Chapter 245
In the quest to find Lorena, Yan and the group set off with Beowulf, the lord of their territory, in the opposite direction from where Beowulf’s party was headed.
While the conventional approach to exploration involves creating intersections between search teams to gradually expand the search area, having Beowulf himself as part of the search complicates matters.
Theo, visibly conflicted, has been in this state since the incident with Lorena’s disappearance.
Despite his feelings, he remains composed, especially in front of Beowulf.
Yan, aware of Theo’s deep affection for Lorena, sympathizes with his inner turmoil.
Hans, a serious-faced companion, explains the recent events.
Beowulf’s party had been dealing with barbarian tribes around the territory until Lorena unexpectedly returned.
Beowulf imdiately halted the campaign and dispatched the Silent Gauntlets and Rangers to Arnia, where Theo was rumored to be hiding.
Yan sighs, realizing that even Lorena’s charm might not be enough to sway Beowulf.
The situation becos more complicated when an unknown assailant attacks the knights.
Despite their best efforts, the attacker remains elusive, leaving even the seasoned Rangers baffled.
Beowulf, using his formidable power, deploys the “Eternal Frost” domain. However, facing an unknown adversary, even this powerful ability falls short.
The attacker inflicts severe wounds on Beowulf, leaving a significant scar on his arm.
As they struggle to identify the assailant, Yan proposes an unexpected theory: the mysterious group known as the “Seven Sins.”
Their na erges from Beowulf’s injuries, which exhibit the distinct magical essence associated with the Seven Sins. Beowulf, it seems, may have already realized this.
Theo and Hans react with disbelief.
Why would the Seven Sins kidnap Lorena? Yan acknowledges the lack of a clear motive but suggests that perhaps the Seven Sins aren’t directly responsible.
The situation remains uncertain.
Suddenly, Yan detects a familiar scent—a hint of blueberry.
It leads them in a specific direction, and Yan points toward it.
Could this fragrance hold the key to Lorena’s whereabouts?
* * *
For a long ti, they had been tracking the scent of blueberries, and now they stood before a village.
Hans furrowed his brow as he looked at the signpost in front of the village.
It wasn’t the village itself that bothered him, but rather the characters written on the sign.
They weren’t in the imperial language; instead, they resembled pictograms or symbols.
“...This must be the village of the barbarians,” Hans muttered.
An unsettling energy seed to emanate from the surroundings.
“Could these uncivilized people really have kidnapped Lady Lorena?”
His anger flared at the thought.
How dare these barbarians lay hands on soone like Lady Lorena?
Yet, Yan sensed sothing peculiar.
“There’s sothing off,” he thought.
Even if he considered their encounter with Vila in the past, Yan knew that Hans wasn’t a criminal.
Not in this life, nor in his previous one.
So why did Lady Lorena’s fragrance lead to this barbarian village?
One thing was certain: “The chieftain is unlikely to be involved in Lady Lorena’s abduction.”
Hans retorted, “What nonsense! If Lady Lorena is inside, these barbarians are undoubtedly the culprits!”
Theo, too, glared at the village, supporting Hans’s opinion. “I agree. If Lady Lorena is here, we should eradicate these wretched creatures once and for all.”
“Theo, calm down and think. The revelation that Vila is a seventh-tier agent of the emperor complicates matters.”
Theo frowned, looking at Yan. Hans, equally surprised, stared at Yan. “What are you talking about? These seventh-tier scoundrels are supposed to be the emperor’s lackeys!”
“Explaining would take ti. I’ll discuss it with Duke Beowulf later,” Yan said, gazing at the barbarian village.
“Vila is an enemy of the empire and nobility. If he were a seventh-tier agent, he could have halted Duke Beowulf’s retaliation.”
“...You’re right.”
“But even so, wouldn’t it be better to inform Duke Beowulf and strike all at once?”
“We don’t have that luxury. There’s no guarantee Lady Lorena will remain here.”
Yan’s firm refusal made Hans nod reluctantly. The three of them continued toward the barbarian village.
At the forefront, Yan retrieved an item long forgotten—a bracelet made from animal bones. It was the bracelet he’d won after defeating Harbur, one of the past chieftains of the barbarians.
“Never thought I’d wear this,” Yan chuckled, fastening the bracelet around his wrist. As they stepped into the barbarian territory...
BOOM!
An imnse avalanche of snow cascaded down, accompanied by a deafening roar. Yan raised an eyebrow at the sudden noise.
“We’ve arrived.”
Behind him, Hans appeared, his expression grim. “eting again like this... I never expected it.”
Before Hans could finish speaking, a brilliant azure light flashed through the swirling snowflakes. The blue hue seed to strip away the very essence of the snowy field.
“...”
It was Vila, the chieftain of the barbarians.
CRACK!
The unsettling force emanating from Vila prompted Theo and Hans to draw their swords. All three were third-tier adepts.
Even if Vila was the master of this domain, facing adept-level opponents ant escape or ambush was impossible.
And then it happened.
“Long ti no see,” Yan said casually, extending his hand toward Vila.
But there was sothing even more unexpected.
“Wearing that bracelet signifies camaraderie, doesn’t it?”
SNIKT.
“Indeed.”
Vila grasped Yan’s hand, laughing heartily. The situation left Hans and Theo dumbfounded.
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