I had completely forgotten about it, but it must have started working on them once I considered them allies. For now they are just showing the princess, but I can't think of any way to explain it if they ask me. Luckily, they don't ask me, they just assume they have been blessed by their god.

Honestly, it never even occurred to me to ask about their religion and if they are believers. It turns out that they are believers, and it is ending up to be a good thing for me. I don't even have to say anything, they quickly convince themselves that it is a miracle.

As the knights start setting up camp, Grimgar leaves to go hunting while there is still light. This leaves the princess with nothing to do, so she starts pestering me with questions. Luckily, she is asking me about the things I have seen in my travels, so I can answer honestly.

Since I was summoned to this world I have seen plenty of sights I can tell her about. I have also faced all sorts of monsters, so telling her stories is easy enough. With the princess distracted by my stories, the knights are able to set up camp in short order.

Just before the sun sets Grimgar returns with a boar carcass across his shoulders. The knights accept it from him, quickly butcher it, and put it over the fire to cook. It is a good thing Grimgar's hunt was successful, otherwise we would have had to eat the dry rations carried by the knights.

There is no way I am going to reveal my food pouch in front of these people. While the boar meat is cooking, Grimgar goes behind the carriage to meditate. He does so with the core of the boar in his hands, and after a while the core turns to dust.

Grimgar immediately ends his meditation and looks at me with a huge smile. So, it turns out that he can absorb beast cores, so it wasn't something unique to me! This means the Black Lion tribe will be able to grow stronger really quickly once he gets back.

It makes me wonder if Myria and the others could absorb cores now that they have an artificial core. It is possible, but it could also end up being fatal to the one who tries it first. I probably shouldn't mention this to Myria, she is a little too obsessed with getting stronger.

It would be best to find an old beastman who doesn't have much time left. They would need to be a volunteer and understand the high risk of death. However, knowing if they can absorb cores or not is a very important piece of information.

Although, there probably aren't enough beasts around to provide cores to all the beastmen. It also wouldn't be good to completely wipe out the beasts, they do serve a purpose. Besides, it would piss off the sacred beasts and even I don't want to mess with them.

That reminds me, I wanted to check out the rumors about beasts above the sacred level. There should be a few here on the mainland from what I read, but I haven't heard anything. I also haven't sensed any sacred beasts so far, but I haven't explored much.

The main continent is huge, exploring it would take me years or even decades. That would be a fun life, if I had that kind of time to spend, but that isn't in the cards. So, unless I find one by accident, there isn't much chance of me meeting the greater beasts.

It is a little disappointing, but I have plenty of other things to keep me busy. In fact, there are far too many things waiting for me to deal with at the moment. So, I should stop wasting time thinking about random things before the princess comes looking for me.

Almost as if my thoughts had summoned her, Seraph comes looking for me. She says it is to inform us that dinner is ready, but it is obvious she has other motives. From the way she looks at me, it is safe to say that she hasn't given up on her idea just yet.

Seraph says "What are you two talking about?"

"I was just asking if he saw any trace of humans while he was hunting."

Seraph says "Why would there be humans out away from the road?"

"If scouts were keeping an eye on you, they certainly wouldn't be out in the open!"

Seraph says "Oh, why didn't I think of that?!"

"It's because you have been sheltered for your entire life. If you choose this path you will get used to being hunted."

Seraph says "You say that like there is another option?"

"There is. You could run home and tell your father everything. He would protect you and you wouldn't have to worry about it. However, you would lose what freedom you have."

Seraph says "I don't want that!!"

"Is the limited freedom you have now worth risking your life?"

Seraph says "Yes! Absolutely! Without my freedom, my life wouldn't be worth living!!"

"Then you will have to fight for it. For now, keep that in mind at all times. It will help you change your thinking."

Seraph says "Thank you for the advice!"

"You're welcome. Now, let's eat!"

We all return to the fire to eat with the knights, but Seraph stays quiet. It looks like she is seriously thinking about what I told her, which is a good thing. She can't stay innocent if she wants to stay alive, her enemy is probably someone she trusts.

After all, its not easy to get a princess' travel plans, not without being a member of the court. Even then, getting the route is only part of it, you also need a lot of men you can trust. Those who attacked were not hired mercenaries, they had to have been personal troops.

Mercenaries would have surrendered when things went wrong, not fought to the last man. That level of loyalty isn't easy to earn, whoever is behind them lost big this time. To have that many men willing to throw their lives away, something is strange.

Nobles should only have household guards, where is this noble getting so many men? It almost feels like they are raising a secret army, that is normally the story anyway. Maybe someone is plotting to overthrow the king, but that doesn't explain targeting the princess.

Whatever is going on isn't my concern, I will escort Seraph to the auction and then I am done. After the auction I will return to the ship and have nothing more to do with this area. Besides, knowing me, I will be leaving the auction with an army chasing after me.

Once we reach the capital I should probably keep my distance from Seraph. Otherwise the people I piss off might take it out on her once I am gone. However, if I just give her the cold shoulder I am sure she will take it the wrong way.