Chapter 66: A Long Journey Begins in the Home Garden – Part 4
“So… it’s certain that they’re currently on an expedition, then?”
“Yes, absolutely. According to the Adventurers’ Guild, the round trip will take about a week,” came the reply.
“Good. Then we should take this opportunity to investigate the other side.”
With the realization that the invisible wall was roughly five meters tall, Elizabeth began considering how to scale it.
“Are you sure about this? You could simply order an investigation under your lordly authority without sneaking around,” a subordinate suggested.
“True… but somehow, I feel it’s better not to notify anyone in advance. Just a hunch, really,” Elizabeth admitted, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Given the assumption that the wall was five meters high, overcoming it was not an insurmountable challenge. Using a primitive method—throwing a rope tipped with a grappling hook over the top—they successfully scaled the barrier.
Strangely, the moment they crossed to the other side, the wall, which had been invisible until then, suddenly became clearly perceptible.
“Th-this…!?”
Elizabeth froze as she took in the scene beyond the wall.
The marshes that had once existed were gone, leaving no trace behind. In their place stretched a vast expanse of farmland.
“…Wait… farmland?”
She pinched her cheek, half-expecting it to be a dream—but it hurt just as much as reality. Before her lay a thriving field of plump eggplants, and beside them, rows of perfectly red tomatoes glistened under the sun.
“Your Grace… what… what is this?”
Even her knights stared wide-eyed at the unexpected transformation.
“They turned the marsh into farmland…? In such a short period…? But… weren’t they adventurers…?”
Questions crowded Elizabeth’s mind, each one more puzzling than the last.
And then it happened.
A deep, resonating rumble—thump, thump, thump, thump—announced the approach of a massive shadow heading straight toward them.
“G-golem!?”
Standing at five meters tall, it was smaller than the golem that had once fallen to Atlas, yet still a formidable threat.
“…Could it be… recognizing us as enemies?” Elizabeth guessed.
“Most likely! Please, Your Grace, run!” urged one of the knights.
Prompted by her knights, Elizabeth scrambled up the rope, her heart hammering in panic.
One by one, the knights followed her, climbing over the wall. By sheer luck and speed, they all managed to escape to the other side before the golem could strike.
“…It seems it won’t pursue us beyond the wall,” she murmured, exhaling in relief.
Had they been forced into battle with such a massive golem, even elite knights would have struggled to survive unscathed.
Yet, there was much to gain from this venture.
“It’s invisible again now… but that mysterious wall… and the golem… could it be that the one who saved us back then was—”
Elizabeth’s thoughts halted as a new question arose.
“But… we confirmed they were inside the dungeon at that time…”
Dungeon entrances are monitored by guards, not by the Adventurers’ Guild, but by the lord himself. Lying about such movements was simply unthinkable.
“What on earth is going on…?”
◇ ◇ ◇
“They’re both gone now. No need to worry anymore.”
“Neigh!”
With Milk and Pippi safely brought inside the house and out of sight, they finally seemed to relax.
“There, there. Here, have some carrots, and be ready for tomorrow as well.”
Patting their heads, he handed them fresh carrots from the garden. But the moment they bit down…
“~~~!? Heeheehee! Neigh!”
A sudden commotion: the horse rose up on its hind legs, thrashing violently. Confused, he froze.
Anii’s exasperated voice cut through.
“Isn’t it your carrots’ fault?”
“This?”
Holding out the carrot, the horse stretched its neck and snapped the hand along with it.
“Hey!?”
“Heehee~~ Neigh!”
After tugging it free, his hand was slick with saliva, while the horse pranced around happily, tail wagging like a dog, demanding more.
“You… really liked it that much, huh…”
Their garden carrots were good, indeed—but he never expected the horse could taste the difference.
That day, they rested properly at home—of course, aside from him and Sena, everyone else returned to their own houses. The next morning, they returned to yesterday’s location using the garden’s magical transfer.
“Wha—!?”
Before him stood a grotesque, green-skinned creature: a goblin.
“Gugyagya!”
The goblin, startled by their sudden appearance, immediately lunged with a crude stone weapon.
“Hii! I’m going to be killed!?”
“Here.”
“Gyaa!?”
He instinctively raised his arm to protect his head, yet no impact came.
Onii-chan, I already took it down!”
“Huh? Oh…”
Lowering his arm cautiously, he saw the goblin pierced through the chest, lying motionless.
“…Sena did that?”
“Yeah! But seriously, you’re way too jumpy over a goblin! Hehe!”
“I-I just got surprised because it was sudden!”
How she managed to take it down without him noticing, he could not fathom. Even as a novice, she was proving herself a competent adventurer.
Still, he had to remain cautious. This time it was only a goblin; a more dangerous creature nearby could have been catastrophic.
He resolved to either wall off the garden or place a golem as a guard to protect the area from wandering monsters.
Despite the minor troubles, they began their second day.
“Heehee~~ Neigh!”
The horse, fed carrots that morning, was brimming with energy. Though… this horse’s enthusiasm was limited to running—but it ran with all its heart.