The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 6

By the time night had fully fallen, I found myself in a guest room within Neige Castle.

I jumped onto the bed, and it enveloped me in a soft, welcoming embrace. My red hair spread out across the white sheets.

It was incredibly fluffy. After camping out along the journey or staying in cheap inns, the softness felt like a dream come true.

Looking around the room, it was spacious and decorated with exotic furnishings that gave it an air of luxury. I had been told this room wasn’t meant for me specifically, but rather for guests of noble rank, since the Margrave’s wife’s room wasn’t prepared yet.

“This room definitely looks like it’s for someone highborn,” I muttered to myself.

It was clear to me that the Margrave was trying to treat me with respect.

Dinner had also been served in the Margrave’s company, and the meal was as refined as anything I had eaten in the royal capital. It was delicious.

“Considering I was just thrust into this situation and arrived far earlier than planned, they’re treating me remarkably well.”
What impressed me most was the private bath. If I asked the spirits, hot water could be summoned whenever I needed it.

As soon as I returned to my room, I called on the spirits and indulged in a warm bath. Afterward, I got cleaned up and sank into the bed, savoring the bliss of a clean body and soft sheets. But my thoughts kept returning to the events of the day.

“The Margrave, as expected, insisted that we’ll marry in the spring, huh?”

“I am the Margrave of a borderland, and you are a famous saint who has earned renown. There must be an official announcement. It would go against the king’s orders if we married without proper recognition.”

He had persuaded me like that, and then suggested that we talk further tomorrow after I had rested.

I felt quite comfortable, enjoying my solo trip, so I wasn’t exactly tired. But it wasn’t the right atmosphere to argue, and now I was here, enjoying a delicious dinner and relaxing in a comfortable room.

“The Margrave is surprisingly a good person. He even gave me permission to call him by his name.”

I had been informed that the Margrave had been out of the castle earlier because of a conflict with magical beasts in the forest and mountains. He had even apologized for not being able to greet me properly.

I was the one being rude, though. I had grown up in a magic research institute, and since then, my life had been focused on monster hunting expeditions. I wasn’t well-versed in noble customs.

Maybe I should start learning about those things.

Despite my lack of knowledge, I couldn’t help but notice that the Margrave and his attendants were treating me with exceptional care—almost like handling a delicate animal. It was as if they were tiptoeing around me, cautious not to upset me. I had been warned that the area was loud at night because of the beasts nearby, but no one had ever shown me this level of consideration before.

It felt a little awkward, actually. No one had ever been this considerate toward me before.

“Well, I’ll just think about everything tomorrow. I’ll sleep for now,” I decided.

With that, I wrapped myself in the bed covers and closed my eyes.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, ready for a peaceful rest, an earth-shattering roar pierced through the quiet of the night.

“GAAARUUUUUHHH!!”

The deafening sound sliced through my ears, and I bolted upright. The same noise rattled the window again.

It was coming from outside.

Confused, I rushed to open the window and peeked outside. It was too dark to see clearly, so I cast an enhanced night vision spell on my eyes.

And there they were: two dragons flying high in the night sky, their wings beating loudly.

Then I remembered the Margrave’s words from dinner.

“There are several dragons trying to claim territory in Carbunculus. They’ve been fighting each other, and at night, they come near this area. We plan to organize a hunting party soon.”

He had apologized and asked for my patience.

I thought it wouldn’t be that bad, just the occasional roar, but…
“GAAARUUUUUHHH!!”

“No way… there’s no way I can sleep through this…”

The roars, amplified by the open window, rattled through my ears. I grimaced and covered my ears, feeling the magic vibrations in the air. The Margrave had been outside to investigate the dragons’ territory, and I could only imagine how troublesome it was. If this fighting went on every night, not just the magical beasts, but humans too, would find it troublesome.

It was just nature at work, so there was little to be done about it, I thought…

Then another roar came.

“GAAARRRRRUUUUHHHH!!”

That did it.

“The Margrave seemed pretty troubled by this…”
Yes, he had seemed troubled. He had said he would hunt the beasts down.

I was well-rested, with plenty of magic energy. Looking at the two dragons, they were of the wyvern type, with two legs and wings. I had already tested my magic earlier in the day, so my current equipment should be fine.

With a determined look, I grabbed my staff and focused my magic.
“Spirits that flutter through the night, who like the whisper of trees and the sound of wind in the night air. Would you lend me your aid in securing my peaceful rest?”

With a surge of magic channeled through my staff, I summoned the spirits, their presence filling the room in an instant. The crystal at the tip of my staff glowed as the magic pulsed through it.

Spirits were essential for amplifying magic. While humans couldn’t normally see them, they had a network of their own, with their presence often unnoticed.

Since I had been able to communicate with them since I was young, I was familiar with calling on their help without hesitation.

I noticed there were more spirits gathered now than before.

“Delicious power…”

“Take care, please.”

Hmm? It seemed like my reputation had already begun to spread among the spirits. Their network was efficient. Right now, it was incredibly helpful.

Without further hesitation, I glared at the wyverns soaring across the night sky.

“Well then, let’s take care of these big lizards.”

With that, I muttered and leaped off the balcony, ready to deal with the dragons in the most direct way possible.