Chapter 14

――The silver long sword flashed, severing the horse and the rider in one stroke, while the knife, drenched in dark red, cut through the neck again.

It was a perfect ambush, and only one rider managed to escape. He fled like a hare, never looking back, his breath ragged, his mind consumed by sheer terror. The two figures watched him go, saying nothing, making no move to pursue. The silence was even more eerie.

And the one who survived would later say, "I was attacked by a red-black demon and a silver-haired witch."

*

Jolted by the unfamiliar vibrations of the horse, I sneezed. Was someone speaking ill of me?

I managed to save my life, but my body was covered in cuts and scrapes. The pain from the lacerations made me grit my teeth.

Moreover, the juice that had splashed onto my hair began to emit a strong, sweet smell as time passed. I was used to bad odors, but this overly sweet scent was almost a form of torture.

"But you, aren't you more suited to being an assassin than an adventurer?"

As I struggled to endure the smell, Karia Bardonic, who was holding the reins in front of me, turned around and said this.

I sighed heavily, my mouth twisting into a frown as I looked at her.

"It's not a bad idea. You have the necessary senses for ambushes and stealth. Breath control, timing, luck. Your skills were quite impressive, as if you had been trained."

She wrinkled her nose and blinked, looking like a curious cat.

"...Being an adventurer always leaves you with a guilty conscience. I, in particular, avoid unnecessary head-on confrontations."

I wiped off as much of the juice as I could, along with the blood. The mixture of the metallic smell and the sweet scent was overwhelming, and I let it fly off the horse onto the road, but if I left it, my nose would go numb.

"Anyway, we let one escape, so let's hurry. If they come after us, it will be troublesome. It won't go this smoothly next time."

"---Understood. I don't particularly enjoy fighting mounted opponents on foot. Hold on."

I thought, this isn't something someone who could sever a rider and a horse's neck in one stroke would say. Could this woman have a distant ancestor who was a giant, causing a regression?

Karia Bardonic nodded and tightened the reins, and I grabbed her waist in response. Her build was surprisingly slender and unreliable. It made me realize that, despite everything, she was just an ordinary woman. Of course, it was natural, but there was a strange sense of discomfort and embarrassment.

"But to think we would be attacked on such a road. The country's security has deteriorated. As a knight, it's shameful. The knights' policy seems to be that only the capital and its surroundings are the country."

Her words were filled with pity and self-reproach.

The security of this era was far from safe, a fact. And the leader of the attackers, who was the main cause, would likely shake and further deteriorate the entire country, a fact that had already passed in my mind.

Ah, this time, it will probably be the same, I thought, accepting it purely.

The commander, who wore a helmet, had a ring with an engraving on his finger. I had taken it in the chaos and quietly hidden it in my pocket, nodding silently in response to Karia Bardonic's words.

*

Coryden Fort is a relic left behind by history.

During the reign of the king known as the Architect, many forts, checkpoints, and walls were rebuilt and reconditioned. The massive project, funded by vast wealth and taxes, was criticized as a tyranny at the time, but it was undeniable that the king's efforts had successfully defended against three invasions by foreign tribes and two major attacks by external enemies.

However, this border fort, Coryden, was left behind even in the wake of those achievements.

Its location, backed by mountains, made it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Historically, this fort was mentioned several times in wars with the West, but since the relationship with the Western League of Nations turned friendly, it had not seen much action.

Now, being sent here was considered a comfortable demotion.

"Still, we were processed surprisingly quickly. The reception was terrible, though."

We're in such a state, I said, showing the tattered, blood-splattered, and juice-stained clothes.

Inside, the fort was as it looked from the outside, made of stone and clay. It was deteriorating in places, dusty, and the atmosphere of the meeting room was dark. It seemed to be rarely used, or perhaps this level of room was considered sufficient for us.

In response to my light-hearted comment, Karia Bardonic's lips moved with an unusually tense expression.

"...Yeah, try to maintain some decorum without being too rude. Where's the letter?"

I took it out of my pocket. It was crumpled and stained with juice, looking more like a rag than a letter.

Karia Bardonic snatched it, frowning as she tried to smooth out the wrinkles. She was unusually earnest.

However, why are we being kept waiting when we're just delivering a message? I scratched my nose and tilted my head. Adventurers are rarely allowed formal audiences, no matter what job they take. I had expected to hand the letter to a guard or their superior and be done with it.

Is it because of her? I glanced at her.

"...Ah, be more careful with it..."

Indeed, it seemed so. Seeing Karia Bardonic's body stiffen, I placed my hand on my chin. I remembered she had her own business to attend to, which is why she joined this mission. This formal audience must be related to her business.

But I don't mind if she gives it back to me. What's the point of going through an unrelated adventurer?

---Creak

The wooden door groaned as it opened, revealing a single person.

His eyes were sharp, almost fierce, with a large scar over his right eye. His clothes, though not luxurious, were of a quality far superior to commoners' garments, with tasteful decorations that enhanced his refined appearance.

Most notably, the sword and scabbard at his waist, adorned with gold, and the emblem on it. There was no doubt who this person was.

"---It's been a long time, Father."

Karia Bardonic knelt and bowed her head, speaking in a meek voice. I followed suit, kneeling on the stone floor.

"You were told not to call me that in an official setting, Karia."

There was no doubt. This person was Karia Bardonic's father.

The current head of the Bardonic family, Barbridge Bardonic, himself.