Chapter 43

Episode 43

The next day, we finished breakfast early and prepared to depart. Lady Lucia had instructed us to leave as soon as possible.

The change in schedule wasn’t a problem.

The Azure Dragon Knights were still vigilant, and the knights were on high alert.

The mansion gates opened, and a group of people emerged.

“Sir Aubrey, you look tired today.”

“My Lady.”

I bowed my head reflexively. She was radiant as always.

She was right I was tired.

I hadn’t slept well. It wasn’t because of Sir Darius’s mention of Lord Romero. It was because of what the Lady had said last night.

Her words, “It’ll be a difficult journey,” were ambiguous. Was she referring to the mission or my future?

I hoped it was the former, but the implication seemed to be the latter. The more I gained her trust, the deeper I seemed to sink into this quagmire.

It had kept me up all night.

But I had come too far to turn back. There was no escape for me, a man trapped in a game world.

“I was a bit nervous. It’s nothing serious, my Lady.”

“It’s a long journey to the capital. Perhaps you should ride with me today. It wouldn’t be good if you fell ill.”

Was she flirting with me?

I resisted the temptation.

“There are too many eyes watching, my Lady. I’ll escort you from outside.”

She didn’t insist. She took my hand and boarded the carriage.

The preparations were complete.

I glanced at Sir Darius. He was giving orders to the knights.

Adran was close to the capital of the Dukedom, so it was relatively safe. But once we left the town, the risk of monster attacks would increase.

Normally, it wouldn’t be a concern. The Azure Dragon Knights could handle any monster.

But after the discovery of the ‘Dark Soul’ in the Cliff territory, I was worried about demonic beasts.

Demonic beasts were far more dangerous than ordinary monsters.

If a powerful one appeared, the Azure Dragon Knights might suffer heavy casualties.

“We can’t let our guard down, especially as we travel further from the capital. We must be prepared for an attack at any moment. This isn’t a training exercise it’s a real situation.”

“Yes, sir!”

Sir Darius nodded in satisfaction.

He hadn’t spoken to me personally since our drinking session the previous night.

He must have realized that persuading me wouldn’t be easy.

‘Where’s his adjutant? Did he send him back to Kalisto Castle?’

As Vice-Commander, Sir Darius had a personal adjutant. His absence suggested that he had been sent as an urgent messenger.

It seemed my decision was as important as this mission.

“Sir O’Brien, please inform the Lady that we’re ready to depart.”

“You may proceed.”

Sir Darius saluted the carriage and shouted,

“All troops, advance!”

Our long journey resumed.

But the peace didn’t last long. The incident occurred a week later, after we had left the Kalisto territory.

Sir Darius was a competent Vice-Commander.

He had sent scouts ahead to check for monsters as we entered a dense forest.

Three scouts returned in a hurry around midnight.

“Monsters! We’ve encountered monsters!”

The knights and soldiers drew their weapons. Sir Darius remained calm.

“First squad, secure the flanks! Third squad, protect the carriage! Scout, what kind of monsters are we dealing with?”

“Wild wolves in the front! Goblins and kobolds in the rear, about thirty of them!”

“Wild wolves and kobolds?”

Sir Darius tensed.

Kobolds were stronger and more intelligent than goblins. They used more sophisticated tools and potent poisons.

And now, wild wolves had joined the fray.

Wild wolves were twice the size of ordinary wolves and had deadly fangs. A single bite could be fatal.

“How many wild wolves?”

“At least twenty!”

“Damn it!”

The most dangerous aspect of wild wolves wasn’t their speed or their fangs it was their pack hunting tactics.

We had to maintain formation, but that increased the risk of being hit by the goblins’ and kobolds’ paralyzing poison.

We needed to be mobile, but the poison would restrict our movements.

“This is the worst possible combination… Sir O’Brien!”

Sir Darius rode towards me.

“Please protect the Lady. We’ll handle the monsters.”

“Very well. Good luck.”

“Charge!”

I dismounted and stood beside the carriage. The battle began.

“Grrrrrrr!”

“Aoooo!”

The wild wolves charged like a well-trained cavalry unit, easily breaking through the front line.

*Thud!*

*Thud!*

But they were met by the Azure Dragon Knights’ swords and spears.

“Shield wall!”

The soldiers moved swiftly, forming a protective barrier around the knights.

*Whoosh!*

*Thud! Thud! Twang!*

Poison darts rained down from the rear. Most were blocked by the shields, but I heard groans of pain. Some had been hit.

I watched the battle from behind, a sense of unease growing within me.

‘Their movements are strange.’

It wasn’t just their erratic behavior.

‘They’re too coordinated.’

The surviving wild wolves split into two groups, flanking the shield wall and attacking from the sides.

It was the same pattern.

The impact disrupted the formation, and poison darts followed. More groans and screams.

‘This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a pattern.’

How could monsters of different species, with limited intelligence, coordinate such complex attacks?

I had witnessed the power of demonic energy firsthand. I knew the answer.

I knocked on the carriage window.

The door opened, revealing Lady Lucia’s calm face.

“My Lady, there’s a problem. We need to leave.”

“Surely the Azure Dragon Knights can handle a few monsters.”

“These aren’t ordinary monsters. Someone is controlling them.”

“Controlling them?”

Her eyes gleamed with interest.

Damn it. Her reaction made me suspect that the mastermind behind this attack was right in front of me.

If someone was controlling the monsters, it had to be a demonic beast or something even more powerful.

Jericho had explained the nature of ‘Dark Souls’.

“So they’re targeting me?”

“I can’t be sure. But the casualties will increase if we stay here. We have to assume the worst.”

“I’ll be fine.”

She smiled.

No ordinary noblewoman would smile in this situation. She was trying to prove her strength.

“Go help Sir Darius. I’m not afraid. I’ll die with honor, upholding the name of House Kalisto.”

“…”

I drew my sword and charged into battle.

I activated ‘Automatic Combat’ and grabbed the Black Wind Bow from my saddle.

*Hum*

*Click!*

The front line was collapsing. They had repelled the wild wolves, but they had been hit by poison darts.

Sir Darius was holding the line, so I turned my attention elsewhere.

The flanks were vulnerable.

The monsters were less than ten meters from the carriage. A wild wolf could reach it in seconds with a single leap.

I fired without hesitation.

*Twang!*

The bolt pierced a wild wolf’s jaw.

“Yelp!”

I needed rapid fire, not single, powerful shots. The Black Wind Bow was perfect for this situation.

I adjusted my aura and unleashed a barrage of bolts.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

“Gah!”

“Squeal!”

Wild wolves collapsed, their bodies riddled with bolts. The soldiers finished them off with their spears.

The flank attack subsided.

‘They’re minimizing their losses.’

My suspicion that someone was controlling them grew stronger.

Ordinary monsters would charge recklessly, regardless of casualties. But these monsters were retreating strategically.

My gaze was drawn to the carriage. It remained motionless.

I wanted to open the door and see her expression.

‘No, not yet. There’s no need to rush.’

I had to resolve this situation first. I had been ordered to assist Sir Darius.

I scanned the area, searching for demonic energy.

‘Nothing.’

It was best to eliminate the remaining monsters quickly and formulate a plan.

Sir Darius was slowly but steadily clearing the front line. His purple aura left a trail of blood and gore.

The goblins’ and kobolds’ poison darts couldn’t reach him. He manipulated the air currents, deflecting their attacks.

He was incredibly skilled and experienced.

He was the strongest knight in the Azure Dragon Knights. The only reason he wasn’t the Commander was because Romero was the Duke’s son.

His purple aura indicated that he was a second-grade knight, according to the six-grade system. He was a rare talent.

“Aaaaagh!”

“We’re outnumbered! We need reinforcements!”

I switched to the Sword of Chaos and rushed towards the rear. Goblins and kobolds were swarming the soldiers.

I felt a surge of lightness.

*Whoosh!*

With the help of ‘Automatic Combat’, I leaped high into the air, my sword held in a reverse grip. Aura crackled around the blade.

I landed and plunged the sword into the ground.

*Boom!*

*Rumble!*

It wasn’t just a flashy move. It was an aura bomb.

Aura was similar to mana.

The impact created a shallow crater ten meters wide. The monsters within the blast radius were obliterated.

But I didn’t stop.

I recalled Selendis’s ‘Shield Charge’ technique and closed the distance between me and the remaining monsters.

I was glad I had learned that move.

“Squeal!”

“Eek!”

The impact sent them flying.

But I couldn’t let them escape. It would be an insult to the Lady and House Kalisto.

If this were the Kalisto territory, the Duke’s wrath would have triggered a full-scale monster hunt.

I leaped again.

*Slice!*

*Thud!*

I swung my sword relentlessly.

One monster at a time. Sometimes, I got greedy and killed three with a single swing.

I showed no mercy, even to those who tried to flee.

‘Did I go too far?’

I was surrounded by wild wolves, their fangs bared, drool dripping from their jaws.

“Grrrr…”

“Grrr… Huh?”

They suddenly perked up their ears and fled. I didn’t pursue them.

I was certain now.

This ambush was orchestrated.