Chapter 31: Into the Wildlands I

Herbert realized what Princess Amelia was trying to do but he did not mind it, her intentions were clear as day. She wants to lessen their distance by establishing close contact with Herbert, and she could do that by riding a horse with Herbert.

"That won't be a problem, Princess Amelia. I can have you ride along with me if that would be fine with you."

"That would be splendid."

After their farce, Herbert who will be bringing along a detached force that contained his and Amelia's guards had finished their preparations and had started to set off. Officially, their main mission is to act like a scout and survey the area in preparation for the incoming monster wave.

Among Princess Amelia's guards, there are some who had been clearly reluctant in joining Herbert in this mission. They would be performing a fairly easy task under difficult weather which felt very troublesome. Likewise, Herbert also did not want them around, but it would be foolish and unlikely for Princess Amelia to do so in the first place.

When the time for their departure came, Herbert and his men left the Featherwing Fortress to enter deep into the Wildlands. Due to the number of men that Herbert and the Ninth Princess had brought with them, their formation was packed and tightly formed a straight line. When they reached the place where monsters are expected to appear, Herbert sent out a few men to advance further and take on a loose formation with Princess Amelia's guards placed at the back.

They soon encountered their first monster pack which took on the appearance of a wolf with a third eye placed horizontally on top of its head. As it howled eight more of its kind leaped out from the shadows as they encircled Herbert and his men.

Unfortunately, despite their strong and sturdy appearance, they were only of the second rank with the leader being in the third.

They had been easily defeated by Ravenmoon soldiers who wielded standard issue weapons imbued and refined using rank 3 cores.

After that swift battle, there hadn't been any casualties so Herbert let his men collect the cores from the wolf monster's forehead. Herbert did not even get to move as the enemy was too weak for him to do so. As they went deeper, Herbert and his group finally encountered a few monsters that were on ranks 6 to 7.

The monsters that they had encountered in the Wildlands had a wide variety, from flying bird types to insect types, the group managed to slay those that dared to hinder their advancement.

"Around here should be fine."

After saying so, Herbert's soldiers started to gather the horses. They intend to make the place their base. As they went even deeper into the Wildlands, the trees started to become denser making the place darker and harder to navigate.

Moving forward on a horse would be impractical so they could only temporarily leave them be for now. Herbert also left a few men to keep watch over the horses so they would still be alive once Herbert and the others returned.

At this point, Herbert no longer had any scouts ahead of them as he understood that they would only be wasting their lives if they still continued to do so. Fortunately, the Ravenmoons who had been stationed in the fortress had marked the trees so Herbert could still follow the route without getting lost.

Once they had finished setting up a temporary camp, Herbert and the others decided to eat the lunch that they had prepared before leaving Featherwing Fortress. Following their quick break, Herbert then moved out with only the elite of his men together with his two little guests.

Princess Amelia who had been watching Herbert up close since a while ago was puzzled when Herbert suddenly decided to continue walking on foot. She thought that since Herbert had brought them, they would get to enjoy the privilege of only watching from afar as Herbert toiled onwards.

However, Herbert seemed fully intending on having them close to him. At this thought, she finally started to panic.

"Sir Herbert, are we still going to continue moving deeper into the Wildlands?"

"Why of course, how else could I let you cheer me on if you aren't beside me?"

Herbert's words were like a thunderbolt suddenly striking out under a clear blue sky. Princess Amelia felt her hands turning sweaty. Herbert's voice was serious and she was speechless. She did not understand what was wrong with him.

While she still remembered that this was the excuse that she used so she could come with Herbert to the Featherwing Fortress, this does not mean that she sincerely wants to do as she had said. Her words were supposed to be taken with a grain of salt.

"I don't think that would be safe, Sir Herbert."

Lady Elena also followed Princess Amelia's lead and jumped into their conversation.

"That's right, Sir Herbert. Besides, we also wouldn't want to be in your way at all. I think we should just stay back for now and await your return here."

"Lady Elena, please, you wouldn't be in the way at all. Or perhaps are you telling me that you don't trust me?"

Lady Elena couldn't help but wince at Herbert's change of tone. Just about a month ago, Herbert had been the one to please them, but now their roles were reversed. She now had to make sure that Herbert continued to have a good impression of them.

"No, I didn't mean that at all. I apologize if I sounded rude."

Herbert then returned to his friendly demeanor and nodded his head.

"That's good to hear. Well then, shall we get going?"

Princess Amelia who had been silently watching their exchange couldn't help but frown. She could only continue to walk on foot and follow the rest of the group with Herbert. While she still felt heavily disturbed, she could only suck it up and keep her grievances close to her chest.

After taking a couple of steps forward, Princess Amelia couldn't help but notice the difference between the previous area and the deeper regions of the WIldlands. Before they had decided to dismount from their horses, she could still occasionally hear the sound of animals and insects. However, this time her current surroundings were dead silent. It was unnerving and she felt like the atmosphere had turned heavy and unwelcoming.

She couldn't help but see faces or figures from the shadows that had been cast by the trees. For safety measures, she moved a little closer toward Herbert.