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𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲 (5)
The Elven knights in the West boasted that their warhorses were the fiercest and bravest, while the Empire knights insisted that the warhorses of the Empire were the sturdiest and toughest.
However, even they could not hide their greed for the crossbred horses with Eastern blood. It was rumored that the Eastern warhorses had beautiful figures and strong perseverance.
A horse that was considered so precious, it was inevitable not to covet it.
Noticing Johan’s thoughts, the warhorse Fern made a dissatisfied snort. Johan stroked its head apologetically.
“Sorry. You’re a good horse too.”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
𝕒𝚠𝔢𝐛s𝔱𝐨𝚛𝐢ᴇ𝕤.𝙘𝚘𝘮
Ahir’s sons and daughters were decent enough knights. You could tell just by looking. Their armors were different from those of the Empire, but they were well-kept and the blades sharp.
Of course, a ‘decent’ knight didn’t necessarily mean good natured.
“He keeps mumbling. What’s he saying?”
“Um, that. . .”
As the servant hesitated, Johan asked Geoffrey directly.
“Geoffrey. What’s he saying?”
“It seems he’s mumbling that he could have won if given the chance.”
“Tell him if he keeps mumbling I’ll cut his tongue out along with his ransom. And if he fails to convey my words properly again and hesitates, I’ll cut his throat.”
Johan’s warning left the servant pale and he nodded vigorously. Only now he truly realized what kind of man the Count before him was.
At that, Ahir’s children finally shut their mouths. They were clearly quite upset about surrendering without even crossing swords.
“With that level of grumbling, it must have been quite clever. To steal away without making a sound means a monster, no?”
“Yes. Besides, there are no bears around here. With no tracks left behind, it must have been quite a large monster.”
Galambos nodded in agreement as he answered. The more they talked about it, the more Johan felt it with his knowledge as a hunter.
A hunter’s knowledge was different from hunting proficiency. Many nobles enjoyed and were skilled at hunting but did not possess a hunter’s knowledge.
One could not obtain a hunter’s knowledge by taking dozens of attendants and guides into the forest. It could only be learned by being alone and breathing with the forest.
Naturally, nobles who looked down on such things never even tried to learn it. Johan was truly an exceptional noble.
━𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐫.
“Don’t be disappointed if you can’t find it.”
Unable to pick up a scent, Karamaf seemed deflated like a withered plant. Monsters were often more cunning than ordinary beasts, perfectly capable of erasing their scent.
“We found tracks! We found tracks!”
“?”
Thus Johan could not help but be puzzled when the pagan pirates said they had found tracks that even Karamaf could not.
But there really were tracks.
Horse prints were messily stamped on the other side of the shallow stream. It made sense for the scent to disappear after crossing water, but Johan found it strange.
“Any scent, Karamaf?”
Karamaf shook his head. Meaning there was no scent over there either.
“We will follow these tracks, Count.”
“Isn’t it odd? I’d understand if the horse ran away on its own, but if it was taken by someone else, why leave tracks like this?”
“But. . . it could have been captured and dragged away.”
“Then it would be messier.”
Despite Johan’s words, his attendants did not seem ready to give up. It was natural, since it was their master’s warhorse.
‘𝘕𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.’
Johan gave up on trying to dissuade them. He realized there was no reason to stop them from walking their own difficult path.
‘𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘪𝘵. . .’
“Fine. Do as you please. I’ll follow behind.”
“Thank you!”
Hearing Johan grant permission, Ahir’s son who had been behind them brightened up and gave his thanks. He didn’t know what Johan was thinking to enable that thanks.
“Why did you let them go? No matter how I look it’s suspicious.”
“I thought if there is a monster it might show itself when it sees them.”
“. . . . . .”
Galambos looked at Johan with a disgusted expression.
What a ruthless move, even for the oldest of the Eastern Rangers. . .!
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
𝐚𝚠ᴇḃ̇s𝐭𝚘𝚛𝚒𝙚s.𝘤𝙤𝕞
The horse’s hoofprints continued unbroken, only created by walking at a steady pace with even intervals.
The knights and attendants ahead were simply excited by the joy of discovery, and chased after it, but Johan gradually became uncomfortable.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺?’
The knights even doubted it!
Just in case, he spread the mercenaries on both sides, but nothing was discovered. At this point, Johan began to become curious.
What the hell kind of monster is doing this?
“Wow. . .!”
Those ahead stopped first and exclaimed.
Ahead was a beautiful golden-furred horse with pure eastern blood. It was clearly a rare warhorse. Even the mercenaries exclaimed at the sight.
“Is that Ahir-gong’s horse?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
The servant said in a happy voice, then carefully approached. The horse may have forgotten its master while wandering the forest, so he planned to firmly grab the reins.
However, the horse turned its head and ran forward.
“Chase it!”
The attendants hurriedly followed it. Running through the narrow path and emerging into a wide open plain spread out like a clearing inside the forest.
In the middle of the lake, a few horses were resting their necks. The attendants were amazed at the fantastic sight.
“Are they wild horses?”
“It’s good. Let’s catch a few and offer them to the count.”
“. . .That wouldn’t be bad either.”
Ahir’s sons agreed. Although they were resentful and angry to be captured without swinging their swords once as knights, the fact that Count Yeats had shown them mercy remained unchanged.
If they did not properly repay as knights, that would also be shameful.
The eldest, Fahid, discovered something strange.
“Wait. . . why is there a fence?”