episode_0131

Episode 131

As Luna said, there was an exit at the end of the passage that was naturally camouflaged with growing tree roots. When the knights cut it down, the smell of dirt and wood wafted out.

It was dark outside. As I went down the foot of the mountain, I saw a light. An old man was sitting in front of an old stable.

He was not surprised to see black people suddenly appearing in the mountains. He seemed to be there for just this situation.

Without saying a word, he went into the stable and handed over ten horses. They were all well-maintained, sturdy horses.

We took William and Tina separately, and the nine escort knights and I got on the horses. I can at least ride a horse. A princess’s culture also includes horseback riding.

“I go by road. There will definitely be a guard post, but you have no choice but to break through.”

“I do that. Speed is the top priority.”

A several-layer siege network would not have been built already. After breaking through the guard post just once, it would be difficult to catch up with a horse running at full speed.

At that time, it started raining steadily. The atmosphere was gloomy, but it was good news for us who had to move in secret.

The race in the rain began. Along the highway, towards the royal capital Lurie.

While running like that, Pilgret, who was in the lead, gave a stop signal. We slowly slowed down and stopped.

“What’s going on?”

“…an enemy soldier. Even the blockade is installed properly. Plus, there are more than you think.”

There is only darkness and the sound of rain before my eyes. I couldn’t see anything at all. But Pilgret won’t say anything nonsense.

“Is it impossible to break through?”

“There may be sacrifices.”

“Can’t it be bypassed?”

“If you are also prepared for the field, you are at a further disadvantage. It seems like it would be best to break through here, even if it means making sacrifices.”

I said while fiddling with the horn in my arms.

“…Should I call them?”

This horn is also a magic item. A magical horn made up of a pair of identical bull horns.

Those who share it can always know each other’s location and direction exactly by the sound of the horn. No matter how far the distance is or how much it rains.

But the problem is speed. Rika doesn’t know that we are trying to escape. He will be staying around Senain Castle, keeping an eye on the unusual situation.

The earth dragon’s gauntlet’s movement speed through the ground is slightly faster than a person running. If I blew my horn now, it would take quite some time to get here.

But the sound of the horn may reach the enemy soldiers ahead of us first. Of course, there is a possibility that it will not be heard due to the sound of rain.

“They are better left as a last resort. Moreover, if you make noise, there is a high possibility that you will miss the advantage of a surprise attack.”

“I understand. I only trust you, Pilgret.”

“Yes. Kisk, John, and Max. Draw your sword.”

Three knights stepped forward with their swords drawn. After forming a line, Pilgret spoke.

“If the enemy’s defenses are too strong, I will create an opening as much as possible and hold the enemy back. If the road ahead becomes too noisy or too quiet, just keep riding. Ryuk, if that happens, you will take charge.”

“Yes.”

Pilgret lowered his faceplate and faced forward. The remaining knights surrounded me. The sound of horses’ hooves ran across the rain-soaked ground.

Their sounds are drowned out by the darkness and rain. I feel like I can hear faint shouting and the sound of metal clashing.

A time of anxiety and waiting. In reality, it must have been an extremely short period of time. But the time I spent looking into the darkness felt like it was too long.

It was that moment.

Beep-pow!

Fireworks soar high in the sky. The magic flame flew into the night sky and exploded, temporarily dispelling the darkness of the area.

‘That… is dangerous…!’

It was a flare. Just below where it was launched, knights fighting with the soldiers at the guard post were seen.

It seemed like I could pass by now. The fence erected on the road was almost completely cleared.

Since the flare went off, it is a given that many times that number of people will come.

“Let’s leave now! Run with all your might!”

I immediately whipped the horse. The knights also rode straight away. I jumped over the collapsed fence and continued to accelerate.

At the same time, he took out a horn from his pocket and blew it. The deep ringing sound was quickly drowned out by the noise and rain.

* * *

“What is the current status…?”

“Kissed. Other than that, I suffered major and minor injuries. Even I… I’m sorry.”

A broken arrow was seen stuck in Pilgret’s thigh, an area not covered by the armor. Using his hands also seemed somewhat uncomfortable. Although it must have been quite painful to ride a horse, Pilgret did not show it.

“But now that we have overcome it, we can relax a little. If you keep running like this…”

But I couldn’t finish speaking. This is because a horse that encounters an obstacle in front of it raises its front paws high and stands up.

“Ugh… This is…!”

I couldn’t believe the sight before my eyes. A barbed wire fence, much stronger than the one we had just broken through, was blocking our path.

As if he knew that I would try to escape here.

“…How…?”

There was no time to panic. Numerous lights turned on before my eyes. It was an expensive magic lamp that was durable even in the rain.

There, with the lights on, there were more soldiers encamped than the guard post they had just breached. In the middle of them, holding an umbrella, a very familiar face was looking at me.

It was none other than Carmel.

“Mother…!”

Although there was a distance and it was backlit, I was able to read Carmel’s expression as clearly as if I was seeing it right in front of me.

I’m smiling. The corner of his mouth is twisting at the sight of me covered in rain, with the most evil and yet happiest face in the world.

“It’s been a while, Sarah. Did you enjoy your trip to Laurencia?”

“Mother… How on earth did you get here…?”

“Isn’t it natural that I came to see you? After desperately running away, to see your miserable appearance, stained from head to toe in rain and muddy water. Is there a sight better than this?”

Carmel’s every word seemed to be filled with contented joy. I had no choice but to bite my lip.

“It means you expected everything. From the timing of sending the messenger, to the secret passage of Senain Castle, and even the seemingly loose siege… all for this moment.”

“Because I have come to know you as well as you know me. But I feel sad, Sarah. I just didn’t expect it to be this much of a surprise. Besides, I didn’t know if it would work as I intended to this extent.”

Before we knew it, the soldiers aiming their spears had completely surrounded us. With the main force already injured, there was no room for resistance.

“It’s definitely a big mistake on my part. I didn’t know that my mother prepared this thoroughly.”

A voice that droops like falling rain. When Carmel heard that, the feeling of victory and superiority burst out into laughter.

“Ahaha, ahahahaha!”

Carmel laughed out loud as if she had just seen a famous clown perform. It was the most beautiful and at the same time the most terrible laugh in the world.

“Yes, Sarah. I’ve been waiting for this moment all along, all the time. To gain this one victory, this one victory, while you chase after pleasure and waste your opportunities pointlessly! how is it? The feeling of having lost all my victories in one go! Ahahahaha!”

While Carmel was excitedly expressing her joy, Philgret whispered in my ear in a solemn voice.

“Princess.”

“No, stop. It’s just suicide now.”

“…but…”

The knights did their part without sparing their bodies. All responsibility for this situation lies with me.

To me, who was somewhat underestimating Carmel.

I said to Carmel, who was still in a happy mood with her shoulders slumped.

“I surrender, mother.”

“Whew, it sounds obvious. Are you saying you have no choice left other than surrender?”

“Instead of me surrendering, please spare their lives.”

“I don’t like it. If I had meant to do that, I wouldn’t have even shown up. I’m sorry, Sarah. It looks like his intelligence has dropped considerably while we haven’t seen each other for a while.”

I glared at Carmel with an almost snarling look on my face. Even that seemed to bring extreme joy to Carmel.

“What are you planning to do with me?”

“Well… hehe, how about trying what you said? Revealing the naked body of a noble princess while your subordinates and foreign soldiers watch. how is it? Surely you won’t say you can’t do it when it’s your turn?”

“…I understand. I will do everything my mother says. Instead… please at least let the two children live.”

Carmel looked at Tina and William on the horse with a frown. Carmel said with a smile on her face again.

“Good. Think about it. Instead, show off your precious skin right here, Sarah Lustier. Let it be a shame that can never be washed away.”

I nodded firmly and moved my hand to my collar.

And instead of taking off his clothes, he took out a horn from his pocket and blew it as hard as he could.

It was a signal promised in advance.

The first horn sound announces the location.

And the sound of the second horn, also when blown with all its might… means that help is needed immediately.

Numerous mercenaries rise from the ground. Exactly on the ground below where we stand. The soldiers who were aiming their spears backed away from the large number of troops that suddenly appeared.

A red-haired female warrior of an alien race stands tall as if guarding my front. When Carmel saw that face, the smile instantly disappeared from her face.

“Ri…Ka…?”