ICM Chapter 149

The situation was more serious than expected. Aegonite realized it was completely beyond control and returned after entrusting Pelburn with leading the people to safety.

Ashika’s grip tightened on her cloak hem. Though she had experienced various hardships, this was her first time facing such a threat. She couldn’t decide what to do.

“Then where are you planning to go? Do you know the geography here?”

“The strong winds are making the fire spread too quickly. Even if we go against the wind direction now, if the wind changes direction, we could be trapped in flames in an instant.”

“Then what are you suggesting we do? Is there anywhere we can take shelter?”

Jeanne’s voice rose. Just an hour ago, she had merely been watching the wildfire from a distance, thinking it was just a forest fire. But the flames had reached right up to them in an instant.

Aegonite was equally troubled. If it were just the knights, they could quickly climb over the mountain and escape.

But Ashika wasn’t a knight, and she was a pregnant woman who found even walking difficult. When an urgent situation arose, she couldn’t flee fast enough to escape the spreading fire.

“There’s a lake up the mountain. It’s dried up quite a bit due to the drought, but it’s enough to take shelter while the flames pass through.”

Aegonite’s suggestion was both hopeful and spoke to the dire nature of their current situation. He had determined that with Ashika, it would be difficult to avoid the flames no matter which direction they went.

A tense silence fell. Ashika had to make a decision. There was no choice anyway.

“Let’s go. Time is of the essence with my pace.”

“I’ll prepare a stretcher.”

“No, I can walk on my own feet.”

“But…”

“We have to climb the mountain, don’t we? Wouldn’t it be better for several people to support me rather than carrying me on a stretcher?”

Though her body had become sluggish, Ashika had enough strength to walk on her own.

Time was critical. Aegonite didn’t argue further. As soon as the decision was made, Nile and the others moved quickly.

The moment they stepped outside, Ashika was horrified.

Red-hot flames were surging below the forest where the villa was located. The flames, whipped about by the howling wind, were rapidly spreading in all directions, seeking dry fuel.

“Good heavens…”

The knights who had been waiting anxiously surrounded Ashika.

“The flames have cut across the mountainside. We can’t go forward and must take the back route.”

“I heard we’re going to the lake. I know the way.”

It was one of the knights from the Talion territory.

There was no time to be shocked. Ashika covered her mouth with a handkerchief and nodded. The acrid smell stung her nose, making her nauseous, and she could feel the scorching heat even in the howling strong wind.

“We just need to get to the lake. It’s quite large, so it shouldn’t be affected there.”

Aegonite spoke while supporting the staggering Ashika.

“Yes… hah. If only my body were a little lighter.”

Even uttering a few short words was difficult. She felt as if her chest was being crushed by the bulk of her own body.

“If you get tired while walking, I’ll carry you on my back.”

Ashika’s eyes widened at Aegonite’s serious tone. Just imagining her belly being compressed made her feel faint. Ashika shook her head vigorously.

“It’s entirely possible.”

“For now… let’s go.”

She could worry about it when the time came. Breathing itself was so difficult that she couldn’t think of anything at the moment. Together with the knights surrounding her, Ashika quickly left the villa.

Red smoke reflecting the crimson flames rose up. Sparks that burst out were also scattered in all directions by the wind. The sparks that flowed into the pitch-black darkness flew up to the sky like a swarm of fireflies. If not for the terrifyingly raging flames, it might have seemed beautiful with all its light.

The acrid smoke and scorching heat rode the wind and engulfed the surroundings. The flames that had been watched from afar just moments ago were now chasing closely behind them. Facing the flames surging like a red tsunami, Ashika felt fear so intense her knees went weak for the first time in her life.

Nile, who had been walking ahead, stopped briefly and looked back.

“Are you alright? Can you keep walking?”

“I’m fine. Don’t stop, keep going.”

There was no time to catch her breath. She was so frightened that she didn’t even think about being tired.

“But are we going the right way? If it’s the lake near the villa, this isn’t the right path.”

At Ashika’s offhand comment, a question arose on Aegonite’s face.

“Have you been to the lake here before?”

It was a villa that hadn’t been used for a long time, so no one had been going to the lake either. It was strange that Ashika, of all people, would know the way.

“Ah. No. I think I’ve seen similar terrain before.”

Ashika realized her slip of the tongue. She had been there before, but the memory wasn’t from this place. Because the situation was urgent, Aegonite didn’t notice anything strange.

“The main road for carriages requires a long detour, so we’re taking a shortcut.”

Due to the heat that had engulfed the forest, sweat dripped from her face. Ashika wiped her drenched face and gasped for breath.

“Will the others be alright?”

“They’re people who know the geography here well, so they probably found shelter on their own. I saw Sir Coltern earlier releasing the horses and staying with the people.”

Mia’s face was also a mess with sweat. The flames were about to hit the mountainside, so they would probably be safe, or so she believed.

“The lake isn’t far. If we continue along this trail for about thirty more minutes…”

“Shh.”

Nile, who was in front, raised his hand to signal. Instantly, tension appeared on Aegonite and Jeanne’s faces.

“Why…”

The moment Ashika raised her head, Mia stepped in front to block her. Simultaneously, the sound of metal flew out from the darkness.

“It’s an ambush!”

“Fall back. Behind the trees!”

At Nile’s shout, Jeanne grabbed Ashika’s arm and pulled her back. There was no time for courtesy.

Thud, an arrow flew and embedded itself at their feet. As they tried to retreat, arrows kept flying from behind as well. While blocking their path, black shadows jumped out from the forest.

“Found her!”

Assassins dressed in black rushed at the knights surrounding them. Even as Ashika was led away by Jeanne’s hand, she couldn’t take her eyes off the battlefield where the fight was taking place.

Time seemed to flow slowly. A scene she had witnessed before was being reproduced exactly the same way. The sight of mysterious assassins in black clothes and knights fighting against them.

“…Again, once more…”

The nightmare she thought had ended wasn’t over. Even as she was practically dragged along by Jeanne’s hand, Ashika stared blankly in a daze.

“Duchess, snap out of it!”

Jeanne’s shout and the sharp crack of clashing swords. Nile spotted the hesitating Ashika and shouted to Aegonite.

“Take Ashika away! Hurry!”

The number of assassins was less than ten. There was enough time to escape while Nile and the knights held them off. Aegonite sheathed his sword and ran to where Ashika was in the back.

“Excuse me.”

He wrapped one arm around Ashika’s waist, practically lifting her as he supported her and began to run. Ashika came to her senses belatedly with a start.

“What about Nile? What about Nile!”

“He has the ability to protect himself. If the Duchess is there, it will only be a hindrance. Escaping while he buys time is helping him.”

“Why don’t we fight together and move together? That would work too!”

“I saw the ones in the back shoot signal arrows. Reinforcements will come soon. Then it will be difficult to escape.”

Aegonite cut off Ashika’s outcry decisively. He was right. The number of assassins couldn’t be just that.

Aegonite supported Ashika, practically dragging her along as he moved quickly. Ashika pulled herself together from her dizzy state.

‘The fire didn’t start by itself.’

They had waited for the opportunity. Like smoking out a badger’s den, they set fire on a day with strong winds to trap them with nowhere to go.

‘I was complacent.’

She felt bitter regret. She had relaxed too quickly, thinking there would be no more dangerous incidents. Even knowing that the Marquis was still alive, she had become accustomed to peace over the past few months.

‘I definitely confirmed he was imprisoned. Could the Marquis not have been alone?’

The Maiheller Marquis family had been exterminated. So she thought there would be no nobles in the Empire to help him. But could even that have been a wrong judgment?

The approaching threat was so enormous that her vision went dark. Ashika had to struggle desperately not to faint.

Several of the knights who had been helping Nile followed behind Aegonite. The dozen or so knights had been split in half again. After walking for quite a while, Aegonite stopped and looked around.

“We need to take a different route.”

The path they had originally intended to take was no longer passable. Even if they made it to the lake, it would be difficult to guarantee safety. Flames were surging from below the mountain, and from ahead, they didn’t know when or where the assassins might attack.

“Isn’t there something like a hunter’s cabin that’s out of people’s sight?”

Jeanne’s face was terrifyingly hardened. Everyone was aware that the current situation was dire.

“There is, but if the flames reach it, it’s over.”

No one knew how far the wildfire would spread or when it would calm down. If they hid in a shelter and the flames swept over them, they would all be killed in an instant.

Ashika pushed away Aegonite’s arm and sat down on the ground. Her lower abdomen was cramped like a stone, making it difficult even to stand. But she couldn’t say she was struggling. She knew that all this trouble had occurred because of her.

“It’s too much for Madam to keep walking. We need to find another way, whether carrying her or piggyback.”

Mia crouched in front of Ashika with a worried face.

“Madam, if you’re struggling, please tell us. We’ll try to find a way.”

“Hah…”

She laughed when it wasn’t the time to laugh. She felt sorry that Mia, who had seemed so young, was trying so hard to protect her.

“I can still walk with my own strength. Just a little… hah… let me catch my breath for just a moment.”

Ashika embraced her aching lower abdomen and let out a long breath. She prayed earnestly that this nightmarish night would pass quickly, that she wouldn’t have to be chased by fear anymore.