"What kind of clue?"
With Andersen and Rose putting their heads together, reaching the answer was only a matter of time.
No, perhaps they were already moving to find a solution.
'A decent pace.'
Helena had also sent a report that she had gathered useful intelligence today. It seemed to be the result of planting someone at the apiary Joel frequented.
"...Your Excellency's body,"
The moment Rose opened her mouth after hesitating,
*Tung-tung.*
Someone knocked on the carriage wall.
"Your Excellency."
A knight appeared beyond the carriage window. The situation was easy to guess from his grave expression alone.
"I believe you should step outside."
"An ambush?"
"Yes, sir."
Until now, I had deliberately moved irregularly to confuse the enemy.
Even so, as they say a broken clock is right twice a day, it seemed the enemy had finally found my location.
"Halt the carriage."
"Yes, sir."
The carriage gradually began to slow.
"Your Excellency."
Rose looked at me with an anxious face. Her slightly trembling eyes pleaded with me to stay here and not go out.
"The enemy is after me anyway."
I reassured Rose with a casual tone.
"If I go out, my wife will be safer."
"But then Your Excellency will be in danger."
"It's fine. This much is nothing new."
*Seuk.*
I lightly embraced the trembling Rose. The moment her soft warmth and sweet scent overlapped with mine, I felt a surge of strength—strangely so.
Along with an indescribable resolve—that I must return and stay by this little squirrel's side.
"I'll be right back."
"...Yes."
Once I confirmed Rose's trembling had stopped, I pulled away.
"In case of emergency."
I took Rose's hand and pressed it against the inner wall of the carriage. I had already taught her how to activate the defensive Magical Device Andersen had installed.
"I know."
After confirming that Rose nodded firmly.
*Deolkeodeong.*
The carriage finally stopped. I geared up briefly and stepped outside.
*Dadeuk.*
The knights halted their horses alongside and kept watch over the surroundings.
The first thing I noticed was trees broken and strewn across the road, blocking the way. On either side of the path, densely forested hills rose up—ideal for enemies to hide in.
'Perfect terrain for getting surrounded.'
I clicked my tongue inwardly and issued a command.
"Form up."
The knights simultaneously turned their horses and enclosed the carriage. I too mounted and took position at the front of the formation.
"Your Excellency, it's dangerous."
"Me? Or them?"
The nearby knights let out short laughs at the light jest.
These were men who had fought alongside each other dozens of times. It was merely the customary banter they always exchanged.
*Swaaa—*
A bleak winter wind swept past the people, horses, and carriage.
Everyone watched their surroundings with rigid faces. The tension in everyone mounted steadily, pulled taut like a thread about to snap—
*Kung, kung.*
Footsteps broke the silence, and then armed men began to appear.
They wore shabby but functional leather armor and carried weapons—swords, axes, and the like.
'Mercenaries?'
Until now, they had sent small groups of skilled assassins, but today felt entirely different.
I had a premonition that a full-scale battle was about to unfold.
*Seureung!*
The knights drew their swords upon spotting the enemy.
*Uwoeo!*
The mercenaries roared as they charged toward us. The sound of brush being trampled and feet pounding the ground mixed together, shaking the air.
"Hold the formation!"
At my command, the knights clenched their teeth, eyes flashing. A thick killing intent and tension began to fill the air.
*Dududu!*
Finally, the enemy closed in to arm's reach, and—
*Kkang!*
Our weapons clashed.
"Kraagh!"
Screams erupted and blood splattered.
The knights held their formation flawlessly and refused to yield an inch, while the mercenaries threw themselves at it, desperate to break through.
"Ugh!"
The knights' swords severed enemy necks and plunged into chests.
The heavily armored horses held their ground, trampling the earth. Some even kicked off enemies that clung to their legs.
*Kkang!*
I fought fiercely as well. I cut down enemies without pause and kicked aside those who faltered.
When the mercenaries surged forward, the formation seemed to buckle for a moment, but as the battle engaged, the defensive line held.
*Puk!*
*Seogeok!*
The mercenaries' numbers clearly exceeded ours. But they were no match for knights who had undergone rigorous training and weathered countless battles.
"Uurgh!"
"Keuk!"
The tide of battle gradually began to turn. The number of mercenaries writhing on the ground grew larger than those still standing and fighting.
"Retreat!"
At someone's shout, the mercenaries began to scramble away in a panic.
"Where are you going!"
"Stop!"
A group of knights gave chase to the fleeing mercenaries.
They were the ones tasked with driving off the enemy for certain in situations like this. After confirming the area was safe, they would return.
*Huu, hu.*
*Haa.*
The remaining knights caught their breath.
Once the adrenaline that had surged during battle faded, exhaustion would set in rapidly.
But as trained knights, none of them let it show. They simply wiped the blood from their swords or stretched their sore arms as they readjusted their stances.
"Shall we wrap things up here?"
"Wait."
I calmed my agitated horse and surveyed the surroundings as well.
As the enemies distanced themselves, the noise gradually subsided. It became as quiet as when the carriage had first passed through.
'Is it over?'
The moment I glanced at the carriage, not a single scratch on it—
*Hwik!*
A sharp whistle rang out.
And then,
*Dudududu!*
A group of mounted men began descending the hill.
Unlike the mercenaries from before in their shabby leather armor, they were properly equipped. Several even carried crossbows.
"—What the—"
"Damn."
The knights raised their swords once more despite their shocked expressions.
'This is no ordinary matter.'
I tightened my grip on my sword as well.
A band of mercenaries of this scale, plus a near-knightly contingent on horseback?
This was beyond the level of the usual ambushes.
'Is it because I sent the gift?'
They say even a bug squirms when stepped on—it seemed the families had banded together.
Or perhaps they had grown desperate as my birthday drew ever closer.
Until now, they had only sent assassins, but now I could feel their malicious intent to bring me down by any means necessary.
"Form up!"
*Dadeuk.*
With some positions left vacant, the knights shifted to fill the gaps. The formation reformed as it had been at the start.
*Dudududu!*
This time, the clash came faster than before—because the enemy was mounted.
Bloodthirsty gazes locked eyes, and—
"Die!"
"Kill them!"
The enemy's vicious battle cries rained down.
They weren't formally trained like a knightly order, but their horsemanship and the fierce glint in their eyes were far from ordinary.
"Protect Your Excellency!"
"Don't give an inch!"
The knights also shouted at the top of their lungs, rallying their spirits.
*Dudu!*
When the distance to the enemy had nearly closed,
*Kkuuk.*
Everyone gripped their swords tightly.
The knights naturally assumed the attacks would be focused on me. I thought so as well.
But—
*Syuk!*
Several enemies fired their crossbows. Not at me—they were aimed at the carriage.
"Gah!"
A crossbow bolt pierced the chest of the coachman sitting on the driver's seat.
The instant the coachman's stiffened body slumped forward,
*Hihihing!*
The carriage horses bolted in panic. The carriage that Rose was in began to move.
"—!"
My heart dropped.
'Not me.'
A flash of realization pierced through my mind.
'They're after Rose.'
The moment I realized it, my body moved. I immediately turned my horse around and began pursuing the carriage.
"Your Excellency!"
The knights reflexively began to follow me.
It quickly became apparent that it was the right call.
"Chase the carriage!"
"Kill them!"
For enemies were starting to emerge one after another along the path ahead.
"Hah."
I let out a strained sigh and spurred my horse on harder.
The enemies who had come sliding down the hill didn't target me. They went straight for the carriage as if it were the obvious thing to do.
*Kung!*
One of the men who appeared ahead finally managed to climb onto the carriage's lead horse.
They had successfully hijacked the carriage.
*Dudududu!*
With someone driving the horses, the carriage began to race forward even faster.
"Damn it!"
The knights spat curses through gritted teeth. Their faces were rigid, a mixture of alarm and anxiety.
*Dudududu!*
Chasing the carriage ahead while racing through the rough, untamed forest path was a perilous tightrope act.
*Pasasat!*
Branches scraped through the impossibly narrow gaps between trees, and—
*Hihihing!*
The horses neighed wildly. One misstep, and they would crash into a tree and suffer grievous injury.
'Damn it.'
I kept an expressionless face as I drove my horse, but I was more frantic than ever. I fought to contain the anxious pulse radiating from my heart, keeping it from spreading.
I spotted a band of enemies clinging to the speeding carriage.
*Kkang!*
The moment a few of them closed in and tried to drive axes and swords into the carriage,
*Uung!*
Blue mana swirled and formed a wall. Rose had activated the defensive Magical Device from inside the carriage.
*Huu.*
*Hyuu.*
The knights breathed sighs of relief.
At that moment,
"Everyone, get back!"
Someone standing at the enemy's rear hurled something.
*Kiiing!*
An unfamiliar ringing tore through my eardrums, and
*Ppeobeong! Peng!*
Something struck the carriage's barrier and exploded. Unlike when they had struck it with physical weapons earlier, there was a clear distortion this time.
'Magic Stone Coal!'
My face involuntarily stiffened.
A weapon that destroyed magic stones from the inside out, scattering mana in all directions—a weapon that wasted magic stones like mad.
However, at this very moment, it was the single most efficient means of shattering that defensive Magical Device.
Even a single Magic Stone Coal cost a fortune, yet they had brought a whole handful. It meant the enemy had been grinding their teeth and preparing in earnest.
*Ppeobeobeok!*
As the expensive Magic Stone Coal continued to strike and explode, the Magical Device's barrier wavered, unable to hold.
Until finally,
*Jjeong!*
The carriage's barrier shattered.
"It's down!"
"Now!"
The enemies cheered and swarmed the carriage. Thanks to that, the carriage slowed slightly, and we were finally able to catch up.
"Block them!"
"Kill them!
The knights fought desperately to hold them off.
*Kkang!*
*Chang!*
A bloody battle erupted around the carriage.
It was a chaotic melee between the enemies desperately trying to cling to the carriage and the knights striving to stop them.
*Kkang!*
I couldn't tell whether I was swinging my sword by my own will or merely repeating ingrained movements.
I just swung, and swung again.
To clear the enemies from my sight. To tear them away from the carriage.
"Gah!"
"Schmaichel!"
Slashing, cleaving, and killing, I pushed forward like a madman.