Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 308: Sneaking Out Outside

Chapter 308: Sneaking Out Outside

Lyan woke quietly, the first light of dawn casting a golden hue across the castle walls. The memories of the previous night’s intimacy still lingered in his mind as he saw all of his girls lying with love juices all over the room, but today was a new day with its own set of challenges and opportunities. He moved with practiced ease, careful not to disturb the others still asleep in the large, luxurious bed. As he dressed in his hunting gear, his mind was already shifting gears, planning the day ahead.

He buckled on his leather armor and checked the sharpness of his massive magic glaive, feeling its reassuring weight in his hands. "Time to make sure the surroundings are safe," he muttered to himself, a sense of responsibility anchoring his thoughts. He needed to assess the threat level of the surrounding area to ensure the safety of Grafen. Although the town had made significant progress in terms of infrastructure and security, Lyan knew that complacency could be dangerous. Monsters and other threats could still lurk in the forest beyond the city walls, and it was his responsibility to root them out.

And on the other side, he needs to have some break from managing and rebuilding the barony.

He moved silently through the castle, making his way to the garden where the secret passage was located. The acid ants had created this passage, a hidden route that allowed him to leave the castle unnoticed. As he approached the entrance, he observed the acid ants patrolling diligently, their small, armored bodies moving in unison. "Good work, everyone," he whispered, giving a reassuring pat to the Castle Guardian Hound. The hound’s sleek, muscular form radiated loyalty and strength. "Keep an eye on things while I’m out."

The entrance to the passage was concealed by thick underbrush. As Lyan slipped through, he was met with the cool, damp air of the tunnel. Bioluminescent fungi lined the walls, casting a soft, eerie glow. The faint sound of water dripping echoed through the passage, adding to the mysterious atmosphere.

"Alright, everyone, let’s go," he said, addressing his accompanying monsters. The Shadow Goblin Lord and Papilio Slime moved silently beside him, while the Galewing Butterfly and Moonlight Butterfly flitted around playfully.

The Rock Golem and Ice Golem brought up the rear, their heavy footsteps echoing through the tunnel. The Acid Ant Queen moved with regal grace, her workers and soldiers scuttling around her protectively. The Magma Bear and Fey Mammoth lumbered along, their massive forms taking up much of the space in the passage.

The Arcane Retriever and Winter Wolf Alpha trotted beside Lyan, their eyes alert for any signs of danger. Fenris, the Gargoyle, and the Shadow Nymm moved stealthily, blending into the shadows. The Seltas Queen, Rune Wolf, Gryphon, Flame Lioness, Primeval Hound, and Castle Guardian Hound completed the formidable group.

"Stay alert, everyone," Lyan instructed. "We don’t know what we’ll find out there."

They reached the exit of the passage, which was cleverly concealed just outside the city walls in a dense forest. Lyan emerged first, taking a moment to adjust to the bright morning light and the sounds of the forest. Birds chirped, and the rustling of leaves filled the air as a gentle breeze blew through the trees.

He summoned all his trusted monsters, giving them quiet commands to spread out and search for any signs of danger or monster activity. "Shadow Goblin Lord, take your group and scout the eastern perimeter. Papilio Slime, Galewing Butterfly, cover the skies. Rock Golem, Ice Golem, guard our exit. The rest of you, spread out and report any threats."

The Shadow Goblin Lord nodded, leading a group into the underbrush. The Papilio Slime and Galewing Butterfly soared above, their wings shimmering in the sunlight. The Rock Golem and Ice Golem stood sentinel at the passage entrance, their imposing figures ready to defend. The remaining monsters dispersed, each moving with purpose and precision.

As they moved through the forest, Lyan and his monsters tracked signs of recent monster activity. They discovered footprints and a trail leading deeper into the woods. "Looks like we’re on the right track," Lyan said, examining a set of fresh tracks. "Stay sharp, everyone."

The trail led them to a cave entrance, partially concealed by thick underbrush. The entrance was dark and foreboding, with the faint smell of decay emanating from within. The surrounding area was littered with bones and remnants of past battles, a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked within.

"Be ready for anything," Lyan warned. He approached the cave cautiously, his massive magic glaive at the ready. "Rock Golem, Ice Golem, you two take the rear. Everyone else, prepare for combat."

The cave was narrow at first, then opened into a larger chamber. The walls were damp and covered in moss, and the sound of goblin chatter echoed through the tunnels. "Sounds like we’ve found our culprits," Lyan muttered, tightening his grip on his glaive.

As they moved deeper into the cave, the goblins ambushed them. Armed with crude weapons, they attacked from the shadows, screeching and cursing. "Form up!" Lyan shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Rock Golem, Ice Golem, block the entrance! Shadow Goblin Lord, lead the counterattack!"

The Rock Golem and Ice Golem formed a defensive barrier, while the Shadow Goblin Lord led the offensive, cutting down goblins with swift, deadly strikes. The Papilio Slime and Galewing Butterfly provided aerial support, disorienting the goblins with their speed and agility. The Magma Bear and Fey Mammoth charged into the fray, their sheer size and strength overwhelming the goblin forces.

"Papilio Slime, watch your left flank!" Lyan commanded, deflecting a goblin’s attack with his glaive. "Moonlight Butterfly, cover the rear!"

Despite their initial confidence, the goblins’ morale wavered as their numbers dwindled. Lyan’s monsters fought with a coordinated ferocity, and the goblins soon realized they were no match for the formidable group. The battle was swift but intense, the sounds of clashing weapons and goblin screams filling the chamber.

"Push forward!" Lyan urged, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We’re almost through!"

After dispatching the initial ambush, Lyan and his monsters pushed deeper into the cave. They encountered the goblin boss, a single goblin champion larger and more heavily armored than the others. Wielding a spiked club, the goblin champion roared a challenge, its eyes burning with hatred.

"This one’s mine," Lyan said, stepping forward. "Keep the others at bay."

The goblin champion charged, its spiked club swinging with brutal force. Lyan met the challenge head-on, his magic glaive clashing against the goblin champion’s weapon. The goblin fought with surprising skill and strength, but Lyan’s experience and determination soon gave him the upper hand.

"You’re strong, but not strong enough," Lyan grunted, pushing the goblin back with a powerful swing. "This ends now!"

With a decisive blow, Lyan disarmed the goblin champion, then delivered a final strike that ended the battle. The goblin boss fell to the ground, its lifeless eyes staring into the void.

With the goblin champion defeated, the cave fell silent except for the crackling of dying torches. "Good job, everyone," Lyan praised, wiping sweat from his brow. "Search the cave for anything useful."

The monsters spread out, meticulously combing through the cave. They found a small hoard of loot and useful supplies, including coins, weapons, and some enchanted items. The atmosphere in the cave was eerie but now devoid of immediate danger.

Lyan spoke to his monsters, praising their efforts and discussing the importance of their mission. "You’ve all done well," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "This is just one step in ensuring the safety of Grafen. We need to remain vigilant and prepared for whatever threats may come."

The monsters, though unable to speak, responded with understanding and loyalty. They gathered the loot and supplies, ready to return to the castle. Lyan look at their levels, and saw that all of them have leveled up quite a lot!

"I guess we need to have more huntings together in the future! I’m curious with all of your evolutions!" (Lyan)

As they made their way back through the forest, Lyan felt a sense of satisfaction and pride in their accomplishments. The morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the trees. "Let’s head back," he said, leading the way to the hidden passage.

They re-entered the secret passage and moved silently through the tunnel, the bioluminescent fungi casting a soft light on their path. Emerging in the garden just as dawn was breaking, the first rays of sunlight illuminated the castle walls.

Lyan quietly made his way back to his quarters, confident that he had successfully snuck back in without disturbing anyone. However, as he entered his room, he was immediately confronted by Josephine, Belle, and Alina. Their expressions were a mix of worry and frustration.

"Where have you been?" Josephine demanded, her eyes flashing with concern. "We woke up and you were gone. We thought you left us."

Lyan raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I’m sorry for worrying you. I went out to assess the threat level of the surrounding area and ensure Grafen’s safety. I should have communicated my plans better."

Belle stepped forward, her expression softening slightly. "We understand the need for security, but you need to let us know when you plan to leave. We were worried sick."

Alina crossed her arms, her gaze intense. "Promise us you’ll communicate better in the future. We can’t afford to lose you."

Lyan nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. "I promise. I’ll make sure to inform you all of my plans next time. Your safety and peace of mind are important to me."

Josephine’s expression softened, and she sighed. "Just don’t make a habit of sneaking out without telling us. We care about you, Lyan."

Belle and Alina nodded in agreement, their concern evident in their eyes.

Lyan stepped forward, wrapping his arms around them in a comforting embrace. "I care about all of you too. I’m sorry for causing you worry."

The tension in the room eased as they hugged, raising up another atmosphere instead.

"Let me apologize by making you all feel good!" Lyan jumped to the girls, making them shriek with a playful smile.

They ended up having a very intimate morning together for several hours before having a brunch.

_____________________________

<Lots of Level ups!>

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Mythril-ranked Mercenary, Baron Evocatore of Grafen

Money: 2,975,710,950 Elnes / 2975 gold 71 big silver 9 big coppers 5 coppers

Weapon: Magic Glaive, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 5 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 1 (Decent) bow, 1 Gryphon-Winged Sword

Equipment: 3 Black leather cloak, 2 Leather Armor, 2 Breastplate, 4 Health Potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire’s Companions: 8 High Spirits, 3 Valkyrie, Shadow Goblin Lord (Lv. 43), Papilio Slime (Lv. 75), Galewing Butterfly (Lv. 75), Rock Golem (Lv. 80), Deadlight (Lv. 84), Moonlight Butterfly (Lv. 55), Ice Golem (Lv. 80), Acid Ant Queen (Lv. 63), Magma Bear (Lv. 10), Fey Mammoth (Lv. 10), Arcane Retriever (Lv. 10), Winter Wolf Alpha (Lv. 43), Fenris (Lv. 10), Gargoyle (Lv. 20), Shadow Nymm (Lv. 5), Seltas Queen (Lv. 5), Rune Wolf (Lv. 5), Gryphon (Lv. 5), Flame Lioness (Lv. 5), Primeval Hound (Lv. 5), and Castle Guardian Hound (Lv. 1)

Grimoire’s Army: 6 Shadow Servants, 800 Skeleton Army (24 Goblin Champion Skeletons, 226 Hobgoblin Skeletons, 550 Goblin Skeleton Army), 80 Acid Ants Workers, 30 Acid Ants Soldiers, 4 Female Winter Wolves