The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 52 The Runaway Noble

"Damn it, didn't I impose a curfew? Why is it so noisy outside?!"

Huss, pacing back and forth in the mansion, tugged at his mustache and couldn't help but curse.
"Go check on the situation outside and tell those salaried guards to keep the curfew in order!"

The village official, displaying loyalty, hurriedly left with his back hunched over.

The mansion is located next to the town square, almost in the very center.

This meant that he only needed to push open the door and glance inside to see a few scattered lights already arranged in a loose column, crossing the central square and heading west along the path.

He turned around and shouted:
"It's terrible, Lord Huss! I saw many people packing their bags and leaving their homes, heading out of town!"

"What?! Have the guards stop them!"

What bothered and angered Huss more than the reason for leaving his home was that these commoners had failed to obey his strict orders.

But regardless, he realized that he couldn't afford to waste any more time.

He then looked at Merard, who sat beside him, looking worried, and whispered a word of advice:
"Young Master, don't wait for that faithless Catherine any longer. You should set off with Explosive Wolf now—no matter what, get back to Dragon Gold City first!"

"Can--"

“I must be responsible to you, sir. So no matter how you try to persuade me, I will put your safety first.”

Now is not the time for indecisiveness, Huss abruptly interrupted.

Grab Merard's arm and lead him into the courtyard through the back door of the mansion.

Since returning to the town, the mercenary leader had been resting and has now recovered most of his energy.

Even when he was internally complaining, his voice remained rough and high-pitched:

"Damn it, I told you long ago, if you're going to leave, then leave now! All that effort wasted on a woman, and in the end you're still going alone?"

"Mercenary, just do your job—escort the young master home. Don't say another word."

"Huh? I'm furious right now. If you keep looking at me with those smug little eyes of yours, I'll take my anger out on you even if I don't want any reward!"

Although he made this threat, he knew he couldn't actually do it.

Only he himself knew how many casualties the mercenary group had suffered for this mission.

If he doesn't get the money, it's as if he's lost everything.

"As long as you escort the young master back safely, in addition to the originally agreed-upon reward, I will also apply for a compensation of equal amount for you—"

You know, money is just a number to our master.

Huss was not afraid of this capable mercenary leader.

He also understood that money was the most effective remedy to quell the mercenaries' anger.

Sure enough, even the wolf-like creature couldn't care less about being angry, and frowned as it said:
“You know my brothers will be left here too, right?”
They are all my brothers who have risked their lives for me.

"You want me to abandon them for money and then cross the Dawn Forest with a burden?"

"Yes."

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth:

"You have to pay double!"

Huss pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and stated his final bottom line:

"I can only give you an extra 50% in my personal capacity. If you're still not satisfied, then you can discuss it with the master yourself after we escort the young master back."

"Then remember to 'explain' to them that I went out to get reinforcements."

"Of course I will keep them in check so that we can replenish our defenses."

Exploding Wolf didn't want to spend any more time either.

When he learned that the orcs' destination was this town, he didn't want to stay a moment longer.

Everyone says that his mercenary group participated in the defense of the South.

Few people know that they only escaped back after losing most of their men in the fighting outside the Great Wall.

"So fair and chubby, can you ride a horse?"

He was clad in plate armor and wielded a greatsword, and Merard was overweight, so he could only ride two horses.

"You don't need to teach me."

Merad disliked the wolf's attitude, but knew he still needed to rely on him to escape.

Once he was sure the bottled eyeball on his shoulder was firmly in place, he snorted and mounted his horse.

Huss, on the other hand, is like a parent who, anxious about their child's future before leaving home, becomes nagging and never forgets to give advice:
“Young master, our town is surrounded by three mountains. After the fortifications were built, there is only one exit left.”

Someone must have leaked the news, but those lowly people are no longer behaving themselves. So when you pass by them, don't hesitate, just head out of town.

Those who refuse to avoid you and try to block your way are enemies who want to drag you down; just push them aside.

Rest assured, I will lead my troops to stop them. I will not allow these lowly people to follow you and make you a sitting duck in the night!

Merad was touched by Huss's sincerity. He thought of the old gentleman who was both a teacher and a friend, and how he had taken care of him along the way.

But now, they must stay in this dangerous land for their own sake and to protect their family's wealth.

This old gentleman offered all the loyalty he could.

Merad felt a lump in his throat and leaned down to pat him on the shoulder:

"Mr. Huss, regardless of whether the orcs arrive here, please take good care of yourself—"

"Shut the fuck up! Can't you hear how noisier the town is getting?"

The wolf couldn't stand the sight of their master-servant affection and spat coldly.

Huss sighed and patted the rump of the horse that Merad was carrying.

The horse beneath him responded immediately, raising its front hooves and neighing.

Merard suddenly raised the reins and swung them across its neck:

"set off!"

The wolf followed closely behind, and the two swift figures pierced through the night, bypassed the mansion, and rushed out of the courtyard.

The commotion was so great that it startled many townspeople who had come out of their homes.

They failed to recognize the man on horseback.

But the other party was clearly on horseback fleeing.

This precisely confirms their inner concerns.

Suddenly, they heard a young voice calling out:

"Oh no! Oh no! The orcs are coming! The nobles are already trying to escape on horseback!"

No one cared who spoke first.

But they all cared deeply about the deeper meaning behind it.

Fear gripped them instantly, and even their steps and the speed at which they drove the oxcart became more hurried.

"The orcs are coming! Run! Run!"

At the exit of the fence ahead, several civilians, stopped by guards, were already standing, arguing.

"Why won't you let us leave town?! Do you want everyone to die here?!"

Merard was somewhat afraid of being recognized and had no intention of paying attention to them.

The horse's hooves pounded faster and faster, their rhythmic clatter echoing on the country road like the restless beating of his heart.

"Make way! Make way, all of you!"

he shouted.

They believed they were the future masters of this land, and that the people were their subjects.

We must never let them see the future lord looking like a stray dog ​​in such a sorry state.

He even prepared excuses for himself:

"I'm going to get reinforcements, get out of my way!"

No one wanted to be hit by such a fast-moving horse, so they all made way for Merard, clearing a path for him.

As he was about to cross the firelight over the fence, Merad felt he was finally about to escape the suffocating shame.

Suddenly, he felt his horse jolting.

Immediately afterwards, a piercing scream shattered the long night.

He noticed that the torch stuck in the fence beside him seemed to be tilting.

Then he realized that his center of gravity had shifted.

A feeling of weightlessness followed immediately.

"not good--"

"thump!!!"

In his gasp, he felt a momentary lapse in concentration.

When he came to his senses, a sharp pain shot through his arm from the impact.

Merad buried half his cheek in the damp, foul-smelling mud...

By the flickering firelight, he could vaguely see a hemp rope tightly bound to the wooden fence.

He suddenly realized that he had been tripped up.

who is it! ?
(End of this chapter)