Ch.108Then the Devil Came Through the Front Door (2)

Unfortunately, Albin didn’t know how to ride a horse. He seemed apologetic as he glanced around nervously, but Kain’s group simply took the reins and walked along the path without comment.

In truth, the path was full of protruding branches, making it unsuitable for horseback riding. Moreover, with Lily’s injured back, riding would only aggravate her wounds.

Perhaps finding the silence unbearable, or perhaps believing they meant him no harm, Albin became quite talkative.

He asked where they were from and what they did for a living. He questioned Maria about how she had climbed the tree so quietly, and expressed admiration for Lily’s height.

Though they responded with nothing but silence, Albin didn’t seem to mind at all. He would answer his own questions with remarks like, “Well, I’d probably do the same.”

Finally, Kain, unable to bear it any longer, asked, “Is it safe to talk so loudly in the forest?”

Though he meant for Albin to quiet down, Albin remained completely oblivious.

“Oh, this land is controlled by Countess Roberta’s army. And everyone knows who Albin is, that’s what I’m saying.”

Kain thought he understood why everyone knew him. A chatterbox. A good-natured fellow. A friendly man with no guile. A man who would become someone’s husband and a child’s father.

He could easily be a talkative innkeeper, a country bumpkin, or a city peddler, but he seemed too awkward and ill-suited to be a forest bandit threatening people.

“Why were you spying on us?”

“Watch your words. Spying? You’re the ones who ‘trespassed’ on ‘our land.’ Should the owner be wary of guests?”

Kain placed his hand on his scabbard. That alone seemed to intimidate Albin again.

“Ahem. Countess Roberta specifically asked us to. Lately, many outsiders have been entering the forest. Most are fugitives from somewhere, and they’re all on edge like scared cats, just like you. So she told us to take them in and look after them.”

Kain thought it was quite a reasonable management approach. “Take them in,” she said. Establishing a hierarchy among thieves, letting them manage forest affairs to some extent.

But by what right did Roberta…?

“…Roberta isn’t a countess.”

At Kain’s question, Albin smirked.

“Oh my. You rigid fellow. There’s something called metaphor in this world. Metaphor. Roberta isn’t a countess! But to us, she’s greater than any emperor or pope.”

“Why?”

“She gives us food. She mediates disputes. She provides medicine when we’re sick, and makes various accommodations so we can survive. I’ve never seen such an angelic person anywhere in the world. She’s nothing short of a hero. Yep. So we jokingly started calling her ‘Countess,’ and it stuck.”

“Is ‘Countess Roberta’s army’ also a name she gave you?”

“No. We came up with that ourselves. She didn’t seem to mind though.”

What master would dislike a tamed dog rolling over and exposing its belly? Having witnessed Roberta’s true nature and her fate, Kain simply turned his head away.

“…Wait.”

Kain’s eyes narrowed. Maria, Lily, and Albin all looked in the same direction as Kain. Beyond the forest, black smoke was rising steadily.

“Fire? A fire in the Black Forest?”

Albin scratched his head.

“…Well, a forest fire isn’t completely unusual, but this is strange. I’ve never seen such a large fire. If the smoke is visible from here, it must be an enormous blaze.”

“Fires don’t often occur in the Black Forest?”

“You’re really showing you’re a first-timer, aren’t you?” Albin said smugly, pointing to a nearby tree.

“Look at this. See how the bark is covered in moss? That’s evidence that the entire forest is quite damp. These trees don’t catch fire easily. There’s also very little sunlight. Sometimes when dry lightning strikes, the tips of large trees might get singed, but that’s about it. But over there…”

Though he spoke confidently, Albin also seemed quite perplexed.

“That area is rather…”

“What is it?”

“That’s the direction of Berta Village. There’s no way such a large fire could break out in the village…”

A village fire… Kain’s thoughts became complicated. The conditions were certainly conducive to fire. Tree roots pulled up from deep holes, piled like firewood.

The question was, what kind of person would decide to set fire after seeing such a sight? An ordinary person would be startled and run away, not set a fire.

If someone had deliberately set the fire, they must be in a high position. And if it was someone of high rank in this land…

‘Count Bördem.’

The count might be there.

There was a rustling sound from ahead. Not one person, but several footsteps. Soon, people carrying bundles on their backs appeared. Like Albin’s group, they held items that could be either farming tools or weapons.

“Isn’t that Albin? What are you doing here?”

A man with braided beard addressed him. Kain quickly whispered to Albin, “Act normal.”

“Hey, you’re here! I’m just working, you know. What’s with the bundles? Are you moving camp?”

Though Albin responded energetically, he seemed to sense something was wrong. The bearded man hastily gestured to him.

“Wait a moment.”

Albin gave Kain’s group a reassuring smile. He approached the man, who whispered something in his ear. A look of shock appeared on Albin’s previously carefree face.

“What kind of crazy talk is that!”

Kain thought it was probably about Roberta’s downfall. Judging by the serious expression on the man’s face as he continued talking, he seemed to be right.

“No. I need to see it with my own eyes.”

Albin didn’t even lower his voice. He turned abruptly and approached Kain’s group.

“Think carefully! Take your wife and leave quickly! Take care of your brother too! Before it’s too late!”

The bearded man shouted before hurriedly leading his group away down the path.

“What’s going on?” Kain asked, pretending to know nothing.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Though he said this, Albin kept glancing toward the rising smoke.

The strange journey continued. The forest was chaotic in many ways. The sounds of birds and animals had completely ceased. Instead, people appeared from various places, shaking the trees as they passed.

Albin’s claim about his popularity seemed true. Everyone recognized him, engaged in conversation with him, and the endings were always the same: confusion and dismay.

Eventually, Albin stopped. It was the same trail as before, but he didn’t proceed further, as if there was a solid wall in front of him.

“Go straight ahead from here. See that small rock? Turn right there and keep going, and you’ll reach the camp.”

Albin stepped aside from the path, as if urging them to go. Kain nodded.

“Thank you.”

“After throwing a stone at my forehead and cutting my cheek, what’s with the…” Though he seemed to harbor some resentment, Albin still held his chin high.

“And don’t be too sharp.”

“What?”

Kain stopped and looked at Albin, who shrugged.

“No need to be so sharp. I… I know. I know what feelings brought you here. When I ran away with my wife and siblings, I was just like you.”

Albin still seemed to view Kain as some kind of fugitive. Kain had no intention of correcting Albin’s misunderstanding, but he was taken aback by the unexpected kindness.

“The world feels like it’s all against you. Like the world is trying to catch and kill you… But you know what? There’s no law saying you have to die. There are good people like Roberta. There’s no law saying you have to live alone, right? So I’ll forgive you for cutting my cheek and throwing a stone at my forehead.”

“…Why?”

Kain felt like an idiot. He meant to say it was Albin who had been spying on them in the first place. But Albin interpreted it in his own way.

“I’ll forgive you, so you should also forgive someone once if they’re rude to you. We should help each other live, right? I’m saying this because your eyes look like they could eat someone alive.”

Maria, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. She abruptly held out a pigskin pouch. It was one of the pouches they had bought in abundance at the nameless market town.

“Thank you. This is for the treatment.”

“No, you don’t have to give me this.” Though he said that, Albin untied the pouch and counted the coins inside. His eyes widened. Maria turned her head and muttered.

“I don’t know about anything else, but have your baby in a good place. That money should be enough to see a doctor in a free city. And live honestly by the sweat of your brow.”

“…Honest men are all in graves.” Albin hung his head dejectedly. He tied up the coin pouch again and held it out to Maria.

“I appreciate it, but I can’t accept it. I already got the ointment.”

“I’m not giving it to you because I like you. I’m giving it for the baby in your wife’s womb. Do you think I’d give you money because you’re pretty?”

Maria shot back sharply, and Albin chuckled as he tucked away the pouch.

“Um… friends? Ahem. I don’t know why you want to see those guys, but when you’re done, you’d better leave quickly.”

“Why?”

“From what I just heard from my colleague, there seems to have been an incident in Berta Village.” Albin looked worriedly at the village where smoke was rising.

“There are also rumors that something has happened to Countess Roberta. They say Count Bördem’s soldiers are rounding up everyone they see.”

Albin’s voice trailed off.

“What will you do?” Kain asked.

Albin answered firmly.

“I have to survive. I barely escaped from Count Bördem, so I can’t let his soldiers catch me. But it seems there are some tough guys who want to fight back. The forest will probably be noisy for a while, so remember this. Once you’re done with your business, leave immediately. Like you said, in this forest, no one cares if several people die. And…”

Albin lowered his voice dramatically.

“If you see people wearing black robes, run away immediately. Don’t look back. Pretend you didn’t see them. Don’t ask why. Just do it!”

With those final words, Albin ran off. As the coins jingled in his pouch, he held it tightly with both hands as he ran happily. It was as if an angel was pushing him from behind.

“Why.”

Maria glared at Lily. Lily had a happy smile on her face.

“You look especially beautiful today.”

“So I was less pretty yesterday?”

“Today is exceptional.”

“…There’s no way there’s a doctor or midwife in the forest. Anyway, are we going to keep standing here?”

Seemingly embarrassed, Maria took the lead. Kain followed, with Lily at the rear. As Albin had instructed, they turned right at the rock and walked for quite some time.

After a while, Lily whispered.

“We’re surrounded.”

Maria, Kain, and Lily stopped on the path. From the other side of the trail appeared a man aiming a bow at them. He wore a hunter’s hood, but it wasn’t the black robe Albin had mentioned.

“Fearless fools. How many more need to die before you understand? You were told not to come.”

Lily walked forward with her hands spread open. The man with the bow hesitated momentarily. Lily recited softly but clearly.

“…Until white blood flows, I shall not die.”

The man, greatly surprised, lowered his bowstring. He stammered slightly as he replied.

“Until I shed all my red blood, I shall fight.”

“You’re a White Blood Knight.” Lily caught her breath, due to the pain in her back. “So am I.”

“Who are you? I don’t recognize your face.”

The man with the bow tilted his head.

“Of course you wouldn’t know.”

A thin, angry voice.

From behind a tree emerged a skinny woman. She was as thin as the tree itself. Her hair was graying, but her eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s.

“Because she’s a Valkyrja of Valhalla. Who would think that an omen of the battlefield would freely walk on Imperial land? Something everyone considered taboo.”

Lily bowed respectfully.

“Grand Executioner Astrid.”

“Liliana Brynhildr, the White Blood Valkyrja.”

The gray-eyed woman responded coldly. She glared at Kain as he stepped forward.

“And who are you?”

“Imperial Security Bureau agent Kain. Lily’s superior.”

“Lily? Why do you cut her name short?”

“Because that’s the name she chose. So, I’d appreciate it if you called her Agent Lily. Lily is a Security Bureau agent. And for a Security Bureau agent, whatever they were before is meaningless.”

“Ha.” Astrid gave a derisive laugh. “Is there meaning in denying one’s bloodline and destiny?”

“Bloodline and destiny aren’t everything a person is. One can also make choices. Lily chose her own identity. I’d appreciate it if you respected that. Or are you deliberately disrespecting an official of the Empire and the Emperor?”

Lily took a step closer to Kain’s side. Astrid twisted her lips.

“Ah. I see. So you’re the boss, is that it? Fine. Fine. Let’s talk inside. Do you want to continue talking here, Imperial official? And who is that woman beside you?”

Instead of answering, Maria snapped her fingers. With her hand lightly clenched, she extended only her middle finger. Holy fire danced at the tip of her middle finger.

Astrid turned away, grinding her teeth. Maria playfully stuck out her tongue.

“You really do look especially beautiful today.”

Lily whispered again. Maria raised her chin proudly.

“That’s just how I am.”