Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 7
Ilene (5)
The bandits' hideout was not very far from the stream. Following the bandit, Ilene soon discovered a cabin surrounded by the forest.
"It is right there. Princess."
Although the bandit guided her kindly, when she was about to enter, she couldn't take a step easily. Ilene looked around without realizing it. All she could hear in this dense forest hidden by moonlight was the dismal sound of the wind.
But regardless of her anxiety, the door of the cabin had already opened.
"Please go inside."
"O-Okay."
Right, I can't go back after coming this far. After taking a deep breath, Ilene entered the cabin. The murky air and dark shadows there welcomed the unfamiliar guest.
"Well, well. To think I would meet such a noble person in a place like this."
Cedric welcomed her, opening his arms exaggeratedly. However, instead of greeting him, she counted the people inside the cabin first.
Twelve people who looked like bandits. And one horned demon sitting on the floor tied with ropes.
What if this is all a trap, and these people attack at the same time? At that dizzying thought, just as she grabbed her sword unconsciously.
"This Cedric. Meets the noble Princess on this land."
Cedric bowed flat and showed excessive courtesy, relieving her wariness. And then he made his subordinates wait outside. Only Cedric, the demon, and Ilene remained in the cabin.
"The sin of daring to make the Princess move her steps to this place. Truly, I deserve to die a hundred times. Please do not forgive this humble one's mistake."
Having lived a long life as an adventurer, he knew well how to appease those high-nosed people.
And seeing that appearance, Ilene was finally relieved and let go of her sword.
"You don't need to be so polite. I, Ilene, will never forget the big decision everyone made today."
"Ah! Is that true?"
So you really were the Princess? And the 1st Princess at that.
Cedric stood up, hiding the corners of his mouth that were going up. With a servile expression, he guided her to the captured demon.
"Now, now. Don't be like this and please check the demon we captured first. If you take this guy to the Kingdom, Your Majesty will also be greatly pleased."
"Yes. Surely he will."
Looking at the tied demon, she imagined her Royal Father praising her. Furthermore, thinking she protected the peace of the Kingdom without any sacrifice, she couldn't hide her overwhelming emotions.
This time, he will acknowledge it too. And she hoped he would understand with this opportunity. The fact that the battlefield isn't just such a cruel place.
She smiled pleasingly, recalling Carmil admiring this matter.
"Ahem. I, Ilene, the 1st Princess of the Ar Kingdom. I swear on my honor and name. From this moment on, I will treat Cedric and his subordinates as formal prisoners. In that process, I will not tolerate anyone daring to harm their bodies and honor."
"Thank you. Princess."
At her oath, Cedric put his hand on his chest and bowed. Moved by that appearance, she praised him, trying to be composed.
"I am the one thankful. Thanks to everyone mustering courage like this, we can finish the work without any damage."
"No. I was just moved by the appearance of the Princess letting my subordinates go and treating them as prisoners, so like this..."
"Cedric?"
What is happening suddenly? He stopped talking and his body shook little by little.
"Like this... I mean, pfft. Ah, I shouldn't laugh already. Ah really, what is wrong with me?"
"...Cedric? Why are you suddenly like that."
"Ah, I am sorry. Princess. I tried to hold it in somehow, but really this is, hehe, I just can't help laughing."
Saying that, he soon laughed louder as if he couldn't bear it. As he giggled clutching his stomach with two hands, Ilene unconsciously stepped back at that eerie appearance.
"Princess? Where are you going? You have to take this demon guy here too. Didn't you say you would acknowledge my merit?"
"Y-You. You deceived me."
"Kukuku. Ah please. Our innocent Princess. There is a limit to being stupid. How did you even think of coming all the way here alone believing just the words of a bandit? I even suspected maybe I was the one falling into a trap, you know?"
Before she knew it, his voice and tone had changed. Ilene drew her sword without hesitation and aimed it at him.
"How dare you. How dare you mock our Royal Family! I will never forgive you."
"Puhahaha! For someone who was deceived and came here on her own feet, you are quite confident, aren't you? Now that I've confirmed your head is empty, shall I check your skills once too!"
Sh-ring-
She flinched for a moment seeing Cedric draw his sword. With a physique twice as big as hers, a rotten smell vibrated from his sword. Even she could know that it was the smell of blood.
"Phew. Don't regret it."
Clang!
Calming her breath, she swung her sword first. The one in front of her is at most a bandit boss. She had the experience of winning against the famous Knight Order Captains of the Empire.
At her ensuing offensive, Cedric started to be pushed back gradually.
"Now! Surrender even now."
"Kuk!? D-Don't tell me a Princess was this strong! Damn, I shouldn't have attacked!"
Before long, Cedric's back hit the wall. There was no place to retreat anymore, and seeing his terrified expression, Ilene didn't doubt her victory.
And finally, after dozens of exchanges, the tip of her sword pierced Cedric's wrist.
Just as she was convinced of victory.
-Thud!
"Ah?"
For a moment, she didn't understand what happened. Definitely, she was the one who won, but for some reason, she was the one kneeling.
Looking down to find the cause, Cedric's fist was crushing her upper right abdomen.
"How is it. Are your eyes open a bit now?"
"Keo, keoheok...!"
At Cedric's words, only then did she realize something was wrong. She looked at Cedric's wrist she stabbed and made an incomprehensible expression.
"Why, why. I won..."
"Wow. Our Princess lived her life comfortably until now. Declaring victory on your own just because you stabbed a vital point once? You seem to think this is some practice sparring."
Thud!
"Ahuk!?"
"It will hurt a lot. You won't be able to breathe well either. That happens to be where the liver is located."
Just as he said, it was a terrible pain to the point where fainting would be better. Being hit in the same place twice, her body trembled on its own at the pain she was experiencing for the first time.
"Haa, haa. Ugh..."
She had to get up somehow, but her legs wouldn't listen. She tried to at least draw her sword, but even that didn't work. Because Cedric twisted her arm, it didn't budge.
"What are you doing? You said you'd make me regret it. You should wake up quickly."
Saying that, Cedric raised his hand high again. Seeing the fist several times bigger than her hand, she let go of the sword and wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"S-Stop! Please stop hitting!!"
"...Wow. A bitch calling herself a knight lets go of her sword? Just because she got hit barely two times? I really want to spread rumors about this somewhere."
"Please, please stop. Since I lost... please stop now..."
She curled up her body to protect her stomach. Seeing that appearance, Cedric smirked instead of hitting more and sat on a chair.
Clatter- He pulled out the sword stuck in his wrist and threw it on the floor, but Ilene didn't even dare to think of picking it up again.
The demon who had been watching that situation all along untied the ropes and approached him.
"Can we stop the acting now?"
"Oh. Come to think of it, you were there. It was fun playing with the Princess so I forgot for a moment."
"Then let's take that thing and move to our side now. We'll do the remaining transaction there too."
At those words, Cedric scratched his head. Actually, the Princess over there is at most an appetizer. Because the main dish hasn't even come yet.
Where and what is the War Hero doing by now? Surely he must be pale looking for the disappeared Princess? Taking that Princess to where he is, really, it will be quite a sight to see.
I can't miss that fun opportunity.
"Wait a little. Isn't it a bit disappointing for you guys to take just corpses of village guys? While we're at it, it's better to take the 'Hero's' head too. Don't you think?"
"...Fine. Instead, don't drag it out for long."
The demon leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Cedric started tying Ilene with ropes, and she couldn't even think of resisting. Because she was just trembling while looking at his fist.
Noticing that gaze, he grinned.
"Right. Stay still. You don't want to get beaten again, right?"
"..."
"But you know what? Now because of you, that War Hero is going to die too. I was sure when you bitch let my subordinates go during the day and took them as prisoners. Ah, today because of that one stupid bitch, the Kingdom will lose a hero. That bitch is ruining not only her life but also others' lives together."
"...Keuheup, heuk!"
Tears that didn't come out even when getting hit flowed out on their own hearing those words. Seeing that, Cedric sneered and nodded.
"Right. Just act cute like that wherever you go from now on. With your face, you'll be loved no matter who you're sold to. Don't act up like earlier and get hit for nothing."
"Heuk, I beg you. Please stop. I won't tell anyone what happened today so..."
"Okay, I got it. Let's take the War Hero's head first. And let me have some fun too. Fuck, since I couldn't screw a woman all day today because of you guys, you should take responsibility instead, right?"
Saying that, he stroked her hair. Even at that creepy touch, she couldn't even think of resisting. Rather, she resented herself for being relieved at the fact that he didn't hit her.
"Now. Since the hostage is all tied up. Shall we go to welcome our War Hero slowly!"
"Really? Just in time."
At that moment, a strange voice was heard from outside the cabin. Just as the demon and Cedric both grabbed their weapons at that uninvited guest.
"Uh?"
Only then did they realize something was wrong.
Creaaak.
Along with the sound of old hinges, a knight covered in red blood revealed himself.