I Was Deemed a Worthless Saint Without a Level-Up Blessing and Was Sent Off to Marry a Neighboring Country, but It Turns Out My Blessing Was Actually Level Cap Removal - Episode 38

“However, as I mentioned earlier, this is the first time I’ve encountered a Poison Squirrel. If anyone is still experiencing symptoms, please let me know immediately. I will cast the detoxification spell again.”

“Understood. I’ll notify them. … It’s not often we encounter something like a Poison Squirrel, though…”

“Is that so?”

Alvent furrows his sharp features and nods.

“Ah, the Poison Squirrel is a creature that prefers the depths of the forest. Even though it’s in the forest, it’s rare for them to come out this far. If they do, it’s usually just a stray individual, so encountering a whole pack like this is a first for me too. …I felt something was off since we set out on this expedition… but now it’s become undeniable.”

“Discomfort, is it…?”

Ferulina, who is on her first expedition to the Gobules Kingdom, does not understand what Alvent is trying to say.

As Ferulina looked up at the stern-faced Alvent, Robes came to seek instructions.

“Captain, we need time to burn through the Poison Squall. It’s a bit early, but we’ve had back-to-back battles today, and to help the members recover from their fatigue, I think we should set up camp here.”

At Robes’ words, I looked around and saw the knights moving swiftly, placing the gathered corpses into the dug holes, while the sorcerers set them ablaze with fire magic.

In case the fire spreads to the trees and causes a major wildfire, several knights and mages are staying near the hole.

“Ah, let’s do that. Also, tell anyone who still thinks they have poison left in them to come forward. Ferulina will take care of it.”

“That would be helpful. I don’t think it’s necessary, but let’s inform the members.”

“Um, may I go check on the horse? It can’t express its condition on its own…”

“Well then, I’ll stick around. Robes, you come too.”

“No, I wouldn’t want to trouble Lord Alvent and Mr. Robes…”

I hurriedly tried to decline, but Alvent shook his head firmly.

“No, Robes and I are more accustomed to observing the horses. If there’s anything unusual, we’ll notice it more easily. Besides…”

To supplement Alvent’s hesitant words, Robes opens his mouth.

“The captain is anxious about taking his eyes off Lady Ferulina. Please understand the captain’s feelings. It seems that the forest is also behaving unusually…”

“Earlier, Lord Alvent also mentioned it, didn’t he? ‘Feeling a sense of discomfort’… This is my first expedition to the Gobules Kingdom, so could you please explain what this means?”

Looking up at Alvent and Lobes and asking, the two of them made difficult faces in unison.

“Robes… So, you felt it too, after all.”

“Of course. How many years do you think I’ve been patrolling this forest? Probably most of the members feel the same way.”

In response to Alvent’s low voice, Robes answered firmly.

Alvent, pursing his lips as if searching for the right words to explain, slowly opened his mouth after a moment.

“The encounter rate of monsters and the types of monsters we encounter are different from previous years. Just like the Poison Squirrel we just saw, monsters that usually don’t appear unless we get closer to the more dangerous areas are showing up, and the encounter rate with monsters has also increased.”

“Under normal circumstances, we should be further along in our schedule. However, due to the time taken by the battles, we are falling behind compared to previous years.”

Robes supplements Alvent’s words.

Indeed, I thought that encounters with monsters were far more numerous than in the Kingdom of Klein.

However, Ferulina had always thought that this was normal in the Gobules Kingdom, which was close to the demon realm.

“I am truly grateful to Lady Ferulina.”

As the three of them walked towards the place where the horses were tied together, Robes said with deep emotion.

“Despite encountering so many monsters, no one has been seriously injured, all thanks to the saint, Lady Ferulina. The same goes for the battle earlier. Without Lady Ferulina, many would have been unable to move due to the Poison Squirrel’s poison. Just thinking about being attacked by another monster in such a state sends chills down my spine.”

“No, I…”

I shake my head, but I understand very well what Robes wants to say to Ferulina.

You never know what might happen during an expedition. A moment of carelessness can often be fatal.

No matter how strong Alvent is or how robust the knights are, if the battles with the monsters continue incessantly, fatigue will accumulate, and if there are injured, they will have to be protected and fought for.

I finally feel like I understand why the Gobules Kingdom sought the saint, even without her blessings.

“However… the movements of the monsters are different from usual… Do you have any idea why?”

The moment he asked, the backs of the two who were watching the horse stiffened simultaneously.

In the air crackling with a charged energy, the horse snorts nervously.

Captain

It was Robes who calmly admonished Alvent.

“……Sorry.”

Alvent, who had apologized in a low voice, released the tension. The expression on his face when he turned to Ferulina was as bitter as if he had drunk muddy water.

“As far as I know, such an anomaly has only occurred once before—three years ago, when a dragon appeared in the town of Tanzes.”