ALL NOVEL 37: I found a Monsters Village Nearby!
Tom, who was near the back entrance, noticed Lewis rushing into the mansion.
Seeing me and the spirits in Lewis’s panicked arms, Tom shouted in alarm.
“Master! What happened!? Lewis, what’s going on?!”
“A horned rabbit appeared right behind the mansion! Master is safe but was so startled he’s about to cry!”
Lewis was frantic as he saw tears welling up in my eyes.
“What! A horned rabbit?!”
Hearing the loud voices of Lewis and Tom, the squires came running out.
“It’s taken care of! But Master is going to cry!!”
And I did cry.
Before Lewis could finish his sentence, my eyes burst into tears.
My wails echoed throughout the mansion, leaving Lewis pale-faced.
I was bawling uncontrollably.
Though I felt sorry for Lewis, who looked downcast and despondent, I couldn’t control myself and continued trembling and crying.
The spirits clinging tightly to me were also sniffling.
Maybe my feelings were contagious?
Sorry, everyone.
Now, I’m in Father’s arms, being held along with the spirits.
It took a while for me to calm down and fall asleep.
Lewis only got a stern scolding, which was a relief.
It was my crying that caused the commotion, so I’m glad he didn’t receive a severe punishment.
The bigger issue was the horned rabbit lurking in the grassland behind the mansion.
Although horned rabbits are among the weaker monsters, their powerful horns can kill a child with a single strike.
“Why was a horned rabbit here?”
“Could a mere horned rabbit get through the extensive magical weed barriers to come here?”
“It’s hard to believe. Let’s investigate the surroundings just in case.”
“We should also alert the villagers and have the patrol team search.”
This was the conversation that took place.
Magical weed barriers are plants effective even against large monsters.
They emit an odor undetectable to humans that strongly repels magical beasts.
These barriers are now planted throughout the village and even form a multi-layered defense around its perimeter.
The protective walls are as sturdy as the mansion’s stone walls, and both inside and outside the walls, squires and the village patrol team are constantly on guard.
The fact that a weak horned rabbit breached these defenses was problematic.
People who have lived near the forest for a long time are naturally cautious, suspecting something might be happening in the woods.
The next day, the squires began exploring the forest.
Lewis, eager to redeem himself, took the initiative.
The patrol team investigated and monitored the area around the protective walls.
Villagers were also warned to move in groups.
The patrol team found a small hole in the ground near the iron gate at the village’s perimeter.
It was just big enough for a horned rabbit to squeeze through.
There was an unplanted section of magical weed in front of the gate, which was likely the entry point.
The ground around the gate was quickly reinforced, and magical weeds were planted to fill any gaps.
The squires’ exploration led to the discovery of a small orc settlement deep in the forest, beyond two mountains.
The creation of this orc settlement likely displaced forest wolves and other creatures, causing the horned rabbits to flee and wander into our area.
Even near the shallow forest where humans intervened, remains of magical beasts and wild animals were found.
Wolf packs have territories of over a hundred square kilometers and can easily traverse a couple of mountains.
Startled by the sudden appearance of wolves, the horned rabbits probably fled in panic.
The discovered orc settlement seemed to house around a dozen orcs. It appeared to be newly established, so it needed to be dealt with before it could grow further.
Father decided to request support from Marquis Ragnard and the adventurers’ guild.
In this world, goblins and orcs also reproduce naturally.
However, their reproduction rate is high, and goblins can multiply exponentially.
Although orcs reproduce less than goblins, if left unchecked, they can quickly form a large settlement.
Individually weak, they become a significant threat in numbers.
They’re like cockroaches.
In my previous life, I couldn’t deal with cockroaches or stink bugs.
But I did battle bees and longhorn beetles with insecticide in hand.
Those were tough battles!
While the subjugation operation was underway, I stayed in the same room with Martha and Burton to avoid being alone.
Father told me to stay quiet and behave.
Today, I’m snuggling up to Martha in the room.
“Oh my, you’re such a little clinger, aren’t you?”
Martha looked a bit troubled, but she hugged me gently.
“Well, he’s still so young, it can’t be helped.”
Lily, smiling warmly, placed a cup of hot milk on the table.
Michele was also waiting in the corner of the room.
For now, the part-time servants and the three from the orphanage were given a break, so the mansion was quiet.
Grandfather had brought knights and guards from the Marquis’ household to help protect the mansion and village.
In the garden, Kuu, Pikka, and Fuu were also on alert.
Father, the squires, Grandfather, the Marquis’ knights, and a group of adventurers were in the midst of subjugating the orcs.
“Don’t worry too much. Grandfather was quite eager, you know? They’ll be back before you know it.”
My cousin, Will, was lounging on the sofa, speaking casually.
Will, who turns nineteen this year, is the second son of the Marquis and Kyle’s older brother.
He just graduated from the knight school and was forcibly brought along by Grandfather for this occasion.
Originally, he was supposed to join the subjugation, but seeing how scared I was, Grandfather suddenly assigned him to guard the mansion.
Father said Tom, Burton, and Victor would be enough, but Will patted his chest with a bright smile and said, “Leave it to me!”
These brothers give off a similar vibe.
They’re cheerful but have an air of unreliability about them.
“Hmm? What is it, Haku?”
Will resembles Lady Cecilia.
His smile is a bit scary, though…