Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: WWE (4)
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The high-class inn primarily used by visiting nobles from outside Hiragarat.
In its opulent hall, Kyle Crobel was conversing with his escort knight, Hardin.
"Stay a day or two longer?"
"That's right. The Raglain Knight Order mentioned that some dangerous fellows have been hiding nearby lately."
Hardin shrugged.
"They've sent out men to search, so it shouldn't take long."
"Hm..."
Kyle fell briefly into thought before speaking.
"Dangerous or not, they're probably just bandits in the end. Time's wasting. We'll depart anyway."
The response he'd expected from the start. Hardin gave a wry smile.
"One last question. I'm planning to stay a few more days myself. No need to take unnecessary risks, and it might be a good chance to mingle with some acquaintances."
Still set on leaving? Hardin narrowed his eyes and shot him a look.
But Kyle didn't budge an inch.
"What do I care about a bunch of bandits? My mind's made up."
"Young master, you could end up in real trouble like that."
"Hmph! You've grown timid with age, knight."
"......"
For a moment, Hardin clenched his fist tight.
One piece of advice, and he snaps back so rudely...
'Patience, hold it together.'
He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.
It was all reactions he'd foreseen anyway.
All he could do now was hope the Raglain Knight Order—who had accepted the mission—handled things well.
Word was they'd mobilized five highly skilled individuals.
A fitting move from the renowned knightly house of Raglain.
And so, Hardin saw off the young master's group as they packed up and departed on their own.
He sent his own attendant ahead to the Knight Order with the news.
Now, he planned to blend into the support team and observe how things unfolded from there.
"...They're coming!"
"Finally!"
"Whew..."
At the messenger's report, the ambush squad slowly rose to their feet.
They'd been killing time so tediously that some had wondered if the targets might not show today.
At last, the wait was over. It was time to move.
"Let's go."
At Sir Marco's command—their leader—they set off in unison.
Leaving their makeshift waiting clearing behind, they took position at the forest's edge.
Asha, stationed beside Sir Marco, quickly scanned the terrain.
Beneath the dense canopy of trees lay a sloped hill, beyond which stretched the long road the targets would pass.
A perfect spot to look down one-sidedly from above.
'Definitely prime terrain for an ambush.'
She nodded faintly and concealed herself.
Shaaaa—
A sudden gust rustled the tall grasses in waves.
The thick, earthy scent of the forest mingled with fresh grass, brushing her nostrils.
The ambush squad melted into the landscape, hiding as naturally as the scenery itself.
The young master's group was still nowhere in sight.
Asha adjusted her mask and double-checked her outfit.
Then Sir Marco spoke in a firm voice.
"Everyone. Remember the orders? First priority is acting, second is acting. We absolutely cannot let on that this is a setup."
"Yes, sir!"
The short, vigorous replies echoed back.
The final checks commenced.
Push the enemy hard, no doubt about it. But retreat like bandits at the first sign of real danger.
And when the support team arrives, put on an Oscar-worthy performance and slip away!
Everyone gathered here—soldiers and mercenaries alike—were battle-tested veterans.
They held their positions calmly, without a hint of disorder.
Soon, a procession appeared at the end of the road, approaching steadily.
As they drew nearer, tension thickened in the ambush squad's air. All held their breath.
The young master's group closed in. Watching from afar, Sir Marco quietly curled his lips.
'Just as rumored.'
Arrogant and spoiled, they said. The procession screamed it.
Two mounted knights rode leisurely ahead, followed by attendants sweating buckets to keep up.
Even nearing hazardous terrain, they showed no sign of vigilance.
How overconfident in their skills must they be?
'Tournament champion hunter, was it? I'll test that reputation with my own body.'
He grinned coldly, timing the assault.
And so, as the young master and his retainer knight passed the ambush point...
The moment a gap opened between them and the separated attendants aligned perfectly ahead!
"Now!"
A low, sharp voice rang out.
Instantly, everyone charged down the hill, launching the ambush.
Soldiers and mercenaries swarmed the attendants per the script, pressing them.
At the same time.
Clang! Clang!
Sir Marco clashed with Kyle Crobel.
The young master, sensing the approach keenly, dismounted boldly and met his blade.
Asha's side unfolded differently.
Using the momentum from her lightning descent down the slope, she lunged at the retainer knight. Her speed was so blistering he couldn't react in time—her kick grazed his side, sending him tumbling from his horse.
Neighhh—! The startled horse reared back, kicking rear hooves wildly at Asha as she landed behind.
Asha dodged fluidly, bending backward as if she'd anticipated it. She stepped gracefully away, creating distance from the horse.
For the knight, that brief instant proved a boon.
In the time bought by the horse, he staggered to his feet and drew his sword from his waist.
The fall's shock still lingered, making him wobble momentarily, but his sharp gaze locked onto Asha precisely.
"Who the hell are you?!"
He bellowed with murderous intent.
Asha, who had deliberately given him that time, answered with renewed pressure instead of words.
"Guh...!"
Two quick exchanges in that short span.
The flustered knight retreated, widening the gap. The weight transmitted through his sword was no joke.
His wrist throbbed numbly from parrying the forced blows.
'This guy's no ordinary bandit!'
A bandit knight?!
Cold sweat trickled down the knight's back as he eyed the rippling golden sword aura.
And this bandit was composed, too.
Seeing the knight's aura, she calmly maintained distance, waiting for an opening.
'Damn, the situation...'
The knight's eyes flicked left to right, swiftly scanning around.
That very instant.
"No time to slack off, is there?"
With a deliberately rasped voice, the bandit surged at him in a flash.
Another clash.
The longer the fight dragged, the more horror etched onto the knight's face.
'M-My moves... they're being read!'
He was being utterly dominated.
Meanwhile, the support team, centered on the elf knights.
Having circled around from another direction, they observed the ambush from the hill.
"Hah, hahaha..."
Escort knight Hardin let out an involuntary dry laugh.
He'd heard from Roderick that they'd selected top talent, but...
'Isn't the role assignment all wrong?'
He couldn't shake the thought.
"Whoa! Did you see that? That timing dodging the sword strike!"
"Interval control is artistic! Worth studying."
"Kyaa! See that feint just now?"
The elf knights kept chattering noisily beside him.
That much was fine.
He fully understood Roderick's call not to assign the elves to the ambush roles.
Besides, that mysterious bandit cornering the retainer knight looked extraordinarily skilled even to him—enough to spark curiosity about her identity.
The real issue was—
"Compared to that, over there's less exciting."
"So the young master's reputation is real after all?"
Sir Marco, the ambush leader, was being outmatched in skill.
The opposite of the retainer knight's plight.
This made the situation bizarre. The mission's core was starting to waver.
'...Roderick must have planned for this.'
Hardin thought so as he kept watching.
Soon, the retainer knight retreated, gasping raggedly. Pushed to his limit, his shoulders heaved nonstop.
The bandit he'd faced then leisurely scanned the surroundings.
'Yes, yes! You need to step in!'
Hardin silently cheered the unknown bandit on.
It was right then.
"Hah, I can't stand it anymore!"
"Time we join the fun!"
"???"
Hardin's head whipped sideways.
Why are you jumping in already?
"Wait, you lot—?"
He reached out to stop them, but.
Thud, thud, thump!
The elf knights, blood boiling, charged out one after another.
"...!"
Hardin slapped his forehead with a sharp smack in disbelief.
And so, reinforcements arrived out of nowhere amid the raging battle.
Boom! Boom! Boooom!
The elf knights leaped from the hilltop, landing smack in the battlefield's center!
Arms rigidly outstretched, knees sacrificed for style in a perfect superhero landing.
They raised their downward gazes forward and declared:
"Greetings, everyone!"
A group superhero landing debut!
"????"
Asha's movements froze solid.