Rabbit Hunt (2)
The advance party of about a hundred knights and two carriages was sure to be visible everywhere.
We were seen off by the locals until we reached the outer city.
As soon as we passed the outer wall, the speed really picked up.
We ran steadily without stopping and arrived at the border of Eldern just as the sun was setting over the mountain ridge.
It was the mountain lodge where I met Rahon.
As the hundred knights began to set up camp around the lodge, an ordinary carriage pulled into the lodge.
Even though it was a visit from a stranger, no one stopped him.
The carriage passed the knights leisurely and entered the front yard of the lodge. A small face suddenly appeared from the wide-open window.
"Sister!"
"Ellie!"
"Brother, let me down!"
"Don't bother me again or you'll get hurt. Just wait quietly."
Hugh stopped the carriage politely and got off the coachman's seat. With his help, Ellie got off the carriage and walked to me without crutches. It seemed like she had been working hard on her rehabilitation.
"We arrived just in time, right?"
"Yeah, good job."
"Sister, I don't use crutches anymore."
"Really? Wow, congratulations!"
"Hey, what do you mean by this? But What is this carriage? It's really nice."
Ellie, who was looking at the carriage I had come in with her eyes wide open, asked incredulously.
"No, why do you want to take our carriage when you have such a nice carriage?"
When the early return was decided, we discussed the itinerary.
"The Third Prince will definitely try to prevent us from attending the summit. I would have done the same thing."
"The Knights will stop them."
"I have no doubt that the Duke will be able to block it successfully. However, I am worried that it will take a long time."
"Millennia is right. If we keep blocking their interference one by one, we'll be able to arrive at the capital only after the summit is over."
"Hmm, then it would be best to split up our group and lure them out."
"My thoughts are similar to those of Kalit. Instead, we divide the group into real and fake."
The plan was simple.
While they chase after a luxurious carriage escorted by a hundred knights, we transfer to an ordinary carriage and travel.
Of course, they'd figure out that we were fakes during the first raid, but it'd be hard to chase us then.
We're just going to keep running without stopping.
"People are blocking our return. We need to avoid them and quietly go to the capital, but this carriage is too conspicuous."
"So you changed your clothes too?"
I had taken off the dress I had worn when I left and changed into a plain one-piece dress.
"The carriage is ordinary, but it would be strange if it looked too rich..."
My worries that she might be scared were for naught, but Ellie looked so excited that her eyes sparkled.
"Wow, this is so exciting! It's like a novel!"
"Oh, really?"
At that moment, Nicola came with a cloak. Nicola took off his priestly habit and zucchetto and put on ordinary clothes, looking like a scholar.
"Nadia put this on for the young lady."
"Thank you, Father."
"You have to call me by my name."
"Oh, right. I understand, Uncle Nicola."
As Nadia was putting the cloak on me, Ian, Rahon, and Kalit came out of the lodge.
Nadia, who was looking at the three men with rapt eyes, muttered blankly.
"That's right. Even if a jewel is buried in the mud, it still shines."
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Even though they were dressed in old clothes on purpose, the three men were still dripping with sweat.
I'd rather you wear your original clothes. Your appearance and style can't possibly go together like this.
Nicola also gave them cloaks.
"You three, never take off your cloaks. Especially Lord Rahon, you must be careful not to accidentally reveal your face. Got it?"
Ian and Kalit needed cloaks in case someone recognized them, and Rahon was just a necessity.
It was an appearance that caught people's attention just by existing, so it had to be covered up.
I pulled my hood down low, listening to Rahon grumbling that it was frustrating.
"Let's go."
***
Nadia, Ellie, and I got into the carriage driven by Hugh. Ian, Rahon, Kalit, and Nicola followed on horseback.
After crossing the mountain all night, we passed by the city closest to Eldern.
After that, I continued to run for three days and nights, stopping only briefly in the city when I needed food.
Meanwhile, Nadia and I had been sleeping soundly from car sickness all day, while the five men, including Hugh, took turns sleeping in the carriage.
The most sane person was surprisingly Ellie. If Ellie hadn't packed our lunches, Nadia and I would have starved.
On the fourth day, when I was beginning to feel like I might die, Kalit suggested that we stay for a day in the next city.
No one objected, and yet we had to run for another half a day before we finally reached the city. The carriage finally stopped in front of a small inn without even a sign. A groan escaped Nadia's lips.
"I, I survived..."
I couldn't even moan.
My back felt like it was going to break, and my head felt like someone was grabbing it and shaking it. I was envious of Ellie, who had fallen asleep without a care in the world.
"Oh, Miss, are you okay?"
"Ugh..."
Hugh carried the sleeping Ellie in his arms, and I got out of the carriage with Nadia's help.
It's strange. I'm clearly on the ground, but why do I still feel like I'm in a carriage?
Ian, Rahon, and Kalit approached me as I kept my mouth shut and endured severe motion sickness.
All three men were fine, even though their cloaks were a mess and covered in dirt. Even Hugh looked a little tired, but it was Nicola who was the problem.
Nicola, who had been lying on the horse's back like a dead man, rolled down.
He landed in a hunched position and was unable to move.
"Ra, Lord Rahon, my, my waist..."
Only after Rahon got annoyed and used his power on Nicola were we able to enter the small, old inn that didn't even have a sign.
Creak, the wooden door creaked open.
A middle-aged man sitting on a chair reading a newspaper glanced over.
"Are you planning to stay overnight?"
Nicola was taken aback by the owner's indifferent reaction.
"I think so, but... Are you not in business by any chance?"
"Can't you tell by the door being open?"
I feel sorry for the owner, but the inn looked to be on the verge of closing down.
The windows had clear traces of gold lining, and the floor was rotted in places as if it had not been maintained for a long time.
It was a place that only those with very little money would visit. As proof, we were the only guests in the quiet inn.
'That's why we chose this inn.'
The owner folded the newspaper and threw it on the table.
"How would you like to use the room?"
"Please give me three. Can we eat too?"
"If we start preparing now, it wilI take about 30 minutes."
"It's perfect. I'll wash up and come down."
"In our house, we only fill the bathtub once a day. Please share the water as you wish."
"Yes."
We decided to meet at the restaurant after taking a bath and went into our respective rooms.
Ellie, Nadia, and I will share one room, and the five men will share the rest of the rooms.
Squeak, squeak.
The stairs screamed. My bones were shaking as if they were going to collapse.
We walked up to the second floor as quietly as possible.
As soon as I entered the room, Nadia took off my clothes. If Ellie hadn't been there, I would have done it myself, but I had no choice.
When I whispered to her.
"I'm sorry."
Looking at her face which was covered in fatigue, Nadia smiled and said it was okay.
After that, I woke up Ellie who was nodding off and the three of us took a bath together.
It was my first time taking a bath with someone else, but it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought. I was surprised at how pretty Nadia's body was.
By the time we finished bathing, it was way past our scheduled time. We quickly changed our clothes and went out.
"Oh, wait a minute, Miss. I'll get your bag."
It was a bag that Nadia treasured as if it were her life, as it contained checks.
"Yeah, take your time."
While I was waiting for Nadia to come out with Ellie, the door to the room across from me opened and a bunch of men came rushing out.
When we got here, we were the only guests. When did they get in?
All six of them looked unusual. They must have bought whatever they could whenever they had money because each piece of armor was different.
Their appearances were all equally fierce. Some had excessively bulging muscles and tattoos.
'Are you a mercenary?'
It was when I had a bad feeling and hugged Ellie's shoulder.
"What the hell, if we keep doing this and other guys find it first, aren't we just going to end up like dogs chasing chickens?"
"At least give me the exact information. I know that one of the two women is blind, but you can tell the four men just by looking at their faces. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I guess he has a big scar on his face. All the guys who just cover their faces are exposed."
"What crime did these guys commit that they deserve a reward just for reporting them to the police?"
"I don't know. Let's just eat something. I'm so hungry."
I couldn't help but know. We are the ones they are looking for.
Oslo hired a bounty hunter.
My heart was pounding like crazy.
Calm down. They don't know who l am.
That was when.
"Wait a minute, shouldn't we check that woman too? She's covering her face."
The man's eyes turned this way. At that moment, Ellie shook my hand wildly.
"Sister, sister, I have to go to the bathroom! It's urgent!"
"Sorry, let's go in quickly."
Ellie entered the room first and pulled me inside.
The men's voices came through the crack in the slowly closing door.
"You idiots, have you forgotten? I said both women were adults. I didn't say anything about there being a child."
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