Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 215Vol. 1 - - Liancool Barony (3)

"Pfft! Heya, I came to hang around, Lala. I want to play too!"

Prefacing myself with that, I joined the group of kids. Though of course, Lala first acted against, saying 'As the ruler, a proper etiquette towards the guest...' or et cetera, but I also got her into my words using my privilege as the guest.

And since I was joining, I was going to be a player of course.

A single person with remarkable abilities might make the game predictable, but with the two same level players present, we could just put ourselves into different teams. That said, we did put a limit on the extent of actions we, the older players, could take.

In the beginning, she asserted 'Very well, you may try so...' like some pompous villainess at cloud nine, however that persona crumbled away soon when she saw us snatching two victories using our Decoy Stream Attack, and finally wiped that smug smile from her face, replacing it with a serious look.

Kukuku.

*Plan successful.* As much as I hate to admit, I have experienced how much everyone in my class, this includes Lala, hated losing. And anyway, games were fun only when you give it your all!

With that as kick off, the subsequent matches results alternatively tip-toes in both sides like a see-saw, and this continued until diner time. We were staking for the final match when my detection magic caught the sign of a horse rushing toward the village.

I was intrigued since the usual procedure was to dismount from the horse a while before approaching entrance, however this was rushing through. I had strained my ears to listen when the man on horse rushed toward Lala.

"Lala-sama! Has Tamotsu come here? No one has seen him in Komori Village a while after you left!"

"...You can't find Tamotsu?! No, I ain't seen him! Have you checked out in the village properly?!"

Soon, the villagers had begun to gather wondering what the ruckus was about.

To summarise the urgency, it appeared a young boy from a neighbouring village had gone missing.

The young boy apparently overheard some adults whispering in concern that 'maybe the visitors (that's us, of course) in Donco Village have arrived with an ulterior motive after catching whiff of Lala's prestige, and might be planning to deceive her and take her away with us.' He had once returned to the home to pick up his Nata, which he used for training, but haven't been seen since then.

The young boy's parents and other people feared maybe he had left for Donco Village. So one of the adults rushed through the mountain road on horse, however he was found nowhere and tracing the route, the adult was now at Donco Village.

A heavy silence reigned the surrounding.

"...it... will soon turn dark."

Lala whispered in a heavy tone, barely managing to stifle her impatience as she glared at the waning sky.

...If that young boy happened to mistake the route, and lost himself in the mountain, the situation might be too dicey.

Nocturnal beasts were more often than not belLigenent, and strong. The adults would've to have good eyesight in the dark as well as competent combat ability to even search around without risking their life themselves.

And the search would be increasingly harder if human wave tactics were out of option.

I was contemplating the situation when suddenly my mother, who had arrived behind me unnoticed, proposed her plan to Lala.

"...Allen and I would have no problem searching in the dark alone."

Lala's expression was dyed in surprise when she heard her, and was about to say something but I quipped in.

"...Look at the bigger picture, Lala. You're the one familiar with the terrain, and without your guess where the search target might be, we might as well end up exploring mountains for the whole night without any gain.You know what I can pull, don't you? And my mother is far more stronger than me. We can easily crush through any danger."

"...Then I formally request you two's effort in the search as the head of Liancool family. I will say sure the rewa—"

"Stop with the nonsense. We're already comrades who took down the bases. Time is now of essence, so instead of formality, stick to moving around."

Lala's eyes widened as if she was taken aback by my words, and quietly glanced at my mother.

My mother, too, just gave a smile with a node.

Lala deeply bowed her head for a moment before looking up with a resolute face.

"—You have my gratitude! ...If he has lost himself in the pasture region between the two villages, he should be able to pass the night without danger with fences between two villages. But if he has lost himself somewhere in the middle in between Shichiri Ridge to Great Rock of Biwa, then he would be in danger of encountering monsters. He may not even be able to find a secure spot to wait till morning.

Allen, and Miss Rovenne, please search around the mountain road. Rest of the people will search around the pasture region of Donco Village in a group of three. As for the Komori Village, I believe father should have already begun the search."

Lala drew an outline of the terrain map and explained, after which she hopped herself into the horse next to Mu (our horse).

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

"What're you planning to do, Lala?"

"...Tamotsu has frequently travelled the road around the village. He has never lost himself in the daytime even alone. I'm presuming he had some sort of accident. Maybe he chanced upon a monster and was cornered till Endless Ravine to hide himself. The monsters in that area become extremely active as soon as the dawn falls.It can be overthinking from my end, but I would be checking that area first."

Urging the horse to move in rhythmic canter, Lala explained.

"Wouldn't it be faster to run?"

It was already dark, and it was remarkable she could ride the horse amidst so, but since me and my mother were following in, I believed running would yield better results.

"This is Poko, and he has grown up alongside me ever since he was just a little pony. He's smart, and also has great vision and hearing. Maybe he may catch Tamotsu’s trace if I failed to? Moreover, Tamotsus is familiar with these rhythmic canter, so I am sure if he's around, he would notice it's me."

"I see, then I guess it's alright."

Then we proceeded on the mountain path, and split with Lala near the Great Rock of Biwa.

"Well, which direction do you take, Allen?"

My mother asked.

"Let's see... I think it would be better for us to split for better efficiency. Let's split into the mountain side, and valley side, and meet at the Shichiri Ridge."

"Alright, then I will search around the valley."

My mother suggested. I inquired her reason.

"After overlooking the Endless Ravine this afternoon... during Col's grave visit, I think there may be some monsters that are beyond that girl's reach. Even if she can manage herself, it might become a messy situation to protect the boy too if she found her. Follow the route and join the girl if you can't find the boy on your way, no need to follow me."

Ah. Well, indeed. It wouldn't be easy to protect with an average person by side. So it's definitely more efficient for me to stick to the mountain side to join up with Lala.

"Roger! May fortune be on your side, mother!"

"Hmm. You, too. Be careful."

With that said, my mother jumped on a slanted rock and unleashed her battle intent.

*Screee* and so kind of growls escaped from within the forest, and the birds could be seen flying in the sky from the direction mother was facing.

With a light jump, mother leaped inside the forest and broke into a run.

◆◆◆

"Why are you following me! Stop following me!"

Tamotsu swung down the Nata in his hand as he painfully shouted, his shoulders heaving from laborious breathing.

But the four Ligen kittens, a type of wild mountain cat monsters that roam in the depth of forest, continuously close the distance regardless. From their approach, it was like they're toying with him.

With a body length of 1 meter, they should be no more than three months older.

They easily dodged the swing of tired Tamotsu, and further closed the distance, while purring in teasing.

Ligen monsters hunt in packs like lions, but of course, young 'uns began with hunting less agile wild monsters in packs first.

For them, Tamotsu, who had just started to begin to use a tip of the magic, was a rare target to train themselves, and also a novel prey.

With each breath, Tamotsu felt the pain coursing through his lungs due to the strenuous activity. He was so on his limit that he just wanted to lie on the spot, but each time he came to stop, Ligen would quicken up their pace and threaten him with their fangs or claws.

Blood was oozing out from all over his body as he was chased to the depth of forest, and eventually, he arrived at the precipice that had no escape route. Ligens, too, stopped their toying at this point.

The surroundings had already turned dark. Ligen caught Tamotsu in their encirclement so that he wouldn't run, and hissed toward him. And a moment later, another Ligen showed itself from the direction of the forest. Unlike the young kitten with earthen fur, the newcomer sported irregular patterns of rich color, and including the tail, that should be easily 2m in length.

"*Hissss!!*"

The adult Ligen let out an ear-splitting growl as it fixed its gaze on the Tamotsu, its fur standing on its tip like needles.

Tamotsu couldn't bear anymore and crumbled on the spot, his eyes pooling with tears. Even if he could somehow keep the small Ligen at bay, his instinct had already screamed fighting the adult Ligen was a lost cause.

...Now, he longer had any future to keep after his idol—

Tamotsu’s will collapsed, and he abandoned any hope for a breakout. The situation was too much for him to think about anymore.

On the other hand, adult Ligen took its stance, ready to pounce on Tamotsu promptly, but suddenly its ears perked up sharply, and its gaze turned to stare into the depth of forest, letting out a low growl.

Just as he was sure there was no more life for him, Tamotsu felt like he was caught in an illusion.

With the whole of her body shuddering, he seemed to have hear his idol calling out his name.

Faintly, he heard the so-familiar, unique canter tapping against the ground. In that moment, he brought the remaining ounce of his strength and squeezed out his voice.

"Sis Lalaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"...—motsu!"

The vague reply from behind the curtain of trees at least broke all the dam for Tamotsu as the accumulated pool of tears streaked down his cheeks.