Chapter 8. Hunter's Wife (1)
Chapter 8. Hunter's Wife (1)
My body's not doing well.
I've been eating only spoiled oatmeal porridge for a long time.
And I've been beaten by the baron from time to time.
If I run into wolves.
I probably won't survive.
The longsword I took from Yannick has a sharp blue edge.
But I don't know how to use a sword.
At best, I can swing it like a baseball bat.
Still, it's better than nothing.
If I swing it with all my might, I might take down one.
I walked along the forest path.
I had no choice but to walk slowly.
Because it was pitch black all around.
The fallen leaves crunching under my feet.
The rustling sounds made my nerves sharpen for no reason.
It felt like wild beasts would charge out from the darkness any second.
Deep into the night.
The late summer heat had long since cooled.
A cold wind slipped in through my open sleeves.
I walked without stopping.
I couldn't camp.
If I lit a fire, I might get spotted.
Moreover, I didn't have any tools to start a fire since I fled in a hurry.
Of course, I could use Fire Magic, but to replenish my depleted mana, I needed to breathe.
I didn't have time for that.
I had to put as much distance as possible between me and the pursuit squad while I had the chance.
As I walked aimlessly.
Dawn broke.
Fortunately, I didn't run into any wolves.
The pale morning mist rising.
I kept walking, gripping my sword.
At some point, goosebumps broke out all over me.
Something was chasing me.
Not just one or two.
Yellow glints flashed between the thick trees.
A pack of wolves.
They had me surrounded, drawing closer then backing off, testing me.
I gripped the longsword's hilt tightly.
If they charged.
I'd have to swing this thing like crazy to break through.
I couldn't use magic.
After stunning Yannick with Stun.
I hadn't breathed, so my mana was insufficient.
Even if I had enough mana, I couldn't have handled a pack of wolves.
Fire isn't an attack spell to begin with, and Stun could at best knock out one.
Beasts have good instincts.
They easily read their prey's thoughts.
The wolves must have sensed my fear.
Like pressuring a terrified herbivore.
The encirclement tightened.
Krheorheong!
Suddenly, a wolf lunged from the side.
"Fuck!"
With a curse.
I swung the sword reflexively.
A sensation of slicing through something transmitted through the hilt.
Blood splattered over the fallen leaves.
The wolf with its side slashed twisted its body sharply and locked eyes with me.
Krrrororung..
I'd carved a sword wound into the wolf's body.
But it wasn't deep.
Probably because of its tough fur and hide.
Krrrorung!
Kyung kyung!
Geurrrororung..
The smell of blood seemed to stimulate the wolves.
Everything went wrong.
Even wildly swinging the sword here.
I couldn't take down this many wolves.
Up close, they were too big.
A Tosa dog would look puny next to these guys.
Breaking through was out of the question.
In a state of despair.
Anna's face floated into my mind.
Small face with big eyes.
How could her white skin be so soft..
Her ample breasts were unforgettable too.
And in her belly.
My bloodline is growing.
I might die here.
But I hope that child lives a happy life.
In that moment of resignation.
The wolves sensed the mood and all charged at once.
Shyik!
Suddenly, a sound cut through the air.
The wolf leaping at my throat with sharp fangs collapsed with a thud.
An arrow embedded in its temple.
The baron's pursuit squad?!
I whipped my head around.
And locked eyes with a man with a bushy beard.
In his hand, a longbow.
He'd already nocked an arrow and drawn the string back to his ear.
Twung!
The string snapped forward.
The arrow flew fiercely.
Geurrung..
Another one tumbled over.
The arrow hit the wolf's neck.
It flailed briefly before going limp.
Arrows kept flying without pause.
Every shot hit true.
Before long.
The wolves fled.
Wild animals are like that.
They rarely fight to the death.
If the situation turns against them, they run without a care for pride.
"Huff.. haah.. haah.. haah.."
My knees gave out.
I collapsed to the ground.
Panting heavily.
The man strode over.
Leather jacket and leather pants.
His exposed arms were covered in dirty tattoos.
A leather belt around his waist.
Dagger, rope, and all sorts of tools fastened to it.
That wasn't all.
A freshly caught bird of prey hung from it too.
The man was huge.
His face looked fierce too.
His bulging eyes stared right at me.
I quickly stood and bowed.
"Thank you for saving me!"
"..."
The man's brow furrowed.
He scanned me up and down, then started interrogating.
"Who are you, sneaking into the lord's forest without permission?"
"Pardon my late introduction. Name's Jeff."
I didn't give my real name.
"Jeff, huh.. Hmm.."
"Anyway, where is this place?"
"Lord Fried Viscount's forest."
Fried Viscount Territory.
I'd vaguely heard of it.
A territory southeast of Kargon Baron Territory.
I heard it was pretty far.
Thanks to putting distance all through the night, I managed to flee this far.
"Looks like you're on the run. Jeff's probably a fake name too, right?"
My heart sank.
Should I deny it?
No.
Denying it might just piss him off.
And I had no excuse anyway.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Knew it. What's your real name? No lies this time. I might really get mad."
I told him my real name honestly.
"Name's Bruno. Hunter and gamekeeper."
Hunter Bruno grinned.
His gaze suddenly fixed on the longsword I held.
"What's with that sword? Looks too expensive for the likes of you."
I couldn't answer.
If I admitted stealing it from a knight, there'd be trouble.
"Eh, I won't dig too deep. But damn, I really want that sword."
I didn't resist.
I held the sword out with both hands and handed it over obediently.
It hurt to let it go.
But I had to.
Bruno saved my life, after all.
Plus, he saw through my situation.
Better to play nice for safety.
"Haha, feels like I'm robbing you."
"No, not at all."
"If you got nowhere to go, stay at my cabin for a bit."
"Really?!"
My voice rose without thinking.
Bruno chuckled and nodded.
There were two cabins.
One for living.
The other a workshop for butchering and processing game.
It looked a bit lonely.
Living alone in a place like this must be pretty isolating.
"Honey, I'm home!"
But that was just my imagination.
As Bruno shouted loudly.
Someone came out of the cabin.
A woman in her mid-20s, by the look.
She had an apron on, probably cooking.
"Gasp.."
I caught my breath without meaning to.
Because she was stunningly beautiful.
If Anna had an elegant vibe.
This woman had a refreshing, straightforward feel.
She was tall too.
Easily over 170 cm.
Her sun-tanned brown skin looked healthy.
"Come in, honey. Huh?"
Our eyes met.
She tilted her head and asked.
"Who's this?"
"Said he got lost in the woods. Figured leaving him would make him wolf chow, so I brought him."
I bowed deeply.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hans."
"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Helen."
Helen greeted me with a smile.
My eyes involuntarily went to her chest.
Even with the loose apron.
Her bust protruded prominently.
Seemed a bit bigger than Anna's.
Helen didn't seem to mind.
She beamed and gestured.
"Wait just a bit. I'll make some food."
"You don't have to.."
"Just eat quietly. Can't skimp on guest hospitality."
Bruno said with a pleased grin.
Helen went back inside the cabin.
Me and Bruno followed.
A fragrant smell filled the cabin.
Probably from the various herbs hanging from the ceiling and walls.
The furnishings were pretty well-equipped too.
The bed was huge, sized for Bruno's bulk, and there was a fine fireplace.
Neatly folded blankets.
My gaze went to the exposed bedsheet.
It was covered in stains.
Evidence of married life.
Well, in a boring place like this, their bodies might be the only entertainment.
I sat at the table as Bruno suggested.
Bruno asked me all sorts of things.
I answered as honestly as I could.
"How long can I stay here?"
Bruno pondered my question.
"Hmm.. Help with work, and you can stay as long as you want."
Music to my ears.
I had nowhere to go anyway.
Plus, a wanted order would drop soon.
Best to hide in this deep forest cabin until things quiet down.
"Made this special for our new guest."
Helen set a bubbling pot on the table.
"Pheasant stew. Hope it suits your taste, hehe."
Just the smell made my mouth water.
Yellowish oil floating on the surface.
Chunks of meat bobbing up temptingly as she stirred with the ladle.
Helen served the stew into bowls.
Then sat in a chair.
"Dig in."
"Yes, thanks for the meal."
I bowed my head.
Spooned some and slurped it down.
Whoa.. damn..
So good.
I had no idea meat stew could taste this good.
Since getting locked in the basement.
I'd only eaten spoiled oatmeal porridge.
And even that was too little.
Plus, I'd been wandering the forest all night since last night.
Starving like crazy.
In that state, eating meat stew—it had to taste amazing.
Helen's cooking skills were top-notch too.
The richly simmered broth and tender meat melting along the grain, blending on my tongue.
"This is the best stew I've ever had."
"You're too kind."
Helen smiled with her eyes and shook her head.
"My wife's a natural at cooking."
Bruno shrugged and laughed.
After finishing the thick stew bowl.
Helen brought dessert.
Dried mountain strawberries.
She brought booze too.
Mead made with honey.
Pretty strong stuff.
Tart yet sweet as it went down.
Paired well with the mountain strawberries.
Me, Bruno, and his wife sat around the table drinking.
Bruno was a heavy drinker.
Gulped the strong mead like water.
How much time passed?
Bruno slammed his head on the table and started snoring.
Helen gave an awkward smile and shook her head.
Then our eyes met.
Her gaze was anything but normal.