Chapter 54 : This One Appeared
Chapter 54: This One Appeared
Clatter, clatter.
A carriage that did not suit the bumpy road rolled along.
The reddish carriage would originally have boasted an antique beauty, but the roof, cut as straight as if measured with a ruler, made it look unfinished.
It had been a long time since they had left the road people normally traveled.
To begin with, it was impossible to tell which direction they were even heading.
The unexpected appearance of the Imperial Knights’ Commander was truly threatening.
‘I should count myself lucky just to have escaped like this.’
Even now, when he recalled the aura that had lit up the night sky yesterday, his heart still pounded.
While staying at the baron’s estate, he had seen Greg’s aura several times, but Verman’s aura was on an entirely different level.
An ordinary person would have despaired, but Robin instead felt his competitive spirit stir.
The problem was that this year’s knight exam had gone down the drain.
‘By now, even my face will probably be known. I might have to live in hiding for the rest of my life…….’
A sigh escaped him on its own.
If the charge of treason against Baron Tefir was true, that label would follow Imelda forever.
For her entire life, unless the Empire collapsed.
Since he had helped Imelda escape, Robin would not be safe either.
“Robin, let’s rest for a bit in that shade over there.”
“All right.”
The carriage wheels, which had been rolling along without any set destination, came to a stop.
Beneath the trunk of a tree standing in the middle of a green field, they took out some food.
Ssssh.
With the sound of leaves rustling in the wind as a backdrop, they gulped down water, bread, and pemmican.
It was so peaceful it was hard to believe they had risked their lives to escape Regiville.
Robin silently focused on eating.
The taste of the pemmican he had made himself was quite good.
“It feels like a dream.”
Imelda’s single remark contained everything.
Even though she had spent the entire day shedding tears and accepting her father’s death, she still could not believe the current situation.
Robin felt the same way.
If only all of this were a dream.
‘Get a grip. From now on, I’m the only one who can protect the young lady.’
Clearing his throat, he spoke as he usually did.
“I’d like to talk about what we should do from now on. Do you have any good ideas?”
“Yeah.”
Imelda was calmer than expected.
“I’m going to turn myself in.”
“Yes?”
“Dad was executed on charges of treason, but I really don’t know anything about it. If I actively cooperate with the investigation, it might end with just having my title stripped.”
“You saw that knight commander yesterday. There’s no way things will end nicely just because you turn yourself in. Until you can clearly prove it, you need to hide your identity.”
“It’s fine.”
“What do you mean it’s fine? This is about your life, young lady.”
“Robin.”
In Imelda’s eyes as she looked at him, deep resignation seeped through.
“I’m fine. And you have a dream, don’t you, Robin? You said you wanted to become a knight.”
He was left speechless.
The girl he had watched for seven years looked at herself more objectively than anyone.
“If we go north for just three more days, we’ll reach Huycora. Let’s go together just that far. That’s okay, right?”
The city of Huycora, north of Regiville.
Three days was not that far a distance.
They had enough food and water, and the horses were in good condition.
If they chose their direction carefully from now on, they could find it.
But……
‘Will the Empire listen to what the young lady says?’
If she could not clear the charge of treason, that would be the end.
There was no need to think further.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Ah… I see. If we’re going to part ways anyway, it’s better to do it quickly. You mean we should move separately from here, right?”
Moisture welled up at the corners of Imelda’s eyes.
Thinking she might burst into tears if left alone, Robin continued speaking.
“Why would we split up? And give up on the idea of turning yourself in. I won’t just stand by and watch.”
“Thank you for saying that. But I really am fine, so…….”
“Stop.”
Robin raised his hand and cut off Imelda’s words.
It was a firm voice he had never shown while working as a servant.
“We’ll go northeast instead of north. It’ll take longer than three days, but if we hurry, we might barely make it.”
“Northeast from here… Bellaruka?”
“Yes. We’re going to take a ship.”
The port city of Bellaruka.
A place where dozens of ships came and went each day, with active trade.
Robin had checked several routes from Regiville to the capital, and traveling by ship was one of them.
“Where are you planning to go that you want to take a ship?”
“To the north. It’s perfect for living in hiding.”
“But that area is at war right now.”
“That’s exactly why it’s a way for us to survive. And there’s someone I want to meet there. They might be able to help us.”
“R-really? Who is it?”
Hope crept into Imelda’s voice, which had been filled with despair just moments ago.
Robin felt relieved inside.
“My older sister is there. I haven’t seen her in a long time.”
It was time to go meet a reliable patron.
A room lit only by a single candle.
In Baron Tefir’s study, Verman replayed the battle with the man who had appeared out of nowhere.
A middle-aged man with gray hair that looked faded by time.
That man, who wore a prosthetic leg on his left side, was strong.
‘At this rate, I have no face to report.’
Putting down a minor provincial noble far from the capital was nothing to Verman.
The order Verman had received was to sever the traitor’s bloodline.
Since he had let Andrew Tefir’s daughter escape, he could not say he had fulfilled his duty.
Crunch.
Blood drained from the hand clenched into a fist, turning it pale.
He had set out lightly, but who could have known it would turn out like this?
Verman’s expression, having never failed a mission until now, twisted.
Looks like the brat escaped well too, so let’s end it here.
Where are you going? Are you running away!
Yeah, I’m running. If you follow, you’ll get hurt.
The middle-aged man limped as he climbed onto the carriage.
He did not even run.
He moved away at an endlessly slow pace, yet Verman’s attacks all came to nothing.
He had tried to smash the carriage to bind him there, but even that was futile.
Watching the middle-aged man leisurely disappear, Verman wore a hollow expression.
‘He seemed to know that boy.’
Verman recalled the boy who had disappeared on the carriage.
It was a face he had seen at the Baron Tefir estate.
With such uncommon black hair, it would not be difficult to find him.
It was just hard to admit his own failure.
“Nelson.”
“You called for me.”
A knight clad head to toe in plate armor entered.
The armor must have been quite heavy, but he moved as naturally as if wearing everyday clothes.
“Select troops and pursue him. His name is Robin. Black hair, about 180 in height. There’s a high chance Imelda Tefir is with him as well.”
“Understood. I will depart as soon as preparations are complete.”
Before Nelson hurried out, Verman called after him.
“He’s not an easy opponent, so be careful. Sir Juggly lost to him.”
“…A formidable one, then.”
“Yes. Take as many men as you like, so you’d better prepare thoroughly.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“And if possible, it would be good to bring them back alive.”
“I will act according to Sir Verman’s will.”
Nelson bowed and left the study.
Looking at the soldiers resting in front of the mansion, he selected those who would go with him.
‘Five apprentice knights will be more than enough. I can serve as the guide myself.’
The corners of Nelson’s mouth lifted.
A pursuit mission was not easy work, but if he succeeded, the reward would be generous.
Moreover, the fact that he would be in command and thus have great autonomy was appealing.
‘We can finish it quickly and stroll back at an easy pace.’
Verman had warned him to be careful, but Nelson felt no concern.
As long as he had his blue aura, there was nothing he could not cut down.
Just thinking about galloping on horseback lifted Nelson’s mood.
Creak… creak…….
The carriage wheels, which had been rolling along with difficulty, came to a stop.
For several minutes, the axle had been screaming before finally giving out.
“What should we do…….”
“There’s nothing we can do. We just have to go as fast as possible.”
“Ugh… I should’ve just ridden a horse from the start.”
There were two reasons they had been dragging the carriage along despite the possibility of pursuit.
The first was that Imelda had little experience with horseback riding.
The second was to move as far as possible.
Robin drove the horses even while Imelda slept.
Fortunately, the horses had plenty of stamina.
Without the carriage, they would not have been able to come this far at night.
The wheel tracks practically told any pursuers that this was the right path, but it could not be helped.
After all, even hoofprints alone would be enough for them to track.
‘But how can it be such a vast empty plain?’
Even outside the city, he had expected to pass one or two small villages.
It was not wasteland, and if cultivated, it was land more than suitable for farming.
Yet, surprisingly, they had not encountered a single person over the past three days.
‘I guess it’s fortunate, since it wouldn’t be good for our movements to become known.’
The plan to sell the carriage cheaply if they happened to meet a traveling merchant was scrapped.
Now, the only option was to run quickly.
Turning his head, he saw Imelda trembling violently atop her horse.
“I-it’s not as scary as I thought. L-let’s keep going like this. Hyah— ah!”
“Don’t push yourself. Get used to walking first, then try running.”
Since suffering a fall from a horse as a child, Imelda had been afraid of riding.
Robin had been there at the time, so he understood well.
After loading the luggage onto the horse on the opposite side, he walked slowly in the middle, holding the reins of both horses.
Clop-clop.
After ten minutes passed, he looked up at Imelda.
When their eyes met, Imelda gave him an awkward smile.
Trying to signal that she was fine, she raised one hand, but in less than three seconds she slapped flat against the horse’s back.
Perhaps embarrassed, Imelda’s ears turned red.
‘We should start picking up the pace soon.’
No one seemed to be chasing them yet, but he could not let his guard down.
Verman. The moment that terrifying man came into view would already be too late.
Imelda knew that as well, so she said she was fine while remaining tense.
“Do you want to get down for a bit? Alternating between walking and riding will help you adjust more easily.”
Imelda nodded and got down from the horse.
Even that process was so stiff that Robin had to support her arm.
Once her feet touched the ground, her rigid expression relaxed.
After ten minutes passed, Robin put Imelda back on the horse.
She was better than before, but running was still too much.
So they repeated getting off and getting back on.
After an hour passed, Imelda forced a smile.
“I-it’s fine! I’m okay now!”
She desperately lifted the corners of her mouth, but her eyes trembled.
Seeing her pitiful state, Robin brought the horses to a stop.
“It’s time to eat.”
“I told you I’m fine?”
“I’m not fine, that’s why. Hurry and get down.”
When Robin held out his hand, Imelda slowly dismounted.
Leaving the tired horses to graze, he took food out of his pack.
The moderately greasy and salty pemmican was still delicious.
While nibbling on bread and watching Robin’s reaction, Imelda opened her mouth.
“If it really doesn’t work, how about you go on ahead first, Robin?”
“Do you think you could find your way to Bellaruka by yourself, young lady?”
“Mm-hmm. You taught me how to read a compass and a map. I can find it.”
“But those are mine, so I can’t leave them behind.”
“Oh, right…….”
Robin let out a small chuckle.
He had never even considered the option of leaving Imelda alone behind.
“Then do you have a better idea?”
“I don’t know if it’ll work, but I was thinking we could ride together, and load the luggage onto the remaining horse.”
“What? If there was a method like that, you should’ve done it sooner!”
“Haha…….”
Could he really control two horses freed from the carriage?
Robin was not confident.
Even if he managed to handle both well, it would not be as fast as each person riding one.
‘Still, it’s better than going like this.’
“I’m sorry you’re working so hard, Robin. If only someone would safely escort us to Bellaruka, I’d have no other wish.”
“Really? Then what can you give?”
“Huh? Well, obviously… money? I have quite a few valuables too.”
“Show me.”
Imelda took out her jewelry, including the brooch she had received from Palacio.
Reflecting the sunlight, they looked even more dazzling.
It was a good thing she had taken them with her when leaving the mansion, just in case.
Robin hardened his expression and spoke.
“Young lady.”
“Is this still not enough? You’re greedier than I thought, Robin.”
“That’s not it. Who do you think you’re talking to right now?”
“What?”
“…….”
Imelda stopped short of answering and widened her eyes.
‘What? The one who just spoke to me wasn’t Robin?’
Robin brought his hand to the black hilt.
Someone was here.
After signaling Imelda to come closer with his eyes, he slowly drew his sword.
The light reflecting off it showed just how sharp Robin’s blade was.
“Two people traveling to Bellaruka without even an escort. You should consider yourselves lucky.”
“…Who are you.”
He looked around, but could not find the source of the voice.
Robin tightened his grip on the sword hilt.
Ready to strike at any moment.
Rrrrraaaak.
The ground beneath Robin and Imelda shook.
Startled, they jumped back and stared at the ground.
Small cracks formed like parched earth, and with a rumbling sound, the ground heaved upward.
A large clump of earth shot into the air, then crumbled down, taking the shape of a person.
No—buried in the soil was a person.
Like a cat soaked in rain shaking itself, the figure shuddered, and the earth clinging to the body fell away.
After five seconds passed, even the last handful of dirt was shaken off.
Black hair draped over one shoulder.
A languid expression, as if just awakened from sleep, and in one hand was a wooden staff.
“This one appeared.”
The girl who had risen from the ground smiled proudly.