Chapter 332

Extra 3.The Return of the Legend (2)

An Adenstein does not need anyone's permission to move."

The other side flinched at the word Adenstein. However, it was such a minuscule movement that Ingrid didnt notice it. She was too busy focusing on all the unidentified people who had gathered around them.

But the princess was different.

So you know the name Adenstein.

The other person did not answer, however, she didnt need one.

That person?

The unidentified person flinched and began trembling.

While I do not know why you are so surprised, if there is someone you serve, then call them here.

When the unidentified person remained was silent, the princess opened her mouth again. But before she could talk, Ingrid stepped forward.

Your Highness, one of them just disappeared. Just as you ordered, I think they have left to report it.

The princess gave a brief nod at Ingrids words and settled to quietly stare at the unidentified being.

Are you the owner of the forest?

We merely live and tend to the forest; we are not the owners.

Ingrids eyes sharpened when their tone became noticeably politer.

Wait there. If he wants to meet you, he will come to you in person.

Since the unidentified person was talking, the princess hoped to ask about the archmage of the forest, but the unidentified being didnt give her a chance.

Swish.

Just as they had appeared, they disappeared as silently and without a trace. Soon, the forest was enveloped in silence again. But now, the silence was different from before. Ingrid and the princess could feel countless eyes watching them.

Hm?

Who knows how much time had pa.s.sed like that, but the hidden gazes of the surveilling beings disappeared simultaneously.

Did they run away?!

A few impatient knights shouted. They said it was obvious the masked beings had escaped because there was something worrying them. The knights insisted that the unidentified beings be tracked down and questioned immediately.

I will light a fire, Your Highness. If there is anyone hiding in it, they wont survive without running out.

Before she had time to stop them, one of the knights set a thick bush on fire.

Immediately put that out. As the guest, how can you be so rude?

Your Highness, you are not the guest. You are the owner of this forest. Those unidentified beings who are not bowing down and wors.h.i.+ping your procession are the ones who are rude.

The princess scolded the knights for their impatience, but they didnt listen to her.

Theres no time, Your Highness. The pursuers will catch up with us by tomorrow at the latest. Now is not the time to be discussing etiquette.

This time, Ingrid didnt take the princesss side either. The pursuers who were getting closer by the minute were making her anxious.

We came as guests, but before we could even meet with the host, weve caused trouble for them.

The princess lamented.

Your Highness, please stand back.

Ingrid grabbed the princesss hand and dragged her back. It seemed like Ingrid was worried the spark may land on the precious body of the princess.

However, the sparks didnt reach the princess, let alone the bush right next to her.

Huh?

At first, they initially attributed it to the wet bush rejecting the sparks, so the knights set the forest on fire once more. However, the results didnt change.

The sparks went out before it even started burning.

Something was strange. Even if raw wood didnt burn well, there was no way a fire that was lit with determination could go out this easily.

The knights took out dry cloth, set it on fire, and threw it into the forest

Psssss.

They saw the flames go out as if it had never been set on fire in the first place.

Well, thats ridiculous.

Then, an unfamiliar voice was heard from somewhere.

Who are you?!

Startled, the knights drew their swords and carefully watched their surroundings.

Who is the bloodline of Adenstein?

Woos.h.!.+

Who knew when he had approached. Ingrid quickly turned and swung her sword at the sound of the voice coming from behind her. However, by the time her sword flashed through, the owners voice had already pa.s.sed.

Its you.

When the polite voice was heard once again, it was just a short distance away from the princess.

Stand back!

Hastily, Ingrid shouted as she emitted sword energy. The energy reached its peak and shot out towards the unidentified person in an instant.

The sword used by a knight who was considered by the Empire to be at the top would never be weak. Her sword contained devastating power.

Nevertheless, the person blocked her sword too easily.

Tap.

He hadnt noisily raised his momentum to cross swords with her, nor did he push aside her sword with an unknown technique.

The man grabbed the sword surrounded by sword energy too easily.

Ingrid clenched her teeth and twisted the sword at the unbelievable sight. However, the man didnt care about her reaction at all.

I can tell just by looking at you.

The princesss eyes wavered as she took in the sight of the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her. She had never lost her fort.i.tude in any crisis she may have occurred, but not this time.

I, I dont

The mans eyes widened at her unintentionally spoken words.

Its not just your looks thats the same.

His wide eyes soon curved into half moons. He was so calm it didnt seem like he was surrounded by knights who were emitting fierce fighting spirit. When the princess saw that, she asked.

Will you tell me who you are?

The man responded in a blas manner to her question.

A pitiful father who thought he got a present only to be led around by his nose.

It was a baffling answer.

I am the one who will pay the debt you owe.

Although the words themselves were unfathomable, the princess realized that the man in front of her was the one she had been looking for.

Are you perhaps the salvation thats been pa.s.sed down

Ah, lets talk about that later. Lets first deal with your pursuers.

Before he even finished talking, he grabbed Ingrids sword and threw it. The sword flew like an arrow and stabbed a bush.

From there, a man dressed in armor that was dyed black staggered out and collapsed.

Its the third princes tracker!

Ingrid shouted when she saw the pursuer that had been tirelessly chasing them all the way here.

What? This is a family fight?

At that moment, the mans expression changed. Until a moment ago, the man had seemed so relaxed, but then his expression seemed to get colder before it turned ice cold as a bitterly blowing cold northern wind.

In that time, dozens of shadows seemed to pop out of the thicket. Dressed in black leather armor, all of them looked a.s.sa.s.sins.

If you are truly the salvation pa.s.sed down through generations, then please save the princess! She is not an insignificant person who should be killed in a place like this and by rogues like that!

Seeing that, the man spoke coldly.

Even if you hadnt said that, I have no intentions of watching a child who has inherited the Adensteins bloodline falling right before my eyes.

Hope bloomed on Ingrids face. He was the man who had effortlessly blocked the sword that she had swung with all her might. She believed that he could easily defeat those atrocious a.s.sa.s.sins.

I will help, sir.

When the a.s.sa.s.sins had appeared, the other knights had escaped. The only ones left were her and the man.

She drew out her dagger and stood by the mans side as she prepared to face the enemies. However, the man gently raised his hand, and then lowered it.

And at that moment, arrows rained down from the forest.

A rain of death was pouring down from the forest.

***

It was truly shocking to see the a.s.sa.s.sins, who had been trained to deal with powerful knights, dropped by flimsy arrows.

But the man didnt even pay attention to the fallen a.s.sa.s.sins.

Is this a battle for the throne?

It was such a frank question that Adelaide couldnt find the words to answer him.

Its a civil war, sir.

Ingrid answered for the princess instead.

The man didnt say anything for a long time.

Go back.

When he finally spoke, the answer the princess heard was completely different from what she had expected.

I have no intention of helping the children of Adenstein fight against each other.

At the man glimmering with hurt and disappointment, Adelaide unintentionally stepped forward.

While I do not know what caused such heartache and grief

Seems like you can read auras as well. Your insight is definitely incredible, however, if you try to express it at any time, then it will become a rope around your neck.

Although his words were closer to a warning, it didnt sound like a threat to her.

It was strange. Obviously, the man was a difficult person and it felt uncomfortable to be around him. It was too terrifying for her to face an opponent whom her insight would not work on.

But nevertheless, she left familiarity with the man. She didnt know whether it was because of the unknown affection filling the mans eyes or because of her own desperation to cling to something that had been handed down for generations.

The only thing important right now was that he was a trustworthy person.

I will keep your words in mind.

Youre a good kid.

It could have been weird for a person who looked to be in his 20s to speak like an old man, but Adelaide couldnt feel a single bit of awkwardness.

But sir, I cannot follow your instructions and go back.

She drew upon her courage to speak. The man frowned at those words.

Didnt you just say that you didnt wish for those who inherited the blood of Adenstein to die? If you send me back now, then it will be the same as you killing me.

It was ridiculous coercion, but the man remained quiet as he listened to her.

Do you wish to live?

When he finally spoke, she shook her head in response.

At first, I just wanted to live. But now, its different.

On her way here, she had witnessed the horrors of the civil war with her own eyes. The glory that the Empire had built up over hundreds of years had burned and the precious citizens had been strewn across the roads as corpses. She had even seen knights who had lost their pride and become wolves to exploit the survivors.

All of this had been Adensteins fault. It was the Adenstein bloodline that had destroyed the Empire built by their ancestors and it had been the Adenstein bloodline that had plunged their citizens into chaos.

And as a member of the family, she felt a huge responsibility for it.

She herself had nothing. All she had were a few knights and n.o.bles who had lost their pride after tasting defeat once, and were obsessed with life and had useless delusions.

Nevertheless, she had a strong longing.

I want to end this terrible civil war.

At those words, the man spoke.

If you want to end the war, then I can go and end it right now.

The man was speaking too easily about a war that the princes, who had split the Empires power, had been fighting for nearly ten years and still hadnt finished.

I will be honest.

Adelaide didnt dismiss the mans words as mere bluff.

I want to become the Empress.

It was a confession that had left her mouth for the first time. Surprisingly, nothing happened when she finally said it. The only one surprised was Sir Trail.

P, princess

I know, Im being presumptuous and crossing the line. Its ridiculous that a princess with no power or ability is daring to talk about the Empires throne. It might make you wonder how a princess, who may die at the hand of a.s.sa.s.sins, will subdue her powerful older brothers.

If she was being honest, even she didnt think there was much possibility. Unless there was a miracle, she didnt think she would ascend to the throne.

But then, a miracle happened.

The innocent face. The ability of insight. Even your ambition. It all resembles her.

The words were either admiration or lamentation. Then, the man looked somewhere into the forest.

Ophelia, dont you think so too?

No one could be seen, but a gentle yet powerful voice answered from beyond the forest.

You cant hide blood.

The leaves rustled and through the forest, a woman appeared.

Ah?

When the woman suddenly appeared, Adelaide couldnt help but utter a silly sound.

The woman standing there looked exactly like her.