“On the left side of that man’s chest, there was a large scar. It looked like he had been stabbed with a knife!”
This was something I had seen when I spent the night with him.
Despite his handsome face, his body was covered with scars, countless enough to be impossible to count.
But the deep wound on his left chest stood out the most.
At my words, one of the men standing behind me made a surprised expression.
“Oh, right. During the Petroling War, the enemy swung a sword aiming for Argon’s heart. That crazy bastard Argon even gave up his own heart to slit their throat. But how does this kid know about that?”
I thought I might have finally proven myself to be the assassin, but now, suspicions started to shift in a different direction.
I could almost feel what those gazes meant, and it made me embarrassed.
Then, the group started whispering to each other again.
“No matter how you look at it, this kid doesn’t look like much.”
“An assassin like that? One who threatened the Emperor?”
“I… I’m reminded of my nephew, who was born just the other day. His build is kinda similar, don’t you think? Did he really get taken down by this little kid?”
I couldn’t find a place to interrupt their serious conversation.
At this point, they would probably believe that I was the assassin, but what happens next?
Will I be killed immediately after this conversation?
The tremor in my body increased as I thought of my impending death.
‘I might really die this time.’
Thinking that, the tears I had been holding back finally spilled out.
I had wanted to be brave to the very end, after coming out here with courage, but facing death, I had no confidence to stand composed.
“Sniff, sniff…”
Eventually, the sobs leaked out.
At that moment, the wolves, who had been conversing non-stop, suddenly stopped talking.
The middle-aged man who resembled a murderer but seemed to have a delicate heart stared at me with a confused expression.
“What’s this? Why are you crying? We haven’t done anything to you.”
Just then, my eyes caught the massive sword at his waist.
It was more terrifying than the arrows, bigger and sharper, and just looking at it made me scared.
If he thrust that into my heart in an instant, I wouldn’t even have time to reflect on my life before dying right there.
“Am I going to die now? Is it going to be with that sword you have there?”
“What…?”
The wolf glanced at the sword at his waist, and then awkwardly chuckled.
“That sword’s way too big, it would hurt too much. Can you use a smaller one? I’d prefer to die as painlessly as possible… sniff, sob…”
For some reason, my simple request made everyone burst into laughter.
Maybe I was asking for too much.
But then, one of the wolves, his laughter subsiding, spoke up as if to reassure me.
“Don’t worry. Argon ordered to bring an assassin to Hamilton. Not a hair on your head will be harmed. Of course, once we arrive there, you might go through some tough times, but he’s a rather merciful Emperor. He’ll probably put you out of your misery with a single strike.”
Though I felt somewhat reassured, the words were oddly unconvincing.
The only good thing was that I wouldn’t be dying here and now.
Maybe I’d have a chance to meet the Emperor and explain my side of the story.
For a moment, the situation seemed a little hopeful.
‘But the wolf I met that night kept saying harsh things. Is he really the merciful Emperor…?’
Thinking about it again, I didn’t feel reassured at all.
I wiped away my tears and quietly waited for what would happen next.
Meanwhile, the wolves began to exchange deep, serious words.
“What should we do? The shackles we bought are too big and seem useless.”
“Good grief. Did we think it would be small? Even if we put her in a cage, she might slip through the gaps.”
“But if we bind her with rope, we’ll have to be careful. The ancestors warned that beastmen might do terrible things, so we should keep our distance.”
“Yeah, exactly. What are we going to do…?”
There seemed to be no end to their discussion.
Whenever one person made a suggestion, another would refute it.
The sky was starting to lighten.
At this rate, my family might find out I’m missing before we even leave Medderland.
They would probably rush to the wolves without hesitation, not caring about the danger in front of them.
Frustrated with this endless cycle, I raised my hand.
“Excuse me…!”
Others were desperately expressing their opinions, veins popping in their necks.
The wolf with the large scar, who had been calmly observing, turned to look at me.
“We’re kind of busy right now. What is it?”
“Where are the shackles and the cage? Is it that one beside you?”
I couldn’t possibly misunderstand what they were talking about.
It was obvious that the large shackles and the cage were right next to them.
“Well, yeah. But why do you ask?”
“I have a good idea.”
He squinted at me as if doubting my words, but his curiosity seemed piqued.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked me,
“A good idea?”
“If the shackles are too big and the cage has wide gaps, I can wrap ropes around the gaps to prevent me from escaping. That way, even if the gaps are wide, it would be hard for me to get out.”
The other wolves, who had been listening intently, suddenly widened their eyes.
“Oh? That’s not bad.”
“Why didn’t we think of that sooner?”
“You guys are always getting called the dumb wolves of Hamilton for a reason! I was about to say that!”
“What did you just say? You little… want to fight?!”
Their meaningless bickering quickly escalated, and it seemed like they were about to start a fistfight.
But the one with the scar on his face seemed to be more rational than the others.
Even in the middle of all this chaos, he calmly focused on wrapping ropes around the cage’s gaps to ensure there was no way out.
“Thanks, little lamb. You helped us find a decent method.”
Once the work was done, they shoved me into the cage.
I began to watch the wolves, who were now fighting among themselves, from the small gaps in the ropes.
It seemed like they were used to this kind of situation, casually betting on who would win.
Wolves who had come out of the tent after the ruckus didn’t even try to stop the fight; they just watched it for fun.
“Ah, these guys are at it again? I swear, there’s not a single quiet day.”
Then, a man covered in blood from head to toe staggered into the clearing.
He was the one who had been lying next to the camp.
‘I thought he was dead… but he’s alive and moving!’
He let out a big burp with a face full of smiles.
“Ugh! That was a good sleep.”
“Well, look who’s finally awake.”
“Gem, why do you eat like a man who’s been starving for days every time you see a tomato can? Do you know that because of you, the food supply running low?”
The large man, his face smeared with red tomato sauce, licked it off with his tongue and grinned.
“Hehe, was that so?”
“You big, stupid bear.”
“If the food supply runs out again, I’ll roast you and eat you, so you better watch out!”
“Ah, no! Gem doesn’t taste good!”
The other wolves chuckled as they watched Gem scream and run away.
Before long, the winner of the fight was decided.
It was the red-haired wolf, the very one who had rudely interrupted my words earlier.
“Look at this little thing! Try messing with me one more time!”
The defeated man had blood dripping from his mouth, but he seemed to be enjoying himself, laughing loudly even while lying on the ground.
“Consider yourself lucky this time, Veratri. You’re one strong idiot!”
Those watching seemed to be disappointed that the fight was over so quickly.
“Ah, that was too boring.”
“Expected result. Now, you all better pay up.”
Still, when your comrade fights and bleeds, shouldn’t you be concerned?
It seemed that the wolves had a wild and barbaric side, just as I had thought.
“Well, now that everyone’s awake, shall we get ready to head to Hamilton?”
At the scarred man’s command, everyone moved in perfect coordination.
In no time at all, the tents were packed up, and everything was ready to go.
Just as they were about to leave, a frantic voice rang out from somewhere.
“Ugh, ugh…!”
Walton, tied to the tree, was shaking his body as if he was about to cry.
The tree was covered with dozens, maybe even more, arrows.
It was astonishing how he managed to avoid so many of them.
The man with the scar on his face scowled when he saw this.
“What’s going on? Why is Walton acting like that again? I almost forgot about him. Someone, get him out of there now!”
“Yes, sir!”
After taking care of Walton, they finally finished preparing to leave.
From inside the cage, I quietly watched Medderland fade into the distance.
It was the first time I was leaving, except for when I was on a mission to become a solver.
A thousand emotions stirred inside me.
But soon, one thought became crystal clear in my mind.
‘I will clear my name, no matter what. And once I’m free, I will go see my family.’
I stared at the disappearing landscape for a long time, and just as it completely vanished from view, I turned my head.