episode_0363

***

In the center of the dark place, a bonfire was making its presence felt.

Lighting a bonfire while being chased was no different from a struggle to woo the pursuer, but they had no other option.

At least, I was able to soothe the anxiety that had arisen in a corner of my mind by setting up a watchdog and being alert to my surroundings.

The season has now entered early fall. The sleepless heat of summer had disappeared inexplicably, and that was why the forest at night was cold.

Purring, the horses tied to the trees snorted and waved their tails, chasing away bugs on their butts.

The sound of tree branches breaking in flames echoed through the forest.

Several members sat around the campfire and warmed their hands. Someone wanted to grill and eat beef jerky, but they were not unaware of the situation enough to do something so crazy that it would even smell.

There was silence in the campsite set up in the middle of the forest. Stiff faces headed toward one tent.

Members warming their hands at the campfire, members keeping watch around the campsite, members maintaining their weapons…

Their eyes turned to the tent.

The uncomfortable stares and silence continued until a woman came out of the tent.

The woman with a very tired face had short golden hair.

She slowly sat down in front of the campfire, showing signs of fatigue with every step she took. The members who were sitting at the campfire moved their butts to make room.

“Anna, who is the captain?”

As soon as the golden-haired woman sat down, the woman sitting on her right asked. She had long chestnut hair and an equally tired face.

“Please rest assured.”

A woman named Anna let out a sigh of fatigue and tension.

As soon as she finished speaking, the camp members also breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hehe… I’m glad. Actually, the injury was so severe… I…”

The chestnut-haired woman, Agnes, swallowed her words for fear of being criticized.

But the afternoon’s fight was still vivid in her eyes. The sound of weapons clashing, the sound of horses’ hooves, shouts, and the appearance of the captain.

He was a captain whose neck was pierced by an arrow and two arrows were lodged in his chest.

The seasoned cavalry members were convinced when they saw their captain. The captain would have died.

However, the unit commander had different thoughts.

The commander of the unit, Anna Irwena, led the cavalry with the captain on her horse amidst chaos.

The cavalry fled after Anna, and after evading the pursuers here and there, they entered this forest.

“They say it wouldn’t have been surprising if Judas had died instantly.”

Anna said in a hoarse voice as she threw the rolling tree branch into the bonfire.

‘It looks like you’ve calmed down a bit.’

Agnes recalled the situation from earlier.

[hurry! Get treatment! Judah! Judah! Where are you, you bastard!]

Anna screamed, clutching the captain’s pale body.

Seeing her ferocious spirit, Judah hurriedly rushed over with medical supplies.

[Save the captain! hurry!]

[Unit commander. The captain has already….]

Judah’s blue face was similar to that of the captain.

[Shut up, the captain is still alive. So come on! Do everything you can. You haven’t forgotten what your position is in this cavalry, right?]

[Ah Okay. I knew.]

Agnes felt sorry for Judah, who had been treating her with a determined face.

“I apologize to Judah later.”

She spoke softly to Anna.

“…….”

Anna, who belatedly remembered how she had behaved towards her colleague, lowered her head.

“Okay, you’re embarrassed, aren’t you?”

“Noisy.”

Anna threw another twig into the bonfire.

Crackling, the bonfire was burning.

The warmth spread throughout the surrounding area, and only then were the members sitting around able to truly feel the warmth.

The captain lived. It was news that could put one’s mind at ease.

“Can the captain move right away? I can’t stay here for long.”

Agnes said, looking blankly at the burning flame.

“…right. Actually, I’m thinking of moving as soon as dawn comes. The captain… you should ride in front of me.”

Anna expressed her thoughts.

“You can’t ride a horse for a long time with an immature body.”

“I know. But there is no way. I can’t stay here forever.”

When Agnes pointed out the reality, Anna got angry.

“Even if it’s a little late, how about leaving tomorrow morning? There is nothing we can do if the captain wants to recover even a little.”

“Should I do that?”

Worries about the colon, pressure to move places.

Anna had to face reality.

“Anna!”

Before deciding about tomorrow, Judas, who was in the tent, called the commander of the unit.

Anna jumped up at the sound of Judas’ voice, and tension rose again in the camp.

“What’s going on? What happened to you, Captain?”

When a lot of nervous gazes were directed at him, Judah smiled sheepishly.

“The captain is okay. You opened your eyes now.”

“Really?”

“Uh. I thought it would be good for you to explain the situation.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as Judah finished speaking, Anna walked quickly toward the tent.

“It’s fast….”

Judas, who was watching Anna’s back moving away, sat down in front of the bonfire.

“Judas, how are you?”

Agnes did not leave Judah alone.

“It’s a miracle that you survived, but I didn’t know you would come to your senses. I guess the captain is truly a person who received God’s protection.”

Judah let out a laugh.

“If we had received God’s protection, this would not have happened in the first place.”

Agnes muttered, her gaze fixed on the bonfire.

***

“The sun of Rosen, the rightful ruler of the empire…”

“That kind of greeting is definitely good, so say it.”

As the cold voice fell, the prone commander’s back twitched.

“I am very sorry to inform you, but there was a battle with the 4th Cavalry.”

“Didn’t you say that you were going to pressure the cavalry and guide it? But what about battle?”

“The cavalry targeted a vulnerable point in the camp and broke through.”

“So, you mean we missed the cavalry?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Disappointing. You probably don’t know why I left the imperial palace and am here.”

“…I have nothing to say to Your Majesty that will cause great sorrow due to my shortcomings.”

“Yes, if you had told me I had something to tell you, I would have slit your head.”

“…….”

“So… is that all? Missed the cavalry?”

“That is….”

“Jim doesn’t like talking too long, Commander.”

The commander closed his eyes tightly.

The incident had already happened, and it was impossible to hide it. He opened his mouth, hoping for the emperor’s mercy.

“The soldiers were shaken by the unexpected clash, and some out-of-control soldiers opened fire on the fleeing cavalry.”

“…So?”

The air became increasingly heavy. The commander spoke again, struggling to control his chattering teeth.

“It is said that several of those arrows… hit the body of the enemy cavalry commander.”

“…The cavalry leader was injured? To what extent?”

“I’m not sure, but seeing as the enemy unit commander ran away holding the captain, it looks like he was seriously injured…”

The commander could not finish his sentence.

Degurrr-

Before I knew it, the commander’s severed head was rolling on the floor. The blood flowing from the cut surface defiled the emperor’s residence.

“How dare you-”

The voice of the emperor who drew his sword was full of anger.

“How dare you hurt someone? he is mine This means that he is the man who will become my subject and the minister of state. I cherish him too, but how, how, how can you hurt his body…”

Is there no one else but “!!”

At the emperor’s shout, the knight commander who was waiting outside came in.

“Did you call me, Your Majesty?”

“Remove this trash from my place immediately, break through the defense line, and execute all those who fired arrows.”

“I will do as you ask.”

The knight commander with a taciturn expression bowed and disappeared.

The emperor’s residence where the knight commander left.

The emperor sat on his chair, stamped his feet and bit his nails.

“Ah- He should be safe… He should have been lightly injured… Ah- My cavalry leader…”

Empty eyes turn to the lamp.

“You must be safe. No, you have to be safe. You are mine, so you need my permission to get hurt.”

“Keep in mind, Kang In-ho…”

The emperor’s eyes, reflected in the blade, sparkled.