Toward The Difficult Pass

Several days had passed since we entered the Empire, and we had finally arrived at the entrance to the difficult pass—the point where we would carry out the plan. This difficult pass seemed to be a mountain road around the mountainside, with a cliff immediately on the left, and either towering rock walls or deep forest on the right.

I had to enter the forest on the right, find a monster, and somehow lure it toward the carriage.

“From here on, it’s a cliff on the left for a while. Don’t fall.”

“Understood.”

After the man seated on the driver’s bench nodded with a tense expression, we entered the difficult pass at once.

The formation after entering the Empire consisted of only three carriages total—one carriage in front of Ann’s and one behind it—forming a short line. Knights on horseback surrounded them from the front, back, left, and right, and Rebecca and I ran alongside the knights at the rear.

However, once we entered the difficult pass, the road became narrow, so the knights on either side of the carriages split to the front and back. And perhaps to reduce the danger even slightly, our speed also slowed considerably.

“At this pace, it’s easy.”

At Rebecca’s whispered words, spoken with a relieved expression, I nodded back with a soft smile.

At this speed, it would be easy even if I had to catch up to the carriage while leading a monster. The remaining issue was…

“Are you okay on your end, Rebecca?”

The question, meant to ask whether she could help Ann’s carriage horses, seemed to get across to Rebecca precisely. Rebecca subtly shifted her position left and right and stared at the carriage, then nodded slowly.

“I think it’ll be fine.”

“That’s good.”

‘Lady Seremees, have you found a monster?’

After finishing my exchange with Rebecca, I immediately spoke to Lady Seremees. This plan could not begin without a monster, more than anything else.

‘Yes, there’s one that’s just right. Do you know the Metal Lizard?’

‘…I haven’t seen one, but I’ve read about it. With scales as hard as metal, it boasts defense that ranks near the top among monsters. And it’s very fast as well—according to the text, we should watch out for its charging attack using the pointed scale on its forehead, and its tail-sweeping strike.’

‘Yes, that’s correct. If it’s a Metal Lizard, you won’t be taken down before you can drop the carriage, and I think the chances of success are high. A little further ahead, the rock wall will break and you’ll be able to enter the forest from there… it’s about ten minutes in.’

Ten minutes on foot through the forest. So it was not that far.

‘Then once I enter the forest, please guide me.’

‘Of course. Leave it to me.’

If I failed, Ann would have to marry into the Empire. She would not be able to escape. Failure was not an option—I had to succeed.

Thinking that made my heart pound so hard I felt like I might be swallowed by tension, but I forced my awareness to hold by digging my nails into my palm.

“Rebecca, I’m going now.”

After whispering that and confirming Rebecca gave a small nod, I called out to a nearby knight.

“I’ve got a stomachache, so I’m stepping out. I’ll run and catch up later, so please keep going.”

When I spoke to the serious knight, he did not seem suspicious and simply nodded silently. Before any other knight could offer to come with me, I immediately entered the forest.

Then, after confirming the formation had continued ahead… I hurriedly ran deeper into the forest.

‘Lady Seremees, please guide me!’

‘You should shift your route a little more to the left.’

‘Understood.’

Thanks to Lady Seremees, I could move smoothly even through the dangerous forest, pushing deeper and deeper inside.

‘Is it about time?’

‘Yes. The Metal Lizard has already noticed your footsteps.’

It was that close. I remembered that Metal Lizards could also walk on two legs. I had read that when it stood up, it reached about the height of three people.

‘Luca, stop.’

‘…I can’t see it yet, though.’

‘You should be able to see it through gaps in the trees. Move forward slowly.’

After proceeding cautiously for about ten steps while suppressing my footsteps, silver, gleaming scales entered my view… and the moment the sharp eyes within those scales pierced me, the Metal Lizard let out a roar and kicked off the ground.

“F-fast…!”

‘Luca, your escape direction should be a little more to the right. There’s a rock wall ahead, so go around it, and if you keep going straight you’ll return to the road from earlier… but you might be just a little faster than it. Buy a bit more time.’

Buy time… I couldn’t attack. I had to make it switch its target from me to the carriage, so striking it was out of the question.

All I could do was run and buy time.

‘Lady Seremees! Does Ann have a plant that monsters like?’

‘I’ll ask Milora—she seems to have one. And it looks like she’s using wind magic to let the scent drift outside the carriage, so once it gets close it should switch its target from you.’

Then all that was left was for me to guide it properly.

When I looked back, the Metal Lizard was behind me, stomping loudly, knocking down trees, and chasing me with a ferocious expression.

‘…It seems it was a hungry one.’

I knew it! That desperation looked like it was saying it would never let its prey escape.

To buy time, I took a wide detour around the rock wall and sprinted through the forest with everything I had. I cut down obstructing branches and brush with wind magic, reinforced unstable footing with earth magic, and paid the utmost attention so I wouldn’t make a mistake.

‘Is it about time…!?’

‘Yes. Return to the road from earlier at that same speed. You should run a little faster.’

Somehow answering Lady Seremees’s unreasonable demand, I increased my speed and ran without stopping. And just as the mountain path came faintly into view—or almost did—I activated earth magic and created a vertical pit in the ground, just wide enough for me to fit into.

When I jumped into it successfully… the Metal Lizard stopped for only an instant after losing sight of me, but then seemed to notice the many prey gathered on the mountain road. With a delighted roar, it dashed down the mountain.

“Yes!”

After confirming that, I made a small fist pump and immediately climbed back up from the vertical pit.

After brushing off the dirt and dust, I moved through the forest a little way back, parallel to the mountain road. After confirming no one was watching, I returned to the mountain road, and the mission was complete.