Chapter 102: Rescue and Abduction
“The external wounds were somehow treated with healing magic, but the internal injuries… are beyond my scope, so I think we’ll have to take him to Nahrhan.”
“You’ve done well, Miss Sercia.”
This was after Sercia had used her healing magic to treat the injured to some extent.
“Your Majesty. If you are amenable, we would like to escort you and the others to where we, Spero, are staying.”
Elwin gently proposed.
“No matter how much it’s Depicio, it would be difficult for them to attack an airship flying in the sky. We will protect you safely.”
“……Will that be alright?”
“Our leader, the Top Hunter of Yellow, has already given his permission.”
After a moment of silence, the King of Batevil nodded heavily.
“……It would be right to refuse for the sake of independence between our two groups, but regrettably, I do not have that luxury. I will gladly accept. I ask this of you.”
All nations worldwide maintained a strong alliance and cooperative relationship with the World Hunter Association.
But that was solely limited to matters concerning common enemies, such as Geoma or heinous criminals.
However, this current case was solely a problem of the Batevil Kingdom.
‘Depicio. No, between our Batevil royal family and the followers of the Beastkin King… a long-standing ill-fated connection!’
The King of Batevil knew that an unbreakable destiny connected them.
The current catastrophe was the result of it.
Because their royal family, who should have led the Batevil Kingdom safely and prosperously, had become complacent, mired in peace.
‘All of this is entirely…… due to my incompetence and lack of virtue…….’
The King, who habitually blamed himself, quickly pulled himself together.
He currently had a mountain of things to protect.
‘Tend to what you haven't lost yet, rather than what you've lost forever.’
That was the weight a king must rightfully bear.
The furrows on the King’s face deepened as he inwardly recited the royal family's long-standing maxim.
Just then, the crown resting on his white hair slipped along his disheveled locks, ssssk.
“Ugh.”
The King let out a faint groan as he caught the crown before it hit the floor and placed it back in its original position.
Today, the weight on his head felt particularly heavy.
It probably didn't even weigh 3 pounds, yet it felt as if a large stone had been placed there.
‘……No. Was there ever a time when the crown’s weight was light?’
The weight of the crown was always heavy.
From the ancient times when this crown first bore its brilliance until now, it had remained unchanged, always.
It was burdensome even for Albinious II, who had endured that weight for a long time.
But what could be done?
From the moment he was born into the royal bloodline and let out his first cry, this had become the karma he had to bear.
“Hoo.”
The King of Batevil composed himself with a single breath.
Familiarly.
And with a dignified bearing and majestic demeanor, he spoke.
“……I sincerely thank you for your kindness.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The King of Batevil gave a short bow, showing the utmost courtesy a king could offer.
He was not unaware that now, with the royal castle invaded, the safest place was beside a Top Hunter.
Even if he were to be criticized later for allowing the World Hunter Association to interfere in national affairs.
He would protect his remaining retainers and people, this country.
As king.
“Let’s go. We need to go to the outskirts to board the airship.”
Thus, Elwin and the Spero members escorted the King of Batevil and his retainers, guiding them to the airship.
“What’s all this commotion in the middle of the night?”
“I don’t know either……. I heard something happened at the royal castle?”
“The guards? Where did the Batevil guards go!?”
They escaped Skya, the capital, which was growing increasingly chaotic as news of the unusual situation at the royal castle spread.
“Stop! Albinious Georg von Batevil, you cruel thing!”
“Today, I will finally end your tenacious life!”
“What are you talking about. If anyone’s going to die, it’s you.”
“-Keoheok!”
Shaking off the persistent pursuit of Depicio, they reached the outskirts.
Elwin took out Nexion and said.
“Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. I will immediately tell them to land the airship.”
“Ah, please do.”
While Elwin was communicating with Nahrhan, who would be on the airship, the loyal retainers of Batevil looked at the other Spero members.
Their gazes were so full of goodwill that they inadvertently flinched.
“Truly…… truly thank you! Thanks to your timely arrival, I was able to save this precarious life! We still have much to do. We cannot die here.”
“His Majesty……! Thank you truly for saving him, who is the root supporting our Batevil and a sturdy great tree!”
“Ah! I don’t know how to express this overflowing gratitude and grace!”
Meanwhile, some of the more faint-hearted ones, perhaps overwhelmed by the hardships they had endured, even had tears welling up in their eyes.
“My dear comrades-in-arms. I kept my promise to you to evacuate His Majesty safely! So…… please, may you too rest peacefully beside LAMPAS in heaven.”
“Antonio, this unworthy father who fled, leaving you who fought bravely…… please never forgive me. I am sorry, my son.”
“Hoooook! I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for surviving……!!”
Now that they were certain they would soon reach a safe place, the hearts that had steadfastly endured the relentless events could no longer hold out.
They were men who had chosen loyalty over personal feelings with iron-like resolve and survived.
But in the end, they were human.
They had emotions that they felt and that moved them vividly.
How could one blame a heart that had collapsed unawares?
“No, what did we even do? It was nothing. ……Uh, uh, uh?! Elders, why, why are you crying? Stop it, stop.”
“We only did what we ought to do as Hunters. Please stand up. Such greetings are too much for us. ……We are only sorry we couldn’t come sooner.”
“……I second that. We are truly sorry to His Majesty, the sturdy great tree of Batevil, and to the loyal ministers and officials.”
The Spero members, finding them quite burdensome, were sweating profusely.
All three were unaccustomed to receiving sincere gratitude from anyone.
‘……What a relief.’
Elwin inwardly sighed in relief and glanced at the group of people directly in front of him.
The King of Batevil and his loyal retainers.
Though covered in wounds and their faces etched with fatigue…… they were alive and well.
It was truly fortunate.
‘To have arrived before it was too late.’
By rescuing the King of Batevil and his party, they were able to prevent an irreversible outcome.
‘If we had been even a little late, if the King of Batevil had died.’
That death would have become the cornerstone for even more horrific and hideous catastrophes.
‘That cannot happen.’
Thinking about it again, it seemed like a stroke of heaven-sent luck.
‘No. Luck isn’t such a convenient thing. This is probably…….’
Elwin’s cool gaze turned towards Sercia.
Still surrounded by the Batevil retainers, she was flustered and looking awkward.
‘It must be thanks to that trait manifesting at the right time.’
[Trait: ‘Longing’]
-The manifestation of deep regret, ‘I don’t want to be late again.’ Has a high chance of finding those she wishes to save.
That was Sercia Edelweiss’ unique trait.
It had manifested a little while ago in the underground passage when they were certain the King of Batevil and his party were in danger.
-This way!
At that time, while they were hurriedly following the detection magic, Sercia suddenly pointed to a completely different direction from the path indicated by the magic.
-I don’t know why, but…… I think we can get there faster this way. ……Sir Elwin, please trust me!
-Of course.
-……!
Elwin, who knew about Sercia’s unique trait, turned around without a second word and followed her.
-Please lead the way. So we can reach them as quickly as possible.
-L-Leave it to me!
It was merely a choice based on rationality, but Sercia, unaware of this, looked deeply moved for a moment.
She believed she had gained even a little of Elwin’s trust.
In any case, she navigated through the complex underground passages, creating a shortcut to where the King of Batevil was.
Thanks to that, they arrived just in time to save the King of Batevil.
“As expected.”
He had done well to prioritize recruiting them as comrades.
Elwin was once again convinced that his choice had not been wrong.
Woooooong!
Just then, the loud noise of an airship taking off echoed from high above.
A strong wind blew, disheveling people’s hair.
“Where are we going now?”
A person approached Elwin, who was standing silently, and spoke.
It was the King of Batevil, Albinious II.
“Anywhere.”
Elwin replied.
“We can take you wherever you wish. Anywhere Your Majesty desires.”
At those surprisingly benevolent words, the King of Batevil cautiously observed Elwin’s expression and said.
“Going straight to the Mediale headquarters…… could you refrain from that? I request that we stay near the Batevil Kingdom if possible.”
Though he felt ashamed to be unilaterally indebted,
“No matter how much my life is threatened, I am a king responsible for a nation. I cannot be far from Batevil.”
“I understand, Your Majesty. We never intended to go far in the first place.”
At that, the King of Batevil’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as he asked.
“Let’s go. There is someone I would like to introduce to Your Majesty.”
“……To me?”
The King of Batevil asked back, puzzled.
But Elwin did not answer.
“Master, you have arrived.”
The airship had already landed on the ground.
The airship’s hatch lowered, and Nahrhan came out from inside.
“I have heard what was said. Please come inside. We will serve you with all sincerity during your stay.”
He greeted the guests with his usual polite and courteous demeanor.
However, after the airship took off.
“I have an urgent matter to report.”
Nahrhan approached Elwin with a serious expression.
At that, Elwin led the Spero members to the meeting room.
“Wow~”
Gale, who was the first to enter the meeting room, surveyed the interior and let out a low whistle.
The meeting room, which Nahrhan always kept spotless without a speck of dust, was a mess.
“The inside is a bit……”
Elwin, looking around the meeting room, spotted a long table broken in two and, without realizing it, changed his words.
“It’s quite cluttered.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The three people, excluding Elwin, exchanged glances and then subtly moved to lean against the wall.
It was an instinctive movement.
This was because, having spent time together, they knew just how severe Nahrhan Ferdic's obsessive cleanliness was.
“I am ashamed, Sir Elwin.”
Moreover, that foul temper, which only subsided in front of Elwin, couldn't distinguish friend from foe.
They didn't want to get caught in the wrong way and receive a punishment that was written as a sermon but read as nagging.
“More importantly, Nahr, where are the others?”
“About that……”
Nahrhan, as if too ashamed to lift his head, hesitated before finally speaking.
“Hake killed Sir Nero and abducted Miss Jana, then fled.”
“……What?”
“Wha-!? Betrayal?”
“Huh?”
Soon, strong reactions erupted from the Spero members.