"Tch, I’ve been set up. These fully equipped soldiers are clearly here to capture me," I muttered to myself, watching the heavily armored cavalry on their tall warhorses.
This Dante seemed like an absurdly strong idiot on the surface, but he was actually a master strategist. He deliberately let me exhaust my magic and collapse from fatigue. He even used the light from my spells to guide his subordinates to his location.
In this situation, the hunters wouldn’t stand up for me. Yulia, the only one on my side, had also drained her magic like me. Though she looked less exhausted, she couldn’t cause trouble. No—the moment I was surrounded, escape was already impossible.
What should I do? With such an exaggerated show of force, did they plan to execute me on the spot?
"Hey, hey, Von Officer! Why did you rush here? The fortress isn’t unattended right now!"
But seeing Dante’s foolish question, I realized I’d overestimated him. He really was just an idiot.
"I judged this situation more urgent, sir. After your message, I immediately gathered elite troops and came," Von Officer replied.
"Urgent my ass! We’re done and heading back," Dante said, picking up my limp body. He still looked utterly clueless.
"But your communication mentioned discovering a Fourth Category Ghoul Species named Alice, didn’t it?"
"Ah, you mean her?" Dante asked, lifting me like a toy toward the cavalry leader.
"All units, stand at alert!" Von Officer shouted, raising his spear nervously the moment he saw me.
The surrounding cavalrymen, clad in gleaming armor, drew weapons in unison. Spears and bows aimed squarely at me.
Dante ignored them completely. He gestured for his troops to stand down while stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Ah! I remember now—was it two years ago or three? Wasn’t the Special Ghostkind Management Regulation revised?" Dante asked foolishly, staring at me then the cavalrymen as if suddenly enlightened.
Silence fell. No one answered him.
Dante sighed. "Anyway, I’ll take responsibility. I’ll escort this Fourth Category Ghoul Species to the fortress dungeon. Von Officer, dismount your warhorse!"
"Yes, sir!" Von Officer immediately obeyed.
Dante finally grasped the situation—the army had come deep into the forest to capture me. He took cavalry command from his subordinate and began issuing orders.
He left Von Officer behind to walk back with his old friend Marn and the hunters. A few cavalrymen stayed to help carry the red and black Corpse Eater corpses to the Hunter Settlement. They’d study this new subspecies further.
Dante mounted Von Officer’s horse himself. He placed me in front of him, declaring he’d personally lead the escort back.
"And Yulia, get on too. There’s room for Alice here," Dante ordered, telling Von Officer to lift the exhausted Yulia onto the horse.
"But putting Miss Yulia so close to such a dangerous Ghostkind—" Von Officer protested.
"It’s fine," Yulia said. When Von Officer hesitated, she climbed up herself, sitting between me and Dante.
Von Officer, the soldiers, and hunters stared at her speechlessly. Yulia ignored them, silently hugging me tightly. Once settled, she told Dante, "Alright, we can go back."
"Ah, Von Officer, just catch up with Marn. We’re leaving!"
At Dante’s command, the cavalry turned their horses. They left Von Officer—still in heavy armor—beside the hunters, preparing to gallop back to the fortress.
Did Dante leave his subordinate to escort Lem and the others? Or was it punishment for misunderstanding orders and rushing troops deep into the forest? Forcing him to march in heavy armor through rugged terrain?
No—I wasn’t even sure if Dante truly wanted the army here at all.
Now, faced with his unexpected yet reasonable handling, I couldn’t tell if he was a one-in-a-million statesman or just a complete lazy idiot.
"Dante, you didn’t plan all this, did you?" I asked, looking up.
Riding the horse, Dante seemed not to hear. His stupid expression screamed, "Finally, back to the warm fortress room to drink and sleep."
"No way. He’s just a simple lazy idiot," Yulia replied confidently, hugging me as she spoke.
