Chapter 132. Are You Threatening Me?
The night when the moon had risen.
After finishing dinner, we went to bed early, only to slip out of the inn soon after.
Why sleep at all?
It was to reach our best condition. Not that any of us were weaklings who’d lose stamina from missing a night’s sleep, but since we’d been running day and night without rest all the way to Lorutel…
“Ugh, maybe I’m getting old. My body’s not what it used to be.”
“If you have a conscience, shut your filthy mouth.”
“……”
At Shine’s sharp rebuke, I clamped my lips shut.
After all, Shine was one of the few who knew my real age(?).
Anyway, after leaving the inn, we arrived at…
“Mount Flik.”
“Mount Flik?”
Standing at the mountain’s entrance, Shine nodded.
“It’s a mountain long known for its rough terrain. Monsters appear there quite often, so even herb gatherers avoid it.”
“Hm.”
I glanced around at her explanation.
“For a place like that, it’s awfully quiet. No guards, either.”
“They probably cleared it out during the winter. It’ll stay quiet until next autumn.”
“Hm, I see.”
It was surprising that there was a monster habitat within this territory at all, but apparently they managed it well enough.
‘Still, even if the terrain’s steep, it’s not like Lorutel couldn’t subdue it.’
Maybe they were leaving it as a training ground for their knights and soldiers?
That could be it. It would’ve been reckless for a small domain, but Lorutel had the means to handle things if needed.
But still…
“So, why exactly are we here?”
“Why else? I told you before. We’re here to find the doghole.”
“Right, that doghole…”
I trailed off and cast my gaze downward.
Below us, the enormous inner fortress of Lorutel spread out in full view. Even in the dark of night, its lights remained lit.
“You’re saying that doghole connects all the way down there?”
That was beyond my understanding.
I mean, think about it.
Why is it called a doghole?
Sure, it could mean a hole used by dogs, but when people used it, it usually meant some hastily dug escape tunnel. If it were a proper route, it’d be called a secret passage, not a doghole.
“Tsk, you simpleton. Do you think digging a tunnel under Lorutel’s surveillance is easy?”
“Well, no, but still…”
Wait, but why you of all people would be the one digging it?
“Enough chatter, just follow me. It should still be there somewhere.”
Such confidence. And on the other hand, I couldn’t help but think, ‘What kind of grudge does she even have against Lorutel?’
At this point, it wasn’t just a doghole anymore. It sounded more like she’d dug a full-blown invasion tunnel.
“Whatever the case, stop talking. We’re pressed for time.”
“…Yeah, fine.”
Was it the thickets she didn’t like?
I glanced sideways at Parun, whose expression looked especially sour, and followed after Shine.
No, it wasn’t the bushes.
“Tsk.”
Crackle!
With an annoyed look, Parun was burning the flying bugs one by one with sparks of lightning.
Anyway, after a while…
“Are we there yet?”
“Just wait a bit. I think I’m almost there.”
Shine drew in her ether, scanning the terrain within the darkness.
And as she did, memories from the past seemed to bubble up; she started talking, and from her words, I could finally piece things together.
“So originally, it was a secret passage. You know, those hidden routes built to evacuate the family in emergencies.”
“And then?”
“At the time, I didn’t realize there was one behind the basement wall where I lived.”
“Ah, so… when you said doghole, you actually meant Lorutel’s secret passage?”
“No, it’s a doghole. I was the one who broke through the basement wall to connect it to the secret passage.”
Well, property damage too, huh?
As we kept talking, climbing up the mountain…
“Ah!”
Shine suddenly stopped and exclaimed.
“Found it! Over there, under that rock, that’s where the passage is!”
Looking unusually excited, Shine pushed through the bushes and hurried ahead. Even though it sounded close, the rough terrain made progress slow.
And then, when we finally reached the rock…
“…?”
“…?”
We ran into an unexpected intruder.
In the middle of the night, under a pale moonlight that barely reached the forested slope, the three of us, Shine, Parun, and I, stopped in our tracks and stared at the young man before us.
He looked to be in his early twenties.
‘Man, what a punchable face.’
Not as handsome as me, but decent enough. What stood out more, though, were the firm, sculpted muscles showing even beneath his clothes.
A young man with a noble air about him stood frozen under the rock.
It lasted only for a moment, though.
“Who are you people?”
At his question, the three of us answered in unison.
“Herb gatherers.”
“Hunters.”
“Bug catcher.”
For god’s sake.
What kind of idiot believes that? Hunters at this hour? And bug catcher??
‘That last one’s the worst.’
Not even a shred of effort.
But wait a second.
‘Why are we even nervous?’
Well, we should be. We were about to infiltrate Lorutel, the most prestigious swordsmanship family in the entire eastern continent. And with quite the shady purpose, too.
‘We haven’t done anything yet, right?’
So, no reason to flinch.
“Hm, herb gatherers and hunters… quite the odd pair. But bug catcher?”
As he tilted his head at us, I shot back,
“And you, who might you be?”
“Ah, I am…”
Huh? What’s this?
The guy straightened proudly to introduce himself, but then suddenly closed his mouth.
That’s when I realized it.
…Ah. This bastard’s hiding something too.
“What, you’re not gonna say you’re an herb gatherer too, right? You’re dressed too fancy for that.”
“And you can’t be a hunter. I already used that one.”
You shut it.
“Tsk, too many bugs.”
You too.
Anyway, I ignored the two of them and glared at the young man.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Come on, you’ve got something to hide, don’t you?”
Perfect opening move.
[Good, very good. You vile little rascal, use that filthy silver tongue to drive him off!]
Shine’s voice echoed in my ear. Ah, must’ve been from Railey’s stolen wallet. No other way she’d have a voice artifact.
Anyway, Parun also chimed in.
[Too many bugs. Finish it quickly.]
…Not exactly helpful, but fine. Bolstered by their “support,” I pressed harder.
“Huh? You’re not gonna talk? Hah! Say something, or I’ll hand you over to Lorutel myself! You hear me?”
Years of black-market hustling in the Gray Zone, well, I lost count how many, had honed this kind of professional bluffing.
And it worked. The young man quickly stammered,
“I-I am… an herb gatherer.”
Oh, look at this creativity-challenged bald-headed liar!
“Looking like that?”
“…I make good money, all right? I’m the top gatherer in the area.”
Bold-faced, too!
In that case, there was only one option left.
“Yeah, sure, whatever. Now move along. We need this spot for camping.”
As we started pushing him aside to take over the spot, the young man spoke.
“That’s… troublesome.”
“Why?”
“…Because I claimed this spot first.”
He knew how shameless he sounded, his voice got smaller and smaller.
This guy… seriously?
‘So we’ve got a real piece of work here, huh?’
Something told me this wouldn’t be easy.
* * *
The young lord, Sion, set up camp a little away from the rock.
Crackle! Crackle!
As the fire popped softly, Sion calmly reviewed the situation.
‘What kind of mess is this?’
He’d been planning to meet his mentor, Sir Zeke, and return home afterward, but instead…
“…Uninvited guests.”
“Huh? Uninvited guests? Look who’s talking! You’re the uninvited one! Why don’t you scram?”
“……”
Sion frowned faintly at the rude tone.
Good ears, too.
‘…And insolent to boot.’
Anyway, that was where it all went wrong.
Of all places, why here, right in front of a secret passage not even his father knew about, did he have to meet these strangers calling themselves a herb gatherer, a hunter, and a bug catcher? And then what?
— “Huh? You’re not gonna talk? Hah! Say something, or I’ll hand you over to Lorutel myself! You hear me?”
Hand him over to Lorutel?
Normally, he would’ve laughed that off.
To threaten the heir of House Lorutel with Lorutel itself? Outrageous!
A nerve-striking provocation!
But after a brief flare of disbelief, Sion quickly recalled his circumstances and swallowed his anger.
‘…I must endure.’
He’d defied his father’s order to remain in confinement. Sure, all he’d done was beat up an old man who deserved it, but the patriarch’s decree was absolute.
If word got out that he’d ignored it, even he wouldn’t get off lightly.
‘The elders will come barking the moment they find out, tsk.’
That was why he couldn’t reveal his identity here and now.
‘Ugh… but I can’t just sit here all night either.’
Unable to bear it any longer, Sion stood awkwardly and walked toward Aster’s group.
“Are you truly planning to camp here until morning?”
“…Would you rather we fake it?”
“Hmm.”
Aster looked oddly uneasy, though Sion didn’t catch on to that.
He only thought…
‘I should at least talk to them a bit.’
He’d test their character first. If they seemed trustworthy, he’d reveal his identity. He couldn’t mention the secret passage, of course, but he could confess who he was and use some excuse to send them away. But the young lord had overlooked one thing: his opponent was Aster.
“Well then, since we’ve met, might I share some fire with you?”
“Here.”
“What the…”
Sion stared blankly at the burning log Aster handed him.
“You said you wanted to share fire, right? So I’m sharing it.”
“……”
A blatant mockery. Sion was speechless.
Who in all of Lorutel would dare treat the young heir like this?
This was the first time.
‘You’re the first one to ever treat me like this.’
He didn’t back down, though.
Just… rage boiled up inside at this filthy, humiliating insolence.
‘Still, I must return by morning…’
Judging by their attitude, these thugs really did intend to camp here for the night.
Fine. Whatever.
“Oh? Look at this one.”
“Show him some mercy. If Lorutel’s people were here, surely they’d show mercy too.”
Without shame, Sion squeezed himself right into Aster’s group.
Parun grimaced as if a bug had touched him and moved aside, allowing Sion to slip in.
Then, flashing a disarming smile, Sion spoke.
“A herb gatherer, a hunter, and a bug catcher… The monsters around Mount Flik are quite vicious, you know. But as it happens, I’m fairly skilled with a sword.”
“So, you’re saying you’ll protect us? Without even a sword?”
“Well, as for a sword…”
Click!
He adjusted his bracelet, and—twang!—a fine, elegant sword materialized in midair. It didn’t bear the Lorutel crest; just a spare blade he carried for emergencies.
“How’s that? I’ve got a sword.”
For ordinary folks, it would’ve been an awe-inspiring sight. And that was exactly what he was counting on. But Sion didn’t know, Aster’s group was anything but ordinary.
“Are you threatening me?”
“What? No, I—”
Sion was too stunned to finish his sentence.
Threatening? Him? The heir of the House of Lorutel, accused of threatening someone?
‘How twisted do you have to be to see it that way…?!’
He’d approached with genuine goodwill (well, sort of), and yet this man twisted everything!
Sion was speechless at the sheer absurdity, when Aster smirked and added, “Well now, how terrifying. I’m shaking in my boots. But here’s the thing, I might not use swords, but I can use a little magic.”
And within those words, was something that made Sion’s expression harden.
“…Magic?”
Sion’s eyes widened, glaring at Aster.
“Did you just say magic?”
His voice carried a faint, simmering fury.
