Becoming a Hunter in a Dark Fantasy - Chapter 101
Only Noblemtl
Episode 101 Salvation in the Secret Passage
The secret passageway led to an underground sewer, and the dirty, musty smell of a sewer lingered in the air.
Elwin and the Spero members landed safely on the narrow floor and looked around. It was dark, as if they hadn’t even done basic maintenance.
“Light, Detection.”
As soon as Sercia entered, she unleashed magic after magic. Lighting magic and navigation magic.
Phew!
Then, a crimson volcano appeared in the air, and the footprints of several people appeared on the ground.
As if to show the urgency of the situation, footprints of various shapes were tangled up in a messy manner.
“Over there. I can sense a series of life signals from quite a distance away.”
Sercia, who had closed her eyes as if in response to magic, soon pointed to one of the several paths that branched out.
The three of them nodded and went in. They seemed to have no doubts about Sercia’s words, as if it were a matter of course.
“Kid. How did you know?”
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
While running at a fast pace, Gale followed closely next to Elwin and asked.
“This is a secret passage! I never dreamed there was a place like this.”
“Ah, that’s it? That’s just the nature of those in power. They tend to create a way to get away with something or another.”
Elwin continued as if it was obvious.
“Besides, if he had succeeded in assassinating the king, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to destroy the throne, which symbolized the absolute power of the kingdom. He also brutally murdered the people of the palace. It just seems like he’s venting his anger.”
“… … Aha? I see. I guess you could look at it that way.”
Gail exclaimed softly. It was a view he had never thought of.
“Lastly, I have better eyesight than most people.”
“What are your eyes?”
Leaving the bewildered Gale behind, Elwin narrowed his brows and looked ahead.
“… … Wait, what’s that?”
Elwin wrapped a strong layer of magic around the foot he stepped on, and then the new form disappeared in an instant.
The remaining three quickly followed him and increased their speed.
“… … .”
There he saw Elwin crouching in front of a corpse, feeling its pulse.
He was an old man with light blond hair and grey hair.
“That person?”
“… … passed away.”
Elwin was able to sense the presence and reactions of life nearby just by looking around.
Now he was so shaken that he personally verified the evidence that the old man was dead.
“Who is this person?”
Even a quick glance revealed that the deceased was of noble birth before he died.
Even though the dress she was wearing was soaked in blood, its gorgeous appearance was not lost.
The hair, although somewhat tangled and intricately braided, was clearly braided with care by skilled maids.
“Maria Sheila von Battevil.”
Dalgrak, Elwin picked up something that had fallen beside him. A silver crown that would have shone most brilliantly on blond hair faded by the weight of time.
“… … Your Majesty, wife of the current King of Bateville, Albinios II.”
“ah…….”
“What, what did you say!?”
“that……!!”
The three people looked shocked.
Having already seen the tragic Battleville Castle, I had expected that the royal family would not be safe, but seeing them murdered like this… … I had a strange feeling.
This is because they have all been active or affiliated with monarchical states for a long time.
“Ugh… … .”
Among them, Calix, who came from a famous knight family whose loyalty to the royal family of Arad was unwavering, grimaced as if in pain. With his keen sensitivity, he seemed to empathize with the feelings of the knights of Batevils who had failed to protect their lord.
“May you rest in peace.”
Elwin, who had been wide-eyed as if filled with resentment, stood up from his seat. He took off his long robe and collected the queen’s body.
“Go faster. His Majesty Albinius may still be safe.”
Elwin stood up with a stern expression, his hand tightly clutching a silver crown.
* * *
Meanwhile, the loyalists of the Kingdom of Bateville, who were attempting to escape with King Albinios, stopped moving for a moment.
“Ugh… … !!”
“Are you alright, Your Majesty!?”
“It must be painful, but please don’t lose your mind!”
It was a time-consuming and regrettable situation, but… … .
They were too stubborn to continue the forced march while ignoring the King’s condition, who was groaning from a serious abdominal injury.
“I’m sorry… … . I feel ashamed because my luggage seems to be holding you back.”
“Please don’t say that… … .”
“Be strong, Your Majesty. For the sake of Your Majesty the Queen who has passed away, Your Majesty, the foundation and dignity of the nation, must survive.”
“……number of animals.”
The old face stained with pain was distorted with sorrow. The last image of the companion with whom he had depended for a long time came to mind.
-I was wrong now, so leave me alone. My dear Alby, you must… …survive.
For some reason, the descendants of the Bateville royal family were involved in various incidents and accidents for generations and died, so the only royal family members currently existing in the palace are the king and queen.
That is why many loyal subjects and officials tried to protect the two of them by sacrificing their lives, but they also failed and lost another noble royal family member.
-Hahahaha! You detestable royal family of Batevils! Die, dieeeeeeeee─!
It was because he was stabbed by a subject he had trusted and believed in for decades. The ominous blade aimed for the king’s heart was deflected by the queen who noticed it.
What was thought to be a short knife suddenly extended outwards, piercing the frail queen and fatally wounding the king in the abdomen.
He barely succeeded in killing the wicked man who dared to assassinate the king, but what did he do then? In the end, Bateville lost his kind queen… … .
“It was all my fault for being immoral. I was unable to protect anyone, not my subjects, not my companions….”
The king tilted his head up and gave a short sigh.
As if I were resenting God, who, from his cozy heaven, is still watching the earth in sorrow.
“Merciful Father, why have you brought such a trial upon us, Batevil?”
“majesty…….”
“However, what you say is correct.”
At first glance, the king seemed to be in despair and lowered his head to the ground.
“I have to live. … … Oh! I have to survive!”
The king’s eyes, which had straightened his back, flashed with a frightening intensity.
It has always been humans who move vividly in reality and write history.
God just watches from afar.
“So, we must expose the identity of those vicious men who presumptuously invaded our city of Batavi and took the lives of our people!”
The king was weaker than anyone else present, but the sight of him making his declarations was more majestic than anyone else’s.
The dignity peculiar to those who have lived their entire lives as rulers.
“I will definitely punish the traitors who have disturbed Batavil and show the world the severity of the national law!”
“Yes! That is as it should be!”
The amazed subjects shouted:
“Yes. We were delayed because of the luggage. Let’s go again. If we go a little further, there is an exit leading to the outskirts of Skya.”
Albinius II, sweating profusely in pain, tried to boost the morale of his subjects.
But… … That was then!
Pee-!
“Cough!”
An arrow suddenly flew in from somewhere and pierced the head of the guard who was at the outermost position.
At the same time, an ominous voice echoed through the narrow passage.
“I found the king!”
Suddenly, my heart sank.
Uda dada-!
I could hear the sound of black-masked weightlifters rushing in from the front, back, and sides.
Soon those cruel traitors will surround him and his subjects.
“Your Majesty, we will definitely protect you.”
The captain of the Batevils’ guard whispered resolutely.
“… … If I don’t trust you, who will I trust? I will trust you.”
But both the speaking captain and the answering king knew.
No matter how bravely the knights fought and tried to protect him, they were already outnumbered.
Not only the soldiers of Battevil, but also the elite knights of the guards would have been completely annihilated while trying to buy time for the king and queen to escape from the castle.
Even this underground passage was narrow and shallow, making it unsuitable for the knights to demonstrate their skills.
‘So I’m leaving without any revenge.’
The king, who let out a laugh, closed his eyes tightly. Ah! God, how can you be so cruel… … !
“… … ?”
But God always saves those who try to save themselves.
I was trembling at the thought of a massacre that would break out at any moment, but what the heck.
It was not they who screamed, but the incompetent men who attacked them.
“Ah, no, what is this!?”
The king slowly opened his eyes and soon opened them wide in shock.
“Who are they?”
The four people who suddenly appeared were fighting against those wearing black masks.
At first glance, the four of them are overwhelmingly impressive!
Extend the blade and sweep away, or freely switch between sword and spear to continue unconventional attacks.
He neutralized the black masked men by throwing blazing fireballs from his hands.
But the one who stands out the most is.
‘That blond boy? Young man… … who is he?’
Even to the king, who had little knowledge of martial arts, he seemed amazing.
Of course, the others seemed strong enough, but that boy was on a different level.
Judging from the way he wields his sword, he appears to be a swordsman, but his movements are so swift and quick that it is impossible to read them at all.
I could only guess by watching the people falling like autumn leaves that he was moving.
“… … Phew. Miss Sercia, are there any more signs of life around you?”
“No. I don’t think there are any around here.”
“My lord. I have defeated more than you!”
“Ha, can’t you even count properly?”
Those who had defeated all the black-masked attackers in an instant soon looked back at their group.
The blond boy’s sharp gaze turned to Albinius II, who was among the guards.
“… … found it.”
The knights who had been watching absentmindedly straightened their guard and extended their spears toward them.
“Who are you? Reveal your identities!”
“Are you on the same side as the traitors?!”
“Stop! Come any closer and I will attack!”
But they paid no attention to this and slowly approached. They raised both hands as if they had no intention of attacking.
A blond boy appeared between them, standing a short distance away. That boy must be the representative of the group.
“Are you His Highness Albinios II, King of the House of Batevil?”
“… … That’s right. Who are you?”
He was a boy who gave off an air of being somehow extraordinary.
The king spoke, unconsciously using a tone of respect for his opponent.
Whoosh-!
Then the blond boy took something out of his bosom.
King Bateville and his subjects, who had been on guard reflexively, were soon shocked by what they saw.
“That, that!?”
Nexion.
[I hereby certify that the person before you is a member of the World Hunter Association.]
A huge image appeared in the air. A polygonal yellow star with six white stars surrounding it. The symbol of the World Hunters Association.
“We are members of Spero, a special hunter group directly under the Emperor.”
Four people bowed their heads respectfully, one hand on their heart and the other behind their backs in unison.
“I have come to rescue the Batevils, who are in danger, under the orders of the Emperor’s special hunter.”
“Oh my god… … !!”
Finally, a tear flowed down the king’s dry eyes.
Despite all their complaints, the merciful God gave them a warrior to save them.