Chapter 85
Chapter 85
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in the Count Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
21 warhorses thundered forward.
The warhorses of this world were trained through special methods, boasting specs incomparable to those of real-world horses. Not only were they faster than ordinary horses, but their size and strength were no joke either.
When a knight who wielded aura charged into battle atop one, no ordinary infantryman could hope to stop them.
And right now, these warhorses were focused solely on running, wearing nothing but a single rein. The surrounding scenery whipped by in blurs. The rhythmic clatter of hooves sounded downright menacing.
Tch. Riding this thing is tough.
I was riding with Head Butler Hasent. He held the reins from behind me, controlling the horse. I hadn't learned to ride yet.
Even with a saddle, every gallop sent jolts through me. Part of it was my small frame, but mostly because the warhorse was charging so wildly. I clenched my lower body tight to stay on.
I'd rather be on a motorcycle.
The problem was the terrain wasn't motorcycle-friendly. The ground was littered with jagged rocks, and we'd soon cut through a forest. Horses were perfect for this.
What I really want is a helicopter...
Impossible. Sure, I could steal one from the Vampire Detective world.
But inventory only held what I could physically carry. No matter the size, if I could lift it, it went in. If not, even tiny items stayed out.
"Young Master Eugene!"
Hent called from right behind me. Hasent knew the exact route to Artel Village, so we led the charge.
"What is it?!"
"Is Artel Village really that important? Do we have to gallop like this?!"
A fair question. We'd taken off at full speed out of nowhere.
"It's a small village on the frontier, sure, but it's still part of our Prukus territory. If it's under attack, of course we step in!"
I gave a suitable excuse. Most of the Plun Knight Order were commoner-born, and Hent was a mercenary, but knights couldn't ignore their code. Commoners often pursued chivalry even more fervently.
"That's right! Protecting the territory's people—that's a knight's duty!"
Hent was thrilled. It had been a while since they'd done something knightly. On reflection, this would make for a fine tale of valor.
Artel Village itself isn't important.
Artel was a settlement of fugitives. They barely paid taxes. Without me, House Prukus wouldn't have even known it existed.
If it vanished overnight, no one in Prukus territory would bat an eye.
The person in Artel Village is what's important.
Yuria Grace. Kyle's enemy from the latter half of the story.
The author-certified greatest genius and assassin in the world.
Even protagonist Kyle couldn't match her talent.
Kyle only killed Yuria Grace because he grew through opportunities. Fans analyzed that without them, under equal conditions, Kyle would've lost.
In the original, her backstory gets a brief mention. Living in Artel Village, this incident turns her into a back-alley assassin.
She becomes an Aura Master young enough to assassinate a ducal family. Her nickname in the story: Dark Emperor.
In short, power inflation.
She had all sorts of backstory, but it felt slapped together.
My goal: Raise Yuria Grace—before she becomes a back-alley killer—into my personal assassin. One who obeyed without question would make things so much easier.
It was also insurance, in case things went south and I faced Kyle.
"I'm going in! Hold the line!"
"Ooh! The young master's sense of justice is burning bright!"
"As knights, we can't fall behind!"
"For Prukus justice!"
Knights were creatures obsessed with honor that paid nothing.
Artel Village lay on the outskirts of the Abyssal Floodplain.
The Abyssal Floodplain was a forbidden zone known to all continent-dwellers. Monsters popped out sporadically, and no adventurer who'd ventured to its heart ever returned to reveal its secrets.
It repelled most people, making it ideal for fugitives.
Artel Village was built by all sorts: criminals, debtors, wanted men, cripples, slaves.
Aside from occasional forest monsters, no one ever came. It was quite peaceful.
Until just now. Until sunset began.
Artel Village was in chaos. Battle cries and screams echoed everywhere. Flames rose from spots around the village.
The Pfrex Mercenary Corps—no, bandits masquerading as mercenaries—had raided it.
Artel was a criminal haven, but its population was under 100, with fewer than 20 fighters. Poverty meant poor gear.
The Pfrex Bandits numbered over 30 seasoned combatants. Artel stood no chance.
"Ria!"
Nel Rins burst into the house. Black-haired and filthy, she was gaunt.
"Yes, Mother."
Yuria Grace answered calmly, reading as instructed. Her face was eerily emotionless.
Matted, soot-streaked hair. Sunken cheeks, skin clinging to bones. She looked as rough as Nel. But Yuria's blue eyes gleamed serenely.
"Bandits are raiding the village. It's extremely dangerous."
"......"
"Ria. What did I teach you to do in an emergency?"
"Grab the emergency funds, hide in the woodpile out back, and slip into the forest when the chance comes."
"Good. Ria! This is that emergency—move now!"
"......What about you, Mother?"
"I'll hold them off here. It's too late to escape together... No need to hide. Ria, run to the forest now!"
As Yuria hesitated, Nel scowled and raised her voice.
"Hurry!"
Yuria bit her lower lip and moved. She opened the hidden floor compartment, grabbing the emergency funds—money saved to flee Rapelli Kingdom for a southern one someday.
She then snatched the bedside emergency pack. Always ready, stocked with food and a dagger.
"Go! Hurry!"
Nel urged her on. Yuria slipped out the back wooden window. Straight ahead lay the forest—monster-infested, easy to get lost in, perfect for shaking pursuers.
"Ria. If you remember what I taught you, you'll survive."
Nel watched her daughter recede through the window, then trashed the room.
To erase traces of her daughter. Even if incomplete, it'd buy time.
Nel opened the corner wardrobe, pulling a sword hidden among ragged clothes. She'd sold her armor but kept and maintained the blade.
Gripping it, she eyed the door.
"Hahaha! Loot it all! Kill the men, rape the women!"
Yuria Grace tried fleeing to the forest but turned back. She quietly hid behind the house in the woodpile, holding her breath and peeking through a wall crack.
She hadn't fled as told to memorize the bandits' faces. Silent didn't mean emotionless. Hatred burned in Yuria's eyes.
She was confident she could escape anytime. Sunset would soon yield to night. In the dark forest, even rough bandits couldn't track her on unfamiliar paths.
Yuria watched her mother draw the sword from the wardrobe. Maybe she'd slaughter them all. Her mother was an ex-knight with formidable swordsmanship.
"Hahaha! Loot it all! Kill the men, rape the women!"
The bandit's grating voice rang out, followed by others' laughter mixing with villagers' screams. Chaos.
"Oh. What's this? A sword-wielding woman?"
"Skinny as hell. Figures for a dump like this."
"Look closer. Face ain't bad. Sell her as a slave, we'll make a killing."
Nel advanced boldly, sword in hand.
"Did you come for me?"
The six bandits exchanged glances, then burst into gut-busting laughter.
"Kuhahaha!"
"Came for you? Think you're a princess?"
"Kekeke. Crazy bitch. Makes sense living in this shithole."
"Drop the sword and take it quietly. Outcome's the same—don't waste energy."
The bandits approached with various weapons, maintaining distance to encircle her.
"Just here to pillage...? Lucky, then."
"Madwoman. Lucky my ass. Get her!"
They charged in unison—trained movements.
Nel focused her breathing, gripped the sword two-handed, and swung. Unbelievable power from her bony arms.
And above all.
A bluish aura shimmered on Nel's blade.
"What the—! Aura!"
Sword aura—also called aura—was mana made manifest.
"Aura Expert?!"
"This crazy bitch! Runaway knight?!"
Too late. They were too close.
Nel swung in earnest. The aura-wreathed blade cleaved flesh effortlessly.
"Aaaagh!"
"You fucking bitch!!"
The bandits fought on, screaming.
They weren't Experts but could sense mana to some degree.
Still, outmatched. Nel hadn't wielded a sword in years, but a knight's life and experience didn't vanish.
Five bandits dead, one left trembling, plotting escape.
"What're you doing."
A red-haired bandit appeared. Ugly, missing one ear.
Pfrex, leader of the Pfrex Bandits, One-Ear Pfrex.
"B-Boss! This damn woman's an Aura Expert!"
"Figures."
Bandits from around the village converged, dragging women by the hair. Loot.
Pfrex glared sharply at Nel.
"Found you at last. Nel Rins."
"You......"
"Heard you got a kid. Where?"
"Who sent you? Him? ...Or her?"
"You're dying anyway—asking questions?"
Pfrex scanned around Nel. No one else. She'd probably smuggled the kid out. Nel's house was in the remotest corner, so they were late.
"Whatever. Say we killed the kid too."
The info guild had sniffed them out. Grab the cash and bolt.
The client who wanted Nel dead was shady—would try silencing them in some alley. Better flee with the money first.
"B-Boss. Weren't we just here to rob the place?"
"You know it. Hurt? Kill the bitch."
"No. Boss. She's top-tier for this village, right? Waste to kill her."
"Kill her. Or you want to die instead?"
"......We'll kill her."
"Don't be too bummed. Rape after if you want."
"Hehe. Right."
The bandits encircled Nel from all sides. Knights weren't invincible. With thorough prep, even a knight could fall unscathed.