Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Ambush 3 (4)
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“What kind of clue?”
With Andersen and Rose putting their heads together, reaching the answer was only a matter of time.
No, they might already be moving to implement the solution.
‘Not bad speed.’
Just then, Helena reported that she'd obtained some useful information today. It seemed the results had come in from staking out the beekeeping spot Joel frequented.
“...to Your Excellency's body,”
The moment Rose opened her mouth after pondering,
Thump thump.
Someone knocked on the carriage wall.
“Your Excellency.”
A knight appeared beyond the carriage window. Just seeing his grave expression let me guess the situation.
“You should come out.”
“An ambush?”
“Yes.”
To throw off the enemy, we'd been moving irregularly on purpose all this time.
Even so, as the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. The enemies had finally pinpointed my location.
“Stop the carriage.”
“Yes.”
The carriage's speed began to slow gradually.
“Your Excellency.”
Rose gazed at me with an anxious face. Her finely trembling eyes pleaded for me to stay here.
“The enemies are targeting me anyway.”
I reassured her in a calm voice.
“Me going out is the surest way to keep Madam safe.”
“Then Your Excellency will be the one in danger.”
“It's fine. This is nothing new.”
Smooth.
I lightly embraced Rose, who was trembling faintly. The moment her soft warmth and sweet fragrance overlapped, an inexplicable surge of strength filled me.
Along with a strange resolve that I absolutely had to return to this little squirrel's side.
“I'll be right back.”
“...Yes.”
Confirming that Rose's trembling had stopped, I pulled away.
“In case of emergency.”
I took Rose's hand and placed it against the inner wall of the carriage. I'd already taught her how to activate the defensive magic tool Andersen had installed.
“I know.”
After confirming Rose nodding firmly.
Clunk.
Finally, the carriage came to a stop. After arming myself simply, I stepped outside.
Clop clop.
The knights halted their horses together and scanned the surroundings warily.
Trees snapped to block the road caught my eye first. Dense woods flanked both sides of the pass—perfect for enemies to hide in the hills.
‘Ideal terrain for an encirclement.’
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I issued the command.
“Form up.”
The knights wheeled their horses in unison, encircling the carriage. I mounted as well and took position at the front of the formation.
“Your Excellency, it's dangerous.”
“For me? Or for them?”
The surrounding knights let out short laughs at my light jest.
These were men who'd fought dozens of battles alongside me. It was just our usual ritual exchange.
Whoooosh—
A chilling winter wind swept over the men, horses, and carriage.
Everyone watched all directions with stern faces. Tension mounted until it was taut like a thread on the verge of snapping.
That was when.
Thud, thud.
Footsteps shattered the silence, followed soon after by the sight of armed men emerging.
Shabby though it was, they wore leather armor and carried swords, axes, and other weapons.
‘Mercenaries?’
Until now, they'd sent small teams of skilled assassins. Today felt entirely different.
I had a premonition of proper combat.
Shing!
The knights drew their swords upon spotting the enemy.
Raaargh!
The mercenaries bellowed war cries as they charged. Sounds of crashing through underbrush and pounding feet shook the air.
“Maintain formation!”
At my command, the knights gritted their teeth, eyes flashing. Thick killing intent and tension began to blanket the area.
Thud thud thud!
The enemies closed to striking distance at last,
Clang!
Weapons collided.
“Argh!”
Screams pierced the air as blood sprayed.
The knights held formation without yielding an inch, while the mercenaries desperately tried to shatter it.
“Urk!”
Knights' swords cleaved throats and plunged into chests.
Heavily armored horses stamped the earth, holding the line. Some kicked off attackers clinging to their legs.
Clang!
I fought fiercely as well. I slashed enemies nonstop, kicking down any who hesitated.
When mercenaries surged forward, the formation buckled for a moment—only for the defensive line to hold firm amid the melee.
Stab!
Slash!
The mercenaries clearly outnumbered us. But they were no match for knights forged through rigorous training and grueling battles.
“Urgh!”
“Kuh!”
The tide began to turn. More mercenaries writhed on the ground than still wielded weapons.
“Retreat!”
At someone's shout, the mercenaries bolted in panic.
“Where do you think you're going!”
“Stand down!”
Some knights pursued the fleeing foes.
They were the ones tasked with chasing down stragglers in situations like this. They'd return once safety was confirmed.
“Hoo, haa.”
“Hah.”
The remaining knights caught their breath.
The battle-fueled adrenaline faded, leaving sharp fatigue in its wake.
But true to their training, none showed it. They merely wiped blood from their blades or rolled sore shoulders, straightening their postures.
“Shall we clean up?”
“Wait.”
I soothed my excited horse while surveying the surroundings.
As the enemies fled, the noise gradually subsided. It grew quiet again, just like when we'd first passed through in the carriage.
‘Is it over?’
I glanced at the unscratched carriage—that was when.
Whiiist!
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
Followed by,
Thud thud thud thud!
A band of horsemen charged down the hill.
Unlike the earlier mercenaries' shabby leather, these wore proper armor. Some even gripped crossbows.
“What the—.”
“This is—.”
The knights looked stunned but raised their swords once more.
‘This is serious.’
I tightened my grip on my sword as well.
Mobilizing a mercenary band this size, plus mounted men on par with knights?
This was beyond their usual ambushes.
‘Because of the gift?’
Even worms squirm when stepped on, it seems—the families had banded together.
Or perhaps desperation as my birthday drew nearer.
They'd stuck to assassins before, but now I felt raw malice, unrestrained by any means, bent on crushing me.
“Form up!”
Clop clop.
With some knight positions thinned, they shifted to fill the gaps, reforming the original array.
Thud thud thud thud!
This time, collision came even faster. The enemies were mounted.
Killing gazes locked,
“Die!”
“Kill!”
Ferocious enemy shouts rained down.
Not formally trained like a knight order, but their horsemanship and fierce eyes were no joke.
“Protect His Excellency!”
“Don't fall back!”
The knights bellowed in turn, rallying their spirits.
Thud thud!
As the distance nearly closed,
Grip.
Everyone clenched their swords tight.
The knights expected attacks to focus on me. I did too.
But.
Twang!
A few enemies loosed crossbows—not at me, but at the carriage.
“Gah!”
A crossbow bolt pierced the chest of the coachman seated up top.
As his rigid body slumped,
Neighhh!
The carriage horses bolted in fright. The carriage carrying Rose lurched into motion.
“—!”
My heart plummeted.
‘Not me.’
The realization struck like lightning, piercing my mind.
‘They're after Rose.’
The instant I realized it, my body moved. I wheeled my horse and gave chase.
“Your Excellency!”
The knights reflexively followed.
I soon confirmed it was the right call.
“Chase the carriage!”
“Kill them!”
Enemies were emerging one after another along the path ahead.
“Hah.”
I sighed and spurred my horse harder.
The foes sliding down the hill like an avalanche ignored me entirely. They targeted only the carriage, as if it were obvious.
Thud!
One of the enemies ahead finally clambered onto a carriage horse.
They'd succeeded in hijacking it.
Thud thud thud thud!
With someone at the reins, the carriage accelerated even faster.
“Damn it!”
The knights muttered curses through gritted teeth. Panic and impatience hardened their faces completely.
Thud thud thud thud!
Chasing the carriage through the rough, uncleared forest path was like a deadly stunt.
Crash!
Branches whipped through the narrow tree gaps,
Neighhh!
The horses neighed harshly.
One slip, and we'd smash into a tree with grievous injuries.
‘Damn it all.’
I drove on with a blank expression, but I was more anxious than ever. I suppressed the uneasy pounding from my heart to keep it from spreading.
A band of enemies clung to the speeding carriage.
Clang!
The moment a few closed in to bury axes and swords into it,
Hummm!
Blue mana swirled, forming a barrier. Rose had activated the defensive magic tool from inside.
“Phew.”
“Hoo.”
The knights exhaled in relief.
That instant,
“Everyone, clear out!”
Someone at the enemy rear hurled something.
Boom! Bang!
Whatever struck the carriage's barrier exploded. Unlike the earlier physical prods, a clear distortion rippled across it.
‘Mana stone bombs!’
My face hardened instinctively.
Weapons that shattered mana stones from within, spewing mana everywhere—a wildly wasteful contrivance.
Yet in this moment, no tool could dismantle that defensive magic more efficiently.
Each bomb cost a fortune, and they'd brought a fistful. It meant the enemies had gnashed their teeth and prepared properly.
Boom boom boom!
The barrage of costly mana stone bombs shook the barrier until it could hold no longer.
At last,
Ting!
The carriage's barrier shattered.
“We got it!”
“Now!”
The foes cheered and swarmed the carriage. Its speed slowed slightly, letting us finally catch up.
“Block them!”
“Kill!”
The knights fought with desperate fury to hold them off.
Clang!
Clang!
A bloody melee erupted around the carriage.
It was chaos between the foes straining to cling on and the knights blocking them.
Clang!
I couldn't tell if my sword swings were born of will or mere ingrained reflex.
I just swung and swung again.
To clear the enemies from my sight. To pry them off the carriage.
“Gah!”
“Schmichael!”
I slashed, carved, killed, and pressed forward like a madman.