By Zephyria =======
They didn’t seem to be on guard against us. Then again, if they had ears, they must have overheard Black Weasel’s nonsense.
But did we really have to do this? Especially with the Prince in such a state.
Black Weasel staggered toward the warriors. In the moonlight, the atmosphere surrounding the warriors was as savage as an axe stained with blood and flesh. The man at the very front stood out in particular. He was the only one not holding a torch, his hands bare. He had a single axe at his waist. Even though he stood still with his back to them, he exuded a pressure so strong that one could instinctively imagine the scars etched into his face. He wore a robe with burst seams, stained with dirt and blood, but it was obvious. That man was the Captain.
“Dear warriors, could you lend a torch to a hungry family? We were cleaned out by bandits, even down to our flint…”
Black Weasel babbled vacantly as he approached the warriors. Silver grew tense. You idiot! Slow down!
Sure enough, the warriors flinched in unison and reached for their waists. A single mistake and axes would have flown all at once. The moment Silver slid his hand inside his robe, the man at the front raised an arm. Immediately, the warriors stepped back. As expected, that man was the Captain.
The Captain placed both hands on his hips and turned around slowly. Reddish-blonde hair. A stiff beard. His face, which looked to be around the same age as Black Weasel’s, was covered in countless scars—far more than Silver had imagined. Unlike Black Weasel, who enjoyed popularity with women, this uncle looked like the kind of man whose wife would flee without a second thought on their wedding night.
The Captain scanned Black Weasel from head to toe. An eyebrow that had momentarily arched soon dropped.
“Someone your size got taken down by bandits? Is that axe on your waist just for decoration?”
“It is decoration. I carry it so I won’t be looked down upon, but the bandits weren’t fooled. They didn’t take it because the blade is dull, but if you’d like, warrior, I’ll trade it for a torch.”
Black Weasel replied nonchalantly. The Captain snorted and waved his hand.
“Don’t need it. Keep it.”
“What a shame. By the way, aren’t the future royal couple getting off here?”
“Why do you ask? Hmph, planning to tattle?”
“No! I have absolutely no such intention. I just wondered, as I doubt I’ll ever have another chance to see the royal couple in my lifetime.”
“Damn, your face is a rock but your actions are a feather. There, move out.”
The Captain gave a nod. The warriors walked forward with heavy steps, illuminating the surroundings with their torches. Their shadows stretched long like snakes in the light. Black Weasel slid closer to a warrior walking at the rear.
“Warriors, you’re going to rob an empty house, right? Let us join—”
“We’re scouting!”
The Captain, walking at the front, shouted abruptly.
“I don’t care if you follow us. But that mouth—if you utter one more stupid thing, I’ll chop it off with this axe.”
Black Weasel quickly backed away, waving both hands. In the silence, only the sound of boots stepping on the ground mingled with the fog. They followed the warriors, maintaining a distance of about five paces. This was safe enough to speak in low voices and advantageous for fleeing in an emergency. Except for Red Eagle.
Silver glanced sideways. Red Eagle was being dragged along by Wolf, practically out of his mind. Escape would be impossible in that state. Wolf, who hovered over the Prince as if he were his own child, would likely give up on escaping as well.
Silver counted the number of warriors. Twenty-one. The daggers hidden in their robes totaled twenty-seven. He could take them all down. If luck was on their side.
In the meantime, they entered the village. Wherever the light touched, bloodstains and severed corpses were revealed. The warriors’ pace slowed.
“Looking at the cut surfaces, it wasn’t the work of a beast…”
The warriors whispered, shining their torches on the corpses.
“Beast teeth or claws couldn’t make a line like that. There are no signs of the bodies being eaten, either.”
“Just as the rumors said, some warrior trash who were having a victory party here must have caused a mess. But how could a human have this kind of strength…?”
“It’s not human strength, it’s the power of drugs. If you take the stuff, you become strong as a bear. Those warrior bastards are probably groaning from muscle pain by now.”
Though spoken lightly, the tone was stiff. Everyone seemed shocked by the sight of even young children, who are usually spared, lying scattered as gruesome corpses. As they walked further, they reached the path leading to the open-air bath. This was where they had all been torn apart and killed previously. An inn was visible a short distance away. Dogs barked in front of a slightly open door. Every window was covered in blood, making it impossible to see inside.
Suddenly, the Captain stopped.
“Hey. Look there.”
The Captain gestured with his chin toward the inn door. A warrior shone a torch in front of the door. Something was rolling, caught in the gap of the door. Round like a ball a child might have abandoned while playing, it was the head of a warrior whose side-hair had been cleanly shaved.
A brief silence passed. The first to move was the Captain. He strode toward the inn, kicked open the door, and stepped inside. The warriors followed. Black Weasel and the three boys remained where they were in silence. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, Red Eagle burst into loud sobs. Wolf hurriedly hugged Red Eagle and whispered in his ear. It’s okay, Prince. I’m here.
Inside the blood-smeared windows, lights flickered erratically. The sound of wooden floors creaking, something falling with a thud, and coarse cursing shook the inn as it faced the cold winter wind for a while. Only after a long time did the warriors emerge from the inn. Every single one of them had a grim expression. Even the ones pointed out as prime suspects had all been found as corpses. It was enough to leave anyone stunned.
The Captain placed both hands on his hips and kicked the dirt ground. After glaring at the inn for a moment, he raised a hand.
“Pairs of two. Find survivors. Look around only for as long as it takes for one segment of a candle to burn, then assemble here.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the warriors paired up and scattered. The Captain looked back at them.
“Not robbing empty houses? You said you were hungry.”
“…Well, the mood, it’s just…”
Black Weasel pretended to ramble. Perhaps it wasn’t acting.
The Captain chuckled and flicked something. Black Weasel snatched it with the agility of a pickpocket. It was a large piece of rye bread.
“I brought this because I felt sorry for the sobbing son. Eat.”
Several pieces of jerky also flew over. This time, Silver quickly caught them. When he handed the jerky to Wolf, the boy turned his face away. Well, chewing meat in a place like this was a talent reserved for bottom-feeders like them.
The Captain whistled to the dogs. They came running, tails wagging frantically, each with long tear stains. While tearing off pieces of jerky for the dogs, the Captain muttered to himself.
“My dream last night was strange…”
“Nightmares usually visit on the eve of terrible events.”
Black Weasel handed the rye bread to Red Eagle. Red Eagle gripped the hem of Wolf’s robe as if he would tear it, keeping his mouth shut. Not offering a second time, Black Weasel munched on the rye bread.
The Captain patted the dogs.
“Did you meet a nightmare last night too?”
“I only met women with big backsides. I slept after taking hallucination herb. If I’d met a nightmare, I would have sensed an unlucky day and prepared myself mentally.”
“You’ve got a silver tongue.”
The Captain slowly raised his head. Dark shadows hung beneath the eyes that looked at Black Weasel.
“By the way, you lot. The widower in wolf skin and the one in the black robe. You’ve taken quite a few human heads, haven’t you?”
It was a direct hit, like a piercing dagger. Silver’s hand, which had been tearing the jerky, paused. Black Weasel asked back without batting an eye.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“That large wolf skin you’re wearing. Why did the bandits leave that behind? It looks perfect for wearing in the dead of winter.”
“Perhaps they were considerate of a widower with three children.”
“I’m surprised there were bandits in Stohl with such warm hearts. And you, black robe—the hem barely flutters even in the biting wind. Hmph, you’ve got tools stuffed all over the lining, don’t you? If I’m wrong, lift the robe.”
“You’ve seen correctly.”
Black Weasel didn’t hold out long and stepped back.
“Your eyes are sharp. Why did you play along and let us fool you?”
“First, those two sons of yours look like genuine idiots. Second, I was curious why you keep looking for the future royal couple.”
64 – Hell Execution Order