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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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– Click!
With a sharp sound, the door to the interrogation room opened. Immediately, the soldiers guarding the entrance adjusted their weapons, blocking the path.
“…What is this now?”
“My apologies, but there is a strict order not to let the prisoner leave.”
The soldiers issued this warning, glancing at Amelda, who was standing behind Brutus. In response, Brutus replied in an incredulous tone,
“I’m the interrogator assigned to investigate this prisoner. So why is there a problem with me moving her?”
“We’re only following orders. We’ve even been authorized to use force if necessary. Under no circumstances can you take the prisoner out.”
“Force, you say?”
As if Brutus was irritated by the soldier’s words, he spoke in a cold voice.
At that moment, a subtle yet intense aura of power began to ripple from his body.
As a bishop who trained the order of knights, Brutus possessed considerable combat prowess.
This stern warning, combined with his imposing presence, sent a chill through the soldiers. Yet, despite this, they replied firmly,
“We are only obeying commands, even if you are the interrogator.”
“Please avoid causing any unnecessary disturbance!”
The soldiers’ unwavering stance left Brutus silent.
After a brief moment, he exhaled, letting his hostile energy dissipate.
“Fine, if that’s the case.”
With that, he moved forward, leaving Amelda behind in the room.
The soldiers lowered their weapons and began to close the interrogation room door.
Then—
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
In the next moment, the soldiers suddenly felt as though their breath was being choked, forcing them to sink to the ground.
Overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of pain, they tried desperately to make a sound to alert others to the situation.
However, the pressure around their necks made even breathing difficult, making it impossible for them to utter a single sound.
Moments later, the soldiers collapsed unconscious, foaming at the mouth.
Right after, Amelda dragged one of the fallen soldiers into the room and closed the door behind her.
A moment later…
“Are you done?”
“Yes, I’ve changed into the armor.”
In response to Brutus’s question, Amelda fastened her helmet and answered.
At this moment, she was no longer dressed in her usual knightly attire; instead, she wore the armor of the soldier who had been guarding the interrogation room moments earlier.
Once they finished their escape preparations, Brutus and Amelda threw the soldiers’ bodies into the room and firmly locked the door behind them.
If the others discovered they’d drawn their swords first, it would give them an excuse to swarm in like hornets.
It was a hasty and imperfect plan, but it would buy them as much time as possible.
“Alright, let’s go. Even with disguises, we must hurry.”
“Yes, Master.”
With those words, Amelda hurriedly left the prison block.
And as soon as they disappeared from sight…
A figure hidden in the shadows, who had been silently observing everything, began to take action.
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Achilles Declimonte, one of the three generals of the Falcon Empire and the overseer of this stronghold, received the report and began to smirk coldly.
“So… that elven bishop dared to pull such a stunt, did he?”
“Yes, General. He attacked my guards without reason, stole their armor, and is now attempting to smuggle the prisoner out.”
“Tsk tsk… even though we’re allies, to carry out such an act in the heart of our empire. That Brutus, the bishop, has truly overstepped,” Achilles remarked, clearly pleased.
His expression reflected a sense of satisfaction, as though everything was proceeding exactly as planned. His subordinates, catching on to his intent, also shared in his icy smirks.
“This clearly suggests that those elven fools are hiding something related to the Hero’s Party, doesn’t it?”
“I believe so as well. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so reckless as to attempt something like this in the heart of the Empire.”
“Give the order, sir. I’ll go personally and capture those filthy elves.”
The initial threat may have come from the Falcon Empire’s side, but, regardless, it was the elven bishop and paladin who escalated by using force.
The law, after all, often works in such a way that even if one is threatened, whoever strikes first is often seen as the aggressor.
In this situation, despite any context behind the actions, the fact that the elves drew their weapons first made their punishment legally and diplomatically justifiable. They had effectively handed Achilles the “righteous cause” he needed.
Confirming that this “legitimate justification” was secured, Achilles turned to his waiting subordinates and gave his command.
“Deploy immediately. Arrest every last one of those traitorous elves!”
“Yes, General!”
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“Ugh…”
“Wha… How did they surround us so quickly after we just escaped?”
As soon as they exited the cell block, they were met with a wall of soldiers.
The soldiers were completely blocking the path they intended to escape through. Brutus’s expression darkened, his suspicions confirmed because the trap he had feared was already set.
Brutus had foreseen that events were likely to unfold in this manner, given the atmosphere surrounding recent events.
However, Brutus knew all too well that if he did nothing, he and Amelda would be swallowed up by the false testimonies woven by the other members of the hero’s party. Standing by was no longer an option—he could already see how the accusations would pile up, casting them as traitors without a chance to clear their names.
Ultimately, Brutus found himself forced to make an unavoidable choice at a dead end.
However, that doesn’t mean he was recklessly taking a gamble.
“Amelda, head to the eastern gate. In that armor, you should be able to blend in and escape.”
“But, Master, what about you?”
“Don’t worry about me. Regardless of the circumstances, I represent the Elf Church. It wouldn’t be easy for them to recklessly lay hands on a guest.”
“Master…”
With those words, Brutus smiled gently at Amelda.
In that moment, seeing his expression for the first time since she was born, Amelda instinctively sensed something.
However, she couldn’t bring herself to elaborate any further.
At that moment, she realized what her master wished for her by going this far.
“Once you return safely to the kingdom, let’s share a meal together.”
“…Un…der…stood.”
“Good. Now, go.”
With that, Amelda bowed her head deeply at her master’s final words and started running to the opposite side.
After watching the last moments of his disciple, Brutus hardened his expression again and turned his head.
‘You must return alive… The fate of the church… The fate of our people rests with you.’
With that thought, Brutus slowly began to reveal himself before the soldiers.
And as soon as the soldiers spotted him, they immediately drew their weapons and began approaching.
The soldiers made it clear that they were ready to act forcefully, regardless of the fact that he was a guest from another country.
Brutus then approached the soldiers with gathering magic, preparing to cause the loudest commotion possible to aid her escape.
“For the kingdom…”
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Amelda moved as quickly as she could to escape after parting with her master, holding back tears.
Fortunately, thanks to the commotion caused by her master, there were no pursuers in sight.
However, the main routes were still blocked by soldiers, and there was a risk of being discovered if she approached the wrong area.
Although she was currently wearing the armor of the imperial soldiers, if they conducted a checkpoint, she would surely be caught.
‘I have no choice… I’ll wait a bit and then blend in with the moving troops before escaping. Once I get out of the castle, I just need to head straight into the forest.’
If she could blend in among the soldiers moving around, she would be able to avoid the checkpoints.
Moreover, capturing an elf escaping through the forest would be quite difficult for humans.
As Amelda was planning her escape route, she noticed a group of soldiers passing by in front of her.
‘Great. If I can just slip in among them…’
With that thought, she hid behind a pillar and subtly joined the ranks of the soldiers.
Since she was wearing the same armor, she was confident that she wouldn’t draw attention as long as no one looked closely.
However…
-Thud!
“!!”
The next moment, a sudden, intense pain and the sensation of her entire body becoming paralyzed from the poison hit her.
Caught completely off guard by a strike she couldn’t even sense, Amelda collapsed to the ground.
‘What is this… a strike so stealthy that I couldn’t even detect it? Does that mean…’
That thought implied that the person who struck her was among the most skilled within the Empire.
However, regardless of these thoughts, Amelda found herself unable to move even a single finger, helplessly lying on the ground.
“It’s one wearing the marked armor!”
“Quickly, contact the general. We’ve captured the elf who attempted to escape!”
Immediately afterward, the soldiers began to surround her.
Amelda felt a deep sense of despair as she gradually lost consciousness.
“No… no… this can’t be…”
