Chapter 21

#21 The Tin Knight and the Lion Duke’s Bloodline (4)

The departure schedule was postponed.

As per the original plan, we were supposed to set off at dawn, but with the heir of the territory joining us as a travel companion, that was simply not going to happen.

Adel insisted that leaving a letter was sufficient and everything would be fine, but Dorothea thought it was clear that the cherished “young lady” leaving without a word would only lead to a kidnapping fuss followed by a dramatic chase.

The Tin Knight seemed to find it all rather amusing, his eyes sparkling, while Dorothea flatly rejected the notion of running from anything when they had done nothing wrong.

An emergency meeting was called to convey Adel’s intentions, and, as expected, there was a bit of an uproar in the territory.

It was already a problem that Adel, who had only just returned from being kidnapped, suddenly announced her desire to leave the territory, and that she planned to depart alone with a duo of unclear origins, with not even a single attendant.

No matter the justification of wanting to prove herself as the heir, the vassals and rebellious lords weren’t so dense as to take that at face value.

And the one who had to bear the brunt of it was Gisel, acting on behalf of the lord.

Thanks to Gisel’s subtle pressure, there were whispers that the lady might be getting kicked out.

Gisel felt tremendously wronged by this unfounded allegation.

There was no gain for Gisel in expelling Adel.

Even if Adel were an outstanding heir deserving of high regard, within the territory, the best you could say about her was that she was a “cute and kind young lady.”

Merely treating her and the fallen Lady well would improve public sentiment and elevate the evaluation of the vassals. Why would she play a losing hand?

Having generously offered a substantial financial support as a gesture of goodwill, the gratitude received in return felt like a slap upside her head.

Inside the Lord’s Mansion’s office.

Gisel, with her blue eyes, asked the Black Witch,

“…Was this your plan from the very start?”

“What are you talking about? If you want to complain, take it up with Adel. I only found out about this this morning.”

Dorothea gazed out the window.

There stood Adel, surrounded by vassals and feudal lords in the small plaza before the mansion, with the Tin Knight maintaining his watch beside her.

“It’s amusing how they flocked around her, worried only after she says she’s leaving, yet they ignored her previously.”

“That’s how crowds tend to behave. The role of a ruler is to lead them correctly.”

Although it was quite a noble sentiment, Dorothea chose not to rebut.

While Dorothea herself had been influenced by her witch master to casually call even kings “brats,” she also realized that this wasn’t the general norm.

“So, why exactly did you call me separately?”

“I want to dispatch a knight order to protect Adelheid. Of course, your safety will be assured as well.”

“No can do.”

It was a blunt refusal that left no room for negotiation.

“It’s merely called protection but is essentially surveillance. Besides, I prefer to be unburdened. One tin can is enough for protection.”

“…Then at least wouldn’t it be good to take a maid or something?”

“I can manage myself just fine, and soon Adel will too.”

Faced with a wall as impenetrable as a fortress, Gisel let out a sigh.

Assessing the vassals’ reactions, considering her own family’s response, it was crucial to grasp Adel’s situation.

– Where is the heir now? Off on an adventure to gain skill and achievement? She’ll be back in a year, but you’re telling me you have no clue where she is or what she’s doing? Oh, so you just set her free into the wild without a plan? Excuse me, are you out of your mind??

To prevent such a debacle, of course.

Gisel felt a throbbing headache coming on.

Sending someone to accompany her was out of the question, and forcibly detaining her would also lead to more chaos, so that was impossible too.

The thought of secretly assigning a watcher crossed her mind, but that was no simple task either.

It would be easier if they were monitoring someone who was established in one location, but tracking humans flitting around the continent without being detected for an entire year was no common feat requiring exceptional skill and tenacity.

While there might be someone capable of such antics in a continent teeming with extraordinary individuals, at least under Gisel’s supervision, there were no such talents.

If monitoring actively was off the table, the only remaining option was to guide the heir to a location.

“How about this? Adelheid’s goal is to gain achievements and skills. I can provide you with a suitable location.”

Dorothea tuned in to Gisel’s subsequent proposal.

***

If a traveler walks into a tavern and asks, “Who is the greatest hero?” chaos would erupt as people debate fiercely.

But if they ask, “Who is the most famous hero?” the answers would likely be pretty uniform.

The Lion Duke. Gaizel von Lenart.

There were several reasons for the Lion Duke’s fame.

For one, the Empire closely tied to the Lion Duke stands as one of the strongest nations on the continent today.

Secondly, the Lion Duke existed roughly two hundred years ago, making him one of the more contemporary figures among the known heroes, thus there’s a wealth of historical documentation about him.

Most decisively, the descendants of the Lion Duke are one of the most prestigious families in the present age.

Those who inherited his extraordinary lineage were mostly exceptional martial artists and actively made use of their talents.

They not only entered the military and secured high-ranking positions but also established dojos across the continent, producing many disciples, their supporters.

The trainees of Lenart Dojo spread across various regions, proclaiming the greatness of both the Duke and his lineage, which is why the Bloodline of the Lion Duke is venerated as the finest martial family in this era.

“There are five locations of Lenart Dojo in total. Additionally, the trainees who have reached a certain level of skill have a culture of showcasing their skills at dojos other than the one they were taught. Although Adelheid is not a trainee of any dojo, there are no doubts she is of the Lion Duke’s bloodline. Furthermore, if I write a recommendation letter, it’s unlikely she would be turned away at the door. Why don’t you give it a shot?”

It was a proposal with an obvious ulterior motive.

If the group visits the dojos, their circumstances would inevitably be reported back to Gisel.

Of course, Dorothea had no intention of adhering to such a suggestion.

Her goal was purely to perform the king’s errand; that was, the retrieval of the eight treasures.

However, two unforeseen variables emerged.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ is getting pumped about the dojo tour being a classic content!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ is curious if they might give out badges or something!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’, while disappointed he can’t challenge them, is burning with desire to level up Adel instead!]

The first was, as always, the Tin Knight.

In stark contrast to his grave appearance, this knight’s apparent insubstantiality often made one wonder if he even possessed a heart, yet upon hearing this tale, he was in a frenzy to conquer all the dojos.

Naturally, Dorothea did not grant him permission. Her utmost priority was still the task assigned by her master: the retrieval of the treasures.

After successfully calming the Tin Knight through a flurry of extravagant staff flair and back-and-forth squabbles, she wore a smile for a moment.

Yet with the emergence of the second unexpected variable before her, Dorothea couldn’t help but grimace.

“…The direction seems to be off now, doesn’t it?”

A magical device for treasure hunting received from the royal family.

The Tin Knight had dubbed it the “Animal Compass,” a magical device that, when infused with magic, could transform an engraved pattern into an animal that would guide you.

While this magical tool was convenient in that you just needed to follow the rear end of the animal, its faults were glaring.

If the position of the target was indicated on a ‘map’, all one needed to do was retrieve them in order of proximity. However, with the capabilities of the Animal Compass, there was no way to distinguish which treasure was nearby and which was far away.

You could end up pursuing a treasure that was a month’s journey away while leaving one that was just a day’s distance behind.

Thus, when the Tin Knight proposed following a purple mole heading north amid a chaotic jumble of animals doing as they pleased, Dorothea couldn’t muster a rebuttal.

After all, following any direction would yield a similar outcome, and frankly, she felt rather sardonic about it.

‘Seems like he’s heard there’s a Lenart Dojo in the city to the north and took that as a cue, but not all northern directions are the same, you know?’

Imagine two travelers starting from the same spot, moving 90 degrees and 89 degrees apart.

Initially, the gap between them wouldn’t be that great.

But after walking for an hour, they’d be pretty far apart. Walking non-stop for a day, they might not even catch a glimpse of each other.

Navigating around various terrains and obstacles would make it even more difficult.

The distance between Friedel and the city with Lenart Dojo would take over ten days even by wagon.

Thinking that the mole would accurately move in the direction of that city during that time is simply naïve.

Thus, Dorothea felt relaxed.

More precisely, she’d remained relaxed until a week of travel went by, and she confirmed that the mole’s direction and the direction indicated on the map aligned completely.

“No, that’s impossible. It can’t be true, it shouldn’t be.”

Dorothea’s mutterings began to feel increasingly akin to self-affirmation.

While there would be no loss for Dorothea should a treasure lie in the city with Lenart Dojo, this was more about emotion than logic.

And about five days later.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ beams that the main quest and side quests tend to take similar paths!]

Having reached precisely the city designated by the Tin Knight, Dorothea ground her teeth in frustration.