episode_0029

In the harsh land of the Northern Territory, May is a month where warmth briefly passes through.

The thick white snow melts, revealing the brown earth underneath, the once frozen streams start flowing, and the trees wearing white hats finally take them off.

May is the month when the world, which was entirely white, is temporarily covered in a rainbow of colors.

It is a good month for activities, as the animals that were hibernating come out to fill their hungry bellies by scouring the mountainsides.

Therefore, it was also a month when the hunters of the Northern Territory climbed the snowy mountains vigorously.

They arrived at the snowy mountains after running for an hour north from the Grand Castle.

Winterfell Grand Castle’s mountain, where there was plenty of food for a winter mountain and where mountain beasts frequently appeared, was the location.

It was a place where only members of the family could hunt, with a wooden sign engraved with the Grand Castle’s emblem placed along the mountain perimeter to control the entry of outsiders.

It was a place where outsiders could only enter during family events like the Marriage Alliance.

Remyang arrived at that place and looked down at the final four candidates.

No, to be precise, he was watching Elden Raphellion.

The stern, expressionless Elden.

‘…What is he thinking?’

A confession note for clear encouragement was delivered last night, and this morning, it would have been delivered again through Ariel Yeongae.

Even though the hypothesis of [love] failed, there should have been a response since the encouragement and persuasion were activated normally.

However, Elden was unresponsive.

Knowing that my gaze was focused on him, he did not even glance once.

He was restless.

Frustrated.

Irritated.

‘….’

He couldn’t even breathe properly, hoping that the final evaluation match before the face-to-face meeting would go as planned.

“Tag, You’re It.”

He had to let everyone know how terrifying that fear he experienced countless times during his time at the Academy was, how harsh it was.

He had to know the despair when hope of escape was taken away.

After Elden’s declaration of surrender, he had set up numerous hypotheses, made assumptions, and conducted countless investigations and verifications.

Digging through ancient texts, digging through memories.

As a result, the research schedule was delayed, experiments went awry, and his mind was in chaos, but the desire to uncover the truth behind the surrender did not fade.

The crack created by Elden’s surrender was widening, and there was no visible solution to seal it, driving him to madness.

It was so difficult that the world felt hazy, and he wanted to quickly finish his confession and revenge to his father.

But the nightmare that suddenly came was stirring up the deep-seated anger buried in his heart, making the scars ache.

For liberation, all the plans set up through the Marriage Alliance had to succeed.

At first, he vowed not to obsess over revenge.

He vowed to lead repentance through guidance and enlightenment.

During the face-to-face meeting, he hoped that the four people who faced him would regret.

And he hoped for sincere apologies.

He hoped they would reflect on how wrong their actions were.

That’s why he planned countless interrogations and games of Tag, You’re It that they had experienced countless times during the Academy.

Moreover, it had already gone awry from the first round.

Thanks to Elden, who turned the interrogation into a feast.

That’s why the second round had to succeed at all costs.

“Now, we will hold the second evaluation match, the hunting competition. Please line up at the starting line.”

“There are a total of four caves in this snowy mountain, and only one of them contains the prey with Winterfell Grand Castle’s emblem.”

“The person who obtains that emblem and returns will be the winner of the hunting competition.”

“Please prove your ‘bravery’ using the given weapon.”

“Especially since the Grand Duchess has promised to reward greatly those who show ‘bravery,’ I hope for good results for the candidates.”

The hunting competition had begun.

Only the back of Elden Raphellion could be seen at the starting line.

Please.

Please.

Please.

He hoped that he would head northeast, and as Elden walked northeast at the start, Lemyan could finally breathe a sigh of relief and sprinkle a spoonful of peace into his anxious heart.

Not realizing that his vow not to obsess over revenge was wavering, as Lemyan tried to mend the crack Elden had created, he had to exhale a sigh of relief as his vow was cracking.

May this plan succeed this time, bringing the fear of death and the emblem of the Grand Court.

Hoping that Elden would bring them back so that the bitterness of the first defeat could be dispelled.

**

Crunch, crunch.

“As expected, the sound of snow crunching underfoot is always pleasant.”

Walking towards the northeast, listening to the strangely exciting sound, he had the bow he received casually slung over his shoulder.

“Sigh~ Ah~”

It was a rare outing, and since being reincarnated into this world, he breathed in deeply, enjoying the charm of the snowy mountains and the refreshing air for the first time.

Refreshing.

It felt like his chest was being pierced.

As if he had achieved an escape dream, the panoramic view of the snowy mountains refreshed his eyes, the clear air refreshed his lungs, and the crunching sound refreshed his ears.

Curiously.

Crunch.

He spread his eyes wide and tasted the snow.

For some reason, it seemed to have a sweet taste.

Contrary to his expectations, it tasted like modern snow.

“By the way, I wonder where the trio of protagonists went.”

After the Mana Record incident(?), the trio of protagonists had not paid any attention to him.

They had distanced themselves from him in order to win the Honorary Duel, allowing him to enjoy his current rest and healing to the fullest.

Anyway, he was heading northeast alone.

There was only one reason.

He just wanted to know why the hunting competition was named after catching the thief.

Guildmaster Geldud had publicly stated that one of the four caves had the emblem of the Grand Court on the prey.

The note sealed last night had the phrase ‘800M to the northeast.’

There was prey at that location that would help him win this evaluation.

As soon as they set off, the trio of protagonists had moved together, strengthening their bond.

They must have made some kind of agreement.

The female protagonist had also removed the shackles of the evaluation team for that purpose.

Although he was heading in a different direction, it was a foregone conclusion that they would arrive at the cave located 800M to the northeast.

Therefore.

“Hmm, this should be enough.”

He had arrived at a hill overlooking the cave.

It was an unusually clear sky under the sky today.

Close to the cave and with good cover, he chose a sturdy tree.

“Up.”

He climbed up.

After a few leaps, he reached a fairly high place, and he leaned comfortably against a thick, flat branch.

Then, he took out a fruit he had collected earlier.

Spreading his eyes wide, he rinsed the fruit and wiped off impurities from his clothes.

“I wonder what it tastes like.”

It was apple-shaped but darker and more radiant like a tomato, with a long stem.

His father had warned him not to eat anything random, but how could he resist this?

It had such a tempting appearance and a radiant color.

Crunch.

The cool breeze blowing on the hillside of the snowy mountain cooled him down, as if rewarding him for his climb.

Brushing my hair back, I took a bite of the fruit.

Ah, the sweet and tangy juice.

The flesh slightly softer than an apple.

Hmm, it’s delicious, as expected.

“Nothing beats a fresh hunt.”

I closed my eyes, swinging my legs and tapping my toes.

Covering my face with the hunting hat, I extended the chin strap behind my neck.

The arrival of the Regretful Trio seemed to be delayed, so I thought of taking a brief nap under the warm sun, but…

“I’m sure that bastard came this way.”

“Although we can’t see it now, the footprints were heading this way.”

Their voices echoed.

Removing my hat and opening my eyes, I saw the Regretful Trio approaching from the cave.

Arrows ready to be shot, faces filled with caution.

It seemed like they had been following the trail of a renegade alone.

Before climbing the hill, I erased the footprints engraved in my gaze and walked up the dirt path.

I didn’t expect to be followed, but it was a moment where Junwoo Lee’s life, always preventing unforeseen events, shone.

“Tsk. Where did that bastard disappear to?”

“Did he notice and run away?”

“Anyway, he’s a slippery bastard.”

…Wait a minute.

Did they choose me as the prey for the hunting competition?

Was that arrowhead supposed to hit me before the prey?

Anyway, they’re impressive guys.

You guys never change, huh?

“Oh, there’s a cave over there!”

“What? Oh, really?”

“Let’s go in.”

The guys searching the surroundings found the cave, and led by Deron, they started to enter.

It seemed like Blund and Kyle had officially decided to push Deron forward.

If Deron becomes the son-in-law of the Duke, they might even eat the leftovers.

Since it had nothing to do with me, I just flicked my toes and looked forward to what would happen in the cave.

Thud!

A sudden vibration echoed.

The mountain bird flew away in surprise, and the vibration was so strong that the snow piled on the branches fell.

“What, what is it.”

The source of the vibration was clearly the cave, and it was an unusual intensity.

It seemed like an attack had occurred.

At the same time, my heart started to beat faster.

Not fear or terror, but a distant heartbeat.

It was definitely something within me that was pulsating.

The absolute awe when encountering a huge aura.

The light tension when encountering an interesting event.

And.

The excitement of expecting something special.

It was a vibration that resonated with the heart of a man who longed for a medieval fantasy world, and I had to stand up with a flushed face.

Ah, the fruit was delicious!

Thud!

The vibration rang again.

As a result, rocks fell from the cave entrance.

What on earth was happening inside?

Judging by the intensity of the vibration, something tremendous was lurking.

Thud!

The vibration rang again.

As my fingertips trembled and my heart beat faster, the true nature of that vibration was finally revealed.

It was the Regretful Trio, screaming.

“Ahhhh!! Don’t push me! You bastards!!”

“Sh*t! Don’t grab me-!”

“Kyle, how dare this bastard push me?!”

“Looks like trash but acts tough! Move! Damn it!”

The Regretful Trio ran for their lives, chased by none other than the Wild Big Boar.

A giant monster boasting a massive body like two elephants combined, the Wild Big Boar.

“Kuooo-!”

Rumble!

From the giant chains extending from the cave and bound to their hind legs, it seemed that there were limitations on the distance and speed of movement.

Close behind the trio, a wild Big Boar swung its massive tusks.

Watching them sprinting frantically, Remyang could understand the reason for calling it “Tag.”

Taking a big bite of the fruit.

Someone once said.

Life is a tragedy up close, but a comedy from afar.

Ah, darn it!

…Hey guys, hang in there!