Chapter 15
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Fault Forest (1)
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A single carriage pulled by two horses clip-clopped along the road.
"Hey, that Sir Zaroph. His posture in the saddle is so impressive, isn't it?"
Christine, who had pulled back the curtain on the rear window of the carriage to peer outside, chattered on.
"It is, rather."
Mia pretended to have no particular interest, but in truth, she had been stealing glances at Blake every time Christine opened the curtain. She replied in a deliberately bored tone.
Her attention was fixed not on Lindelmann, but on Blake.
I have to convince him, no matter what.
Unfortunately, despite having left Headgates quite some time ago, she hadn't had a proper chance to speak with him.
Mia's gaze turned toward the rear of the carriage, where the two men were surely following.
"I absolutely have to convince him."
"Huh? What was that?"
"Nothing. Anyway, where are we now? Sir Carlson, how far have we come?"
"We'll enter Fault Forest soon. Why, are you tired? Shall we rest a bit?"
Brick's voice came from the driver's seat.
"No. There's an open clearing after we pass over Fault Forest pass, right? Let's rest there."
"Very well."
The carriage pressed on.
Christine was once again absorbed in watching Lindelmann through the gap in the curtain, and taking advantage of the moment, Mia furtively glanced at Blake as well.
"Strange."
"Oh! What's strange?"
Blake, who hadn't properly answered questions since leaving Headgates, spoke first for once, and Lindelmann brightened up.
"I can't figure out why they keep staring at us."
"Staring? Who?"
Lindelmann looked around in bewilderment.
But all he could see were mountains and fields painted in pale whites and blues, along with a few scattered farmhouses.
"Come on, who could be staring..."
"The two girls in the carriage have been watching us since earlier."
"Oh!"
Lindelmann's face lit up as he turned his gaze toward the carriage.
But there was no way he could notice the glances peeking through the narrow curtain slit.
"How could they be watching?"
"There's a narrow gap at the back. The older girl is staring openly, and the younger one is sneaking peeks."
Blake spoke bluntly as he stared at the rear of the carriage.
"Hmm. I have no idea. You can really see that?"
Lindelmann squinted and craned his neck, then tilted his head.
"I can see it. The older girl just met my eyes and quickly dropped the curtain."
"Is that so? Hmm."
Lindelmann shot Blake a suspicious look.
It was hard to believe that from over ten meters ahead, he could peer through a hole the size of a finger at the back of the carriage and make out what was happening inside. He wasn't some eagle-eyed hawk.
But Lindelmann's expression soon brightened.
Brick, seated up front, turned around and shouted loudly.
"Let's rest a bit once we reach the top of the pass!"
"Oh! I'll go ahead and secure the spot!"
Thinking he could finally persuade Blake in earnest during the break, Lindelmann cheerfully overtook the carriage and headed up to the pass.
Blake silently rode on, his eyes on Lindelmann and the carriage.
A group with two girls.
From the moment he realized who was inside the carriage, Blake's mind had flashed back to what Jude of the Credo Swordsmen Corps had said yesterday.
And now, Blake was certain that the very people the Credo Swordsmen Corps were seeking were riding in the carriage right before his eyes.
Moreover, when they had left Winterflower, one of the Credo Swordsmen Corps members with whom he had clashed yesterday had been walking down the road, spotted him, and immediately turned back on his heels.
They were undoubtedly following, and given their slow pace, it was almost certain they would run into the Credo Swordsmen Corps while resting atop the pass.
In that case...
A sharp glint briefly flickered in Blake's impassive eyes before vanishing.
In the broadest basin, Lindelmann tried to claim the cleanest spot.
"This is fi..."
Just as Brick nodded, the horse Blake rode passed them by and headed into a recently split path leading deeper into the basin.
"Tch!"
Lindelmann shrugged once and followed Blake, with Brick bringing up the rear by driving the carriage after them.
Soon, Blake dismounted and tied his horse to a tree.
"Hmm."
Brick parked the carriage inside the path and got down, scanning the surroundings with a puzzled look.
The spot Blake had chosen was right at the boundary where the basin met the forest.
Scattered trees made it somewhat inconvenient for people to move around, but severely restrictive for horses to run.
"Mm-hmm!"
Christine, with a prim expression, paced around the carriage while stealing glances at Lindelmann.
But unfortunately, all his attention was focused on Blake.
"Uh, Blake."
"Why do you call?"
He responded, but Blake didn't turn his gaze toward Lindelmann.
His eyes were fixed solely on the pass they had ascended.
Lindelmann bristled for a moment but held it in, forcing a smile as he spoke.
"No matter how I think about it, I'm worried. Someone like you who only knows how to swing a sword and nothing of the world—if you're going to travel this harsh world, wouldn't it be best to keep an excellent advisor like me by your side for a long time? At least until we leave the North."
"That's true enough."
Lindelmann brightened at the unexpected response.
"Oh! See, exactly! So, let's go to the White Family together. Help with just one tiny thing, very briefly, and then we can part ways. I have so many stories to tell you."
"Then why not start now? You could give me plenty of information until our paths split."
"Wha..."
Lindelmann's face crumpled at the blunt tone.
He really was impossible to talk to.
It was even more infuriating because it didn't seem like teasing—he meant it.
"I'll ask you too, Blake. We'll make it worth your while, so won't you help the White Family a bit? No, at least hear us out first."
Brick stepped in politely.
"..."
Yet Blake's gaze remained only on the pass and the basin.
"Haa..."
As Lindelmann sighed softly and Brick frowned, Mia, who had been standing quietly, spoke up cautiously.
"Um... I'll give you whatever amount you want. Please, help us. I beg you, Sir Blake."
"Miss..."
Brick startled and turned to her.
But Mia's eyes were fixed only on Blake.
"..."
Blake still gave no reply. But for the first time, his head turned slightly.
Mia flinched at the cold, silent gaze that betrayed no hint of his thoughts.
But she didn't avert her eyes.
Staring straight into Mia's eyes, Blake parted his lips.
"I'm no knight, so don't call me 'sir'."
"Th-then I'll call you Mr. Blake. Please help us, Mr. Blake."
Mia clung close to him as if pleading desperately.
Something surprising happened then.
Blake, stingy with emotions, slightly furrowed his brow and stepped back a little.
Of course, the only one shocked by Blake's action was Lindelmann.
Brick and the two sisters were encountering Blake for the first time today, so they simply thought he was displeased.
"S-sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
Mia hurriedly backed away and apologized.
But Blake hardened his already expressionless face even colder and turned his gaze away.
"It's fine."
Thinking she had thoroughly ruined Blake's mood, Mia flushed red, flustered, and bowed her head.
"I-I'm sorry. Really sorry."
"Uh, hey, the young miss is apologizing like this—why not accept it?"
Lindelmann cautiously intervened.
Blake then lifted his head.
"In that case, I accept the apology. But don't come close to me. As I said before, I don't like talking to girls like you."
"Yes. I'm sorry. Really sor... sob!"
Overwhelmed by guilt and hurt, Mia couldn't hold back her tears and covered her mouth as she turned away.
Smart and bold as she was, she was still just a fourteen-year-old girl.
"Goodness. A grown man making a child cry... There, there. Miss Mia, stop crying."
Lindelmann comforted Mia while eyeing Blake.
This could be my chance to pressure him into...
Perfect!
"Hey, Blake, you might not know, but in the North, there's a saying that if a man makes a woman cry, he has to grant her one wish..."
Seizing the moment, Lindelmann started spouting nonsense, but he had to stop immediately.
Blake had raised his open palm high.
"What..."
Lindelmann squinted one eye.
"Over there."
Blake directed his raised hand toward the faint view of the lower pass visible through the trees.
"Huh? What's there? What is it?"
He looked where Blake pointed, but saw nothing.
Just the narrow path they had taken winding through the forest.
"What's going on?"
Sensing something off, Brick narrowed his eyes and peered at the spot, but he saw nothing either.
Blake was different.
"About twenty horses. All armed, but no heavy infantry."
He already knew who they were but didn't say it outright.
"What? No, where... Huh?!"
"Mm!"
Lindelmann and Brick widened their eyes.
Midway up the mountain, where the road curved sharply into the forest, a group of about a dozen riders was swiftly rounding the bend.
Still a bit distant, but at that speed, they'd arrive here soon enough.
Then a cold voice pierced their ears.
"Red circle with a white flower on the flag. It's those guys from yesterday. The Credo Swordsmen Corps."
"...!"
Brick, who had briefly widened his eyes, hurriedly turned to the two sisters.
"Get in the carriage! Hurry!"
"A-ah, yes!"
"Sir Zaroph, mount up too. We need to leave this place quickly!"
"B-but..."
"Now!"
Brick leaped onto the driver's seat and bellowed.
Lindelmann, with a resigned look, headed toward his horse.
"Too late."
"...!"
Blake's voice reached Brick's ear just as he was about to set off, causing him to whip his head around in shock.
"Ugh!"
His expression turned to despair.
As Blake said, the riders bearing the Credo Family's flag were already rounding the final bend of the pass.
Even if they fled now, they'd be caught in no time.
In that case...
Brick bit his lip hard beneath his mustache and jumped down from the carriage.
Shing!
His longsword was drawn from its sheath.
"S-Sir Carlson!"
"Sir Zaroph, get ready too."
Speaking in a low voice, Brick raised his longsword straight up, gleaming coldly in the faint sunlight.
Lindelmann hesitated briefly but soon nodded firmly, drawing his sword and gripping the reins with his other hand, ready to charge at any moment.
Thud thud thud thud!
As the harsh sound of hooves drummed closer up the pass, tension etched deeper into the two knights' faces.
Then, Blake—who had been silently watching them—suddenly stepped in front of the pair.
"Hm?"
"Wh-what are you doing?"
The startled knights stared wide-eyed at Blake's broad back.
With his back to them, Blake spoke coldly.
"Still can't kill them, right?"
(To be continued in the next installment)