Chapter 59

"Jaguar!"

It was a shadow jaguar.

Although it was created by magic, everything about it was the same as the real thing except for its entirely black color.

The jaguar that had bitten Laub's arm tightened its jaw.

Crack

A strange sound came from his arm. Laub could feel the jaguar's hot breath and the stench. It seemed his arm was broken. Perhaps it was only this bad because he had a sturdy leather gauntlet wrapped around his arm.

The jaguar's claws dug into his shoulder. Had his shoulder bone shattered too?

It was an unexpected ambush. However, his attention was completely focused on Ririka. At that moment, a third party's voice was heard.

"It's real! The badge is broken!"

"Good, capture the princess!"

"Kill the knight!"

"No, don't approach! If the jaguar recognizes us, what will we do? Capture that thing first!"

"What about the others?"

"Sandal? Shoot him too!"

Laub gritted his teeth. He began to push the jaguar with all his might.

'No way.'

His strength was insufficient. He could feel the heat in his blood being sucked into the necklace.

His necklace.

His gem.

A gift from His Lordship to allow him to live a normal life.

While he hesitated for a moment, the enemies fired their arrows.

Ririka placed her hand on the pendant and shouted. Instinctively, she cast the spell she had practiced with His Majesty.

"Kentauna (Steel Shield)!"

Several arrows bounced off the semi-transparent shield. Pai didn't miss this opportunity. His arm swiftly snatched Ririka.

"Laub...?!"

She gasped, suddenly feeling a tight grip on her stomach.

"Main attack!"

Ririka felt Laub's voice more like a scream. Pai didn't stop and started to ride the horse.

"Wait, Pai!!"

He can't be left behind!

Pai pressed her head tightly and shouted.

"Princess, again!"

Even in this desperate situation, Ririka instinctively understood what he wanted.

"Kentauna!"

Some arrows bounced off, and at the same time, the shield broke. Ririka felt a dull pain shake her body as the shield shattered.

She realized for the first time that if she couldn't block everything with magic, the impact would still affect her.

"Magic gun."

Pai gritted his teeth.

Ririka glanced back. To her surprise, she saw Laub throwing the jaguar away. There weren't many people, but they rushed at Laub with weapons in hand.

Woof woof woof—!

A long howling sound was heard. Goosebumps ran down her spine.

And then, Laub, he—

Pai covered her eyes. Ririka shouted.

"Pai Sandal! Go back right now, or else!"

"Go back in front of a rampaging wolf that can't distinguish friend from foe? Besides, there might be more enemies."

Pai's words were calm. His mind was racing.

He thought they would go deeper into the forest, but a carriage was prepared inside.

Pai dismounted the horse and hurriedly said to Ririka.

"Princess, this way."

Ririka placed her hand on the pendant and looked at Pai. Her small hand tightly gripped the horse's mane.

"Princess—"

"Don't come any closer!"

Ririka sharply shouted.

"How do I know Pai isn't with those people?"

"That's—"

At that moment, a light flashed from the other side. Pai noticed it first and pulled Ririka towards him.

"!!"

As they fell to the ground, Pai covered her with his body.

Thud!

The gun barrel embedded itself in the tree where she had been standing. Pai, still holding Ririka, immediately stood up and threw her into the carriage like a sack of goods.

Ririka panted. Pai said,

"It was a sniper rifle. It takes time to reload after the first shot..."

Thud!

A small sound was heard. Pai said,

"The carriage is equipped with an artifact that can block a magic gun."

Ririka, breathing heavily, asked,

"Southern Union?"

"Yes, but I didn't think they were this capable. It seems they received support from someone—"

As Pai muttered, a bundle of blankets began to move, startling Ririka.

Pai, holding the bundle of blankets, said,

"Sorry, did I scare you? It's okay. I'll start the carriage. I don't want to stay here and wait for the enemies."

Ririka nodded blankly in response to Pai's words. As the carriage started, Pai quickly said,

"I'm really sorry to serve you like this, Princess. But everything was unexpected... This is my younger sister, Feri."

It wasn't a bundle of blankets but a person wearing a large hooded robe, with nothing visible.

She wrote on a stone tablet and showed it to Ririka.

I'm sorry, Princess. My brother only insisted on meeting you because he really wanted to.