The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 22

“Wait, Dirk’s not here again today?”

Marc, a servant whom I’d come to know quite well over the past few days, looked apologetic as he bowed repeatedly. Though he appeared at least five years older than me, his humility was almost excessive.

“I’m so sorry, Lady Rubel. He had an unexpected inspection to attend and won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“I see,” I said, my voice losing a bit of its usual energy. Marc’s eyes widened, and he flinched as if afraid of my reaction. Was he always this jumpy?

“I-If there’s anything within my capabilities that I can assist with, please don’t hesitate to ask!”

“Then, just tell the cooks I’ll be eating at the barracks today. No need for a separate meal.”

“Wha—?”

Before Marc could process my request, I waved him off and walked away.

Since teaching the soldiers levitation magic, it had become difficult to find time to share meals with Dirk. He was suddenly busier than ever, and our encounters were reduced to fleeting moments.

Despite his promise, I knew he bore the responsibilities of a lord—a station that left little room for leisure. When I was in command of monster-hunting squads, my skilled lieutenant had managed most of the heavy lifting, allowing me more freedom. But a true leader’s days were always full.

“It’s not as though I really took it to heart,” I muttered.
Even so, I couldn’t shake the dull ache in my chest. I exhaled, puzzled by the nagging feeling.

“Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve had a moment to just… be.”

Normally, I’d be busy leading hunts or dining with nobles as ordered. Perhaps this rare pause was what unsettled me.
With that, I headed to the barracks’ mess hall. The training seemed to have just wrapped up; soldiers queued up to receive their meals. Odd, though—there seemed to be fewer people than usual. Was it just my imagination? Before I could dwell on it, Ritter, one of the soldiers, noticed me and hurried over.

“Lady Rubel! What brings you to a place like this?”

“I’m here to share a meal. I wanted to see what everyone eats,” I said with a smile.

Ritter had switched to speaking formally since the levitation lesson, impressing me with how swiftly he adjusted once he decided to respect someone. My straightforward answer drew surprised stares from nearby soldiers, but Ritter only grinned, amused.

“It’s soldier’s food, so there’s plenty of it,” he warned.
“Perfect,” I replied.

“Understood! Hey, clear a table!” he ordered, making space for me without any fuss. Thanks to Ritter, I soon had a seat and a meal in front of me. Success!

The food was hearty: meats piled high, thick vegetable stew brimming with chunks, and a mountain of bread. Despite its unassuming presentation, it tasted good, showing how well the soldiers were cared for. Nostalgia welled up as I thought about my old unit, where bad food was a common complaint and sharing brought us together. When our lieutenant secured a budget for better meals, we’d lifted him in celebration.

As I ate my portion enthusiastically, the surrounding soldiers stared with slack-jawed surprise. I ignored them.

“Lady Rubel, you always manage to surprise us! Salia would probably faint if she saw you tackling a soldier’s meal,” Ritter laughed.

“It’s just the right amount for me,” I said, taking another bite. Then a question popped into my mind.

“By the way, there seem to be fewer soldiers around today. Why’s that?”

“Ah, they’re out on a monster hunt,” Ritter said nonchalantly.
“A monster hunt?” The news made me pause.

“Yeah. Harvest season starts in about a month, and the monsters know it. They come down from the wilds around this time, so we’ve got squads everywhere. This year, it’s worse because a wyvern swarm stirred up more beasts than usual. But since you took care of the wyverns, we’re hoping things settle down soon.”

Listening to Ritter’s casual explanation only deepened the restlessness in me.

“Covering all of Rostorc’s territory is tough, so if a major threat appears, even Lord Dirk might head out himself.”

Now I understood why Dirk had been so busy.

Monsters. So many of them, even now. I might be new here, but I was more than capable.

“There’s even talk of a chimera sighting from the Deathshade Forest near Carbuncus. If we don’t respond quickly, the harvest could be in jeopardy.”

So, the fields might be destroyed. The Deathshade Forest wasn’t far from Carbuncus. This could be my chance to contribute and ease some of the burden.

“If it comes to it, I’ll probably be part of the next expedition too. Can’t wait!” Ritter said, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

“Huh.”

So, Ritter was heading out. As I considered this, I noticed him giving me a strange look.

“Lady Rubel, your cheeks are puffed up. What’s wrong?” he asked.
“It’s nothing!” I replied.

But was it really nothing? Why did this unsettled feeling persist? As I gnawed on a bone, Ritter spoke up, as if recalling something.

“Oh, and Lady Rubel, about that list of local sights—my guys gathered what they could. Interested?”

Oh, right. I’d been gathering information on attractions and specialties around Carbuncus, planning to tour Rostorc. Ritter and the others, seasoned in patrols and monster hunts, had been invaluable for understanding where beasts lurked and bandits camped. Though their coverage didn’t extend to Carbuncus, they promised to find more details.

Dirk was likely looking for clues as to why the spirits stayed away from the Deathshade Forest. If anyone could figure it out, maybe it was me.

But sitting around, waiting for an opportunity, was impractical. I could handle monsters, couldn’t I?

Suddenly, it clicked.

“Of course! I should just go!”

“Excuse me?” Ritter’s face was a mix of confusion and amusement.
I leaned forward, eyes alight with resolve.

“Tell me everything you’ve gathered. It’ll help.”

With time on my hands, why not go to Carbuncus now? I knew where the estate was. I could take down some monsters and inspect the Deathshade Forest while I was at it. Excited by my own plan, I began preparing that very moment.

The next morning, I was up with the dawn, backpack slung over my shoulder, ready to set out when Salia appeared.

“Lady Rubel, you’re already up?”

“Perfect timing! I’m heading out now, so I won’t need breakfast!”

“Oh, um, yes, understood…?” Salia replied, eyes filled with bewilderment.

I thanked her for her compliance, raised my staff, and joyfully leapt out the window.

“Wha—where are you going?!” came Salia’s panicked shout from behind, though by then, I was already airborne.