Chapter 181: Applause (2/2)

“Well, running this way wouldn’t make a difference either, would it?”

The noblewoman had looked around, taking in their surroundings and realizing that they were heading towards the hunting grounds. The garrison here had all been killed by the human-faced fish monsters, and those monsters in turn killed by the murderer of Baron Nigelania. And while there was that hut where they could take refuge, their assailants had Igni Clay, and an ordinary building such as that would never stop it…

“It’ll be fine. Trust us.”

Simba said seriously but did not turn back, focusing on steering the sled instead.

The noblewoman was silent for a while before nodding somberly.

The truth was that she had many questions.

The patrol captain did not appear to be lying when he told her that he had killed these children, and yet here they were in perfect condition… somehow getting their hands on a sled too…

And why would they go so far to help them? Or should she say, why would the guild of the Baron Nigelania’s murderer help them to this extent?

If they only wanted good ties with Lancaster, they only had to rescue Gwendolyn who would be easily brainwashed. The noblewoman and her maids were unnecessary, especially the noblewoman herself who was a mere burden without any combat ability. That was why dumping her so that they could escape with the enemy breathing down their necks was the most basic move.

But even now, the three children were doing all they could to hold off the city watch soldiers of Codo Bosra. They show no inclination to dump her even against such odds, and might never have actually considered that possibility too.

Watching as the sled was about to be blown by the Igni arrows into pieces, the noblewoman finally couldn’t stop herself. “Leave me and run, I’ll try to buy you some time! It’s alright as long as you can get Gwendolyn to safety!”

“Milady!” The two handmaidens had tears welling in their eyes, having barely a breather before motion sickness left them half-dead. “We’re coming with you!”

Mistress and servants watched each other, and despite often seeing each other faces, it was a little chagrining to lay things bare like that.

Still, strong emotion overwhelmed them after the embarrassment—being childhood friends in the first place, they had accompanied the noblewoman even after she was married and left for Lancaster.

They remained ever loyal even now, and would never leave her side.

“What are you talking about?”

Simba, however, was unmoved at all, and merely found their behavior perplexing. “There’s no need to kill yourself—we’ve reached the hunting grounds!”

“As I was saying, running here won’t change a thing…”

“If I remember correctly, there’s a mini colosseum, right?” Simba asked even as he kept the sled going, paying her no attention at all.

Since there were certain ferocious beasts that were usually prowling at the hunting grounds, the nobles would occasionally capture them during their hunts and pit them against other beasts in the colosseum for entertainment as the creatures tore at each other necks.

However, that colosseum was too small—it was a small facility for pleasure-seeking, and could hardly be compared to a standard colosseum.

“Wouldn’t that place be less defendable than the hut?” The noblewoman could not help asking in return. “What are you thinking?!”

Simba didn’t answer, instead driving the sled straight inside the colosseum while knocking down the paddock.

The soldiers pursuing them charged right within as well and surrounded them.

Even though winter had passed, the weather hasn’t been nice with cloudy skies over the last two days, leaving the mornings in darkness.

A canopy was attached over the mini colosseum of the hunting grounds, which was the reason why it was much darker here than a normal colosseum—they could not actually see the spectators’ seats clearly.

“We’ve got you! Surrender, there’s nowhere to run!” The patrol captain finally looked excited, having surrounded Simba and the others inside the colosseum. “There’s twenty of us, and I’m amongst the finest swordsman of Codo Bosra. There’s no getting away!”

That was when Simba composedly stood up from the sled and clapped in his face.

Confused by the child’s actions, the patrol captain seethed viciously. “Don’t move! Don’t try anything funny!”

But Zazu and Nala stood up from the sled as well, smiling as they joined the clapping.

Soon, however, the Illum lights hanging over the canopy shone, dispelling the darkness shrouding the spectator seats.

There, the near-hundred Players who had just finished slaying the Marsh Drake rose from the spectator seats. They had all seen Simba’s post on the player forums and hurried here, all of them now clapping for the patrol captain who had been boasting away despite being less than Level 20.