Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: When You're Relieved, That's When They Stab You in the Back
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A high cliff was visible from this spot, one that no deer had approached in years. Yet now, an ominous black gust of wind was stirring there.
Everett shaded his eyes with his hand and strained to see.
"What the hell is that?"
The black wind, which had looked like a mere speck, was growing larger by the second. And not only that—it was heading straight toward the outpost.
"Oh crap, what do I do?"
Until now, he had no idea how to deal with such otherworldly phenomena that weren't human. To make matters worse, he was on duty alone and couldn't send for backup.
Everett stamped his feet in frustration and glanced to the side.
"Should I ring the emergency bell?"
The bell that rang when disaster struck the territory. Ringing it would summon all the villagers to the lord's hall.
But what if this wasn't an emergency?
That thought made Everett hesitate to decide.
"Argh, this is driving me nuts. What the hell is that thing..."
Everett's words trailed off. His pupils dilated further.
"A-a horse?"
Indeed.
What had looked like a black wind from afar was actually a horse with a flowing black mane. Its speed was so blistering it was no wonder he'd mistaken it for the wind itself.
And atop it rode a figure in black robes.
"Am I dreaming?"
Everett rubbed his eyes furiously.
But the black horse remained in his vision, closing in on the outpost at an unbelievable speed.
"How is it so fast? It'll be here from that cliff in less than a minute."
As he muttered to himself, the horse drew close enough to make out details.
"And why is it so damn huge?"
Everett mumbled in bewilderment.
He swore he'd never seen a horse that massive. And was it his imagination, or were its eyes flashing gold?
"Nah, no way. Couldn't be."
In any case, it wasn't a natural phenomenon—it was a person riding a horse, which meant he had to check their identification.
Everett fidgeted anxiously with the spear leaning against the outpost. The unprecedented situation combined with his unease sparked all sorts of wild thoughts.
"No way they'll just try to barrel through the gate, right?"
Fortunately, the rider seemed to notice the gate and began slowing down. By the time they reached it, they were walking.
Clop, clop.
As expected of its size, the black horse's hooves thudded loudly. Each step sent vibrations through the ground from its immense weight.
"......"
Everett gripped his spear tighter. But as the horse drew nearer, he couldn't help but inwardly marvel.
Its coat gleamed with a silky sheen, its body packed with lean, powerful muscle without a trace of fat.
And beneath those lush lashes, its mesmerizing eyes were unmistakably golden.
'I wasn't seeing things.'
It wasn't a trick of the autumn sunlight. He swore he'd never heard of or seen such a beautiful, formidable steed in his life.
Finally, the horse came to a halt.
"Hoo."
A low sigh escaped from atop it.
Everett craned his neck to look up at the man seated there.
'Young guy, judging by the voice.'
The man's robe shifted slightly as he scanned the gate, then turned back toward Everett.
"......"
From the deep shadow of the black robe, piercing eyes stabbed down. Soon, a low voice followed.
"Is this Bezerc Territory?"
Everett couldn't respond right away.
It wasn't because the question was hard. It was just that the slightly husky voice was so captivating.
A youthful timbre laced with a deep, lingering weight that stopped you in your tracks, as if enchanted.
'His speech... sounds noble.'
Even at his young age, he spoke with the easy authority of command, and it suited him perfectly.
'Nah, no way. Couldn't be.'
Everett shook his head inwardly.
If the man were truly nobility, he wouldn't visit like this.
Nobles usually rolled up in fancy carriages, strutting through territories. And they sent word to the lord in advance.
'Why would a noble lord bother with a backwater place like this?'
Everett pondered briefly before answering.
"Yes, it is."
Still, he felt compelled to use formal speech. An inexplicable pressure emanated from the man, making him shrink back.
Everett tried to stay calm as he continued.
"Please show me identification."
"Ah, that."
The man nodded and leaped lightly from the horse.
'Whoa.'
Everett was momentarily awestruck.
The movement was so swift and light it seemed weightless. And he landed from that height without a hint of impact.
'Might ride better than Captain Robert.'
The man rummaged through the saddlebag connected to the saddle. Besides the bag, a large sack hung there too.
Everett stole glances at him, only to lock eyes with the horse staring right at him.
"Grrr."
The horse suddenly bared its teeth.
"Eek!"
Everett jumped back in fright.
"Grrr!"
The horse growled as if ready to charge.
"Blackstar, no."
At the man's word, it instantly calmed.
"Prff."
"No use whining. That's not food."
Everett gaped in horror.
'W-what? Food?'
He wanted to ask what that meant, what the hell he fed the horse, but
"Prff, prff."
The horse snorted furiously through flared nostrils, leaving him unable to speak. He just trembled and backed away as far as possible.
"I said no."
The man dismissed it firmly.
"Prff."
The horse finally turned its head away with a pout.
"Always like this."
The man chuckled as if finding the horse adorable—a stark contrast to Everett, who was now terrified.
"Where'd I put it?"
The man dug roughly through the saddlebag, clearly frustrated at not finding it.
"Tch, haven't used it in ages. Must be buried somewhere."
His hand brushed the hanging sack.
The loosely tied sack fell open. Something pitch-black inside spilled out onto the ground.
"Kyahhh!"
Everett couldn't hold back a scream.
It was a monster's head. Charred and grotesque.
"Ugh!! Uuugh...!"
The man clamped a hand over Everett's screaming mouth.
"Quiet."
The man's grip was ironclad. Everett couldn't break free, and the tightening squeeze hurt.
Everett made a pleading face, begging to be released.
"Ugh, ughghgh."
With his mouth covered, only weird noises came out. The man clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Calmed down now?"
Everett nodded frantically.
"No screaming. It's annoying."
The man's eyes gleamed coldly.
Everett nodded more slowly this time. He had a bad feeling that yelling again would end badly.
"Hmm..."
The man stared piercingly before slowly releasing his hand. The moment Everett could speak, he blurted out.
"W-what was that just now?"
"What else? A monster head."
"Wh-what kind of monster?"
"Who cares? It's dead."
The man scooped up the head and shoved it back into the sack. Everett's eyes followed, peering inside.
"-!"
Instead of screaming again, Everett clamped his own mouth shut.
'H-h-how many heads?'
The sack was stuffed with monster heads of all kinds. Just a glance showed over ten.
'Why only the heads? Does he collect monster heads?'
Everett's teeth chattered as he looked back at the man.
Dark thoughts filled his mind about what lurked under that robe. Maybe a vicious criminal.
'W-what do I do? Tell the captain?'
He seriously considered ringing the emergency bell.
"Anyway,"
The man tied the sack shut and approached the saddlebag, muttering loud enough to hear.
"First monster you've seen? A gate guard being this jumpy."
Feeling a bit indignant, Everett shot back.
"I've never even seen a monster in my life. That was my first."
"Figures, for this territory."
The man replied knowingly, then exclaimed.
"Found it."
Something flew toward Everett.
"Whoa."
Everett barely caught it.
"This is..."
A heavy metal identification token with engravings. He set aside thoughts of the bell and flipped it over.
"Please wait a moment."
His eyes widened at the front.
"Abel Ovest Kindriel?"
He'd heard the name before.
'The Kindriel family...'
He hurriedly recalled the noble list he'd memorized long ago for gate duty—though it was buried deep from disuse.
'The middle part is the territory name...?'
Everett's eyes nearly bulged out.
"N-no way?"
The famous Kindriel family ruling Ovest Territory in the west. Its lord, Diego Kindriel—the peerless swordsman dubbed the empire's strongest.
Didn't he have a son?
"A-Abel Kindriel...?"
Everett couldn't believe the token's owner stood before him. Especially lugging around dozens of monster heads.
Praying his eyes deceived him, he stiffly raised his head.
"Yeah."
The man threw back his robe.
Dust-caked blue hair, like a clear autumn sky, flipped up and settled.
Beneath it, pale but delicately sculpted features, with jewel-like cerulean eyes in the center.
"That's my name."
An inscrutable gleam flickered within them.
Everett stared blankly.
'T-the real Abel Kindriel?'
He knew little of distant nobles, but prominent western lords? Those he knew well.
And among them, Abel Kindriel was infamous. For all the wrong reasons.
Abel's lips curled slyly.
"Open the gate already."
For the first time in years, Everett regretted his past boredom. But as always, regret came too late.