Even if there was a quarrel, the search must continue. Cadel tiredly moved the fireball to light the way ahead, while Van stood by his side, silently scanning the area.
* * *
Thanks to Van, he was able to control his nervous mind. Calmer now, Cadel continued his fruitless search, but with a calmer mind.
‘Except for the wilderness, which was the battlefield, it left a surprisingly unmarked trail. I don't know about Ergo, but does it make sense that there's not even a trace of Lydon's blood?’
Cadel could still feel the blood running down his blindfolded hands. As they entered another forest through the wilderness, and found a new plain through that forest, there were no tracks, no footprints, let alone bloodstains.
He often covered his appearance through swamps of mucus, so Cadel was sure he was used to covering his tracks, but this was way over the top. The demon was spitting up blood and mucus when he searched with Lydon. He must have taken a beating in the battle with these guys.
‘He's cautious. Now that he's got Lydon, he'll want to cover himself as best he can. I wonder where…… I would hide if I were Ergo.’
Where could he make a swamp and not be noticed? There were only forests and open plains around here. If he had to look for it, it would be in a den somewhere in the forest.
But the swamps stunk. If he made a swamp like that in a forest full of phytoncides, the stench would draw people in, and Cadel didn't think he'd hide so flimsy.
* * *
“All troops, increase your vigilance and focus on protecting the villagers! The designated knights are to join the search immediately!”
At Modeleine's command, the knights moved in unison, the five search parties he'd assigned moving quickly in the direction he'd indicated.
