Conquest - Chapter 47

They easily passed the mountain and through that flame swamp this time thanks to the wind type magic ring from the dead magician.

The small wind magic rune inserted in this ring was, if you look at quality point of view it was probably a mid stage first level type – According to Tatara’s appraisal.

According to the magic classification system of the continent, there were three ranks; high, medium and low.  Every rank had total of nine levels. Although medium rank level one was not that powerful, at least it could be considered as a middle rank magic. Even though the wind magic in this ring could not make someone fly in the air, it was barely able to achieve a gliding effect……

Therefore, if you wanted to know how they crossed the flame swamp……

Very simple.

Shaar let the pitiful creature wear the ring and then tied her together with Tatara.  At the border of the swamp, he picked them up and forcefully threw them to the other side……

Combining Shaar’s monstrous strength with the effect of the wind magic, the pitiful creature and Tatara took advantage of this fusion as they glide over the swamp, the jungle and even over the mountain top……

When Shaar rushed down to find them, those two were at the bottom of another mountain while hanging on a tree branch for half a day.

“We will travel to south across the goblin’s territory, the Red Wilderness. Then we will be able to enter Primal Wildfire’s jungle. It will take us between ten days and half a month to return to Primal Wildfire Town, depending on our speed.” Shaar rescued the pitiful creature and Tatara from the tree: “Unfortunately, Oaks that fellow disappeared. Let’s pray that, he did get taken away in a wolf mouth.”

While talking, Shaar glanced at the whining magician and muttered:”Oaks was indeed a very good servant and now this guy …humph.”

Under the Dragonblood’s mysterious effect, both of the pitiful creature’s legs were already healed. Although she had still to restore her strength in them, it already did not cause any obstruction while walking. So naturally unlike before, she did not rely on Shaar carrying her anymore.

However, that pitifully magician Tatara actually performed worse than the pitiful creature – to be more be more precise, he was worse that the pitiful creature before her injury was healed!

Magicians generally have a relatively weak body. However this Tatara body was outrageously weak. If a magician’s magical power was the inversely related with his body strength, then Tatara at this point should have been a super archmage.

Just by walking less than ten miles, his legs already became soft, his face was ashen and he was already panting for breath. It was as if he could stop breathing any moment, his legs were too soft as if they did not have any bones. During the whole journey, he did not stop shaking.

Shaar was at the end of his rope, not only couldn’t this servant  help him carry his things, he even needed Shaar’s support while walking – If he did not snatch his robe before and was a bit embarrassed because of it, he would already have threw away this burden away like trash.

The trio followed the river towards south and re-entered the Red Wilderness. While walking along the river, the pitiful creature remembered their journey towards north and experiences she went through with this hillbilly. She could not suppress the various emotions in her, the goblins, those bizarre Deatheaters and those knights who wanted to kill her……

“Hey, Shaar.”

Camping outside in the evening, looking that hillbilly extinguishing the campfire, those three huddled together and lied down on the hot ground which was roasted by the campfire. The pitiful creature looked at Shaar and then whispered something. At the moment the campfire was extinguished, only the starlight faintly illuminated the night sky. The pitiful creature felt a disturbance in her heart and her face was turning a bit hot.  Luckily, this Hillbilly could not see clearly it……

What a pity……

“Eh? Why is your face so red, it resembles a monkey ass?” Shaar stared at the pitiful creature with widened eyes.

The pitiful creature uttered a loud yell and quickly turned her head: “What, what red face! You ……How could you have seen you see it?!”

“I was born with night vision and I can even see in the darkest places. Therefore, I am a naturally gifted Hunter……uh, Magical beast hunter!” Shaar grinned while pointing at his own eyes: “I have never told you this before? Haha, this uncle has too many awesome skills and there are even some that I can’t even remember.”

The pitiful creature swore bitterly in her heart and now that she knew that this hillbilly unexpectedly had night vision, she did not dare to look at him again. While playing with a dry branch in her hand, she asked in a low voice: “Hey, I want to ask you, Shaar, when we are back, do you have any plans?”

“Plans?” The Hillbilly thought for a moment and could not help but say with a smile: “Of course there are many!! With such a big harvest this time, I can finally get a fine set of equipment. I can only become one of the top Magical beast hunters with a powerful weapon and equipment! Hmmm, drink the best liquor, live in a big house, wear comfortable clothes ……ah, was right, I can even buy a small house in Primal Wildfire Town,  the kind that has a courtyard at the back. Ah yes, I also want to buy a horse. My riding skill is quite bad, later if I want to hunt and kill a magical beast in Primal Wildfire, it would be rather severe if I can’t ride a horse……”

The Hillbilly became ecstatic while happily talking and thinking about the future. He only felt that the situation could only become better and better, his feeling was “this uncle is also rich now”.

However, when he as began to get more and more excited in his speech, while listening, the pitiful creature sighed softly and finally couldn’t resist anymore. She raised her head and looked at Shaar in the darkness – Even though she could not see Shaar clearly, she very much hoped that Shaar could see her eyes at this moment.

“You, do you want to stay in Primal Wildfire Town and become a Magical beast hunter for the rest of your life?”

Shaar asked back: “If not this, what else?”

“You ……have you ever thought about leaving Primal Wildfire, leave here and go to the Byzantine Empire? After all, there is a bustling world and you can see many, many interesting places……”

“Not interested.” Shaar shook his head and replied very simple in a light expression: “I was born and I grew up here also everything I know is about here. About the wilderness and mountains here, I can find food, water and something to wear. I know how to survive here. Although the people in Primal Wildfire Town are somewhat sly, however here people follow a custom and that is the law of the jungle. If you are strong, then you are the boss. Although all the locals are quite fierce, everyone acted openly regarding these rules. These rules were simple and if you lived according to the rules, you could live in peace with each other. Generally speaking, the people in Primal Wildfire Town, although they were a bit ferocious, they were fairly simple.

However, I heard the old man saying that in Byzantine Empire, people were very complex, especially those rich men and aristocrats who would eat people without even spitting out the bones. In front of you they behaved like friends then stabbed you in the back whenever they could. Even those man-eating wild beasts in Primal Wildfire were not as annoying as those guys. Instead of going to that place, I would rather stay here in Primal Wildfire Town. Moreover, I don’t have any skills except hunting and I don’t know what else I could do.”

“You ……You are a unique brave warrior. You could go work as a warrior and become a bodyguard! With such powerful skill you can certainly……” The pitiful creature quickly replied.

Shaar heavily grunted: “Do you want me to work as a servant?”

He shook his head: “I rather go and become a mercenary who lives outside, experiencing adventures and use my own blood and sweat to earn meals than becoming some bullshit bodyguard! Hmpf, acting as a bodyguard for those rich and potbellied rich men and aristocrats – When they sit, this uncle has to stand? When they eat, this uncle has to watch! Even when they are having a good time with a chick, this uncle needs to become a lookout at the door? Forget it! That kind of thing, I won’t do it! I hate to get ordered around by other people.”

The pitiful creature understood immediately that she made a slip of tongue: “Ah, sorry, I did not mean this. I know that you are someone who does not like to be bound by something, but……You can enter the army. Ah, with your skills, if you want ……”

According to the pitiful creature identity, if Shaar wanted to join the army, naturally she would be able to pull some strings to grant him a good background. Perhaps it would not directly be with wealth and status, but at least he would become a “rising star”.

Join the army?

Shaar’s eyes lit up for a moment and even became somewhat excited, but immediately shook his head while saying: “Well, I still prefer to become a Magical beast hunter. Unrestrained and I can do what I want. If I become a soldier, I am afraid someone like me would violate a military order after a few days and get beheaded.”

“No, in fact you can…… “Feeling anxious, the pitiful creature nearly spilled out the beans. Realizing her blunder, she immediately closed her mouth.

What the pitiful creature meant to say was the fact that she could actually arrange for Shaar to be located at her place of residence. By using her connections, she could cover for him and there wouldn’t be anyone who could bully him then. Maybe in the future, they could also be some opportunities to meet regularly……

Shaar smiled: “Why is it that you are so eager to convince me into becoming a soldier? Do you want to join the army? I think you should give up this idea! Because although you are very tall, you are too thin and you can’t endure the hardships.”

Pausing for a moment, he continued:” what about you? After returning to Primal Wildfire Town, where do you plan to go?”

“I ……” the pitiful creature suddenly felt at loss in her heart.

Where to go? Go home?

If she went back, her uncle would surely kill her! And …… how could she be willing to go back after knowing such a fact? Then ……go to Odin? Her father had already passed away. If she went to Odin, she would be by herself, alone and forsaken. Furthermore, what they focused most in Odin Empire was the blood relationship. She who carried Byzantium blood would always be looked down upon by those Odin fellows. If she went alone, she feared that in the future she would be bullied by other people and treated coldly.

Thinking it over, her only option was to quietly seek refuge with her brother. On the whole continent, her elder brother was the only person who could oppose her uncle. If her elder brother would protect her, even her uncle couldn’t touch her. Furthermore, although they were only cousins, her brother had always treated her well since birth and their relationship was even closer than real siblings……Moreover, she heard that her uncle was not in good health. As long as she made some arrangements with her elder brother and found a secret place to live in seclusion for several years, she could wait for her uncle to die of old age. After her elder brother ascends the throne, then the whole situation would be very different!

However ……living in seclusion for several years……

“Oh, I don’t know.”The pitiful creature sighed.

“Ah, then……You can stay with me.”Shaar laughed.

The pitiful creature’s heart started to jump madly after hearing this.

Stay, stay together with this hillbilly?

Staying in Primal Wildfire Town? Keep each other company? Wearing crude linen clothes, eating those rye breads, listening to this hillbilly’s mindless laughter and vulgar cursing every day……Watching this guy’s valiant appearance……

It seemed……It seemed very attractive……

(ED: Its magic or she finally lost her mind)

(TL: Shaar’s steel rod dangling in the wind was just too convincing…)

Moreover, other than being somewhat vulgar, this fellow was actually a smart guy who had a lot of ideas. He could also protect himself…… In fact, after being together with him for some time, this guy was actually not that annoying anymore. On the contrary the look he sometimes gives when cursing someone was actually quite cute……

The pitiful creature’s mind was in chaos and she was short of breath.

Thinking about returning to her elder brother’s side, if she was under the protection of her elder brother she would have to hide in some remote place. Although her elder brother would not let her suffer the slightest hardship and prepare an indispensable shelter for her, she would lose her freedom nevertheless.  And in order to avoid being discovered by her uncle’s people she would not be able to casually walk around anymore……

However, staying together with this hillbilly was equal to giving up on her royal identity. She would resign herself to become a normal person with this hillbilly. Simple clothing, plain food, there were no luxury clothes, no exquisite jewelries, without respectful eyes of her admirers and not living in a luxurious palace ……But she would be able to live a simple life, looking at this hillbilly’s pure smiling face and his appearance when he cursed at people. Moreover, when enough time passed, he would know that she was a girl, then later……

(ED: Did I miss a part where she hits her head and suffers a personality disorder?) (PF: That happened behind the scenes lol) (TL: She probably got hit on the head by Shaar’s might steel rod!)

Thinking about it, the pitiful creature’s face turned red and hot again. She could not help but to cover her cheeks while there was an indescribable feeling in her heart.

“Hey, pitiful creature, since you can read and write, you can teach me in the future.” Shaar turned his eyes and laughed: “The old man only taught me the minimum level on how to write and read, so you can teach me more. You can also tell me more about the magic language. Since we got those things from the dead magicians, certainly there are some valuable things inside. Maybe, this magician book has some important information inside…..”

The pitiful creature could not help but chuckle……Really, this fellow wanted to keep her because he had some use for her.

Since she was already familiar with this hillbilly’s nature, the pitiful creature did not get angry with him.

“To be honest, we could even form a circus.” Shaar was getting more and more excited: “Every winter, when magical beasts start their hibernation, hunting is not possible for three months. We can form a performing troupe to make money in Primal Wildfire Town! Since you were born to be so ugly, you can play the clown! And I, I ……I can crush a big stone with my chest and roll around on a nail board and so on! Haha, since I have smeared my body with Dragonblood, I am invulnerable! Those jobs will be a piece of cake! ……You trickster, you can also display your performance.”

Tatara who was sitting next to them stayed silent until now, but hearing this he could not help but to burst with anger in his mind.

Trickster? I, Master Tatara, am a genuine honest magician! A magician!!!

However when Uncle Shaar opened his mouth, a person like Tatara who was currently under the mercy of someone could only give a hastened answer with a smiling face: “Yes, yes, yes, I can certainly contribute, I will certainly contribute!”

Hearing this, the pitiful creature was getting excited in her heart……

If she could really stay in Primal Wildfire Town, she would be able to abandon of all those heavy responsibilities and bad life experiences all at once. Henceforth, she would be no longer an aristocrat but an ordinary girl. By following this hillbilly, she could depend on his strong shoulder and his strong chest to protect her. It did not matter whether she had to cook for him at home, sew his clothes or even accompany him to become a performing troupe.

This simple silly life, it seemed……

It seemed……

Why was it that the more she thought about it, she felt more happy?
※※※

While thinking about it, the pitiful creature did not know when, but her eyelids became very heavy and gradually  she fell asleep. In her dream, she saw a blurry scene where she arrived in Primal Wildfire Town with Shaar. They lived in a small house with a courtyard. Inside was a warm fireplace and the ground was covered with thick animal furs……

When dawn was upon them, pitiful creature had a happy expression, but the moment she turned her body, she felt a sudden pain on her face.

A hand was patting her face and in a daze she heard Shaar whispering: “Hey, wake up! Wake up!”

When the pitiful creature opened her eyes, she found herself lying beside Shaar and his face was very gloomy!

The sunlight was barely illuminating the sky, why was this Hillbilly waking her up so early?

Waking up, the pitiful creature sat up and looked around, as her heart instantly turned ice cold!!

Not far in the periphery, where the morning light was coming up, more than 20 cavalry soldiers had completely surrounded the trio’s little camp!

Several knights dismounted while carrying weapons and stood in the surroundings. The rest of the knights were still on horseback and readied their bows and arrow while showing a stance full of vigilant alertness.

The few knights who were closest to them were only at a distance of about ten steps away. Each held a sharp longsword in their hands, which radiated coldness!

The hillbilly stood next to her with his chest out, grasping the fire pitchfork in his hand while his face emitted an ice cold aura!

Shaar instantly recognized those guys. One fellow who was standing at the opposite side was the knight leader whom he fought the last time.

Previously, they used the opportunity to flee before they could gather their forces, but now it looked like they would not have the opportunity to play the same old trick again. The enemy had already firmly surrounded their camp and they did not have any horses…..

“Put down the weapon.” The knight leader who had lost to him the previous time roared in a hoarse voice and a cold expression: “Then walk towards us! One after the other!”

(ED: They are so screwed…)