WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Genius Knight of a Fallen Race ◈
Chapter 71: The Bone Graveyard in the Cave
──────
The monsters that emerged from the river this time were the kind commonly found near water.
Water Ghouls, kelpies, giant poison toads, lizardmen, and the like.
The sudden appearance of the monsters had caused a total of sixteen casualties.
The casualties had been comparatively low only because the recent waterworks project had been completed.
In the past, quite a few people came to the Tessell River to bathe or fetch water. Now that running water reached near their homes, there was no need to go all the way to the river.
If that had not been the case, several times as many people would have died.
“Hmm...”
Serin had personally come to inspect the riverbank by carriage. She frowned as she looked over the dead monsters sprawled across the ground.
A monster invasion through the river was a truly bad sign.
Pales’s greatest advantage over other regions was that it was land safe from monsters.
Unlike other territories, which had to build farms and villages within wooden palisades, Pales could spread vast fields across the plains. That was an enormous advantage.
Its people also did not need to carry weapons whenever they went into the forest for firewood or traveled between villages and cities.
The moment they lost all that, this land would fall from a paradise on earth to merely one of Pendia’s more prosperous territories.
That could not be allowed for Serin, who would one day rule all of Pendia from this place.
‘Build fences along the entire river and station guards... No. That’s impossible.’
The Tessell River was far too long to defend that way.
They would need tens of thousands of soldiers and have to cut down perhaps half the trees in Pales to build the palisades.
That left only one option.
They had to identify and eliminate the cause of this sudden phenomenon, which had never occurred before.
After returning to the count’s castle, Serin summoned all the territory’s key officials.
“Thank you all for gathering so quickly. You have all heard about what happened, correct?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Gloom was clear on the faces of Count Paless and the others.
They were no fools. They understood exactly what this incident meant.
If they failed to resolve the situation somehow, Pales would surely decline.
The standard for that decline was simply becoming like the ordinary territories across the river, but even that filled them with fear.
“We must first analyze the cause.”
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but from the perspective of one who understands the principles of all things, I believe the cause is likely related to the wastewater flowing downstream through the sewers.”
Count Tenon, Orum, spoke in his usual boastful tone.
“So that is the case after all?”
“Yes. In the past, the places that manufactured magic devices were far from the river, so they disposed of their waste nearby. Since the sewers were established, though, they have been sending most garbage down there. It is highly possible that it has affected the monsters farther downstream.”
Residents near the river had always disposed of minor household waste and ordinary refuse there, so that would not suddenly cause a change.
The only major recent change was that.
It was a reasonable argument, and the others nodded.
“Then the magic device workshops must stop disposing of waste that way from now on.”
“I do not believe that alone will solve the problem.”
Serin shook her head at the judge’s words.
“Count Tenon’s opinion is only a hypothesis. We need to go downstream ourselves and identify the exact cause. More precisely, it is time to properly analyze why monsters never entered through the river in the first place.”
No one had ever questioned why monsters did not come through the Tessell River.
That was simply how it had been since ancient times.
Now that what had seemed natural was no longer natural, they needed to properly investigate the cause and prevent it from happening again.
“I will dispatch an investigation team to examine the downstream region, along with one hundred soldiers to guard them.”
Everyone nodded at Serin’s declaration.
An army consumed money even when it stood still, and consumed even more when it moved.
There was no reason to mobilize a needlessly large force.
Yet their nodding heads froze at her next words.
“And I will join the investigation team.”
“Pardon?”
“How could the princess personally undertake such a dangerous task...?”
“It is dangerous! What if something happens to you?”
“I am the finest mage in this land. The Head of the Magic Society is no less skilled, but given his age, traveling such a long distance would be difficult.”
Serin crushed the following objections with a simple challenge: bring her a mage more skilled than herself.
“Your Highness is absolutely correct.”
Perhaps Orum truly did not wish to leave comfortable Pales City. He smiled as he nodded.
At that moment, Count Paless, her maternal uncle, spoke.
“I do not dare oppose Your Highness’s opinion, but would it not be better to send several skilled mages instead? Your Highness is indispensable to Pales.”
Serin bit her lip awkwardly upon hearing the same thing she had said to Shan not long ago.
After choosing her words for a moment, she spoke politely.
“Thank you for your concern, Uncle. But this is something I must handle myself. If we cannot resolve it quickly, our territory will collapse.”
Most of Pales’s military was currently patrolling the riverbanks in preparation for further monster attacks.
Even then, there were gaps everywhere due to their lack of manpower. They could not continue handling matters this way.
When Serin warned that continued delays would ruin them at a time when they needed to grow as quickly as possible, the count let out a quiet sigh and nodded.
“...I see. Then there is no helping it.”
As was clear from how he had supported all of Serin’s policies from behind the scenes, the count had no intention of confronting her and weakening her authority.
He had simply stepped forward because he was worried for his only niece.
If she intended to take the risk and go herself, all he could do was follow.
Before he was Serin’s uncle, the count was her subject.
* * *
Since no one knew when the monsters might appear again, the investigation team was assembled in no time.
It consisted of Serin, several maids to attend her, mages with exceptional knowledge in various fields, old fishermen who had fished in the river for years, and priests well versed in ancient scriptures.
About a hundred soldiers, made up of Alto mercenaries and the count’s directly commanded troops, served as their escort.
Lord Protector Shan Barendil was to command the force, though everyone now knew that his head squire, Roden, was the real commander in practice.
It had become known that Roden was as close to Shan as a brother, so even knights and nobles could not treat him carelessly just because he was a mere squire and the son of a merchant.
Two days after the meeting, the force departed Pales Castle and followed the river southeast toward the downstream region.
Traveling by boat with the river’s current, they moved far faster than they ever could over land.
Under the elderly captain’s command, the sailors rowed this way and that, avoiding rocks scattered throughout the river.
Shan stood at the bow, feeling the cool autumn wind, when his gaze fell on Serin approaching from behind.
“It seems your seasickness has improved.”
“Thankfully. It seems the medicine is working.”
About ten minutes after setting off downstream by boat, Serin had begun showing signs of seasickness.
She had not been like that when crossing the river before. The cause was likely their greater speed as they traveled downstream with the current.
Shan warned Serin as she approached him.
“Be careful. It rocks more the farther forward you come.”
“Do not worry. This much is... Ah.”
Serin had been walking with a casual shrug when she staggered. Shan closed the distance in an instant and caught her by the shoulder.
The moment she regained her balance, he quickly stepped away.
Getting too close in front of others could lead to uncomfortable misunderstandings.
People might claim they had an inappropriate relationship, just as they had in Hasra.
In fact, that misunderstanding from the capital had already spread throughout Pendia.
The story of Shan charging into the capital himself to rescue Serin had become widely known.
Her enemies, Conrad and Elvin’s factions, maliciously spread rumors that the princess had dragged a lowborn Alto knight into her bed and used him as she pleased.
They even said that no matter which proper nobleman she married later, she would bear a horned Alto child.
Naturally, this was not something anyone dared discuss openly within Pales.
No matter how powerful Shan had become after gaining the office of Lord Protector, a union between a Pendian princess descended from Emperor Varen and an Alto knight was absolutely unthinkable.
“More importantly, are things at work all right now?”
“As I told you before, I have quite a bit of room to breathe now. Kalion will likely handle most of it.”
Kalion, Roden’s father, had shown outstanding results as one of Serin’s direct officials since coming to Pales.
It was only natural. The leadership and administrative ability that had once allowed him to lead the capital’s merchants had not gone anywhere.
Not long ago, he had even been promoted to an official responsible for a region and granted the title of esquire.
“That is good to hear.”
Shan felt deeply proud that Kalion, who had supported him, was being recognized for his abilities.
It would be truly painful if Kalion came to regret supporting him.
At the small drinking gathering held to celebrate Kalion’s promotion, Kalion had said this to Shan.
‘Even thinking back on it now, deciding to support Sir Shan was truly the best choice of my life.’
‘Was it?’
‘Even if Sir Shan had not existed, I would have continued living as a jeweler in Hasra. I would naturally have been attacked by bandits during the princes’ conflict... And there probably would have been no one who could save me, then find mages and priests capable of performing surgery on me. I would have met my death alone in that ruined estate.’
Kalion had said his present life was practically a second life gained because he had supported Shan. With a smile filling his wrinkled face, he thanked him.
Just recalling it filled Shan’s heart and body with satisfaction.
I hope everyone who likes me can become happier.
Since first yearning for a better future through Roden, Shan’s wish had never strayed from that.
Starting with Roden, it had expanded to include the Alto acrobatic troupe that had tried to accept him as one of their own, Kalion and the people of Weavers Estate, his companions in Green Eyes, Serin, and even the people of Pales who worshipped her and revered him.
The boy’s tiny circle had gradually grown larger, and each time, the goal he had to achieve grew larger too.
Fortunately, his small body had also grown, and his ability to achieve those goals had become stronger.
Even at this very moment.
* * *
“Mm, the smell...”
They traveled for several hours, chatting from time to time and eating along the way.
Serin covered her nose slightly and muttered.
Upon reaching the lower reaches of the river, patches of the once brilliantly blue water had turned murky and begun to stink.
That was only natural, considering this was where all manner of waste produced by over a hundred thousand people of Pales was discarded.
Fortunately, the Tessell River was so large that the smell was not too bad.
“If we are going to begin the investigation, this would be the best place to start.”
“Then everyone, disembark. It will soon be night, so we should stay nearby tonight and begin the investigation tomorrow.”
Serin nodded at one mage’s suggestion and ordered them to disembark.
The investigation team came ashore from the ship anchored at the riverbank and stayed in a large nearby village.
The villagers nearly jumped out of their skin when they learned that Count Paless’s niece, the true ruler of this land, had come to their village.
“W-we do not have anywhere fit to host someone so esteemed. What should we do...?”
“It is fine. I only need somewhere to sleep.”
Fortunately, the village chief’s bed was not crawling with fleas or lice, even if it was a crude thing made of nothing more than hay covered with cloth.
The village had always been near the river, with abundant water. Recently, it had also been able to use plenty of water flowing from the waterworks.
“Fifth Squad, remain here. Do not inconvenience the residents.”
“Yes, sir!”
Roden watched over the soldiers’ conduct with fierce attention.
Knowing just how thorough and strict he was, the soldiers did not dare behave foolishly. They maintained order as they ate and went to sleep.
That night, Shan sprang from his bed at a sharp scream.
“A monster!”
He ran toward the sentry’s cry and saw a giant humanoid mass of water standing about three meters tall.
Several soldiers struggled inside its stomach with pained expressions.
“Urgh!”
“Watch out!”
The water mass swung its arm at the soldiers. With a slapping sound, water sprayed across their shields.
Shan realized it was a river spirit.
An incorporeal monster that could not be destroyed by physical attacks...
Green light flashed through the dark night as Shan rushed in and swung his sword.
Drawing on the Spirit that sought to seize something with no physical form, Guardian of the East cut through the spirit’s body, something it should never have been able to cut.
A huge amount of water poured from its belly, and several struggling soldiers tumbled out.
“Cough! Hrk! Cough!”
“Pull them out!”
At Shan’s command, the soldiers behind him quickly dragged the choking men away.
Perhaps furious at having the prey in its body stolen, the spirit let out a strange humming cry and raised an arm before bringing it down.
An attack that could not kill even armed soldiers in one blow had no chance of harming Shan.
He sidestepped lightly, then swung his sword and sliced through its body again and again.
After cutting off its legs to lower its body, severing its upper and lower halves, cutting off both arms, and finally severing its neck, the struggling spirit scattered completely and soaked the ground.
‘It’s over.’
Only after Shan sheathed his sword did the soldiers seem to grasp what had happened.
“What? It’s already dead?”
“As expected of the Lord Protector...”
“I couldn’t even see him swing his sword.”
The sight of Shan instantly killing the spirit that ordinary soldiers had been helplessly pushed back by seemed to have left quite an impression on them.
In truth, monsters like spirits were simply especially bad matchups for soldiers.
A moment later, Serin emerged from her room. After hearing what had happened, she frowned and used a spell to extract ectoplasm from the water the spirit had inhabited.
“It is fortunate we happened to stay in this village. Otherwise, an entire village of several hundred people might have been wiped out.”
“It was probably not a coincidence.”
“Pardon? Ah...”
“Yes. The stronger the monster, the more it tends to be drawn to powerful magic devices.”
Shan recalled a theory he had heard in the past from Jerpo, an explorer from Green Eyes.
The others would have thought of Guardian of the East at those words, but Shan and Roden knew it referred to Thousand Forms, which Shan still wore around his upper body.
“Still, we really must find the cause quickly. The monsters are continuing to make their way upstream along the river.”
Considering that none of the monsters that had appeared so far were suited to living entirely on land, overland routes were not a possibility.
Serin spoke anxiously, saying they had to patrol the lower river quickly and find the cause.
* * *
The next morning, the investigation team left the village and headed straight for the lower reaches of the Tessell River.
There, Serin and several mages muttered various incomprehensible things and repeatedly cast spells toward the river.
They seemed to be using various methods, from spells that analyzed the river water’s components to spells that detected living creatures.
After spending a long time on it, though, they concluded there was not much they could learn here.
The investigation team boarded the moored ship and continued farther downstream.
Before long, the Blade Mountain Range, which blocked Pales to the north and east, stood in their path.
Though several tributaries had branched off along the way, the Tessell River’s main current had remained intact until it struck the mountain range and split into dozens of tributaries.
“Most of the river branches that split off here become lakes of various sizes. Some flow into the Blade Mountain Range, emerge on the other side, and form swamps.”
Serin considered the elderly captain’s words for a moment before asking, “Among the rivers that flow into the mountain range, are there any caves that lead to the other side?”
“My apologies, but I do not know that much...”
“Let us find out. Judging by the circumstances, the monsters certainly came from the swamps on the other side. If something has gone wrong, it is likely somewhere in between.”
Among the monsters that had appeared were not only creatures capable of living entirely underwater, but also those that lived near water and needed to breathe and stand on land.
If the only route was a passage completely filled with water, such creatures could not possibly have crossed through.
Serin then divided the investigation team into several groups and had them examine the tributaries flowing into the mountain range.
Before long, one group found a passage large enough for people to enter.
Shan did not know exactly how, but it appeared they had used some kind of spell that tracked monster traces to find the route the creatures frequently used.
“Here.”
A river ran right alongside the cave, which was about thirty meters wide with a ceiling roughly six meters high.
Perhaps more water had flowed through it in the past, but changes in the terrain had reduced the flow and naturally created the cave.
After several hours of waiting and observation, the investigation team learned that the tributary flowing into that cave was where most of the monsters emerged.
“The current in the other tributaries is too strong for the monsters to travel upstream. This one has a relatively slower flow, so the monsters appear to be making their way upstream along it.”
“Then we simply need to block this passage...”
Serin nodded and murmured at the mage’s report.
Finding a solution was encouraging.
Still, rather than stopping there, she ordered them to investigate deeper into the cave.
They still did not know why monsters that had never appeared before had suddenly begun emerging.
Fortunately, the investigation team, prepared for all kinds of situations, had equipment suitable for exploring the cave.
They prepared several lamp magic devices, then stationed fifteen soldiers and one knight outside to guard the horses they had brought.
“Wait just a little longer, Awin. I’ll be back soon.”
Awin shook her head in displeasure at Shan’s reassurance, but did not make too much of a fuss.
Unlike before, she was not being left alone. Servants were staying beside her to attend to her, so she seemed willing to tolerate it.
Leaving part of their force outside, the investigation team entered with lamps in hand.
Their shadows flickered strangely across the dark cave ceiling, like the shadows of monsters.
“It’s dark...”
Unlike the others, who looked uneasy, Shan’s expression remained calm.
His two glowing green eyes could see perfectly through the darkness ahead.
With Shan leading them, the investigation team walked deeper inside for about an hour, keeping the river tributary beside them.
They also hunted the occasional monster that leaped from the river.
Their steps came to a halt after they reached a large open area.
“This is...?”
One soldier muttered in a trembling voice as they looked at the sight before them.
There was a truly enormous graveyard of bones, and no one could even guess how long it had been accumulating.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
