episode_0044

“…After hearing the story, it seems like the enemy is more dangerous than I thought.”

“I think the same thing. master. Are you sure it’s okay?”

When I told them the story I heard from the man who managed to survive beyond the barrier, both Luvia and Emma expressed considerable concern.

“It’s definitely not easy.”

“Master. Wouldn’t it be better to just pass the time beyond the barrier without having to hunt monsters directly?

If Catenis’ mercenary soldiers failed to capture them anyway, we should be able to keep Catenis’ attention on Britannia long enough just by pretending to go hunting without rushing out.”

“I don’t like tricks like what Rubia said, but this time it makes a lot of sense. master.

Even if you win the battle and subdue the monster known as immortality, the problem is.

Because we cannot rule out the risk of being trapped in a forest with no escape, like those mercenary soldiers, and being attacked by things we don’t know what they are.”

After listening to them for a while, I cautiously opened my mouth again.

“Of course, you guys are right.

Even if it is difficult to achieve the request in that way, I will be able to achieve what the Empress wants, and she will not particularly blame me.”

“In that case, you should do as I say-”

“The only problem is… According to the governor, the impact of the rabbit’s rampage is greater than initially thought.”

In a conversation with the governor, he told me that the movements of the tribes beyond the wall had been unusual for some time.

In response to my question as to whether the situation was such that they were surrendering as the monster was running rampant, he paradoxically responded that those who were trying to escape to the lands of the empire had at least had some interaction with the empire in the meantime, or the relationship was not that bad from the beginning, so they came here. He replied that he wanted to rely on .

And as a result of the monster’s release, the friendly tribes that had been acting as a buffer zone are disappearing from the land beyond the wall.

Either they cross the wall and enter the empire, or their power weakens and they collapse due to attacks from other tribes.

If a little more time passes, the next tribes that come to the wall may not try to escape, but rather try to fight the empire’s war.

“In particular, some tribes regard the rabbit not as a simple monster, but as a manifestation of divine punishment from Istra, the goddess of spring and war.

Since it’s been so long, it wouldn’t be surprising if the story about her being used as a weapon among distant and warlike tribes was misrepresented.

Such people may accept that the goddess’ monster waking up and running rampant was a signal from God to prepare for war.”

If the rabbit couldn’t be dealt with and subdued quickly, the situation would escalate out of control.

Moreover, if a full-scale war were to break out here, it would not just be a problem within Britannia, but would have a significant impact on the entire empire.

Even excluding this indirect influence, I was also concerned that even though two of Katenis’ mercenaries moved, they ultimately failed to catch the monster.

There was bound to be concern about how much damage it would cause if it started attacking the imperial army directly.

“… Sigh… I wish you would think more about not only the danger the empire faces, but also the danger that comes with your master… ”

Luvia listened to me and sighed. Because I noticed that I had already made up my mind to some extent.

“Jeong If I feel like I can’t handle it, then I’ll just leave it out.

Even if you get stuck in the forest while fighting, it seems like you can escape if you give up the rabbit when you see those who came back first.

I think I can give it a try myself.”

“…Then let’s move quickly from now on. Because we can’t delay and allow bad results to come out even though the owner is at his best.”

When I carefully added words to appease them, the positive response came back as if it could not be helped.

Emma gave her back to Rubia and me again, and when we got on top of her, she lightly jumped and moved quickly towards the place that Governor Avelius had told us about in advance.

“So, master, did you find someone to guide you?”

“Uh, among the mercenaries and adventurers who followed the mercenaries and barely returned.

Instead of being relieved of the guilt of carelessly crossing the barrier, I will revive your memories and provide you with directions to the place where you encountered the monster.

“Thank goodness. You can’t just wander around that wide land looking for monsters.”

Luvia seemed a little more relieved by my answer.

She still didn’t seem to like this hunt that much, but there was no reason to dislike it if even one risk factor was reduced.

Unfortunately, when a problem that was thought to have been resolved resurfaces, it can cause even more negative emotions.

“No! I can’t go there again!”

“…I heard you found someone to show you the way?”

“…”

Looking at the mercenary who was being grabbed by the soldiers right in front of her and crying and begging not to be sent back to that land, Luvia asked me while slightly cupping her face.

I had nothing to say.

When I thought about it, it seemed like what I gave to that man in prison was a notice, but I didn’t ask for his consent.

“What should I do, Liber?”

One of the soldiers holding him asked me with a somewhat troubled look.

Even now, I wondered if I wanted to send that man back to prison.

“…Can you wait a moment? Rubia, perhaps-”

“You can make it quiet right now, but honestly, I doubt that scared mercenary will be that helpful if you go over there.”

“It would be better to have a scared guide with you rather than not having one at all.”

Emma, who heard what I whispered, approached the soldiers and the man, lifted him up, and handed him to Rubia.

The man who had been screaming even louder froze silently the moment his eyes met Rubia’s, and soon his body sank down and he lost consciousness.

“I think it’s done now. The governor said you can go beyond the wall through this side. Is that correct?”

“Ah.. Yes. Yes.”

Seeing the mercenary suddenly become quiet, the soldier looked back at Luvia, whom he thought was just an ordinary human slave compared to Emma, a centaur, with surprised eyes, then came to his senses and quickly answered my question.

“We have been patrolling all the walls regularly, but while Liber is out hunting, we will continue to rotate soldiers here and set up flags.

So that you can easily recognize it when you return from hunting.”

“I heard that the movements of the tribes in that land are unusual. Do you think you or the soldiers will become targets if they wait for us like this?”

“Liber said he is going to hunt mythical monsters in the land of barbarians to prevent war, so I have to give him this much.

And for us, it’s easier to block if the attack is focused on a specific point on the wall.

What would be really difficult is if they take advantage of their numerical superiority and launch wave attacks across the entire wall.

If a fight breaks out here when you return and you think it will be difficult to climb back up to the wall, immediately detour and find the next flag.”

Listening to the soldier’s words, I looked down below the barrier for a moment.

This wall was indeed a key element of the empire’s territorial defense strategy in Britannia.

It was higher than I expected, and the stones that made up the wall were strong and connected to each other without any gaps.

And on the other hand, although scratches from swords and nicks from arrows were often visible, no traces of blood remained on them.

At least for a long time, it was clear that the place had been peaceful enough for the rain and wind to erase the marks.

‘If I succeed in this request, I hope I can do so for a long time to come.’

“Liber, please wait a moment. I will lower the ladder right away.”

“No. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“Yes? What is that-”

Before I could finish speaking, Emma jumped down the barrier, carrying all of us.

After the startled soldiers’ gasps, the wind passed by our ears for a moment, and the shadows summoned by Rubia gathered under Emma’s hooves.

Stepping on the shadow, tapping her hoof again on the barrier, Emma finally landed safely on the ground.

Beyond the Wall, on land that does not belong to the Empire.

After reflecting on that fact in my head for a moment, I turned, raised my head, and looked at the soldiers on the wall.

“Please tell Governor Avelius that a gold-level adventurer from the Empire has followed the Emperor’s orders and started hunting rabbits! Please, stay safe in the meantime. I’ll be back as soon as possible!”

“…Okay! Please come back safely! Hunter of the Empire!”

When I nodded and got into the right posture again, Emma started running quickly.

Although the guide had not yet awakened, we knew the general direction.

The barrier, which seemed large and high, quickly began to disappear behind Emma’s running hooves.

On the other hand, the land before us was growing closer and closer to us.

Somewhere, there’s a rabbit inside that we need to hunt.

“Ugh… Where on earth is this…”

When our guide, who had been put to sleep by Luvia, came to his senses, it had been some time since we had run through the lands beyond the barrier on Emma’s legs, and it was already nightfall.

His face turned white enough to make me worry that he might die on the spot, but he quickly covered his mouth and suppressed his screams.

As if he accidentally screamed, the tribes here or the monsters would come running and kill him at any moment.

‘I’m sure a rabbit would have bright ears.’

However, we had no intention of muting the sound.

If that friend found out, he might faint again, but I was hoping that the rabbit would hear us and come this way.

While Ema was running, Luvia and I were constantly looking around, trying to find its pure white fur.

But there was something else that caught our eyes first.

“…Master?”

“Oh, I saw it too.”

One, two, and the light of the torches began to increase rapidly.

The tribes that owned this land were busy moving around even in the middle of the night.

As it gets closer and closer to us.

“What should I do, master?”

“…If something goes wrong, can you shake it off right away, Emma?”

“Of course. If only the owner would clear a path with that window”

“Then I don’t think there will be any harm in talking about it.”