How to live as a wanderer

Anyway, now I was just thanking him.

“What about you?"

“Who cares about a guy like me? ”

Joseph smiled brightly.

What we tried to run away from was a story of the Aces being fine and devoted to Karamaf, and the Aces being destroyed. Who cares about hunting grounds like Joseph?

“Thank you, Joseph. If... anyone asks, just give them a proper answer. I don't care. ”

“... Yes. I will.”

Joseph replies, holding back while something tickles his throat. My whole life, I lived among the nobles, and the young knight before me had the power to make people follow me. I gave my life for him and made it worth your while.

It was a pity and a pity. At the same time, I was surprised myself.

“I hope we can meet again someday. ”

“Me... too. ”

After saying goodbye, John turned his back. As we ran into the forest, soon the darkness covered John's body. Joseph, who is left alone, tries to check the situation around him.

Are the Eights all dead? I don't know what will happen to this territory. If we're going to be involved in a hunting ground like mine...

Suddenly, the hoofbeats sound like thunder. Joseph raises his head in horror. Karamaf, who has joined the mainstream, is looking down for Joseph.

“Have you seen Johann Acts? ”

“... Yes. ”

It was a confirmation, not a question.

The mercenaries on horseback were spouting their lives like beasts, and Karamaf couldn't see a single face, but he condemned the human heart with a glance.

Joseph instinctively realized. If you lie, you'll die here.

“Where did he go? ”

“South... He went that way. ”

Walk up from the creek where the mill is, and if you go up to the top, it's a black forest. If you go down, you find a path that connects to the Ancient Empire Passage. No matter what you think, the one who runs away would have gone down. Especially if you're from nobles.

The mercenaries also argued that they didn't think Joseph had lied.

“Karamaf. If we go after him now, we can catch him. ”

“Then how long would you have run? ”

“...... ”

Karamaf stares at Joseph instead of answering. It's like you're trying to get inside your eyes and peek inside your mind. Joseph tries to avoid Karamaf's gaze by pretending to be less shaky.

‘Fuck you. Knight.’

Joseph did not regret it. Even if he died here, it was his choice. I'd rather die for John than help a man like Karamaf.

“Let's go! We're going after him. ”

Karamaf turns his head and leads the mercenaries down. Joseph took a deep breath. I felt wet with sweat.

‘This territory is to this day. ’

He doesn't seem to be able to tell a lie, but if he can't find it, he can use a thunder. I had to run away as soon as possible.

Luckily, he was a skilled hunter, well versed in the geography of the surrounding area, knowing how to escape through the woods and mountains. It was easy to get past the mercenaries who didn't pay much attention to him.

“Hey, Joseph! Are you looking for nobles, too? ”

I can see the peasants coming out with torches. Joseph nods, smiling.

“Let's find it together! I'm glad you're here. Just swing a knife and we'll shoot. ”

“Oops. Can I really shoot? ”

“Did you not see Karamaf kill him earlier? And you gave me a silver coin. ”

Joseph intervenes among the jokers. If he were among them, he would not have doubted going so far away. Next, we sneak out with an excuse and run away.

*

*

*

“... you keep on pursuing. ”

“Yes. Will Karamaf die?" ”

“No. I'll find another place. ”

“?? ”

The mercenaries hesitated, but they no longer revolted. We did what Karamaf told us to do.

“You must find him. I'll bet a gold coin.”

“...!!! ”

The mercenaries grip their weapons tightly with unexpected trajectories. I could see my breath getting clouded by desire.

“I'll get him for sure! ”

After sending the mercenaries, Karamaf doesn't return to town. He turns and heads for the woods. It was a black forest where mercenaries came in and were attacked by wolves.

I didn't tell the mercenaries because I wasn't sure myself. But for some reason, it bothered me. Good roads and dangerous forests. It was foolish of me to choose the latter.

Karamaf heads into the woods like he was possessed by something. He was a cold-hearted knight, but he did not ignore the signals from his gut.

*

*

*

There are two paths in the Black Forest.

The first path was known to most people. It was a long way from the entrance of the forest, and even though it was narrow and rough, there was no problem going back and forth. This was also the way the mercenaries went when they set out to catch the wolves.

The second path was known only to the hunters Joseph and John. To be precise, it was also called a road. The bush is full of them and I can't see any dirt. What kind of path is that?

However, Joseph was useful when traveling through the forest. A nobleman would break his heart by saying, "Is this hunter's cub crazy?" But when he was alone, there was no shortcut like this.

And John, of course, learned this path.

‘That's a mark.’

There was no path on the floor, so the way to separate the second path was a mark. Every tree had a mark left by Joseph. If you move along the marker, that's the shortcut.

Joseph said he set a trap just in case things got out of hand. Of course, they must have set it up on the first road. That's where the pursuers will be.

John ran a second path. I snorted as if the horse was annoyed by the bush hitting my face, but it didn't stop.

At that moment, I heard the cry of the horse from a distance.

Tracking!

John flinches. There's only one thing in these woods that can hear a horse's cry.

The one who was chased was caught in Joseph's trap.

‘But... there's too little noise. ’

John quickly stepped off his horse and brought his ear to the ground. The hunter's wisdom. If you know the trick, you can also catch the target's movements from afar.

One? ’

The sound you hear is not the sound of mercenaries no matter what you think. If the mercenaries are chasing us, we should hear at least ten more.

In John's head, a man's face touched and passed by.

*

*

*

When the bolt of a small iron flew from the side, as it touched something, it was the face of a hunter that passed through Karamaf's head.

Strangely irritating face!

"Turn around and I'll kill you!" ’

There's no guarantee that he set this trap, but Karamaf is convinced. That was enough.

Karamaf strikes the flying bolt with strength. I didn't have to. I couldn't pierce his armor into a trap that could hold a beast like that.

But Karamaf looked at Joseph too foolishly.

An experienced hunter like Joseph would go after a well-armed mercenary.

Puck!

You hear a sound from below and the horse cries out. Karamaf's face changed. His beloved was framed. A trap aimed at a bridge that wasn't covered in barding.

“! ”

Touch the rope and shoot the horse's leg off while scooping at the one above. It was a double trap aiming for a horse in the first place. Karamaf jumps on the horse with a swearing speech.

“... I'm sorry. ”

The horse was in worse condition than I thought. It smelled nasty and changed color in the right spot.

Poison!

Karamaf grits his teeth. How dare you lose his word to a petty hunter. To the knight, he was my comrade and companion. Even if I had a hundred innocent lives, I couldn't repay them.

I fell there and broke my leg completely. This was incurable. Even if there was a way, I couldn't take him out of the forest.

52517;!

Karamaf slits the horse's throat. I can't do it. I have to end it without pain.

The elf knight's cold eyes burn with fury. I was calm when I killed Lord Gessen, but I was really upset about this.

How dare a petty hunter!

‘We give up pursuit. ’

I don't know if there's a man in this Black Forest, but I can't go after him now. I had to go back and tear the hunter apart and worry.

Karamaf opens his eyes wide.

The moment I went back to give up, something I thought I had seen before in the forest appeared.

It was Gessen's son.

*

*

*

‘That's right. ’

John checks Karamaf's face and walks out. I thought Karamaf was the only one after him. I don't know why he was chasing her alone, but...

"Are you doubting Joseph's words? I hope Joseph's okay. ’

Karamaf hides his face from me, but John feels that Karamaf is looking at him like he's crazy for some reason.

It was natural.

He just showed up in front of Karamaf, the one who had to run away.

“I see.”

Karamaf nods as if he knew.

“What?”

“Are you here for revenge? ”

“That's one reason. ”

Two reasons why John came.

The first reason was to covet Karamaf's fortune.

If you kill Karamaf alone, the mercenaries won't know who killed Karamaf. You didn't think he was gonna kill you. Maybe he suspects a monster.

And the second reason...

“You came here to avenge your father. You have the makings of a good knight. Not to be a living knight. ”

“No. Some of the servants you killed were close. ”

“...?? ”

Karamaf looks at you as if he doesn't understand. He had to run because he was disadvantaged, but John was not a scoundrel enough to endure the situation.

John's eyes quietly stare at Karamaf. It was the eye of a lion who wanted to prey.

‘You will die here today. ’

John walked out slowly. Karamaf stands still. It seemed like John wanted to see something.

‘You're strong.’

I remembered what Kaegal said.

The most important thing is to know how strong the opponent is. Some with experience, some with research, and some with intuition. You're an instinct. Get it from your gut.

What if I'm wrong?

If you're wrong, you should search. Why do you keep asking the obvious? Did you see the lion mistakenly looking at the prey? If you're wrong, that's not an instinct.

Karamaf was certainly strong. Even if only half of the songs performed by bard are true.

But I wasn't afraid.

< 14 End of childhood (14) > end

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