Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Translator: Penny
Chapter 8
Prey 1
Agron had arrested several members of the Council of Elders and the city's Guard Captain.
These individuals were implicated in Ludicain's confession as having conspired with him.
Initially, they vehemently denied the charges, swearing oaths in the names of the gods and the tombs of their ancestors. But when Agron presented the contracts and Ludicain's confession, which had been stored by Ludicain himself, they begged for their lives.
Naturally, Agron remained unmoved by their pleas.
"You don't want to die?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Then why did you choose actions that would lead to your death?"
"Huh...?"
"If you endure, you might not die. You'll be crippled, though."
"W-wait! Aaaah! Stop! Stop it!"
"A warrior should endure more! Endure!"
"You madman! I'm not a warrior! Aaaah!"
This empty exchange repeated several times, each time Agron calmly conducting the interrogation himself, his expression unwavering.
They admitted to conspiring with Ludicain and following his orders, but claimed to know nothing beyond that.
"None of you are fit to be warriors. Not a single one lasted more than five minutes."
Agron shook his head, washing the blood from his hands in a basin.
A true warrior should be able to withstand such a simple interrogation.
The city's rulers were pathetically weak.
"The Guard Captain of this city is weaker than a woman from the Winter Forest Keepers Tribe. I'm deeply concerned about the city's security."
"Indeed, Your Excellency," Wolf, who had assisted with the interrogation, agreed.
"If the Council of Elders is this incompetent... they're too small-minded to collaborate on anything meaningful. We'll need to vet the remaining members one by one and adjust their voting power."
Agron stepped out of the prison cell, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"Your Excellency, what shall we do with these prisoners?" the Majordomo asked, waiting outside.
"Confiscate all their assets and execute the Guard Captain. The Council of Elders will excommunicate them from House Veilain, brand their foreheads, and banish them from the fief, never to return."
"As you command, Your Excellency."
Agron anticipated some resistance from other members of the Council of Elders, but he wouldn't let it bother him.
If necessary, he could use their failure to protect the Head of House as an excuse to mold them to his liking. Failing that, he could simply tear the entire Council of Elders apart, kill them all, and establish a new one.
"Ah, Your Excellency. A messenger from the Royal Palace is on their way."
"From the Royal Palace?"
"Yes. It seems they've sent someone to renew the feudal contract."
The Kingdom of Astraria maintained relatively good relations between the royal family and its feudal lords. This internal cohesion was largely due to the constant threat posed by neighboring powers like the Kazandor Empire and the Kuarin Holy Nation, which could invade at any moment.
"Do I need to prepare anything?"
"No, Your Excellency. It's merely a formality. Once the envoy arrives, simply change into formal attire and attend the banquet."
"I see. Who's coming from the Royal Palace?"
"Typically, the Count Palatine serves as the envoy. He also represented the palace during the previous Count's feudal contract renewal."
Normally, vassals were required to travel to the Royal Palace to swear fealty directly to the King. However, persistent complaints about the distance and inconvenience led the palace to send envoys instead.
As a result, some vassals lived and died without ever seeing the King's face.
"Understood. I entrust all preparations to you, Majordomo."
"Yes, Your Excellency. I will ensure everything is meticulously prepared to avoid any discourtesy."
"How long will it take for the envoy from the Royal Palace to arrive?"
"Hmm... I estimate about three days."
Agron pondered for a moment, then nodded decisively.
"Very well. I will step out briefly."
"Sir? Where are you going?"
"How can we greet a guest empty-handed? I'll hunt some meat for the feast."
Clop, clop.
Under the bright moonlight, the envoy dispatched from the Royal Palace urged their horses onward.
"How much farther to this Veilain or whatever fief?" the man inside the ornate golden carriage asked, peering through the narrow window.
"About two more days' ride, Your Highness," replied the knight riding alongside.
"Tch, why would they send me to deal with some backwater lord in this godforsaken corner of the kingdom?" the blond-haired young man grumbled incessantly, snapping at everyone around him. His displeasure was palpable.
"Your Highness, you may speak freely among us, but never—"
"I know, Lord Hunts. Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Of course not, Your Highness."
"Tch."
This time, the one sent to negotiate the feudal contract was Lawrence Rubel von Crowngard, the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Astraria.
Normally, the Count Palatine would have been dispatched, but for some reason, the Reigning King had recently begun sending his princes personally to handle feudal contracts.
"If it was going to be this far, they should have sent the Fourth Prince or one of the princesses instead of me. Don't you think?"
"His Majesty must have had his reasons for ordering this."
"Huh? So you're saying I have no reason or thought behind my actions?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"You wound me with your words, Lord Hunts."
Knight Hunts sighed at his master's mocking tone.
He had hoped to accompany the First or Second Prince, but somehow he'd been stuck with this reckless, unruly prince.
"Your Highness, we should camp here for the night. The horses are exhausted..."
"What?! Absolutely not! Do you expect me to sleep on the bare ground? We're staying at an inn, so keep moving!"
"We don't know when we'll find an inn. Building a fire and resting will help the soldiers recover from their fatigue and protect us from wild animals."
"That's their problem!"
Hunts barely suppressed the urge to punch his master.
"Wolf Demonic Beasts ahead!"
The scout leading the column returned with an urgent report.
"This is a remote mountain path, so it's not surprising. How many wolves?"
"Roughly twenty, I'd estimate."
"More than I expected. Everyone, prepare for battle!"
At Hunts' command, the soldiers and knights drew their swords.
"W-what's going on?! What is it?!"
"Your Highness, you must not leave the carriage under any circumstances."
"No! You're supposed to protect me! Hunts, stay by my side! That's an order!"
Hunts, who had intended to leave his adjutant with the prince while he led the charge, bit his lip at the prince's sudden command.
Damn selfish coward.
He inwardly cursed Third Prince Lawrence with venom.
"...Understood, Your Highness. Harkin!"
"You called, Lord Hunts?"
"Lead the soldiers and eliminate the wolf pack in my stead. I'll remain here to protect His Highness."
"Understood, my lord."
Assistant Harkin nodded and led the knights toward the wolves.
Hunts, sword in one hand and torch in the other, vigilantly scanned their surroundings.
Soon, the air grew chaotic with the roars of wild beasts and the panicked whinnies of horses.
"H-hic... W-what's going on?! Hunts, let's just abandon them and flee!"
"If we flee, the wolves will chase the carriages first. Wait here."
Hunts' brow furrowed at Prince Lawrence's utterly selfish remark. He couldn't fathom how anyone could suggest abandoning their subordinates in such a situation.
In that instant, a soldier fighting the wolves spotted something and rushed toward Hunts.
"Captain Hunts! There's a Wolf Demonic Beast!"
"What...? In these mountains? Are you sure?"
"Absolutely! It's three times larger than a normal wolf!"
Occasionally, non-demonic beasts could transform into Demonic Beasts through prolonged exposure to Demonic Energy or by living in areas saturated with it. Herbivores were manageable, but when predators became Demonic Beasts, they were notoriously difficult to deal with.
"Damn it! Tell Harkin to retreat!"
"Understood!"
The timing couldn't have been worse. It was the middle of the night, and the soldiers were exhausted from a full day's march. Moreover, this wasn't a dedicated extermination force for Demonic Beasts. It was merely a light escort organized to protect a temperamental prince on his mission as an envoy to another fief.
"I'll hold it off at the front. You help Harkin evacuate His Highness quickly!"
"Wait, wait! Hunts, protect me!"
"Your Highness, at this rate, we'll all die—"
Crack!
A deafening roar erupted as a pitch-black figure materialized, tearing into the horses pulling the prince's carriage.
It was a Wolf Demonic Beast.
"Ugh! I'm going to die! Save me!"
"Damn it! Protect His Highness!"
Hunts roared, swinging his sword at the Wolf Demonic Beast.
But his hastily executed attack was effortlessly blocked by the creature's razor-sharp claws.
"Shit! Get Harkin here, now!"
"The wolves ahead are blocking our escape!"
"These damned beasts...!"
"Ugh! Save me! Save me first!"
Hunts struggled to decide what to do with the prince, who was screaming and panicking inside the carriage.
Hunts hesitated to drag the prince out of the carriage, fearing the Wolf Demonic Beast would be drawn to the prince's gaudy attire. Yet leaving him inside would later invite accusations of abandoning the prince without attempting a rescue.
How am I supposed to save this fool?
As Hunts pondered this dilemma, a massive shadow suddenly clung to the Wolf Demonic Beast's neck.
"Who the hell is that...?"
In that instant, the Demonic Beast went berserk, letting out a deafening shriek as it thrashed wildly on the ground.
Hunts watched in grim silence.
He could clearly see the figure clinging to the beast's neck mercilessly stabbing its throat, eyes, and ears with a knife.
How long did this gruesome spectacle last?
The blood-soaked figure finally withdrew the knife from the Demonic Beast's eye and rose to his feet.
Gulp.
No one dared to speak.
The man looked more beastly than the wolf itself.
"Ugh...! Ugh, you should have saved me first!"
Just then, the carriage door swung open, and Prince Lawrence stumbled out.
"Hunts... what... what is that beastly thing?"
"I don't know who he is either. He suddenly appeared and saved us."
"You...! How dare you, you barbarian! Do you even know who I am?!"
Hunts wanted to clamp his hand over the prince's mouth. The prince seemed utterly oblivious to the danger of revealing his identity to a suspicious stranger.
"How would I know? I just saw you." The man replied with a nonchalant expression and tone, contrary to Hunts's apprehension.
"Well... you should recognize me immediately!"
"Oh? Who am I, then?"
The man strode toward the prince and demanded, "How should I know?!"
Though he had taken only a single step, Hunts could already feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from him.
"H-how would I know?!"
"Didn't you say you should be able to tell just by looking? Why don't you know?"
"W-well... that's because... I'm special..."
As the distance closed, Lawrence cowered, his voice barely a whisper.
At that moment, Hunts stepped forward, drawing his sword to block the man's path.
"Hold it right there! This is His Highness Prince Lawrence Rubel von Crowngard, the third prince of the Astraria Royal Family. Any further approach is strictly forbidden."
"A prince? What business does a prince have in this remote fief?"
"...To establish a feudal contract with the new Count of House Veilain."
The man chuckled, then turned to an elderly man who had been following him from a distance, his tone brightening.
"Elder, it seems the food has found its master."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Hunts asked, glancing between the man and the elder.
The man wiped the blood from his face with his palm, baring his teeth in a grin.
"I am Agron von Veilain, the new Count of this fief."
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny