MMLP 26

chapter 26

The imperial princes, Gray, and other young noblemen who had gathered from across the land at the news assembled at the starting area, weapons in hand.

A large flag adorned with the imperial crest fluttered in the hot wind as the imperial official in charge raised his hand high into the air and fired the starting round.

At the crack of the gunshot, the participants all surged into the forest. Some light-footed, some heavy, their footsteps varied, but their goal was the same: to claim their prey.

Yet in the end, the honorable position of victor would be granted to only one. Neither Gray nor Rosinante had any intention of wasting time chasing rabbits, and so—almost as if by agreement—they met at the riverbank.

“Funny coincidence, meeting you here,” said Gray, the elder, with easy humor. But his words drew no warmth in return.

“Yes. Indeed.”

That Gray was met with a wary stare was only natural. They were rivals for the same prey, after all. But considering they might soon be brothers-in-law, it stung a little. A wicked smile curled at Gray’s lips as his bad habit—mischief—kicked in.

“You’re trying to win Levieta’s favor, aren’t you? But Your Highness, weak men aren’t exactly popular.”

Rosinante’s hand, which had been drawing back his bowstring, froze mid-motion. He turned his head slightly to look at Gray.

“Yes. That’s true.”

The words were delivered with a detached, almost mocking tone, as though he were talking about someone else entirely. Then Rosinante loosed his arrow.

Fwish—!

The arrow whistled through the air and struck into the whirlpool of the river. When it embedded itself in the protrusion that stirred the current, the master of the waters was forced to reveal itself—an ambusher that had been hiding to lure prey.

To find it in one shot? Remarkable, Gray thought, quietly impressed.

Normally, monsters were far stronger than ordinary beasts. The creature that burst from the water resembled a crocodile—an aquatic predator that camouflaged itself and manipulated currents to ensnare prey. A difficult foe.

Finding one so quickly was impossible without serious skill.

But finding it isn’t enough. Catching it—that’s the hunt, lowest-ranked prey-prince.

Luck would carry him no further. Beginner’s luck might work once, but monster hunting couldn’t be won with luck alone.

Gray had seen it many times: men paralyzed with fear before terrifying monsters, sometimes even wetting themselves. Would this timid, frail prince even manage to uphold the dignity of the imperial family?

Well, looks like I have no choice. Levieta might worry, so I’ll step in and protect him before he gets hurt.

Gray stepped forward.

“Your Highness—”

Since it’s dangerous, please step behind me—huh?

Just as Gray reached for his sword, he doubted his own eyes. Instead of trembling or collapsing as expected, Rosinante was calmly nocking a second arrow.

What, does he mean to fight that thing with just one arrow?

Even as the monster charged at terrifying speed, Rosinante remained composed, his bow steady. His gaze was relentless, predatory.

Is this really the pathetic bastard-brother the rumors spoke of? Gray had suspected before that the prince’s confidence wasn’t mere bravado, but the oppressive aura that emerged when Rosinante faced his target was startling, even to Gray.

And then—

As Rosinante unleashed his attack with flawless form, Gray felt an urge to cuff the head of whoever had spread nonsense about the youngest prince being a pitiful weakling.

The arrow cut through the wind and struck dead-on into the one vulnerable point hidden among the creature’s armor-like scales.

Easier said than done—the target was smaller than a fingertip. If Gray hadn’t seen it himself, he would have dismissed the feat as a drunkard’s boast: felling a monster with a single arrow.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. To think you hid such skill with the bow, Your Highness—”

Gray, usually not one to be startled, found himself repeatedly unsettled today. He stared in bewilderment as Rosinante set a third arrow to his string.

Gray thought he should raise his sword in defense, yet strangely, his body wouldn’t obey. It was as though he were compelled by some higher master’s command, beyond his own control.

What’s happening? Did a venomous snake bite me without me noticing?

At least Rosinante wouldn’t actually aim at him—so Gray assumed. And he was half right.

Whshk!

The third arrow shot past him, grazing close.

“My apologies.”

“What the hell was—”

“I thought an insect had landed. But it was nothing.”

“…”

Fluttering like a butterfly, a white ribbon drifted to the ground.

It was the ribbon Levieta had given him. Had Rosinante cut it on purpose? Gray wanted to ask, but by the time his body had shaken off its paralysis and he looked around, Rosinante was nowhere to be seen.

“…Hah!”

And that was why rumors could never be trusted.

Diego lounged lazily against a tree stump and flicked his fingers at his men.

“Make the wounds look big. That way my prowess will stand out more.”

At his order, his men hacked at the monster’s corpse. Since they had used Diego’s sword, no magical trace-checking would reveal the deception.

Having subordinates hunt in his place was a blatant violation of the tournament rules—but as the eldest imperial son, why should he dirty his hands?

Meeting his infiltrated men at a prearranged spot in the forest, Diego stretched luxuriously under the warm sun.

The hunt was done; they’d taken down a beast the size of a bear, and victory was assured. All that was left was to kill time so no suspicions arose. Yet boredom plagued him.

One, two, three, four, five—

Five men, his secret guard, carried out their hidden protective duty. Deploying such elite talent merely as lookouts was surely a waste.

Then Diego had a perfect idea—something that would ease his boredom and put his men to proper use.

“The monster hunt is over. Next comes the human hunt.”

The face that came to mind wasn’t Rosinante’s. No, it was someone smaller, fairer, and in need of having her arrogance crushed—

“Bring Levieta Grimlore here. That presumptuous wench needs to learn to fear the heavens.”

Just thinking of the humiliation when she’d rejected his confession made his blood boil with rage. Now, separated from the Grimlore family, she was vulnerable. He could finally have his revenge.

“When you seize her, blindfold her, gag her, and bind her hands so she can’t use magic. If she resists fiercely, break something if you must. Don’t kill her, but a little violence will teach her fear.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The guards, well-accustomed to such filthy orders, donned their masks without hesitation.

As the black-clad figures vanished like the wind, Diego smiled in satisfaction.

“Should’ve known better than to defy me.”

The faint stench of blood rising from the monster’s corpse only whetted his sadistic appetite.

Rosinante caught a whiff of blood.

Sensing something amiss, he closed his eyes and focused on the sounds around him.

The wind, the chirping of unknown birds, the sighs of hunters who had missed their prey—and among them, something out of place.

Footsteps. Subtle, carefully suppressed, but moving in flawless unison.

It was not the sound of lost travelers. More like a squad moving for a night raid.

But why would a unit be operating in the forest during a hunting tournament? It certainly wasn’t military training.

This feels wrong.

Abandoning his hunt, Rosinante changed course to follow the sounds.

His quarry was skilled. Getting too close risked discovery, so Rosinante shadowed them from a measured distance.

This path leads to…

If they kept going, they’d reach the forest entrance. There, imperial officials stood guard, along with the families, friends, and servants of the participants—and Levieta.

It was obvious who their target was.

So it’s you, Diego.

Rosinante’s blue eyes grew cold as he fixed his gaze ahead.