Chapter 47

Of course, here is the translation:

How many families have been swept away by Emperor Yujis' hand?

The emperor cannot tolerate the slightest challenge or deceit to his authority.

Thus, even if this statement stemmed from a rash heart, it could have completely ruined his future life.

The emperor was that kind of person.

‘Now, the family that is fully bearing that grudge is the Squire family.’

Given that these words came from the eldest daughter of such a family, they would not have sounded ordinary.

The atmosphere in the student council room turned as cold as if it had been doused with ice water.

Dorno bowed his head to me and opened his trembling lips.

"…I apologize. It was all a slip of the tongue. Please do not take my foolish words to heart. I beg you."

Ding!

[Quest: Humble Dorno Completed]

▶ Reward: 500,000 coins obtained

‘Now I can have a smooth meeting without any unnecessary noise.’

At that moment, I felt sharp gazes from both sides.

‘…Why is that?’

Looking around curiously, Damian had a strange smile, and Clyde had an expression as if he had seen something odd.

Was it because it was so impressive that I didn't start shaking and causing trouble without context or logic, unlike Tereza?

At that moment, a servant came to Clyde with an urgent look.

"Mr. Clyde. There has been a monster attack in Tuberosa Village just now, with over ten injured. The president has requested that the student council verify it directly."

Sighs erupted from all around.

At the same time, a strange excitement filled the air.

This was also an opportunity to shine.

‘I want to be left out.’

Despite my efforts, my intelligence still hadn't surpassed the massive mountain of A-grade.

On the other hand, all the student council members were A-grade or higher intelligence mages.

It was a matter of different physical capabilities.

I was bowing my head, trying to avoid the teacher's gaze like a student desperately trying not to be called on.

Clyde said something like a bolt from the blue.

"I, Damian, and Tereza will go to Tuberosa. Prepare the horses immediately."

Damn!

Damian said to me.

"It's fortunate that you're coming along. Isn't it?"

"……"

I could understand how the guys who had been scolded by their older sisters felt just now.

* * *

Of course, I don't know how to ride a horse.

As I stood in front of the horse with a blank face, Damian spoke to me.

"What are you doing, Tereza?"

"I'm waiting."

"For what?"

"For me to be able to ride a horse."

"…??"

‘Spray squirrels, Xson!’

I thought with the same feeling as when I used to shout that.

‘Spray store items, system!’

Ding!

[New items have arrived in the store.]

Sure enough, an alert popped up that new items had arrived in the store.

▼

[Store]

▶ Wish Token [1,000,000,000 coins]

: Grants any one wish.

▶ Horse Riding Skill [499,000 coins]

: Grants proficient horse riding skills.

▲

‘Damn. I'm spending all the money I earned from the quest.’

Isn't this a sales tactic?

How are we supposed to accumulate coins like this?

[Donation: 3,616,400 coins]

‘Oh.’

The donations had accumulated much more than I expected.

‘Indeed, the speed at which donations accumulate has changed since I became a gold channel.’

By the way, I didn't see the [Dancing Machine] in the store.

It seemed that items I hadn't purchased automatically disappeared.

While I was buying the horse riding skill, Clyde approached on horseback.

"What are you dilly-dallying for? The situation is urgent."

"You're really in a hurry…"

"What did you say?"

"Ah, sorry. I suddenly forgot how to ride a horse. I just remembered."

As I blurted out anything and got on the horse, Clyde had a look of disdain.

"Unbelievable intelligence."

He didn't nitpick about whether it made sense, probably thinking it was something Tereza could do.

It was fortunate that Tereza was so hopeless in terms of learning.

Damian got on his horse and said to me with a sympathetic look.

"Tell me if something like this happens again. I'll let you know."

"…Okay."

Why is this side more annoying?

"Enough chitchat. Let's go."

"Right!"

We set off for Tuberosa Village.

* * *

Tuberosa Village, which we hurriedly arrived at, had a gloomy atmosphere.

The captain of the guard, who was dealing with the situation, approached us with a haggard face as soon as he saw us.

"You've come, young master."

Clyde dismounted and asked.

"How are the injured?"

"They are being treated in an empty house. There are no fatalities, but the atmosphere is not good."

We entered a house being used as a temporary base with the captain of the guard.

"This is a map of Tuberosa Village. Five monsters invaded here, and they were wolves."

"Of all things."

Wolves are pack animals, and there was a high possibility that just five were not the end.

That's why the village atmosphere was so bad.

"So, how many did you kill?"

"We killed one and successfully purified another while it was alive. We also purified the dead wolf."

If the bodies of monsters are left, the land becomes contaminated.

Therefore, it was necessary to use purification magic to return them to their original form even after killing them.

"We don't know when the next attack will be. No other village has responded to our request for support, so we had no choice but to contact Valhalla urgently."

The student council does not rush to any place.

They were too valuable, and the commission was not cheap.

However, if it was a village managed by the Willow family, they could request support in a very urgent situation.

"His Majesty the Emperor is also most concerned about the recent increase in monster attacks. This is something our family should take the lead in solving."

The captain and his men looked very relieved at Clyde's words.

While they were talking, I looked at the map with a pained expression and spoke.

"Why is this area left unguarded?"

"That area is uninhabited. If monsters invade there, it will overlap with the areas being monitored by the guards."

I got the expected answer.

Can't help it, that's how the setting is.

Of course, with the lack of manpower to deal with monsters, it would be impossible to waste resources on such a place.

‘But the monsters invaded here.’

If the player doesn't investigate this place, at least the well and the windmill in Tuberosa Village will be completely destroyed.

Even if a lot of money is spent to restore them, the commoners will inevitably suffer a significant impact until reconstruction is complete.

"Still, isn't this area too vulnerable? If a pack of wolves invades from this side, the damage will be significant."

"I'm sorry, but we are severely short of manpower to protect the houses."

The captain answered with a stiff expression, thinking I was nitpicking.

‘Can't help it.’

"In that case, I'll scout this area. It's a bit too exposed to leave it unguarded."

Then, Damian and Clyde spoke at the same time.

"Tereza."

"Don't be reckless."

I looked at the two of them as if gauging their reactions.

One had three black hearts. The other had one red heart.

Both had affection levels that wouldn't allow them to be mobilized for battle.

‘I need at least two red hearts to make them follow my suggestion first.’

"It's not recklessness. I've also learned purification magic."

I said this while quickly completing the magic formula and infusing it with mana.

"O eroded life, be purified."

Since there was no target to purify, the magic briefly hung in the air and then disappeared.

Even so, if someone had studied <Magic Life Forms>, they would recognize that the magic I completed was correct.

"Still, it's dangerous to go alone, so I'll go with you. I'm your bodyguard, after all."

Damian's words were met with a cold rebuke from Clyde.

"First, we need to inspect and clean up the affected areas. Remember that you are the vice president before being a bodyguard."

Clyde turned to me with a knowing smile.

"Monsters have the habit of repeatedly ambushing the same place they invaded. Yet, you say you want to scout an unexpected area. How am I supposed to accept that?"

How am I supposed to accept it? You're already thinking that I'll run away from the monsters to another place.

However, since I lacked a good reason, I tried to argue as rationally as possible.

"I know that. But this area is close to farms that cultivate magic plants. Monsters often appear in places with many magic plants. This is a well-established theory in the academy. You know that, right?"

We glared at each other in silence.

As the tension escalated, I took a step back.

"I won't bring Damian. Not just this time, but in future student council activities, I have no intention of using him as a bodyguard."

The captain, who had been watching us, cautiously interjected.

"We couldn't spare the manpower to pay attention to this area, but as the young lady said, it is indeed necessary to scout."

The captain seemed convinced that I had a valid reason for scouting, not just arguing irrationally.

Clyde frowned at my intention to act alone but eventually nodded.

"Send a magic message immediately if anything unusual happens."

"Got it."

Of course. I planned to send a message immediately if I saw even a shadow of a monster.

How could a B-grade intelligence mage with no practical experience deal with a pack of monsters?

"Then, I'll be back."

I mounted my horse and headed to the place where the monsters were expected to appear.