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There were two paths in the Black Forest.
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The first was well-known to most. It started at the forest entrance, narrow and rough but passable. It was the path the mercenaries took when they went wolf hunting.
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The second path was known only to hunters Joseph and Johan. It was barely a path, covered with dense bushes and invisible soil.
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However, Joseph found this path useful for traveling through the forest. Nobles would have thought him mad for suggesting it, but it was a convenient shortcut when he was alone.
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Johan also naturally learned this path.
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‘𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.’
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Since there was no distinct path, the second path was marked by signs Joseph had left on trees. Following these signs was the shortcut.
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Joseph had mentioned setting traps on the first path in case he needed to escape. Surely, if a pursuer followed, it would be there.
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Johan raced down the second path. His horse snorted in annoyance at the bushes hitting its face but didn’t stop.
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Then, a horse’s neigh echoed from afar.
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‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵!’
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Johan flinched. Hearing a horse in this forest meant only one thing.
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The pursuer had fallen into Joseph’s trap.
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‘𝘉𝘶𝘵. . . 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.’
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Johan quickly dismounted and pressed his ear to the ground, a hunter’s wisdom. This way, he could detect even distant movements.
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‘𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯?’
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The sound didn’t seem like that of a mercenary group. If mercenaries were pursuing, there should be sounds of at least ten or more.
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A face flashed through Johan’s mind.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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At the same moment he felt something being triggered, the image that flashed through Karamaf’s mind as a small crossbow bolt whizzed by was the face of the hunter.
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That oddly irritating expression!
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‘𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬!’
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There was no guarantee that this trap was set by him, but Karamaf was certain. That was enough.
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Karamaf powerfully swatted away the incoming bolt. There was no need to catch it. The armor he wore could not be penetrated by traps meant for mere beasts.
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However, Karamaf had underestimated Joseph too much.
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After all, a seasoned hunter like Joseph wouldn’t target well-armed mercenaries.
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𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐝!
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A sound came from below, and a horse neighed. Karamaf’s complexion changed. His beloved horse had fallen victim to the trap. It was a trap targeting the legs, not covered by the horse’s armor.
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“!”
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Triggering the rope would shoot the person above while simultaneously targeting the horse’s legs. It was a double trap aimed at the horse. Karamaf cursed as he leaped off the horse.
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“. . .Sorry.”
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The condition of the horse was worse than he thought. A foul smell rose from the wounded area, and its color had changed.
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‘𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯!’
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Karamaf gritted his teeth. That insignificant hunter dared to harm his horse. To a knight, a horse was a comrade and partner. Even a hundred lives of a serf wouldn’t suffice in compensation.
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And with the fall, its leg was completely broken. Recovery was impossible. Even if there was a way, it couldn’t be taken out of the forest.
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𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐡!
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Karamaf beheaded the horse. It was the least he could do to end its suffering.
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The cold eyes of the elf knight blazed with fury. He had been calm even when killing Sir Gessen, but this incident had truly enraged him.
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‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰!’
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“I give up the pursuit.”
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He didn’t know if anyone had escaped into the black forest, but he could no longer chase. He had to return and tear apart that hunter and contemplate his next move.
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Karamaf’s eyes widened.
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Just as he decided to turn back, someone who looked familiar appeared from the depths of the forest.
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It was the son of Gessen.
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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“As expected, I was right.”
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Johan confirmed Karamaf’s face and walked out. He had thought that Karamaf was the only one who would follow him alone. He wasn’t sure why Karamaf had come alone. . .
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‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩’𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴? 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.’
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Karamaf’s face was covered, so his expression was not visible, but Johan somehow felt that Karamaf was looking at him as if he were insane.
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After all, it was natural.
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The one who should have fled had suddenly appeared in front of Karamaf.
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“I see.”
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Karamaf nodded as if he understood.
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“What?”
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“Have you come for revenge?”
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“That’s one of the reasons.”
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There were two reasons why Johan came.
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The first reason was that he coveted the wealth that Karamaf possessed.
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If he killed Karamaf, who was alone, the mercenaries would not know who killed Karamaf. They wouldn’t have thought he was killed by Johan. Perhaps they would suspect a monster.
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And the second reason was. . .
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“To avenge your father huh. You have the qualities of a good knight. You won’t become a living knight, though.”
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“No. Among those you killed, there were servants who were close to me.”
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“. . .??”
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Karamaf looked at him as if he didn’t understand. Johan was not a coward to endure and flee when it was disadvantageous, nor was he the type to keep enduring when the situation allowed.
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Johan’s eyes calmly glared at Karamaf. They were the eyes of a lion targeting its prey.
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“You will die here today.”
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Johan walked out slowly. Karamaf stood still, as if waiting to see what Johan would do.
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“He’s strong.”
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Kaegal’s words came to mind.
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━𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
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━𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐈’𝐦 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠?
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━𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬? 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐲? 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
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Karamaf was definitely a strong opponent. If even half of the songs sung by the minstrels were true, it would be so.
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But he was not afraid.