âCertainly, we should bring him in, right?â
âOf course. There is no one like him that fits us so perfectly.â
Ten young men and two young women.
The twelve young people sat around a large round table and chatted pleasantly.
Their expressions were soft and the voices were quiet, but the mood was feverish.
âAlright. Then who should be the good person to persuade him?â
As soon as his words finished, everyone turned to one young woman.
âThe eloquent Elva Dionell is perfect for this job.â
âIf itâs Elva, I can trust and leave her the work.â
âCertainly, Elva has to do it.â
Gazes and praises poured down.
The young women, Elva, faintly smiled and nodded her head.
âSure. Iâll have a go at it.â
A bold voice and manner that didnât fit her innocent look.
She was merely twenty five years old, but was the head of the Dionell House and a viscountess of Rinse Kingdom.
Including the Rinse Kingdom, several nations on the continent granted and allowed the inheritance of nobility to women. Of course, it wasnât an easy job.
In the case of women, their talent must be more exceptional and there couldnât be even a small fault.
Because of that, a female noble represented a great talent just by being a noble.
And amongst those female nobles, Elva was a talent amongst the talented who became a noble at the youngest age.
She looked around at the young men and women sitting around the round table.
Including her, every one of the twelve young people were between their twenties and early thirties.
All similar to each other, each one of them was the head of a household and were part of the kingdomâs nobility.
These twelve people represented the meeting of the young nobles that represented the Rinse Kingdom.
âOkay. Then weâll leave the work of persuading Baron Tale to Elva.â
Sith Wiggins, the head of the group and a viscount of the Rinse Kingdom, concluded the decision.
Turning to everyone, he continued to speak.
âAs you all know, we 12 Hatchlings act as the youth party in the world of Rinseâs nobles. Although the princes we each support are different, regardless of who becomes the next king, we have to stay together and pledge our loyalty to the kingdom. Got it?â
Everyone nodded at those words.
âOf course. In the first place, thatâs why we made this group.â
âThat is obvious.â
â We will do our best for the Rinse Kingdom and its people.â
A slightly excited voice.
Sith brightly smiled and nodded his head.
His heart felt proud.
âIt was quite hard to arrive at this point.â
When he first made the youth party called the Hatchling, their numbers were merely three.
Feeling disgust from the sight of traditional noblesâ arrogant, cliqued, indecisive and useless looks, Sith gathered young nobles with progressive and revolutionary minds and created the youth party.
Expanding the number of members while carefully checking each personâs personality and ability, their numbers had now reached twelve.
âWould the thirteenth member be Baron Roan Tale?â
The man who was currently receiving the greatest attention.
If he joined the group, he would be a great strength to the group.
Sithâs gaze turned to Elva.
âIf itâs Elva, she should do well.â
Elva was one of the founding members of the Hatchling party along with him.
To the point where most members had joined due to her persuasion, she was a great persuasive speaker.
At that moment, Sith and Elvaâs gazes met.
Staring at each other, the two faintly smiled.
âElva. I trust you.â
That was the meaning of Sithâs gaze.
However.
âAhâ¦â¦ my love, Sith.â
Elvaâs gaze had a different meaning.
*****
Keueong!
A cry that shook the forest.
Twisting its neck, the Laâbear cried aloud and soon fell down.
In its neck was a long and thick black spear.
The Travias Spear.
The black spear was definitely Roanâs favorite weapon, the Travias Spear.
âHuu.â
Roan let out a short sigh and pulled on the end of the spear.
The speartip that was buried deeply in the Laâbearâs body showed itself.
âTo hunt a Laâbear aloneâ¦â¦â
Roan was once again surprised and shocked at himself.
There was also a time in his last life when he hunted a Laâbear.
He was acting as a trapper for the generalsâ pleasure hunting, when he was dragged in to personally hunt for their amusement.
âEven though twenty common soldiers had to jump in and were barely able to catch one at that time.â
Literally a sense of being in a new world.
Roan bitterly smiled and shook the spearhead.
The Laâbearâs blood on the spearâs tip sprayed out to the side.
âWowâ¦â¦â
The common soldiers who were watching the sight from the side exclaimed with shocked faces.
They had also heard that Roan, the expeditionâs hero, had amazing skills.
âEven though he was merely a common soldier not too long ago.â
I thought that rumors tend to be exaggerated.â
âI thought he merely caught Prince Simonâs eyes by luck and achieved baseless success.â
But the skills they saw from Roan in the flesh exceeded the rumors.
A slightly rough but fearless horse riding skills and flawless spearmanship.
Especially, even in the common soldiersâ eyes, Roanâs spearmanship was an exception amongst exceptions.
A feeling like looking at a whirlwind with neither a start nor an end.
The sight of Roan leading the war horse across the field chasing and killing the Laâbear was the very definition of perfection.
The common soldiers, who had the role of trappers, stared at Roan in awe.
âThere was a time when I was like them too.â
Reminiscing of his past self, he pulled the reins.
âYou canât simply stare and be awed. Work hard. If you try hard, you can be anything.â
In fact, Roan had been working himself to death throughout his entire second life.
He couldnât really call his last life a success, thanks to the efforts made in that life, he could reach the light in the second life.
âA nation where anything is possible with hard work. I will make that nation.â
Roan took in a deep breath.
His spirit soared.
Meanwhile, the horse had turned toward Viscount Holten and the various nobles.
Clop. Clop.
While everyone remained silent, only the sound of the horseâs steps rang out.
âMy lord. That was quite an amazing skill.â
When Roan came close, Harrison raised his thumb as if he had been waiting.
Roan cheerfully smiled and shook his head.
âThis much skill is nothing.â
His gaze headed naturally toward Anthony.
âI heard that Sir Viscount Holtenâs swordsmanship was incredible. This time, please show us your awesome skills, sir viscount.â
âU, un?â
Anthony blanked out at the sudden request.
âM, me?â
At the repeated question, Roan lightly nodded his head.
Anthony awkwardly smiled and turned to the other nobles, but they too couldnât do anything.
âDamn it. Just what is happening?â
The markings for the traps were definitely done properly.
But in fact, there were no traps there.
No, there was no certain way to tell if they were there or not.
The number of traps Roan stepped on werenât many.
It was unknown whether the traps in other places were properly set.
âDamn it.â
In the end, there was only one method.
âFor now, Iâll avoid every single place marked as a trap.â
If so, he could at least avoid being completely humiliated.
While Anthony was turning his head and organizing his chaotic thoughts, he heard Roanâs voice.
âThen should I go and chase a Laâbear here?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Anthony was suddenly shocked and took ahold of himself at those words and shook his hand.
âNo need. Letâs leave that to the trappers.â
If Roan went into the forest here, then the Laâbears he had prepared in advance would be revealed.
Anthony hurriedly took out his sword and pulled his reins.
âPlease donât laugh even if itâs lacking.â
Relaxing while pretending to be humble, he kicked his horse.
Dudududu.
The war horse that showed off a smooth body crossed the field.
As if it had waited, a Laâbear ran out from the forest.
âFor now, avoid everywhere marked as a trap.â
Anthony freely controlled the war horse.
As someone who was a noble from birth, his horse riding skills were quite exceptional.
Paat!
The war horse freely ran between the trap marks as if it was dancing.
Soon, the Laâbear that was running wild came close enough to possibly touch.
âIâll cut this guyâs neck instaâ¦â¦â
When he had thought up to that point.
Psck!
With an unpleasant sound, his sight leaned to the right.
The horseâs body dangerously shook as if it would fall.
âEh?â
Shocked, Anthony pulled hard at the reins.
But the horse couldnât maintain its balance.
It was because the ground it was firmly stepping on had suddenly collapsed.
Kugung!
With a loud crash, the war horse carrying Anthony fell into the ground.
âUuaaack!â
Anthony screamed at the sudden event.
Hihihing!
The war horse also cried out violently.
Kwajik!
From losing its balance and falling deep into the earth, the war horseâs leg was mercilessly broken.
Anthony also wasnât looking so good.
His ankle and wrist were broken and he had received heavy bruising all over his body.
âA, a trap? Why is a trap in this place!â
He had instinctively realized that he had fallen into a trap.
Anthony looked around the hole and shook his head.
âThis isnât a trap we made.â
In the traps he made, sharp weapons like swords and spears were planted upside down.
But the place he had fallen in was simply a deep hole.
âWhy is this kind of trapâ¦â¦?â
Within his head, questions appeared one after the other.
But this was not the time to leisurely contemplate.
âUhuph!â
Clumps of earth continuously fell down on his head.
Towards the entrance of the hole, he loudly yelled out.
âSave me! Hurry and get me out of here! Now!â
Anthonyâs shout was clearly heard by the knights and the many nobles who were watching from the outside.
âMy lord!â
Ted and the knights like him kicked their horses with hurried expressions.
The territoryâs soldiers, who were working as trappers, quickly ran from the opposite field and the forest.
âIt, itâs dangerous if you carelesslyâ¦â¦â
Many nobles tried to shout with a worried look, but closed their mouths due to Roanâs presence.
Pretending to be oblivious, Roan made a serious face.
âIt seems he fell into a bear trap. Let us all go and rescue Sir Viscount Holten.â
The nobles nodded their heads at those words and pulled on their reins with reluctant faces.
âDamn it. There definitely wasnât the trap mark, so why?â
âWhat? Just where are the traps and where is safe?â
While heading toward Anthony, the nobles sharply focused their senses.
It was because they too couldnât tell just where the traps were.
But to simply stand still, they couldnât stand Roanâs gaze.
At that moment.
âU-ugh!â
âUagh!â
âAck!â
The knights and the territoryâs soldiers fell into the hole with screams.
âHph!â
âNo way!â
The nobles who were further back nervously swallowed and stopped where they stood.
With expressions of complete fear, they couldnât carelessly move.
âDamn it. There are bear traps everywhere.â
âDid Viscount Holten not even check for bear traps while setting this up?â
The nobles absolutely couldnât imagine that the places Anthony, the knights, and the territoryâs soldiers fell down into were traps that Roan prepared.
Looking at the nobles frozen like stone, Roan inwardly smiled.
âYou guys stay still just like that. From here on, this place isâ¦â¦â
When his thoughts proceeded to that point.
Ppuuuuu!
Sound of a horn echoed.
âUn?â
âWhat the?â
The nobles, who were already really tense, were startled in surprise and turned towards the source of the sound.
âAhâ¦â¦â
Immediately, a quiet exclaim leaked out of everyoneâs mouth.
The ones who appeared with the horn from the edge of the field were the Amaranth troops.
Holding up their troop flag in front, they ran toward the nobles in a grand manner.
Roan smiled as he looked towards the Amaranth troops.
âFrom here on, we the Amaranth troop control this place.â
*****
Austin was leading the Amaranth troop and was doing troop tactics training while circling Miller Castleâs outer wall.
It was an official training that got permission from the palace beforehand.
But the true purpose of the training was elsewhere.
â Obliterate Viscount Holten and his groupâs scheme.â
The order from Roan.
Austinâs eyes flashed with light.
âWe will rescue those worthless bastards and find out all who are related to this event, so he said.â
Roan had no plan to immediately put down Anthony and the nobles.
âHowever much he wanted to attract the princeâs attention, he couldnât have planned such an idiotic and bold work alone.â
That was Roanâs thought.
There should definitely be someone who supported him from the shadows or helped architect the scheme.
Using this chance, Roan planned to pull out the factions that aimed against him from the root.
Austin led the troops around the hunting ground and headed towards Roan.
âMy lord! Are you okay?â
A rather good acting.
Roan inwardly smiled and nodded.
âIâm fine. Why are you here?â
When he asked the question they planned in advance, Austin immediately answered.
âWe got here while returning from our troop tactics training.â
âHow fortunate. The situation here isnât very good.â
Roan and Austin.
The twoâs acting continued on.
At the Amaranth troop that suddenly appeared, the nobles, who couldnât do anything in fear of falling into the traps, no, into the bear traps, were half out of their minds.
âThi, this is going badly in too many ways.â
âOne wrong move and weâll be the ones that fall.â
Anthony and his subordinates had already fallen into the traps and they too couldnât carelessly do anything.
If their scheme to somehow take down Roan was revealed, they would be caught helplessly by Roan and his Amaranth troop or die a dogâs death.
At that moment, Roanâs voice rang out.
âThe noble sirs, please stay still over there just in case. Our Amaranth troop will search this field for the bear traps.â
âDo, do go ahead.â
The nobles merely nodded their heads.
Bitterly smiling on the inside, Roan looked at Austin.
âFor now, the Amaranth troop shouldâ¦â¦â
When he spoke up to that point.
âNo, thereâs really no need for you to do that.â
He heard a familiar voice from behind the troop.
âHm?â
Tilting his head, Roan moved his gaze.
Instantly, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.
âYou areâ¦â¦â
The young man who pushed the troops to the sides and appeared was in fact, Clay.
Smiling cheerfully, Clay walked towards Roan.
âDo you remember me?â
A clean look unlike when he met Roan.
It was a look that simply couldnât be recognized with a casual glance.
But Roan clearly remembered Clayâs thin eyes and his peculiar atmosphere.
âOf course. Mr. Clay.â
âAh! So you do remember me. Andâ¦â¦â
Clay brightly smiled and turned towards the traps and the nobles who were frozen stiff.
âYou clearly remembered my prediction too.â
A satisfied expression.
But soon, he slightly creased his forehead.
âBut just what are you doing right now?â
Roan answered with a composed voice.
âIâm trying to rescue Sir Viscount Holten and his subordinates.â
Clay shook his head at those words.
âSir Baron. If you want to pull out the root, you have to pull out the root, so why are you trying to pluck off the leaves and the stems?â 1
âHmm.â
With a slightly surprised look, Roan swallowed back his exclamation.
âHe completely saw through my thoughts and plans.â
Clay was certainly not an ordinary young man.
Rubbing his right earlobe, Clay continued to speak.
âLet us go pull out some roots. I willâ¦â¦â
His thin eyes bent in a peculiar way.
âGuide you there.â
A confident voice spread with the wind.
End.
1. a case of âif you are going to do A, you obviously have to do A, so why are you doing B?â