Goblin Knight - Chapter 387



Only Noblemtl

EP.387 The Scarecrow in Search of Wisdom (42)

Oh wise man.

Oh, wise one!

A desolate whiteness has swept over the world.

We have been robbed of our stories.

Now, I don’t even know if this world we live in is really the one we should be living in!

We need to get it back!

Wise one, tell me how to survive!

Please tell me how to escape from their eyes!

How not to starve to death!

How to avoid the cold, how to avoid illness!

Those who reach out to us, a way to survive!

Give us the strength to fight them!

Wisdom!

More wisdom!!

* * *

Pagrurur… the sound of bubbles boiling.

A warm, appetizing scent tickled my nose.

Blanc, who had been resting with his eyes closed for a moment, gestured to Nelivia and handed her a spoon.

The girl took a sip of the soup in the pot and looked intent.

“What does it look like?”

“It’s a lot drier than usual… No, it’s not bland. But it feels like it’s lacking some flavor.”

“Okay, then what do you think should I put in there?”

“It doesn’t seem like there’s a shortage of spices, and the amount of vegetables and meat seems sufficient… um… um… .”

While Nellyvia was pondering, Blanc leaned against the tree again, suggesting that she come up with the answer herself.

Something cold fell on my head.

I looked up at the sky and saw small ice flakes slowly descending.

It was the first snow.

‘Winter… is coming.’

No, in reality, a lot of things happened, but not much time passed in this time zone.

Rather than saying that winter is coming, it might be more accurate to say that they are heading towards winter.

Could this be due to the extreme cold of those two months, or is it because the ‘latitude’ that Anneli had previously mentioned has changed?

It still doesn’t feel real that the earth is actually round, but Annely proved it herself…

“All done, Blanc!”

As I continued to lose myself in thought, Nellyvia shouted with a proud face.

This is the first stew I’ve had her make since I taught her the concept of cooking.

Even if he did the manual labor like preparing the meat, it was satisfying to know that she did everything from hunting rabbits to preparing vegetables and selecting ingredients.

“This is a masterpiece that will satisfy my taste buds, so eat it quickly! You have to eat it and regain your strength before you can set off on your journey!”

“Don’t expect it. By the way… … .”

Blanc glanced at the tree across from him.

I saw leaves swaying as if they were nothing.

“Aren’t you coming down there, Mephis?”

“… … You have a good sense of humor. I thought you were quite confident in hiding your presence.”

“I wasn’t sure… but I felt a strangely passionate gaze there.”

“Ugh… … .”

“I wondered where he went. Well, if he doesn’t come, then he won’t come. Is there really any need to worry about a guy like that?”

While Mephis’ blue eyes were shaking, Nellyvia looked at that place and muttered bitterly.

“He’s the guy who disappeared without a trace after confirming that your condition was not worrisome. He has no intention of joining your party. You take care of your own accommodations.”

“That… That’s right! Even though the execution has been postponed to fulfill the responsibility of judgment, it doesn’t change the fact that your lives will be executed one day! It’s just a reprieve!”

“Is that so? Then I don’t really care… but did you eat breakfast properly? There wasn’t any food left since you got swept away by the rats.”

“Of course! How can I be an executor if I can’t even get my own meal properly… …!”

While Mephis was still talking, a small, hungry stomach growling sound was heard.

Even if Nellyvia didn’t know, it was a sound that Blanc, with his good ears, couldn’t have missed.

“One executor, what’s next?”

“… … A true executor will not be hindered by starving for a few days! Right now, there is a problem with the food supply, but soon, a method will be-”

“Okay, come down. Stew doesn’t taste good when it’s cold.”

“Ugh… ugh… …”

Soon, Mephis, who had fallen from among the leaves, came hesitantly toward the pot.

Nellyvia looked at the sight with a truly displeased expression, then sighed and muttered.

“Yeah. That’s probably how I looked to other guys.”

“You already understand the other person’s perspective. You really are a quick learner, Nellyvia.”

“Just shut up and have a taste!”

“Just a moment. I’ll just finish the pre-meal prayer.”

Whether Mephis looked at him with slight surprise or not, Blanc said a quick prayer (the one his mother had taught him) and put a spoonful of stew in his mouth.

The moment you put it in your mouth, the meaty flavor and subtle spicy aroma seep into it… … .

Although it wasn’t perfect, it tasted familiar in many ways.

Nellyvia had copied Blanc’s recipe for rabbit stew, which she often made, and Blanc had copied Annelie’s recipe.

However, if Blanc clearly learned the recipe from Anneli, but Anneli learned it from Blanc in the distant past (present), then who taught this rabbit stew-

“Ugh, ugh!?”

“……huh?”

Just as I was starting to get a headache from the time paradox I encountered in a strange place, Mephis, sitting across from me, let out a strange groan.

This is what happened the moment I put a spoonful of stew in my mouth.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

“Every, every… very… … !”

“Huh? Are you sure you’re trying to say ‘spicy’ with just this slight scent?”

Just as Mephis was reaching for the water bottle with a sad look on his face, Nelivia asked him that.

There was a look of genuine confusion, but more than that, it was the face of a mischievous boy who had found unexpected fun.

“This is amazing. That this terrifying and cold-blooded enforcer of the law, who doesn’t even blink at slight pain, can’t even endure this slight fragrance.”

“──.”

“It’s just something that even the girls of the common house can enjoy… Well, it’s good. Although it’s disappointing, I think it suits you when I think about yesterday when I was crying like a little child. I’ll refrain from giving you too much adult spices from now on-”

“It has a very… peculiar… stimulating… scent… !”

“… … .”

“The taste is, very… good… !!”

Mephisto fell for Nelivia’s cheap provocation and began to move his spoon while sobbing.

While I was thinking, what kind of childish sight is this?, what came to mind was a scene from the past (future).

Was this the source of that peculiar stubbornness? Well, it seems that even when everything changes, there are some things that do not change.

Well, I feel like I’m teasing you a little bit, but… it’s a really tasty stew after all. Blanc chuckled and patted Nelivia’s head.

“It’s delicious. Good job, Nellyvia.”

“Oh, really? Heh, if it comes to me, this isn’t a big deal. Just wait and see, in a few months I’ll easily surpass you- Hey, I told you not to touch my head!”

“ah.”

The girl who had been laughing and giggling suddenly came to her senses and pulled away.

… … I keep saying that I should exercise self-restraint, but it’s still not easy. I feel like I’m forgetting the trust I’ve worked so hard to earn. Is there no better way?

“… … .”

Mephis, who was eating stew while sweating profusely, looked at the sight with bewildered eyes.

“I thought it was strange from the moment I first saw it… Nellyvia, you are the ruler of Mongma, aren’t you?”

“Right… Wait. Now that you mention it, how did you know that? Your master, the silver enforcer, didn’t seem to recognize you?”

“Because you said so.”

“what?”

“You probably won’t understand anyway. Anyway, why on earth are you following that… peculiar goblin?”

“I’m not following you! Who, who, who would follow a guy like that and say it’s good!!”

“hmm.”

As dinner was almost over, Blanc, who felt the need to get into the topic, opened his mouth.

“It’s a long story to tell, but more than that… it’s a story I especially don’t want to tell you. After all, you’re an executor too.”

“I was curious after seeing the sealed condition… but it turned out to be something related to the laws.”

“Well, that’s true. Now that we’re on the subject, let’s organize what needs to be organized for the sake of our future journey.”

Blanc said, setting down the empty bowl of stew.

“The first thing I want to say is that the people you were trying to protect in the battle at the fortress last night were people we should have torn to pieces… Even if I told you Archbishop Ira’s gossip now, you probably wouldn’t believe me, right?”

“That’s only natural. The Ira I know has a somewhat fiery temper, but he is a man who reveres law and justice. Isn’t that why he was able to become an archbishop?”

“That’s an interesting perspective… … .”

“I know what you mean, but for now, let it go, Nellyvia. We are not yet trustworthy to Mephis. Until we decide that we can be trusted, nothing we say is meaningful.”

“Why don’t you just tell them to go and check it out for themselves?”

“It’s the same principle. If Mephis leaves without trusting us, those who have obtained Mephis’ information will be able to track us even faster. Oh, speaking of which.”

Blanc’s gaze turned to Mephis.

“When I closed my eyes last night, the thing I was most worried about was that your Master and the other enforcers would chase you and find us. Why didn’t that happen?”

“I think it’s because I lost track of the trail. I was fighting some kind of… crazy blue enforcer, and then I was suddenly dragged into ‘one’ of the tunnels, and those tunnels were… really… huge. And there were a lot of them.”

“It’s a blessing for us. Did you happen to spot any werewolves there?”

“yes?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Judging from the reactions, there were no werewolves among those killed by Mephis.

‘One’ probably means that he was badly injured, but was able to escape safely with the werewolf.

“But that blue enforcer… … .”

“… … It’s a story I don’t really want to talk about.”

“I see.”

There was more to it than just a swarm of rats.

Blanc continued, hoping that one day he would find out.

“Anyway, let’s sort out the situation.

Mephis, you want to watch over us so that we can judge correctly… but we, the monsters, are being chased by your enforcers. Nellyvia, in particular, is in danger if her identity is discovered.

So I am heading north to the territory of the Demons while guarding Nellivia, but that is something you, Mephis, would never welcome. If you enter there, not only will you shake off your surveillance, but you may even betray yourself.

“It’s a situation where our goals don’t match.”

Nellyvia and Mephis nodded, frowning.

“For your information, if I determine that I can no longer watch you two, I will immediately decapitate you both and return to being your executioner.”

“I understand, since it was just a respite. Anyway, there’s only one way for these two goals to work together. Make you decide that you can let us go before we safely enter the territory of the Demon Tribe. Right?”

“I guess… that’ll work out, right?”

“I don’t think there is a quick fix, really. True trust isn’t something you build on purpose. So, I’m just going to act like I’ve always done that for the rest of my journey… … .”

Speaking vaguely.

Blanc looked straight at Mephisto.

“There is one problem.”

“… … What is it?”

“Last night, I… I began to suspect that maybe, because of you, something I knew and believed to be true might have been wrong.”

“Suspicion?”

“Yes, Nellyvia. If I don’t properly confirm the truth, I will never be able to act the way I used to. No, maybe, even if I do confirm it… continue.”

“That… what the heck… … .”

“That’s why.”

Looking straight into Mephisto’s blue eyes.

“Mephis, the White Executor, as a goblin Blanc who calls himself a knight… I would like to ask you one question.”

“… … !”

“There is nothing I can force upon you. Nevertheless, I beg you, however harsh the truth may be, rather turn away and remain silent… than tell lies.”

“I will try….”

“Thank you. Then… … .”

Sigh, phew.

After trying to calm my pounding heart and taking deep breaths repeatedly as if I couldn’t be more nervous.

After hesitating for a while, opening and closing my mouth several times.

barely.

To ask that question that denies all one’s own knowledge-

“… … Actually, even from your human perspective… I’m pretty… handsome… … ?”

“Keep going.”

Nellyvia, who was also nervous, bit her tongue.