The Arrow of Destiny Cuts Through the Night

#76

Jersian walked ahead of Kain down the corridor. His steps were heading somewhere past the grand banquet hall where yesterday’s party was held. Following him, they soon found themselves outside among oak trees.

Whinicer Forest was steeped in the blue energy of early dawn.

Fortunately, the competition is held outdoors at least.

Kain savored the fresh vitality emanating from the centuries-old oak trees against the cool morning air. He took a deep breath, not wanting to miss this precious moment.

Because in the distance, he could see a swarm of humans gathering in groups.

…I suppose we have to go there.

The multiple gazes directed this way were already annoying. Kain walked, watching only Jersian’s small back while mentally preparing himself.

It was then that Jersian spoke, pointing with his chin to an area where many familiar faces from the Gerold Marquis’s mansion were gathered.

“This is where we start.”

His face, which had been stiff as if angry since they left their rooms, had now relaxed somewhat.

“…Here?”

They were standing right behind the podium. No matter how he looked at it, this place seemed more like a waiting area than a venue for the competition.

“When it’s our turn, they’ll call us. Then we go forward.”

Jersian, who had apparently participated several times before, sat down comfortably in one of the chairs that seemed prepared for them.

“I see.”

Kain sat in the chair next to him.

All the nobles who had come to Whinicer Forest to participate in the competition were seated in chairs behind the podium where Jersian and Kain were standing.

♫♩ ♪

As if on cue, a loud horn sounded from the front of the podium. Through the thick curtains, Kain could see the backs of humans facing forward on the podium.

Crown Prince Kemirun stood at the center, with servants lined up behind him at regular intervals like decorations. The five flags fluttering occasionally were as splendid as peacocks showing off their feathers.

“Now then!”

The grand herald standing in a corner of the podium shouted in a loud voice.

His voice echoed through the forest, bouncing off the oak trees. Flap flap! A few startled birds took to the sky, rapidly beating their wings. As always, not a single human paid attention to these birds whose rest had been suddenly disturbed.

“As always, I will now introduce the esteemed guests who will grace this hunting competition!”

Waaah—

Thunderous applause erupted from in front of the podium.

Did those spectators just enter the forest today? The scale of the competition is larger than I expected.

Kain glanced briefly in that direction before looking back at Jersian, who was sitting comfortably in the chair next to him with his legs crossed. He had propped his strong chin on his palm, wearing an utterly bored expression. This was in stark contrast to the other young nobles around them, who were shaking their legs with excitement and elation.

It was then that the humans sitting in the most secluded corner of their area all suddenly stood up. They were all large men wearing cloaks made of animal fur and leather.

As soon as the human on the podium said the word “introduce,” this group of about twenty humans quickly walked behind the curtain. Then they all stood with their hands behind their backs, chests puffed out as if showing off, as if waiting for something together.

Soon, both the podium and the spectators below fell silent.

The grand herald, as if waiting for this silence, began to speak with a gesture.

“First…!”

Someone, noticing his gesture, pulled open a curtain large enough to cover an entire building wall.

“As always, Frostguard! The Guardians of the North are entering!”

With the herald’s booming voice, it was time for the first team to make their appearance.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Lord.”

The humans who had been standing with their hands behind their backs strode through the curtains in unison.

The head of the Rustem family took the lead. Princess Teiran of the Tesena Kingdom, whom Kain had already met, was also with them. Following them, several nobles with faces as pale as ice walked out with exactly the same stride. The gift they held for the imperial family was the hide of a white tiger, said to be native only to the northern regions.

“…”

Kain frowned as he heard the herald introducing the gift from the waiting room behind.

Hunting a rare spiritual beast for a mere two-week event was a cruel act.

In any case, Kain now had a general idea of how this competition worked. They would go out each time a team was introduced from behind like this.

So the next turn would be…

After the northern Frostguard family went out, nobles who had been sitting in chairs chatting freely gathered behind the closed curtain. Unlike the previous humans, they seemed quite carefree.

The herald outside gestured to open the curtain again and spoke.

“Next, the Roses of the South are entering! Southern Crest!”

The southern nobles who entered with graceful steps showcased their unique gaits, unlike Frostguard. The head of the Merija family, the largest in the southern region, was holding a hunting falcon’s hood woven with gold thread as a gift.

“Sunrider! The Dawn of the East is entering!”

Knights from the east in armor as soft as dawn light entered. The head of the Aurora family in the lead offered a golden quiver, with each arrowhead inside cast in the shape of the sun. Although unnecessarily flashy like the others, Kain thought at least this human’s gift was practical.

“Goldmace! The Golden Knights of the West are entering!”

The most splendidly dressed western nobles entered. Their golden armor glittered dazzlingly under the torches in the corridor. The gift offered by the Goldenbridge family was a hunting horn made of pure gold.

This was already the fourth team.

Many humans still remained in the waiting room. Kain gazed beyond the waiting room with cold eyes and asked Jersian,

“When is our turn?”

“Our turn?”

Jersian, who had been standing straight, quickly looked at Kain, lifting his gaze from the corridor.

Jersian spoke as if Kain had asked something obvious.

“Now.”

As he said this, he lightly stood up.

Simultaneously, the herald’s loud voice rang out.

“Finally, the heart of the Empire, Crown Heart has arrived!”

The people of the Gerold family, including Marchioness Elmerila, were already in place behind the curtain, waiting.

“Let’s go.”

Jersian took Kain Starchis’s hand and pulled him along. As Jersian moved, Kain Starchis also began to walk, almost reflexively following him.

The nobles from the capital were the last to enter.

The gait of the Gerold Marquis’s people, the most influential among them, had a unique ease unlike the other teams. Yes, they say the protagonist comes last. It was a situation that perfectly fit that saying.

Marchioness Elmerila, as the head of the family, was holding a ceremonial dagger decorated with jewels as a gift. The blade of the dagger, engraved with the imperial crest, would be stained with the blood of the first prey in today’s hunt.

Kain wore a faint smile as he entered hand in hand with Jersian. He could feel the spectators pointing at his pointed ears.

Crown Heart… is in the very center. The most conspicuous position. Kain inwardly sighed. The equipment bearing the royal crest seemed to be shouting, “We are the masters of this place.”

Compared to the hunting traditions of elves that had continued for thousands of years, these human formalities felt like the play of a child born yesterday. But perhaps this is what makes them most human.

Gesturing towards the purple silk flag hanging in front of them, Jersian added an explanation.

“The Gerold Marquis’s house has been Crown Heart for hundreds of years. We’re in the same alliance as the imperial family in the center of the capital. So you don’t need to try too hard.”

Ah, Kain finally understood why Jersian had been so indifferent about the hunting competition. A competition ultimately meant there would be winners and losers.

He had thought it didn’t suit Jersian, who was second to none in competitiveness, to participate so half-heartedly, but the reason turned out to be very simple. He just didn’t want to see Crown Heart win.

“I understand.”

Kain nodded and looked down at the front of the podium with a cold expression. He could sense the humans cowering under his imperious gaze.