It was a tumultuous time with a string of incidents, yet Emperor Barbarossa embarked on a hunt.
Drumroll
Is there a sickness that kills if you can’t hunt?
I looked at the emperor while slinging the shotgun I received from Ludmilla over my shoulder.
Currently, Barbarossa was engaged in talks with great nobles dominating the political and business spheres. They all seemed like they had become famous soldiers in their youth, boasting impressive physiques like the emperor.
“Your call brings a tear to my eye, Your Majesty!”
“Haha! The nobles of the Empire must not tremble at the cultists’ mischief!”
The hunting ground was located on the northern ridge, not far from the Imperial City.
I could see valleys and ravines spreading left and right.
And countless wild animals roamed within the dense forest.
Those would be the prey for today.
Maybe I should just catch enough to not draw attention and head back.
I didn’t want to become a laughingstock in front of the emperor and nobles by showing off my clumsy skills. But then again, I didn’t want to flaunt perfect aim and be the protagonist either.
“You’re a prince of the Hohenberc Family, aren’t you?”
“I’ve heard you have made quite the achievements in the Imperial City. Chosen by the Holy Sword, indeed!”
The nobles who were leading the way turned their heads and approached.
Perhaps they wanted to build rapport this time, they broke into wide smiles and expressed goodwill.
I had thought the long-established central great nobles, like the Valtarian Imperial Family, would be haughty and rough in character, but they were surprisingly different. Perhaps because they were close with the princesses, they showed a more cunning side.
“After firing the bullet, please hand me the musket.”
“We will handle the loading.”
Three attendants followed from behind.
They were special aides provided by Ludmilla.
Naturally, other great nobles also had numerous supporters by their side. The attendants, clad in leather armor, supported the nobles while also managing their shotguns.
“It seems there are quite a few beasts after having been unleashed for several months! Everyone, follow me!!”
The emperor, with his sharp mustache, roared in a booming voice as he rode forward. It was as if he wanted to unleash the pent-up frustration caused by the cultists.
Thud thud thud─!!
The sound of hooves echoed through the mountains.
Startled mountain creatures began to flee.
The emperor, like an experienced hunter, aimed and pulled the trigger. The panicking deer was hit by the bullet, tumbling down instantly.
“Follow the emperor!”
“We will show our skills as well!”
Following that, the hunters watching the spectacle joined in.
At the same time, the drivers surrounding the ridge started making a loud commotion.
Thump thump thump!
Woof woof!
“I need to play along. Just like Ludmilla said, this is a golden opportunity to earn points with the emperor.”
I raised my gun and aimed for the marten hiding in the grass.
I precisely aimed for its head.
With a short bang, the brown marten flew away, spraying blood everywhere.
I gestured to the attendant, who came to retrieve the motionless marten. Since I pierced its forehead accurately, the hide wouldn’t be too damaged. I decided to gift Ludmilla a marten fur scarf later.
“Look, a wild boar is running away!”
“Quite large…! Let’s catch it and present it to His Majesty!”
While hunting mountain beasts in succession, a dark, bristly animal appeared.
It was a wild boar with sharp fangs sticking out.
It recognized the humans as intruders and arched its back, snorting hot air, ready to charge.
“Everyone step back! I will catch the boar!”
A noble dressed in a flashy tunic shouted as he took aim with his musket. Perhaps wanting the emperor, who was watching from the front, to recognize his bravery, he showed quite a bold demeanor.
His stance exuded experience.
He probably had hunted several wild beasts up till now.
Thus, he pulled the trigger without hesitation.
BANG!!
The bullet struck the boar’s head.
But the gunshot wound wasn’t deep.
The boar’s skull was as hard as rock. Its flesh was sliced, and blood flowed freely, but it was only a scratch.
GRAAAH!!!
Damn it.
I just provoked it.
The fierce beast let out a furious roar.
No matter how seasoned the hunters were, they naturally feared the wild boar’s reckless charge. As the roaring intensified, even the trained warhorses began to back off slowly.
What’s going on…?
I sensed something strange.
The wound on the boar’s head began to heal.
That’s impossible.
A mere beast healing at such a speed like a magical beast.
Perhaps it was no ordinary wild boar. They must have placed some special sorcery on it to target the emperor and the great nobles…
“The boar is charging!”
“Protect the emperor! Kill that beast!”
Could Barbarossa be suspecting something unusual?
He temporarily halted the hunt.
He commanded the knights assigned to escort him to form up and scan the surroundings.
After ascending to the throne, the emperor was notorious for his purges and had encountered numerous threats, making him highly sensitive to any signs of killing intent aimed at him.
GROWL!!
ROAR, ROAR!!
Following the wild boar, wolves and other wild beasts began to appear.
A bizarre sight unfolded as the beasts formed a charging formation like a legion.
Is this the power of sorcery?
They were undoubtedly being controlled by something.
They must have cast spells on the beasts in advance to assassinate the emperor. Surely, the troops surrounding the hunting ground wouldn’t check on the wild creatures within the forest.
*
The wild beasts began to emit a dark, ominous energy.
They were no longer mere animals.
Only killing intent remained—they were magical beasts now.
The knights escorting the emperor drew their swords in unison. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, they even deployed their Mana Blades, preparing for anything.
“They’re coming!”
The beasts charged like a battering ram trying to break through the formation.
The knights responded as bloodshed unfolded.
Huff!
“They’re monsters that have swallowed sorcery! Don’t let your guard down!”
The knights, who had stood like walls, wavered under the relentless onslaught.
They felt as if they had collided with a heavy chariot.
The wild beasts, filled only with killing intent and madness, were not to be taken lightly.
The knights who were pushed back realized this with their very bodies. As the beasts, exuding pitch-black magical energy, clashed with the knights wielding their swords, fierce battles erupted.
“Gun.”
“Yes…!”
He handed over a fired musket.
And I received the loaded musket.
I took aim at the wild boar leading the charge.
It wasn’t easy to accurately target the frenzied beast, but it was definitely possible. I fired and shattered the boar’s left eye.
GRRRRAAAAH!!!
The massive beast collapsed, dripping blood profusely.
However, this alone was not enough.
I needed to aim for a vital spot to end its life.
“Gun.”
“Yes…!”
Swallowing dry saliva, the attendant hurriedly handed over a new musket as I watched the scene unfold.
“Keep loading without rest. We might run out of bullets.”
I never expected it to escalate like this.
I only intended to catch a few small mountain creatures as a facade.
But it had to get serious.
A precarious situation where the safety of many people was at stake.
Every time I received a loaded musket from the attendant, I aimed at the magical beasts. Each gunfire echoed loudly, followed by the cries of the beasts transformed into magical creatures.
A wolf that had swiftly breached the knights’ formation leapt at the ground, and I shot the bullet into its mouth filled with sharp teeth.
At the moment I pulled the trigger to defeat the magical beasts, the knights’ expressions changed in an instant. The knights, who had struggled against the magical beasts for a brief moment, regained their fighting spirit, bolstered by the marksmanship of the expert.
“The beasts are falling!”
“Now! Quickly cut off their lifeline!”
The sharp Mana Blade pierced the beasts’ vital spots without hesitation.
Was it due to the strengthened sorcery?
Despite aiming accurately for the vital spots, the beasts still thrashed about.
The knights kept stabbing until they were reduced to mangled lumps of flesh. Only when they finally severed their necks did the chaos settle down.
“Is the marten I hunted still safe?”
“…What?”
“The marten, I mean. Don’t you know what a marten is?”
“Of, of course it’s safe.”
At the sudden question, the attendant, who was reloading the overheated musket, responded reflexively.
It likely seemed like an out-of-nowhere question.
But the marten I had just caught was a precious gift for Ludmilla.
After the situation calmed down, I checked the marten stored in the bundle. Seeing its soft fur intact, I nodded.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
I dismounted and approached Barbarossa.
As I got closer, I witnessed the great nobles desperately trying to stop the emperor from joining the fight.
“Ahem! Thanks to the overly cautious nobles, I am fine. However, the marksmanship that slaughtered the beasts is truly impressive. Who taught you that skill?”
“I just learned a bit over the shoulder.”
Impressive that he noticed that amidst the chaos of beasts and knights.
I answered with a wry smile, feeling his keen interest.
I hoped he would let it slide.
-But judging by his piercing gaze, it seemed he wouldn’t lose interest anytime soon.
“Your Majesty, a suspicious magical tool has been found in the beasts’ stomachs.”
“It looks peculiar at first glance.”
The commander who led the escort showed them a dark orb discovered within the beast’s stomach. It was undoubtedly a sorcery tool that spurred the wild creatures of the hunting ground into a frenzy.
They had likely prepared the beasts in advance, anticipating that the emperor and great nobles would enter the hunting ground.
The maliciousness that had erupted throughout the Empire had finally threatened even the emperor. The great nobles, realizing this, raised their voices eager to uncover the mastermind behind it.
“It’s a pity to waste such marksmanship. You shall accompany us on future hunts. With an expert like you joining the hunt, we can easily catch even the largest game.”
“Excuse me?”
While Barbarossa was momentarily consulting with the great nobles, he suddenly turned his head and spoke.
What on earth does that mean?
Does he intend to utilize me whenever he indulges in his hobby?
The emperor, who was obsessively fond of hunting, began to take a liking to my marksmanship. All the disdain he had shown me until now was gone, replaced by a warmth akin to finding a companion to share his hobby with.
To an outsider, it would seem like a wise elder enjoying hobbies together with a son-in-law.
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