Chapter 46 Part 3: The Wolf Hunt, A Long Night

Clang-

The tense standoff was broken.

The hunting dogs leaped forward with all their might.

Behind them, the knights with swords joined in.

The wolves, which were circling, also started to rush in in an instant.

Having been through many years on the battlefield, the knights were very familiar with this situation.

Trusting their master, the warhorses charged at the wolves without hesitation.

Thud-

Several wolves were knocked down by the fierce physical attack.

After that, it was a scene of slaughter.

In an instant, nearly twenty wolves lay down on the ground.

Rosa was just bewildered.

She was more surprised than afraid.

The party decided to take a break.

[I have found out where they are ambushed.]

But the place where they were informed was a little further away.

There was a distance.

They got off their horses for a while.

“Look at this.”

A white jelly-like lump.

Cayron held it in one hand skillfully.

“The fat of the deer is removed separately. It is hardened, sealed in a salt wall, and dried in a cool underground for weeks, months.”

He cuts off a piece of it with a dagger.

“Then it becomes like this cream.”

Rye bread prepared in advance.

Cayron spread it like cream.

“Here, try some.”

He offered it to Rosa.

“Uh..”

Animal fat.

Rosa was not very keen on it.

It’s the part that corresponds to lard if it were pork, so it’s not a food she usually likes.

But.

Rosa couldn’t help but hesitate at Cayron’s words that followed.

“Every time I went to the battlefield. This is the food I often enjoyed.”

Cayron stayed on the battlefield for a long time.

So he eats this kind of thing well.

Rosa, in an instant.

She felt ashamed of herself and sorry for Cayron.

‘And..’

It’s a food that Cayron enjoyed, so I somehow changed my mind.

The knights are all watching.

Cayron personally fed the piece of bread to Rosa.

Rosa was so full of apologies that she didn’t even know what she was doing.

After all, the two were sitting right next to each other.

If that’s a mistake, there’s nothing that can be done about it.

“This is too much.”

“It’s sweet. The bread, of course.”

The knights around them chuckled.

Only then did Rosa realize the situation and her face was gradually turning red.

“How is it?”

But soon the taste spread.

It was more savory than I thought.

And it tasted a little salty.

“Well.. It’s a bit like butter.”

“It’s similar.”

To compare, it’s a little more greasy, and a little more salty.

It really tasted like butter.

“It’s not a bad taste.”

At Rosa’s words, the knights laughed.

“It has quite a good shelf life. It’s actually the food I ate until I got sick of it. Just until last year.”

Only then did Rosa realize.

For them, war was not far away.

Always keeping the tension, so I am here.

Rosa asked Cayron.

“You said you already knew about the ambush.”

It was what I heard from Pavel.

“Is there a need to let them do it?”

Cayron slowly shook his head.

“This time, it’s over.”

Thinking of ending the long hunt.

To catch a hidden prey, you have to go into its burrow.

Hearing those words, Rosa just nodded.

After a short break, they headed deeper into the forest.

Thickly overgrown trees.

The existing path gradually disappears.

Instead, the dark shadows deepened.

A shadow fell on Cayron’s face as well.

‘They led us here.’

In the open space in front of the platform, the families on the far left started first.

Usually, it’s an unwritten rule of the hunting festival not to go in the same direction.

Naturally, the family that started first entered the nearest entrance.

So, the fact that the Archduke’s family of Arnad and the Variang family were placed last showed a lot of intention.

The traces of animals are disappearing.

It means that there are people around.

In a strange silence, the hunting dogs lowered their bodies.

Although the number has decreased since the fight with the wolves earlier, five of them were still with them.

Thud-

Cayron tapped his arm.

Then the hawk that was on his shoulder landed lightly on his arm.

Not far ahead.

A place where they might be hiding is visible.

There was a clearing surrounded by bushes.

But instead of saying that fact, Cayron pointed his arm upwards.

Keeek-

A momentary flight.

Both the allies and the hidden enemies saw the hawk’s leisurely flight.

The hawk, which finished its reconnaissance, returned and sat on Cayron’s arm again.

Three times.

It pecks his arm with its beak.

It meant that there was prey.

Cayron is going to draw them out.

He had no intention of getting hit by an arrow.

Whoosh-

Then Cayron gestured, and the hunting dogs ran out at once.

At the same time, the knights took out kerosene and sprinkled it towards the forest.

Then, when a burning torch was seen, the enemy finally grasped the situation.

“Attack!”

They rushed out.

It was several times their number.

If you stay still, you’ll burn to death.

The ambush has already been discovered.

The enemy was literally in a state of panic.

It’s a situation they never expected.

The distance is not within the range of arrows anyway.

But in terms of numbers alone, it is an overwhelming advantage.

“Attack!”

At that cry, the masked men rushed out in droves.

Everyone was surprisingly calm.

Cayron opened his mouth and gave orders.

“Natasha, Luther. Protect the Archduchess closely. Max. You watch the rear. If there is support from them, blow the horn twice.”

It would have been reassuring to keep her by his side.

But the fight from now on is different.

Surely it would be better to have her in the rear rather than be caught in the middle of the fight.

Cayron knew from experience that a stray sword is the most dangerous.

Anyway, he will block them.

He was going to completely disrupt their formation.

The three most skilled knights.

If it’s them, he could entrust Rosa to them with peace of mind.

“Yes, sir.”

“Understood.”

The rest of them, except for those three, stood side by side with Cayron.

“There are not many enemies on horseback. We have a good chance of winning.”

At Pavel’s words, Cayron didn’t answer, but stared at Rosa’s face.

“It would be better if you didn’t see.”

The sight that will unfold from now on.

If possible, he didn’t want to show it to Rosa.

But he couldn’t help it.

Rosa’s will was that strong, and in fact, he was most relieved to have Rosa by his side.

Cayron signaled to the three knights.

They were the ones who understood even if he didn’t say anything.

Flick-

An arrow flew.

Surprisingly, Cayron cut it down with his sword.

And immediately spurred his horse.

Heehee-

The horse instantly ran forward.

Like a shadow, the knights followed behind him.

Nearly a hundred enemies.

But only a dozen knights counterattack.

Shuuk-

When the daggers flew, the enemies at the forefront fell from their horses.

Then the sounds of metal intertwined in a dizzying way.

The sound of swords clashing.

The sound of blades deflecting off each other.

The enemies were also trained knights.

Naturally, they didn’t fall like scarecrows.

But as the swords mixed, they realized the gap.

Dust rose from the ground, and dying screams filled the sky.

“Kaaak-!”

As if he couldn’t believe it.

The man who grabbed his neck fell to the ground.

The fierce hooves fall on the fallen man.

It is truly a scene of carnage, with blood and dust flying.

Rosa was frozen, unable to say anything.

“Your Highness. Please close your eyes.”

I’ve heard that many times already.

But how can she close her eyes.

Cayron is fighting right now.

The moment a person’s life crumbles.

In other words, it was the first time Rosa had seen murder.

It’s vain.

It’s cruel.

But more than that, it didn’t feel real.

Prrr-

The excited Lactea snorted roughly.

But the knights next to it firmly held its reins.

The knights in black armor were certainly small in number.

But because of the existence of one person, Cayron, they rather seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Chwaak-

When the sword is swung once, three or four enemies fall like autumn leaves.

“Die!”

Even if more than that number clings again.

It seems to be of no use.

Black armor covered in blood.

A sharp sword that stabs and cuts without rest.

As if it were one with him.

A black horse that rampages wildly on the battlefield.

From the beginning, Cayron had confidence.

So he brought her along because he judged that it was safer by his side.

Really terrifying confidence or skill to match.

Cayron was almost a god of war.

His sword is faster than anyone else.

At the same time, it has a power that no one can handle.

Heavenly talent, constant effort, and an unyielding will met and finally became a sword.

Like a huge beast in front of weak herbivores.

The demon of the battlefield, the cursed prince.

Rosa now understands those titles.

But she.

More than surprised and fearful, she is engulfed in a more distant emotion.

He seems accustomed to killing people.

But Cayron, who had no choice but to live such a life.

Just to survive, so he cuts.

It was not his will at all.

But Rosa was saddened by Cayron, who had become accustomed to it.

But then.

“Kyaaak-!”

A faint woman’s scream.

It was then that Lactea turned its head.

An ambush on the Archduke’s party.

Long before that.

The situation was quite urgent.

The hunt was almost omitted.

Variang’s knights immediately traversed the forest.

“A mountain stronghold!”

And they found traces of them.

Kwaang-

Walter Variang roughly kicked the door.

There were still traces of a fire that had just been lit.

“Judging from the embers, it hasn’t been long.”

An environment similar to a cabin.

The mountain stronghold was full of household goods.

“They were determined. It’s not a short-term plan.”

It’s clear that it’s a plan that has been prepared for several months.

“To dare. At the sacred hunting festival..!”

Walter Variang was furious with a hardened expression.

I already knew the fact, but seeing it with my own eyes is different.

Kwaajik-

The ax trembled and stuck in the table.

One of the staff officers reported.

“They must have attacked the Archduke.”

“I know.”

Surely.

The troops that were here must have gone there too.

Walter Variang roughly বেরিয়ে came out of the mountain stronghold.

His whole body was overflowing with anger.

“The riders? What happened to them?”

There is no time.

The event has already begun.

“They must be coming. Led by Sir Duran.”

A total of five hundred.

It was the troops that Variang had moved himself.

Time is only a week.

After that meeting at the Archduke’s family, it was the time given to Walter Variang.

Returning to his territory, he immediately summoned his troops.

Variang’s pride, and at the same time, their symbol.

The goat riders with outstanding mobility set out in no time.

They traversed the rugged terrain of Elchen faster than even horse-riding cavalry.

The price of moving the goat riders like that.

Variang has seen two effects.

First, the opponent does not know.

A total of five hundred goat riders moved only in the dark of night and dawn.

Not on existing roads, but on rugged shortcuts.

They crossed the northern part of Elchen and came straight to the other side of the Quenril Forest.

In other words, the opponent still doesn’t know their existence at all.

Theicia’s barrier did not block everywhere.

Especially since the Quenril Forest is very large, it is impossible to build a barrier around its entire boundary.

‘That’s really fortunate.’

Walter Variang hurriedly got on his horse.

The Archduke’s letter and seal were with him.

They will be mindful of the success of the event.

The camp may already have been taken over.

It seems reckless, but it’s effective.

If the Archduchess had remained, there would have been a real incident.

Walter gave the order with a cold look.

The bottled-up anger was there.

“Tie the captured ones to the back of the cart. We will obtain definite evidence.”

The masked men tied with ropes.

“Understood. They won’t be able to not confess.”

The staff officer received the words as if making a solemn pledge.

“Let’s go!”

And they set off.

In fact, the other knights are also furious about this situation.

“An ambush. It’s really mean.”

“To dare at the hunting festival. Shamelessly..”

That was a long time ago.

Now they have come out of the forest, and in the distance of the field, a cloud of dust rose.

It is a large group of goat riders.

In front of them, the flag of Variang fluttered.

A flag with a horned, wheat-colored mountain goat.

Doo doo doo-

Then the two dust clouds merge.

A long horn sound rang out.

Hundreds of riders on mountain goats.

They ran towards the camp where the barracks were.

It was a situation that no one really expected.

Wheek-

Lactea turned its head.

The hearing of horses is almost like a superpower.

Did it hear something.

It suddenly started to struggle.

Because of that, the two knights were briefly separated from Rosa.

“Damn it!”

In that short time, Lactea quickly traversed the open space.

It’s an unexpected situation.

“Your Highness! Don’t let go of the reins!”

Such a desperate cry.

It was impossible to shoot the horse to stop it.

If you’re not careful, it will lead to the Archduchess falling off the horse.

Doo doo doo-

Lactea seemed to have a purpose.

It ran towards the inside of the forest without stopping.

Almost the middle of the battlefield.

Cayron’s gaze found Rosa in danger.

Thud-

Without even having time to think.

He immediately tracked her after stabbing the opponent’s neck.

But the horse doesn’t stop.

It ran between the trees as if it were its home.

Rosa is just holding on to the reins, hanging on it.

“Lactea-!”

I shout like that.

But Lactea just runs.

I was scared.

I was trembling.

But there was nothing she could do.

On the storm-like moving horse, I just entrusted my body to it.

Because that’s really the best.

Rosa leaned completely against Lactea’s neck, taking all the wind.

Then, something begins to appear.

The sight that came into view seemed unrealistic at first glance.

“Your Highness!”

Reina.

The former handmaiden of the Archduke’s family.

Unbelievably, she was here.

Only then did I guess why Lactea was acting up.

It’s literally a sudden acceleration.

How did Lactea know Reina’s voice.

It’s not that strange.

From the point of view of the horse, Lactea, Reina was an existence close to the owner.

Of course, it would be a familiar existence to itself too.

Rosa always went to the stable with Reina.

Perhaps it sensed Reina’s crisis and ran like this, thinking of its owner in its own way.

The cleverness of the famous horse, Lactea, became an unexpected poison at this moment.

But what is immediately visible in front of me is a steep cliff uphill.

Right at the end.

Reina is tied up with a rope and her hair is being grabbed.

Two masked men were about to deal with her.

They must be trying to destroy the evidence by killing her.

Doo doo-

Lactea ran like the wind and rammed into one of them.

“Uaaak!”

The man falls off the cliff.

A really split second.

Lactea barely stopped at the cliff.

Thud-

Gravel falls.

But as a reaction to such a rough movement, Rosa let go of the reins.

Whoosh-

It’s dizzying.

The moment I thought that, her body was already floating.

“Rosa!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Cayron jumped off his horse.

There is one masked man left, but his gaze is only on Rosa.

He has no time to worry about anything else.

A moment of desperation.

With really superhuman speed and strength, he barely grabbed Rosa’s wrist.

At the same time.

Blood spurts out.

The masked man slashed Cayron’s back as he jumped.

Red blood fell.

Cayron, who was deeply cut by the sword, suppressed a groan.

And.

The two bodies, entangled together, fell down the cliff.

“Your Highness-!”

On the cliff.

Only such a scream remained.