I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 145: A Sense

Chapter 145: A Sense

“This is the edge of the forest, so the carriage can’t go any further! After a meal break, make sure to double-check your belongings!”

At Ernest’s command, the group paused for a midday meal just before entering the forest where the Evil God was sealed. This peninsula, which held little value for development, had been largely ignored. Even those who occasionally entered the shallower parts of the forest to gather materials didn’t find anything worthwhile.

When they had first arrived at the territory adjacent to the forest, the lord was secretly informed of the true purpose of the expedition. His face had shown such a deep sense of relief that he seemed ready to cry.

Of course, knowing that an Evil God was sealed right next to your land would be terrifying. If the god were to revive, his territory would be the first to be attacked.

“Justin! Are we walking from here? Is Eleanor staying behind?”

Jest asked me as I tied my beloved horse Eleanor to a tree near a small stream. He was looking a bit lonely.

“No. It’s impossible for the carriage to go any further, but we can still proceed on horseback. Depending on the terrain ahead, we may need to leave the horses behind at some point.”

“I see! That means we can still stay together for a bit longer!”

Jest’s carefree smile made my chest ache. I still hadn’t told Jest that his father was in the same place as the Evil God, as Jeanne had informed me.

Could the dragon that was one of the Evil God’s minions, which I had read about in the novel, have been Jest’s father instead of Jeanne’s? There was no way Jest’s father was the Evil God himself… right?

“From here on, Jeanne will also be moving on horseback. Do you want to ride with me and Eleanor, or with Jeanne?”

I asked as I patted Jest’s head. He smiled shyly, glanced up at the sky, and thought for a moment.

“Um, I’ll ride with Mom. That way, if something happens, you’ll be able to move right away, Justin. Plus, even if we’re a little apart, we can still talk through telepathy!”

I felt a mix of pride and a tinge of sadness. Jest understood the situation perfectly and made the best decision. And, being with Jeanne would certainly be safer for him if anything went wrong.

“You’re right. Jeanne will be staying close with the Third Knights, so we won’t be far apart anyway. Just remember, Jest. Always put your safety first, no matter what happens.”

“Okay, I will!”

After the meal break, the group advanced into the forest. Jeanne rode her horse alone, while the Saintess clung to Orel. As we moved deeper into the forest, Jeanne, riding beside me, began glancing around warily.

“What’s wrong?”

“The flow of magical energy feels strange… It’s like there’s a barrier around the forest. The energy is slowly flowing towards one point.”

Jeanne pointed in the direction where we believed the Evil God was sealed.

“So, is the Evil God gathering magic?”

“I’m not sure… This forest is supposed to only have weak monsters. But if the Evil God is absorbing the forest’s magic to revive, it would make sense. Perhaps… he’s using someone as a sacrifice.”

“Someone?”

I asked, and Jeanne cast her eyes downward. She looked at Jest, who sat in front of her. She was probably referring to Jest’s father. Fortunately, Jest seemed too absorbed in observing the unfamiliar forest to hear our conversation.

According to Jeanne, Jest’s father was an ancient dragon. Perhaps the reason he never appeared in the novel was that he was already absorbed as nourishment for the Evil God’s revival…

I could easily imagine Jest and Jeanne in grief, and an unfamiliar sense of urgency welled up in me. Calm down. We came here earlier than originally planned. Maybe we could still save him.

“Dad…?”

Jest suddenly muttered.

“Did you feel it too, Jest?”

“Mom… Yeah, I feel something very similar to me. But it feels weak, like it’s shrinking…”

“Your father is an ancient dragon. He won’t die so easily, so don’t worry too much.”

Jeanne gently stroked Jest’s head, trying to comfort him, but her own face showed signs of distress. She was telling him not to worry, yet she looked like she might cry herself. Did she not realize how close she was to breaking down?

“Now that we’re this close, can you tell where he is? If so, I’ll suggest to the Crown Prince that we go ahead as scouts.”

“Ah, no fair! If you’re going, I’m coming too!”

Simon, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation, immediately raised his hand to volunteer.

“Hoho, then Master shall ride with me. Jest, would you mind giving Simon a ride?”

“Sure! But what about Eleanor? It’ll be tough for it to ride me.”

“If it’s our horse, we can ask someone else to take care of it. As for Eleanor, I could carry it without dropping it.”

“Wait, wait! We can’t do anything until we get permission from the Crown Prince! Just hold on a bit, I’ll go talk to him!” 

Secretly, I’d always wanted to try it. But now it looked like I was about to debut as a dragon knight. It was something I’d only ever read about in stories. With a mix of excitement and anxiety, I urged my horse forward and rode up to Ernest to get permission to go ahead.