Chapter 42: Fifth Episode: Chapter 6 (1/2)
Chapter 42: Fifth Episode: Chapter 6
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
On the seventh day after entering the mountainous area, His Royal Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette became a little impatient. The reason being that the knights were confining him, just like the princess. The prince did not complain, even though he was still only a youngster. But this did not mean that he would not curse in his heart.
A few days earlier, Oscar had been stripped of his authority as the highest commander. Colonel Kamille Rayen had made it quite clear that in the advent of a struggle, only he and Madame Celia knew what to do.
The reason all this happened was that trap! ”That damned, wretched trap!” Oscar reclined against the seat of the carriage. For the past few days, he had been complaining countless times, but it was to no avail. So what had happened with that trap? His Royal Highness Prince had no idea. Although he did not find anything out when he went to investigate the trap after the rain ceased, but the knights evidently did not feel that way. The colonel said that he was certain that someone had fled after triggering the trap. Furthermore, this fellow was certainly an experienced veteran spy. Looking at that enormous trap used to catch animals, this veteran spy endured it without producing so much as a single sound. This kind of perseverance was not something normal people could achieve! This was the last point that the paladin emphasized on.
”Why can't it just be a wild beast? The heavy rain would have washed away all the evidence. Kamille, how can you be so certain that that was a person? Or even yet an experienced veteran spy with enormous willpower?”
”Please, My Royal Highness! You have already complained for a week now!” Snowstorm closed his book.
”Thank you for reminding me Paul, but before things are made clear, I will continue to complain!” The little fatty shifted his plump body, for his bottom was a little numb; he had been sitting in the carriage for too long a time.
”Oscar! Calm down, if you need me to explain to you again, I will be very honored to do so.” Paul peered at the prince sincerely, even though this topic had already been much debated over in the past one week.
Oscar spared Snowstorm a glance. He did not mind to go through it again. ”Then please tell me, for what reason my colonel could be that certain?”
Snowstorm rolled his eyes; this little lad was too stubborn! ”My Royal Highness, please listen carefully once again. Colonel Kamille Rayen is a qualified, outstanding commander of the knights, am I right?”
The chubby child nodded his head. ”Yes, I admit, but...”
”No, my Royal Highness, there are no buts. Since Colonel Kamille Rayen is a qualified, outstanding commander of the knights, thus he will not make mistakes easily, especially in the matter of being unable to tell who triggered his trap. Although the heavy rain has destroyed all possible traces of evidence near the trap, but experience! Experience, do you understand? Experience, meaning looking at that trap and being able to immediately differentiate whether it was triggered by man or animal.”
Oscar did not say a word. It was his first time venturing into the mountain area, his first time his camp was visited, and the first time he saw an empty trap for catching animals. In other words, he did not have any idea, so he did not have any substance to criticize the paladin's experience, especially his paladin whose experience had been attained with his blood and life.
”Come on Oscar! Let's face reality, you're an amateur and you should trust your knights. All of them have served in the narcissus knight's regimen for more than five years, just like Kamille. He once brought up to me that he had already been on the battlefield when he was only ten years old. Although his role was only to safeguard the war equipment, but this did not hinder him from accumulating precious battle experience.” Snowstorm tried his best to talk some sense into His Royal Highness.
”So, he would not make a blunder about the trap. Moreover, the various signs clearly indicated that the trap was triggered none other than by a man-made cause.”
”Haha! Snowstorm! You've just mentioned the main point! Why is it a man-made cause?” Oscar now gave off the impression of being a big, stubborn goose.
Snowstorm slapped his forehead. It had been like this for the past few days. ”My Royal Highness, how should I enlighten you so that you will believe me? You have seen with your own eyes the enormous trap for capturing animals, with tattered flesh still hanging on it. If it were a wild beast, would you know? I've come across this before, if it were a wild beast that encountered that toy, then you would be able to hear their cries of agony miles from here. Just as what the paladin had said, only a scout who had undergone strict training would be able to remain silent after getting caught in it.”
”Ola...” Oscar groaned. Six days had already elapsed since the matter of the trap and it seemed that this life of confinement was not going to end anytime soon.
The heavy rain had already ceased a few days ago. However, the mountain road was terribly ruined. Their procession had passed through the cliff and transcended over the ravine. Although throughout the journey there were no major situations, but unexpected miscalculations had brought upon them quite an amount of inconvenience. Although the leader of the knights already increased the number of rests, but the rugged mountain road had tormented them until they were spent.
The huge mountain after the rain was like a compact steel wall. The mountain range stretching out both to the east and west had cut the sunlight into many tiny rays. The huge shadows created caused those under it to experience an indescribable oppressive feeling. The forest was deep and thick. A few fierce beasts peeked out from among the thick rattan growths at the cavalry who were invading their territory.
The cavalry did not wish for trouble. For the past few days, their camp had been visited by quite a few species of ferocious beasts. Although these curious chaps fell into the traps without any exception, but it was clear to the knights that these were not the visitors they were hoping for. The empty trap was still fresh in their minds. On the day of the incident, Colonel Kamille Rayen had gathered the whole squadron and called together a meeting. Now each of the knights was clear that a person who was looking for trouble had his eyes on them.
From that day onwards, the knights started to pray fervently, ”Come! Come on! Come and clash with our swords! The God of Light will have mercy on you!” However, it was evident that it was to no avail; it had been several days since they stumbled on a person.
”How long more must we travel before we arrive at Fort Stanson?” His Royal Highness Prince opened the carriage window and asked the higher order narcissus knight that was beside the carriage.
”Your Royal Highness, we need to travel another week, at the very least. However, you need not worry, as during this period of time, we will pass by several small towns. Furthermore, our military supply wagons and replenishments are sufficient.”
”Very well then! Now tell me, why do we need to stop in this place?”
The knight peered at the front of the procession; he did not know what had happened as well. ”I apologize, Your Royal Highness, I am still not sure, but Colonel Kamille has already gone to the front.”
Oscar closed the carriage window with a ”Bang”. Everything was making the youngster feel fed up.
A scout had returned and the leader of the whole squadron, Colonel Kamille welcomed him at the front of the procession. Despite knowing just how much his leader dreaded bad news, but things determined by the God of Light simply couldn't be altered.”
”What's the matter?” Kamille was a little anxious for his troops were easy targets spread out halfway up the mountain.
”Commander, the road up ahead is blocked! A landslide had occurred involving a large section of the mountain. The giant rocks heaped up over the road are not something that we can clear.”
”Are you sure?”
”Commander, you will know by just a glance that our path has been blocked completely.”
”...Damn it!” Kamille Rayen turned his horse around. He had to report this to His Royal Highness Prince.
”What?” Oscar stared at the young colonel incredulously.
”Yes, Your Royal Highness, as what the scouts said, we have to take a different route! Of course, we can get in touch with the local garrison, but it is a four to five-day journey from here to the nearest army division of the mountain area. So I would like to ask for your decree.”
”What do you expect to hear, Kamille?” Oscar was already trying his best to reign in his emotions. The youngster still had a little common sense, he was aware that these things cannot be blamed upon anyone, but what else could he say?
Similarly, Kamille Rayen perceived that His Royal Highness' mood was not exceedingly good, but it could not be helped. He had already visited the scene of the mountain landslide and even if the cavalry could make it through, it would still be impossible for the carriages to pass, no matter what.
”Your Royal Highness, I do not have any other alternative. You should know!”
”Of course I know! Report it to Her Royal Highness Princess. Isn't the party under your command?” Having said that, the little prince once again slammed the window shut. He practically did not leave the carriage these few days. The knights' strict precautions and die-hard behavior had almost caused him to break down!
Kamille shook his head. Despite knowing that the prince had the ability to defend himself, but being the leader of the knights, his responsibility was to ensure that the prince and princess did not encounter any dangers.
Oscar was cursing in his heart! He heard the Colonel's yelling coming from outside the carriage. Not long after that, the procession was on the road. The narcissus knights' actions were swift. They organized the carriages to turn around one after another, and then their leader once again readjusted the formation. As they started onto the other road that was similarly going in the direction of Fort Stanson, it was already the second day.
This road was not found on the official map, but the leader of the knights had in his hands, a military map that was a gift from the fifth military district's commanding officer. Despite the secluded mountain road being difficult to travel on, but it was the prince's procession's only other option.
The mountain road that the procession was now crawling on was unexpectedly wider and busier compared to the initial road they took. The procession had already come across quite a few hunting parties from the nearby villages.
These hunters went hunting in the mountains in groups. According to them, if they traveled further up, they might even run into Fort Stanson's noble hunting party.
Oscar was still gloomy. He actually wanted to partake in a hunt, but the leader of the knights rejected this request vehemently. The youngster could not help but feel a little indignant at Kamille's demeanor at that time. This handsome paladin was to his surprise, a person who lacked reason, was inflexible and stubborn. How could he have previously thought that he was an understanding person?
No dismounting the carriage, no exposing himself in the open and spacious areas, no leaving the line of sight of the knights by his side, no riding horses, no hunting, and what else? Oscar had already forgotten!
Despite being unable to hunt, the young prince had however found himself some pleasure; for example, the little bobcat that he bought from the hunters. The hunters had already murdered the little bobcat's parents, and so leaving behind this little creature that had not even opened its eyes. It had now become the pet of the Titan Empire's third Royal Highness Princess, Alanis Alfa Morisette.
Speaking of which, our Royal Highness prince could not help but pull his face into a grimace, fuming with anger. That was his bobcat, and in the end, the princess carried that adorable little creature away without so much as a greeting. Oscar sighed in annoyance. Just for this little creature, he had purposely modified his water pouch into a milk bottle. In the end, the most disappointing thing was that even the milk bottle was snatched away by the princess.
Alanis would, of course, pay no notice to His Royal Highness Prince's feelings. Who was she? She was Titan's most honored daughter! If it were not for the God of Light, the people would have believed that the entire galaxy revolved around her.
Her Royal Highness Princess had a few pets in Dulin. She had been very fond of those little animals until one day; she gave all of them away. That was because she had accidentally discovered that her own female companion had let the animals taste all the food that was prepared for her first. Even an idiot would know just what would have happened to the little fellow.
Now the princess had a new pet. Even though she had vowed to never again rear animals, but this little bobcat was just too adorable. It had a body coated in golden yellow fur and on its fur were lightly colored black stripes. As soon as Alanis laid eyes on it, she became very fond of it. She did not believe that the prince, who could not even take care of himself, was capable of raising a pet. So without giving any reason, she snatched away LeFou. Oh, that's right! I've forgotten to let everyone know that she had named the little male cat LeFou, which was the name of the famous prince of the opera in Westland.
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26 June, noon. Despite the prince inquiring countless times, the knights standing guard outside the carriage still answered the prince's questions with sincere respect that their procession had yet to see any sign of Fort Stanson.
Colonel Kamille Rayen still insisted on using his own principles of defense. The watch at the camp was doubled during the night, and during the day, a tight lineup was implemented. The 18-man scouting squad was increased to thirty-two. It could be said that the paladin had arranged the whole procession into a hedgehog, which had spikes growing all over its whole body. However, even though this was the case, the Colonel was still dissatisfied. In the end, he arranged to have two archers on the roof of each carriage.
The procession should not have any problems now. Kamille fell to the back of the procession. He felt that unless troops trained in the mountain area launched the attack, otherwise there should not be anyone who could pose a threat to the procession that was under the protection of close to six hundred knights.
”It's already the 26th!” Kamille calculated the time. The procession was late by three full days compared to the previously scheduled time. He believed that the fifth military district's troops who were defending that land had already dispatched a search party. Once they meet, any danger would no longer happen.
In the whole mountain's forest, it seemed like there was only the monotonous rumble of the procession's advance. Occasionally, there would be a great tree reaching high into the sky, standing tall by the roadside. The knights guided the carriages to carefully make their way over the tree roots that were bulging over the surface of the ground. The mountain road was bumpy and undulated and a lot of areas showed traces of natural growth. The tall grass obscured the knights' vision. If it were not for the squad of scouts opening the road up ahead, then the guards in front would have already gotten lost within that dense forest.
”Any news from the scouts?” Kamille suddenly called to mind that he had not received any reports from the scouts for quite some time.
The deputy leader of the knights, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin faced his leader. ”No, I was just about to report to you. Do you know that all thirty-two of the scouts, not even one of them have issued a report so far? They have already exceeded the reporting time by about 10 minutes! This is a matter that absolutely cannot arise.”
Kamille's beautiful vision of the future all sank into the abyss. He knew those thirty-two scouts; they were the most excellent spies he could select from among the troops. They would return a message within the set time no matter what. What did this signify?
”Tell the ranks to stop advancing!”
”Stop advancing... Stop advancing... Stop...” The sound of Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin's shouting ceased abruptly.
Colonel Kamille Rayen's pupils contracted instantly! He gaped at the sharp arrow that had run through the deputy leader's neck with utter disbelief.
”Enemy attack!” The paladin's roar broke the silence of the mountain's forest. Kamille's spur pushed deeply into the horse's abdomen. The wine-red horse shot forwards like an arrow. The paladin used the peripheral vision at the corner of his eye and gazed vigilantly into the forest on the left of the procession. To his astonishment, he realized that countless archers were already emerging from the dense, tall grass.
”Raise your shields…” Before Kamille could finish his command, the flying locust-like arrows pierced through the air with a shrill and were heading straight towards the knight on the horse.
The mountain road boiled up like a pot of soup. The knights' orders, the miserable cries of agony, the wails of despair, and the horses' moans; the instance the arrows rained down, the peaceful earth became Asura's hell.
Kamille's shield already had six arrows embedded in it. It was evident that in the initial assault of the sneak attacker, poor Benjamin was mistaken as the commander of the troops. The well-trained narcissus knights were not flustered. They had already encountered this kind of scene countless times. Dismount, if you did not wish to become an obvious target; raise your shield, if you did not wish to become a hedgehog; use the cracks to pinpoint the direction the enemy attack was coming from if you did not wish to be defeated by the opponent's single assault.
Everything was like it had been planned. When an unforeseen attack happened, the narcissus knights did not get rattled. Although arrows struck the knights unceasingly, but the narcissus knights had already rushed the few box wagons situated at the rear of the procession to the front. Although the knights who were driving the box wagons had all fallen by the arrows, but these huge box wagons piled up with luggage already managed to shield the important people's carriages behind the curtain of arrows.