Horace left Caria Manor and rode back to Lakeside Town at full speed.
He considered the preparations for his journey to Nokstella and how best to make use of the token and route Rennala had provided.
Yet when he stepped into his castle, before he could even take off his dust-covered cloak, the sight before him made him freeze.
Besides Uriel, who was frowning over a pile of newly delivered documents, there were two others-or, more accurately, one man, one boar, and one half-snake, half-man.
Messmer stood to one side with his head lowered, his short, dark red hair somewhat disheveled. There was even a fresh scrape on his cheek, and his clothes were covered in dust and a few scorch marks.
He radiated an indescribable awkwardness and frustration.
More conspicuous still was the figure being "escorted" by two fully armed Inquisitor Knights, one on either side.
He was an exceptionally tall, powerfully built male Albinauric.
Between his legs was a massive wild boar with fearsome tusks!
At that moment, the boar was pawing impatiently at the smooth flagstones and grunting, while an Inquisitor Knight cautiously kept a spear pointed at it.
The Albinauric riding the boar had a resolute face and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. Even under the Inquisitor Knights' "escort," he held his back perfectly straight, with an air of untamed defiance.
A closer look, however, revealed that the skin on his hands and exposed forearms already bore the unmistakable sagging and wrinkles of old age, a strange contrast to his powerful physique.
This was precisely the rapid aging characteristic of first-generation male Albinaurics.
"My lord! You're finally back!" Uriel looked as though he had seen his savior when he spotted Horace. He hurriedly stood up, pointed at the two men and the boar, and rattled