Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The Pursued Priestess
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The knights who had fled earlier also appeared.
"Over here!"
"Huh?"
"Where'd she go?"
They looked around in confusion.
It was just as the late-joining knights were about to begin searching the area.
A man in brown armor growled fiercely.
"She got away."
"That rat of a girl..."
"Maybe a monster took her?"
"Search for tracks!"
They scoured the surroundings for clues, and the man who had given the orders swept his sharp gaze over the area.
That's when he spotted a large horse hoofprint sunk deep into the ground.
'What the hell?'
He approached the print, squatted down to examine it, and touched the indentation.
"It's from a beast with a massive build."
One of the three who had spotted Kan earlier nodded vigorously upon hearing that and hurried over.
"You're right. It looked at least three times bigger than any horse we know!"
"I'll acknowledge that you're not lying."
The man stood up and shouted to his subordinates.
"Bring the horses!"
"Yes, sir!"
The knights headed back to their assembly point.
Left alone, the man followed the large hoofprints with his eyes.
A path wide enough for a carriage led beyond to a mountain ridge thick with underbrush.
It was treacherous terrain, so she probably hadn't gotten far.
But if they lost her!
A sinister smile crept across the man's lips.
"It's been a while since I hunted humans. There must be plenty of half-decent ones in the Empire."
***
"Let's rest a bit before we go."
As soon as they entered Aslan Territory, Arthur reined in Kan.
They had galloped nonstop for half a day, and his whole body ached.
After dismounting, Arthur circulated mana to ease his fatigue.
Kan let out a long breath and was resting as well.
"Ugh..."
The girl, who had been sprawled lifelessly on Kan's back, regained consciousness.
She slowly opened her eyes, then jolted in fright and tumbled off.
Thud!
"Ow!"
Having landed hard on her butt, she teared up as she scrambled to her feet and turned around.
Kan thrust his massive face toward her and snorted forcefully.
"Eeek! Stay back! Go away!"
She shrieked in terror, flailing her arms wildly.
Not to be outdone, Kan reared up on his forelegs with a loud whinny.
Hiiiing-.
"Save me!"
Terrified, she clutched her head with both hands and curled up.
"Kan!"
Arthur furrowed his brow slightly, and Kan dropped his forelegs, baring his gums in what looked like a grin.
Realizing Kan was just playing, Arthur shook his head helplessly.
"Don't play pranks on just anyone."
Hiiing-.
Kan nodded and rubbed his face against Arthur's chest.
Arthur stroked Kan's head, then spoke to the girl who was still trembling face-down on the ground.
"It's okay now..."
"N-No, stay away! Holy Karen, do not let me fall into temptation and deliver me from evil."
'What the hell is she saying?'
Arthur tilted his head in confusion.
That's when Parsia's voice rang in his ear.
-My guess was correct.
"What do you mean?"
-She serves a god.
"What?"
Arthur's eyes widened.
The only place on the five continents with clerics was the Holy Kingdom of Anscent.
Not long ago, while searching for a way to suppress the Demon King's power with Millerph, he had considered that holy power from a cleric might be helpful and sent scouts there.
But contrary to expectations, the clerics' corruption had tarnished their reputation.
Arthur asked her cautiously.
"Do you really serve a god?"
"Yes, but I'm just an ordinary priestess."
She was still bowing her head, trembling.
"Look at me properly."
"I'm too scared!"
"What's there to be scared of...!"
Arthur suddenly remembered he was wearing his helmet.
He removed it and said,
"Now it should be fine."
"R-Really...?"
Unlike before, the gentle voice made her lift her head slightly.
Standing there was not a frightening figure, but a man with a strong impression.
"Uh...?"
He even looked somewhat like a handsome youth.
As her cheeks flushed slightly, Arthur's eyes flashed.
The band around her forehead was glowing again.
"Th-That..."
"Ah!"
She hurriedly covered her forehead with both hands.
"It's nothing."
"What are you hiding?"
"......!"
Her face stiffened instantly, and she began eyeing him warily again.
Arthur shook his head at her reaction and continued.
"I'm trying to help you."
"How can I believe that?"
"Fine."
As Arthur put his helmet back on and turned to leave, she tilted her head.
"Wh-What are you doing...?"
"Going our separate ways."
"It's not that I don't trust you, but..."
She hesitated, looking troubled.
'What should I do? If he's telling the truth, could he really take me to them? But if he's lying...'
She glanced at Arthur with a face full of worry.
That's when she noticed the dragon emblem engraved on his breastplate.
"Gold Dragon!"
Suddenly, she rushed over and grabbed his hand.
"What's your connection to the Julius family?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Please answer! It's very important to me."
Seeing her desperately earnest expression, Arthur decided to reveal his identity.
"I'm Julius..."
Arthur trailed off as he looked behind her.
He sensed murderous auras approaching rapidly.
Kan snorted, sensing it too.
"Uninvited guests."
"What?"
She whipped around in surprise.
It had to be that man's hunting dogs catching up.
If they got caught, everyone's hopes would be dashed.
"Hurry, let's go!"
Thinking only of not getting captured, she fearlessly grabbed Kan's mane and swiftly mounted.
But Arthur just stared into the distance without moving.
"What are you doing? You're not thinking of facing them alone, are you?"
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"
"Of course not! They're Boika's men. How strong they are—Gasp!"
She spotted them charging on horseback from the rear and panicked.
Meanwhile, Arthur watched them with a relaxed expression.
A moment later.
The group halted at a distance from Arthur.
The man in brown armor stepped forward, glanced at the girl on Kan, then shifted his gaze to Arthur.
"Your helmet's quite striking."
Arthur scanned them briefly and asked the man,
"Who are you people?"
"Doesn't matter. Hand over your horse and that girl, and we'll leave quietly."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then no choice."
The man grinned wickedly and continued.
"We'll take them by force."
As soon as he spoke, his men drew their swords in unison.
They exuded killing intent, surrounding Arthur and closing in to pressure him.
"Get on quick! It's not too late!"
She cried out anxiously.
But Arthur calmly stared at the man in brown armor.
"So you're that confident?"
The man smirked mockingly and ordered his men.
"Handle the ones in the back carefully. As for that arrogant bastard, smash him."
"Can we kill him?"
"Do what you want. I just need the horse and the girl."
"Understood."
His men narrowed the distance with murder in their eyes.
And when Arthur entered their dead zone.
"Die!"
As they kicked off the ground to charge!
Arrows rained down from the sky.
"What the—?"
"Arrows out of nowhere!"
They raised shields to defend.
Pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-.
Countless arrows thudded into the shields, and in the distance, a group in red armor galloped toward them on horseback.
Their breastplates bore gleaming gold dragon emblems.
It was Adran and the Del Knight Order.
Stationed at the Hattori Count's estate, they had been patrolling the territory when they spotted Kan and raced over.
They had witnessed these unknowns about to attack Arthur.
"Fire!"
At Adran's command, her men loosed arrows in unison.
Under the barrage, the enemies could only hunker down behind shields.
One of them shouted loudly.
"Lord Urai!"
"So that's why you were so relaxed."
The man in brown armor, Urai, drew his sword with a sinister smile.
His aura shifted completely.
Gray-white aura enveloped his blade.
"First, the annoyances."
He swung with full force.
Pang-!
A ferocious crescent of aura hurtled toward Adran.
"What?!"
Adran's eyes bulged.
It was beyond what she could block.
'Damn it!'
As her face twisted,
Something whistled from behind with tremendous force.
It was Helm's red aura blade.
It flew past Adran and collided with the incoming aura.
Boom!
The battlefield erupted in a massive explosion and shockwave.
Adran, closest, was flung off her horse.
Helm raced over and checked on her.
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Just the shockwave. Don't worry—go to the Count."
"Yes."
Helm spurred his horse straight toward Arthur.
Urai looked quite rattled by the bow master's appearance.
"This complicates things."
"It's not too late. Get lost quietly."
"Hmm..."
Urai eyed Arthur cautiously.
His gaze was chilling, as if he'd snap Urai's neck any second.
"Makes my skin crawl."
Urai deflected incoming arrows with his sword and shouted.
"Withdraw!"
His men blocked arrows with shields and fell back.
Urai, mounted, said to Arthur,
"We're retreating for today, but next time, be prepared."
"Listen well. If you cross my sight again, you die."
Urai frowned and asked.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Arthur Julius."
'Arthur... Julius...!'
The girl on Kan's mouth gaped open.
Urai, drawing a blank, tilted his head—then noticed the dragon emblem on Arthur's breastplate.
"No way—the Gold Dragon's guardian family?"
Urai glanced at the girl he had been chasing.
He understood why she had fled this far.
Dragons, known as the gods' proxies.
To seek aid from the Julius Count family, under their protection.
"Talk's over. Scram."
Arthur mounted Kan and turned away. Adran and the Del Knight Order, just arriving, saluted him.
Helm bowed deeply to Arthur, then glared at Urai.
"Give the order, and we'll capture them all."
"Don't waste time on trash."
Arthur spurred Kan into a gallop, and Helm followed without question.
The knights moved out in disciplined formation.
Urai watched Arthur's retreating figure, leading the red wave of knights, his face twisting.
"That bitch is really complicating things.