The coming-of-age ceremony went as Luciana had expected.
Although monsters are creatures with strong hostility towards humans, they had no choice but to retreat before an army of this size.
In a word, it was utterly uneventful.
'A noble from the North should, after all, slay monsters solely with their sword.'
She knew it too. That Yegor had taken such measures out of concern for her.
But knowing that fact and understanding it were different matters.
Luciana struggled to suppress the stirring heat within her heart.
The brightness of a family name is important, but it shines due to the family itself.
She was well aware that as the future consort of the Crown Prince, she shouldn't overexert herself.
…She knew that.
"Are you bored? Why not try going over there?"
"You have quite the knack for humor."
Had her boredom shown?
Luciana obediently turned her horse's head as Hans suggested.
This man, now her attendant, had almost been banished after dueling with her.
It wasn't the best first meeting.
"Will you say I'm sociable? Without that, I'm as good as dead."
Yet, his approachable demeanor, joking so freely, was starkly different from the people of the North.
"Bored, huh? You're right. No matter how fierce the monsters of the North are, they know the value of their own lives."
Luciana lightly agreed.
Pushing away her personal attendant wouldn't do any good now.
"Miss Luciana, I'm not from around here, so I'm curious. In a coming-of-age ceremony, is it better to catch bigger and stronger monsters?"
'Ah, is that so?'
His question made her chuckle.
She was lamenting the current situation, far removed from the spirit of the coming-of-age ceremony she knew, and the honor of the North.
At best, she'd end up picking up small fry chased by the army.
'Maybe someone from a different region wouldn't understand. The Northern coming-of-age ceremony and the honor varying with the danger of the prey.'
Luciana smiled faintly.
As someone walking the path of martial arts, and as a noble of the North with a duty to protect her people, how could she articulate her desire to prove herself?
If she had to define it, perhaps it could be called romance.
"Your life, Miss, is not solely your own. Don't forget your engagement to the Crown Prince."
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine, an unpleasant feeling coursing through her body at the memory of Yegor's words. The fleeting desire she had felt extinguished, leaving only ashes.
But it wasn't the attendant's fault.
Luciana calmed her emotions and replied.
"Right… But with such a force, even the fiercest monster would flee in fear."
A slight regret dissipated with her sigh. Clinging to such disappointment was foolish.
Luciana admonished herself.
"Who knows? Maybe there's a monster out there brave enough to challenge this army?"
"I wish that were the case."
Luciana shook her head at her attendant's naive remark.
She knew it wasn't likely. Though she hadn't experienced real combat, she had learned much about monsters from her father and brother's tales and the books in the Ducal library.
"Don't worry. We might discover a monster's den, a dungeon. We could charge in and clear it out! It's a long shot, but it would make for the best coming-of-age ceremony."
Yet, when she saw hope and belief sparkling in his eyes,
Luciana realized for the first time that comfort could come from mere faith.
She had never experienced such feelings before, given her nature to not fuss about things unless necessary. It wasn't unpleasant.
A warm sensation filled her heart.
It was an unfamiliar feeling.
Then, a thought from her political studies flashed through Luciana's mind.
-The tongue of a flatterer is indeed sweet. It's easy to get caught up in it. You should be cautious, Miss.
Her response was immediate.
Before she could even judge her words, harsh ones spilled out.
"Enough. I don't believe in such miracles."
Silence followed.
The unintended venom in her words left Luciana pondering, and she eventually closed her mouth quietly.
'A fitting reprimand for an insolent attendant.'
Yet, for some reason,
she pondered the notion that not everything had to be bad.
***
"Typical of the aloof Lady," I mused, shrugging my shoulders as I scanned the surroundings.
Despite her initial reluctance, Luciana's helmeted gaze soon returned forward, a sign she was regaining her composure. That's the Luciana I knew – never one to hang her head in defeat. Then,
I noticed something unusual in the snow a short distance away.
"This makes the trip worthwhile."
"Lady Luciana, do you see that?"
"What are you referring to?"
Ignoring her puzzled look, I dismounted and sifted through a mound of snow that had piled up conspicuously.
"Wow, it's buried deep. This is what I mean."
As she approached, I extended my hand to reveal a clump of silver fur, shimmering in the sunlight, much like her hair.
"That is…"
"Oh, you recognize it? Of course, there's no mistaking the glossy white fur of its kind."
"Indeed. It's from a Direwolf."
A glint of excitement flashed in Luciana's eyes.
Direwolves were among the most notorious monsters in the North, known for their ferocity and cunning.
"I heard that livestock near the city have been suffering attacks recently. Must be the work of these creatures."
"It seems so."
I recalled encountering Direwolves in a game. Not as powerful as knights, but their notoriety wasn't unfounded. While individually only slightly stronger than regular wolves, their true strength lay in their pack tactics. Their coordinated assaults and notorious habit of preying on livestock were well-known among the Northern folks.
'I can't count how many times I've hunted them in quests…'
Their constant threat in the North meant I had taken them down numerous times.
"You found it in the snow? Impressive, given its similarity in color. Did you spot it while riding?"
"Ahaha, I just have good eyes."
Her skeptical gaze swept over me. It wasn't Mongolian-level vision that helped me spot the subtle difference, but rather my reliance on the status window.
[You've acquired a 'Direwolf Fur Clump'.]
The moment I saw the silvery object in the snow and the item notification appeared, I knew it. Although it was my idea to head to the Direwolf's main habitat,
[A related quest has been assigned.]
[Explore the Direwolf Den]
[Collect more Direwolf Fur Clumps.]
[1/3]
Finding more wouldn't be hard. Completing the quest would be a breeze.
A worthy trophy for Luciana's coming-of-age ceremony, especially given the Direwolf's menace to the Northern residents. But Luciana was skeptical.
"Good thing we found this. If we follow the trail, we can catch them."
"Optimistic over just one fur. How do you plan to track them with this little evidence?"
"…"
"Besides, that conservative old man won't approve."
Hmm. True.
'Yegor, prioritizing Luciana's safety, would surely object.'
'Direwolves are too dangerous. Leave it to the soldiers,' he would say. I grinned slyly and whispered to Luciana.
"Then let's sneak off by ourselves."
"…What?"
Luciana's eyes widened.
"There's no need to go with the soldiers. Isn't tradition important?"
"Huh. I didn't expect such words from a Westerner."
In the North, the coming-of-age ceremony was a solo ordeal. Despite her earlier complaints, perhaps she saw it as a challenge.
She looked displeased, tapping the hilt of her sword at her waist.
"There's a lot to consider in my position. The honor of the family, the concerns of those below… It's the same now."
She stepped off her horse and discovered another clump of Direwolf fur in the snow, her neat fingers gently caressing it.
"I do want to go."
Her true feelings, scattered by the cold wind.
"But I have duties to fulfill and expectations and worries of others to meet."
I watched her, then lowered my gaze.
In the game, Luciana always prioritized her family over her personal desires, even when it meant challenging the protagonist to a duel to secure her engagement to the Crown Prince.
'…It's just that the outcome wasn't always positive.'
"How would you handle a situation like this?"
Her question seemed like a test. I shrugged as I met her gaze.
"I'd do what I feel like doing."
"…What?"
"I listen to advice, but that doesn't mean I have to follow it blindly, even if it's from adults. It's a once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony, so I should enjoy it my way."
This was heartfelt advice, coming from someone who had argued with their parents about career choices. I ended up following their advice, settling into a stable chemistry major, but the thought of what could have been if I pursued game development still lingers.
I'm certain if she goes back now, for the sole reason of being the Crown Prince's consort, she'll regret it.
"Presumptuous for a mere attendant. Your words are flashy."
I shrugged again. Despite her sharp words, her tone softened, showing a hint of vitality returning.
After a moment,
"I've decided. Lead the way."
"That means…"
"You need to prove your grand words. Guide me to the prey, as an attendant should."
The amount of Direwolf fur we had collected matched the requirement exactly.
[Direwolf Fur Clump 3/3]
[Quest Completed]
[Revealing the location and details of the 'Direwolf Cave'.]
"Yes, as you command!"
"Shh. Keep your voice down. We need to slip away without them noticing."
Her face now bore no signs of concern, only relief, excitement, and a firm resolve.
Quietly and swiftly, we slipped away on horseback, unnoticed by anyone.
* * *
"Lord Yegor! The Lady has disappeared!"
"As expected, she went ahead with it."
The old attendant of the Ducal house sighed heavily. The Duke, the young Duke, and now the Lady too.
"There's never a dull moment during a coming-of-age ceremony."
"Shouldn't we search the area immediately?"
With a smile, the old attendant replied,
"No rush. I've taken measures. We'll receive a signal soon."
Yegor recalled his instructions to Hans before the ceremony.
"Never take your eyes off the Lady. And if anything happens, shoot this flare into the sky."
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
Unaware that he had entrusted the fish to the cat, Yegor waited for a signal flare that would never come.