IARMDH - Chapter 66



They are being chased now, but they are still the knights of the Imperial Order. They must be planning to break the siege and escape from within.

But Erne had no intention of leaving it that way.

'Roam and the red wine medium must be captured, absolutely.'

He had an answer to give. He had to capture at least one of Roam and the Red Wine medium in a state where they could converse.

He must not allow them to be killed by excessive pursuit, or to be cornered and end up taking their own lives.

“Huh? Erne, wait a minute. What are you going to do by yourself?”

Erne gave a short signal to Marquis Mosley and ran into the villa. The tip of the sword shone brightly as it emerged from its scabbard.

***

“I was wearing all this jewelry to pretend to be crazy, but I didn’t know it would help.”

Caroline took off two earrings and gave them to Judith to pay for the lodgings where Judith and her party were staying.

Fortunately, the gate was easily passed. The guards at the checkpoint showed no suspicion at all as Caroline was riding in a carriage with the Rhineland Countess's collar and elegantly showing her the Rhineland Countess's identity card.

The carriage left the capital and arrived at the Baronial Territory of Prell after a long ride. As it was a place that people going to the port usually passed through, it was just as crowded as the capital.

“Please give me the best accommodation.”

I carefully put the jewels in my pocket. There was no reason to refuse her offer of money.

So I took the best room in the most luxurious inn in the barony.

Caroline also gave Illuor and Tan the room next to me. Illuor and Tan were left speechless at the sight of the room, which was neatly maintained and decorated with splendid interiors.

Of course, the Rhineland Manor was spacious and nice, but when they arrived, it was dusty and covered with cobwebs, almost like an abandoned house.

After living in such a place, you can't help but be attracted to a luxurious inn catering to the rich.

Illuor and Tan declared that they would not leave their room until the next morning, saying that they had to recoup their lodging expenses.

“Money is good, after all.”

I also couldn't help but be amazed and threw myself onto the large, soft bed. Lying alone on the wide bed, tossing and turning, I felt strangely empty.

I guess I've developed a habit of sleeping with Erne these past few days.

“Well, Erne must be really big.”

The emptiness seemed even greater without that large body next to me. Later, when the damp steam had all disappeared, I would sleep alone, and I would still feel empty then.

“Once Erne leaves the mansion, it’ll be empty for a while.”

After capturing Roam this time and getting the answers he wants, Erne might leave the Rhineland Mansion altogether. No, he will leave.

It is unknown where Erne will go. He may even live in the capital.

But one thing was certain: he would leave the Rhineland mansion.

In the first place, Erne lived with me because of the red wine medium's gang.

At first, he suspected that I and them were in cahoots, and later he was afraid that they would use or harm me.

After catching the red wine medium's gang, Erne had no reason to live with me.

“Well, it was planned.”

It's a waste of time and frustration. I sighed and took a deep breath.

I guess we became attached because we were together every day. Well, doesn't anyone, no, even animals, become attached when they live under the same roof?

When was the last time I felt affection for someone? I shook my head as I thought about the past. I had no good memories of my past life, so what was the point of reminiscing? Feelings of regret and emptiness were unfamiliar, so I thought about all sorts of things.

When Erne leaves, I will feel empty and sad for a moment. I will feel lonely when I am alone again, but I am used to it. I will probably get used to it in no time.

“By the way, how is Erne doing? Did he catch everything?”

Surely he wouldn't miss the red wine medium's gang even though I went all the way to Erne.

“This time, you’re going to fight while flying your body, right?”

Having seen Erne fight a few times before, I understood a little bit why he was called a mad dog.

Erne did not spare his body. He was the type of person who thought it was efficient to give up one arm and cut off the enemy's neck. Fighting with that mindset naturally led to a high risk of injury.

“I wonder if he’s going to get hurt again and insist that pouring some alcohol on the wound will make it better.”

Erne regarded alcohol as some kind of panacea. When he got hurt, he would pour alcohol on the wound and drink it. It was a disinfectant and a painkiller, or something.

“But since Marquis Mosley is by his side, he’ll be fine...”

Okay, you'll do it, right?

Suddenly, the image of Cain, who could not pray in front of Erne, came to mind, but I tried hard to ignore it.

***

“Ugh.”

Erne's sword was placed under Roam's chin, cutting off Roam's thigh. Roam, who was sitting on one knee, was covered in wounds.

“Why are you wasting your energy? You’ve never beaten me before.”

“...Huh, but do you think I could be caught so easily?”

Even though the tip of the knife could have pierced his neck at any moment, Roam laughed as if he had lost his mind.

“Can I arrest the criminal?”

Erne took a small step back as he saw two soldiers approaching with ropes.

This place was starting to get a bit more organized.

A total of fifteen people, including a woman and a baby believed to be the Marquis of Ferney's mistress, and Roam and Red Wine medium, were arrested.

Among them, three criminals who resisted particularly fiercely were eventually killed, but the key figure was captured alive. Erne waved his sword in the air as he watched the red wine medium being dragged away.

“...”

The drops of blood stuck to the blade scattered into the air, and in the air, the gazes of the red wine medium and Erne met.

The medium looked at Erne for a long time and then muttered, 'He will be here soon.'

“Why are you saying that to me?”

The moment Erne was about to go to the red wine medium, Roam's voice grabbed his ankle.

“That old man says that every time he sees you. Well, it’s just an exclamation to him, so it might not mean much. But anyway, it seems like your skills have improved.”

Tied up, Roam looked at Erne with interest.

“Did you gain any enlightenment when you died?”

“What does that mean?”

Erne grabbed Roam by the collar, who couldn't even resist. His eyes gleamed fiercely.

“Erne, don’t do this here. This isn’t something we should be talking about here. There are a lot of eyes watching.”

Cain ran over and stopped Erne. Roam let out a snicker.

“Yeah, that’s not the place to talk about it. It’s a long story.”

Erne roughly let go of the hand that was holding Roam's collar and recited coldly.

“It would be a perfect conversation to have in a place like an underground interrogation room, wouldn’t it?”

Roam chuckled at Erne's words to expect a rough interrogation.

***

Erne said to Cain as he watched Roam get into the convict transport carriage.

“Keep a close eye on him, he might commit suicide. Put a gag in his mouth so he can’t bite his tongue.”

“Yes. You’re going to come straight to prison, too?”

Of course, he intended to do so. There was an answer he needed to hear from Roam and the Red Wine Medium. Erne waited for quite some time to hear that answer.

“Erne, why aren’t you answering? Are you going to come right away? Then I’ll send a soldier to guide you.”

But for some reason, Erne didn't say anything about going straight to prison. From the morning until now, during the fight in the mud and the smell of blood, Erne couldn't shake off thoughts of Judith.

There is no fear. There are many large merchant ships and quite a few cities along the way to the port, so it is said to be safe, but Judith does not have a single proper escort.

Even if she arrives safely at the port, he cannot rest assured, for the port is a place where criminals and outlaws run rampant, with people of unclear status.

It would be nice to meet the Marchioness Ferney's brother right away, but he doesn't know when he will arrive.

If only they had taken Henry with them, it would have been a little more reassuring... It wouldn’t have been good. Erne roughly brushed back his disheveled hair. He had a feeling that going to the interrogation room like this would be useless.

“Keep him alive until I get back. If he dies, you die too.”

“Wait, wait, Erne. You’re coming back?”

“I’m going out for a bit, so make sure those two guys stay alive until I get back.”

“Would you mind if you explained to me what your plan is so that I could understand it? Yes? Don’t just go ahead and explain it to me, Erne!”

Erne waited a long time to hear an answer. What harm would it do to wait another day or two?

He didn't think he could properly interrogate them since his mind was elsewhere.

“Where are you going? Erne, where are you going!”

"Port."

Erne, who was turning around, turned back towards Cain.

“I’m going to the port. You don’t go there. And neither do your men.”

“Why are you going there all of a sudden?”

“No matter what happens, don’t come back, okay?”

Erne, who had warned him, climbed onto Gold, who was tied up far away, regardless of whether the Marquis was bewildered or shocked.

“Let’s go to the person who gave you your name.”


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