DGDITMIAE 03

Chapter 03

“So, who are you?”

“Ah, I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Argo.”

“Argo?”

Is that all? She looked at Argo with that meaning, but he only shrugged.

During their journey north, Argo kindly answered all of Terestia’s curious and wondering questions.

After changing carriages headed north several times over nearly a month, the two finally managed to board the last carriage bound for the Inyument Territory.

At the beginning of the cold winter, wearing the warm fur coat Argo had brought her, Terestia blinked slowly. The carriage driver smiled and spoke.

“If we keep going this way, we’ll reach the Inyument Territory. Do you have relatives there? It’s quite a rough road for a noble young lady like yourself.”

“I don’t have any relatives there.”

“Oh, then what brings you to the Inyument Territory? The territory’s situation isn’t good right now—mercenaries are disturbing the peace, so it could be dangerous.”

“Why? What’s going on in the territory?”

“Well, it’s the same as always… Ever since His Highness the Grand Duke abandoned the North, the Inyument Territory has been little better than a barren land of death.”

The driver clicked his tongue and stole glances at Terestia.

He seemed to have become cautious, realizing he had dared to speak ill of the Grand Duke in front of Terestia, who appeared to be a noble lady.

But Terestia rather tilted her head at his reaction and asked.

“It’s fine, tell me in detail. Why is it a land of death?”

The driver carefully explained the situation of the Inyument Territory to Terestia’s calm face.

“Well, it’s because the Inyument Territory is the land closest to the border where monsters emerge. Besides, it’s cold and barren, making it difficult for crops to grow, so the territory’s residents frequently starve to death or get eaten by monsters.”

“The border?”

The northern part of the Pavellon Empire bordered what was commonly called the end of the world—the border. If one asked what lay beyond that border, the common answer was the ‘Demon Realm’ where demons lived.

Of course, it wasn’t actually proven.

No living human had ever reached beyond the border, and even if they had, they said the gate to the Demon Realm was firmly sealed.

But people still believed there was truly a world of demons there because of the monsters swarming near the border.

“It’s not called the land of death for nothing. Especially since His Highness the current Grand Duke hasn’t visited the North even once since being granted his title… It’s even worse because no one can say anything when mercenaries or vagrants oppress and exploit those poor residents.”

At the driver’s words, Terestia quietly pondered.

…So this is all because of me!

She searched her memories hard, but it was true that Terestia had never once visited her own territory.

She only checked the tax reports that came up every month, never paying it any attention.

No wonder Argo, who had followed her, had asked if she shouldn’t fulfill her ‘duties as Grand Duke’—the Terestia in her memories had despised her own territory.

But, so what exactly does it mean to fulfill the duties of a Grand Duke?

If she did that, could she keep this body from being taken by the Empress Dowager even without having her wish granted?

Lost in thought alone, Terestia stared intently at Argo, who was quietly keeping his mouth shut beside her.

“…Speak.”

“So, who are you? How far are you going to follow me?”

“My goal is to go to the border.”

“The border? What are you going to do there?”

“Well… Judging by the fact that you’re asking me that, does that mean you’ve become interested in the Inyument Territory?”

“You’re the one who said I should think about fulfilling my duties.”

“Oh… You were thinking about that. That’s rather commendable.”

…Was this guy allowed to say ‘commendable’ to Terestia of noble birth?

As Terestia made a rather displeased face, Argo, still with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, turned his head and glanced at the driver before asking.

“So, have you decided to fulfill your duties?”

“Hmm, but how exactly do I do that?”

“How, you say… That’s a difficult question. You’d have to look after and care for the territory in many ways.”

“So, how?”

“Didn’t you just hear? You’d need to cultivate and develop the cold, barren land so the residents don’t starve, drive out the mercenaries causing trouble, and clear out and prepare for monsters so they don’t come down into the territory…”

“If I do that, can I keep living in this body?”

Argo blinked silently, as if finding Terestia’s question absurd.

She probably didn’t realize how easily and naively she had just confessed that she wasn’t human in origin.

Argo barely opened his mouth, his face suppressing a sigh.

“Do you like this body?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“It’s pretty. It’s sparkly. I’ve never liked anything as much as this body.”

Argo, as if making a belated observation at Terestia’s light reply, scrutinized her body here and there.

Hmm, is that so? By human standards, it does seem quite like that.

He muttered such words.

Then, nodding his head, he said.

“Let’s do this. If Your Highness says you will stay in the North and fulfill your duties, I will become your aide by your side. And if Her Highness the Empress Dowager tries to take your body, I will help you.”

“Aide?”

When she had asked if fulfilling those ‘duties of the Grand Duke’ would prevent her body from being taken, he suddenly offered to become her aide.

An aide? It’s not that she doesn’t know what an aide is, but… why that, all of a sudden?

Argo observed Terestia, who was tilting her head with a sullen expression for a long while, and then belatedly realized something. With a deflated look, he muttered.

“Ah, of course it was already taken for granted that I would be with Your Highness…”

“You’re the one who said we should come here. So you were planning to abandon me?”

“Abandon you? I was planning to stay near the border because I have business there.”

“The border? I don’t like it. They say monsters come out near the border.”

She didn’t know if it was okay for a demon like herself to dislike monsters, but anyway, according to Terestia’s memories, monsters were all disgusting and ugly creatures!

“Are you afraid of monsters?”

“Afraid? Why would I be afraid of them!”

“Thank goodness. The very first thing Your Highness needs to do is clear out the monsters swarming there.”

Monsters?

No matter how much she searched Terestia’s memories, there was no way she, who had only ever lived in the imperial palace, had any memories related to monsters.

What do monsters look like?

People seem to hate them, calling them monsters…

As she was lost in her own imagination, the carriage that had been running vigorously came to an abrupt halt.

It was too soon to have arrived, and the surroundings looked like nothing but a bleak wasteland, without a single person or building in sight…

As Terestia looked around and tried to get off the carriage, Argo raised his arm with an annoyed expression, blocking her.

“We haven’t arrived.”

“Huh? Then what?”

Did a wheel fall off? Or did the hard-working horses get tired?

Just as she raised her head to see what the driver was looking at that made him stop, she heard the driver’s voice, filled with fear.

“P-Please spare me. As you can see, I have no cargo… I just picked up a passenger who wanted to go to a nearby territory.”

“There are too many liars out there. Hey, go check it out.”

Soon, someone approached the carriage.

A menacing face, a sword in hand, scars here and there, and a sinister smile.

They looked exactly like bandits.

The bandit, who had been inspecting the inside of the carriage with its open top, boldly shoved his face close to Terestia and chuckled.

“Oh, this lady is quite pretty. How about it? Leave this woman behind, and I’ll spare your life.”

“Hiccup… I-Is that true?”

The driver looked ready to abandon Terestia and run away at any moment, and Argo shook his head disapprovingly.

However, Terestia naturally frowned at the sight of the ugly bandit who had come close.

…His breath stinks.

“What? Who are you? Don’t come near me.”

“Heehee, what does it matter who I am, miss?”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Haha, judging by your looks, you seem like a noble lady. Do you still not understand the situation? How arrogant. You should be obediently getting ready to be sold off and meet your new master…”

She couldn’t stand it anymore.

It felt like her nose would go numb!

Terestia threw a punch at the bandit’s face—specifically, his mouth and jaw—as he smiled greasily, revealing his black, rotten teeth.

With a *crunch* sound, as if bones were breaking, the bandit flew far away.

It was unbelievable that such strength and speed came from her slender body.

“…Guh!”

Argo, the driver, and even the bandit group stared blankly at Terestia, dumbfounded by what they had just witnessed. But Terestia didn’t even blink and muttered primly.

“That’s what I said. Don’t come near me.”