Matapju immediately unfolded the scroll. A man was depicted overall with a dense and strong impression.

“Good.”

Matapju, who roughly checked the facial features, took the portrait. Examining it closely could be done later.

“Our lord is alive.”

The gray-haired knight spoke with a confident voice.

Leo Delt Gwenhill would never die. It was an absolute trust that he was not the lord to fall victim to such an assassination.

“Well, I wonder.”

If he was alive, why wouldn’t he make his presence known in some way? Why, even with the emperor involved, was the search still facing difficulties?

Matapju sarcastically touched upon the harsh reality.

“Just being alive doesn’t mean he can’t hide.”

“…!”

The three knights of the Gwenhill Duchy flashed their eyes towards Matapju simultaneously. It was a fierce loyalty befitting subordinates who chose War-Ear as their lord.

Regardless, Matapju was unaffected.

“If he’s alive, there’s no way I won’t find him. So keep praying desperately like that.”

Smirking towards the three knights, Matapju flicked her finger. In an instant, she unfolded teleportation magic and disappeared.

A sharp wind whirred. The moist breeze carried a fierce chill.

“It will be even more difficult to search in winter, Zed.”

“If it snows, the tracks will be harder to find. What should we do?”

“…For now, we have no choice but to believe in Matapju.”

Zed, the gray-haired knight, gritted his teeth and descended the steep cliff, carrying a resentful heart.

“I’m going back to the Duchy immediately.”

Although accused of treason, the Duke was steadfastly enduring. However, the atmosphere in the Duchy was becoming as stagnant as the Duke’s absence.

“Soon, the noble faction will gather like a swarm?”

Thinking of those who hoped for the downfall of the Gwenhill Duchy, Hero, the knight with emerald hair, clenched his fists.

Even when Leo Delt Gwenhill was alive, he brought all kinds of inquiries. Now, with the charge of rebellion, it was undoubtedly going to be worse.

“The Emperor’s collapse is only a matter of time.”

Ben, the knight with greenish hair, spoke with a dry expression.

In fact, the situation was more serious for the imperial family than for the Gwenhill Duchy.

Even if the Duke, assuming the worst, executed everyone to avoid leaving behind any troubles, the imperial family was being swayed according to the tastes of the noble faction, eventually falling into a puppet.

In other words, it meant that the Newton Empire, which Leo Delt Gwenhill had protected with his life, was falling into the hands of the noble faction.

“So until our lord returns, we have to endure somehow.”

Jed looked resolute as he faced his comrades.

Even though hope was as fleeting as a thread, giving up was not an option.

Now, it was time for them to choose defense over offense.

“Then Ben, go with Jed. I’ll expand the range a bit and try to find our lord.”

When Hero extended his fist, the other two also briefly collided fists.

After Jed and Ben returned to the Duchy using a teleportation scroll, Hero spread out a map.
“I need to find the hidden village.”

Hero’s intuition spoke.

Expanding the search range alone was insufficient. As Matapju had mentioned, if he was just hiding, the possibility of a hidden village was high.

“Please, please stay safe, my lord.”

Hero immediately set out.

With the need to thoroughly search even the hidden village not marked on the map, the journey was arduous.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

After crossing noon, Matap and the Crople Mercenary Corps concluded a harmonious agreement.

The location of the workshop was prioritized by the magicians belonging to the Crople Mercenary Corps, including Shukadi. In return, Matap gained the exclusive sales rights to the products of the workshop established in the village.

“Now, just line up here.”

“If you have family or residents who are uncomfortable moving, please stand over here.”

Following the instructions of the village chief and officials, inspections of the residents’ internal mana began.

Matap and the magicians of the Crople Mercenary Corps efficiently absorbed and circulated the mana of the residents alternately. However, due to the large number of residents and the long accumulation of internal mana, the inspection continued throughout the day.

In the meantime, Sharti was mingling with the village children.

“Wow! The bear is chasing us!”

“Kyaa! Run away!”

To be precise, she was watching Ren, who was being played with by the village children.

“…Kuh, Ah, Aah.”

Wearing a blindfold, Ren awkwardly imitated a bear, chasing after the children.

The children laughed and clapped, luring Ren with joy.

“Doctor, run away too!”

While the children stared blankly, Sharti held hands with them, avoiding Ren together.

As Ren, mimicking a bear, tried to follow Sharti’s movements, the children became more excited.

‘Faster!’

While Sharti’s stamina, accustomed to climbing mountains, wasn’t an issue, running at the speed of the children made her gradually fall behind.

“I got you.”