Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Escort for the Maestro
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“Help me?”
It was the phrase that burst out of his mouth the instant he spotted the old man and the black knight.
He was so desperate that he blurted it out without even assessing the two people in front of him—their status, whether they harbored any hostility or not.
In a situation where he was convinced he was doomed, people had appeared, so all he could do was grab onto them.
“What an ill-mannered young punk.”
“This really is a dangerous place. Wouldn’t it be better to have even one more person if we want to get out alive? I’ll do anything.”
“A guy begging for help, and what exactly are you going to do?”
The old man jerked his chin toward the black knight. The black knight’s helmet bobbed slightly forward and back.
The black knight swung the halberd in his hand with ease. The hefty weapon mowed down the waist-high grass.
He watched the two as they moved off for a moment, then hurried after them. Fortunately, the old man didn’t say a word.
“Dia, cut down that tree branch over there.”
“You mean that one?”
From eavesdropping on their conversation, Guchi gleaned two facts.
The black knight could leap higher than his own height even clad in armor, and that she was a woman.
The black knight shot upward and slashed with her halberd. Branches rained down, piling up on the ground.
The thick overhead canopy cleared in an instant. It was unbelievable, even as a witness. How many swings of that massive polearm had she managed in such a brief moment?
“You—the guy who said he’d help from behind.”
“Y-Yes.”
Guchi rushed over to the old man.
“If you’ve got nothing better to do, at least play porter.”
“Just tell me what to do.”
“I like a quick mover.”
He saw it right away. These two—no, more precisely, the black knight—was his lifeline.
The only way to safely escape this malice-choked lakeshore was to stick tight to the black knight.
He took the backpack from the black knight and gathered their gear.
Tree branches, small stones, nameless grasses and flowers, even insects. The black knight moved wherever the old man’s finger pointed, leaving everything neatly harvested.
He even wondered if that horrific magical beast might fall to this black knight.
“What kind of idiot comes all the way out here alone?”
Guchi explained everything in detail, from before entering the uncharted territory up to the moment he’d ended up separated and solo.
“Stupid? Fearless? Or stupid on top of fearless?”
“They say more teams have been venturing into the uncharted territory lately. With some spots conquered, rumors are spreading that it’s worth a visit.”
The black knight spoke up.
“Conquered? They still can’t touch the core zones where the ‘roots’ protrude. Who’s hyping up a few cleared ‘minor roots’? Needed wartime propaganda?”
“Could be.”
“Tsk, tsk. Those poor fools are just going to die.”
Tree roots? Even hearing it, he couldn’t grasp the context.
“Grab that too.”
A small stone lay where the old man pointed. The sort you’d see anywhere. Curious as he was about its significance, he held his tongue.
He pocketed the stone and turned, only to find the pair already well ahead. He was just stepping out to catch up when—
Something glinted beside a tree root thrusting up from the ground.
He could’ve ignored it, but the mystery substance snagged his attention. Maybe the old man’s root talk had primed him.
He crouched to inspect the shimmer. A snake shed—or perhaps fish scales.
No fish in the forest heart, so shed it was.
He picked it up gingerly. Heavier than it looked. Impressively thin, yet substantial heft.
“What’re you waiting for?”
The old man called from ahead. Guchi bolted upright and hurried over, shed still clutched in hand.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.”
Guchi moved to toss the shed. Uncharted territory crawled with unidentified life; weird stuff littered the place.
“Let me take a look.”
The old man held out his hand. After peering at the shed, he broke into a wide grin, teeth flashing.
“Dia, that’s it. Time to head back.”
“You found what you were after.”
“Not sure yet. Gotta hammer it at the forge to reveal its worth. Still, this trip paid off.”
The old man returned the shed with a gentle touch-it-carefully warning. He’d spotted value no ordinary person could.
“You found that well. Slipped right past my eye.”
“Just luck.”
“Treasures don’t come to those who merely wish. Your fortune benefited me. If you’d ditched it as junk, I’d have kicked myself.”
“Is this shed that valuable?”
“Dunno yet. Could be trash, could be prime material. Processing tells. Everything here’s locked tight, stingy with secrets. That’s the thrill of cracking them open.”
“Glad I helped.”
“You did. I’m no cheapskate—I pay my dues.”
“No need. Getting out alive is payment enough.”
He paused, then added,
“If it’s possible, could you save the others too? When Rappa died, everyone lost direction.”
The old man glanced at the black knight instead of replying. She fell silent a beat, then spoke.
“My duty is safeguarding Master Kaf. Straying from the route isn’t an option.”
“That’s her stance.”
The black knight nailed it down: no route deviation.
Now it clicked why the old man and black knight had plunged into the uncharted territory solo. She knew Korn Lake region safe zones.
“Idiots overstepping deserve their end.”
The old man drew a slender tube. Dia reacted.
“Signal flares are risky. Could draw pests.”
“Dia. I trust you to handle it. If not, my judgment’s off—fair game if I die.”
“That’s why I hate traveling solo with you, Master Kaf. You never listen.”
The old man chuckled, hoisting the tube overhead.
A white flame streaked skyward. It hung there, beaming light—not like pricey flares.
“Wait a spell. The survivors’ll follow the glow here; the rest are on their own.”
“Thank you.”
“Save it. Nobody’s coming.”
The old man checked his watch, alternating with the sky flare.
Time dragged. The light had vanished ages ago.
“Thirty minutes. Signs?”
The black knight replied.
“None. Leaving safe zones dooms most. Knight orders struggle—no lone hunter pulls it off.”
The old man stowed his watch. Done. Guchi dropped further pleas.
The black knight led. Pathfinding swift as Rappa’s.
Sun dipping. Smoke spotted.
Trailing plume led eyes downward. Black-armored figures in hasty camp, on standby.
Which knight order? Plenty wore black plate. Even first-class noble blades stuck to it.
He scanned the tents. No rank markers. Odd.
“You, stick with me.”
Old man strolled, hands clasped behind back, ignoring armed knights.
Guchi tailed tight, nerves jangling. Black knights’ glares barely registered.
He’d eyed knight orders before, but none radiated this intensity. Each untouchable powerhouse.
Oddly, every knight passing saluted the old man. He nodded as if routine.
“Stash the gear inside.”
Guchi dumped luggage in the tent per orders, stepped out.
Old man chatted with a bespectacled man—sole slight build amid hulks.
No armor. No squire vibe, yet old man beckoned him over mid-talk.
“Know carriages?”
“Yes.”
“Good enough. Fetch just the shed from the gear.”
Back in, shed retrieved.
Short wait: glasses guy drove up a two-horse carriage. Sleek coats, fine steeds.
Old man boarded. Guchi took reins up front. Black knights neared carriage.
Short golden-haired woman among them—Dia’s voice. Sneak peek: stunning beauty.
“Safe travels.”
“You too, Dia. No headaches for the Captain.”
“No need.”
“Touchy.”
Dia retreated; another black knight murmured to old man, too quiet.
Reins gripped, endless wait. Dia neared driver’s perch.
“Keep him comfy. Clear?”
“Y-Yes.”
Pocket money pouch—silver-stuffed. Holy City mercenary guard budget. Big cash tensed him.
“Post-escort, leftover’s yours.”
Knights backed off. Queried old man: ready? Go.
Reins cracked. Docile team, simple handling.
“Where to?”
“Camp.”
Voice via hatch. Roads memorized; camp easy.
Long after start, noticed tails at distance.
Old man’s black knight escort, surely.
Half-month-plus trek revealed much. Old man: craftsman Maestro Andukaf.
Fact hit hard—white-knuckled driving. Accident injuring him? Nightmare fuel.
“Arrived.”
Off-camp-center cottage: goal. Trailing knight order faded at camp edge.
“Hunting no talent, but carriage ace. Switch careers?”
“Prefer this gig.”
“Fair.”
Old man dismounted. About to query carriage fate—
“Come inside.”
“Pardon?”
“Repay favors—that’s me. Craft you a solid bow; wait days. Serve me meanwhile. Decent swap?”
* * *
“That’s how I got this bow…”
Guchi trailed off. Lander pressed finger to lips.
Firewood crackled sole sound. But the man before him no average swordsman.
Surely sensed what Guchi missed.