Packing the luggage took Loranhir some effort. In the past, her attendants would handle these chores, but now with only her and the princess left, Loranhir naturally didn't feel right asking the delicate princess for help.
"Are you leaving so soon, great Hero? I'm truly sorry about what happened," the village chief, who had received the news early, was waiting nearby.
The news of the hero's attendants' sudden deaths had made him very anxious, fearing he might offend the powerful hero.
"It's alright, old man. This matter has nothing to do with you, but please give my two attendants a proper burial," Loranhir casually responded to the village chief, lying with a straight face. "Time is running out. I've already sensed the culprit's aura and must set off quickly to pursue them."
Although verbally she spoke of pursuit, Loranhir was quite clear in her heart that this was merely an excuse to flee. She didn't have the courage to find any culprit; it was better to quickly escape with the princess.
After speaking, Loranhir turned and leisurely walked toward the princess, then paused slightly.
She saw Patunasankus, wearing a light yellow floral wreath, sitting quietly in the somewhat cool shade of a tree, her fair hands lightly resting against her rounded cheeks.
The gentle breeze occasionally disturbed her hair, and she would softly brush it back, tucking those playful strands behind her ear.
It was just a simple little gesture, but in Loranhir's heart, a flower bloomed silently.
She's really so cute.
Loranhir couldn't help but straighten her posture, as if all the fragrances of the plains were surging in the wind—orange blossoms, lemon flowers, grapes, various wildflowers. She felt a bit dizzy until the village chief burst into laughter.
"You've been struck by lightning, huh?" The village chief patted her shoulder, laughing heartily. "Take it easy, great Hero, take it easy."
The village chief handed her a bottle of wine, and Loranhir took a big gulp. Her mind instantly cleared.
"What nonsense are you babbling about?" she asked.
"You can't escape that lightning strike. When lightning strikes, anyone with eyes can see it. Oh, great Hero, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Some people even pray for lightning to strike. You're really lucky, great Hero." The wrinkles on the village chief's honest, farmer's face crinkled into a bundle as he smiled.
"What lightning? I don't understand. That's ridiculous."
Loranhir frowned unhappily. She wasn't well-educated and didn't understand the 'lightning' the village chief mentioned. She decided to ignore the cheerful village chief and walked directly to Patunasankus.
"Princess, let's depart."
Patunasankus didn't immediately answer the hero. She looked up to see a group of V-shaped swans lazily flying overhead.
"Hmm..."
The evil dragon imagined the juicy, tender meat, staring absently for quite a while, moistening her lips before nodding. With Loranhir's help, she boarded the carriage.
"Great Hero, I wish you victory and a safe return. If you have time, please visit us again," the village chief waved to Loranhir. "And remember, there's only one cure for lightning, you know what it is."
Loranhir remembered her suddenly deceased attendants and forced a smile.
"Definitely next time."
She didn't want to stay here for a moment longer. The farther away she could get, the better.
And what lightning? She didn't understand.
"Hyah-!"
At Loranhir's command, the carriage carrying the princess hurriedly set off, heading down the western road.
Other villagers who had heard that the hero was leaving stood at the small fork in the road at the village entrance, watching as the carriage disappeared at the end of the road.
"Ah, I had hoped the hero who helped us eliminate the evil dragon would stay longer," one villager sighed.
"Yes, yes, just seeing the great Hero gave us a sense of security, but I didn't expect her to leave so soon."
"But isn't that the eastern road?" a villager suddenly asked. "The eastern road isn't safe at all. Not many merchant caravans return from Taurant; I've heard it's vampire territory. Could it be that the great Hero doesn't know the way?"
"How dare you presume to know the great Hero's intentions?"
The other villagers also began to discuss among themselves.
Only the village chief silently watched the direction the carriage had taken, remaining quiet for a long time.
Then, he muttered to himself.
"Who would have thought? The great Hero just eliminated one evil dragon for us, and now she's rushing off without rest to clear out the next danger? Such heroism, such fearlessness."
The village chief's eyes immediately filled with tears.
○
The night was silent, the moonlight like water.
The carriage carrying Patunasankus advanced on the bumpy gravel road. This thoroughfare connecting the border region to the heartland of the Sun Empire was relatively even, with years of passing caravans having created deep ruts.
The carriage's suspension wasn't very good, and combined with the uneven road, Patunasankus swayed back and forth inside the vehicle throughout the journey.
After the initial novelty wore off, Patunasankus began to feel bored and decided to simply draw circles on the carriage wall with her fingertips.
Was this really about pursuing some culprit rather than fleeing for their lives?
For a moment, Patunasankus began to doubt.
She even wondered if she had been deceived by an incompetent fool.
Was this person truly unfathomably powerful?
Or was she not as strong as Patunasankus had imagined.
But the thought of the so-called Heart of the Red Queen and the holy sword made her hesitate.
But what if...
As she was thinking, Patunasankus suddenly noticed something strange.
The surroundings were too quiet. The wilderness at night should be filled with living creatures—insects in the grass, howling beasts in the mountains, mice and birds in the forest—usually all noisy, but now they had all disappeared.
We have visitors.
Loranhir was focused on driving the carriage, hoping to quickly escape with the princess to another safe place, when she suddenly saw a black figure flash out from a small path beside the road, silently standing in the middle of the road, boldly announcing their presence.
The newcomer wore a black robe with blood-colored eyes faintly visible under the hood. They chuckled strangely, "I was careless. To think the hero would still track me here? I specifically concealed my aura, yet I was still found."
"?" Loranhir stopped the carriage, frowning as she looked at him without speaking.
Wait, uncle...
Who are you? Do I know you?
I'm just trying to flee, what is this situation?
"As expected of the legendary hero. I originally didn't want to confront you directly. Earlier, I could have handled everything by simply poisoning the princess at the small inn, but I didn't expect your attendants to be so reliable and test the poison themselves," the black-robed figure praised. "But since you've tracked me here, I have no choice. Even though I know I'll die, I can only choose to fight you."
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of pairs of crimson eyes lit up on both sides of the dark road. Shadow figures had surrounded them at some point.
Loranhir was instantly drenched in sweat.