Realizing how great he truly was, she desperately strained her ears.
“This fog really is strange. It’s not even usually this thick by the sea.”
“Aren’t we almost to the Nation of Darkness’s city? Could there really be monsters lurking this close? Or is it precisely because we’re in the Nation of Darkness that we’re in this weird situation?”
“I don’t know, but…maybe it’s some sort of defensive spell the Nation of Darkness keeps active.”
“…Quit talking about magic. It gives me a headache. Just tell me if you notice anything. In the easiest way possible. If it’s a monster, couldn’t we kill it and use that deed as a debt in the negotiations to dispatch Sir Momon?”
“I wonder. It’s up to each country to get rid of the monsters in their territory, but…”
Perhaps because she was focusing her ears so hard, she could hear the conversation between Gustav and their leader quite clearly. But she wasn’t confident she could keep it up from any farther away. What would her father do in this situation?
You can’t be dependent on someone who isn’t here. I have to find my own way from now on!
But it was true that if she stayed here, her abilities couldn’t be used properly. Then maybe I should ask if I can take up a position somewhere slightly removed from the others.
Or maybe I shouldn’t.
Her desire to propose something withered.
Remedios wasn’t very fond of her as it was. What kind of punishment would she get if she failed again? She had no interest in any more trouble.
And it’ll be a pain if she won’t accept my guidance on the rest of this trip…
Neia frantically defended herself. But it wasn’t good for her mental state to be in a crisis and feel like she could handle it better if she were in charge but then say nothing.
From somewhere in her head, she also heard the voice telling her that if this party were wiped out, there would be a delay in getting aid to the suffering people in Roebel, but the biting remarks Remedios hurled at her pained her more.
Just then, Neia saw something out of the corner of her eye that she couldn’t possibly miss.
A large, hazy figure had appeared in the fog in the direction leading farther into the Nation of Darkness.
“Hey, can you take a look over there?” Neia poked the paladin on the horse next to her.
“…No, sorry. The fog’s too thick. I can’t make anything out. Do you see something?”
She heard the knight grip his sword harder.
“Oh no, I thought I did, but maybe it’s just my imagination.”
“I see. Well, if you think you see something, it doesn’t matter what it is, let me know.”
“Okay, I will.”
Neia thanked him with a solemn face and then turned her gaze forward again. If there was such a thing as women who look good smiling and women who don’t, Neia was sure she was the latter. She got a better response, even when saying thank you, if she kept her expression serious.
She stared earnestly into the fog once more. The figure was some distance away, so it seemed she was the only one who could see it, but it definitely wasn’t her imagination.
Perhaps she had improved her mood talking with the knight? Neia decided to try talking to Remedios, but she was busy conferring with Gustav.
“What should we do now?”
“It’s dangerous to move in the fog. Let’s stand by a little longer, but then if nothing seems to be happening, we can dismount and take a rest. By the way, there’s a monster in the sea that creates fog, right?”
“There is. But around here there’s no sea or lakes. Just like Squire Baraja said.”
“Do you think she could have been mistaken or missed something?”
“She doesn’t make that kind of mistake. Hasn’t she gotten us this far safely? We didn’t get caught by the subhumans patrolling the broken wall as we were leaving the Sacred Kingdom, either. That would have been impossible on our own, you know.”
“I’m sure we could have brute forced our way.”
Neia’s mood plummeted.
Does she have any idea how hard I worked paying attention to every little thing as I guided them?
She recalled having the party stand by and scouting ahead on her own in the cold rain, crawling through the mud because she didn’t have concealment abilities like a ranger.
If she had been found—alone in that forward position—she would have been as good as dead. Still, if she could help save the people suffering in the Sacred Kingdom, she was prepared to risk her life.
That’s right. I’m not out here doing this for compliments. She tried to convince herself. Even if the commander wouldn’t recognize her, the people would appreciate her hard work, though they weren’t likely to say it aloud.
Only children feel like they need some consideration—a reward—for doing their best. This is what it means to serve as someone’s shield. It’s a paladin’s duty to bite their lip and protect people from the tough stuff. That’s what our commander has been doing in her career, too. Just…I wish she would at least talk quieter. Well, they probably think they’ve lowered their voices enough, but…
Their conversation continued.
Meanwhile Neia was thinking, Quit chatting and help keep watch already. Remedios, with her knack for smelling danger and her combat prowess, would be especially good at that.
Suppressing her irritation, Neia focused her attention on the figure in the fog—because she couldn’t stand listening to Remedios and Gustav talk anymore, but neither had she recovered enough to interrupt them.
Then perhaps the wind blew the fog? For just an instant she could make out the outline of a distinct form.
But she couldn’t believe her eyes. What she
