though Sirvan, who still vividly remembered his enraged uncle’s furious outburst and corrective (smack) punch, reluctantly bowed his head.

“My apologies. I was out of line.”

“It’s fine.”

Si-on just smiled it off.

A young noble of that age could certainly behave that way.

Moreover, Si-on’s feelings toward Yonas and Sirvan had dissipated after learning they were not involved in Brian’s death.

They were just cute(?) great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren to him.

However, Sirvan, unaware of this, couldn’t understand why Si-on’s attitude seemed to belittle him.

‘No matter what, he’s just a collateral member of the royal family, right?’

Not wanting to face his uncle’s wrath again, yet still unable to comprehend why his uncle was so deferential, Sirvan asked in a subtle tone.

“Sir Salen, even though you’ve never been to the duchy, you seem to know quite a lot. Do you also know who grants permission and monitors access?”

Surely, there was no way he would know.

It was said that almost all the elves residing in the Obla Kingdom had moved to the Si-on Duchy.

“Elves do.”

“…!”

Sirvan’s eyes widened.

Who would have thought someone who likely spent most of his time in the royal capital would know such details?

However, Piotr, Stelman, and the northeastern mercenaries were even more astonished than Sirvan.

“W-what, elves!?”

“Are you saying elves actually exist?”

“You’re saying elves live in the Si-on Duchy?”

Though they had come to trust Si-on’s words implicitly, this was a completely different matter.

Elves were a reclusive race that kept to themselves and had been rarely seen for a long time.

Furthermore, as a race that was already scarce, their numbers dwindled even further during the prolonged chaos following the Dark Dragon’s emergence.

Even now, long after the Dark Dragon’s death, sightings of elves were exceedingly rare in the Obla Kingdom and other nations.

They had practically become a forgotten race, almost mythical.

And yet, elves still existed?

In that forest they were about to enter?

“Hey, I heard female elves are all beautiful!”

“Not to mention, female elves supposedly wear skimpy, see-through clothes!”

“That’s right! I’ve seen it. In paintings and sculptures, all female elves are dressed provocatively.”

“Wow! Female elves are irresistible. Ow! Ow! Why are you hitting me!?”

The clueless youngest mercenary, Miska, who had foolishly voiced aloud what the other mercenaries were secretly thinking, was duly punished.

Sirvan, having slightly recovered from the shock of the mercenaries’ antics, spoke to Si-on again.

“Uh, but I heard there are almost no elves in the kingdom’s directly governed territories. You haven’t seen them yourself, have you?”

There’s no way he could have.

It was common knowledge that nearly all elves residing in the Obla Kingdom had migrated to the Si-on Duchy.

“There are.”

“What…”

Sirvan stopped himself from saying “Don’t lie.”

Still unwilling to concede, he quickly changed his approach.

“If you know so much about elves, then I assume you also know about the ones living in our duchy? They don’t let just anyone pass through the forest. Only those with whom our family has had longstanding ties…”

“Whether they’ll allow us through or not, we can just ask those friends over there.”

“Huh?”

As Si-on nodded in a direction, everyone, including Sirvan, turned to look.

Far ahead, at the edge of the forest where the green foliage swayed like waves, a group of figures stood clustered like scattered pebbles.

“Oh, oh!?”

“Are those elves?”

As the mercenaries murmured, Piotr asked.

“I have good eyesight, and the only ones who would gather like that at the edge of the forest are elves. Hmm…? But why are you—?”

Si-on tilted his head as Miska, who had somehow broken free from being silenced, slinked over to him.

“Sir Salen.”

Miska, now bearing a resolute expression as if facing his ultimate nemesis, called out to Si-on in an unusually serious tone.

“Are the elves over there… really dressed skimpily?”