173 - 24 Hearts

Title: Twenty-Four Hearts - Episode 173 [Northern Hare – Web Novel Archives] --- Chapter 5: Wood and Iron Conrad, a knight from Cheska Castle, which is on the front line bordering the kingdom of Wurun, led a cavalry out of the castle under the orders of the lord. According to a hunter's report, over twenty armed individuals had passed through the forest trail, bypassing the castle. Regardless of their profession—be they adventurers, mercenaries, nobles, or merchants—everyone entering another country had to stop at the border castle to prove their identity. This was common knowledge. Yet, they had ignored this common sense. Conrad checked his equipment and gave chase to those who intended to enter the kingdom unlawfully, according to the hunter's information. Riding atop a horse that shook violently, he sent out scouts to find them. Departing several hours after the report, he knew it would take some time to catch up. Knight Conrad clicked his tongue in frustration. "Such a pity." Had they passed unnoticed, it might have been different, but having been caught, they had to be apprehended. If they were from the pleasure-loving country of Wurun, they might be carrying narcotics, leaving him no room for leniency. If they had come from Philoria, Calypso, or Lazentia, execution might not have been on the table. Riding along a flat path between the trees, the cavalry ahead sent signals one by one. They had spotted them. Conrad had previously instructed his men to kill if met with resistance, so they would handle things accordingly. However, it was still necessary to ascertain why they hadn't stopped at the castle, something that at least needed reporting to the lord. "Alright, increase speed and pursue!" With a kick to his horse's side, he urged it faster, the cavalry behind raising their exclamations and matching pace. It hadn't been long since they sped up when he saw a scout, sent earlier in the lead, hastily returning. "Have they subdued them already? That was quick." But as he drew closer, the scout’s face was notably pale. With a tug on the reins, he slowed, raising the visor of his helmet in a frown as he stopped his horse. The scout dismounted, visibly out of breath. "What is it? Why have you returned?" "While pursuing, we encountered someone claiming to be one of Duke Iyes’ subordinates, the... the Radiance? They wish to meet with you, sir." This was not uncommon—perhaps an attempt to bribe them to overlook the trespass. Another knight might have listened, but such things wouldn’t work on Conrad. Still, to brazenly claim to be Duke Iyes' follower? They were bold, if nothing else. "But why is your face so pale? Did you see something terrifying?" "That is..." "Go on, I won't mock you." The soldier wore a troubled expression, then spoke slowly. "…The individual is incredibly skilled. Seeing Zepian subdued, we shot crossbows as we encircled, yet they dodged or sliced through every arrow. I know it might sound like an excuse, but the presence they exuded left us—and even the horses—too frightened to move. I was the only one able to run back to call you, sir." "Sliced through crossbow bolts?" "Yes." It was an unbelievable claim. Their marksmanship, honed to guard the border, was precise enough to hit moving targets even from horseback. The crossbows were imported from Mantoum, a nation of alchemy, and their effectiveness wasn’t in question. Yet they dodged or deflected them all? Even slicing through them mid-air? It seemed incredible, but the soldier didn’t look like he was making excuses to cover up a situation. No ordinary adventurer or mercenary could evade crossbow bolts. Even Conrad didn't possess such confidence; enduring by trusting in his armor's protection was one thing, but evading or slicing crossbow bolts was another story altogether. "Are they truly one of Duke Iyes' men?" If they belonged to the Iron Knights, reputedly the strongest within the Silan Kingdom, such feats might be possible. Could the Iron Knights truly evade and slice through crossbow bolts? If every member was like that… Conrad realized that confronting them might be pointless. "...Understood. Let's go." Conrad furrowed his brow, pulled down his visor, and drove his horse forward. Snorting powerfully, the horse started running once more. Yuda waited calmly with arms crossed as the officer arrived. He stood there nonchalantly, even as soldiers and horses remained unusually still in the face of his presence. One soldier alone, leaning against a tree, grit his teeth and let out pain-stricken groans. It was the soldier he had unhorsed with a thrown dagger. "Ugh, ack…!" The soldier groaned in pain, an arrow having pierced his thigh. With all his strength, he pressed a hand around the injury to catch Yuda's notice, but his attempts went unheard. Yuda's ears were sharp enough not to miss such sounds. With a sigh, Yuda approached him and crouched down. Gasping, the soldier fearfully looked up at Yuda as he approached. Still, he did not avert his eyes. Seeing fear and hostility intertwined in the soldier’s gaze, Yuda reached out to grip the long arrow embedded in his thigh. It was a case of ministering a cure after inflicting the wound, but waiting could become tedious, and he couldn’t just leave him be. "Bear it." Before Yuda even finished speaking, he yanked the arrow out with force. The arrowhead, almost perfectly straight to enhance penetration, slid out easily. Had it been barbed, it would have torn the flesh as well. Ignoring the blood oozing out, Yuda tossed the arrow aside, took a potion from the Serenia Temple from his bag, and removed the cork with his teeth. He generously poured it over the wound. Watching Yuda in a daze, the soldier observed him stand up, replace the cork, and toss the bottle back into the bag before retrieving a clean cloth and water. Not for the soldier's benefit, but to clean his own hands and clothes from the blood. "When are they coming?" "...They should be here soon." Yuda looked up at another soldier when asking about the arrival of the person in charge. After a brief silence, the soldier finally replied. Silence resumed again afterward. 'Arhil might become suspicious.' Time seemed to be running short. No, it was already too late. Any further delay might arouse suspicion or anxiety. Although Yuda could claim he was taking a leisurely stroll after attending to his business, he wasn't sure if that would be believed. With a soft sigh, Yuda decided to wait a bit more patiently. Thankfully, not much later, a fully armored knight appeared in the distance, unlike the other cavalrymen. As he quickly approached, the soldiers surrounding Yuda stepped back. The knight didn't raise his helmet's visor and kept his right hand near his sword, ready to draw it, clearly indicating his cautiousness towards Yuda. "Are you the one in charge?" Conrad received the inquiry in silence, studying Yuda closely. The young man was quite youthful, clearly an adult, but with a surprisingly young face. Yet, with that youthful countenance came a nobility that forbade anyone from underestimating him. The soldier’s earlier report was possibly truthful, as crossbow bolts were embedded in the ground, some even split in two. "Hey, are you going to speak?" "...If you’re asking for the one in charge, that would indeed be me. Are you the one impersonating a follower of Duke Iyes?" Conrad scrutinized the young man before him, his eyes twitching in apparent displeasure, the intensity in his gaze strengthening. A formidable aura emanated from his body. His horse, sensing the weight of that presence, attempted to retreat a step. Though Conrad summoned his dormant magical energy to resist, his men froze with fear. The young man’s voice dropped to an almost threatening tone. "Impersonate? Are you trying to insult me?" "...I find it hard to believe. If you were truly a subordinate of the Duke, you would have quietly passed through the castle. The fact that you're sneaking around like this is even more suspicious." However, the young man remained undeterred. "I dislike unnecessary hassle. The journey is long, and I have no time to be detained at the castle. The Duke’s orders take precedence over your procedures. In any case, stop pursuing me. I have a long way to go." The knight remained silent before speaking again shortly after. "That's not possible." "What?" "I don't have proof that you're the Duke’s subordinate, do I? If you have any, show it or prove it. Evidence that you are indeed the Duke’s subordinate... like the Iron Knights' pendant, perhaps." "Ha—why not just bring the lord here? You probably wouldn’t know either." "Are you saying you can’t prove it? Then we have no choice but to take you with us." Conrad raised his left hand. In response, every cavalryman who had followed him and surrounded the area aimed their crossbows at Yuda in unison. Despite being paralyzed with fear, they moved as their training dictated. Unfazed, the young man tilted his head and flashed a cold smile. "Don’t get too cocky. I've been lenient enough just for insulting me by claiming I'm impersonating the Duke’s subordinate." A cold sweat broke out under the immense pressure. Just as he debated whether to give the command to fire, the young man began to approach slowly. The armor seemed to grow heavier. Even though Conrad dismissed it as imagination, his horse buckled and sank to the ground. Struggling on horseback, Conrad attempted to get back on his feet, but even that proved difficult. The young man continued to approach. He needed to draw his sword, yet found himself unable. "What would the Duke say if I killed you and all the soldiers here?" "......!" ---------= Afterword ---------= Whew, I whittled it down to 23KB. I considered posting it all at once, but... heh, I wanted to feel like I did a double release, so I split it up. <No sense of shame.