The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 24

The moment I stepped past the edge of the Deathshade Forest, a wave of spirits swarmed around me. I had assumed the forest would be similar to the area around Neige Castle, but that idea vanished the instant I felt a subtle shift, like passing through an unseen veil. Suddenly, I was engulfed by excited, chattering spirits.

“Whoa, hey!”

“Miel? Miel!?”

“Wonderful!”

“It’s been so long!!”

The spirits were in a frenzy, surrounding me like an affectionate crowd. While they had no physical mass to cause pain, their enthusiasm pressed on me like a strong gust of wind, leaving me breathless.

“W-What is happening? Are those… spirits?” muttered the villager who had led me here. His wide-eyed stare revealed his disbelief. I couldn’t spare him much attention as I struggled to break through the playful throng of spirits.

“Hey! I’m trying to find a chimera that’s been attacking people around here. Do you know where it is?” I asked, addressing the spirits as they nudged against my forehead.

As if reading my memories, one spirit brushed closer, and a collective cheer rose up. Suddenly, I felt my body lift into the air as the spirits gathered beneath me like a living cloud.

“Request!”

“We’ll guide you!”

Oh great, they had no intention of just telling me. They wanted to carry me there themselves.

“Thank you for leading me here!” I called back to the bewildered villager just as the spirits surged forward, carrying me deeper into the forest.

When the spirits decide to take you somewhere, there’s no stopping them.

I resigned myself to their pace and focused on the forest itself. The air here thrummed with potent magic that tingled against my skin. No wonder the spirits were so abundant. That strange sensation of passing through a veil must have been the reason for their sudden rush. But understanding it could wait.
A powerful presence loomed ahead. I enhanced my vision and spotted it: the chimera. A formidable beast with multiple heads, capable of wielding various types of magic, and with wings, it could even fly. This one had a lion’s head and a goat’s head—dangerous, but at least it couldn’t fly.

Good, that made things simpler.

The chimera sensed me immediately and let out a roar, sending a blast of fire my way. Flames surged through the forest, crackling as they set trees alight. The spirits shuddered around me, clearly displeased. So that’s why they had been eager to help—they disliked their forest being set ablaze.

“Let’s fix this for you, shall we?” I murmured, gripping my staff.

“Fly me straight at the chimera!” I instructed the spirits.
With glee, they took hold of my magic, launching me forward through the flaming landscape. Not a problem—I was at full power.

“Water Bullet!”

A giant orb of water, large enough to engulf a house, formed above me. I summoned more, each one rippling with contained force. The chimera’s two heads turned, eyes wide in surprise, just as I released the first barrage.

The flames were instantly smothered, replaced by a thick cloud of steam that billowed into the sky. I created a protective wind current to shield myself as I dove into the steam. The world turned white around me, but I noticed a swirling column in one corner.

Fire and wind magic. Perfect.

The chimera emerged from the steam, caught off guard as I rushed in. It had been relying on its sense of magic to track me, but the lingering steam confused its perception, masking my minimal defensive spells.

Before it could retaliate, I swung my staff, striking with all the magic I had. The chimera fell, defeated. I wiped my brow with a sigh, the steam’s heat making me sweat.

Just then, a cool wind brushed by, and I glanced up. The sky was heavy with dark clouds—rain was coming.

“Great, rain means a harder trip back—cold, wet, and poor visibility,” I muttered.

I wouldn’t make it back to the castle tonight. Sheltering at the villa would have to do. Missing the castle’s dinner was a shame, but this little adventure had been worth it.

Smiling, I looked at the defeated chimera. With the help of the spirits, transporting it back to the village would be manageable.

“It’s rare to see a chimera out in the wild… Usually, they guard magic ruins,” I mused aloud.

The magical civilization that built such ruins had vanished centuries ago, its name even lost to history. Yet traces remained, holding spells beyond modern understanding. My staff itself was from such a ruin and considered a national treasure. Most ruins were well-guarded, and the chimera was a common sentinel.

Experts would know more, but my interest only lay in whether I could defeat it. Seeing one outside of a ruin was unusual, but lucky for me.

“I wonder what chimera meat tastes like,” I said with a grin, making the spirits bob excitedly around me.

Their excitement was encouraging; they’d help with the transport. As the first drops of rain fell, I hurried to lift the chimera with a spell. That’s when I felt it—a presence approaching fast, unmasked and radiating immense power.
Experience told me never to underestimate such a force. Without hesitation, I prepared my staff and charged in the direction of the newcomer.

Better to strike first.

I swung my staff in a broad arc, slicing through foliage. The sound of magic clashing—a sharp, metallic clink—rang out, signaling that my attack had been parried.

I leaped forward, muscles enhanced by magic, and swung again. This time, the strike was intercepted by a double-edged sword, polished and formidable.

A human? I barely stopped my follow-up attack when I recognized the face. My eyes widened in shock.

The imposing, devilishly handsome figure—there was no mistaking him.

“Lady Rubel…?”

It was Dirk, who was supposed to be away on an expedition.