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“Set fire to it.”
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“Fire, if you set fire, what about the others?”
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“Didn’t you see the mercenary earlier? Those below are probably already dead. If anyone is hiding, there’s nothing we can do. Call the remaining people and get ready.”
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Upon hearing Johan’s words, Fern and John shuddered. They had only been scared of the mercenaries, not realizing what they had been doing below.
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“Hold out inside until I leave, then follow me. There’s no other way.”
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“Can you do that?”
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“Better to share the arrows than take them alone.”
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“. . . . . .”
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Fern and John finally grasped the reality. Johan’s intention to send out other family members wasn’t purely out of kindness. It was mixed with the intention to scatter the mercenaries’ pursuit.
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Still, Johan was helping them at the moment. They nodded firmly, their faces set.
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“Alright. We will definitely escape and run outside.”
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“I don’t recommend it.”
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“What?”
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“Going out at night, unarmed, into the fiefdom. If you run on the road, you’ll be caught and killed; if you go off-road, you’ll be killed by beasts.”
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This world was more wilderness than civilization. Beyond the towns, most areas were uncharted. Even traveling on roads was dangerous due to beast attacks, let alone off-road.
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Understanding Johan’s words, they turned pale.
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“Then. . .”
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“If you manage to escape, hide in the church.”
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“What?”
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“Hide in the church. No one in the fiefdom will help you except Priest Valberga.”
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A good person like Valberga would risk their life to save them. Other feudal lords definitely wouldn’t.
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“Hiding in a church doesn’t guarantee safety. You might die on the way or get caught. But it’s much better than blindly going outside. With the fire and others running in all directions, they might not notice.”
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Fern realized how valuable Johan’s advice was and felt suddenly ashamed. When they had argued with Johan, how petty must they have seemed to him.
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“. . .Thank you.”
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Johan showed no reaction. He hadn’t done it for thanks. He had done enough for those he disliked, and now it was up to them.
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“I’m going down now.”
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“Wait. Johan.”
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“What now?”
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Johan looked at them, slightly annoyed.
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━𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐤. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭? 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞.”
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━𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞. . .
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━𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐖𝐞’𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭. 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭.”
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Apparently, the two had somehow secretly obtained a horse. Mills and other facilities in the fiefdom were owned by the feudal lord, and the miller had to be wary of the lord’s sons. It was a good hiding place.
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“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.”
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“. . .We should be the ones thanking you.”
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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In the feudal lord’s manor, such a commotion erupted and a fire broke out that it was impossible not to be heard in the village located just below the hill. The serfs were sticking their heads out with anxious faces, murmuring among themselves.
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On the main road, the sound of horse hooves and flickering torches approached, and the feudal lord’s manor was ablaze. Normally, they would have rushed to extinguish the fire, but they hesitated. It seemed like something had happened.
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“Help! The mercenaries. . .!”
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People of the Aitz family, who barely escaped, grabbed the serfs begging for help or looked for the village chief. However, the serfs, screaming, went inside and shut their doors. The village chief, one step ahead, hid himself.
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The village chief, usually so obsequious, had quickly grasped what was happening. Karamaf, who rode down on a horse, swung his sword at everyone he saw, cutting them down.
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“Eek!”
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“It’s, it’s a knight!”
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The already terrified villagers couldn’t even raise their heads as Karamaf appeared.
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“Listen, serfs! The Aitz family dared to conspire with pagans to assassinate the Emperor. If anyone dares to hide them, their entire family will be executed!”
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“There. . . there’s one hiding here, sir!”
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“N-No!”
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Karamaf broke into the house, swinging his sword. The serf closed his eyes tightly. Karamaf then came back out and threw a silver coin to the serf, whose eyes widened.
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“Those who help in finding the Aitz family will be duly rewarded. Come out and chase all the Aitz family members!”
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Fear and greed awakened the villagers. Even the village chief, who had been hiding in a corner, came out and started holding a torch. Those trying to hide in the fiefdom or escape were also caught and brought in.
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‘𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘢𝘯.’
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Karamaf coldly observed the situation, confident that all the fleeing Aitz family members could be caught. The serfs were thoroughly searching the fiefdom, and more mercenaries were coming from beyond.
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But Johan was different. He was armed and physically capable, able to flee into the forests or mountains under the cover of night. That would have been troublesome.
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“Report if anyone sees this Johan! You’ll be rewarded with silver.”
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“. . . . . .”
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“. . . . . .”
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The serfs hesitated. Unlike the other Aitz family members, Johan had treated them well. Karamaf noticed this and immediately beheaded a serf to dispel any hesitation. Fear was necessary to eliminate hesitation.
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Blood and fear splattered again.
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“You. Do you want to die too?”
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“He went that way!”
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The serf pointed towards a mill. Karamaf immediately turned his horse in that direction.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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“That’s a really good phrase.”
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Johan brought up a horse, not a pack animal or a donkey, but a well-built warhorse. He finished preparing behind the mill. Now he had to escape at full speed.
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“Johan-nim?”
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“Joseph?”
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Johan was surprised by this unexpected person. He knew Joseph lived in a shack far from the village, being a gamekeeper, but why was he here?
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“I heard the commotion. . . and ran out.”
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“Dressed like that?”
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Joseph seemed too prepared for someone who had come out in a hurry.
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“It’s never bad to be always prepared.”
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“Is that so.”
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Johan realized Joseph was lying but did not press the matter. There was no time for that.
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“Johan-nim. What’s happening in the fiefdom?”
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“It’s an attack. I have to flee too, so there’s no time to explain.”
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“. . .Johan-nim. Head for the forest.”
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“?”
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“Run a different path. I’ve set traps on the usual forest path.”
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Johan understood. Joseph too had plans to escape if necessary.
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‘𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵. . .’
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Otherwise, there was no reason to set traps at such a time.