Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

Since departing from Yelkin, no particular incidents have occurred.

We advanced on the white beast through a path lined with countless ice statues.

As we relentlessly pushed northward, traversing the chaotic snowy plains and mountains caused by the army’s advance, three forks in the road appeared before us.

As it also happened to be getting dark, we decided to stop our northward advance to rest and discuss our options. We dug a pit for that purpose.

While Myna and Charles took care of the unconscious Nia within the pit,

I was busy making a thick soup filled with meat chunks.

The soup bubbled, releasing a slightly sour and sweet aroma unique to tomatoes. The pot brimmed with a red liquid. The tomato and meat-based soup boiled invitingly.

I carefully scooped out a spoonful to taste.

‘Hmm… the seasoning is fine.’

If I add some noodles, it could pass for a sort of spaghetti.

Unfortunately, Altain doesn’t produce noodles, so I reluctantly rummaged through Nia’s bag to find some bread instead.

Dipping the bread into the soup wasn’t half bad, especially with all the meat chunks included.

After adding some butter, I transferred the steaming hot tomato soup, resembling magma, into bowls.

‘Nia’s unconscious, so first the three portions…’

“Groan…”

At the loud moan, I turned my head to see Nia slowly sitting up with Myna’s support. Her eyes looked sunken.

As I reached for another bowl, Nia mumbled weakly.

“…I’m hungry.”

“I knew you’d say that. I’ve prepared accordingly. Let’s all eat.”

As I passed out the soup and bread one by one and sat down, the three of them, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately started stirring their spoons.

“Ouch!”

“It’s very hot, so please be careful.”

“You should have told us that beforehand!”

“It’s clearly hot just by looking, isn’t it? Everyone, please be careful with your tongues and let it cool before eating.”

After lightly pinching the protesting Nia’s cheek to silence her,

I leisurely sipped the soup, which calmed my mind.

Everyone seemed quite hungry, as they ate silently with their faces practically buried in their bowls. Muna, whose ear tips peeking through her pink hair had turned red, immediately offered her empty bowl for more.

After refilling Myna’s bowl, I proceeded to top up Charles’ and Nia’s as well, resulting in the pit being filled once again with the clinking of utensils.

‘Today was a success as well.’

Since entering the northern region, I’ve taken charge of all the cooking duties.

Even though I was merely imitating Rani’s cooking, everyone enjoyed it so much that I felt oddly proud and satisfied.

Maybe one day I could open a restaurant with Rani. Imagining the small brown-haired girl bustling around the kitchen made me smile involuntarily.

‘However…’

Putting aside thoughts of the distant future for now,

My immediate concern is tomorrow’s plan.

Before digging the pit, I recalled the three paths that had appeared before us.

‘The route to the front lines.’

The central path leads to Devalletta Castle.

The frozen monsters and chaos on the left indicate Vulkon.

The peaceful, disturbance-free right path leads to Untrel.

The closest destinations among these are Untrel and Vulkon. Nia’s bag contains supplies to support each city, and we need to visit all three locations.

‘Judging from the situation, the front line has collapsed in Vulkon. The tidiness of the center and right suggests the front line is still holding.’

Therefore, our next destination should be Untrel.

Still, one issue remained.

‘I don’t know what caused Vulkon’s collapse.’

Judging from the circumstances, the Dark Cultists were likely responsible for Vulkon’s downfall. This would mean that operatives who had infiltrated the city, similar to what happened in Yelkin, eventually caused its destruction.

‘That means…’

Manipulating the city’s populace would be their method.

With their brainwashing and suggestion techniques, it probably wasn’t that difficult.

However, the northern cities like Vulkon aren’t inhabited solely by civilians. Being at the front line, they should have had a significant number of mana users stationed there.

‘Whatever it was must have been something that could even fell superhumans.’

It’s nearly impossible that there are mana users among the Dark Cultists.

Mana users are rare and receive top-tier treatment wherever they go. There would be no reason for them to join the pan-continental heretical Dark Cultists.

If we consider the lower possibility of a belief-fueled superhuman joining them,

‘How many mana users were in Vulkon?’

Even for a superhuman, fighting multiple other superhumans is only possible under special circumstances. Even if there were two or three superhuman Dark Cultists at most, Vulkon would have had at least ten.

‘I probably need to investigate…’

This is where the problem begins.

Should I visit a place that has already collapsed?

Considering how Cain’s army has already reached as far as Yelkin, Vulkon’s situation is unlikely to be intact. The only thing left to do there would be to thoroughly investigate the ruined city.

‘The right choice is to head to Untrel.’

My mind leaned toward the Untrel direction. And yet…

There was an uncomfortable feeling in my chest.

The feeling that not going to Vulkon would lead to something major.

It was a rare premonition I hadn’t felt in a long time.

It was the same intuition I experienced during the domain war in the northeastern region when I impulsively stopped a passing caravan I had initially overlooked.

‘That time, it turned out to be the right call.’

The caravan actually consisted of enemy operatives attempting to infiltrate the Hassen Barony.

No one noticed anything amiss as they approached the center of the barony. That event significantly increased Leonhardt’s trust in me.

To the point where he talked about marrying my daughter when we grow up or overthrowing the eastern region together to become grand lords.

I shook my head and sipped the soup.

Was it because I was overthinking?

The tomato soup had gone cold.

After transferring the soup from the pot and reheating it slightly, I bit into some bread and took another sip.

‘This is troubling.’

I need to go to Vulkon.

But Untrel needs attention too.

If Vulkon’s collapse is the work of the Dark Cultists, Untrel might be falling prey to the same scheme. Myna and I can use blessings to easily identify Dark Cultists.

We need to visit Untrel and put an end to any scheming by the Dark Cultists.

“Uh…”

At the cautious voice, I raised my head slightly.

A concerned pink gaze. Myna, who had quietly approached, put down her bowl and spoke.

“You look worried. Is there something troubling you?”

“I was working on planning our next steps. We’ve already passed through half of the northern region and are nearing the front lines.”

“Hmm. Cain-sama, considering my position as the representative of the church, I thought I might be able to help with planning. Let’s think about it together. Sometimes discussing with others can help lead to the right solution.”

I had initially intended to organize my thoughts quickly and convey them,

But Muna must have been worried about me brooding alone.

This was actually quite good timing.

I was wanting to decide whether to prioritize Untrel or Vulkon.

“It’s not anything major. So…,”

I moved slightly closer to Nia and Charles sitting next to Myna.

I quickly explained our next destination to the three of them, who were looking at me expectantly.

Opinions were sharply divided among them.

“Superhuman intuition shouldn’t be easily dismissed. It’s about reading the future indirectly through mana. I think we should check Vulkon first. Remembering Cain’s past story, there might be something very important in the collapsed Vulkon.”

“Considering the unsettling number of Dark Cultists who infiltrated Yelkin, it’s likely they have already been manipulating the other two locations. It seems crucial to drive out the Dark Cultists from Untrel to prevent further front line collapses.”

Nia suggested going to Vulkon first based on intuition.

Myna proposed heading straight to Untrel to stop the Dark Cultists’ manipulations.

One vote each for both sides.

When I turned to Charles, she lowered her head.

“Given my duties in collecting information, I think we need to investigate Vulkon. The fact that the front line has fallen is peculiar. Additionally, there is merit to what Myna-sama says. If the front line collapse was due to a Dark Cultist scheme, acting quickly to prevent further collapses would likely minimize damage. …Forgive me, Master. My negligence makes it impossible to make an accurate judgment.”

As Charles patted her shoulder and shook his head,

There was no need for her to apologize. Ultimately, setting the party’s goal was his final decision.

Charles’ vote was neutral.

So, the situation was back to square one.

My choice would determine our next move.

As I was stroking his chin in thought, Charles spoke up again while trying to scoop the remaining soup.

“Master, how about we split up?”

“Split up?”

“Yes. It seems like we need to achieve both objectives within a short period. In that case, proceeding simultaneously would likely be the best option.”

Splitting the party.

We separated from Erika’s group for a similar reason when leaving Yelkin.

Frontline support and snowstorm resolution.

The frontline was handled by us, and the snowstorm was handled by Erika’s group.

“First, separate the Empress Muna and me.”

Muna and I need to separate. We require one of us to identify Dark Cultists.

Then how should the other two be grouped?

When looking at Nia and Charles, both were slightly leaning toward him.

The party configuration is already decided.

Charles needs to be included for guiding purposes.

Add Muna to identify Dark Cultists. Finally, include Nia as the combat power to ensure safe arrival at the destination.

“Three of you go to Untrel. I’ll go to Vulkon with the white beast.”

“What?”

“Ah, alone to Vulkon?”

With a quiet nod, he confirmed their alarmed reaction.

If we need to split the party, it makes sense to group three members together and have one go solo.

He can hunt monsters alone, identify Dark Cultists alone, and move freely through the snowstorm alone.

“I’ll take the route used by the army my brother commanded, which will lead straight to Vulkon.”

Providing a brief explanation, the three who were trying to reconsider reached an agreement.

*

After exchanging worried gazes and farewell words of caution from the three,

He jumped into the left path lined with numerous ice statues, riding the white beast.

“Let’s quickly check and go.”

“Roar!”

Riding the white beast ensured quick arrival in Vulkon.

We can simply follow the route the monsters used to invade, so there’s no risk of getting lost. With the monsters having devastated the snowy plains during their southward advance, there are no obstacles. The white beast sped across the wide-open snowy plains like a high-speed road.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been alone.’

Is it the habit of having someone in the front seat?

His torso felt strangely empty as it bore the direct brunt of the cutting wind.

‘I’ll see them soon.’

The investigation in Vulkon would essentially involve only rummaging through an already broken place. The investigation would likely be over quickly.

He instructed the group of three to head to Devalletta Castle if he took too long. Attempting forced reunification could complicate the situation.

Bang! Bang!

The white beast continued to move its legs relentlessly.

Both he and the white beast had enough stamina to move all day.

There was no particular need for rest, so they reached the ruins, presumed to be Vulkon, within about half a day.

As he slowly entered the ruins, crossing over what used to be the castle walls,

An unfamiliar presence caught his senses.

‘…Dark Cultist?’

There were two presences.

One was a mana user.

The other was indeterminate.

If they went out of their way to return to the ruined place, they likely weren’t ordinary Dark Cultists.

While casually stretching his limbs and checking his mana core,

Five rays of blue light pierced through the snowstorm and came flying.

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