Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Black Stallion
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It had been about ten minutes since they started running.
“……!”
Arthur’s face twisted sharply.
His ominous premonition had come true.
Ogres as massive as trees appeared. Not just one, but five of them.
And they were fully matured ones.
‘If they spot us, we’re dead.’
Arthur held his breath, hiding behind a tree as best he could to observe them.
Fortunately, Kadrajan wasn’t among them.
But the appearance of five fully matured ones was extremely serious.
If they attacked Grada Territory, it would be reduced to ruins in an instant.
The surrounding territories would fare no better.
The ogres stopped in front of the corpses of their kin. Then, they casually hoisted the bodies onto their shoulders.
After glancing around once, they turned and headed back the way they came.
Arthur watched their retreating figures, pondering for a moment.
‘What should I do? Follow them?’
If he could find their lair, it would be a huge help in devising countermeasures, but he couldn’t be sure they wouldn’t detect him.
If Kadrajan was there, that bastard was extremely sensitive and would spot him right away.
For today, he decided to confirm the existence of the fully matured ones and head back.
‘Next time, I’ll kill you all.’
Arthur waited until they were completely out of sight before heading back to where the search party was.
***
“Stop!”
Helot halted the Devil Squad.
Dark scowled as he spoke.
“We can’t stop here.”
“You think charging ahead blindly will work?”
Helot glanced back the way they’d come.
The search party members tensed, scanning their surroundings.
After a moment.
A sound came from far off.
“I’ll check it out.”
Perry darted forward. Gripping his sword tightly, he looked around and broke into a wide grin.
“It’s the Captain!”
“Yeah?”
Helot rushed over to Perry.
Arthur emerged from the bushes in front of Perry.
“What are you doing here?”
“Captain!”
Helot approached with a worried expression.
“We’ll talk later. Follow me.”
Arthur ran to Dark, who was at the front, and continued.
“Pick up the pace.”
“Yes, sir!”
Dark matched Arthur’s speed without missing a beat.
The sudden increase in pace forced the search party to focus solely on keeping up.
After running nonstop for about an hour.
Arthur stopped.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
“Hah, hah.”
Everyone panted heavily, sweat pouring like rain.
They were trained for mountain runs, but sprinting through unfamiliar terrain in full armor, eyes fixed ahead, had been grueling.
But this was just the beginning.
With fully matured ogres appearing, they were in for hell ahead.
Dark, drenched in sweat, asked.
“Is it safe here?”
“Hmm.”
Arthur carefully surveyed the vast plain stretching out.
Nothing was visible yet, but he couldn’t relax.
“We’ll cross it. Get ready.”
A moment later.
Arthur led the way across the plain, followed by Dark and the Devil Squad.
They reached a thicket of reeds and took cover.
“Let’s go.”
Helot charged into the reed field.
The knights followed.
That was when they arrived at the reeds.
Thud thud thud thud—!
The ground shook.
But the vibration felt different from before.
Something was charging toward them in a herd.
“What now?”
“Captain! Over there……!”
Perry’s eyes widened as he pointed somewhere.
Arthur quickly followed his finger.
“……!”
Dozens of horses were stampeding toward them.
But they were twice the size of normal horses.
“Run!”
Arthur sprinted toward the opposite forest with all his might.
The search party gritted their teeth and followed.
But the charging beasts closed the gap in an instant.
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
Laggers in the group were knocked flying by the horses.
“Helot!”
“Yes!”
“Take the lead!”
Arthur handed the front to Helot and veered aside, summoning his pistol.
‘Come out!’
The Sig Sauer appeared in his right hand.
“First, get their attention.”
Arthur mercilessly fired at a horse lunging its head toward a squad member.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The horses tumbled forward, rolling.
As if by magic, all their eyes locked onto Arthur.
They turned and charged him in unison.
“Follow me!”
Arthur channeled mana and ran at full speed.
He raced across the plain at tremendous velocity, drawing the herd away from the search party.
Fortunately, the squad members who’d reached the forest watched Arthur recede with worry.
“Vice Captain! What do we do?”
“Damn it.”
Even Helot was at a loss.
“Why not wait here and have a few scout the area?”
“That might be best.”
As Helot nodded in agreement to Dark’s suggestion and prepared to order the knights, Dark waved him off.
“We’ll do it.”
“You sure?”
“We’re better suited than combat-specialized knights.”
“Don’t go too far. If I shout, come running.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dark and the Devil Squad began thoroughly searching the surroundings.
Helot watched them briefly before shifting his gaze to Arthur.
Far off, the horses were madly pursuing him.
Watching anxiously, he tilted his head.
The distance between Arthur and the horses seemed constant.
“What’s going on?”
The squad members, sharing the same thought, murmured in confusion.
“Something feels off.”
“Huh? Young Master’s turning!”
“He’s coming this way!”
Their eyes bulged.
“What’s he thinking?”
Helot scowled at the squad.
“Hide for now!”
They swiftly concealed themselves behind trees and rocks to observe.
“Hoo, hoo—.”
Arthur’s throat burned.
He kept exhaling to hold on, but his heart felt like it would burst—he was at his limit.
Anyone else would have run out of mana and been trampled by now.
But Teheran’s mana training method produced endless mana, so that wasn’t an issue.
Even so, he couldn’t keep fleeing forever. If an ogre showed up now, it’d be disaster.
So he decided to send the search party back first.
He couldn’t handle the herd while worrying about them, though alone he might manage.
As he neared the forest, Arthur shouted at full volume.
“Everyone, head back!”
Helot emerged and yelled back.
“What about you, Young Master?!”
“You idiot!”
Arthur’s face twisted.
He sharply veered right, but the horses ignored him and charged into the forest.
“Damn it!”
He stopped and fired at the lead horse.
Bang!
Its head exploded, and it tumbled forward. The followers turned toward Arthur.
To etch himself firmly in their minds, he fired again.
Bang!
Another fell.
The frenzied horses charged with murderous intent.
Arthur fled with everything he had.
As he vanished into the forest with the herd, Helot stepped out.
“Damn it all!”
The squad followed, asking.
“Are we heading back?”
“Where? We’ll chase after Young Master once the scouts return.”
“But is that okay? Look at those fallen ones. They’re no ordinary horses.”
“Hmm…….”
Helot’s face hardened.
Twice the size of normal horses, bodies pure muscle—they matched descriptions of ‘Britannicas.’
He’d heard normal attacks couldn’t even scratch them.
Time to test it.
Helot approached a fallen one and smashed down with his mace.
Thud!
The mace sank deep into its body.
“Hmm.”
The rumors seemed exaggerated.
The knights watched curiously, but those familiar with Britannicas tested it themselves.
Thud! Thud!
The swords plunged in too easily.
“What the hell?”
“Something’s wrong.”
“Aren’t these Britannicas?”
It didn’t match what they’d heard.
Visually, they were definitely Britannicas.
But they didn’t know the weapons from Arthur were masterworks forged from Oriharukon.
Helot declared firmly.
“We’re pushing straight through.”
“Vice Captain…….”
As they looked shocked.
The Devil Squad scouts returned.
“We heard the Captain shouting earlier. What happened?”
“He ordered everyone back.”
Dark’s face hardened.
“What about the Captain?”
“He’ll probably shake them off and catch up.”
“Hmm.”
As Dark gravely examined the fallen horses.
“We’re going after Young Master.”
“I don’t think so.”
“So we abandon him?”
Dark met Helot’s eyes.
“There must be a reason for the Captain’s order.”
“I know. But I can’t leave him alone here.”
“So you’d ruin his plan by chasing?”
“Does that mean we save ourselves?”
Murderous intent flickered in Helot’s eyes.
As tension rose, Latel, who’d been watching, spoke.
“How about waiting outside the thicket? If he doesn’t return, then we search.”
“Hmm.”
Helot looked displeased, but the knights approached.
“We think that’s best.”
“Wait one hour.”
Helot reluctantly agreed.
“Exactly one hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
Latel nodded, then told Dark.
“Following the Captain’s orders is crucial, but leaving him alone like this feels wrong. So follow my lead this time.”
Dark pondered carefully, reversed his dagger’s grip, and said to Helot.
“I’ll take point.”
***
“Hoo— hoo—.”
Arthur ran blindly ahead.
Unlike him slashing through dense bushes with his dagger, the horses smashed obstacles with their heads and pursued.
Boom—!
Thud! Thud!
The ground suddenly shook.
‘This vibration……!’
Arthur’s face twisted.
Kieeeaaah!
A monstrous roar echoed from the sky.
To add insult to injury, ogres appeared.
They’d been rampaging through the area, so detection was inevitable.
No choice now—pit the two groups against each other and slip away in the chaos.
Arthur bolted straight toward the ogre.
Soon, a massive ogre loomed ahead.
A fully matured one like before, but fortunately, only one.
The ogre raised its foot and slammed it down on the horses.
Boom—!
Britannicas were crushed underfoot.
Yet they showed no fear, charging headfirst into its leg.
The ogre didn’t budge. Instead, enraged, it bellowed.
Kieeeaaah!
It swung its fists mercilessly.
Neigh!
Hiiing—!
Huge as they were, they were mere insects before the ogre.
Each swing sent them flying helplessly.
As the ogre massacred them, Arthur swiftly escaped.
Neiiigh—!
Then a powerful neigh resounded.
‘What’s that?’
Arthur halted and scanned urgently.
The horses clashing with the ogre retreated in unison.
Even the ogre paused, looking somewhere.
Arthur followed its gaze.
Something enormous burst from the thick bushes.
A black horse with a flowing crimson mane charged the ogre.
Its momentum rivaled the ogre’s.
It rammed the ogre’s leg head-on.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the ogre toppled backward.
The black horse reared up and neighed.
Neiiigh—!
The herd neighed in unison and fled with it.
Distracted briefly, Arthur fled at full speed before the ogre rose.
“……!”
The lead black horse suddenly turned.
Arthur scowled at the massive hoofbeats behind him.
“Why are you following?!”
He accelerated further.
Neigh—!
The black horse, now alongside, ran parallel to him.
“What?!”
It glanced sideways repeatedly, neighing.
Neigh! Neigh!
It seemed to be saying something, but oddly, no hostility.
The black horse closed in, pressing right beside him.
“What the hell!”
As Arthur leaped away powerfully.
The black horse slid under him, letting him land on its back. Then, snorting hot breath, it bolted like the wind.
Arthur’s eyes widened.
‘Why is this thing……?’