The Silver-Haired Sword Maiden

“Grrrrrrrrrrr…!”

The evening of the next day after finishing gathering firewood in the forest, Kuu stood protectively in front of Jonah and Henrik, growling.

In front of them was.

“Good grief, this is troublesome…”

A female knight with silver hair, clad in full armor and wearing a red mantle, stood there.

And with a large number of knights and soldiers in tow.

“Sorry for startling you. We are currently marching toward Baldia Mountain. We have no intention of interfering with you.”

Since Kuu was growling and threatening, she would either need to persuade them to clear the misunderstanding or defeat this wolf protecting the two.

Otherwise, they could be attacked from behind in a moment of vulnerability.

Several knights behind the female knight directed killing intent not only at Kuu but also at Jonah and Henrik.

Whether out of caution toward the tamed wolf, dissatisfaction with their superior the female knight, or both.

In any case, unless the knights behind her changed their attitude—unlike the female knight herself—Kuu would not back down.

Then.

“Um…”

“Hm?”

“Kuu is angry because of those people… in the back… Please do something about them first.”

In place of the frightened Henrik, Jonah told the female knight without reservation.

Jonah had defeated massive swarms of locusts, an ultra-large magical sea serpent beast, and a Demon King’s army cadre. Mere knights directing killing intent at him would not make him flinch.

“…What are you doing?”

“…!?”

Glared at by the female knight as she turned around, the knights all gasped in unison.

“N-no, but even if they are children, allowing a magical wolf beast to bare its fangs at Your Highness…”

“Don’t be absurd! The esteemed Imperial Knight Order should be ashamed of intimidating innocent boys!”

“W-we apologize!”

Reprimanded by the female knight, the knights hurriedly knelt and begged forgiveness.

But more than that, Jonah was concerned by the words ‘Imperial Knight Order’ that the female knight had uttered.

“Um… Just now, you said ‘imperial’…”

“Hm? Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I am First Imperial Princess of the Estraia Empire, Patricia Heilwig von Estraia. At the request of our ally, the Karelia Kingdom, I have come to subjugate the White Dragon nesting in Baldia Mountain.”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”

When the female knight… Patricia removed her helmet and announced this, Jonah let out a shout of surprise so loud it echoed through the forest.

“Whew, having you two really helped. Thanks to you, we made it to the village before nightfall.”

“Y-yes…”

To Patricia’s words as she dismounted her horse, Jonah replied with an indescribable expression and a deflated voice.

He never imagined the imperial army had designated Kelba village as a relay point en route to Baldia Mountain, and in the end, he had to guide Patricia and the others here.

“Y-you two, hurry over here!”

“Y-yes.”

Henrik’s mother frantically beckoned the two.

It was understandable for her to panic, as nothing good comes from children approaching the military.

But.

“…………………………”

Henrik stared at Patricia with a brooding expression.

Come to think of it, he had been acting strange ever since meeting Patricia.

…No, more precisely, since she introduced herself.

Jonah wore a puzzled expression but headed toward Henrik’s mother.

“Listen! You absolutely must not go near the imperial army, okay!”

“Y-yes.”

“…………………………”

Jonah felt something off about Henrik’s mother pressing the point repeatedly.

The consistently silent Henrik was the same, but why was she trying so hard to keep them away from the imperial army?

Of course, it might be because if the children were rude to Patricia, the First Imperial Princess of the Empire, they would be punished, but her demeanor didn’t seem to suggest that.

“Um… Is there something with the imperial army?”

After seeing Henrik shut himself in his room without a word, Jonah resolved himself and asked his mother.

“…Nothing at all. I’m just warning you because it’s dangerous for you.”

“I see…”

It seemed Henrik’s mother had no intention of talking.

Jonah gave up and headed to Henrik’s room.

Then.

“Um… What are you doing?”

“…!?”

Henrik widened his eyes at Jonah who had entered the room and asked.

He appeared to be packing things into a bag.

As if he were preparing for a journey.

“J-Jonah! You absolutely can’t tell Mom or Grandma, okay!”

“Wah!”

Suddenly pressed close, Jonah involuntarily leaned back in surprise.

From this reaction too, it seemed Henrik indeed planned to set out on a journey.

“E-even if you say that, it’s troubling. More importantly, why are you preparing for a trip, Henrik? If you don’t explain the circumstances, I can’t honestly cooperate.”

“Uh…”

Henrik choked on his words at Jonah’s pursuit.

That said, Jonah had somewhat predicted it from seeing him prepare for travel.

A brief silence fell between the two.

And then.

“…I’m going to follow that knight princess and go to Baldia Mountain.”