ICM Chapter 151

“The target is presumed to have been the Duchess.”

It was an attack aimed at assassination, not simply capture. Drushia read the situation that Aegonite couldn’t speak of. An ominous feeling swept over her.

All the knights who came with Pelburn had puzzled expressions.

“There were no strange signs on our way here.”

Pelburn reflected on the journey from the bottom of the mountain to this point.

Drushia, along with Pelburn and the knights, had all been frantic. Flames were spreading in all directions right nearby, and they had to find a path to the lake while avoiding them. The entire forest was swaying from the strong winds, leaving no time to sense anything unusual.

‘This doesn’t feel right.’

Strength entered Drushia’s arms as she held Ashika.

There had been seven knights with Ashika, including Aegonite. Only four had come with Drushia.

With the knights scattered by the forest fire and attack, their escort numbers had decreased significantly. If a battle broke out, it would be difficult to predict the outcome.

‘Where near the lake could we hide? Where could we evade pursuit?’

Drushia looked around at the knights without letting go of Ashika from her arms.

“Do we have any rope?”

“We came out in such a hurry that we didn’t bring any.”

“Let’s take a detour. Through the inside of the rocky gorge.”

“The path is narrow – will that be alright?”

Even if the flames don’t reach us, it becomes dangerous if smoke and heat flow in.

“The fire is spreading along the ridge. There’s a good chance it won’t reach this way.”

Ashika and her party had been deep in the forest the whole time, so they couldn’t see which direction the flames were heading. In contrast, as soon as Drushia confirmed the forest fire, he had checked the direction of the flames from higher ground.

“It’s too much for the duchess to keep walking like this. It would be better to make a stretcher and carry her…”

“No, that would reduce our mobility.”

Drushia cut off Pelburn’s suggestion decisively. It would be better for him to carry her instead.

Listening to the conversation, Ashika realized that the situation had become even more difficult because of her. She regretted her own complacency and resented that she couldn’t be of help even in this situation.

“I’m sorry…”

For being a burden again. Ashika whispered softly, resting her face against his broad chest.

“Why are you apologizing? That’s not what you should be sorry for.”

Drushia gently smoothed down Ashika’s disheveled hair.

“Don’t get hurt. Don’t be in pain. Please…”

Thump, thump, the vibration of his beating heart enveloped her. She could feel the tension Drushia was experiencing throughout her whole body.

“Let’s move for now. Aegonite will take the lead, and the rest will divide into three groups…”

Ashika looked up at Drushia with a questioning expression.

Drushia wasn’t the only one who sensed something wrong. The gazes of Pelburn and the other knights turned toward the edge of the dark forest.

A bone-chilling, intense killing intent. Drushia blocked Ashika’s front and drew his sword.

“Mia, protect Ashika!”

“Enemy!”

Before Ashika could even be startled, Mia quickly pulled her down to the ground. The moment she ducked, an arrow that flew from the darkness struck where her feet had been.

“Damn it.”

The sword of the first attacker who rushed forward clashed with Drushia’s sword. A single exchange decided victory and defeat due to the stark difference in strength.

“Kuk.”

Drushia instantly knocked away the sword and immediately beheaded his opponent.

“Don’t waste time!”

If they gave the enemies time to gather, the situation would become even more unfavorable. In the thick darkness, it was impossible to gauge how many black-clad assassins there were.

‘It’s because of me.’

Drushia deeply regretted his mistake. In his haste, he had moved without discretion. If he had known they were being pursued, he wouldn’t have come directly to find Ashika like this.

Ashika crouched low on the ground and covered her ears. Even trying not to listen, agonizing screams pierced her ears one after another. It was the sound of people – whether enemy or ally – falling after being cut by swords.

‘Please, please.’

It was a desperate whisper that burst forth without even knowing what she was praying for.

Perhaps because she was so desperate, her nerves, sharp as a needle point, caught trivial sensations. The humidity felt from her sweat-soaked body and the smell of dry earth’s dust, the body heat of Mia who stood close by, blocking her with her body. And there was a sensation slowly writhing in her lower abdomen.

“Ah…”

A clearly felt movement of life. The sensation she felt in her belly might have been a struggle for survival.

However, the fetal movement soon subsided. Ashika gasped at the dull pain that felt like her insides were falling out.

“No…”

Something was wrong. She had a strong feeling that something was definitely going wrong.

“Aaaaah!”

Someone’s sharp scream brought Ashika back to reality. What she had to protect wasn’t just her own life. But the fear that this moment might be her last made her whole body tremble.

She was scared. The death she had already experienced remained intensely in her mind, driving her even deeper into terror.

Someone firmly grabbed her shoulders, who had been crouched helplessly, and lifted her up. She was so frightened that Ashika couldn’t even scream.

Following the sensation of strong arms wrapping around her back and legs, her body floated in the air. In an instant, along with a familiar scent, the smell of blood pierced her nose.

“Rushia. Blood, there’s blood…”

The arms holding her and the area around his neck were soaked with blood. Blood of unknown origin.

There was no time to think about wiping away the blood. Drushia plunged into the narrow rocky mountain path while carrying Ashika.

“I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”

Drushia lifted Ashika higher so his arms holding her wouldn’t slip. Right behind them, Jeanne, Aegonite, Mia, and the knights were following. Their numbers had decreased from before.

Had someone else stayed behind to buy time again?

Ashika stopped thinking. The pain she’d been feeling in her lower abdomen since earlier left her no time to think of anything else.

“Your Grace, smoke is coming this way.”

Acrid smoke was thick in the direction they had originally intended to go. It meant the fire was not far away.

“Rushia, behind us…”

Ashika whispered softly in a trembling voice.

Even amidst the fluctuating sound of wind, the sound of footsteps breaking through the forest could be heard eerily clearly. The pursuers were chasing them.

Drushia didn’t answer. He knew too. The fact that enemies in much greater numbers than before were pursuing them. That’s why he ran even more desperately.

The party ran through the darkness, avoiding the smoke from the forest fire and evading their pursuers. However, their flight didn’t last very long. Aegonite, who had been leading the way, stopped.

It was a steep rocky cliff that hadn’t been visible from afar in the darkness. Trees and bushes were dense, completely blocking their path forward.

Drushia looked back while catching his breath. He could see the forest, where the wind had calmed, still swaying. The movement was heading straight toward where Ashika’s party was.

“Your Grace.”

A decision had to be made immediately. Drushia looked around at the knights while holding Ashika in his arms. In the tense silence, it was Mia who stepped forward.

“I think we could lure the assassins away.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since they’re chasing you two, if Sir Aegonite and I pretend to be you two…”

Aegonite didn’t immediately understand what Mia meant. Finding it frustrating, Mia extended her hand to Drushia.

“Give me my lady’s cloak. Since Baron Delfino has a similar build to Your Grace, if he just changes his outer coat and carries me, it should work.”

It was a moonless night, so the surroundings were dark. As Mia said, the assassins were persistently chasing Ashika, who couldn’t move properly.

Even if they escaped like this, it was obvious they wouldn’t last long. They had to somehow shake off their pursuers to get a chance to escape. Aegonite finally understood and agreed with Mia’s opinion.

“We’ll lure them away and then scatter when we get the chance, then head back toward the lake.”

Drushia looked around and fell into contemplation. Meanwhile, Jeanne, who had been examining the area near the cliff, turned around.

“There’s a space where we can hide. It looks like it was an animal’s den, but though it’s cramped, there’s more space inside.”

“There aren’t many people who can hide here right now.”

Dividing the group was unavoidable, but that would really leave only the bare minimum.

“If just Mia and I run away, the enemies will be suspicious. Even if we come back later, we have to go together for now.”

“I’ll stay.”

Jeanne and Pelburn also hoped to remain. Three of the remaining knights from Talion decided to go with Aegonite.

“If the enemies catch on too quickly, we’ll come back.”

As soon as the decision was made, Drushia moved quickly. Mia received Ashika’s cloak, pulled the hood down deep over her head, and Aegonite, who had put on Drushia’s clothes, lifted Mia in his arms.

“Quick, this way.”

Jeanne pointed toward the bushes inside the cliff and urgently gestured.

“Mia, Baron Delfino. Be careful.”

Ashika couldn’t hide her guilt as she made the request.

Praying that they would please be safe, that no one else would get hurt and this night could end.

Jeanne took Ashika’s hand and led her toward the cliff. The hidden space was a vertically elongated crevice in the cliff. Trees and vines were so thick that only a portion of the lower area was visible from outside.

After feeling along the wall and passing through a narrow passage, they emerged into a space larger than expected. Jeanne took out a luminous stone to examine the interior.

“It seems fine.”

“Shh.”

The sound of rustling through bushes had approached right in front of them. Drushia and the knights leaned against the entrance, holding their breath, while Jeanne blocked Ashika’s front from a position a little further away.

Mia and Aegonite’s party spotted the enemies and immediately burst from their position.

“There they are!”

“They’re going toward the gorge!”

The sound of enemies signaling to each other and the sharp sound of arrows cutting through the air. Even in the darkness, the increased number of enemies compared to before was clearly felt.

Suffocating tension filled the cramped space. Ashika remained frozen with her eyes closed, while Drushia gripped his sword and concentrated all his attention outside.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away. As expected, the assassins hastily pursued Mia’s party. Before long, the commotion died down and only the occasional sound of wind could be heard around them.

“Ha…”

Drushia leaned his head against the wall and let out a sigh of relief.

They had bought some time, even if briefly. If he could somehow get Ashika to a safe place, he wouldn’t fear what came next.

Ashika, who had been holding her breath inside, gripped Jeanne’s arm.

“Jeanne… I…”

At her thin, trembling voice, everyone’s gaze turned to Ashika.

“Young duchess, why…”

The next moment, Jeanne couldn’t continue her words. Below Ashika’s gaze, she discovered that the bottom of her dress and the floor were thoroughly soaked.

Jeanne’s eyes widened with shock. So surprised that she didn’t know what words to say, she could only gape.