The days in Celeste Village were the most relaxing time for Kenneth. He, who usually never stopped training or studying, only needed to lie down all day. Things like changing bandages and preparing food were all done by other people. Then, a doctor would come to check on his progress at night.
From the people who came to his room, Kenneth finally knew that he was in Matias' villa. Matias' family was respected in Celeste Village. Thanks to Matias, Celeste Village never lacked any resources. And because Matias introduced Kenneth as his lifesaver, everyone treated Kenneth as best they could.
Of course, Brox also never forgot to visit Kenneth whenever the boy had free time. Kenneth remembered how Brox looked relieved when he found out he had regained consciousness. The boy was the most talkative person in reminding Kenneth to finish his medicine. Although being advised by a little boy felt funny to Kenneth, in the end, the prince always listened to Brox and got better quickly because of it.
After Kenneth's wounds stopped bleeding, while his bones had fused back together, the prince finally started to get used to getting up and walking around again. However, for the time being, Kenneth did not dare to leave Matias' villa. Celeste Village had a teleportation point that could be used by his other siblings. Although the chances were slim, Kenneth still did not want to go out and meet the people from the palace again.
Fortunately, even though Kenneth could not go out personally, he had someone willing to help him gather information. As Matias' son, Brox was also quite popular in Celeste Village. The child had promised to look for information in Kenneth's stead. Of course, that was also with the promise that he would be careful out there.
"I'm back!"
Kenneth had just been thinking about Brox, and the child had returned from his little mission. From a distance, an energetic little child ran into the villa with a big smile. His cute eyes widened when he saw Kenneth sitting not far from where he was standing. Brox ran back to approach Kenneth. And once the boy was close enough to Kenneth, Brox stood straight as if he were a soldier about to report something to his commander.
"Master, I have finished gathering the information you need!"
Ever since Kenneth saved his family from the assassins' attack, Brox's respect for Kenneth seemed to have increased by several levels. Although his parents often scolded Brox for being rude to Kenneth, who was a prince, the little boy had continued to call him master ever since they lived in Celeste Village.
Kenneth nodded. "Let me hear it," Kenneth informed him. Brox nodded again. The little boy coughed a little before he conveyed what he knew.
"As Master suspected, someone arrived in Celeste Village using a teleportation magic circle. They arrived three days ago, and they came in large numbers. The people in this village say that most of them look like adventurers. While some look like soldiers from the Lucano Kingdom."
"Ah, yes! My friend said that among them, three men seemed to be protected by the large group. Each was wearing expensive-looking armor, but no one could see their faces because they were wearing cloaks that covered their faces. However, from their height, they seemed to have a small child among the group. No one knows what they want in the Audoran Forest, to bring a small child to such a dangerous place."
Kenneth's face immediately turned serious when he heard the report. The three people Brox mentioned must be his three half-brothers. And just like them, they must not have wanted to attract attention, so they used cloaks to cover their faces.
Kenneth didn't understand why they were acting when he wasn't dead yet. The prince couldn't imagine that the assassin would lie for him. The people in the palace also wouldn't be stupid enough to think that he was dead before they confirmed it themselves. So, they probably still thought he was alive but changed their plan to kill him in Audoran Forest.
"Then, are they still in Celeste Village, Brox?" Kenneth asked again. This time, Brox shook his head. Kenneth had expected that answer. If Kenneth took into account how Empress Helena didn't want to lose her child, the group she had gathered for her sons must not be small in number.
"As soon as they arrived here, they immediately went to Audoran Forest. After all, with their numbers, even if we offered all the lodgings we could, this small village wouldn't be able to accommodate them all. They came as if they wanted to start a war with someone. Honestly, none of the Celeste Villagers liked that group."
It seemed like Kenneth had to thank the Celeste Villagers for not accepting that large group into their village. Thanks to them, Kenneth's presence in Celeste Village remained a secret. Now, all he had to think about was a way to enter Audoran Forest without going through the path that people usually used.
Although Audoran Forest was known as a place that no one could enter, the human invasions hadn't always ended in vain. Over the years, the humans managed to create a map that showed a relatively safer path to enter the Audoran Forest. Although that path couldn't guarantee their safety one hundred percent, Kenneth was certain that his brethren would take that path to arrive at the deepest part of Audoran Forest.
Since that was the only safe path if one wanted to enter that dangerous area, the other princes must have thought that Kenneth, who was alone, would take the same path if he wanted to survive in the Audoran Forest. Unfortunately, Kenneth had no intention of following their evil plan. Even if his choice was riskier, it wasn't as bad as before because Kenneth didn't have to protect anyone on his journey.
"Brox, do you know anyone who knows the Audoran Forest area better than anyone else? I came to go to that place too. However, if that group has already entered the Audoran Forest through the usual path, I have no choice but to find another way to enter that place."
Since Celeste Village was directly adjacent to the Audoran Forest area, Kenneth had heard rumors that some people were able to safely enter the Audoran Forest. Kenneth guessed that those who managed to return safely did not go through the usual path used by those who came to invade the Audoran Forest, so the Audoran Forest Guard did not do anything to them. People did say that the monster was a mindless monster. But to Kenneth, a mindless creature should not have been able to protect such a vast territory for hundreds of years.
Although the famous path was known to be safe, no one had ever survived as they went deeper into the Audoran Forest. Kenneth suspected that it was because the monster had known about the path but used it to lure the enemy into a trap instead. Those who passed through that path would immediately be considered enemies. At least, that was what Kenneth thought after he gathered all the information about the invasion of the forest.
From his speculation, Kenneth wanted to know if there was one of them who could tell him another path to enter the deepest part of the Audoran Forest without having to go through the path that adventurers usually took.
"Are those people who just arrived people who want to harm you, Master?"
Instead of answering directly, Brox asked Kenneth a question. The prince felt that he could not lie in front of Brox, who was sincerely looking at him with a worried gaze. Kenneth nodded slightly, and Brox immediately fell into deep thought.
"Very well. I will try to persuade someone who knows another path to enter the forest. That path should only be known to the descendants of the Celeste Villagers. However, if knowing the path can save your life, I will do my best to help you, Master."
Honestly, Kenneth was surprised when Brox gave him a positive answer. Kenneth looked at Brox and then felt a little uneasy in his heart.
Unlike the Celeste Villagers, who settled down to protect the Audoran Forest, Kenneth came to kill the monster that they respected so much. Even so, Brox did not ask anything about it. Brox did not seem to care even if Kenneth's intentions were bad, as long as he could help him.
"Thank you, Brox."
Brox smiled widely when Kenneth's hand reached out to stroke his head. "You're welcome, Master!" he replied sincerely.