“Kuooh—!!”
Clang-!
Bang-!
The Wild Tusk Beast wildly swings its fangs at the empty air, hindered by the length of its chains.
“Shit! Now’s the time!!”
“Let’s take that guy down first!!”
When death loomed over them, the Regretful Trio, who had been pushing and pulling each other in a frantic attempt to escape, suddenly exhibited teamwork, as if it was all part of a grand plan.
In moments of crisis, they could collaborate like the best of friends, but when danger truly strikes, they became the epitome of disarray.
Truly, what a cunning and crafty bunch they were.
No matter how massive a monster may be, once its limbs are chained, it’s bound to become susceptible to ranged attacks.
Especially a quadruped monster like the Tusk Beast, which now resembled a large target begging to be shot at.
Moreover, for the noble youths, archery was a basic skill, ingrained in them like a second nature, and having already demonstrated their prowess in the preliminary stages, they unleashed a torrential rain of arrows onto the Tusk Beast.
“Kuooh—!!”
Bang-!
The Tusk Beast roared fiercely in retaliation.
However, it was far too weak to sever the thick chains, and as an arrow embedded itself into one of its eyes, it stumbled back heavily.
If I had been the target of such a rapid-fire barrage, my chances of survival would’ve looked bleak at best.
Witnessing a spectacle where mere mortals battled a colossal monster was certainly thrilling.
Though it was essentially an unbalanced one-sided brawl—after all, a chained monster wasn’t in a good position—seeing something I had only conjured in my imagination while reading fantasy novels unfold right before my eyes sent a surge of excitement through me.
Watching the battle and being part of it are two entirely different beasts, yet the primal urge for adventure burned brightly within me, fueled by the desire for glory.
Indeed,
This monster seemed worthy of a challenge.
Especially since Elden Raphelion was supposedly a battle maniac; if I trained right, I could potentially hunt monsters like this in the future.
And,
If I could cook the monster as soon as I caught it… wouldn’t that make for a delicious meal?
For sure,
Dad, I’m going to be one hell of an adventurer.
Lost in such silly thoughts, I leaned back against a pillar.
Crunch.
I took a big bite of my fruit.
As I observed the Tusk Beast gradually succumbing to the relentless hail of arrows, a thought struck me.
‘…By the way, who would’ve guessed that the confession note I sealed away last night was actually a death threat?’
Of course, it seemed unlikely that Elden Raphelion, the paragon of physicality among the four, would fall victim to a straightforward charging monster, especially one restrained by heavy chains.
However, in case luck had gone sideways, who knows what could’ve unfolded?
Just tripping over a stone while fleeing could’ve landed me in a heap of trouble.
And given its elephantine mass, even a mere stomp could easily crush a person beneath those hooves.
Though I understood Lumia wanted to instill a sense of fear in us, making us remember the torment we had inflicted upon her, she seemed to go a bit overboard in her methods.
Frankly, being able to withdraw before the final evaluation felt like a stroke of fortune.
Considering the absence of any regulations regarding withdrawals in the Betrothal Contest, I had been lucky to avoid much of Lumia’s extreme antics.
While chaining the monster effectively halved its combat skills, thus acting as a safety net, for me, a bewildered soul having been thrust into a villain’s body—it felt exceedingly brutal and merciless.
Using her status to snatch what she desired was a questionable method indeed.
In the original narrative, her scheme of revenge was purported to guide and enlighten the villainous quartet, but honestly, her intentions felt a tad dubious.
Anyway,
That just adds one more reason to steer clear of that troublesome heroine.
For crimes I hadn’t even committed, I could’ve easily been killed by a spiteful heroine today.
It was only natural to feel a surge of resentment.
With that, I resolved to play the part of a bystander more diligently going forward. Since Lumia likely wished for the Betrothal Contest to run smoothly and quietly, she couldn’t keep pestering a withdrawing contestant indefinitely.
Boom!
At that moment, a massive crash echoed, signaling the collapse of the Wild Tusk Beast.
Its body was pierced by no fewer than fifty arrows, looking more like a giant pincushion than a fierce monster.
“Haah! Haah!”
“Huff! Huff!”
They finally slumped to the ground, gasping for air as the Regretful Trio began to resemble their namesake.
The aftereffects of their near brush with death seemed to take hold now, as the lingering horror of their deadly game of tag settled in.
“Gasp… Is she insane? A giant monster at a noble hunting contest? Was she actually trying to get us killed?!”
And suddenly,
Once the immediate threat had passed, the spirit of cooperation was quick to vanish as well; cracks in their relationships prompted yet another crisis.
In the realm of villains, a crisis often defines their existence.
Deron abruptly sprang up, grabbing Blund by the collar.
“Shut up, Blund! How dare you push me aside and run?!”
“W-What? When did I ever do that?!”
“What? You’re trying to deny it now? The so-called loyal mut revealing his true colors, huh?”
“N-No! It was a misunderstanding! I’d never do that!”
As Deron and Blund engaged in a heated argument about the frantic dash for survival, Kyle, who had unwittingly slipped out of view, seized the opportunity and quietly grabbed the crest of House Winterfell tied to the Tusk Beast’s tail.
Thus began the second round of frantic tag.
“Kyle!? That arrogant bastard! Don’t you dare run away—!!”
“We promised to give the crest to Lord Deron, didn’t we?! Kyle! Hand it over now!!”
In a panic, Deron and Blund chased after Kyle, shouting at the top of their lungs.
Of course, Kyle’s sprint—plotted by the villainous resolve—only grew faster.
“Elden himself said it! That we can’t retaliate after this contest! Therefore, I’m becoming the Grand Duke’s son-in-law by any means necessary—!!”
What utter chaos!
It was truly the quintessential end of a group forged solely from self-interest.
Once a profit appears, and a new chance arises, a bunch rooted without loyalty will inevitably backstab each other.
With the villains embroiled in their second game of tag, I decided to hop down from my perch on that tree.
“Sigh.”
Now that the awkward situation was over, it was a good moment to head down the mountain.
I strolled leisurely back to the starting point.
As I walked, I snagged another piece of fruit and bit into it.
Upon reaching the base,
I found Kyle kneeling on the ground, a vacant look on his face as he picked up the scattered remnants of something broken.
Lumia and Gelwood were entirely absent,
With only an eerie silence occupying the deserted venue,
Whoooooooo—.
A cold breeze whispered past.
Crunch.
Taking a bite from my tasty fruit, I turned to Deron and Blund, both frozen in place, and asked,
“What’s going on? The mood here feels rather off.”
The blazing sun cleared the midday sky.
Growl—
‘……’
Outside the carriage, Rachel rubbed her empty stomach.
She had forgotten to bring snacks with her.
For a noble’s escort knight, having meals on time was often a challenge.
Their primary duty was to ensure their employer’s security, hence they usually survived on light snacks while waiting for their masters to return, switching out with other guards to finally have a proper meal.
That’s why Rachel always packed some snacks on the days her master went out.
It was a habit formed over years, and unless there was an urgent situation, she never forgot it.
But today, she absentmindedly left without them.
Of course, skipping a meal happened more than often, and a mere hunger pang wouldn’t affect her duties, but today, the hunger felt particularly intense.
Perhaps it was because lately, she’d been managing to eat regularly due to her employer, Elden, emphasizing that a well-fed escort performed better.
Breakfast and dinner posed no issue since she could take care of them in the annex.
But lunch was problematic, especially when taken in the company of Lady Ariel.
In the Grand Hall, it was considered improper for an escort to eat alongside their employer, so Rachel had planned to grab a quick meal in the annex before returning. Yet, as the saying goes, [Villains are always unpredictable], and she ended up joining their table.
Lady Ariel had even said, “You can sit next to me!” while pulling the chair and patting the cushion with a bright look in her eyes.
Because of that, Rachel had grown accustomed to eating her meals on time.
It’s indeed an ironic situation.
To forget a long-standing habit just because she had managed to eat on time for a few days seemed ridiculous.
Gurgle—
At the base of the snowy mountains, four carriages waited.
All belonged to the finalists, with each guarded by a couple of knights.
As lunchtime passed, they gradually pulled out snacks to appease their hunger.
They munched on dried meats, fruits, candies, and various small bites.
Watching this scene only amplified Rachel’s hunger as she gazed toward the mountains.
Squinting her eyes, Rachel finally spotted Elden making his way down.
Crunch, Crunch—
With sprightly steps, Elden soon reached the carriage.
“Welcome back, My Lord. You must have worked hard.”
“Ha? Worked hard? Let’s just go, Rachel.”
“As you wish.”
As she looked up in response to his call, something flew towards her.
Thump.
She caught it.
It was a fruit, a vibrant red.
“……?”
With a puzzled gaze, Rachel looked at Elden, who was casually eating the same type of fruit he tossed to her.
“You must be hungry, here, eat this. It’s quite tasty.”
“…My Lord, did you pick this up for me?”
Rachel couldn’t help but ask as she watched Elden’s retreating figure.
“Well, I noticed you didn’t have your snack pouch. What good is a knight who’s too hungry to fight? Plus, who knows what could happen on our way to Winterfell…”
“……”
Rachel stared at Elden with bewilderment.
What was he planning?
Why would he do something like this?
He had been acting weirdly of late, and now he was even taking care of the hunger of a lowly knight.
Usually, her Lord wouldn’t bother even with wild fruits, even when hungry.
He’d never show concern for her needs.
Elden was a man whose needs always came first, someone who didn’t know the meaning of ‘looking out for others.’
Wasn’t there a saying – When someone begins acting out of character, their days must be numbered…
Could it be he’s received a terminal diagnosis…?
Shaking off such thoughts, Rachel looked down at the fruit in her hand.
It was familiar to her, a product of the many battles fought in the northern territories.
This fruit was known as [Roseapple], only growing in specific regions among the northern mountains. As Rachel remembered, it had a sweet and juicy flesh that was both firm yet soft.
Crunch—
Biting into it, she was hit with a surge of nostalgia.
Those dark times of continuous war often brought famine, and the Roseapples had quenched her hunger and washed away deep fatigue with their refreshing sweetness.
Of course, the experience of eating such fruits on the brink of starvation couldn’t compare, so she chewed on the Roseapple without much expectation.
However,
“So? How does it taste? Do you like it?”
Strangely enough, it tasted just as it had during those times of desperation.
It had the exact same flavor as those eaten during periods of dire hunger.
“…It’s delicious.”
This was the first time Rachel, who had fought alone after her father’s death and faced a life filled with scorn and ridicule, tasted ‘kindness’, though she remained oblivious to this fact.
“Well? Quit dawdling! Since the contest ended early, we should hit the training ground, mentor~”
“Ah…Yes.”
And just like that, the carriage carrying the student and teacher began its journey back to the Grand Duchy.”
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