Chapter 35
"Bad terrain."
The large man leading the pursuers frowned as he studied the rocky canyon.
The passage was narrow enough that two people could almost touch both walls simply by spreading their arms.
A shield-bearing boy blocked the front...
With a young man and woman behind him.
"They're trying to buy time."
One pursuer said.
"Of course."
The leader shrugged.
"It's the best place for it."
Jake's group blocked their path.
Yet the pursuers did not seem rushed.
If anything...
They looked pleased.
"Still..."
One man smiled.
"We finally caught up."
"The guide did his job."
The pursuers turned toward the back.
A mercenary stood there.
He looked uncomfortable as he stared at Jake's group.
Jessica recognized him immediately.
"Seriously?"
She clicked her tongue.
"Even if you're desperate for money..."
"There's a limit."
Jessica knew the guide.
He was a skilled pathfinder...
But hopelessly addicted to gambling.
He was always drowning in debt.
The Guild had nearly given up on him.
Still...
Jessica had never imagined he would guide imperial pursuers here.
Just as Lutetia mercenaries sometimes secretly guided fugitives...
There was also an unwritten rule that they did not help imperial pursuers.
Helping the hunters meant betraying fellow mercenaries who escorted fugitives.
It also meant helping in the hunting of people.
Part of that rule came from Lutetia's general dislike of the Imperial Family.
But the strongest reason was economic.
If pursuers eliminated fugitives too easily...
That profitable line of mercenary work would disappear.
"Maybe he thought it would be fine if he never ran into other mercenaries."
Jessica looked at him.
"But now that he's seen us..."
"He'll have to kill us too if he wants to keep working around here."
As Jessica said...
The older mercenary's eyes contained both guilt...
And killing intent.
The pursuers seemed extremely pleased to have finally caught the fugitives' trail.
They had no idea Amber was preparing magic to collapse the canyon.
So they assumed Jake's group had remained only to delay them.
Jake and the others quickly sensed that attitude.
Since they needed time...
The pursuers' relaxed behavior was actually welcome.
"Captain."
One pursuer rolled his shoulders.
"Since only one or two people can fight at a time anyway..."
"Why don't we rest a little?"
The pursuers had started one day later...
Yet still managed to catch up.
Even though none of them were ordinary people...
They had to be exhausted.
At that suggestion...
Several released the mana on their swords and prepared to rest.
Jake's group secretly celebrated.
Unfortunately...
The leader shook his head.
"No."
"We rest after crossing the canyon."
He had spent too many years hunting people to leave a potential threat unresolved.
The pursuers clicked their tongues.
Two stepped forward at the leader's order.
Then...
A subordinate farther back suddenly spoke.
"Captain!"
"I think the shield bearer is one of our targets!"
The leader immediately stopped the two men.
"What?"
"Are you sure?"
"He's the one we're supposed to capture?"
"Yes."
The subordinate narrowed his eyes.
"His size confused me..."
"But now that I can see his face, he's still young."
"A young man carrying a shield."
"It should be him."
The captain's expression brightened.
"Oh?"
"So they abandoned one of our targets?"
"This might be easier than expected."
They spoke loudly as though the three people ahead did not exist.
That allowed Jake to hear everything.
So that's why the pursuers followed this far.
Jake spoke internally to Fatima.
They knew exactly who was traveling with the group.
-Will that be a problem?
They said one needs to be captured.
The emperor probably intends to use him.
Jake's eyes hardened.
But that isn't going to happen.
While Jake spoke with Fatima...
The captain called toward Louis.
"You there!"
"Shield boy!"
"Your name is Louis, isn't it?"
Louis looked confused at the sudden question.
Still...
He had studied knightly etiquette for years.
If someone asked his name...
He saw no reason not to answer.
"Yes."
The captain nodded with satisfaction.
"I am Knight Richard."
"Commander of the Dark Wolf Knights."
"I am pursuing remnants of the rebellion under His Majesty's orders."
His formal introduction...
Unfortunately...
Made him look more like a veteran mercenary than a dignified knight.
"Richard?"
Jessica muttered.
"That's obviously a fake name."
In terms of how common the name sounded...
It was practically the equivalent of calling himself John Smith.
Still...
This was hardly the time to complain about aliases.
"His Majesty has ordered that Squire Louis be recruited into the Imperial Knights."
Richard continued.
"That is why we've come."
"Will you come with us?"
"You have a chance to become one of the Imperial Guard."
Louis stared in disbelief.
It was completely unexpected.
The Imperial Guard?
Out of nowhere?
He could hardly believe it.
"I swear upon my honor as a knight."
Richard said.
"It is not a lie."
He did not exactly look like a knight...
But as one of the emperor's hunters...
He probably did technically hold the title.
Still...
How did the emperor know Louis's name?
And why did he want him?
While Louis remained confused...
Jake spoke from behind.
"Then will you let the others go too?"
Richard frowned at the interruption.
But he answered patiently.
"The mercenaries..."
"And anyone unrelated to the fugitives..."
"Will be left unharmed."
Then he turned back to Louis.
"The fact they left you here means they've already abandoned you."
"There's no reason to throw away your life for people like that."
Louis laughed softly.
It was true that Laurel had abandoned him.
But Louis had remained because of his own promise.
Unless they released everyone...
He had no intention of following these men.
"I, Louis..."
"Swore as Squire of Count Toledo that I would defend this place."
"If you wish to capture the Count's family..."
"You will have to kill me first!"
Louis raised his shield.
He looked like the embodiment of chivalry.
But to a knight who had spent years operating in darkness...
He merely looked naive.
"Haah."
Richard sighed.
"That innocence is refreshing."
"Still..."
"I offered."
"At least the people above me can't complain now."
His temporary appearance as a proper knight disappeared.
Once again...
He looked like a tired hunter.
"Open the path."
One of his men asked,
"Can we kill him?"
"He refused."
Richard answered.
"So it shouldn't matter."
