25-179

EP.179 [Priscilla! Declaration of the Elf Princess!] 

"They are a mercenary band that is both cooperative with security and highly skilled. Most of all, they have an elf as a member. Given the nature of this quest, I judged them to be the most suitable partners." 

For over two months, the Imperial Knights' Drake Special Quest Team had only conducted investigative expeditions to the Enclema Cliffs. Now, with the formation of the actual Drake Subjugation Party and the launch of the expedition, the Imperial Knights' supreme commander, Kaiser Antoine de Sel Oblaing, visited to offer encouragement. However, that was just the official reason-Antoine was really there to confirm the reasons and background for the unexpected party composition. 

Thus, Victoria was reporting to Antoine in her special quest office. 

"Victoria," 

Antoine cut off Victoria as she was explaining the suitability of the Red Fox Mercenary Band as quest companions. 

"What do you think is the most important thing in problem-solving?" 

He asked a very Zen-like question. 

"I think it's striving to find the right answer. But in reality, it's about finding the most effective solution." 

Victoria gave her own sincere answer. She wasn't a stubborn lone wolf type. She didn't believe that simply doing one's best would always yield good results. Outcomes are determined by many factors; Victoria simply does her best in her position. 

"Yes, the answer is important, but just as important are the process and the appearance of things, Saber Victoria." 

But that wasn't the answer Antoine wanted. He shook his head with a candid expression and tone. 

"Because this is politics. It's not mathematics or a regular battle." 

Antoine was pointing out Victoria's approach to the special quest. The reason he had placed Victoria in charge of the Drake Special Quest was to elevate her status as his chosen successor-a highly political motive. He wanted her to understand his intentions, learn political skills, and gradually demonstrate them. He wanted her to present an image that could appeal to the public and leave a deep impression on both the nobility and the imperial family. Naturally, he expected her to form a party with prominent noble scions, both inside and outside the Imperial Knights. But a mercenary band? That was a combination with no potential for publicity. 

"......" 

Victoria fell silent at Antoine's words. 

"I did consider that approach. But upon reflection, I thought including noble scions would make it difficult to maintain security. We're facing an outlier monster, the drake." 

Victoria wasn't a closed-minded type. She remembered well how Antoine had previously told her she lacked the traits of a martial and politically savvy commander. So she had considered his approach, but judged it likely to go against the purpose of the special quest. 

"Yes, you've only been a Saber for about half a year, and perhaps I've been too eager to impose my own ideas on you because I have high expectations." 

Antoine listened to Victoria's thoughts and nodded slowly, blaming himself for being hasty. 

"No, such expectations are a great source of strength for me. I'm mentally tougher than I look." 

"Haha! That I know very well." 

Victoria responded with a calm expression. 

"But a mercenary from Pangaea... Hm... For a mercenary band rising this quickly, you'd expect the leader's name to be at least somewhat known, but I have no idea who they are." 

Antoine de Sel Oblaing tilted his head, puzzled. Looking again at the Red Fox Mercenary Band's roster from Pangaea, he saw that despite their impressive credentials, including a successful Alexandria expedition, none of the names were familiar. 

"Olivia Oblien... Never heard of her." 

The reason, of course, was that Victoria had changed Jeanne and Eugene's names on the official documents. 

"Let's make camp here for tonight." 

Having left the mercenary village and traveled to Pangaea, the Red Fox Mercenary Band continued moving until sunset began to color the sky. When they reached a suitable campsite, Jeanne ordered everyone to begin setting up camp. 

"Wow~ The map provided by the Imperial Knights is so accurate! I can't believe there's a campsite like this here!" 

Thud! 

Marie dismounted and couldn't hide her amazement. The route to the western desert was much less familiar than Alexandria, so she had thought they might need to scout ahead. But the Imperial Knights had offered to provide their detailed maps, and trusting those maps had led them to this perfectly accurate campsite, making Marie once again appreciate the might of the Imperial Knights. 

"Alright, sentries, keep a strict watch and rotate shifts precisely! This area has more large bandit gangs than others!" 

"Understood, don't worry, Ivan! Sleep well!" 

"Hahaha! Got it, see you in the morning!" 

After setting up camp and finishing dinner, it was time for some personal time and preparation for sleep. As usual, Ivan, the Red Fox Mercenary Band's advisor, gave his final reminders before bed to boost morale. 

-Whaaaaa! -Vwooooom!! 

While the mercenaries were wrapping up their day, the sound of fierce wind cutting through the air echoed from a small clearing in the nearby woods. 

It was Eugene Schneider, practicing his greatsword at night. Having acquired new armor, Eugene hadn't had enough time to get used to it, so he had asked his comrades for understanding and was practicing whenever he could. 

"You're better than yesterday and the day before. I can tell you're getting used to the Baramion armor." 

The one helping him practice was none other than the expert elf archer, Priscilla. 

Getting used to the Baramion armor was all about refining the details of mana usage. It required someone to continuously check and advise him. While a mage would be ideal, an elf could fill that role just as well. That's why Eugene asked Priscilla, and she surprisingly agreed without hesitation. 

"Really? Hm... Honestly, I still don't feel it yet." 

Eugene, sweating in his full armor, looked over at Priscilla and stuck out his tongue. Previously, he had focused his mana use on channeling sword energy or weapon inventory. Now, spreading mana evenly throughout his body was much more distracting. 

"No need to rush. Against the drake, your job is to focus on physical attacks-you're not fighting one-on-one. It's all about team play." 

Priscilla, sitting on a rock, gave her advice with a calm face. Outlier monster hunts are all about teamwork. Maybe if you're a "Seeker" or above you can go solo, but the Red Fox Mercenary Band's Drake Special Quest Team would be moving as a team. Eugene Schneider was just one piece of the puzzle, and Priscilla was reminding him of that. 

"But Priscilla, you seem so relaxed. Even for an elf and expert archer, we're up against a drake that takes several experts to bring down." 

Eugene, in teacher mode, questioned Priscilla, who was giving him blunt, factual advice. The Imperial Knights were in hardcore mode for this quest. Taking down a drake was practically a national-level issue. While the team wasn't huge, the Empire's top future leader Victoria was on the front lines, and the Academy's top talent Elizabeth was also involved. The Red Fox Mercenary Band was tense, but Priscilla was as calm and confident as ever. 

"Drake? If I were in my true form, I could handle one alone." 

Sss... 

Priscilla crossed her arms and muttered something cryptic at Eugene's comment. 

"True form??" 

Eugene immediately reacted to the keyword. 

"Hm? Did I say 'true form'?" 

Priscilla feigned ignorance, pretending she hadn't just said that. 

"Yes, you did, Priscilla. So you're saying this isn't your real form?" 

But Priscilla was so unpredictable that Eugene just took her odd response in stride and asked again. 

"Well... this is a bit awkward. Honestly, I've never told anyone this before..." 

Priscilla, as if in a monologue, started building up to something big. 

"But since you and I might be paired up against the drake, I guess it's not a bad idea to tell you in advance." 

It was a very obvious buildup, as if she were about to reveal something very important and secret, but was only telling Eugene because it was him. 

"Alright!" 

Thud! 

With that, Priscilla jumped down from the big rock she was sitting on. 

"Let's see... this should be about right..." 

She approached Eugene and looked up at him. 

"My real height is up to your eyes. The current height and appearance are a disguised form maintained by a special secret art." 

Wave! Wave! 

She waved her hand in front of Eugene's eyes, revealing her true form. 

"Wow, really?" 

Eugene couldn't help but be surprised. Elves are known for boasting, but not for lying, so he believed her. 

'Honestly, I always wondered. Priscilla seems older, but has this young body.' 

It also answered Eugene's unspoken question. Priscilla looked older but had a girl's body. It could have been her natural form, but in Eugene's experience, people with naturally childlike bodies usually show some kind of complex about it. Priscilla never did, which had always seemed odd. Now the reason was clear. 

"Haha! Surprised, huh? If I tell you this next part, you'll be even more shocked!" 

Priscilla, seeing Eugene's wide-eyed reaction, was clearly pleased. 

"This secret art isn't something every elf has." 

She struck a pose as if to reveal another secret. 

"It's a secret art passed down by the royal family of the elves. And I learned it because I'm the princess of Symphonia, the Elf Island." 

She declared herself the elf princess of Symphonia.