Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Prairie Jackals (1)
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Erka raced through the mountains with his adjutant who followed him. Sunlight was already filtering through the leaves.
……Blood smell.
He caught the fishy metallic scent carried on the wind.
Mixed with a foul odor, it was clearly from monsters.
He pushed through the dense grass, following the smell.
Before long, he came upon the corpses of orcs strewn across the ground.
There were over about thirty orcs, sliced and crushed.
“It seems they’re nearby.”
Erka nodded at his adjutant’s words.
They backtracked against the flow of the orc corpses.
A short while later, his steps, which had been busy through the night, finally stopped.
Before him was a group of five men and two women eating dried meat.
Erka instantly recognized them as the Special Task Force ‘Prairie Jackals’.
Erka brought his hand to his brow in a salute powerful enough to echo through the forest.
“Sir! Third Battalion, Second Company Commander of the Raven Knight Order, Erka, at your service, Special Task Force ‘Prairie Jackals’!”
“Yeah. Found the guy yet?”
The largest among them spoke. Though it was his first time seeing them in person, Erka knew he was the vice-captain, Parfe.
Standing straight, he replied in a posture stiff with discipline.
“We haven’t confirmed his exact position yet.”
“Still haven’t found him?”
Parfe’s bushy eyebrows twitched like living things. Erka already knew his personality was as fierce as his rugged face.
Erka quickly added,
“My apologies. We confirmed he killed Major Itzriel, who led the Horned Deer Unit in Cartusi, but his movements after that are a complete mystery. The white lion mask makes tracking him extremely difficult.”
A woman who had been listening silently tilted her head.
“Itzriel? That guy had some skill. What was his level again?”
A woman in skin-tight leather that revealed her figure.
The whip coiled around her waist like a snake revealed her identity.
Snake Tongue, Kamian.
Erka continued his report, standing rigid as a wooden stick.
“Major Itzriel was formerly a knight of the Royal Palace Knight Order Leonir Lancers, judged to have reached Expert Upper Class.”
“Upper Class? Then he was no pushover.”
The Special Task Force reacted to the words ‘Upper Class’.
They themselves were all at Expert Upper Class in terms of level.
A slender man nearby spoke up. A long scar crossed his brow—Horqin.
“Upper Class varies. A backwater bum like him and us are on different levels altogether.”
He didn’t know Itzriel’s skill, but it wasn’t wrong. As he said, even within the same Upper Class, the gap was clear.
Because a single level encompassed such a vast range.
Horqin continued.
“That white lion bastard will lose his head to me if he gets cocky over catching one guy.”
A handsome man who had been listening quietly grinned and followed up.
“Oh? Then what about a whole company of the Raven Knight Order? Think you can handle that alone?”
“…….”
Horqin groaned without retort. The one who cut him off was the captain of the ‘Prairie Jackals’, Isolluni.
“Don’t underestimate him. From what he’s done, he’s clearly reached Top Class. That’s why we’re here.”
“There’s talk from the Cartusi Imperial Army that the white lion is two people.”
“Two?”
Erka compiled and relayed what he’d heard from the Cartusi Imperial Army.
Isolluni grinned.
“Doesn’t matter how many there are. One-on-one maybe, but in group combat, we win for sure.”
His voice carried solid pride.
Even if both were Top Class, the ‘Prairie Jackals’ had one Top Class and six Upper Class—an asymmetric force.
In rough calculations of Expert-level power, five Upper Class equaled one Top Class, so they held objective superiority. Above all, the ‘Prairie Jackals’ were renowned for their coordinated attacks.
They couldn’t lose even if they tried.
“I wanna see the white lion’s face. Wonder what they look like.”
Kamian licked her upper lip with her red tongue. But unlike her curiosity, Parfe vented his frustration.
“The problem is we don’t know where they are. Chasing that cat’s tail, when will we even meet?!”
“We’re not crazy enough to chase him.”
As all eyes turned to him, Isolluni continued with a bored expression.
“We make him come to us.”
He looked at Erka.
“That bastard’s with the independence army, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then he must hate Francia with a passion.”
“Probably.”
He wasn’t sure, but independence army types were like that. People who readily gave their lives for nation and people.
“What’s the nearest village on the map from here?”
Erka thought for a moment before answering.
“There’s a village called Arten right over the mountains. Closest from here.”
“Good. Then spread posters to all cities and villages he might reach after passing Cartusi. If he doesn’t come to Arten within a week—.”
Isolluni’s eyes flashed with cold menace.
“We’ll wipe Arten off the map.”
At the casual declaration of massacre, Erka swallowed dryly.
The ‘Prairie Jackals’ were infamous even among Special Task Forces for their brutality.
Originally famous war mercenaries, hired by Governor Halent as a Special Task Force—their notoriety was no lie.
……What to do.
Erka hesitated, unable to answer easily.
Wiping out an innocent village? Absurd.
Isolluni’s smile faded as he asked.
“Don’t understand what I mean?”
“N-No, sir. I’ll do it!”
Erka shook off stray thoughts.
Sending the Prairie Jackals specifically meant the governor’s office tacitly approved such measures.
He just had to obey.
* * *
An early morning with mountains shrouded in clouds.
Before departing, we were in Cracker’s tent at his request.
He had gifts for Allen and Iriel, excluding me.
The one who worked hardest was me.
An outrageous decision.
“Nothing special for you. You’re not sulking, right?”
“Do I look that petty?”
I countered his question with a question.
I distinguish between being indignant and sulking. I absolutely wasn’t sulking. Just displeased with his action.
“Their faces were exposed while saving us.”
Unlike me in a mask, they hadn’t worn coverings while disguised as imperial soldiers.
The enemies would remember their faces.
“So I prepared these gifts.”
Cracker carefully set a jewelry box from behind on the table and rummaged inside. Moments later, his rough hand held a teardrop ruby necklace the size of a fingernail.
“Oh, so cute and pretty.”
Iriel cradled the necklace in her palm, unable to look away. Cracker puffed up as he spoke.
“It’s not just a necklace—it’s an artifact that allows simple disguise.”
“Really?”
Iriel’s pupils widened with anticipation as she hung it around her neck. Her face flushed with delight.
“Try channeling mana into it.”
Following Cracker’s words, the necklace vibrated lightly as it absorbed her mana.
Woooong.
Simultaneously, Iriel’s hair from the crown turned red.
Her sapphire-blue locks quickly took on ruby hue.
“Ooh!”
She brought her short hair before her eyes and exclaimed in admiration. Allen, watching her, said in surprise.
“Your eye color changed too!”
“Huh?”
“Look.”
Cracker handed a mirror to her wide-eyed self. Iriel angled the mirror this way and that, then clasped her hands and squealed at Cracker.
“Thank you so much! For real!”
So pleased, she couldn’t put down the mirror, staring intently at her reflection.
“How do I look? Too pretty, right?”
“Umhaha! Seeing you so happy makes me feel good too! Take it, no burden!”
Cracker laughed heartily, stroking his rough beard.
By now, Allen’s eyes sparkled as much as Iriel’s necklace.
Cracker raised a finger at him, then rummaged in the box again.
Moments later, he pulled out a bundle of black thread.
It looked like a clump of hair at a glance.
“This is an all-purpose wig!”
Opening with a proud voice, Cracker placed it atop his shiny bald head.
The thread clump wriggled, adhering perfectly and forming a natural style.
“How’s that? Killer, right?”
Cracker grinned toothily, thumbs up.
“Didn’t use it in this assassination, but it’s my go-to for every op. Hairstyle affects impression hugely. With this, you can easily hide your identity.”
“R-Really?”
Allen received the thread clump like handling a creepy spider.
“……But does it blend naturally over existing hair?”
“Of course!”
Cracker replied confidently.
“If you have hair, it won’t work properly.”
Allen flinched while placing the clump on his head. His eyes shook anxiously.
“W-What does that mean?”
Cracker pulled scissors and a razor from a desk drawer.
“Means you gotta shave your head bald like me to use it.”
He smacked his bald pate slickly.
It made a sticky sound each time.
“I don’t shave for nothing. Go bald daily, wig only for disguise—the effect is fantastic.”
“W-Wait. So you live bald normally?!”
Allen shrieked. Enemies remembered him with hair. To hide, he’d have to shave.
“Don’t worry. Way more convenient than you think.”
“That’s not the issue!”
Allen was on the verge of tears.
“I don’t need this gift!”
He tossed the thread clump on the table like something repulsive. Cracker shook his head, persuading.
“Unlike Iriel, your portrait will circulate. She was in a group; you stood bold before soldiers. They all saw your face clear. Me? Rebuilding the stronghold means no outings for years. So I’m giving you my spare life artifact.”
Allen earnestly asked the serious Cracker.
“……Anything else? Something accessory-like, simple and reliable like Iriel’s.”
Cracker shook his head.
“Nope. This is best.”
“…….”
Allen gazed at the black threads, stroking his hair. Then he looked at me pitifully.
“Jenness-nim…….”
“Portraits mean trouble moving between cities. Disguise for the schedule.”
“……Kuhk.”
Abandoned even by me, Allen slumped. Then, like entering a coffin,
“……Shave it.”
“Don’t worry. Can’t reattach a head, but hair grows back.”
Cracker clapped his shoulder steadfastly.
“Such comfort.”
They went to the next tent. Snip-snip sounds and Allen’s short groans followed. Iriel pitied him.
“……Allen-hyung, what now?”
“Feels empty at first, but you’ll adapt quick. Punching feels better too.”
“Eeek?!”
Horrified, Iriel glared like I was a demon.
Moments later, Allen returned with Cracker. The two bald heads brightened the tent.
“Suits you. Brings out your features.”
I gave rare praise. The shine reminded me fondly of that Shaolin monk.
We got along great.
“H-Hyung…….”
Iriel covered her mouth at bald Allen, struggling for words.
Allen stroked his bald head, staring in the mirror. Eyes teary, but it suited him well.
“And normally, use it as a beard like this.”
Cracker attached the threads to Allen’s chin; they naturally became a goatee. Now it looked like two Crackers.
“W-Wait. Then you could’ve just bearded without shaving!”
Allen stammered in panic, but Cracker firmly shook his head.
“They’re not idiots. Beard alone won’t dodge suspicion. Bald plus beard changes impression completely.”
“Definitely looks different…….”
Iriel nodded. Seeing him turn bandit-like instantly, couldn’t deny Cracker.
“…….”
Even he, in the mirror, couldn’t deny it. His own impression totally changed. Allen removed the beard, pocketed it.
“……I’ll just go like this normally.”
I patted the loss-stricken shoulder.
The brief gift-giving ended; we left the tent toward the stronghold exit.
Stronghold folk gathered at the gate to see us off. Changed Allen was huge buzz.
In the commotion, Cracker bid me farewell.
“Truly thanks!”
“Enough. Getting tiresome.”
I brushed off his clasped hands, turned.
“Then take care, everyone!”
Allen and Iriel followed, finishing goodbyes.
Exiting, we walked into dense woods.
Bandits waved and shouted thanks till we vanished.
Iriel and Allen turned back, waving each step.
Short time, but sharing life-risking battlefield built bonds.
Gradually distancing, we soon walked quiet forest.
Felt back on track.
“Let’s push to the capital again!”
Leading Allen motivated spiritedly.
Golden scales shimmered atop his head.