Chapter 221
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Mm. I was scared, but seeing the soldiers who tormented me so much and chased me so viciously die in one stroke made me feel somewhat refreshed. I’m okay now.”
That’s not something you should say while smiling so brightly.
“By any chance, Sir Blight, if you could marry Duke Vinter’s son, wouldn’t you consider naturalizing to Tuaso?”
He even stuck close beside me to ask.
“Do I have to answer that?”
Our prickly Luwen drawing a clear line. How admirable.
“You’re quite the iron wall. What would you do if Duke Vinter’s son naturalized to Tuaso?”
Luwen glanced at him and then turned his gaze away again. We’re passing through an area full of traps, so why is he chattering so distractedly?
“I won’t go anywhere without my sister. So stop asking.”
“I’m asking because it’s disappointing.”
The 3rd Prince pouted his lower lip while grinning. Perhaps because he was firmly rejected, fortunately he didn’t repeat the same question afterward.
We moved cautiously in silence. After about two hours passed like that, the edge of the thicket finally came into view.
“I, huff, can’t walk, gasp, anymore… Let’s rest, a bit… and go.”
The 3rd Prince, who had been following while sweating profusely, collapsed. With his knees on the ground and his upper body bent, his back heaved greatly as he gasped for breath.
“It would be awkward to stop here, so Luwen, carry the 3rd Prince on your back.”
Don’t hold him preciously in your arms like me, but definitely carry him on your back. I think I can allow that much.
“Luwen?”
Luwen had stopped and was staring into space strangely, so I called him again. But then.
“Someone fast is approaching. Judging by their presence, two people. One of them seems to be a Sword Master.”
“…What?”
There are two Sword Masters in Tuaso. They’re not personnel who would be mobilized for something like mere assassination. If it were a simple clash, naturally Luwen would win, but…
‘Even if we hide, we’ll be discovered.’
Their senses would be as developed as Luwen’s, so the result was obvious without even trying.
“It would be better to lure them to a place that’s easy to fight in.”
Luwen sheathed the sword he was holding at his waist and tucked the 3rd Prince, who was on the verge of collapse, under his arm like baggage and began to run. He didn’t check the ground, so there was a loud clattering sound.
However, the opponents were the same. Due to the traps being activated, noise echoed from afar. It seemed they too had noticed that we were aware of their presence.
“Can’t we just keep our distance like this?”
“There’s a high probability they’ve set up defensive formations ahead. Arrows will rain down, and we can’t ignore that and keep running.”
So because we’re not alone, our feet are ultimately tied. If we get caught up in the meantime, it’ll become even more troublesome. We had been moving cautiously because we couldn’t gauge the enemy’s scale, but we’ve faced the worst situation.
‘But a Sword Master. Would anyone have expected such a person to be here?’
If we had known in advance, we would have definitely run regardless of whether the traps went off or not. A Sword Master is threatening enough to warrant taking risks.
“I’m stronger. I can protect you. As long as Fei is safe, I’ll absolutely never lose. I trained for that. Every single day without rest, harshly.”
It seemed more like a resolution or self-hypnosis rather than words directed at me. He must be anxious.
“I believe in you. Luwen is stronger than anyone. Their swords won’t even graze you, and you’ll easily subdue them and then come get me. Right?”
“Yes.”
He answered with blazing eyes.
‘I hope we can pass through without incident…’
There was nothing I could do right now except pray. I bit my lip tightly and suppressed the helplessness that was slowly rising. Now is not the time to despair.
The place where Luwen stopped was in front of an old tree where roots had created a space underneath.
“This would be good. Please go inside.”
“Got it.”
I pushed the 3rd Prince ahead and crawled under the old tree. The space was so narrow that we were completely pressed together uncomfortably, but if we hid inside here, at least no one could secretly approach from behind.
Not long after we held our breath and waited, I could see the face of the one who had chased us. His hair was quite grayed, making him look fairly aged, but his physique was tremendous.
The one who lightly led his solid and massive body like the old tree we were hiding under stood before Luwen. Unlike Luwen who immediately entered combat stance, the Sword Master acted leisurely. His gaze reached us.
“Ho. You found quite a cozy place. Not bad for such a short time.”
“If you retreat like this, I won’t pursue you.”
“Mm? Ahaha! You mean you’ll spare me? Of course, if I faced you with nothing, I would lose. I acknowledge that.”
The Sword Master touched his stylishly grown mustache. He held a sword in one hand. He seemed careless, but it probably meant he was confident he could react.
“But you have someone to protect, so you can’t leave that place. That’s quite a big handicap. Also.”
He lowered his hand. As his posture changed, the atmosphere changed along with it. Sharply honed killing intent made my neck creep with chills.
“There’s one thing you don’t know.”
No, wait. It wasn’t just my imagination?
“Fei, I don’t want to hurt you. Will you cooperate obediently?”
The chills I felt at my neck were because of the dagger the 3rd Prince had pressed against me.
“What… are you doing?”
“Fei!”
It was the moment Luwen’s attention was focused on me. Before I could call his name, sensing his danger, the Sword Master swung his sword. Luwen barely avoided it by bending his waist and took a step back.
“Ugh.”
Had I unconsciously raised my head? My neck stung.
“Whoa. That was close. You need to be careful. How can you forget there’s a blade behind you?”
What is this about now? His attitude seemed like he was worrying about a scratch from a tree branch.
“It’ll be solved if you put away the sword.”
“That won’t do. If we just fight, it’s obvious Ludwig will lose. And I…”
I could feel the 3rd Prince’s breath close by. In the narrow space, there was nowhere to escape.
“Don’t want to hurt you guys.”
I can’t understand the current situation at all. Clearly in the book, the 3rd Prince died. His corpse was found. So being chased must be true.
‘I examined all the circumstances and moved based on that assumption because it fit… Did I believe too blindly?’
Of course, since he’s a prince, it’s not strange that he knows who the Sword Masters of his home country are. But the 3rd Prince was concerned about the Sword Master losing. It was proof that the two were on the same side.
‘…No wonder it seemed strange.’
A Sword Master for a simple assassination? Moreover, the name ‘Ludwig’ was famous enough that even I knew it.
Ludwig Tuaren. A ducal family with Tuaso royal blood flowing through them and a house that had produced outstanding knights for generations.
“Ughhhh… Isn’t this too fast? I’m dying from exhaustion.”
Breaking the tension of the standoff, a young man appeared sweating profusely. The second person Luwen had mentioned. He looked around briefly and then smiled brightly.
“Your Highness! Thank goodness you’re safe. But is that person really Prince Fei Vinter? I heard he was hidden in the imperial palace, so why is he in a place like this?”
“It’s been a while.”
“Yesss. I wondered why it was so quiet, but Your Highness has caught the weakness of the terrifying Aura Master. As expected, you’re amazing!”
“If you lay even a finger on him, I’ll tear your limbs apart.”
“Hiek. How scary! Geez.”
The frivolous man approached us with exaggerated gestures, trembling dramatically.
“Sir Blight. It would be troublesome if you block us like that. What if Fei gets hurt more?”
“…”
Luwen glared at the 3rd Prince with a coldly hardened gaze.
“Fei, I’m sorry. But you won’t die from being cut this much, so it’s okay, right?”
“Ugh!”
You asked if it was okay but didn’t even listen to the answer? The feeling of the blade digging into my neck was vivid. Trickle, a stream of blood flowed down my neck.
“Fei!”
“How about it? Sir Blight. Do you feel like opening the path now?”
Luwen ground his teeth and stepped back. The frivolous man approached the old tree. While he pointed his sword at me, the 3rd Prince first crawled out from under the tree.
“Come, Fei.”
The one blocking the entrance extended his hand to me. Just like when we had hidden together in the bushes and he had helped me up.
‘Stay calm. There must be a way.’
I knocked his hand away and stood up myself. Honestly, for Luwen to fight freely right now, there was no other answer except for me to escape.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
