Chapter 19. Newlyweds (3)
Chapter 19. Newlyweds (3)
Kwaang!
The fireball collided with the target.
A massive roar echoed.
All the Fire Bolts cast until now had vanished the instant they hit the target.
It was a natural result.
There was no way fire could ignite a metal target.
This time was different.
The flames stuck to the target like glue.
They burned for about 30 seconds longer before dying down.
"Wow.."
An exclamation burst from Helen's mouth.
She came running over dododo.
And patted my shoulder while praising me.
"You're really amazing!"
"Khum.."
People are weak to praise.
Especially when it comes from a beautiful woman.
I nodded my head, feeling pleased.
I sat down on the ground.
And did Mana Breathing.
Because unlike a regular Fire Bolt, this one consumed a fair amount of mana.
Helen was practicing archery beside me.
Even in the midwinter cold.
She had thrown off her top.
At that moment, sleet suddenly started sprinkling down.
"Aren't you cold?"
"How's my body?"
Helen asked with a grin.
She had her back turned, so her breasts weren't visible.
But her back was exposed starkly.
The robust muscles were incredibly beautiful.
The weather was cold.
But they seemed to bunch up even tighter, as if defying the chill.
Helen drew the bowstring in that posture.
Her latissimus dorsi moved fluidly.
Her scapulae gathered toward her spine.
Her rear deltoids writhed in coordination with her lats.
To think a woman's muscles could be this beautiful.
Now I get why Renaissance artists made the body their subject.
Tung!
The arrow left the string.
It whistled through the air and embedded in the wooden target.
Watching that, I thought.
Couldn't I shoot a Fire Bolt like an arrow?
Since I could make it sticky like napalm, adding tension like an arrow shouldn't be impossible.
I had time to spare anyway.
Helen handled all the housework.
Even if I offered to help.
She stubbornly refused.
I had to invest all my free time in magic.
Things were peaceful now.
But who knew what would happen in Port City Yochvin.
I needed to get stronger diligently while I could.
By the time my mana was somewhat recharged.
Bruno, who had been sitting quietly beside me.
Perked up his ears.
Urururung..
He stared into the forest somewhere.
And even bared his fangs.
Something was off.
Wolves?
Or maybe he'd spotted human intruders.
"Honey, it might be people looking for you. Hide behind that crate for now."
Helen hurriedly put on her clothes and pointed to a crate at the back of the Cabin.
"Yeah, got it."
I did as I was told.
Hiding behind the crate.
I peeked out just my eyes.
Soon, a group of people emerged from the forest.
There were five of them.
All men.
They were all big.
But looking closely, their armor and overcoats made them look bulkier.
Wait a sec, that guy..
I couldn't help but hold my breath.
Yannick was among the men.
His face was covered in deep wrinkles.
But his presence was as imposing as any young man's.
A longsword hung at his waist.
Must be newly bought.
Since I'd taken the one he used to carry.
Yannick looked around.
I hurriedly crouched down.
Fuck, he didn't spot me, did he?
My hands had turned red.
Even with gloves on.
That's how cold the weather was.
Yannick slowly approached the Cabin.
The armed soldiers followed behind.
They were all well-equipped with bows, longswords, spears, and such.
Over the crunching of snow underfoot.
The clanking of metal layered on top.
A woman stood in front of the Cabin.
Our eyes met.
She gave an awkward smile and approached.
"I'm Yannick. I serve under Baron Kargon. Who are you?"
"Hello, Sir Knight."
The woman bowed politely.
She set her bow on the ground.
Then took one more step forward.
"I'm Helen."
"Hm.."
Yannick stroked his lower chin.
His beard, half-frozen in the cold, was hard like thorns.
"I know this as hunter Bruno's Cabin?"
"Ah, Bruno's my husband."
The woman who introduced herself as Helen continued with a bright smile.
"He left for Rafalen this morning. Won't be back for three days."
White breath puffed from Helen's mouth.
"Indeed."
Yannick was the same.
His breath was so thick.
It was like he was smoking a pipe.
"Reuben. Take out the wanted poster and show it to this woman."
"Yes, sir."
One soldier who'd been standing like a folding screen pulled a sheet of paper from his bosom and held it out to Helen.
On the yellowish wanted poster.
Was, predictably, Hans's face sketched there.
"Ever seen this guy?"
Yannick asked.
Helen flinched.
But she calmed herself and answered.
"No. First time seeing his face?"
"Khum.."
Yannick glared at Helen.
A sharp gaze.
Hard to believe it came from an old man.
His eyes seemed to probe deep into her chest, making Helen swallow hard.
"I need to check inside."
"Yes, if you wish."
Helen gladly opened the Cabin door.
Refusing here.
Would only arouse suspicion.
And defying a knight's will was impossible to begin with.
Yannick and the soldiers entered the Cabin.
They didn't even take off their shoes.
Snow from their soles melted, wetting the wooden floor.
The Cabin wasn't that small.
But with five heavily armed men inside, it felt terribly cramped.
"Hey, smell something?"
"That smell, right?"
"What smell?"
"The smell after a man and woman fuck."
"Kukukuk.."
Unlike the taciturn Yannick.
The soldiers started spouting vulgarities.
"That bitch looks pretty tasty, huh?"
"Her tits are huge.."
"Fuck, I'd love to grope them once."
The vulgarities escalated.
Soon, one even openly harassed Helen.
"Your husband won't be back for three days, right? Must be lonely alone. How about a drink with us?"
Helen's expression hardened.
She could resist with her longbow from a distance, but indoors, she was defenseless.
Her heart pounded like a hammer.
If these guys really had bad intentions, there was no way out.
Suddenly, a face flashed in her mind.
Her one and only husband in the world, Hans.
And just like that, she felt reassured.
No matter what happened.
Hans would save her.
That's what Helen believed.
Yannick, who'd been looking around the Cabin, plopped down on a chair.
"Cold. Add some firewood to the hearth."
Like a guest, but barking orders.
But she couldn't defy him.
Yannick was a knight who could wield Aura.
Helen obediently followed Yannick's words.
She added more firewood to the hearth.
The embers blazed fiercely.
Warming the Cabin cozily.
"Please wait a moment. I'll bring some tea to warm you up."
Helen shook off a soldier's hand groping her body and took out a kettle from the shelf.
Soon, five cups of tea were served.
Not enough chairs.
So three soldiers sat on the floor, sipping tea.
Of course, they didn't drink right away.
First, the soldier named Reuben tasted it.
Confirming no poison.
Slurp.
The tea tasted great.
It was a substitute tea made by drying and boiling Alibeska roots.
The hot tea gently thawed their cold-stiffened bodies.
The soldiers took off their overcoats and armor.
Then licked their lips while eyeing Helen.
Piercing gazes.
Helen could hardly bear it.
Her hand holding the teacup trembled.
"Must be lonely alone? We'll make you have fun."
The soldiers started closing in.
The impatient one had already unbuckled his belt.
Flop, his dick sprang out, reeking of a foul stench.
It was so disgusting she felt like puking.
Wrinkles formed between Helen's brows.
The soldiers' eyes were no longer sane.
Their breathing grew ragged.
Deep in the forest Cabin.
Husband back in three days.
So they could fuck sloppily for that time, no problem.
Even if issues arose.
Knight Yannick would cover for them, right?
Their bodies, chilled by the cold.
Were gradually heating up.
Not just from the hearth's heat.
Anticipation for the sex to come.
Wasn't just thawing the soldiers' bodies—it was heating them red-hot.
They'd been combing villages and forest Cabins like catching rats for days.
A grueling march.
Blisters covered their soles.
Their knees shook.
So they deserved compensation.
To the lust-blinded soldiers, Helen was that reward.
"Don't do anything useless."
Yannick, who'd been quietly sipping tea, scowled and said.
An old man's crankiness.
In the old days, he'd have turned a blind eye.
No, he might've joined in.
Knightly honor was just a fancy excuse.
What he'd truly chased was money and sex.
But since when?
His lower half wouldn't listen.
No matter how pretty or busty a naked woman approached, his dick wouldn't budge.
Erectile dysfunction.
Even using Aura didn't help.
And now, young bucks full of vigor were flaunting their lust right in front of him.
It pissed him off.
That's why he stopped them.
Not out of any sense of justice.
"Phew.."
Helen let out a sigh of relief.
And thanked Yannick.
Even if he was here to catch her beloved husband, gratitude was gratitude.
She brought out some precious snacks.
"Have some of these too."
"Thanks. I'll warm up a bit and go."
"Yes, take your time."
Helen added more firewood to the hearth.
The soldiers eyed her regretfully.
"Hm? What's this?"
A soldier drinking tea reached under the bed.
"This longsword looks like top quality?"
What came out in the soldier's hand was a straight longsword.
"Looks similar to the one Sir Yannick used before."
Yannick's eyes flashed.
"Hand it here."
"Yes, here.."
The soldier offered the sword with both hands to Yannick.
It was the sword he'd used.
On the day Hans fled.
It had vanished with him.
Why was it here?
Not an ordinary sword.
Not an artifact.
But top-quality made of cold iron.
Worth a whopping 50 gold!
For Yannick, even if he missed Hans, he had to recover this sword.
Yannick looked at the sword.
And grinned sinisterly.
The reason this sword was here was easy to guess.
Hans, that bastard, had holed up in this Cabin.