Chapter 63

The last day of Schützenfest.

Hartmann: one wolf, one wild boar, one stag, two quails, five rabbits, three foxes.

Yurik: two wolves, three foxes, one badger, one bear.

Result, 33 versus 36 points. The bear was the cheat code.

Looking at the scoreboard, he was on the verge of exploding with fury.

Conceding the wolves was one thing, but a bear?

Where in the world did a bear come from!

"We've inadvertently created a rivalry between Hartmann and the royal family."

"The other side only has one participant. We've simply been overwhelmingly defeated."

He glared at Yurik in the distance while correcting Arndt's statement.

Yurik was surrounded by young nobles who idolized him, receiving their praise.

Seeing that pleasant smiling face made his blood boil.

It wasn't just him, but Russel and Leandros also seemed to have had their pride wounded.

"How can a person possibly sweep through the forest like that? I can't even imagine it."

"He must have released animals separately somewhere."

"Wow, what an underhanded tactic."

Compared to Russel, who was actively grumbling, Leandros was quiet.

He hadn't imagined that Leandros would feel such emotional displeasure even when participating in a hunting competition.

"Leandros, are you..."

Just as he opened his mouth, Yurik turned to look in their direction.

Then, without giving them a chance to say anything, he walked over, parting his followers.

"I behold the small sun of the kingdom."

"Duke Hartmann? This is the first time since the title conferment ceremony. Have you been well? I heard you were severely ill on your way back."

"I'm fine now, thanks to your concern."

"Have there been any other incidents?"

Ordinary pleasantries.

But to him, who had died several times because of Yurik, it only seemed like pretentious behavior.

Still, he had to play along.

"Upon returning to the castle, I was surprised at how much work there was. I'm truly amazed at how the previous Duke managed all this."

"You'll soon get used to it. Ah, isn't that Sir Leandros standing behind you? I saw his excellent skills during yesterday's hunt."

"...You flatter me."

"The score gap between the royal family and the Hartmann ducal family is nearly nonexistent. If you catch one more fox, you'd catch up immediately, wouldn't you?"

Since a fox was worth 3 points, that would be the case if they caught one.

Not knowing what Yurik was trying to say, he just nodded for now.

With a smile, Yurik suggested.

"How about a bet to heighten the excitement on the final day of the hunting festival, Duke?"

"What kind of bet are you referring to?"

"A hunting bet, of course. Since the scores are similar, wouldn't it make for quite the entertainment? If I lose, I'll grant one wish of the Duke's choosing in the name of the Crown Prince."

The surroundings stirred at Yurik's words.

A wish that could be granted, staking his position as Crown Prince.

An opportunity to obtain anything desired, be it a title or gold.

It was a very tempting proposal for him as well.

But.

"If I lose, I would have to grant one wish of Your Highness the Crown Prince's choosing, correct?"

"That's right. Is that too burdensome?"

High risk, high return.

In other words, could he take something from the Crown Prince, or would he have something taken?

In the worst case, he could be the one who loses.

Then he would be contributing to the Crown Prince's plans, whether it was revelation or anything else.

Refusing might be the wise choice.

"While I'm extremely grateful for Your Highness's proposal..."

Just as he sorted out his thoughts and looked around, he understood why Yurik had made such a proposal at this timing.

The noble ladies and lords, knights, and young lords surrounding them.

Someone among them whispered.

"The Hartmann ducal family has two participants. Isn't Your Highness the Crown Prince taking on too much of a burden?"

"But despite that, with the scores having such a gap, he must have judged it appropriate."

"Isn't this a proposal that's actually advantageous to Duke Hartmann?"

Was this the price for daring to predict victory in the hunting festival?

He couldn't be called a dog that tucked its tail and retreated here.

Yurik, that bastard.

"...If Your Highness is fine with it, I'll accept."

"The Duke is indeed a man. Your competitive spirit is overflowing."

Yurik smiled faintly, saying it would be an 'enjoyable bet' and retreated.

Some nobles whom he had become acquainted with at the luncheon the other day gathered around, asking various questions about his relationship with Yurik, but he couldn't answer.

It was an unsettling feeling.

Yurik wasn't a character who acted impulsively.

He never gambled and was terrifyingly steady and calculated by design.

For such a Yurik to suddenly make this proposal?

He must surely have confidence that he could win.

What could be predicted?

What could be predicted about Yurik?

Demonic beasts, villains, the desire to obtain revelation, the ancient myths sleeping in the east and south, and.

"Are you afraid?"

He came to his senses at the low voice.

Leandros was asking him.

Was he afraid?

Of course he had to be.

He had to survive.

To protect those who existed for him, to write the story and liberate his younger brother.

In a situation where he didn't know how many regressions he could make, what should he do?

Yes, he was afraid.

The character Yurik was so dark inside that nothing could be seen, and regression through death was horrific.

He wouldn't despair.

But that didn't mean pain wasn't pain, nor that sorrow had ceased to be sorrow.

Looking at him, Leandros slowly said.

"I will not disappoint you."

"You have never disappointed me."

"I know. But this time will be the same. As always. You just need to give me the order, Your Grace."

Leandros's 'as always'.

Arenheit, who had to flee from the royal palace's pursuit after the ducal family's downfall, and Leandros, who protected him to the end and brought him back to the castle.

There was something strong binding the two characters.

He knew he was speaking to 'Arenheit', not him.

Even though he already knew this well, why did he.

"For the ducal family, make sure to return victorious. That's an order."

"How could there be any doubt?"

Was his heart warming to the protagonist in this world of the novel?

With Leandros's vow, the final hunt of the hunting festival began.

* * *

"Despite His Highness the Crown Prince participating in Schützenfest, the Duke of Hartmann dares to act without knowing his place. Isn't that so?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Isn't it truly presumptuous? Even when the traitors banded together and harbored malicious thoughts."

"His Highness the Crown Prince said the young child was innocent, so at least he kept his life. Now, I don't understand why he doesn't prostrate himself flat. Is it because the new Duke is quite young in age?"

"That must be it. Your Highness the Crown Prince, you must press down that arrogant nose at this hunting festival!"

The third day of Schützenfest was the day to hunt on horseback.

Several horses were slowly walking along the wide forest path.

At the very front was a magnificent black steed.

The noble black horse with blazing red eyes made its rider stand out even more.

Yurik, who was stroking the mane of his beautiful horse, turned around at the sound.

Faces that were uniformly obsequious yet determined.

Yurik had seen many such faces over a long time.

Those who, swept up in the instigation of those around them rather than their own will, deluded themselves into thinking they were something.

It was enough to prompt contemplation on why humans hadn't developed at all even after hundreds of years.

But Yurik skillfully hid such thoughts and admonished kindly.

"Though the Duke of Hartmann is young, he is undoubtedly the legitimate successor of the ducal family. The position of a nation's duke can't possibly be easy."

"Your Highness's words are correct. Isn't it a position far too generous for that milk-scented young one?"

"Isn't it because the Duke isn't fulfilling the role of a Duke that the royal palace has become cautious in returning the ducal territory?"

The heir of a mere count family, who hadn't even received a title, casually referred to him as 'Duke' in a condescending manner.

In the past, when Hartmann's family power was fierce, these were the ones who had hushed even in the absence of the Duke.

Such interesting creatures, really.

Yurik silently smiled and listened to the continued slander against Hartmann.

When the slander had grown quite long and was about to run out of material, one from the group Yurik was leading said.

"But what about our hunting? It seems we've strayed far from where the animals are abundant."

At that sound, the group came to their senses and looked around.

They had come so deep that there wasn't even a proper path.

The trees had become extremely dense, blocking out all the sunlight.

Those who found themselves trapped in a suddenly dim forest cautiously said to Yurik.

"Your Highness, we seem to have come too deep. This doesn't seem to be the hunting area."

"I'll go over there to look at the path and come back."

"Ah, that's a good idea. Your Highness should quickly return to a safe place. Shouldn't you hunt more than Duke Hartmann?"

Yurik turned his horse around.

Facing the group that had been following him, Yurik nodded readily.

"It seems we've entered safely. Thank you for your efforts in coming this far. Thanks to your ceaseless chatter, I wasn't bored either."

It was loud enough to hurt the ears, so where was there room to be bored?

Yurik's gentle words continued.

"There's no need to go back. Your role ends here."

"Your Highness?"

"It was enjoyable for a short time. Well then, farewell."

Faces that completely failed to understand all looked at Yurik.

The next moment, a small "ah" was heard as someone fell from the horse and rolled on the ground.

"Are you alright...?"

The young noble lord who was standing beside looked to the side.

Clearly, there had been someone from another family just a moment ago.

Now, what was rolling on the ground was a headless body.

"Ah."

Before he could even scream, something jumped out from the undergrowth and pounced on his head.

Because of this, he too was forced to maintain eternal silence.

-Neigh!

"A-aaaaah!"

"What is, what is this, this is!"

"What on earth are these, aaaaah!"

"Stay away from the undergrowth, get off! Get, off, aaaaah!"

White objects kept jumping out from the undergrowth.

The wails and screams subsided within a surprisingly short time.

What was crawling between the bodies strewn on the ground were fleas the size of a human head.

Strange creatures that were pure white, had small membrane wings, a pair of sturdy hind legs, and dozens of forelegs.

Yurik looked at them and then turned his head.

Something suddenly poked its head out from between the large trees.

It was a gigantic transparent worm without legs.

However, it was very short in length and greatly swollen in the middle, and underneath, short brush-like mucous bodies wriggled to move its body.

The color deepened toward the head, and at that round extremity, there were hollow eyes and a mouth without a jaw.

From the mouth hole, which was like tattered rags, there was a constant hissing sound.

It swept through the blood-soaked place once, as if smelling it.

Then, through its throat, it began to push everything that had been alive just moments ago into its stomach.

The offspring ate the heads, and the mother ate the bodies.

Was it maternal instinct to feed the delicious parts to the offspring first?

As Yurik was thinking this, when the blood-stained ground became clean, he clapped briefly.

"You want to feed them something delicious before they grow any bigger, right? You can find more food if you go outside."

The 'mother', who had been making an unpleasant and sticky breathing sound, turned her head to Yurik for a moment.

Then, along with the offspring that were bouncing around, she retraced the path Yurik had come from.

Watching the backs of that affectionate mother and children, Yurik suddenly muttered.

"Now that it's come to this, it would be good if Duke Hartmann died."

It was the second act of the hunting festival.