Chapter 43: Emergency transport, make way!

The soldier, who was surrounding the village chief and Alfred, noticed a duo approaching from the crowd.

One of them was a distinguished and robust man, while the other was a suspicious figure with a hood that completely concealed their head.

As the soldier became wary of the duo, a fellow soldier noticed and approached them.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s them.”

The soldier nodded and conveyed the information about the duo to his companion.

When his companion shifted his gaze, he immediately recognized one of the individuals as Carl, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Could it be… Black Sword Carl?”

“The Black Sword, rumored to slay any monster in a single strike, the hero Carl!”

“Dressed entirely in black with a large sword on his back. It must be him.”

The voices of the two soldiers grew louder, catching the attention of Alfred, who was interrogating the village chief.

“What’s the matter?”

“…There is Black Sword Carl present in this place.”

The soldier pointed at Carl, who also noticed and appeared flustered.

“Black Sword Carl… Could it be…”

Alfred had also heard rumors about Carl. Being in this remote borderland meant he must have had a purpose, perhaps searching for a certain medicine.

Alfred moved away from the village chief and began walking towards Carl and Rudy.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the famous Lord Carl.”

Alfred approached Carl and addressed him.

When Carl was spoken to, Rudy, who had been looking down with his head covered by the hood, bumped into Carl’s back and made a “squish” sound.

“…I don’t know who you are, but I have urgent matters to attend to. Leave me alone.”

Carl tried to hurry away, but Alfred stood in his way.

“What do you intend to do?”

Carl’s voice carried anger and menace, causing Alfred and the soldier to get goosebumps.

Nevertheless, Alfred swallowed his saliva, put on a forced smile, and bravely continued talking.

“I only want to know the location of a certain medicine in this village. Are you trying to hide the secret of the medicine by behaving so aggressively?”

“You have a wild imagination. Are you seeking the medicine to cure your own head?”

Carl’s joke elicited laughter from the villagers who heard it.

On the other hand, Alfred, who felt ridiculed, transformed his face from a forced smile to an expression of anger.

“As expected of a mere commoner, even if you’re a hero, you lack the words and attitude towards nobles.

“Hey, I’m really in a hurry right now. I don’t know who you are, but if you get in my way, I’ll respond accordingly.”

“That’s my line. The village chief, he’s selling medicine, but there are no pharmacists capable of healing such injuries and illnesses in this territory. So, it must be coming from a distant place or perhaps from the Forbidden Forest. Carl, are you involved in this?”

Alfred’s delusions made Carl sigh and look up at the sky.

Before Carl’s patience reached its limit, the inn’s door swung open forcefully, and Carl’s eldest son, Dominic, appeared.

“So, it’s really you, Dad!”

“Dominic!”

Carl responded to Dominic, but Dominic had other concerns and tugged at Carl’s sleeve.

“Mother’s condition is worsening. Come inside quickly.”

“Nina!”

Carl hurriedly entered the inn, followed by Rudy.

“Wait, I haven’t finished speaking yet!”

Left behind, Alfred shouted and, accompanied by the soldier, chased after Carl.

“Nina!”

As Carl entered the room, Nina was lying on the bed, sweating profusely and groaning in pain.

Near her, Carl’s second son, Shawn, tightly held Nina’s hand while desperately chanting recovery magic.

Shawn glanced at Carl upon hearing his voice, but as soon as he heard Nina’s agonizing voice, he quickly returned his gaze and resumed his treatment.

“Nina, hold on. We can cure your illness soon!”

Nina, who had noticed Carl’s voice, weakly opened her eyes.

“…You… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize! You’ll feel better soon, Rudy!”

Carl encouraged Nina and immediately called for Rudy.

“I’ll be intruding for a moment.”

Rudy appeared promptly between Carl and Shawn. Shawn was surprised by Rudy’s sudden appearance and gave him a second look.

Though Nina looked frail and emaciated now, as Carl boasted, she was a beautiful woman with golden hair, bearing a striking resemblance to Franz.

Furthermore, Carl’s eldest son, Dominic, had ash-colored hair and a larger, muscular build than Carl. His facial features were somewhat similar to Carl’s, but he exuded a strict aura.

On the other hand, Shawn, the second son, had a slender physique and black hair, unlike Dominic. His facial features closely resembled Nina’s, and he was about the same height as Carl.

“This is a matter of urgency. Let’s start by alleviating her pain with painkillers.”

Rudy retrieved painkillers from the first aid kit he brought and injected Nina’s thin arm with the syringe needle.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Don’t interfere!”

Dominic, surprised by Rudy’s actions, tried to stop him, but Carl halted him first.

After a while, Nina, who had been suffering, showed a slightly relieved expression and fell asleep.

“Carl, I’ll carry Nina!”

“Understood.”

Rudy confirmed that Nina had fallen asleep and wrapped her in the bedsheet.

Carl carefully lifted her in his arms and stood up.

“Father, what in the world…”

Shawn, who had ceased his incantation, approached Carl and spoke to him, to which Carl smiled kindly and looked down at Shawn.

“Dominic, Shawn, you did well. Leave the rest to me. I will definitely cure Nina. So, don’t worry.”

“Father, where are you taking mother?”

“To the Abyss. Once Mother recovers, we’ll definitely come back!”

Dominic and Shawn, who had prepared themselves for their mother’s death, were shocked to hear that she could be cured. And the fact that she would be cured in the Abyss shocked them even more.

“The Abyss?!”

However, Alfred, who had been causing a commotion at the entrance of the room, was equally surprised to hear about the Abyss.

“Tell me the whole story!”

As Alfred pressed forward, Carl stared back at him with an angry gaze.

“Move aside!”

“I’ll move once I hear the story! From the situation, it seems like your wife is on the verge of death, and the only one who can cure her is the Witch of the Abyss.”

“If you understand the situation, then step aside. We’re in a race against time!”

Carl shouted back, and Dominic and Shawn also felt anger towards Alfred’s attitude.

However, since Alfred was the lord’s son, they couldn’t rashly lay a hand on him.

“Do you even understand? The Witch of the Abyss has a bounty of the highest reward in history, 10 million gold coins. If it becomes known that the Witch of the Abyss can create a medicine that can even cure someone on the brink of death, the bounty will skyrocket. Hahaha, if I report this to my father and capture her alive, I can live a life of luxury forever.”

Alfred, who had been talking to Carl, became infatuated with the bounty on the Witch of the Abyss and started laughing.

“You… Are you trying to anger the Abyss? You’ll die.”

“Even if it’s the Abyss, it’s just a single witch. We can handle it somehow.”

Carl wore a pitying expression in response to that reply.

“…I’ll give you a warning, just in case. Don’t lay a hand on the Witch of the Abyss. It won’t end with just your life.”

“That’s just a mere rumor…”

“You’re annoying.”

“…Ugh!”

Alfred, who was about to retort to Carl, let out a groan as Rudy’s kick landed in his stomach in the midst of their conversation.