Chapter 28 Pursuit(2)

Translator: BaeBae Editor: BaeBae

Did we get him?

Ausrey shaked his head at Sinas question. Sina bit her lip.

It had been two days since Juan had got away. Theyd passed the forest near the Gray tower and were fast approaching the Laus Mountains that split the empires southern region from the central province.

As they marched forwards, an odd fog followed them clouding their vision, so they had no choice but to send out search parties.

And of course, this reduced the amount of progress they were making.

Weve decided to stop the search due to the thick fog. A few knights have been assaulted inside the fog. Theres been no casualties but even commander Hasell has doubts on whether we should continue Do you think hes able to control the fog?

As Sina looked out her tent at the thick fog, frustration boiled inside her.

She was afraid Juan was waiting somewhere inside the thick fog that looked as if murky clouds had descended upon the land.

Even with a childs body, Juan was difficult enough. Who knows what could happen if they were ambushed inside the fog.

For certain, this fog is not natural. I keep thinking back to the story that the Gray towers interior was basically all fog. I fear this could somehow be linked with the recent collapse of the tower.

Even the Gray towers power.Who could he really be? Even the emperors relic didnt affect him.

Ausrey bit his lips nervously. Looking on, Sina lamented the fact that she was unable to help in the search.

Currently, she was in an emergency tent, getting treated. Although there were no big injuries, her whole body was covered in bruises and she was suffering from nausea.

After gazing at Ausrey, Sina spoke.

Although Im most curious about Juans identity, theres something Im curious about you too. Since when did you have the White crows shield in your possession? I wasnt aware that youve been promoted as Paladin.

At those words, Ausreys face reddened.

Embarrassingly, Kato nim bestowed it to me. He said, Sina nim will be his sword and I should act as his shield. Of course he reprimanded me, if anyone else but me or a paladin got their hands on it, I would be severely punished. He said bishop Rieto nim had temporarily given permission.

Sina had never heard of anyone without a paladin title, given permission to use paladin equipment.

Receiving an equipment bestowed with the emperors grace was of the highest honor, and it wasnt lightly given to others even if it was for the sake of borrowing. In such cases, paladins would rather be deployed instead.

Sina felt tightness in her chest. There were too many exceptions surrounding this incident.

A knight was bestowed with paladin equipment and an inquisitor was acting like an assassin.

It felt she was in the middle of a giant conspiracy that she could not yet see.

Still, its disappointing that you didnt let me know.

Euk Kato nim did say it was unlikely I would ever need to use the shield.. And moreso, if this expedition succeeded, he would let Sina nim and I.ah.

Ausrey quickly stopped himself.

Hell let you and me what?

Nothing. Uh. anyways, I dont think anything is a given seeing as Kato nim is in that state right now. Furthermore, the tracking device broke as well.

Sina was suspicious of Ausrey in how he suddenly changed the topic.

But there were bigger and more important matters. Sina heaved a sigh.

If this fog isnt natural, tracking will virtually be impossible. Maybe the search will be called off soon. I cant think of any other ways to catch him.. I just hope Kato sees logic and doesnt turn even more insane. If he knows whats good for him, he would stop here.

Just now, he was grinding his teeth inside the tent, soI think thats not going to happen.

Exactly. And if we continue on, therell be another big problem to consider as well.

Another problem?

Sina squinted her eyebrows as if she didnt want to even speak of this problem.

Just a bit further and its Raven[1] territory.

Sina knew by looking at Ausreys face, he hadnt fully understood what this meant.

Realising again how outer districts didnt care to learn about history, she sighed as she began to explain.

Youve heard of Lars Raude?

Yes. One of the six apostate.

Thats right. There were six who instigated the emperors assasination. And one of them was his youngest adopted, Lars Raude. Larss Hugin knights had set out from the south to attack the capital during the assasination but failed. They were stopped at the Laus mountains, on the borders of southern and central provinces. The one who stopped their march was none other than Capitals knight order led by General Vares Valte.

Ah, yes Ive heard of this. In order to stop them, they raised the mountain range, making it more steep and difficult to cross.

.Thats wildly exaggerated but yes they did achieve in stopping them. And with that, the six apostates became isolated, and eventually finished. However, unlike the others, the Hugin knights didnt disband but decided to hide somewhere in Laus mountain range. Waiting for the chance when the empire is at their weakest to strike again. If its them, they wouldnt ignore someone like Juan.

Huh, if thats the case then..

As Ausrey tried asking a question, a soldier entered the tent. It looked like it was raining outside as the soldier appeared to be drenched.

Sina nim, inquisitor is asking for your presence.

*****

Are you crazy!?

Rain was pouring down noisily. Through the downpour the blue rose knights were moving around getting ready to leave.

For all the noise created outside, it didnt reach Sinas ears. Kwoong Kwoong, she could only hear her own thundering heartbeat.

As Ive just said, Sina kyung.

Strapped completely in bandages, Katos appearance looked bizarre. Even though his bandages had been regularly replaced, blood was still flowing out and puss was oozing.

As if the explosion had also hurt his throat, his voice sounded strained and creepy.

Our goal is to catch and kill the apostate, as soon as possible!

Were already armed and ready to go, so I guess I wont oppose you any further, but shouldnt we just continue to send search parties!

How?

Sina was speechless at Katos reply. The holy relic used to track Juan had already been destroyed.

A thick fog blinded the Blue rose knights and pouring rain made it more difficult to track Juans whereabouts.

It had made it practically impossible for heavy armoured knights to search.

Maybe, distribute Wanted notices to surrounding areas and call for a special force to help track him down.

And the likelihood of this succeeding?

Why dont you just behave and carry out my orders.

Sina bit her lip.

After glaring at Kato for a while, Sina punched the table in front of her, breaking it.

But to set an entire village on fire!

An unwavering Kato calmly glared at Sina.

The principal in dealing with an apostate is through purification.

An outdated principal from several decades ago! The last time it was used was near Tantil before I was even born! Even if you are an inquisitor, wont using purification which is normally only used to catch traitors associated with the emperors assasination incident, have implications down the line?

In the western region, its a viable strategy thats still being used.

Thats because the west.!

Dumfounded, Sina didnt know what to say.

I dont want my home region to become the same as the western district. That place is practically hell for anyone living there. Im not questioning the General Dismass faith, all Im saying is, we shouldnt be following his methods. Im sure the other knights will tell you the same thing.

My thoughts are the exact same, Kato nim.

Rolling up the canvas, a person entered the tent. It was the commander of Blue rose knights, Hasell.

Hasell had stepped back, assigning this mission to Sina, so it was surprising to see him giving his input.

While Katos face was wrapped in bandage, one could feel his expression distort. Bandages around his wrinkles were suddenly soaked in blood.

Your reasoning being?

Simply of the fact whether its possible or impossible. If we burn down each and every village we find, its going to delay the search. I can get behind the fact that the inquisitors method will be more thorough, but if the bastard didnt hide and chose to run instead, then wed be delayed so much that tracking him down might be not feasible.

Then Ill mobilize another knight order to help.

Do what you need to do. But I dont know if there is any other order thats willing to come far deep into the forest to do what youre asking for. It should be mentioned that I have no knights to send as messengers for you.

Arent you just saying that because youre afraid of Ravens?

Id be lying if i said Im not afraid of them. However, I would like to say, theres not a single knight in my order that would run away if we had to fight them. Kato nim, please reconsider your plan. We can all die by fighting the ravens thus losing track of the child, or let the capital know of the situation and ask for reinforcements.

As if hed said all he needed to say, Hasell made his leave.

Sina was surprised at seeing Hasell take her side, and acknowledged everything he said was correct.

Kato of course had a distorted expression on his face in silence.

With Hasells words, it became clear the Blue rose knights would not assist Kato with his plan. Kato understood he shouldnt expect anymore help.

Well, at least from the Blue rose knights anyways.

*****

As a raindrop fell on his forehead, a giant two handed sword was coming down straight on Juan.

The speed in which it fell made Juan sleepy as he easily evaded the strike.

The knight regathered himself after missing and struck again. While his movements were acceptable, it was too slow with holes.

Obviously he was lacking real combat experience. It was clear as day, that he was a countryside knight that had seen too many peaceful days.

Another strike, dodged. Next attack would be a stab.

Juan kicked his front leg, making him lose his balance. The knight tumbled to his knees.

There was no way he would be hit with such sloppy techniques.

Juan had thought of several ways to kill the knight but instead of killing him, he avoided the knights next strike.

Reminiscent of when I taught my soldiers years ago.

In the past, humans were no better than bandits. So Juan trained them and established the royal guard. It had taken him a long time to develop them into a formidable force.

The Blue rose knights werent on exactly bandit level. However, to Juan, he couldnt feel any difference. How fitting for a knight from an outer district.

You, you bastard! If youre going to kill me, then do it already!

The knight seemed to have lost his spirit to fight but he admirably continued on swinging his sword.

Juan obliged his request.

As the knights sword swung again hopelessly, Juan pulled out his dagger. Talteres dagger scraped against the knights sword and made a screeching noise.

Staring into the knights inner vulnerable body, Juan sighed. Instead of stabbing, Juan kicked the knight in the crotch.

The knight fell on his knees as he gulped for air. Juan struck him behind his head, making him pass out.

Third one.

Hed gotten a rough grasp of a knights skill level.

Using mana for physical enhancement, Juan had invested most of it on agility.

Talteres dagger was a good enough weapon for now, and any injuries costed him a lot of mana to recover immediately.

Furthermore, his body was light, so naturally Juans attack formed a hit and retreat pattern.

But even so, these knights are too slow.

Even during his days as emperor, hed faced off against humans. And at the time, Juan tried to tolerate most behaviours the opponent threw at him and also tried being friendly as possible even if they were enemies.

But not anymore. He didnt feel any guilt in killing anyone he came across.

But if the skill level is only this..

Unlike at the colosseum, he wasnt angry, nor was it any benefit for him to kill them. He also didnt really have a need to kill them either.

At least if they were skilled and posed some kind of threat, then it would make more sense to kill, but it wasnt this as well.

He felt the level of knights now had regressed compared to the past.

Of course, these guys are only doing what theyve been conscripted to do.

Sina Solbein.

It was hard to not give any faults.

These knights had all moved with Sinas orders.

Since his resurrection, Sina was one of the people that Juan had come to like the most.

He did feel a little bad in hurting her comrades. So while it frustrated him to do so, Juan showed mercy towards her knights.

The sound of rainfall swept the forest. The rainclouds joined the fog Juan controlled, pouring down torrential rain.

Tracking through this would be difficult.

Many other knight orders existed and their tracking relic had already been destroyed, so it was only a matter of time before he would give them the slip.

As he got up to start moving again, he sensed the presence of knights.

Here to find their comrades huh.

He didnt need to assess their skill level anymore. Using the grey fog, Juan slowly faded himself into it.

It was practically impossible to find someone standing still inside a stillness fog.

Juan waited for quite a while for them to pass, but the knights didnt move.

From beyond the fog, a light smell of blood drifted into his nose.

Juan quickly dissolved the fog and moved towards the direction of the presence. There he found a woman with bright red lips and a ponytail. Anya was pulling out a stiletto from the throat of one of the knights.

We meet again so soon. Child.

[1] Referring to a group called Raven. Not a flock of ravens lol.