< Chapter 150 - John Berelf #2 >
&
The next morning.
“What, what? What is it? What on earth did you do last night?”
While Caesar continues to doggedly seek the truth about the marks left on Cordelia’s collarbone.
Royal Knight Sarah was one step ahead, preparing to leave.
“Take care and have a safe trip.”
Sarah chuckled at Leon’s words and nodded.
“If you’re worried, you should mark it too.”
“uh?”
Marking?
When Leon blinked, not knowing what to do, Sarah smiled again and checked her equipment one last time.
Sarah was now dressed more like a hunter than a knight.
As the Empress Dowager had said last night, the Imperial Family desperately needs the help of the elves these days.
This was because in order to reach the northwestern region ruled by the Marquess of Buckingham, the leader of the pro-Emperor faction and the father of the Empress Dowager, they had to pass through the elven territory.
Of course, in the long run, the enormous wealth and influence the elves had over the empire could not be ignored.
No, it was just incredibly important.
The elves’ help was essential to drive out the demon followers who were trying to take over the empire.
“Elfs don’t like pink hair. So don’t worry.”
Leon ended up laughing bitterly at Sarah’s joke and said as he put the helmet on Sarah.
“Yeah, and you should cover your face while you walk around. Those weird guys are going to have a hard time.”
Sarah chuckled, nodded, lightly patted Leon on the chest, and then headed towards the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
It was to show my respect one last time before leaving.
A messenger was needed to be sent to the elves.
Whether you can make way for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, whether you can help them.
And are you aware of what is currently happening in the Empire?
It was impossible for the Emperor to enter the territory of the Thule Thule Elves without any prior notice.
That’s why Sarah, who was the fastest among the Royal Knights and boasted mobility greater than that of elves in the forest, was chosen as the secret envoy.
“Then I will go.”
“Have a nice trip.”
“May the protection of the gods be with you, my loyal one.”
After listening to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, Sarah bowed respectfully once more and left the cabin ahead of them.
And Cordelia, who was watching the scene, said to Caesar.
“It smells.”
“What’s that smell? The smell of Yuder who was hugging me all night?”
“Of course that would be nice too, but it smells different.”
“Wow, now just look at them coming out so shamelessly.”
“If you’re jealous, you should hug Lucas and sleep too.”
As Cordelia spoke excitedly, Caesar was momentarily flustered. She blushed and stuttered, which was unusual for her.
“Hey, why is Lucas here?”
“Huh?”
I just poked around, but maybe? No, really?
[Why does all the conversation flow in that direction?]
As for the smell, it’s probably because Sarah and Leon smell like a couple – something like that.
Cordelia, embarrassed by Melissa’s remark, laughed and spoke again.
“Anyway, we can’t just stay here. We’ll leave right after breakfast. We’ve already made arrangements for a place to meet Sarah again.”
“That’s right. But who are you explaining this to now?”
“I don’t know!”
Cordelia answered carelessly and looked again in the direction Sarah had left.
Sarah, who was originally supposed to be a bounty hunter, became a royal knight, but her special skill, the spirit dash, seemed to have not changed. In the place where she left, traces of blue naturalization remained.
‘Things that change and things that don’t change.’
Something that doesn’t change despite the butterfly effect and the addition of many variables. Something that can’t be changed.
Events that happen as if they absolutely had to happen.
Cordelia shook her head.
After shaking off the strange thoughts that suddenly came to mind, he smiled brightly again.
“Anyway, let’s go. The food is really delicious, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Excuse me, it’s been quite some time since I last traveled with you guys.”
“Then I understand better.”
Cordelia, who seemed proud, took the lead and Kaiser unconsciously turned to look at Lucas.
&
Two days later, late in the afternoon.
The pace of the procession slowed down noticeably as the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and even young members of the royal family joined the ranks.
Not only was it difficult for the royal family to speak fluently, but they also had less physical strength than ordinary people, so it was difficult for them to simply ride on a horse for a long time.
But rushing wasn’t the answer.
In any case, there was a limit to the area they could move until Sarah, who had been dispatched as a secret agent, returned, and they had already shaken off the pursuit of the Prime Minister once. Therefore, the group calmed their impatience and headed west at a slow but steady pace.
‘Is it finally Asain Pass again?’
The western part of the empire was a wasteland close to the wild lands, and because it was close to the elven territory, the influence of the empire itself, not to mention the Chancellery, was weak.
Because of this, the westernmost part of the empire was usually treated as a dangerous extraterritorial zone, but it was actually a safe land for the current imperial family, who were being pursued by the Prime Minister.
So, as they advanced further west, the young emperor’s face brightened, and the empress dowager was also able to relax a little.
But just one person.
Among the group, there was one person who became more and more anxious the further west they went.
“Kirara, are you okay?”
“Hieee?!”
Kirara, who flinched and lifted her tail at Cordelia’s question, nodded awkwardly.
“Okay, it’s okay.”
I’m not scared at all.
It’s not like the entire Asain Pass is under the control of the Mountain King – it’s not like that. Asain Pass is just the Mountain King’s!
‘Oh, I’m going to get killed.’
You will be captured by the mountain king and tortured to death.
That’s the kind of guy that is Sanwang!
Because he is the most evil devil of the West!
I’ll beat you to death for betraying you! I might whip you. Or I might pull out all your fingernails and toenails and then pour salt water on you!
“Hey, Kirara?”
“Ugh. Black. It was a short, black. time, but black. It was nice meeting you, Master.”
“No, that… Kirara?”
When Kirara started to sob, Cordelia panicked and hugged Kirara tightly, and Kirara buried her face in Cordelia’s chest, trying to forget reality.
From what I’ve heard so far, it seems like Yuder and Cordelia are incredibly strong, but I haven’t actually seen them. I’ve only heard stories about them.
But the mountain king was different.
I have experienced several times right next to me how strong and how cruel it is.
Even now, when I close my eyes, I can clearly see the image of the mountain king tearing off the limbs of a traitor while he was still alive, saying that the only price for betrayal is a painful death.
‘But I won’t betray you!’
This time I won’t betray you.
I will be with you till the end, Master.
Really, really.
Until it gets really, really dangerous!
‘Oh, no. This isn’t it?’
How long has it been since Kirara continued her struggle between instinct and reason?
It was the moment when the group entered a dark and deserted place that could be called the real Asain Pass.
“Coming.”
Yuder suddenly raised his head and spoke, and Leon, who was standing in the front, also shouted urgently.
“It’s the enemy!”
“Woooooooooo!”
The shouts of many people drowned out Leon’s voice.
That’s why Leon was embarrassed.
Even though we advanced with sufficient caution, the number of enemies was too great.
At least thirty people.
Are you saying that you didn’t notice that a large number of people were waiting in ambush?
“They are the Mountain King’s subordinates!”
Just then Kirara shouted.
The enemies that appeared were all people, but you could tell they were people by their unique attire. All of the mountain king’s subordinates had black cloths tied around their right arms.
“Kirara! You traitor!”
“Heeeeeee!”
When one of the Mountain King’s subordinates specifically mentioned his name, Kirara became trembling and cried.
As expected, it’s the mountain king.
It was persistent.
Perhaps the reason so many people appeared on the mountain pass was because of Kirara herself.
And it was half true.
Traitors will be punished without fail, and it was the king’s creed.
“Take it!”
“Catch Kirara!”
“Tear it apart!”
Not only from the front, but also from the left and right, the water men began to rush forward, each shouting.
“Protect the nobleman!”
“Everyone! Defensive formation!”
In a place like this, the emperor’s name could not be openly proclaimed.
Therefore, the royal knights and servants who regarded the emperor as a nobleman simultaneously drew their swords and gathered around the emperor.
And in the midst of all this, it was Caesar who announced the start of the real fight.
“I’ll sweep it away!”
In the South, she was famous as a pirate hunter. From Kaiser’s perspective, pirates and bandits were equally groups that had to be eradicated, so she didn’t care about the situation.
“Khuuuuuuuu!”
Caesar, who howled like an animal, did not strengthen his defenses. Instead, he jumped into the midst of the attacking crowd and swung his chains wildly, knocking down several people in an instant.
The power of the sacred chains that sealed the Daemon Prince, combined with Kai’sa’s brute strength, was too much for even the strongest of the beastmen to handle.
I could have tripped on the low iron chains that swept across the floor and fallen down, but the blow broke my legs or tore my muscles, making it impossible for me to get up.
The situation on the other side was not much different. Lucas, who had raised the pure white aura blade unique to the Holy King’s Cross Sword, was running wild, truly like a wolf jumping into a flock of sheep.
The mountain king’s men were fairly disciplined and maintained their ranks, but they were unable to maintain proper formation due to the activities of these two men.
The fight quickly became a melee, and the tide of battle began to turn sharply in favor of the group with superior individual fighting skills.
“Wow!”
Leon and the Royal Knights also showed their strength.
If you look closely, they were also geniuses selected from all over the empire. They were not people who would be defeated by a group of bandits who had never properly trained in swordsmanship.
About 5 minutes like that.
A group of over forty men entered the battle, but by then it was mostly cleared out.
Most of the people were rolling around on the floor, groaning, and a few in the back row started running away without looking back.
Then Leon sighed and shook the blood off his sword and shouted.
“Let’s run away before more of them come!”
The numbers here are small, but there are many over there.
Moreover, what we were dealing with now was not an ordinary group of bandits.
Leon had also heard of the mountain king of Asain Pass.
The tyrant of Asain Pass, with hundreds of subordinates.
Moreover, if the rumors are true, he was an incredibly strong man, comparable to the Sword Master.
So, it wasn’t something that could end like this.
If I just back down here, the dignity I have maintained as the king of Asain Pass will fall to the ground.
The Emperor, frightened by the fight unfolding before his eyes, quickly nodded, and the Empress Dowager also agreed with a nervous expression.
Hurry up and cross the Asain Pass.
No, we’re looking for a completely different route.
But that was just then.
“excuse me.”
It was Lucas.
He raised his hand slightly and said with a narrowed eyebrow as the Royal Knights looked back at him.
“Why should we run away?”
“to?”
“No, why us.”
Lucas, who had said so, glanced in a direction with a nod, and the Royal Knights who followed his gaze and looked in the same direction all showed similar reactions.
“ah.”
“right.”
“That’s right.”
Hundreds of men?
A strong man comparable to the Sword Master?
So what.
What’s the big deal?
Two people who didn’t get involved in the fight.
The existence of Uder and Cordelia, who fought ahead and took away the experience points of the rascals, but were simply protecting the emperor.
Under everyone’s gaze, Uther smiled awkwardly, and Cordelia shrugged her shoulders and turned to Uther and said.
“Yuder, Yuuder.”
“Oh, Cordelia.”
“Should we solve it while we’re at it?”
“Okay.”
There have been quite a few events related to the King of the Mountains. I’ll put Kirara at ease as well. After all, they have to cross the Asain Pass anyway. Wouldn’t it be better for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to rest in the mountains?
“Oh, my lord?”
When Kirara blinked in confusion, Cordelia smiled affectionately and patted Kirara’s head.
“Then let’s go.”
“okay.”
Uther and Cordelia smiled sinisterly and turned in one direction.
Deep in the Asain Pass.
We headed towards the mountain king’s mountain village.
&
< Chapter 150 - John Berelf #2 > End
