The sun was at its apex when the troupe set off; now it was setting, and the light falling on the dark forest ahead of them gave off unsettling vibes.

"Halt! We will stay the night here. SET UP CAMP!"

At the Duke's cry, everyone stopped in their tracks without question. Everyone...except fpr one person.

"D-duke, you're sure we're going to camp here tonight? In a place like this?" Viscount Vig made a bewildered expression. 

Ever since they'd departed, Viscount Vig hadn't been able to hide his regret. Though the Locke estate was a barren land, he'd squeezed out a luxurious life on the backs of the hard-working locals. He couldn't bear the thought of living like a vagrant out here, where monsters could attack at any moment.

"...The reports I’ve received so far had one striking similarity."

"What do you mean…?" Viscount Vig tilted his head, drawing a deep sigh from Roben. Even...