Hanta looked at the bridge ahead; they had already charged out of the Royal Capital. He couldn't help but look back at the tightly closed city gate behind them, unable to understand how they had just accomplished such a thing. Could that have been the legendary teleportation magic? Not only was the Sword Saint powerful in swordsmanship, but she was also a high-level Magic Caster?!
He snapped back to his senses and said to the two ladies in the carriage, "We've already broken out."
"Just return to the Empire at maximum speed."
"Yes."
Hanta drove the carriage toward the Tob Great Forest. Although they all knew that taking this path would definitely result in a run-in with the Kingdom's Warrior Chief who had left the city earlier.
But this road was the fastest way to return to the Empire. If they were to take a detour, returning to the Empire would waste a lot of time, and they would very likely be caught by the Kingdom's pursuers. Furthermore, if the Empire's troops really had appeared at the border, then heading this way was the correct decision.
And even if this news was fake.
Taking this road was still correct.
Because this direction was the border line between the Empire and the Kingdom, and the Kingdom's defensive strength in this direction was very weak.
After years of a war of attrition, the Kingdom had basically announced its abandonment of this border area.
If the Empire hadn't felt it unnecessary to occupy this place, intending to leave it to continue draining the Kingdom's food supplies, the Empire could have completely occupied it.
The Noble Faction of the Kingdom had wanted to abandon this land more than once because, in their view, it had already been conquered by the Empire, and keeping it would only waste their country's grain. However, the old King did not agree.
After all, the Kingdom's flag was still planted on that land. If the Kingdom were to abandon its citizens under such circumstances, would the people ever dare to trust the Royal Family again? Furthermore, how would other nations in the international community view such a weak and incompetent Kingdom?
So, even though he knew it was a malicious scheme by the Blood Emperor, the old King chose to endure it. There was no other way, for if he truly yielded, there would be no hope left for the Royal Family. Before the Empire could invade the Kingdom, the Royal Family would likely be slaughtered first by the nobles—those wolves dressed in glamorous clothing.
However, even if the old King persisted alone, it was meaningless; the fact that the Royal Family had lost control over the country was indisputable. Even if he declared that he would never abandon a single piece of land or a single subject of the Kingdom, in reality, this was a place abandoned by the Kingdom.
The Noble Faction had sent no troops to be stationed here at all. Only the local lord and the Adventurers Guild guarded the peace of this area, but that was only the case before the Empire invaded. The Adventurers Guild would not intervene in a war between two nations; they protected the local humans from monsters because that was the original philosophy upon which the Adventurers Guild was founded.
Therefore, it was correct for Tsukasa and the others to flee in this direction. Taking this path, the greatest threat was the Warrior Chief who had left earlier. However, the Warrior Chief only carried a cavalry of dozens of men; such military strength was not worth mentioning to Tsukasa, and she could handle them even if they met.
Unlike the speed at which they came, they galloped all the way without much rest. In just a few days, they reached the vicinity of the Tob Great Forest. The Kingdom's Warrior Chief was faster than them; they each had two horses and took turns riding them, not wasting much time on rest. Had Tsukasa not used magic to heal and boost their horse's stamina, they would never have caught up with the Warrior Chief's pace.
But this was already the limit.
Tsukasa looked at the black horse lying on the ground, refusing to get up. Although its stamina could be strengthened, its injuries healed, and its spirit even driven into a frenzy, it would still feel tired.
By now, this horse's endurance had reached its upper limit. If she continued to use magic
to force it to run through reinforcement, it would likely overdraw its life force.
This was entirely unnecessary.
They saw the Kingdom soldiers' horses nearby, with only a few soldiers left to look after them. Although they had taken turns riding, they hadn't rested the entire way, and these horses looked exhausted.
Hanta watched Tsukasa and Alice step out of the carriage and stepped forward, whispering, "There's a village nearby. They've likely gone there to scout for information. I also want to go to the village to buy some fodder and dry rations."
Tsukasa understood Hanta's meaning.
Since Hanta had shown his face before the Warrior Chief, he would likely be caught if he went alone. Although neither she nor Alice needed rations, Hanta and the horse could not do without them, so replenishing fodder and rations was a necessity.
"Alice, go with Hanta."
"Master, please leave it to Alice with confidence."
Hanta looked at Alice, seeming a bit uneasy, but thinking that this was the decision of the Sword Saint, he found it hard to say anything.
"Human, lead the way quickly! Alice will protect you!" Alice urged.
"Yes, thank you, Lady Alice."
Tsukasa stayed behind to guard the carriage.
The Kingdom soldiers not far away watched her side warily. They had long noticed that this carriage following them was abnormal. After all, the horse's stamina was unnaturally good—they had never seen such an excellent horse—and it had followed them the whole way.
If the Warrior Chief hadn't told them not to mind it, they would have turned back to stop the carriage long ago.
And now, they were even resting in the same place? These soldiers felt there was something wrong with this carriage.
But remembering the Warrior Chief's instructions, they merely remained on alert for the time being, taking no further action.
Tsukasa, having picked up a few stones, returned to the carriage. The black horse lay on the ground, and when its gaze met hers, its eyes were full of fear and awe.
This horse had been driven to the point of psychological trauma.
Tsukasa had originally been meditating in the carriage.
Suddenly, she felt a familiar and massive surge of magic appear in the air. She opened her eyes instantly and looked toward the village with a solemn expression.
"Necromancy Magic?"
Furthermore, the magic reaction was actually higher than hers.
Although it wasn't enough to make her feel pressured, the fact that the opponent's MP was higher than hers was indisputable.
[Shadow Demon Summoning]
Pulling a Shadow Demon with a Sword Saint template from her own shadow, Tsukasa had it stay on guard near the carriage.
She herself rushed toward the village.
Hanta and Alice had only just set out, and Alice was equipped with a Magic Perception organ, so she shouldn't run into that Magic Caster performing Necromancy Magic. However, she didn't know why a Magic Caster of this level would appear in this place, and the opponent's magic reaction seemed to indicate they were in the middle of a battle.
Therefore, it was necessary to go and see the situation; perhaps there would be a chance to see the true face of this world.
After all, she had felt for a long time.
The combat power of humans in this world was ridiculously weak. There were so many powerful existences in legends—heroes, Demon Gods, Dragon Lords, the six great gods, and so on. The upper limit of combat power in this world should have been very high, but what she saw was not like that.
So she had been somewhat worried before, fearing that the peace before her eyes was just an illusion. Just like in her previous world, there might be a powerful hidden hand controlling everything from behind. If she performed too brilliantly, she might attract the attention of that hidden hand, just as she had in her previous world.
But after experiencing the Kingdom's testing.
She had originally thought she was overthinking it.
But now, she felt she might be coming into contact with the truth of this world. This world was indeed not so simple; beneath that seemingly simple surface, there were truths hidden that she had not seen before.
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