The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 50

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Despite the unsettling state of affairs due to successive incidents, Emperor Barbarossa went ahead with the hunt.

Does he have some disease where he’ll die if he doesn’t hunt?

I looked at the Emperor while shouldering the hunting rifle I had received from Ludmilla.

Currently, Barbarossa was conversing with the great nobles who dominated the political and financial worlds.

They all had imposing physiques like the Emperor, perhaps having made names for themselves as soldiers in their younger days.

“We are deeply grateful that you have called us here, Your Majesty!”

“Ha ha! The nobles of the empire shouldn’t be trembling at the atrocities of cult followers!”

The hunting grounds were on a northern mountain slope near the imperial city.

Valleys and ravines could be seen stretching out to the left and right.

And numerous wild animals were running about in the deep forest.

They must be today’s prey.

I’ll catch just enough not to stand out and then return.

I didn’t want to become a laughingstock to the Emperor and nobles by feigning clumsy skills.

But I also didn’t want to become the center of attention by showing perfect marksmanship.

“So you’re the young master of the Hohenberc family.”

“I heard you’ve achieved impressive feats in the imperial city. As expected of one chosen by the holy sword!”

The nobles who had been advancing ahead turned their horses and approached.

They showed goodwill, bursting into hearty laughter as if wanting to build a friendship on this occasion.

I had thought the great nobles of the central region, who boasted a long history like the Valtarian Imperial Family, would all have arrogant and rough personalities, but this was entirely unexpected.

Or perhaps they were showing an ingratiating appearance because of my close relationship with the princesses.

“Please hand me the musket after firing.”

“We’ll take care of the loading.”

Three attendants followed behind.

They were escorts specially provided by Ludmilla.

Of course, the other great nobles also had numerous personnel accompanying them.

The attendants wearing leather armor assisted the great nobles while also managing their hunting rifles.

“We’ve let them loose for several months, so there are quite a lot of beasts! Everyone, follow me!!”

With his distinctive pointed mustache, the Emperor spurred his horse while giving orders in a resounding voice.

He acted without hesitation as if trying to vent the frustration that had built up due to the cult forces.

Thud thud thud thud─!!

The sound of horse hooves echoed loudly through the mountains.

Startled by this, the wild animals began to flee.

The Emperor aimed his gun like an experienced hunter and pulled the trigger.

A roe deer that had been desperately fleeing was hit by the bullet and collapsed on the spot.

“Follow His Majesty!”

“We shall demonstrate our skills as well!”

The hunters who had been watching the scene joined in.

At the same time, the beaters who had been widely surrounding the mountain ridge made a fierce commotion.

‘I should play along moderately. As Ludmilla said, it’s a perfect opportunity to score points with the Emperor.’

I aimed my gun at a marten hidden in the grass.

I took precise aim at its head.

With a short gunshot, the brown marten was blown away, spewing blood.

I signaled to an attendant, who retrieved the marten that had died without even moving.

The fur shouldn’t be too damaged since I had accurately pierced its brow.

I wanted to gift Ludmilla a marten scarf later.

“There’s a wild boar escaping over there!”

“It’s quite large… Let’s catch it and present it to His Majesty!”

In the midst of continuously hunting wild animals, a dark beast appeared.

It was a wild boar with sharp tusks protruding.

It had completely recognized the humans invading its territory as enemies.

The wild boar exhaled hot breath as if it might charge fiercely at any moment.

“Everyone, stand back! I’ll catch the wild boar!”

A noble wearing a splendid tunic shouted while aiming his musket.

Perhaps wanting to be acknowledged for his bravery by the Emperor watching from the front, he showed quite a daring appearance.

His posture exuded experience.

He must indeed have hunted many fierce beasts before.

So he pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang!!

The bullet struck the wild boar’s head.

But the gunshot wound wasn’t deep.

The wild boar’s skull was as hard as a rock, too solid for the bullet to penetrate completely.

Though flesh was torn and blood flowed profusely, it was only a grazing wound.

Kuoeeeeeeeek!!!

Damn it.

I’ve only provoked it.

The fierce beast let out a savage roar.

Even the most experienced hunters couldn’t help but fear the wild boar’s reckless charge.

As the angry roars continued, even the trained war horses retreated cautiously.

‘Something’s strange…’

A bizarre phenomenon was detected.

The grazing wound on the wild boar’s head began to heal.

This was impossible.

For a mere beast’s regenerative power to be as fast as a monster’s.

Perhaps it wasn’t just an ordinary wild boar.

Maybe someone had cast a particular spell on the wild boar to target the Emperor and great nobles…

“The wild boar is charging!”

“Protect His Majesty! Kill that beast immediately!”

Had Barbarossa also sensed something amiss?

He temporarily halted the hunt.

He looked around while the knights were deployed to take a protective formation.

The Emperor, who had carried out successive purges as soon as he ascended to the throne, had received numerous threats befitting his heavy notoriety.

Therefore, he was very sensitive to killing intent aimed at him.

Grrrr!!

Kyaoooh, kyaooooh!!

Following the wild boar, fierce beasts, including wolves, appeared.

A bizarre scene unfolded where the fierce beasts formed an assault formation as if a battalion was lining up.

Was it the power of sorcery?

There was no doubt they were being controlled by something.

They must have cast spells on the fierce beasts in advance to assassinate the Emperor.

The forces surrounding the hunting grounds to protect the Emperor’s safety wouldn’t have checked every beast in the forest.

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The fierce beasts began to emit a dark aura.

These were no longer beasts.

They were monsters with nothing but killing intent.

The knights guarding the Emperor all drew their swords at once.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, they even deployed blue mana blades, entering a state of complete preparation.

“Here they come!”

The fierce beasts charged simultaneously like tanks trying to break through the formation.

The knights responded, and bloodshed unfolded.

“Kugh!”

“They’re monsters that have swallowed sorcery! Don’t let your guard down!”

The knights standing in the front line like a barrier were shaken by the intense physical assault.

A force, like being hit by a heavy tank, was applied.

The fierce beasts filled only with killing intent and madness, were not opponents to be taken lightly.

The knights pushed back by the physical assault realized this with their whole bodies.

A fierce battle unfolded as the beasts spewing pitch-black demonic energy clashed with the sword-wielding knights.

“Gun.”

“Y-Yes… sir!”

I handed over the fired musket.

And received a loaded musket.

I aimed at the wild boar, acting as the leader.

It wasn’t easy to accurately aim at the rampaging beast charging recklessly, but it was possible enough.

I fired a bullet, shattering the wild boar’s left eye.

Kueeeeeeek!!!

The massive beast collapsed, bleeding profusely.

But this alone wasn’t enough.

I needed to properly aim for its vital points and end its life.

“Gun.”

“Y-Yes…!”

The attendant watching the scene while swallowing dry saliva hurriedly handed over a new gun.

“Keep loading without rest. We might run short of ammunition.”

To think it would become serious like this.

I had only intended to catch a few small animals for show.

I had no choice but to get serious.

It was a precarious situation, with the safety of many people at stake.

Whenever I received a loaded musket from the attendant, I aimed at the monsters.

With each thunderous gunshot, the cries of beasts that had transformed into monsters continued.

A wolf that had instantly broken through the knights’ formation leaped from the ground and charged.

I fired a bullet into the wolf’s mouth full of sharp teeth.

As I knocked down monsters with each trigger pull, the knights’ expressions changed instantly.

The knights, briefly struggling against the monsters, regained their fighting spirit, backed by the sharpshooter’s support.

“The beasts are falling!”

“Now’s our chance! Quickly, finish them off!”

Sharp mana blades pierced the beasts’ vital points without hesitation.

Was it due to the enhanced sorcery?

Even though their vital points were accurately pierced, the beasts thrashed about.

So, the knights stabbed the beasts until they became ragged lumps of meat.

Only when their heads were severed entirely did they finally become quiet.

“Is the marten we hunted earlier safe?”

“…Pardon?”

“The marten, I mean. You know, the deer.”

“O-Of course, it’s properly stored.”

The attendant, maintaining the overheated musket, asked back at the sudden question.

It might seem like an out-of-place question.

But the marten I had just caught was a precious gift to be presented to Ludmilla.

As the situation calmed down, I checked the marten in the bundle.

After confirming that the soft fur was intact, I nodded.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

Then, I dismounted and approached Barbarossa.

As I got closer, I witnessed the great nobles desperately trying to dissuade the Emperor from joining the fight.

“Ahem! These nobles are being overly cautious, I am perfectly fine. By the way, that perfect marksmanship you displayed in slaughtering the beasts was truly impressive. Where on earth did you learn it?”

“I merely picked it up through casual observation.”

You managed to see that?

It must have been utter chaos with beasts and knights entangled.

I smiled bitterly and gave a modest answer to the Emperor’s question, which showed deep interest and curiosity.

I hope he’ll just let it go.

– I thought, but judging by his wide-eyed gaze, it didn’t seem like he would drop his interest so quickly.

“Your Majesty, suspicious magical tools have been found inside the beasts’ bellies.”

“Indeed, they look quite ominous at a glance.”

The knight commander in charge of the escort held out a dark sphere in a beast’s belly.

The magical tool had undoubtedly driven the hunting grounds’ animals into a frenzy.

They must have prepared the beasts in advance, anticipating that the Emperor and great nobles would enter the hunting grounds.

The malice occurring throughout the empire had finally reached the point of threatening even the Emperor.

Realizing this, the great nobles raised their voices, hoping to find the culprits behind it.

“It would be such a waste to let that perfect marksmanship go unused. From now on, you shall accompany me on hunts. With a skilled marksman joining the hunt, we can easily catch even large game.”

“Pardon?”

Barbarossa, who had been briefly conferring with the great nobles, suddenly turned his head and spoke.

What on earth does he mean?

Is he saying he will use me every time he enjoys his hobby from now on?

The Emperor, who fanatically enjoyed hunting, had begun to appreciate the perfect marksmanship.

The reaction of openly disliking me he had shown until now was nowhere to be seen.

He even appeared affectionately, as if he had found a companion to share his hobby with.

If a third party saw this, they might think it was a father-in-law enjoying a hobby in high spirits with his son-in-law.

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