Elaine’s Resolve

After the banquet had wrapped up, Elaine was speaking with the village chief in a separate room. What she was about to say couldn’t be heard by the villagers.

“What the knights who regained consciousness saw was a monster with a bird’s head, a dragon’s body, and a serpent’s tail, correct?”

“Yes, not just the knights—villagers have testified to the same.”

Elaine felt her intoxication dissipate as she heard the chief’s words. The worst possible scenario she had imagined had come true.

“Lady Elaine, the monster’s identity is…?”

“Yes… most likely, it’s one of the Five Great Beasts—‘The Swamp’s Venomous Ruler, the Cockatrice.’”

“The Five Great Beasts… and it’s a Cockatrice?!”

It was no wonder the village chief cried out in shock. The Five Great Beasts were so powerful that each one alone was capable of destroying an entire city.

With this village’s forces, they wouldn’t even stand a chance in battle.

“If I recall… this village once encountered a Cockatrice in the past, didn’t it?”

“Yes, there is a record of that. But it was definitely defeated. The knight at the time brought back the body as proof. That’s why it’s unthinkable for a Cockatrice to appear again.”

The village chief shook his head as if wishing it weren’t true. He, too, had heard of the horror from his grandfather. Among the younger villagers, some mocked the story, joking that the beast was tasty when eaten—but it was no joke. The village had nearly been destroyed by that Cockatrice.

“That’s true… I’ve seen the record myself. It was likely defeated. However, monsters grow at different rates. An egg might have been left behind.”

Elaine shook her head, dismissing the chief’s hopeful denial. Then, seeing his worried expression, she gave him a reassuring smile.

“Please rest assured… At dawn tomorrow, I’ll go and confirm whether it’s really a Cockatrice. If it is, I’ll immediately request reinforcements from the Church and have it exterminated.”

“Oh… thank you, Lady Elaine!!”

As the chief tearfully expressed his gratitude, Elaine smiled, though her heart was heavy. The last time a Cockatrice was defeated, it had taken a team of elite knights and priests—half of whom had never returned. Would the Church act when no major casualties had occurred yet?

Moreover, even verifying whether it was a Cockatrice could cost Elaine her life. If she were poisoned, even she might not survive. And yet, she was determined—for one reason.

Prince Arthur risked his life to save others. How could I sit around in safety and do nothing?!

She had been moved by the foreign prince. His disregard for his own safety in protecting people from another nation reminded her of the “Holy King” from the storybooks of her childhood. Seeing someone like that made her realize—she couldn’t afford to be disheartened.

“Lady Elaine, should we ask Prince Arthur for help as well? The two of you together would be a sure thing.”

“You may be right…”

Elaine pondered the village chief’s words. Given Arthur’s noble selflessness, he would surely come if she asked.

But… was it really right to rely on him that much? After all, this was Jerusalem’s problem.

“No, I’ll be fine on my own. Also, please keep this matter strictly confidential. The Church will handle it.”

“Yes, understood!!”

After confirming a few final details with the chief, Elaine walked back toward her borrowed room, passing by Arthur’s door.

‘Prince Arthur… I’ll try my best, just like you.’

As she thought of him, she felt her chest warm. She recalled feeling strangely irritated when she saw him getting along with a maid during the banquet, which led her to speak to him a bit too roughly. Had he come to dislike her?

Still… she was happy he enjoyed the elven seasoning. Others had rejected it when she offered it to them, but Arthur alone had eaten it heartily and said it was delicious.

‘If I return safely… and made a handmade lunch for him… would he ask me to cook for him forever…?’

With such daydreams in her head, Elaine fell asleep in preparation for tomorrow.