Chapter 173
Chapter 173
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Tree and Iron
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Conrad, a knight of Cheska Castle—the frontline fortress of Silan bordering Urun—led his cavalry out of the castle at the lord's command. According to the hunter's report, more than twenty armed individuals had passed by the castle along the forest path. Adventurers, mercenaries, nobles, merchants—regardless of who they were, anyone entering foreign territory had to stop at the border fortress and prove their identity. It was common sense.
And they had ignored that common sense.
Conrad checked his armament and pursued those trying to enter the kingdom, following the hunter's directions. From atop his roughly jostling horse, he dispersed his cavalry to scout ahead in search of them. Since they had set out hours after the report came in, catching up would likely take some time. The knight clicked his tongue.
"Too bad."
If they had slipped across undetected, it might have been one thing, but now that they were spotted, he had to capture them. If they were coming from the pleasure kingdom of Urun, they might be carrying drugs or the like, so killing them on sight wouldn't give them grounds to complain. It would have been different if they had crossed from Phloria, Calypso, or Rajentria—no instant death in those cases.
After galloping along the flat path through the trees for some time, signals came in sequence from the cavalry scouting ahead. They had found them. He had already ordered them to kill if there was resistance, so they would handle it well. Still, he needed to confirm why they had bypassed the castle. At the very least, he had to report to the lord.
"Alright, pick up speed and pursue."
He kicked his horse's flanks to accelerate, and the cavalry behind him let out a whoop as they sped up to follow. But shortly after increasing speed, the lead scout came rushing back.
"Already subdued them? That's too quick."
Looking closely, the soldier's face was pale as ash. He yanked the reins to slow down, furrowed his brow, lifted his helmet's visor, and finally halted his horse as he exhaled heavily.
"What happened? Why are you turning back?"
"During the pursuit, we encountered one presumed to be from their group..., but he claims to be a member of the 'Radiant'—subordinate to Duke Iyes—and demands to see you, sir."
It was a common ploy. Probably trying to bribe his way out. Another knight might have let it slide, but not him. And to dare claim to be under Duke Iyes? Fearless fools.
"But why does your face look so terrified? See something you shouldn't have?"
"That's..."
"Go on, tell me. I won't tease."
The soldier hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"...The opponent is an extraordinary expert. We saw Zephian get taken down, so we surrounded him and fired our crossbows immediately, but he dodged or slashed every single bolt we shot. We couldn't lay a hand on him. It might sound like an excuse, but the aura he emitted paralyzed us—even the horses—in fear. I was the only one who managed to come report to you, sir."
"Dodged and slashed the crossbow bolts?"
"Yes."
Unbelievable. Their marksmanship, honed guarding the frontier, could hit moving targets even from horseback. The crossbows were imported from the alchemy nation of Mantaum—no need to doubt their power. And he dodged or slashed them all? Slashed incoming arrows? It was hard to believe, but the soldier didn't seem to be making excuses to weasel out of a momentary blunder.
Even seasoned adventurers or mercenaries couldn't evade crossbow bolts.
Conrad himself lacked confidence in fully dodging a volley from all sides. He might endure relying on his armor's defense, but dodging and slashing them was the stuff of distant legends.
"Really a subordinate of Duke Iyes?"
Could a member of the Steel Knights, the strongest order in Silan, pull that off? Did the Steel Knights possess such skill to dodge and deflect crossbow fire? If every member could..., well, it wasn't something he could change by going himself. The thought that he might truly be Duke Iyes's subordinate made sweat bead in his palms.
"...Understood. Let's go."
Conrad lowered his helmet's visor with a frown and urged his horse forward. With a snort, it powerfully resumed its gallop.
Judah stood leisurely with arms crossed, waiting for the one in charge. The horses and soldiers were utterly subdued before the aura he had just unleashed. But one soldier—slumped against a tree trunk—gnashed his teeth and groaned. It was the one who had fallen after Judah's thrown dagger.
"Urgh, ugh...!"
His thigh, pierced by an arrow, throbbed with pain, drawing groans from the soldier. He pressed hard around the wound with his hand, trying desperately not to draw Judah's attention, but Judah's ears weren't so dull as to miss the sounds right beside him. Feeling his gaze inevitably drawn, Judah sighed and walked over, crouching in front of him.
The soldier gasped sharply, staring at Judah with eyes wide in terror. Yet he didn't avert his gaze. Meeting those eyes—mixed with fear and hostility—Judah reached out and gripped the long arrow embedded in the man's thigh. It was like wounding and healing in one go, but waiting was growing tedious anyway.
"Brace yourself."
Before the words fully left his mouth, Judah yanked the arrow out with force. Designed for penetration, its straight tip came free easily. If it had barbs, it would have torn flesh too, but ignoring the gushing blood, he tossed the arrow aside and pulled a Serenia Temple potion from <Bag>. He bit the cork to pop it free, then poured a generous amount over the wound. Seeing the soldier stare blankly at his actions, Judah stood, recorked it, tossed it back into <Bag>, and retrieved clean cloth and water.
Not for the soldier, but to wipe the blood from his hands and clothes.
"When's he coming?"
"...Soon, sir."
Glancing up at another soldier, Judah asked about the commander's arrival. After a brief silence, he got his answer. Silence fell again.
'Arhil will get suspicious.'
Time was running short. No, it was already late. Any longer, and she might grow suspicious or anxious. He could claim he had taken care of business and strolled back leisurely..., but she might not buy it. With a small sigh, Judah waited patiently a bit longer.
Fortunately, without further delay, a fully armored knight appeared in the distance, separate from the other cavalry. As he approached rapidly, the soldiers encircling Judah fell back. With his helmet visor down and right hand poised at his waist—ready to draw his sword at any moment—his wariness was palpable.
"Are you the one in charge?"
Conrad silently scrutinized Judah at the question. Quite young. Clearly an adult, but with the fresh-faced look of someone just come of age. Yet despite the youthful features, there was an air of nobility that forbade treating him lightly. And as the soldier had said, crossbow bolts littered the ground nearby, some snapped in two.
"Hey. Say something."
"...If you're asking for the one in charge, that's me. So you're the one impersonating a subordinate of Duke Iyes?"
Conrad stared piercingly at the young man before him. His eye twitched with displeasure, his gaze sharpening. An unsettling energy emanated from his body. Sensing the intimidating pressure, his horse shied back in fear. Conrad stirred his dormant mana to resist, but the soldiers weren't so fortunate—their faces stiffened. A low, menacing voice rang out.
"Impersonating? You dare insult me?"
"...I simply can't believe it. If you were truly the duke's subordinate, you could have passed through the castle quietly. Sneaking around like this only makes you more suspicious."
But the young man was unflinching.
"I hate hassle. The road is long; I can't afford to waste time in the castle. The duke's orders take priority over your procedures anyway. Whatever. Don't follow me anymore. I've got places to be."
The knight fell silent. Then, after a moment, he continued.
"I can't do that."
"What?"
"There's no proof you're the duke's subordinate. Show it to me or prove it. Evidence that you serve the duke... say, a Steel Knights pendant."
"Ha—why not just fetch the castellan? You wouldn't know anyway."
"Can't show it? Then no choice. We'll have to take you in."
Conrad raised his left hand. From the trailing cavalry to all around, every rider drew and aimed crossbows at Judah in unison. Though frozen in fear, they moved as drilled. Yet the young man showed no fear, tilting his head with a cold smile.
"Know your place. Even calling you out for insulting me by saying I'm impersonating the duke's subordinate is me going easy."
An intense pressure made cold sweat trickle down. As Conrad debated ordering them to fire, the young man slowly approached. His armor felt heavier. He dismissed it as imagination, but no—his horse's legs buckled, and it collapsed beneath him. Awkwardly perched atop, he struggled to rise, but even that proved difficult. The young man drew nearer, step by step. He needed to draw his sword, but he couldn't.
"What would the duke say if I killed you and all these soldiers here?"
"......!"