Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 60: Chapter 60 - The First Demon General ( Part 4)

The morning of the expedition had started under the pale blue sky.

The Royal Academy, normally filled with friendly chatter and students running to class, was oddly quiet.

Dozens of horse carriages lined up outside the academy.

Royal Knights checked the weapons and equipment.

Hunters silently fixed their armor.

Professors passed the maps and information for the mission one last time.

It was not a training fieldwork.

Everyone knew that.

Jennie quietly stood near one of those carriages, wearing the black and white uniform of House KingHeart.

Her small travel bag was hanging on her shoulder.

There was only essential stuff inside.

Extra uniform.

Medical equipment.

A sewing kit.

Tea leaves.

Home-made biscuits.

And...

A dragon-shaped hair pin carefully kept in a velvet pouch.

Excalibur remained invisible.

As usual.

Jennie smiled to herself.

"A sword in disguise of a hairpin..."

"It still seems strange."

She heard a familiar voice in her head.

"I find it surprisingly comfortable."

Jennie blinked.

"... Comfortable?"

"Yes."

"You are brushing your hair much gentler than I thought."

Jennie smiled nearly laughed.

"You are probably the first legendary weapon who ever praised hair care of someone."

"I’m just stating the facts."

"Jennie!"

Princess Lilia appeared carrying some luggage...

Or rather a whole bedroom.

Three suitcases.

Two baskets.

A pillow.

A stuffed rabbit.

Jennie just stared.

"... We are going to investigate an abandoned village."

"I know."

"... Why do you have a rabbit?"

Lilia hugged the stuffed animal.

"Sir Fluffy is my emotional support."

"..."

Jennie looked at Lucas.

"Please, explain."

Lucas raised his hands.

"I’ve tried."

"For an hour."

"I’ve lost."

Jennie nodded.

"... Understandable."

Somewhere close by...

Several academy students quietly watched the princess.

Someone said,

"Is that really Her Highness?"

Someone else nodded.

"I’ve heard that she becomes... different in presence of Lady Jennie."

"Different?"

"You will get used to it."

"... Do I need?"

"No."

A sound of sharp taps resounded in the courtyard.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Every maid unconsciously stood straighter.

Every servant immediately lowered their voice.

Martha Morius came.

In her impeccable black uniform, the legendary Head Maid moved proudly like a queen.

Even experienced knights unconsciously moved aside to let her pass.

She stopped in front of Jennie.

Without any word...

She straightened Jennie’s uniform collar.

Then brushed an imaginary speck of dust from her sleeve.

Finally...

She nodded.

"Acceptable."

Jennie smiled.

"Thank you, Lady Martha."

The surrounding maids nearly choked.

To receive word "acceptable" from Martha was considered a great feat, even greater than graduating from the academy.

One young maid whispered, shedding tears,

"Lady Jennie has achieved enlightenment..."

Martha turned to Lilia.

The princess immediately straightened up.

"Your Highness."

"Y-Yes, Lady Martha?"

"Please, try not to cook during this expedition."

Lilia blinked.

"... I’ve tried once."

Martha’s face was emotionless.

"The kitchen was damaged."

"..."

"The chef quit his job."

"..."

"The royal physician treated twelve victims."

"..."

Jennie quietly looked away.

Lucas covered his mouth to hide the smile.

Lilia puffed her cheeks.

"It was not that bad..."

One knight muttered.

"I was one of the victims."

The academy gates slowly opened.

Headmaster Orion stepped forward.

Beside him stood the instructors, knights and the representatives of the Hunter Association.

"Our destination..."

He declared,

"... is Gray Hollow."

He pointed at the large map, posted near the gates.

"The village has been deserted for eight days."

"Royal scouts confirmed that there are no survivors."

"Our goals are clear."

"Find out what happened."

"Rescue anyone who survived."

"And discover the cause."

His face darkened.

"In case the situation goes beyond your powers..."

"Return immediately."

"There is no shame in survival."

The convoy left soon afterwards.

The capital faded behind them.

Stone roads changed into rolling green hills.

Wild flowers were swaying softly under the wind.

For some time...

The expedition almost seemed like a nice picnic.

Almost.

Lilia happily hung out of the window.

"The weather is beautiful!"

Jennie gently pulled her inside.

"You’ll fall."

"I won’t."

"You nearly fell."

"... Minor detail."

Lucas, who was sitting on a horse near the carriage, sighed.

"I’ve written three accident reports."

"We’ve traveled for an hour."

Jennie smiled apologetically.

"We are trying."

"I know."

"That is scary part."

The peaceful mood didn’t last long.

The expedition stopped near small roadside inn for lunch.

Hunters were sitting around the maps. freewebnovёl.ƈom

Professors were discussing the routes.

Jennie brewed the tea as usual.

Even during an investigation...

Tea is very important.

At least according to Martha.

Everything becomes easier with tea.

Jennie found out that Martha was mostly right.

As she was pouring steaming tea into elegant porcelain cups...

One tough middle-aged hunter came.

His armor was scratched many times.

One of his eyes was covered with an old leather bandage.

He accepted the cup thankfully.

"Thank you."

Jennie politely bowed.

"You are welcome."

The veteran hunter studied her a little.

"You are attendant of House KingHeart?"

"Yes."

"You don’t look nervous."

Jennie poured the next cup calmly.

"I’ve learned that panicking does not help."

The hunter smiled.

"I’ll keep it in mind."

A sharp gust of cold wind blew across the temporary camp.

All horses became restless.

Some birds suddenly flew off from the nearby forest.

The smile of the veteran hunter froze.

"... Did you feel that?"

Jennie slowly looked at the distant woods.

"Yes."

It was not usual wind.

It contained...

Faint smell of something ancient.

Rotten.

Voice of Excalibur quietly echoed in her head.

"The miasma gets stronger."

Jennie tightly grasped her teacup.

"So soon..."

"Yes."

"Much sooner than I thought."

That evening...

The expedition stopped at the ridge overlooking Gray Hollow.

The setting sun painted the abandoned village in the colors of crimson and gold.

From the distance...

Everything seemed perfect.

Small houses.

Church.

Fields of wheat, swaying gently under the wind.

No smoke was coming from chimneys.

No children were playing.

No farmers were working.

No dogs were barking.

No voices were echoing in the streets.

It seemed...

Frozen.

Like time itself abandoned this village.

Heavy silence hung in the air.

Even Lilia stopped smiling.

Lucas quietly placed his hand on the handle of his sword.

Headmaster Orion narrowed his eyes.

"This..."

He whispered.

"... is not natural."

Jennie quietly looked at the deserted village below.

Wind spirits gathered around her.

Unlike before...

They were not whispering.

They were trembling.

One tiny spirit burrowed in Jennie’s shoulder.

Like begging her...

Not to go any farther.

Very far beneath the frozen streets of Gray Hollow...

Beneath layers of the ancient stone...

One black chain cracked.

CLANG.

Echoed the sound through the darkness.

Then...

Deep voice laughed.

"So..."

"They have finally come."