Ch. 52 - The Fleeing Noble
"Damn it, didn't I order a curfew? Why is it so noisy outside!?"
Huss paced back and forth in the mansion, tugging hard at his little beard, unable to restrain himself from cursing aloud.
"Go check what's happening outside for me and tell those salary-collecting guards to properly maintain the curfew!"
The village official, displaying his loyalty, hunched over and hurriedly departed.
But the mansion was located beside the town square, nearly at the center.
This meant he only needed to push open the door and glance outside to see several scattered points of firelight already arranged in a loose column, crossing the central square and heading west along the path.
He turned back and shouted:
"This is bad, Steward Huss! I see many people packing their belongings and leaving their homes, about to rush out of town!"
"What!? Have the guards stop them!"
What angered Huss more than the reason for leaving their homes was that these lowborn commoners had failed to obey his strict orders.
But regardless, he realized that they couldn't delay any longer.
He turned to look at Melade sitting beside him, worried and anxious, and advised in a low voice:
"Young master, don't wait for that faithless Catherine anymore. You should set out with Explosivewolf right now—no matter what, get back to Longgold City first!"
"But—"
"I must be responsible to the master, so no matter how you try to persuade me, I will put your safety first."
This was no time for indecision. Huss decisively cut off the conversation.
He grabbed Melade's arm and led him through the mansion's back door to the courtyard.
Ever since returning to the town, this mercenary leader had been resting the whole time, and had now recovered most of his energy.
Even when grumbling, his voice remained rough and loud:
"Damn it, I said from the start, we should leave quickly! Wasting so much time on a woman, and in the end still traveling alone?"
"Mercenary, just do your job—escort the young master home. Don't say another word about anything else."
"Hah? I'm pretty damn pissed right now, and if you keep looking at me sideways with those beady little eyes, I'll take it out on you both even if it means losing my payment!"
Though he threatened this way, he understood he couldn't actually do it.
Only he knew how many losses the mercenary company had suffered for this commission.
If he didn't get the money, the whole job would be a complete waste.
"As long as you safely escort the young master back, in addition to the originally agreed payment, I'll apply for a consolation payment of equal amount—
You know that for our master, money is just a number."
Huss wasn't afraid of this quite capable mercenary captain.
He likewise understood that money was the most effective medicine for calming the fury of these mercenaries.
Sure enough, Explosivewolf couldn't be bothered with anger and frowned:
"You know my brothers will stay here too, right?
They're all brothers who've faced life and death with me.
You're asking me to abandon them for money and cross Dawnmist Forest with a burden?"
"That's right."
He pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth:
"It'll cost double!"
Huss adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and stated his final limit:
"At most, I can personally add an additional fifty percent. If you're still not satisfied, then after you escort the young master back, you can negotiate with the master yourself."
"Then make sure you 'explain' to them that I went to fetch reinforcements."
"I'll naturally keep them stable to supplement our defensive forces."
Explosivewolf didn't want to waste any more time.
When he learned that those orcs' destination was this town, he didn't want to stay even a moment longer.
Everyone spread rumors that his mercenary company had participated in the southern defensive campaign.
But few knew that they had fled back only after being unable to withstand the slaughter beyond the Great Wall, losing more than half their men.
"All white and chubby—can you even ride a horse?"
With his full plate armor and greatsword, and Melade being overweight, they naturally could only ride two horses.
"Don't need you to teach me."
Melade resented Explosivewolf's attitude, but understood he still needed to rely on him to escape.
Confirming the bottled eyeball on his shoulder was firmly fixed, he snorted coldly and mounted the horse.
Huss, like a parent worried about a child leaving home, anxious about his future, became long-winded, unable to stop reminding him:
"Young master, our town is surrounded by three mountains. After fortifications were built, only one exit remains.
I don't know who leaked the information, but those lowborn commoners are no longer obedient. So when passing them, don't hesitate, just head out of town—
Those unwilling to move aside and trying to block the road are all enemies trying to drag you down. Feel free to run them over.
Rest assured, I will definitely lead the troops to block their progress and absolutely won't let these lowborn commoners follow behind you, making you a living target in the night."
Melade was moved by Huss's sincerity.
He thought of this old gentleman who was both teacher and friend, who had looked after him all along the way.
And now, for his sake—for maintaining their family's wealth—he would remain in this dangerous land.
This old gentleman had dedicated all the loyalty he could give.
Melade felt his eyes moisten. He leaned down and patted his shoulder:
"Steward Huss, whether the orcs arrive here or not, please take care of yourself—"
"Stop fucking around with the nonsense. Can't you hear the town getting louder and louder?"
Explosivewolf couldn't stand this display of master-servant devotion and spat coldly.
Huss sighed and slapped the hindquarters of Melade's mount.
The steed responded immediately, raising its front hooves and neighing.
Melade instantly pulled the reins and struck its neck:
"Let's go!"
Explosivewolf followed closely behind. Two swift figures pierced through the night, circling the mansion and charged out of the courtyard.
The commotion was so great that many townspeople who had left their homes were startled.
They couldn't make out the identities of the riders.
But they clearly appeared to be fleeing on horseback.
This precisely confirmed their own worries.
Suddenly, they heard a young voice shouting:
"This is bad, this is bad! The orcs are coming! The nobles are already fleeing on horseback!"
No one cared who spoke first.
But they all cared deeply about the implications.
Fear instantly seized their hearts, and along with it, their footsteps and the speed at which they drove their ox carts became more urgent.
"The orcs are coming! Flee, flee quickly!"
At the fence exit ahead, several common folk already stood, blocked by guards and arguing.
"Why won't you let us leave the town!? Are you trying to get everyone killed here!?"
Melade was somewhat afraid of being recognized and had no intention of concerning himself with them.
The frequency of the horse's hooves increased faster and faster, striking the country dirt road like his restless heartbeat—
"Move aside, everyone move aside!"
He shouted.
He was the future master of this land, and they were all his subjects.
He absolutely couldn't let them see their future lord looking as wretched as a homeless dog.
He even found an excuse for himself.
"I'm going to fetch reinforcements, all of you get out of my way!"
No one wanted to be struck by such a rapidly galloping horse. They all made way for Melade, leaving his path completely clear.
Just as he was about to pass by the firelight on the fence, Melade finally felt he would be rid of this shame that had been like thorns in his back.
But suddenly, he felt his mount jolt beneath him.
Immediately after, a shrill neigh pierced the long night.
He saw the torch stuck in the fence beside him seem to tilt at an angle.
Then he realized it was his own center of gravity that had shifted.
The sensation of weightlessness followed immediately.
"Oh no—"
"Thud!!!"
Amidst his cry of alarm, he felt his brain go blank for an instant.
When he came to, his arm was already transmitting the sharp pain of impact.
Melade let half his face sink into the moist and foul-smelling mud...
With the help of the flickering firelight, he vaguely saw a hemp rope tightly tied to the wooden fence.
He suddenly understood that he had actually been tripped.
Who was it!?