Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Ambushed During the Hunt
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Behind the Gransel territory of Duke Salleon's lands lay rugged mountainous terrain, home to a large bear population. If they weren't hunted once every three months or so, the bears would descend into the territory and trample the fields.
With the arsonists from the salon having been wiped out thanks to Master's exploits, the mood was finally relaxed. They planned to hold a small festival using the bear meat obtained from the hunt.
House Salleon entrusted the bear hunt to the men receiving butler training.
A butler must protect their master when the need arises. Martial prowess was essential for that, so they intended to test it through the bear hunt.
Thus, twelve men who had distinguished themselves in butler training were selected to join the hunt.
All of them were strapping men over twenty years old, fully armed with sturdy gear and lassos, waiting in readiness.
I stood among them with a sullen expression.
‘Wrong place to get dragged into.’
Being pulled into something unnecessary was a huge hassle.
The other men seemed to think the same, as a man named Makias approached me.
“Hey, kid. You sure you’re in the right place? I heard only adults are joining this time. Did you throw a tantrum to become a butler or something?”
“No way. Just some circumstances.”
“Hmm, your parents must’ve forced you into it.”
He shrugged with his own assumption and whispered lowly.
“Stay back quietly during the hunt. Everyone’s on edge today.”
“On edge?”
“Seems like this bear hunt decides who becomes an official apprentice butler. Some might fake accidents to knock others out. They’ll do anything for points, so don’t get involved.”
It might seem overkill just to become a butler, but House Salleon was one of the top families in Caliper Kingdom.
To the noble sons aiming for butler positions, it was an opportunity not to be missed.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Sure. How about assisting me if you can? Throw the lasso at the bear when I signal. If things go well, I’ll give you some pocket money.”
“Guess I could.”
But my role was already decided.
“Als Ilrain. Come over here.”
Right before departure, Erina summoned me and appointed me as her attendant.
It must’ve been consideration so a kid like me wouldn’t get caught up in the grueling bear hunt, but it also felt like payback for yesterday.
“Here, read this. What does it say?”
“Erina Salleon…”
“Right. Read it out loud three more times.”
Having her name forgotten must’ve shocked her; she was getting cute revenge.
*
*
*
Erina directed the hunt skillfully, as if it wasn’t her first time.
They lured a cub with sweet bait, then trapped the enraged mother bear that chased after it.
Even the clever bears charged into the traps without noticing when their cub was in danger.
Once trapped and helpless, they lassoed the bears and speared them to death all at once.
The cub wailed pitifully as the mother drew her last breath, but soon it too was skinned and butchered.
Mother bear meat was tough and tricky to cook, but the cub’s was tender.
They gave the mother’s carcass whole to the territory folk for processing, while the cub was for immediate use as meat at the mansion.
“Such a ruthless method.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
That way, they hunted six bears and reached the mountain’s heart by afternoon.
The sun was beginning to set.
At that moment, I felt a massive sense of wrongness.
“…Excuse me? I have a question.”
“Who’s ‘excuse me’?”
“Can we drop that, Miss Erina?”
“Hehe, sure. What is it?”
“Isn’t this the endpoint? The sun’s setting.”
“Right. We’ll wrap up here and head down.”
“Then why are there traps set up in a place like this?”
“Traps?”
I carefully parted the brush and dirt to reveal a trap.
A vicious one that would shatter an ankle and rob mobility if stepped on.
I gently pressed the center with a thick branch—snap! The trap sprung, snapping the branch in two.
“Something this size is for boars or deer. Looks freshly set a few hours ago. Must be the territory’s hunters.”
“There are, but…”
“Then tell them to be careful. It’s placed where people could step on it.”
“No. We notified them it’s a bear hunt today, so the hunters shouldn’t be coming…”
Erina trailed off, puzzled.
That’s when I sensed the danger hidden beneath the incongruity.
And almost simultaneously—
Ping! An arrow flew, embedding in the arm of a man guarding the side of the formation.
“Gah! What the hell!”
“Ambush!? Stay alert!”
Rustle! As if waiting for this, presences rose from the brush.
“Tch!”
I clicked my tongue unwittingly. Not noticing their presence until now meant they were skilled.
‘The ones Master was chasing! Then the salon arson was a trap!’
The arsonists Master wiped out were mere bait.
Their real goal was here from the start: kidnapping the duke’s complacent daughter on a bear hunt.
‘Dangerous. They revealed themselves because they’re confident they can take us. No chance of winning here.’
My mind overheated, calculating moves in an instant.
The one true talent of the so-called fake genius.
My calculation speed was far superior to others.
It didn’t shine much in go without study, but in simple chess, it did.
In blitz games, I was near world-top level.
‘Escape routes…’
Their goal, arrow direction, presences, terrain, features, trap positions.
Finishing calculations, I hoisted Erina onto my back.
“Kyaa!?”
“Hold on tight!”
Thud! I kicked off and dashed to a point.
It was the carelessness from assuming perfect encirclement.
Perfect surround required far more numbers than us. If they had that many, we’d have noticed beforehand, so unlikely.
‘Their plan relies on us panicking.’
Stay calm and slip out swiftly to break it easily.
“What the—! They’re breaking out!”
“Who’s that guy!? Catch him! Don’t let the girl escape!”
They panicked and chased.
Their target was indeed Erina.
Me carrying their main goal and bolting through a gap collapsed their formation simply.
Chasing me forcibly in the crumbling formation would tangle them with the other apprentice butlers on the path.
Soon, clang! Clang! Combat erupted, weapon clashes echoing behind.
“No…! Those people…!”
Erina fretted, but no choice.
Merging forces for a brute-force breakthrough was an option, but I didn’t want that risk.
I’d never killed before; no telling what state I’d be in.
Thud! Thud! I raced down the memorized path.
Terrain etched from ascent, plus mountain tips from Master Ilya helped.
But the foes weren’t pushovers.
“Found them! This way!”
“Kill the man! Just capture the girl!”
Two ambushers drew swords and charged.
I tossed Erina into rear brush, then drew the short spear I’d carried just in case.
“Brat!”
“Don’t do anything stupid and just—Gurk!?”
Thrust! Thrust! As they entered range, I pierced throats and heads; they dropped dead.
No shock from my first kills.
“Surprisingly no emotion…”
Maybe from Master’s training on finishing hunted animals. Or because they were villains.
Flick! I shook blood from the spear tip and scooped up Erina again.
“Y-You… How did you…”
“Modern butlers can all do this much.”
In subculture I knew, butlers were often top-tier powerhouses.
A light joke to ease her fear and relax, but limits hit soon.
“…!”
Chilling killing intent down my spine.
I flung Erina away and flipped, raising the spear horizontally.
Boom! Heavy blow crushing down.
“Oh ho. Blocked my strike? Not bad.”
A masked man.
“Haaah!”
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! Four swift strikes at vitals to push back, but clang! He parried with power, keeping distance.
‘Tch! Master would’ve landed a flashy thirteen combo.’
I wasn’t there yet.
Meaning a skill gap between me and this guy who blocked my ace four-strike.
‘Clearly weaker than Master. But compared to now me…’
Alone, escape possible, but with baggage, no.
He knew, saying:
“Run now, and I’ll let you go. Our goal’s that lady. Don’t worry, no plans to kill her. …For now.”
“Stop the brain games you suck at and come at me.”
“Hmph.”
No choice for me. Abandon Erina, and House Salleon would come after me later.
“Don’t regret it, kid!”
“You neither.”
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! Three strikes at throat, heart, gut.
He deflected with small shield on left, closed in, swung sword with force.
Red aura flickered on his blade; Erina gasped.
“Aura…!”
Ominous crimson glow.
“I’ll cleave you weapon and all!”
But blue aura swirled on my spear too.
“Haat!”
“Ugh…?”
Clang-clang-clang! Blue aura spear repelling his sword.
His face changed instantly.
“You bastard, aura…! Damn, House Salleon already assigned a guard. Thought we fooled you…!”
“Haa! Haa!”
Aura realm, said innate martial genius only.
In-game truth: anyone could use it.
Units over 70 strength used it basically. Als’s was 87, up to 91 with hidden quests.
Talent was there, performance aside.
“Try more? Next might pierce your throat.”
“Don’t get cocky, kid. Think I fear aura fights? Wrong.”
“Then come on.”
“No need. I’m not the one in a hurry.”
“…”
As expected.
He exploited nearby reinforcements. Time on their side.
Presences approaching indeed.
‘Tch, gotta end quick!’
Calculations done, I gripped spear reverse and charged.
“Haaah!”
“Fool, courting death!”
Clang! Sparks flew.
Thrust-thrust-thrust! Lightning mid-range stabs at vitals for openings.
All fatal spots; one hit ends it.
He focused deflecting, not closing.
Finally, clang! Thinking he couldn’t anymore, he smacked it away hard, gaining distance.
Forty exchanges, a draw.
“Haha! Don’t know your teacher, but not some amateur. What’s your master’s name?”
“How about yours first?”
“Hmph, half-kill you, you’ll spill. Still charging? Time’s choking you.”
Casual taunt.
Reinforcements mean I’m cornered.
One-on-one lets me ignore Erina; another changes that.
‘Unforeseen snag.’
Thought Master cleaned up those agitators thoroughly; mistake.
Would’ve prepared otherwise.
Had insurance for what-ifs, but didn’t expect this big; unsure if it’d work in time.
‘Risky, but Plan B only way.’
Ting! I kicked up a sword at my feet into air.
From the guys I killed earlier.
Whir-whir-whir! Sword spinning fiercely mid-air.
Bang! I smacked it with spear shaft at him, charging again.
“Brat with dirty tricks!”
He backpedaled, dodged easily, prepared counter.
Thud! Sword stabbed before him.
“Haaaah!”
Right hand gripped tight, heavy thrust. Force not easily parried.
But motion too big? He grinned slyly.
“Idiot! Die!”
Closing instead, dodging spear, he swung to split from collarbone to right hip.
“No──!!”
Erina screamed.
Visually unavoidable.
I’d waited; played my trump card.