171 - 24 Hearts

Title: The Twenty-Four Hearts - Episode 171 > North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Chapter 5: Wood and Iron 'Is that the first fortress?' The capital of Urun was relatively close to the border of the Silan Kingdom, and the fortress that precariously perched at the edge of that border belonged to Silan. The fortress, surrounded by gray walls, was situated on a high hill, allowing a comprehensive view of the surrounding area. The visibility of the fortress signaled that they were about to enter the realm of the Silan Kingdom. However, the distance to the fortress remained considerable. It was only visible because it stood on a high plateau, with no intervening mountains. Although Yuda briefly wondered if he had prematurely instructed the elves to pull their hoods low over their faces, caution was never a bad thing, especially given the chance of encountering border patrols. 'Though, I doubt they'll patrol diligently...' Even if it were a border area, there wasn't a fence to seal it off, just a fort at interval points. Perhaps a century ago, when Silan was stronger, it would have been different, but the current Silan Kingdom lacked the gall to wage war against Urun. There was no animosity between the two nations, so the security wasn't expected to be stringent. Still, it was best to avoid encounters if possible. The distant sound of mountain birds chirping could be heard. Yuda and the elves had been consistently walking, taking breaks intermittently, and the elves showed no signs of fatigue. As a race of the forest, they received bonuses to stamina and agility within forested areas, and their condition had been steadily improving since their rescue from Urun. Their preservation was a concern. When encountering orc or goblin hordes, left seemingly neglected by Silan, the elves eagerly engaged them. The once pristine robes now bore stains of beasts' blood, which they nonchalantly cleaned off with magic. 'Their skills aren't bad at all.' Observing them dispatch a goblin horde without hesitation, Yuda couldn't help but nod in approval. Given their long life spans, proficiency in swordsmanship and archery was likely a basic skill for them. Their levels ranged from 30 to 40, with the highest being 47, comparable to Yuda. As they regained their skills and combat senses, they resembled a capable mercenary band. While they were a potential asset, Yuda had no intention of risking their lives, choosing not to send them into the fray unless necessary. As darkness approached, preparations for a campfire began. Lighting a fire in the densely shadowed forest was a surefire way to reveal their location, but without light, handling nocturnal predators or creatures was challenging. As Yuda stacked the wood, Arhil approached with a dubious expression. "Is it alright to light a fire?" "Yes, why wouldn't it be?" "…Doesn't it tell the people at the fortress where we are?" "It’s fine. While I prefer to avoid them, even if the guards come, it's no problem. I have my ways." Though puzzled by Yuda's confident reply, Arhil couldn't help but wonder. What exactly were his ways? It wasn't that she doubted him. Past experiences with him had shown his ability to resolve situations almost seamlessly. It seemed almost like everything worked out in his favor. Previously, Chief Isabel of the Black Tree Clan had assisted them in Regenn, and Count Genre and Roksin in Urun; but here, alone, who was there to help? Arhil worried that the campfire might attract soldiers from the fortress, leading to potential harm to the elves. She knew Yuda held the shard, lessening her fears, but witnessing death was still not something she wanted to experience. Yuda set the wood ablaze while the elves helped. Before gathering more wood, Yuda offered guidance to the elves. "If anyone shows up, pull your hoods down and keep silent. I'll handle everything. Even if they ask or talk to you, stay quiet. Don't even acknowledge them." Only after confirming the elves’ understanding did Yuda move to assist others. Usually, he would have built four or five campfires, but now he lazily opted for only three. Seven or eight people gathered around one fire, with Yuda and Arhil joining elves they had grown somewhat closer to. "Aren't you curious about the way?" Having lit the last of the three fires, Yuda turned to Arhil. She had been silently observing, following along to stack the wood. Startled by his question, Arhil paused briefly before responding. "I'm curious, but will you tell me if I ask?" "If you’re curious, I’ll tell you. I’ve got nothing to hide." Arhil's eyes rolled in contemplation. She was curious, indeed. How could he act so boldly, lighting fires while advocating caution? She hadn’t expected him to reveal the method, but there he was, offering. "Then, tell me. What is this method?" "Do you know who the most dangerous person in the Silan Kingdom is?" "…No?" The abrupt question caught Arhil off guard. How could she possibly know? Yuda watched her, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Exactly. Unless you're from the Silan Kingdom, knowing about the key nobles in each state is niche information. Most adventurers, mercenaries, and ordinary folks wouldn't care about such things." "How do you know all this?" "Well—if you visit the library in Cernia, you'll find a surprisingly good collection of books. Most are old texts, but many merchant guilds visiting the lord have generously donated books. Dreaming of traveling the world, I read a lot of them and became informed about these matters." Arhil made a reluctant sound, expressing distaste. "Do you dislike reading?" "…Haha, I don't particularly enjoy it." "Anyway. About 100 years ago, during a failed war against the elves, the authority of Silan's king plummeted. Seizing power during that time were three ducal families, among which the Duke of Yehs is the most dangerous. He conceals a lot." "And how does this plan of yours relate to him?" "Oh, it does." Yuda grinned at Arhil's question. Nearby elves, who overheard, pricked their ears with curiosity. However, the solution wasn't as grand as they might hope. "From now on, I'll be posing as one of Duke Yehs' subordinates, and you, along with the elves here, will be my entourage." "What? Wait a second. You plan to impersonate a noble's subordinate?" "Of course." "Do you know him personally?" "No, he's a stranger to me." "Then how do you expect to be taken as one of his followers? Do you really think they'll believe that?" Even if the plan sounded feasible, the idea seemed too fantastical to work. Surely no one would buy into it that easily. "All we need to do is make them believe it. If it's possible, why wouldn't I mention it?" "How will you manage that?" "You'll see. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but if they approach us, I'll reveal it then." "And if they don't believe you?" What if they refuse to believe and forcibly uncover the elves' identities under the hood? If they realized the robed figures were elves, how would they react? And what would Yuda do once exposed? Arhil was intrigued by everything yet dreaded the possibilities. "If they don't believe…" Yuda's smile slowly faded, and Arhil felt her skin tingle. It was as if an inexplicable fear radiated from Yuda, simply gazing at the campfire. "Then we'll kill them." The clarity in his voice left no room for hesitation. "…I see." Arhil nodded, understanding the dire necessity. As a heaviness settled over the atmosphere, Yuda smirked and retrieved cooking tools. Discussing their strategy had momentarily distracted him, but it was time for dinner. Even when trekking through the forest, Yuda didn't skip meal times. As meal preparations commenced, some of the elves took the initiative to assist. They shared food and stories, spending a lengthy night reminiscent of a journey. Oddly enough, the creatures that usually haunted their nights didn’t appear, allowing for a peaceful rest. Though the sleeping arrangements were far from comfortable, they managed to rest sufficiently. When morning arrived, the campfire had become a mere glow. Awake early, Yuda offered the elves fruits for breakfast. Eating the crisp, ripe fruit with the peel on, Yuda stretched lightly to shake off lingering drowsiness. Taking a long yawn mid-bite, he rubbed his eyes. "I brought water." Arhil approached with a wooden basin filled with water, conjured by an elf's magic. Thanking her, Yuda discarded a leftover piece of fruit on the ground and washed his face. Magic was indeed convenient. It allowed them to produce water with ease and cleanse themselves thoroughly. After washing his face and hair, Yuda dried himself with a towel from his <Bag>. "Ah—" With basic cleansing done, Yuda extinguished the remnants of the campfire, signaling their departure. Their journey was smooth so far, but circumstantial detours led them to inch closer to the fortress again. "Someone's ahead. It sounds like three or four people judging by their footsteps, though they're walking quietly." One of the elves discreetly informed Yuda. After delivering the message, the elf re-tied their robe and pulled the hood lower before falling silently into step behind the group. Before long, they spotted three or four figures dressed in leather attire, armed and moving forward. They had arrows nocked in their bows, searching for quarry, and upon meeting eyes with Yuda, they immediately took aim with wary expressions. 'Hunters, perhaps.' ---------= Author's Note ---------= Ah, exam stress. Why do I have exams next Wednesday... I just want to write without worry...