Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 39

039. Predator (3)

They escaped the cliff and ran to Aslan’s cabin. I decided that even if I had to run away, it would be a good idea to take along simple weapons and food.

Above all, the bandits who were with them had all spread out, so it would take some time for their escape to reach Jerome’s ears.

Dry matter and grain powder. Flint and various medicinal herbs. Aslan’s mind was complicated as he stuffed several traps and weapons into his bag.

Sooner or later, Jerome’s men will block all paths to the bottom of the mountain. Since they are probably in cahoots with the village guard, they cannot enter Flandor.

So should I go towards Carthage? Although you have to go around a lot of mountain paths, it might be the ideal option if you can get over it safely.

However, if the gate guard discovers that you have crossed over from Flandor, you will not be able to avoid being treated as a spy there. Although there is currently a lull, Carthage and Flanders are still at war.

‘… After all, is there only the Principality of Assein, which is a third country?’

no. First of all, the priority is to escape to the mountains and survive from Jerome. Let’s hide deep in the western mountains, deep out of reach of the search party.

How long will it take for a gap to appear in the border? 1 week? one month? Should we really have one season?

Bart, who watched Aslan packing up various things for a moment, quietly made a comment.

“You won’t need that much luggage. No matter how long it is, the flight shouldn’t take more than three days. “It would be a good idea to make your body as light as possible.”

“… … ?”

Aslan stopped packing his luggage and looked at Bart with a stern face. In his complicated mind, Bart’s words, which he had casually overheard until now, were reappearing again.

-It doesn’t seem like we have much time, so how about going down the mountain now?

-It will get crazy in a little while, so I think it would be a good idea for you to rest and store up your stamina.

Did he know in advance that this would happen?

Bart, who was able to read the question on Aslan’s face, glanced outside the door and added,

“I don’t know this place very well, but I can guess something from this chaotic atmosphere. It looks like a punitive force will be launched soon.”

… yes? Why does the story suddenly become like that?

But Bart left the cabin without any further explanation.

“It was too late. “We must leave now.”

Aslan pulled back several bags of grain and heavy traps, then roughly tied the bag and followed him.

I hadn’t known Bart very long, but from what I had experienced so far, I thought that what he said wasn’t just nonsense. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to run as far away as possible, keeping in mind that a punitive force would come.

However, when the topic of the punitive force came up, there was one person who was caught. This is old man Max from the blacksmith shop, with whom I have maintained a superficial friendship since coming here.

An old man who just drinks quietly and is quite kind. I wanted to get at least that one thing out of here.

“I don’t know much about old man Max’s past, but he is still a person who has been banging on metal since he came here.”

Will the incoming punitive force understand such a situation?

Considering that the innocent Seymour and Gustav, who were previously detained by the bandits, were eventually brutally killed by Rohan’s punitive force, it would be safe to say that there is little chance that the old man left here will survive.

Of course, there were countless reasons not to take him.

There is a high possibility that Jerome has already released his men into the mountains to catch the spy. In that situation, it would be virtually impossible to escape with even one more lump.

Old Man Max’s legs were too slow, and he wouldn’t have been able to climb the steep mountain. He’s an old man who knows nothing but drinking, so he might be drunk and asleep in the blacksmith shop right now.

Jerome’s men are men at the prime of their powers, and they are adept at cutting and plundering.

On the other hand, what is the power of this side? There was only one half-baby Auror user and one prisoner wearing heavy handcuffs. Of course, the prisoner’s fighting prowess was unexpected.

But instead of saying all these words, Bart looked into Aslan’s eyes for a moment and then asked:

“… “Won’t you regret it?”

“… … .”

Aslan hesitated. Because he knew very well that depending on his answer, he could be putting himself and Bart in danger. If you think about it in common sense, it was no different than declaring that he was going to die.

However, at some point, Aslan developed an unfounded belief in Bart. It was a strange belief that if Aslan really wanted it, he would help in some way.

Also, if Bart thought it was completely impossible, wouldn’t he have told Aslan so?

Aslan had talked to Bart before. Even if he dies soon, he wants to be proud at least while he lives. If I left a good, helpless old man who could have helped me if I wanted to help him, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

The boy looked directly into Bart’s eyes and nodded vigorously.

“Yes, I won’t regret it.”

For a moment, I wondered if Bart had a faint smile on his face.

Tuk. He lightly hit Aslan on the head and turned around without saying anything.

When they hurriedly arrived at the blacksmith shop, unfortunately, old Max was very drunk.

Hiccup hiccup. A look of disappointment appeared on Aslan’s face as he saw his old man with his eyes half-open and unable to recognize the visitor.

‘… Is it wrong after all?’

But Bart strode past him and placed one hand on the old man’s shiny head. Soon, a bright light leaks out from his hand and instantly embraces the old man’s entire body.

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

“uh… “Mom?”

The old man’s red eyes suddenly returned to normal and widened.

“Huh? Sudden hangover? Huh? My waist? Chronic knee arthritis?”

Bart passed by the old man, who had not yet figured out the situation, and started heading towards the road leading to the mountain. Aslan, who was following him, pulled Old Max by the arm and spoke quickly.

“I’ll explain it later, so just follow me for now. “We don’t have time right now.”

“Uh oh, wait a minute! Take care of my bottle… … .”

The old man was flustered, but Aslan ignored his words and pulled his arm with all his strength. Now is not the time to look into your drinking situation.

Fortunately, the old man saw their mood and seemed to sense that something serious was going on, so he followed them without saying a word. Seeing that his steps are not as slow as I thought, it seems that the claim that his chronic arthritis has disappeared is not just empty talk.

Bart would occasionally stop and look into space, then get his bearings and start walking quickly. This is an unstoppable move that would never be seen by someone who has only recently come to the slash-and-burn village.

They managed to enter the path deep into the forest without encountering any bandits.

Beep.

A whistle was heard from behind. This is the sound of the emergency whistle that sounds when something serious happens in a slash-and-burn village. It looks like their escape was discovered.

Soon there was an uproar throughout the village.

Yelling. A rumbling sound. Another whistle.

The group held their breath and walked quickly away from the village.

After walking along the path for a while, a search team member came out from the side of the bush holding a sword. It was the first enemy she encountered.

“oh! These guys were here! wherever… … .”

But his words did not last long. As if he had known the guy’s appearance in advance, Bart swung his fist without even looking at him.

Wow. The bandit’s body, with a neat handcuff stamp on the bridge of his nose, collapses helplessly and disappears among the bushes.

Bart stopped again, looked into space, and this time turned around and entered a road that was not a road. It seemed like he was moving forward while guessing something, but Aslan couldn’t even guess what he was seeing with those eyes.

After a while, they encountered a two-person search team again, but this time it was all over before they could even open their mouths. This was because Bart jumped out and got his head hit with the handcuffs in an instant.

Plop, plop. It was an extremely efficient move without any waste.

Old Max’s mouth dropped open.

“Mother? So, what did that friend do?”

So they say he’s an apothecary who was a former priest and devil worshiper, but I don’t know anymore.

Bart turned again.

From then on, they were able to climb the mountain until late at night without encountering any bandits. Considering that search teams were covering the entire mountain, it was like a miracle.

They walked without stopping, picking up dry goods. Sometimes, old Max drags his legs because he is tired, but every time Bart comes and pours out divine power, he immediately feels refreshed.

“Oh, my long-standing gout?”

The old man’s face brightens up. My back, which was always hunched over, is now straightened out.

I feel like I’ve gotten a little younger, but maybe that’s an illusion?

Bart also gave Aslan some divine power a couple of times, and he felt the tension in his muscles that had been overworked all day relax and his whole body feel energized.

Aslan broke into a cold sweat. Is this what divine power actually is? There is no cost and it seems like a complete scam.

In the distance, you can see small torches moving down the mountainside. As the sun begins to set, the search appears to be in full swing.

Fortunately, the distance was wide enough, and once they crossed the ridge, the torches were no longer visible. Soon the whole place was immersed in darkness.

They walked a little further along the dark mountain path, following Bart’s lead. It was deep in the mountains, where even Aslan had never been.

Soon, a small cave appeared as if it were a lie, and only then did Bart stop walking. There was a deep look of fatigue on his face that he couldn’t hide.

“It would be best to rest here today.”

Aslan quickly prepared camp. He roughly raked up nearby leaves and dried moss, spread them out, and laid down the thin blanket he had brought with him.

The three people sat huddled together on a blanket. The night in the mountains was cold, but it was impossible to make a fire while being chased.

Fortunately, Aslan and Old Man Max were in the best physical condition recently thanks to the generous pouring of divine power. Aslan wrapped the only thick blanket around Bart without hesitation.

He was extremely exhausted, despite the fact that he had been fighting bandits all day long, and his auror-inactive body still looked irritable. Without saying a word, he wrapped himself in a blanket, closed his eyes, and immediately fell into a sleep as if he were dead.

“… What is all this about? “What do you mean by sudden subjugation?”

The old man lowered his voice and whispered in case Bart woke up. Aslan had also blindly followed Bart’s words and had nothing to say to him.

“I don’t know either. “There have been rumors going around lately that Grand Duke Assin is organizing a punitive force, right?”

But old Max tilted his head.

“Isn’t that what Rodrigo was talking about at first? About a month ago, people were talking about Asin’s punitive force and spies, but at some point, everyone in the slash-and-burn village was talking about it. But was that a rumor with any basis?”

Was this a story started by Rodrigo?

At the old man’s unexpected words, Aslan furrowed his eyebrows and became lost in thought.

Rodrigo was a refugee from Ortona, and I heard that he was one of the thieves who first settled in this slash-and-burn village and later joined Jerome’s gang. Recently, he has been more active than anyone else in breaking up the top of Asia Inbal, but he is worried about the punitive force?

If Asin’s punitive force was really a rumor, where did the punitive force that Bart mentioned come from?

Aslan looked at the person who might know all the answers, but he was asleep without making a breathing sound. The boy scratched his head.

“Well, do you guys understand? Still, if you go straight this way, you will cross the Carthaginian border. “I’m not sure if I can pass the gate, but if I succeed, I can completely escape the bandits.”

“… I see.”

The old man nodded.

“I’m finally getting out of here.”

“… … .”

Although he could not make out old Max’s expression in the dark cave, Aslan felt a hint of regret in his voice, and his heart sank a little.

The old man and the boy, who sat a little closer together to conserve body heat, soon fell asleep side by side.

fantasy,