Chapter 47. Shut Up

"Lady Erica!"

At the subordinate's shout, Erica put down her documents. There were hardly any good cases here due to the fuss made by her subordinates...

"The Countess Mary and her son Chel have been found!"

"What?"

But this time was different. It was quite unexpected good news! Erica's eyes sparkled with joy.

"Where?!"

"It was at the northern gate. Two horses broke through, pushing aside the soldiers who were trying to inspect them. There were four of them in total, and they split into two directions as soon as they passed the gate."

"Four? Are Mary and Chel among them?"

"They were wearing hoods, so I couldn't see clearly, but it was said that a boy's hair before adulthood had a reddish tint. The woman also seemed to be middle-aged, with a resemblance to Lady Mary. The ones riding the horses are likely the surviving knights."

Erica walked briskly to the table and spread out the map. If they split into two directions after passing the northern gate, they would have gone in completely opposite directions, east and west. Mary and Chel wouldn't have wanted to separate.

"Any pursuit?"

"For now, the inspection soldiers are chasing them, but we need to send reinforcements quickly."

"Reported location."

"They are estimated to have reached this point."

"Hold on a moment..."

Erica slowly traced the path of Mary and Chel with both hands. They had split left and right but were still heading north. North? North... Erica's eyes sharply gleamed.

"Merelop, exclude this. They must have locked the gate to avoid getting involved..."

Next after Merelop was Sheiron, a city famous for commerce. In fact, it was a place that would take over ten days to reach by land.

Considering that it took two weeks to travel from Brats to the capital, it was a truly absurd estimated time. This was because they had to cross the 'Denba Mountains,' which marked the border.

"They seem to be heading for Sheiron."

"Sheiron has roads leading to almost all other territories. If they head to Fontroll, the Countess Brats' hometown, they could reach it in a day by horse."

"Fontroll, good. Send a messenger bird."

"How many men should we send in the pursuit team?"

"For now..."

Erica hesitated for a moment. The appearance of an ally was troubling her. It was strange that a knight had survived while Derga was imprisoned in the underground dungeon. She had little prior knowledge about the remote regions, so it was concerning if they had hidden forces.

Mary and Chel might be luring them into the mountains.

"For now, send about twenty men."

Erica glanced out the window as she gave the order. Some unfamiliar animals were playing and running around the garden. If she pulled out all her forces, she might lose control of the mansion to the Qianli clan. For now, this was the maximum.

"The knights, even with a woman and a child, would find it difficult to handle twenty men. If any problems arise, have them continue the pursuit and send another messenger bird."

"Yes, I understand."

"Bring them back alive if possible. If that's not feasible, at least bring back their bodies, no, their heads. Got it?"

"I'll make sure to emphasize that."

The subordinate, having received Erica's orders, hurriedly ran out. Even if they fled, they wouldn't last long.

Erica smiled contentedly as she looked at the map. If she could capture Mary and Chel, she could easily suppress Ian and the Qianli clan.

She didn't know then.

That her smile would last only four days.

* * *

"This way!"

"This way!"

"Split and run in both directions!"

Clatter, clatter!

Two horses galloped between the giant trees that seemed to support the world. The central army's pursuit team chased them fiercely. The Qianli warriors, meanwhile, moved gracefully between the trees, even having the leisure to look back.

"Damn!"

The central army believed even more that these were Derga's knights. They seemed to know the way well, unlike the pursuit team who were unfamiliar with the area.

Swoosh.

But the Qianli warriors could find their way because of the hawks signaling from the sky. Unlike the land, which was a mess of rocks, moss, and tough weeds, the sky was free and unobstructed.

"Should we stop here?"

"There seem to be about twenty of them in total."

Whistle.

One of the warriors whistled to signal a change in plan. They sent the horses into the bushes and then leaped down, landing with movements that were not human.

"The target has stopped!"

"Stop! Surround them!"

Neigh!

The only sounds in the dense forest were the cries of unknown beasts. The entire pursuit team aimed their bows and shouted.

"Drop your weapons and surrender!"

"Reveal your identity, show your face!"

But the two men's response was to draw their swords. Seeing the clear intent to fight, the pursuit team swallowed hard and pulled their bowstrings tighter.

"Who's the leader here?"

"W-What?"

"Who's the leader? I asked."

The pursuit team hesitated for a moment. The man's speech seemed a bit awkward.

But before they could think further, the leader of the pursuit team stepped forward, drew his sword, and the two men attacked without hesitation.

"Kill all the fugitives!"

"Shoot, shoot! Fire the arrows!"

"I'll spare just one of those who fight back!"

"You bastards!"

Clang! Clank!

The two warriors leaped nimbly into the air, signaling the start of the battle. Arrows rained down on them, but they deflected them with their swords and charged forward. Two arrows pierced the arm of one of the warriors.

Thud!

Swish!

"Aaah!"

At the same moment, the head of the pursuit team leader fell. Blood spurted like a fountain, but no one could believe this reality. Was this a human? Or a beast? This question rose in the leader's mind.

"Sh-Sh..."

Swish!

Twenty men. The force they thought would be enough was scattered uselessly. Soon, the sounds of humans dying filled the air more loudly than the cries of beasts.

The warriors stared down at a trembling, cowering member of the pursuit team. They exchanged a glance.

'He said we should let one go, right?'

'Yes. That way, the second pursuit team will follow.'

Whistle!

"Ugh! Spare me, spare me! Please spare me!"

The warriors called the hawk to confirm the horse's location and then left without hesitation. The panicked soldier, unaware of their presence, continued to beg for mercy. When he finally lifted his head, the men were long gone like the wind.

"Wh-What..."

Could there be such monsters? It felt like a dream. If it weren't for the bodies of his comrades scattered around, the soldier would have definitely thought it was a dream.

* * *

"What did you just say?"

Erica asked in disbelief. The soldier, covered in dirt and blood, continued to stutter as he described the battle.

"The pursuit team was annihilated."

"How... how could that happen..."

"They were indeed Derga's knights. Their movements were extraordinary, as if they had special abilities. They seemed to be of the swordmaster class. I couldn't confirm their faces, and we couldn't recover the bodies of our comrades."

She kept letting out hollow laughter and licking her lips. Twenty men. No matter how skilled the knights were, they should have left some clues. It was hard to believe they were defeated so one-sidedly.

"Location?"

"I remember it."

"Mary and Chel, are you sure?"

"I'm certain. Their hoods were pulled off a few times during the pursuit. It was Chel, and it was Mary."

"Damn. I'll form a second pursuit team."

"Lady Erica, if I may, I don't think forming a team will work. We might need to mobilize all our forces..."

Erica's eyes widened at the soldier's words. Who didn't know that? Of course, it would be easier and better to capture them all at once! But there were circumstances that prevented her from leaving the mansion.

"I'm sorry."

"You can go now."

As soon as the soldier left, Erica threw the table across the room. It was fortunate to have found Mary and Chel, but if the battle dragged on longer than expected, it would be problematic.

"Damn it, really! Why is the response from the capital so slow?"

"Probably because they are coming by land..."

Reports, orders, or simple letters could be sent using messenger birds, but official letters with the emperor's seal had to be delivered by a responsible official in a carriage.

Especially since this was an important letter of ennoblement, it would come in a golden carriage, which was as efficient as giving it to a dog.

"What about Ian's group? How are they doing?"

"There are no particularly suspicious movements. They are focused on rebuilding the village."

"Those damn bastards. They should take care of their own land."

Unlike the central army, which was busy chasing Mary and Chel, they were dedicated to erasing the traces of battle in the territory. They rebuilt the collapsed walls, fixed the roofs, and moved the injured. The Qianli's strength was more helpful than expected, and the response from the territory's residents was better than anticipated.

Frustratingly.

Erica stopped cursing Ian in her mind. She had a strange feeling, as if her instincts were on edge.

"Mary and Chel rode horses and broke through the city walls?"

"Yes."

"Then where were they before that?"

She had searched the territory thoroughly but couldn't find them. Suddenly, they fled with an ally? The horses? If it wasn't another beast, weren't the people who could handle horses in Brats limited?

'...Could it be?'

Is Ian involved?

"Call the stable master immediately."

"Yes, I understand."

Apart from the horses managed by the central army, there were horses owned by Brats. Why hadn't she checked this earlier? Erica pulled at her hair in frustration at her own oversight.

Knock, knock.

"Lady Erica."

But the one who entered the room first was not the stable master but Ian. He had just confirmed that his subordinate was running to the stables.

"What is it?"

The pile of documents scattered in Lady Mary's room. They were completely out of place. Ian smiled and entered.

"How is the pursuit of Lady Mary and Chel going?"

"Why are you asking?"

Look at this. Erica leaned back in her chair and raised her head. It wasn't as if her own feet were hurting, and yet he asked such a question at this timing?

"Of course, I'm curious. If Lady Mary and Chel survive and plot something, I won't be safe either."

Erica kept nodding, as if to show she understood. Both of them were smiling, but Erica's expression hardened first.