Chapter 7

Chapter 7 — Let Us Fully Enjoy the Air of a Foreign Land

Just as Angelina had anticipated, thanks to Vice Captain Feres’s influence, they were able to enter the country smoothly.

It truly paid off to work earnestly and sincerely. Thank you very much.

“So then, what will you do next?”

“First, I’ll secure lodging. After that, I’ll look for work.”

This checkpoint lay about two days from the royal capital. The soldiers told her they had used it several times before and recommended an inn that was inexpensive and safe. Moreover, even if Centrea Kingdom were to make contact, this location was close enough to the checkpoint that she could escape quickly.

“I’ll search for work in this area while also looking for the merchant who sold the color-changing magic potion.”

Yes—she must not forget that she had an official reason.

“Still, looking for work while searching for a person does sound rather difficult.”

After a moment of thought, Vice Captain Feres clapped his hands.

“Ah—then why not work at our barracks?”

“Eh?!”

Angelina’s eyes widened at the unexpected proposal.

“When you say barracks… you mean the ones in the royal capital?”

“Yes. Just recently, the caretaker asked me if we could find extra help. With the great migration of magical beasts, the number of soldiers has increased, and they’re extremely busy. There are vacant rooms as well, so how about working while living on-site? The royal capital is where people gather, making it easier to search for merchants.”

It did sound like a good idea—but having so much done for her felt troubling… or perhaps suspicious.

“Living on-site means meals are provided, the room is free, and you’ll receive wages as well.”

Vice Captain Feres smiled brightly. Somehow, that made it even more suspicious.

Angelina furrowed her brow.

“Why would you go so far for me?”

“It’s simple. I’ve been watching you closely for this past month. Based on that, I decided you are trustworthy. That’s all.”

Just from that? Angelina was left speechless.

“I’m grateful that you trust me, but… it’s only been one month.”

“One month is more than enough time for someone to betray others. You handled our food—the very lifeline of the unit—and treated the wounded using tools. If you harbored ill intent, both would have been perfect opportunities. Yet you served us sincerely.”

“…”

“I noticed everything. You always tasted the food you cooked in front of everyone first. That was poison testing, wasn’t it? So we could eat without hesitation. And the medical treatment—every time, you made sure I was present. So I could confirm the procedure and ensure there were no suspicious actions. That allowed the wounded to receive treatment with peace of mind.”

“You noticed…”

“Of course. Even if it was only a month, you did everything you could so we could fight magical beasts with all our strength. That’s why we want to repay your efforts.”

Feres reached out and gently patted Angelina’s head. Her cheeks flushed with happiness. She had never imagined it would feel this wonderful for someone to notice without her saying anything.

Seeing her warmed smile, Feres found his gaze drawn to her. Because she usually appeared mature, her unguarded side stood out all the more. Those moments of honest openness were charming. His expression softened.

“Anju, you’re adorable.”

“Hah?! No, no—this is the first time anyone’s ever said that to me! In Centrea Kingdom, they called me pale and lifeless, ugly, creepy because they couldn’t tell what I was thinking, even a cold-hearted woman.”

“Oh? And who exactly said that? Please tell me their real names.”

Vice Captain Feres’s smile deepened. Realizing what she’d done, Angelina hastily averted her gaze.

Oh no—I may have pressed the sadistic switch.

At this rate, it could turn into an international purge.

Feres’s voice whispered sweetly near her ear.

“Well, Anju? Your answer?”

“Yes! I’ll be staying at the barracks!”

“I see. That’s wonderful.”

Yes—precisely. For the sake of her future and mental well-being, she would say nothing and pretend she hadn’t heard that question.

Living at the barracks wasn’t a bad arrangement. She never intended to stay long anyway. Once the great migration of magical beasts was resolved, she could quietly relocate somewhere else. Gilberto’s face briefly crossed her mind, but she shook her head lightly to chase the thought away.

She mustn’t misunderstand. His kindness came from sympathy.

“Then let us depart.”

She gently took the hand Vice Captain Feres offered. How strange—it was the first time anyone in Centrea Kingdom had ever reached out to her like this. There, kindness toward her had felt almost like a crime.

She had worried someone from Centrea Kingdom might come looking for her, but that seemed unlikely. Perhaps it was just her own self-consciousness. How embarrassing.

“I’ll guide you to the teleportation magic circle.”

“It’s incredible—it’s so large!”

The pedestal looked like ancient ruins. Massive stones were fitted together, reinforced with strengthening and restoration magic. It looked fragile, yet was clearly designed not to break easily. A magic circle was drawn at her feet—large enough to teleport about ten people at once.

“How is magical power supplied to something this big?”

“There’s a mana reservoir. Excess magical power is diverted to supply the gate. Identical installations are placed throughout the kingdom. Within our borders, you can teleport almost anywhere instantly.”

“That’s so convenient!”

Despite the risk of magical beast migrations, people continued to live above mana reservoirs because of benefits like this. There must be many things here she’d never seen in Centrea Kingdom.

At the gate, Captain Gilberto was waiting. When he saw her, he smiled in visible relief, which made her heart stir ever so slightly.

“Everything settled?”

“Yes. I’ll be in your care a little longer.”

“Not just a little—you could stay forever, you know?”

“Ahaha… well, we’ll see.”

Vice Captain Feres was pressing rather hard. Did he like her special soup that much? She decided she’d leave the recipe behind when she eventually departed.
Problem solved—or so she thought. But Captain Gilberto frowned slightly when he noticed Feres holding her hand.

“You’ve grown rather close.”

“Is that a problem?”

What was he thinking? Vice Captain Feres clasped Angelina’s hand and smiled cheerfully.

“I see. Then I accept the challenge.”

Though both men were smiling, the atmosphere felt tense. Captain Gilberto casually took Angelina’s other hand and tugged her gently.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes!”

With courage as her only option, Angelina took a deep breath and stepped onto the teleportation circle. As magical power flowed in, the lines glowed brilliantly. She closed her eyes against the glare. After a brief sensation of floating, her feet touched the ground.

Even with her eyes closed, she could tell—the noise, the air, the scent—everything was different.

“You can open your eyes now.”

At Vice Captain Feres’s words, she slowly opened them. Unlike Centrea Kingdom’s colorful streets, Rovaldia Kingdom was filled with sturdy stone buildings in shades of gray, white, and black stretching endlessly.
Yet it wasn’t dull. Lavish banners of red, blue, and yellow cloth embroidered with gold and silver fluttered everywhere.

A majestic fortress city—dignified and beautiful.

“It’s wonderful… even more than I imagined.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Smiling, Captain Gilberto took her hand.

“Welcome to the Rovaldia Kingdom. First, we’ll take you to the headquarters of the Anti-Magical Beast Special Unit.”

“…Huh?”

Anti-Magical Beast Special Unit? What an imposing name.

It sounded… incredibly high-ranking. Reeking of authority.

“The information handled inside includes classified matters. Please keep it confidential from non-affiliated individuals, all right?”

Vice Captain Feres whispered sweetly, finger to his lips. So—don’t let information leak out. Did that mean moving to another country might be restricted?

Flanked on both sides, the two men smiled pleasantly.

She was completely surrounded.

Her escape route had vanished without her noticing. Angelina’s face went pale.

“I—I still need to search for the merchant who sold the color-changing magic potion—”

“Of course. Our unit will fully assist. We’ll send the bottle to the appraisal department to check it against registered domestic products. If nothing matches, we’ll request investigations abroad as well.”

A nationwide search.

Angelina was struck dumb.
Captain Gilberto grinned.

“The name of the Special Unit isn’t just for show.”

“No, no, no—that’s far more than I wanted! That’s state overreach—an abuse of power!”

“It’s not wasteful. We’ll find them for sure, so leave it to us.”

Vice Captain Feres’s easy smile was terrifying.

No—no—it’s the opposite. It would be a problem if they found them too easily.

“I’ll search on my own, so please don’t worry!”

For now, she retrieved the bottle and decided to consult them only if necessary. State power was frightening—especially when it seemed so effortless. She tucked the bottle deep into her bag and finally let out a small sigh of relief.

Now then, what should she do?

She thought for a brief moment.

Even if classified information was involved, the solution was simple: don’t touch it.
Cleaning, laundry, cooking assistance, grocery shopping—where exactly would secrets come into play?

That’s right. Once the great migration of magical beasts was over, she’d be free.

Until then, she would fully enjoy the air of this foreign land.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go before we head to the barracks? Your luggage is light—if you need supplies, I’ll go with you.”

“I’d like to organize my belongings first and see what I need. Buying unnecessary things would only weigh me down.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“More importantly, there’s something I want to see first.”

“What is it?”

She kept her tone casual, as if it were merely an aside.

This—this was what she had wanted to see more than anything upon arriving in Rizzold = Rovaldia Kingdom. Something inseparable from her life.

“I want to see Rovaldia Kingdom’s mana reservoir… the so-called ‘Nest of Evil.’”

The two men stared in shock.

The Nest of Evil was where all things bearing the name of “evil” were born. From here, darkness emerged, and the great migration of magical beasts began.

Vice Captain Feres narrowed his eyes.

“Why do you want to see it?”

“Because it’s the kingdom’s most famous tourist attraction.”

She answered smoothly with the excuse she’d prepared. It was true—it topped tourist guides.
But his expression remained stiff, and he shook his head.

“When signs of a migration appear, it’s closed to the public.”

“I see… that’s unfortunate.”

Safety came first, after all. She decided she’d just confirm the location and visit secretly later.

Then Captain Gilberto thought for a moment—and took her hand.

“No. This is a good opportunity. I’ll show you.”

“Captain, but—”

“If you live in Rovaldia Kingdom without even knowing its location, it could cost you your life. Especially if you’re staying at our barracks. When a migration begins, no one remains unaffected.”

“That may be true, but—”

“Protecting someone by hiding the truth isn’t the only form of kindness. Not being allowed to choose your own path in life—that’s unbearable.”

Why did he always give her the words she longed to hear?

Angelina pressed a hand to her faintly aching chest.

He knew nothing of her as the Saintess of Warding.

“It isn’t pleasant. Even so, do you want to see it?”

“Yes. Please show me.”

“Then let’s head to the Special Unit headquarters.”

“Why there?”

“You’ll understand once we arrive.”

They exchanged knowing smiles.

“This is what you meant.”

In the center of a vast courtyard lay a massive crater gouged deep into the earth. At its bottom writhed a dense mass of pitch-black mana, coiling ominously. Even from outside the fence, it radiated danger. Stone buildings like a fortress surrounded the courtyard.

“That is the mana reservoir—and those buildings are the headquarters of the Anti-Magical Beast Special Unit. The kingdom’s finest mages and magic swordsmen are stationed here.”

“…”

“The reservoir is why the fortress was built and the unit formed. When a migration begins, we respond here first—wearing the beasts down as much as possible. Once we can’t contain it anymore, we open the iron gates.”

Captain Gilberto pointed out five gates in sequence. Each led toward another country’s mana reservoir. Beasts that reached those lands would be handled by those nations, per agreement.

“This is the first and final fortress. When a migration begins, everyone here fights with their lives on the line.”

“…Were there casualties two years ago?”

“Yes. Friends. Respected seniors. Some lost family members.”

They gazed at the Nest of Evil with mourning eyes.

At that time, what had she been doing?

Cleaning. Laundry. Helping other Saintesses. Peeling mountains of potatoes.

—No. I wasn’t born for that.

“Usually, various species are born here frequently. At set times, we hunt them before visiting observers and tourists—a kind of performance.”

He stared coldly into the darkness.

It was like a mock battle—showing other nations how vital and difficult beast hunting truly was. She understood. It wasn’t entertainment.

“I’m sorry… I made you remember something painful.”

“No. It can’t be helped.”

Captain Gilberto smiled resignedly. She bit her lip, realizing her lack of consideration.

“So, how long until the next migration?”

“Half a year. At most, a year.”

Too short.

The swelling was nearing its peak.

Peering into the Nest of Evil, Angelina felt something probing back—

—Thump!

Within the pulsing darkness, an eye opened and twisted into a grin. Red iris, black sclera.

Her power as the Saintess of Warding told her the truth.

That was the master of the Nest of Evil.

The progenitor of all evil.

“—!”

Her heart raced. Breathing became impossible. Her chest tightened as she collapsed to her knees.

“Anju! What’s wrong?”

“Did the mana affect her?”

Shaking her head violently, she gasped.

No—no—it’s not that.

She collapsed against Captain Gilberto’s chest as Vice Captain Feres grabbed her wrist.

“Sooner.”

“…What? What did you say, Angelina?!”

Thinking there was no time left—

She lost consciousness.