'Deon Hardt hates places with a lot of people.'
'Even in hunting competitions, he will probably move to a place with fewer people.'
'We will install a crossbow. I'm going to put Deon Hardt there.'
'Isn't it time to put an end to that tough life?'
Takkak. Just right.
Chess pieces went back and forth. The thick, bony fingers stretched out comfortably grabbed the pieces of both sides and moved them alternately.
Since the Duke was actively involved, there was nothing anyone can do about it. Never mind. Now was not the time to think about that.
'Did you say that the frequency of hemoptysis in the mother of the leader of the Revolutionary Army increased?'
Just right. The black king appeared in front of the enemy with only a few guards.
'The leader still doesn't know that fact.'
Takkak.
The white camp paid attention to the black king.
'I'll find out soon enough. Should I ask for closer surveillance?'
Just right. Meanwhile, a secret movement occurred in the black camp.
'More than that, hemoptysis. It's hemoptysis...'
His younger brother Deon Hardt also often suffered from hemoptysis.
The hand that was moving the pieces suddenly stopped.
Cruel, who seemed to be unable to concentrate, was holding a black bishop between his fingers and lowered his green eyes as if lost in thought.
'The Duke knows Deon Hardt well.'
He prepared for the hunt well and thoroughly prepared.
'On the other hand, Deon Hardt does not know the duke.'
He went to the hunting competition without any preparation, not even knowing that the Duke was targeting him.
A well-prepared hunter and a prey who knew nothing.
The result came to mind naturally.
'How can a person who has been weakened by a curse do anything about this?'
They made sarcastic remarks to those who came out and installed the crossbows in the name of supervision, but he only twitched his eyebrows, and like skilled assassins, they installed the crossbows without wavering.
If it hit him, it will literally turn him into a hedgehog.
Cruel sat in the tent and quietly snapped his fingers after hearing the news that the hunting competition had begun. A chess piece held between the index and middle fingers hit the desk at regular intervals, making a tapping sound. The green eyes darkened.
'There are a lot of peacocks at the hunting competition. If we use them, we can easily guide his movements.'
The skill of the assassins was also formidable. Even if it was not a crossbow, he could die at their hands, and even if Deon survived, he would be guided by their guidance and would reach the crossbow.
If that happens...
His fingers stopped.
'...'
Degurrr. The chess pieces rolled miserably on the desk.
Cruel stood up holding his sword and put on his robe. His subordinate Senzer, who had been watching him the whole time, asked.
"Where are you going."
"Hunting competition. I have to prove my worth."
"..."
"I will offer my victory to the Duke, so you can go and spread the news that I am participating."
***
I got off my horse and walked through a deserted place. It was my own consideration.
It was so uncomfortable that everyone who encountered me took a deep breath and glanced at me. I didn't plan on getting too excited about the hunt anyway, so I kindly left the place to make the others feel at ease.
And then I got attacked.
"Count!"
"Ah... crazy."
I slowly got up from Dan's arms.
That sucks. So... something happened. Oh yeah. I met the 'real' Count Hardt. The bastard got into a fight and chased me persistently when I kindly walked away. Then... he pushed Dan and rolled over to the other side. A dagger stuck where I was and I trembled.
"Oh."
Dan rolled his eyes, looked around, and muttered to himself, regardless of whether he stopped breathing in surprise or not. This is all because I didn't get a single handkerchief. No one prayed for my safe return, right?
"...Damn it."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bag lying around that I had missed.
The flower pot wasn't broken, right...? The dirt seems to have been spilled, so is it dead? No, if it had died that easily, I wouldn't have even thought about bringing it here.
'It feels like my bag is shaking...'
... I guess it's my mood.
For now, let's ignore the situation as it is.
I forced my gaze away from the bag and took a step to the left. The blade fell into the floor again without a sound.
Rather...
"Why are you sticking with me?"
"You talk so arrogantly!"
With the 'real' Count Hardt at my side, I had no intention of falling.
If you had fired a signal because you were scared, you would have quietly stayed in a corner until help arrived.
Why did you stick to me?
Ugh it's frustrating.
"If you couldn't protect myself, you shouldn't have participated in the hunting competition."
"This is not hunting!"
"On topics that make me think about bugs and such."
"You, you...!"
Anyway, I'm in danger of dying because of you! Take responsibility and protect me! The guy squeaked.
I looked down at him with pitiful eyes, grabbed him by the back of his neck, pushed him away, and moved a couple of steps further. Was this something strange?
'It's as if I'm being hunted...'
Ugh.
Before I could even finish assessing the situation, my head, which was supposed to be spinning, turned white.
"Uweek... cough...!"
The aftereffects of the first time I was hit on the floor by Dan surged.
It somehow betrays its owner's will to suppress and swallow, and flowed back down the throat and out of the mouth. Red liquid dripped and wet the floor.
At first glance, it seemed like the writhing of the bag, which was lying around shabbily, was getting worse.
Of course, my gaze, which had briefly glanced that direction, was withdrawn again. Because the damn raiders showed up and started attacking us.
The swordsmanship went back and forth like crazy. No, it was unilaterally directed at me. Fearing that they were the ones killing people, they all targeted only the most important points of attack. I had no choice but to stop it in order to survive.
Sadly, it didn't give me a chance to attack. Every time I blocked an incoming attack, I realized that my life was at stake.
'Fuck, save me.'
It's scary.
I shrugged off the memory that was coming up my throat in horror and took two steps back. And then, a small noise was heard.
"!"
"It's over."
For a moment, the world slowed down.
Numerous arrows could be seen rushing from where the noise was heard. As I rolled my eyes again, I saw the assassin stabbing his sword from below, aiming for under my chin.
It was too late to avoid it. To avoid one, I have to be hit by the other. Whichever one I gave up, the end would be my death.
Do you become a skewer or a hedgehog with a piercing from under your chin all the way to your brain?
That time when I hesitated for a moment about a decision that I couldn't make easily.
Phew!
"...!?"
"..."
"Ugh... no, wait a minute..."
What the fuck is going on?
Once again, I was rolled around on the floor in someone's arms, trying to focus my spinning vision to understand the situation.
At that desperate moment, a plant stem burst out through the assassin's chest. Before I could be shocked, someone grabbed my body and rolled on the floor, out of range of the arrow.
Plants... well, that's it. First of all, I believe it won't be the case. Who is this person who saved me? Is it Dan?
'A little while ago, he rolled me around roughly and made a mess, but this time, he was very careful and caught me without any shock...?!'
It's not Dan.
When I raised my head, my eyes met the green eyes under the robe. I immediately turned my head to hide it, but I wasn't about to let that moment pass by.
I felt like my blood was running cold.
"You."
"...."
"What are you planning?"
I grabbed the collar of the guy who was trying to leave me without a word and walk away.
I put my face close to him, bared my teeth, and growled.
"Do you think I wouldn't recognize you even if you were wearing a mediocre robe like that?"
Cruel Hardt.
Explain why you are here.
"..."
"..."
There was silence. Cruel, who firmly kept his mouth shut, looked down at me. I, too, did not give up and glared at him with his incomprehensible eyes.
The silence that seemed like it would last forever was broken by the sound of a crash being heard again and the sound of urgent footsteps coming from afar.
"I got a red flag! I hope you're safe! What is that?!"
"Monster? Is it a monster?! This is my first time seeing a plant-type monster?!"
Plant type... monster...?
With an ominous feeling running down my spine, I quickly turned my head and looked for the plant-type monster the voice had mentioned. And I was shocked.
'What is that?!'
That's the plant Hien gave me, right? Could it walk with roots?!
A creature resembling a black rose walked on the ground, wriggling its roots! The stem was moving freely and had raiders attached to its end.
Perhaps because it drank blood, it grew to a terrifying size.
'He took care of all the attackers... Yes... thank you...'
It's true that the life-threatening situation was over... but why does it seem like it has become dangerous in a different sense?
Please don't pretend to know me. I turned my head and prayed in my heart. I tried to question Cruel again, but...
'Nothing?'
You just popped out! Damn you!
This alone was annoying enough, but there was a voice that made my blood pressure rise even more.
"That monster belongs to Deon Hardt! I saw it! That monster came out of Deon Hardt's bag!"
"..."
I quietly held the back of my neck.
Suspicious eyes were directed at me. Yes, I guess so. I understand. Because I was the 'master of the Murderous Knights'.
Actually, I was a normal person and the people below me were crazy people, but from the outside, I, the owner, will look like the same person.
"That monster saved Deon Hardt from the raiders! It's clear that Deon Hardt is controlling it!"
But what does this idiot believe?
Aren't I scared? No matter what the truth is, the reputation that appears on the surface must be terrifying.
I was at a loss for words at the sight of the despicable figure beyond imagination, but I quickly realized the reality.
In any case, the current atmosphere was turning against me. I have to do something to remove doubt...
'Should I kill that monster?'
I may not be able to kill it, and even if I do, they may think I'm cutting off my tail.[1]
What do I do...?
Just when I was groaning because I couldn't find an appropriate way, the guy moved.
'Why... why are you coming?'
Do not come!
The guy approached, wriggling his roots. When I tried to retreat, he stopped me by wrapping his trunk around my ankle, which caused me to almost fall, and gently grabbed my back and climbed up my leg.
An intense fear came over me.
'Fuck you.'
Please save me, I'm scared, hey! This is why you shouldn't bring plants with black heads.
With all my survival instincts, I swung the dagger I was holding in his hand. I was easily suppressed. Oh please.
"Geeeeeeek."
Uh... uhh okay... you're nice, right? Can you please let me go? No, don't grab the neck... Ack!
The stem wrapped around my neck. It looked like it was going to suffocate and kill me at any moment, but fortunately no force was applied as the goal was to fix it. No... isn't that 'fortunate'?
"Cough!"
I felt a dull shock in my abdomen.
What? Was my stomach pierced by the attackers? But it's not that kind of pain. If I had to compare it, it was as if someone had hit me with a fist...
At that moment, another stem lightly pressed down on my chin. As questions filled my mind, the smell of blood rose from my stomach.
"Cough."
Sigh... I expressed my admiration for the Emperor's foresight in sending the red clothes. I gritted my teeth with blood streaming out of my mouth.
Now that I thought about it, I realized I had coughed up blood once a while ago. Even if that weren't the case, how could something like this not happen if I vomited blood once and the shock hit my sore stomach? Something hot rose up inside me again. It's not blood this time.
This... this...
"This bastard!!"
Suddenly!
"... Uh?"
I think I was so angry that I forgot that I was being suppressed and just waved my hands. But why did it collapse? When did its stem loosen?
I couldn't understand the situation, so I blinked blankly for a moment.
The monster plant, as if dying, was slowly collapsing and rolling up its leaves. In human terms, it was only through the act of raising a thumb that I was able to understand what was going on.
'This is what it intended.'
For my own sake, knowing I was in trouble.
He pretended to attack by deliberately wrapping his arms around my neck and squeezing. He deceived the eyes of the viewers by punching my abdomen and making me vomit blood. It was not difficult for my weak body to spit out blood even at the slightest impact.
So, whether out of survival instinct or anger, the moment I swung my arm as I could, it released my hand and touched its vital spot.
And died.
"Ha..."
"Hey... are you okay?"
"..."
"Honorary Count Hardt...?"
"...."
Somehow I couldn't say anything.
[1] Referring to how a lizard will cut off its own tail to survive a dangerous situation.