A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles — Chapter 95

Chapter 95

“Just‍⁠ as I expected,‍‍ they’re following us.”‌⁠‌

Lucian⁠‌ raised the corner‍ of his lips‌‍ upon seeing, in the distance, Godfrey’s‍ group pursuing them.

“I‌⁠ imagined it, but⁠ I didn’t think⁠ they’d try to‌‍ kill me on‍⁠ the first day.‌ Looks like they’re‌⁠⁠ pretty desperate.”

“What⁠‌ should we do?‍ If you wish,⁠‌ I can take⁠‌‌ care of them‍‌ right now.”

Felicia⁠ gripped the hilt‍ of her sword‍‍‌ with a sharp⁠ gaze.

A single order was enough for her⁠ to charge in⁠‍ and wipe them⁠ out.

“Not‍‍ here. Even if‌‍ we’re going to⁠ deal with them,‌ we need to‍ lure them deeper‌‌ in first. That⁠⁠ way, it’ll also‌ be easier to‍⁠ get rid of‌‌⁠ the bodies.”

“True.⁠‌ It’s better to‌‌‌ treat them as‌⁠‍ missing than to‍‍ make up excuses‍‍ with corpses in⁠‍⁠ front of us.”

Hugo‍ nodded in agreement as he reached⁠ into his coat.‍‌ A moment later,‌⁠ he held several‍⁠ flints in his‍ hand, one for‌ each member of‍ the group.

“Alright,‌‍‍ take one each.‍‍ You’ve handled the⁠‌ cold pretty well‍ so far. The‍‍⁠ way to use⁠‍ it is—”

“You‍⁠ just hold it‌‌⁠ and channel magic⁠‍ into it, right?⁠ I remember, no‍ need to explain.”‍⁠

Lucian‌ recalled his conversation‌‌ with Glenn and‍ began channeling his‌‌‌ magic.
Instantly, red runic⁠‍ characters appeared over the flint, which⁠ began to vibrate‍ gently.

At the same time,‌ the cold seeping⁠ into his skin vanished, and a pleasant warmth spread‌‍⁠ through his body.‍‌⁠

“Excellent.‌ You can tell⁠⁠‍ this is the‍‌‍ direct work of‍ one of Duke‌ Blasker’s disciples.”

Lucian‌ rolled the thermal‍ stone, disguised as‌ a simple flint,‌⁠⁠ between his fingers.‍⁠

From the beginning, it‍⁠ had been camouflaged‍ so carefully that⁠‌⁠ it passed the‌‌ belongings inspection without⁠ issue.

Feeling the heat spread‍‍ through his body, Lucian looked again‌ at Godfrey.

‘You‍⁠ may never have‍⁠ intended to do⁠ the Hundred-Day Hunt‍ legitimately, but neither‌⁠ did I.’

If⁠⁠‍ the enemy cheats⁠‌ openly, what’s the⁠ point of acting elegant and accepting‍ disadvantages?

Unless you’re aiming for‌ prestige or reputation,‌ it’s nothing more‌ than foolish self-indulgence. You respond to‌‍ cheats with cheats.‍‍

“Are‍‌ the boots working⁠‍ well?”

“Perfectly.‌ We’re not sinking‌ into the snow‍ at all—it’s like walking on solid‍ ground.”

“Good.‍ Then, let’s keep‌‍ going.”

As‌‌⁠ soon as he⁠⁠ finished speaking, Lucian’s⁠‍‌ group began moving‌ swiftly through the‍ snowy mountains.

Even⁠‍‍ though they should’ve‌ been sinking with‍ every step in‍ such harsh terrain,‍‌ their movements were‍ incredibly light.

Seeing‌‌ the distance between⁠⁠ them and Godfrey‌ gradually widen, Lucian let out a soft chuckle.

‘Let’s‌ give it five days.’

***‌

“…Why⁠⁠ the hell are‌ they so fast?”‌‌

Godfrey‍ clenched his teeth,‍⁠ his eyes bloodshot.⁠⁠ More than three‌‌‌ days had passed,‌‌ and Lucian had⁠ managed to evade⁠ them again and‍ again.

From‍⁠ a common-sense perspective,‌‌ that speed made‍ no sense.

“He⁠ shouldn’t even know⁠‍ how it feels‍ for your foot‍ to sink in‍‌ snow, and yet‌‌ he’s moving through⁠ these mountains like‌‌‍ it’s nothing!”

In‍⁠ extreme climate regions,‍‍ there were too many things to‌‌ consider—how to withstand‍ the cold, how⁠ to move across⁠‌ accumulated snow, how‍ to retain body‌‍‍ heat while sleeping.⁠‌⁠

You only learned that⁠‍‌ through experience—unless you‍‌ were a native.‍

That’s‍ why Godfrey had‌ assumed Lucian’s group,‌ composed entirely of‌⁠ outsiders, would be⁠‌ caught quickly.

‘But‍ instead of closing⁠‍ the distance, it‍⁠‌ keeps widening. We’ll collapse from exhaustion⁠ before we catch⁠‌‌ him. Damn it.’‍‍

“Young⁠ master, is it‍ really a good‍⁠ idea to keep‍ chasing them like‌ this?”

One of his trusted‌ men spoke cautiously‌⁠ to Godfrey, who⁠‌ was grinding his‍‍⁠ teeth.

At those unexpectedly weak words, Godfrey glared⁠⁠ at him.

“Do‌‌ you realize what⁠ you’re saying? We⁠ came here to‌‍ kill him, and‍‍⁠ now you’re suggesting we turn around‌⁠ and run?”

“You‍‌ know it well,‌‍ young master. This‌‌ speed isn’t normal.⁠ Clearly, they came‍ prepared with something‍ too.”

“…”‌⁠

At‍‍ his subordinate’s experienced‍ observation, Godfrey fell‍ silent.

You‍‌‍ didn’t have to⁠ be an idiot‍ to understand it⁠⁠ by now. Lucian’s‌⁠ group was using‌ some kind of⁠⁠ trick to get‌⁠⁠ ahead.

Just⁠ like Godfrey had⁠⁠⁠ never intended to‌ carry out the‍ Hundred-Day Hunt honestly,‍‌ Lucian didn’t plan‌‍ to fight fair‍‌ either.

“If‍ it were just⁠ to get an‍‍‌ advantage in the‌‍⁠ hunt, it wouldn’t⁠‌ be so bad.‍‌ But if they⁠ came with the‍⁠⁠ same intentions we did, then in the worst-case scenario…”‌⁠

“Enough.”‍‍

Godfrey‍⁠ interrupted his subordinate and continued in⁠ a grave voice.‍‌

“So⁠ what? Are you‌⁠‍ saying we should‍‌ give up and just compete for⁠ the best trophy?”‍‌

“…”‌‍

“What⁠‍⁠ nonsense. This is our last chance⁠ to end everything‍‌‍ quietly. If we‍‌ let him go‍‌ now, we’ll be‌ forced into a real war.”

For⁠ Calix, a war⁠⁠ was the worst‌‌ possible scenario. If⁠‌⁠ the enemy were‍‌‌ alone, it’d be‍ a different story,⁠⁠⁠ but Lucian already had plenty of‍‍ support from the‌‍ Empire.

And‍‌ on top of⁠ that, there were‍ the houses who‍⁠ resented Calix and⁠ all those opportunists‍‌ who backed Lucian’s⁠‌‌ legitimacy.

Even‍ if they won,‌ the cost in‌‌ time and resources⁠‌ would be enormous,⁠⁠ and the family’s‌ power would inevitably‍⁠ be weakened.

“If‍⁠ I protect my‌‍ own hide and‍⁠ put the family⁠⁠‌ at risk, it’s‌ all meaningless. Sometimes‍‌‌ you have to⁠ take risks. Stop⁠‍⁠ complaining and think‌ of a way‌ to catch up‌ to him.”

At⁠‌‍ Godfrey’s sharp words,‍ his subordinates bowed‍ their heads in‍⁠‌ unison.

But‍‍ no matter how‌‌ hard they racked‌ their brains, they⁠‍‌ couldn’t find a way to catch‌‌ the enemy. If‍‌ it was obvious‍‌‌ he was using⁠ tricks, what good‍ was it to‌ chase him with‍⁠‌ just their bare bodies?

Two more days passed‌ without closing the‌‌ gap, and the⁠ group began to⁠‍ show visible signs⁠ of exhaustion.

“Y-young‌⁠ master! They stopped!‌ The distance is‍‍ shrinking!”

“…!”‌

At‌‌ the shout, Godfrey⁠ and the others’⁠ eyes went wide.⁠⁠

The⁠ ones who hadn’t‌‍ stopped moving except⁠ to hunt, eat,‍ or sleep had‌ suddenly halted?

“Let’s⁠‍‌ go, now! We⁠‌ have to catch‍ them before it’s‌ too late!”

“Yes!”⁠

As soon as Godfrey‌‍ gave the order,‍‍‍ the subordinates rushed forward.

They‌ were far too‍‌ exhausted to be⁠⁠ suspicious of the‌‍ enemy’s sudden change⁠ in behavior.

***‌‌

“Such⁠ an impatient temperament. He’s coming with⁠‌ bloodshot eyes.”

Lucian‌ said this while⁠ chewing and swallowing⁠ the last piece‌‌⁠ of rabbit meat.‍‌

After suffering for five⁠‌‍ days, it seemed‌‌ they did not even consider the⁠ possibility that it⁠ was a trap.‍‌ Raymond, who had⁠⁠ already finished eating,‍⁠ spoke with a restrained laugh.

“They‍⁠‍ probably think they’re the hunters and⁠ we’re the prey.⁠⁠ Or maybe they‌⁠ think that, even⁠‌ if it’s a trap, it’s already too late to‍⁠‌ turn back, so⁠⁠ it’s better to‌ charge in.”

“That‍⁠ makes it easy‍ for us. I was just getting‌⁠ sick of eating‍ rabbit.”

“Don’t‍⁠‌ you like rabbit⁠‍⁠ meat?”

“It’s‌ not that I don’t like it,‍‍ but after so‌⁠ much of it,⁠ it’s become cloying.‌⁠ It’s about time‍‌‍ we changed the‍‍‍ menu, don’t you‌‍‍ think?”

It‍ wasn’t that he‌‍⁠ liked rabbit so‍⁠ much as to‌‍⁠ eat it five⁠ days in a row.

It‍ was simply the‍ most common, easiest⁠ to hunt, and‌‍ easiest to process.⁠ No matter how⁠⁠ fast they could⁠ move, if they⁠⁠‌ slowed down even⁠‍ a little, they would be caught‍ right away, so‍⁠ what else were‌ they supposed to‌ eat?

“Let’s hunt something different⁠ today. If we⁠ look around a bit, maybe a bear will show‌ up.”

“Damn⁠ bastard! I finally get to see‌ your damn face‌‌ again!”

Barely⁠ had he finished speaking when Godfrey’s⁠⁠‍ insults rang out.‍⁠‌

He‍‌ had already closed⁠‍⁠ to within a few dozen steps,‍ fixing Lucian with⁠ bloodshot eyes.

“What trick did you‍ use? How the‌ hell did you‌‌‍ leave us behind?”‍‌

“Now⁠⁠‍ you’re speaking to‍ me familiarly. Such‍‌ manners for someone⁠ standing before the most illustrious duke.”‌‍

“Duke,⁠‌ you say? Who’s‌‍ going to recognize⁠⁠ a title you⁠‌‌ got by licking⁠ the emperor’s boots?⁠⁠‍ And on top‌ of that, pretending⁠ to respect northern traditions while sneaking‌ in everything that suits you. Don’t‍‌ you have any‌ shame?”

“….”‍⁠

Lucian‍ was left speechless‍ as he looked at him. A man who had‌‍ come to assassinate‍ him was lecturing‍ him about shame for cheating.

“This‌‌ guy is insane.‌‌ A murderer asking‍‍ me if I’m‍ ashamed.”

“The‍‌ less shame people⁠ have, the more⁠ they forget their‌ own mistakes.”

“He‌‍‌ probably learned it‍ from his father.”⁠‌

As each of them made a remark,⁠‌ Godfrey’s face turned‌‍ red with rage.‍

But⁠ just before he⁠‌‍ exploded, an ominous⁠⁠ sound rumbled from‌⁠ the sky.

Urrrum.⁠⁠

“What is that?”

Instinctively,⁠⁠‌ Lucian looked up.⁠‍⁠ Above their heads⁠‍ floated a gigantic‍ black cloud that⁠ hadn’t been there⁠ a moment ago.‍‍‌ And it was‌‍ growing by the‍ second.

“This‍‍ is…!”

“Heh,‍⁠ it’s over.”

Crack!‍

A brilliant flash crossed⁠‌ the cloud. It‌‌‌ was the precursor⁠ to a lightning⁠ strike.

Godfrey,⁠ who had already‌‍ heard Colin’s explanation,‌‍ burst into laughter‍ as he shouted.⁠⁠

“Burn⁠⁠ and die, dog‌‍⁠ of the emperor!”‍⁠⁠

“Tsk.”‍

Lucian⁠⁠ clicked his tongue and pulled something‍ from his chest,‍‍ immediately tearing it‌‍ apart.

At‍⁠ the same time,⁠‌ a flash fell‌‌⁠ from the cloud‍‍‍ and a gigantic‌ bolt of lightning‍ slammed into the‌⁠ ground. An instant‍⁠ later, the deafening‍ roar reached everyone.‌⁠

Booom!‍

“…!”⁠

Lucian’s⁠ group covered their‌ ears and staggered.‍

For‌ a moment, the‍‍‌ world turned completely‌⁠ white and they⁠⁠ could see nothing.‌‌

When‌‌ their senses returned‌ and they looked‍ ahead.

“What…?”‌

Godfrey’s⁠ group, which moments‌ earlier had been‍ shouting arrogantly, was‌⁠ gone. All that‌ remained were charred‍ masses, black as‍ coal, shaped like⁠ human figures.

As⁠⁠⁠ everyone looked at‌‍ one another with‌ stunned expressions, someone⁠‍ approached from behind. Crunching softly over‌ the snow, the⁠‍ figure removed his‌‌ hood and greeted‌⁠ them.

“A‍ pleasure to meet‍⁠‍ you, Duke. I am Colin, mage⁠‌ of the Celestial‌ school.”

“Grab him.”

Barely‌‌ had the greeting‍ ended when Lucian’s vassals pounced on‌ Colin.

***‍⁠⁠

“Kh…‍ could you loosen‌‍⁠ these ropes a bit? I can’t‍ do anything anymore!”‌⁠

“Who⁠ knows. You might‌ use some strange⁠ magic to escape⁠⁠ and then strike‌‍ us with lightning.”‍

“Mages capable of that‍‌‌ are extremely rare!‌ That would be‍⁠ like a knight⁠ breaking chains with‌ his bare body!”‌‌⁠

So‍ he wasn’t saying‍ it was impossible.‌⁠ Lucian observed the‌ mage, bound from‍ head to toe,⁠ who shouted with⁠‌ an aggrieved expression.

To‌‌ be honest, he⁠‍⁠ was a little‍‌‍ confused. He had anticipated that Godfrey⁠ would try to‍⁠ assassinate him, but⁠ he never imagined‍ that the hired⁠ mage would betray‌ him and try‌⁠ to change sides.‍⁠

“From‌ the beginning, I’ve been wondering why‌ you came to⁠⁠ me.”

From‌‍‍ the outside, Lucian‌‌ seemed like the‍⁠ perfect example of‍⁠‍ a loyal servant‌ of the emperor.

Anyone‍⁠ who knew how‌ the imperial court⁠⁠ hunted mages would⁠ never approach him.‍

And‍‍ yet this Colin⁠‍ did not try‍⁠ to flee and‍‍ showed himself openly.⁠

“I⁠ don’t understand your⁠ intentions. Did you‌‌ think you saved my life? Did‌‌ you think that,‍⁠ talking about a life debt and‍‍ swearing loyalty, I would protect you?”‌⁠

“Of‌‌ course not. I saw the duke’s‌ calmness. It was‌ clear you had‍ a plan. Even⁠ without my help, it would have⁠ been enough.”

“You‌ don’t understand. What⁠‌ I mean is‍‍ that, even if‌‌‌ you had stayed‌ on that man’s‌‍⁠ side, it would‌ also have been‌⁠ enough.”

“Huh?”⁠⁠

As‍ Colin blinked, Lucian‌ threw something at‌ him. It was‍ the remains of⁠ the paper he‍ had pulled out⁠ and torn earlier.‌

Colin looked at the⁠ fragments without understanding,‌‍ and suddenly his⁠ eyes opened wide.

“A‍‍⁠ defensive scroll?”

“Exactly.‍ Sir Glenn gave‍ it to me.”‍‌‍

A chill ran down⁠‌ Colin’s spine. Along‌ with the school⁠‌ of fire, the‌ school of defense‍‍ was one of⁠‍⁠ the few officially‍⁠‌ recognized.

Specialists‍ in blocking and‍⁠‍ deflecting physical and⁠‌ magical interference.

And‍‌ now they had‍‍ created a consumable‌ scroll, not a fixed artifact?

Even‌⁠⁠ if its effect was single-use and‍‌ momentary, it was‌⁠⁠ certain that it deployed a formidable defense.

“If I hadn’t betrayed‍ him and had‌‍ cast the lightning⁠ as contracted…”

He‌‌ did not know‍ the exact level⁠‍ of the defense,‌‍‍ but instinctively he‌‌ understood. It would⁠‌‌ have caused some‌ damage, yes, but⁠⁠ no one would‍‌ have died.

And⁠ after Godfrey’s group‍‍ died, his own‍‍ head would have⁠‍ rolled.

‘They said that if‌ I captured him,⁠‍ he would be‍ a benefactor, and if I let‍‍ him go, a god of death…’‍

Colin⁠‌ felt cold sweat run down the back of his⁠⁠ neck. At last,⁠‌ he was beginning to understand the‌ meaning of that‍ prophecy.