By Zephyria =======
Wolf hugged his knees tightly with both arms and dropped his head. After staring downward for a while, he stole a glance upward. The moment Silver—who looked like a beggar despite having a face as beautiful as a wild flower—entered his field of vision…
Wolf hurriedly looked away. Ugh, my heart definitely just thudded the moment I saw Silver’s face, right?
Is it really that? Is it?
Wolf’s mouth went dry. His vision darkened, and he felt a sudden wave of dizziness. He had never even imagined himself being attracted to a man, and above all, sodomy was forbidden in Atania.
However, this was merely a ‘doctrine’ established by the clergy. Following the
No, it’s too early to conclude I’m a sodomite just because my heart beat a little. My junk isn’t reacting at all, is it? So first, a test.
Wolf squeezed out his courage and imagined himself kissing Silver. A surge of nausea immediately hit him! Though his manner of speaking was rough, Silver was the benefactor who had saved his life and a pitiful slave boy; the thought of having lewd fantasies about him made Wolf feel disgusted and abhorred!
Still, not wanting to be complacent, Wolf proceeded to a second test. He imagined a scene of himself and Silver lying side by side in a field of blooming wildflowers, looking at each other and smiling brightly. That image, which anyone would see as a friendship, evoked a heartwarming and warm feeling.
Wolf closed his eyes and breathed out silently. Thank goodness. Truly a relief. I mean, I’ve never even had a common nocturnal emission, so there’s no way I’d suddenly awaken to sodomy.
Because Silver was a swordsman boy unlike any seen in Atania, and because his gaze was particularly intense, Wolf had simply felt a deep interest—nothing more. Wolf finally regained his composure. Feeling ridiculous for having caused such a commotion in his own heart, he intentionally looked at Red Eagle. Red Eagle’s face and hair were a mess, soaked in blood.
“Prince, I’m sorry. I was flustered and I’m late.”
Wolf dampened a handkerchief in the river and cleaned Red Eagle carefully. Black Weasel, who had been watching silently, spoke.
“Prince, you have a reliable attendant. He’s got a cocky streak, but he’s quite useful. Besides, he fights just like a Stohl person.”
“What is a fight like a Stohl person?”
Wolf asked back out of a sudden sense of defiance. Black Weasel raised one fist and declared, “A relentless charge!”
“Atania bastards arm themselves from head to toe in heavy armor when they fight, right? We Stohl people only wear helmets and charge. The vanguard assault troops go completely shirtless, half-naked, without shields, charging into enemy lines with nothing but an axe! Very brave.”
That’s not brave, that’s insane, you Uncle.
“How wonderful. Truly manly.”
“Truly man-and-womanly. In Stohl, there are as many female warriors as there are male warriors. Hmph, Stohl women are different from those frail, timid Atania women. They have broad shoulders, aren’t shy in front of men, and pick their noses. They all sit with their legs wide open and drink liquor by the gallon.”
“How… charming!”
Wolf smiled broadly and gave a thumbs-up. He firmly vowed to send Red Eagle back to Atania by any means necessary. If he got stuck in Stohl, Red Eagle would inevitably have to marry a Stohl woman. To a Stohl person, a woman with broad shoulders who picks her nose in front of men might seem sensual, but by Atania standards…
A deep darkness was descending. Cutting through the moonlit river, the ferry boat pushed forward persistently. Red Eagle, who had been nodding off repeatedly, eventually fell asleep leaning on Wolf’s shoulder. Wolf fought back his drowsiness and looked up at the night sky. The constellations were a compass indicating direction. The boat was heading northeast.
Around the time the moon rose quite high, the boat turned toward the riverbank. Wolf shook Red Eagle awake.
“Prince, wake up. I think we’ve arrived at White Deer’s tribe.”
“Huh… already?”
Red Eagle hurriedly looked around.
“The mouse-bastard said it would take two days by horse to reach White Deer’s tribe. But since we came by boat, we arrived faster.”
Wolf scanned beyond the approaching riverbank. The darkness was thick. Only the blurred outlines of the towering mountains were visible.
Having docked the boat at the riverbank, Black Weasel sprang up.
“Get out.”
“Prince, take my hand. It’s slippery here.”
After helping Red Eagle down to the riverbank, Wolf hesitated and took a step back. Black Weasel and Silver were carrying the boat toward a nearby thicket. With faces shrouded in a darkness so black their features were invisible, the way they exchanged words in the Stohl language looked as gloomy as grave robbers.
Wolf swallowed hard. Those villains look like they’re trying to hide the boat in the bushes… Why are they doing that? What are they saying right now?
「Silver, you planning to feed the attendant yourself?」
「You’re the one who hinted I should.」
「I never hinted that. But it’s only right that you feed the attendant. But are you not going to give this master a single piece of meat?」
「Nope.」
Cold sweat broke out all over Wolf’s body. Speak in the Atania language, you barbarians! Why are you hiding the boat!
「Wait? Why are only the two of us carrying the boat? Let’s make the attendant work too.」
「You should’ve said that sooner, you stupid slave brat. Forget it, we’re here.」
The villains, having hidden the boat perfectly in the thicket, walked back toward them. Wolf clenched his fists and stepped in front of Red Eagle. Black Weasel placed a hand on his hip and chuckled.
“Your courage is commendable, but… kid! Do you really think you can protect the Prince like this? You’re certainly a fearless brat.”
“Please explain. Why… ”
“Wolf. I’ll speak.”
Red Eagle pushed Wolf aside and stepped forward.
“If this is my Mother’s tribe, there is no reason for you to hide the boat. Which side are you on, warrior? Red Eagle’s enemy? Or ally?”
“Hooh.”
Black Weasel whistled. Wolf looked at Red Eagle’s back, his cheeks flushing. He was moved that the Prince would step forward himself, fearing that Black Weasel might try to kill them again.
“You’re starting to look a bit like a Stohl person now. I don’t have time, so I’ll answer right away. Prince, I’m an ally. If I wanted to kill the Prince, I would have finished him off at Morgan port already.”
“You could have been hired to kidnap him.”
“Prince. Let me explain one thing: I’m only hired for killings.”
Red Eagle and Wolf flinched simultaneously. What Black Weasel said was chilling, yet contradictory.
“Didn’t you say you were in charge of my escort? That’s not killing.”
“To be precise, I was told to kill every single bastard who interferes while I bring the Prince back to his mother. Understand? Most killings have a cause and effect entwined. Especially killings involving money.”
Black Weasel turned around.
“For now, don’t ask anything and just follow me. And you two, you keep calling me ‘warrior,’ but I’m not of warrior rank. I’m just a common contract killer, so call me Uncle.”
* * *
A deep, dark forest continued. To make matters worse, it was a mountain path. For Wolf and Red Eagle, who had grown up in the plains of Levenon and had never even seen a hill, it was a march from hell. Wolf was even carrying two rabbits and a kid goat on his shoulders. Though he had one body, he was effectively serving as both a butcher and a porter.
Ah… the stairs of the temple bell tower were flat ground compared to this mountain path…
Still, as time passed, their lungs and hearts adapted. Wolf held onto Red Eagle with one hand.
“Prince, how are you holding up?”
“Wolf… I… I…”
Red Eagle couldn’t finish his sentence and sobbed. However, Wolf understood immediately. Because for a while now, the stomachs of the Prince and the attendant had been crying in unison, without pause, gurgle gurgle. Not to mention Red Eagle, who had been raised delicately in the palace, Wolf had also never experienced starving before today, even though he had often eaten four or five meals a day while learning baking. Prince, please never leave home again.
12 – Hell Execution Order