Chapter 39
“Milady, can that man truly be trusted? Perhaps it would be wiser for us to hold out at the mansion together.”
“Ha! And do you know why I came back into danger? That old grandpa was clinging to my trouser legs, begging me to bring the young lady. He looked so pitiful I couldn’t bear it! Pitiful, I tell you. If you don’t want to come, I’ll just go alone.”
“I’ll go! Let’s go together.”
The mercenary clicked his tongue. What’s there to hesitate about in a situation like this? Knights, honestly… Stiff, stubborn, and inflexible—that was always the problem. He even spat on the ground in open disdain.
Just then, one of the assailants rushed him. The mercenary seized the man by the hair and smashed his head into the ground, venting his irritation. At least the knights could see his skills weren’t just for show.
“Then I’ll escort you to the carriage. We’ll meet again at the plaza soon.”
“Do as you please.”
Without waiting for another word, the mercenary gestured sharply for them to follow and dashed ahead. Luna, the mercenary, and the knights all sprinted toward the baggage wagon.
“They’re escaping that way! Don’t let them get away!”
Luna swallowed hard, her throat raw, as she ran. The one voice she never wanted to hear again—Count Mond’s—echoed hideously through the forest.
Fortunately, the carriage was not far. The mercenary swiftly mounted the driver’s seat and seized the reins. One of Bahir’s knights deftly lifted Luna inside.
“Head to the most crowded place and wait for us there.”
“Thank you. Please, let’s all meet at the plaza!”
“Hyah!”
Before Luna could exchange farewells with each knight, the wheels spun into motion. The carriage quickly put distance between them, and Luna craned her head back.
The knights, now unburdened, moved with ease as they fought off the attackers.
“Aaagh! Gah!”
Horrid screams echoed through the woods. Luna forced her ears closed and hugged her trembling body.
“Grandfather is somewhere safe, right? He’s not hurt, is he?”
After a while, she asked the mercenary. She too had someone she needed to protect. Now was the time for her to steel herself and act.
“…”
But the mercenary—so quick with glib words before—had fallen silent like a man with his tongue cut out. Under the patchy moonlight, his face looked unsettlingly grim.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it? Why aren’t you answering?”
The baggage wagon jolted violently as it struck a stone. In the dead silence, even the splash of water from a puddle rang sharp in Luna’s ears.
Her eyes trembled fiercely. Her racing heartbeat pounded louder than the rumble of the wheels.
“Hey!!”
Scree―ech!
Unable to contain herself, Luna shouted. The mercenary yanked the reins roughly, and the carriage screeched to a halt. Luna barely managed to grab the side rail to keep from tumbling forward.
“Where is this place?”
At last she looked around. This wasn’t the road leading straight to the plaza.
The moon, slipping out from behind a thin cloud, lit up an unfamiliar forest path that stretched on endlessly.
Luna’s eyes widened. Her head turned toward the mercenary like a broken wagon wheel.
Of course… Even the Eastern Temple was riddled with corruption. Why would the militia be any different? How could I be so stupid? Please, let it not be true. Please tell me he isn’t one of them.
Her hand crept stiffly toward her pouch, ready to grasp her last magic stone.
“I swear he’s alive! But… this doesn’t sit right with me at all!”
“W-what do you mean?”
For a moment, Luna felt relief when the mercenary claimed her grandfather was safe. But the ominous words that followed made her stammer.
“You saw it yourself, miss. I’ve no desire to die ‘protecting’ anyone. My own skin comes first.”
“…”
“Do you want to pay me more?”
Luna rubbed her face with both hands, trying to force clarity into her mind. But it felt like she had just swallowed bitter poison, twisting her insides.
The mercenary stroked his chin as if in thought, then spoke coolly.
“Money? I’ve already been paid more than enough. That’s how secret dealings go, isn’t it? Sorry, but you’re just unlucky.”
“What?”
Before Luna could process his words, something dropped from the trees above—fast and heavy.
“Kyaaah!”
A massive poacher’s net swallowed her up like a spring rabbit.
* * *
The red-lamped wagon rumbled vigorously through the night. It skirted the muddy pits left by the rain with practiced ease.
Splosh—splurch!
But as fate would have it, one wheel sank deep into a rut along the eastern forest road toward the capital.
“This is a poor place to get stuck, isn’t it?”
“I’ll check on it right away.”
The coachman bowed hastily and went to free the wheel.
The Raven squad’s captain, arms folded, nodded and glanced at the net he had received from the mercenary. He was pleased with its contents.
The woman had screamed and thrashed so much he had threatened to douse her with sleep incense until she fainted. Only then had she quieted down.
Inside the net lay his finest catch yet—a beautiful golden goose. Worth every sacrifice, even abandoning the eastern hideout.
Once the boss saw her, he’d understand why they had given it all up. In the end, they had delivered as ordered.
The captain was already brimming with excitement, imagining how he’d brag about this flawless plan.
The old rat—Count Mond—was probably waiting anxiously at the hideout, believing the abducted girl would be brought there soon.
“Fool.”
The captain had never revealed that their true target was Bahir’s people. That blockheaded count thought he had crushed House Adarette and clipped the Raven’s wings all at once.
Yes, they had lost men and abandoned the hideout to keep up the ruse. But the jewel in his grasp outweighed it all.
Without that foolish count, this scheme could never have succeeded. When they reached the capital, the captain decided he’d honor him with a single gold coin’s worth of mourning.
“Now we just need to rendezvous with the wagon carrying Baron Adarette at the checkpoint. Then we’ll be perfect.”
The kidnapped baron was merely a bargaining chip to control the girl in the net.
A touching hand to play—too useful to discard. The captain, who never hesitated to exploit family bonds, felt smug about his brilliance.
“Is it far? We must reach the checkpoint before dawn.”
“The wheel’s stuck badly, I’m afraid. My apologies.”
Clicking his tongue, the captain rose from his seat. Looking at the scrawny coachman, he figured he’d better push himself.
He trudged toward the front, boots squelching in the muck. Just as he and the coachman braced the wagon together—
Rip—!
A shocking tearing sound rang out—the net holding the woman split wide open.
The captain dropped the wagon at once and lunged. How could a mere purification mage tear it without even a blade? Whatever the case, he could not allow the prey to escape. If she fled, everything would collapse—and all blame would fall squarely on him.
Crackle—!
Suddenly, a sparking magic stone flew straight at his face.
Luna had thrown it.
Sweat beaded on her skin as she prayed it would strike him squarely.
Whoosh—!
Bzzzzt!
“Graaagh!”
Unfortunately, the captain twisted his body just in time, narrowly dodging. The magic stone instead struck the dumbfounded coachman, who screamed in pain.
Seizing the moment, Luna hurled herself out the opposite side of the wagon. She hit the ground hard with a splat.
“Ugh!”
Her cheek, palm, and knees plunged into sticky mud. Still, it was softer than solid earth, dulling the impact.
Who would have thought she’d be hurling herself from a carriage in the middle of the night?
The shock reverberated through her body. The stench and slime clung to her skin and clothes. But she scrambled to her feet and ran. Discomfort was the least of her worries.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
The captain’s snarl froze her blood. He had landed not far away, only a few steps behind.
If she was caught by that snake in a raven’s mask, she would be devoured alive tonight.
