Chapter 33 Falling leaves(1)

Editor: BaeBae

“There were a few among us that are from the Laus scout group, but it was the first time any of us had heard of an elf village there. We only ever saw improvised and shabby elves in the city so it never hit us that they were a beautiful and elegant race. Although it caused unrest among us, we had orders to follow. We uh…..like we’ve always done, ambushed them during the night. Those who couldn’t be sold off as slaves were killed and the rest brought home. That was our sponsor’s instructions.”

Slaughter. Destruction. Fire.

“Among us, there was one guy who was a little different. He didn’t belong on a battlefield, but everyone liked him because he was highly skilled. Even during that night, he killed three armed elves by himself. When the battle ended and there were no elves left to fight, he went on his way to loot empty homes. No one said anything because we all knew he was skilled enough to wander alone. However, a scream suddenly sounded from the house he entered.”

“…….”

“When we ran inside, his face was pale white and he’d stabbed a curtain. Behind the curtain was a baby elf that had been stabbed and a female elf. We could guess what had happened, so we pulled the screaming female elf out and left the baby corpse behind. We tried comforting him by explaining that the baby can’t be sold as a slave so would have been killed regardless. We had gone through this many times with him but like before, it didn’t seem to comfort him.”

The captain fell into silence for a bit before continuing.

“And on that fateful night, he helped the elves escape. A considerable amount of elves fled, and while he was fleeing with the female elf, we discovered them due to her screams. In the end, he was sold off as a slave for his sins. After that, we don’t know what happened to him. I would like to know if possible.”

Juan breathed out deeply.

The captain had a face that said he didn’t understand why Juan was asking this question.

Juan came to realise why the captain was reluctant to say anything about this issue.

Empire’s security was none of his concern when he’d been treated like a dog by the empire.

However, the story regarding the soldier that had been expelled was an embarrassment.

At the very least, the captain knew he should be embarrassed about that incident.

“Who is your sponsor?”

“Illde. The capital’s Illde family.”

“The man’s name? What about the female elf’s name?”

“The soldier’s name was Luka. Don’t know the elf’s.”

With his dagger, Juan stabbed down at the captain’s fingers. In an instant, two of his fingers were cut off. The captain rolled about while screaming.

“Keu ee-uk……! Wh, what are you doing! I’ve told you everything you’ve asked!”

“I said you get to keep your life, but I didn’t say anything about you keeping your fingers intact.”

Juan motioned the captain to come over.

“Come here. The rest needs to go as well.”

“Wh, what. You’re crazy. Fuck off.”

The captain flailed his arms and fled.

In a flash, Juan climbed on his back and pushed him down then began cutting his fingers one by one.

Hearing the sorrowful scream, the faces of the other soldiers turned pale. They looked for an escape but Anya was surveilling them closely.

“Anyone who crawls, I’ll cut off their knee ligaments.

At Anya’s terrifying declaration, everyone resorted to sitting still in the mud.

After completing his work, Juan looked down at the captain with a satisfied expression.

“Now you’ll never grasp a weapon ever again.”

“Aughh ahhhh………”

Juan turned his head towards the other soldiers.

They all froze in fear.

Juan let out a deep breath. The cold air from the several days of rain condensed his breath into white moist.

Autumn was coming sooner than expected.

“Anya.”“Yes? Child.”

“My name is Juan.”

Upon hearing Juan’s sudden words, Anya’s eyes widened. With wet eyes, Juan looked at Anya and spoke.

“I’d like it if you tell me your real name when you eventually trust me. I don’t want to have to struggle again to find a name.”

Anya barely replied.

“Yes. Juan.”

“And about the plan we set at the inn earlier. Some changes. I’ll postpone meeting your master for several days.”

Juan spoke to the fallen soldiers on the ground.

“You guys can all go.”

Quizzical eyes shot back at Juan. Only the captain had a look that screamed ‘unfair’. Juan then spoke to all the other scared villagers close by.

“Go and spread the word to those who are looking for me.”

A child completely drenched in rain and blood declared.

“The apostate that you are looking for is me.”

*****

“What were you thinking, Juan!”

Juan had the empty inn all to himself.

There was no one that stayed after hearing Juan’s declaration.

Because of this, Juan could dry his clothes in front of the inn’s fireplace comfortably.

“I told them to spread the word, I didn’t mention they had to leave. Why did they all leave?”

“Obviously because if White crow and Blue rose knights come to fight, nothing’s going to remain! Fighting just one Paladin destroyed the outer walls! Why did Juan act so reckless all of a sudden? Our initial plan we discussed was different!”

If the number of Paladins were low, then get a feel for their strength and fight if victory seems possible. Run if there’s no hope.

That was Juan and Anya’s plan.

One way or another, the fact they were planning to leave the village was set. It was natural as they were being chased.

“It’s still not too late. Juan. There’s not a single soul in the village, no one will know if we slip away now.”

“Be quiet.”

Juan spoke while glaring at her. Anya stopped talking. Then after a few moments, Juan was confused at Anya’s action.

“What are you doing….”

Eyes closed, she had lifted her top, revealing her stomach.

“Aren’t you going to hit me?”

Juan put his hand on his forehead, remembering back when he’d hit Anya in the solar plexus.

“I’m not going to hit you. Pull up your top.”

“But Juan kills someone every time you’re angry.”

“Not this time. But I might… if you continue this talk.”

But Anya didn’t stay quiet. She sounded like she was angry, agitated and a little excited.

Juan couldn’t understand why she was finding this exciting but he didn’t like it when things got rowdy.

“How are you going to face the White crow and the Blue rose knights at the same time? Have you got a plan?”

“No.”

“Then why are you sticking around here? It’s not even deep in the mountain.”

“If so, they wouldn’t be able to find me. I picked this place so it’s easier for them to find me.”

“What?”

Juan spoke as he threw a piece of wood into the fire.

“I don’t like the fact they’re setting villages on fire just to find me. Plain and simple, I’m telling them to come and find me here. Then, innocent villages won’t go up in flames.”

“……….”

Juan knew it wasn’t only Arwen and the Blue rose knights that were after him.Most likely, White crow knights, Laus mountain scouts and many more would have joined the search. And due to this sheer number, the amount of villages being burned and looted would be even greater.

For a while, Juan tried to disregard this, but it got to the point where he couldn’t ignore it any longer.

A burned village in ashes was no longer someone else’s matter. It was his.

“Anya, from here on out I won’t hide anymore. Those who are looking for me can come freely as they’d like…. If possible I was willing to step aside, but if they are so willing to get in my way, I’ll have to split them in half I guess…. We all have places we need to go and I can’t be delayed.”

“But the White crow knights…..”

“Well, more tougher guys will certainly be more troubling.”

“I’ll stay.”

“What?”

“I’ve understood your intentions. Juan should continue moving to where you need to go. I’ll stay and create a divergence. Isn’t this fine? Juan would be safe and those innocent wouldn’t be harmed as well.”

Juan looked at Anya with a dumbfounded look.

“Maybe….one in a hundred chance that your plan could work…. But the more I think about this, there’s no way you’ll survive both White crow and Blue rose knights attackd longer than I can. And anyways our appearances are completely different.”

“I’ll cut and dye my hair.”

“Nobody will be fooled. Why don’t you cut your legs while you’re at it.”

“Those who aren’t deeply informed wouldn’t know. My height, I’m not that tall.”

Juan completely ignored her. Anya twiddled her fingers before speaking.

“If not that, I’ll part with Juan here.”

“……What?”

“Ah, don’t get me wrong. Me staying with Juan wouldn’t be of any help. I’ll be lucky not to drag you down. However, if I manage to meet my acquaintance in Laus mountains, then I might be able to bring some help.”

At hearing an acquaintance, Juan tilted his head to the side.

He was convinced. It would be good if he could win over someone that he could rely on.

Usually, he would decline receiving help from others but now wasn’t the time.

“Sounds good. You do what you think is right. I’ll think of something for myself.”

Juan spoke while fiddling around with Arwen’s helmet.

*****

“What?”

Just when the rain started to subside and the fog began to fade, Sina received unexpected news.

The news came from a scout from the Laus mountain with a broken shoulder. He gave his third report to Sina, while receiving his treatment.

“Located the wanted apostate at village Veras on the footstep of Laus mountains range. Paladin Arwen attempted to eliminate but failed. He was killed in action. We Laus scout forces fought till the end but were injured to the point where continuing the operation was deemed impossible. Therefore, retreated.”

“What do you mean, wanted apostate! Are you talking about this black haired boy?”

Sina pulled out the wanted notice that pictured Juan’s description based on her memory. The scout’s eyes filled with fear, just from looking at the notice.

“Ye..yes. That’s him. He was a violent one, that one.”

“You say he won against a Paladin…..? How…..?”

The last time they’d met, she surmised that Juan was about on the same level as her.

And yet, in a matter of a few weeks, it seemed Juan had grown exponentially.

Overcoming a Paladin, she couldn’t even grasp what things he’d experienced since then.

“Wait. Why was there a Paladin there in the first place? The closest holy knight division would be the White crow order….and Veras village is situated far away from where Hugin knights are… Furthermore, it was pouring down lately…..”

“Uh….um they were on a classified special operation….”

“What do you mean classified special operation!”

The scout tried to refrain from answering but Sina’s relentlessness won out in the end and finally opened his mouth.

Hearing his explanation, Sina’s expression stiffened.

“……Cleansing operation? Under direction orders from inquisitor Kato?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How? As I recall, we didn’t send out a messenger?”

A suspicious Sina continued her questioning but soon her face crumbled.

With the emperor’s ‘grace’ some had the ability to send messages telepathically.

Kato never revealed that he had such ability, but if he had this intention from the start, it made sense why he’d kept it a secret.

Sina turned her back and sprinted towards where Kato was located.