The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 11

Gulliat and his group slowly moved away.

I, of course, enthusiastically gossip about Richard behind his back.

After they completely disappeared, I emerged from the bushes.

‘About 12 people.’

Based on my observation, they hadn’t caught any prey.

Maybe they plan to secure the moon deer first and then each catch their own prey.

Or perhaps they’re using a strategy to focus all efforts on one person.

I looked up at the sky.

Activating [Hunter’s Sense].

This isn’t just a trait for tracking traces.

Wind direction.

Temperature, humidity.

The angle of shadows.

It helps me understand my surroundings in detail.

‘Around 4 PM.’

The sun is slowly setting.

In other words, it’s time for the moon deer to start moving.

‘If things go as they are, Gulliat will find the moon deer.’

I looked in the direction where Gulliat and his group had gone.

I gripped the flint and stone knife tightly in my hand.

I received them from Dylan and Richard.

‘What a luck. Of all things, these two items.’

Can that guy Gulliat catch the moon deer?

I don’t think so.

He talked as if he only knew how to track but had no idea how to actually hunt.

The moon deer isn’t such an easy prey.

However, Gulliat still has a chance to win.

Hunting skills to track the moon deer.

The unity of the remaining members.

If these two things are used well, they might win.

‘That can’t happen.’

More than anything, I want to screw them over.

The best way to ensure that is by winning myself.

So, I must be the one to win.

‘I need to gather more yellow umbrella mushrooms. And other things too.’

I immediately set out to find the necessary items.

‘The moon deer is mine.’

Using [Hunter’s Sense], I gathered everything I needed.

Because my trait level is low and I’m not a real hunter, it took quite some time.

‘Around 5:30 PM.’

The sun started to set and it became dusky.

It seems like it’ll get dark soon.

A high terrain.

A fairly open area with fewer trees around.

I sat down and checked the items I had gathered.

A flat stone slab, kindling, firewood.

Leaves, branches, and vines collected to make an improvised fan.

And the flint and stone knife I got from Dylan and Richard.

‘I’ve gathered everything I need.’

First, I tore my clothes with the stone knife.

I placed the pieces of cloth over my face and tied them behind my head.

An improvised mask.

I covered my mouth and lit a fire with the help of the wind.

Thanks to the flint, it was quick.

The heat and the smell of the bonfire carried away with the wind.

I watched the fire for a while, waiting for complete darkness.

‘A crescent moon. The moon deer will be particularly aggressive.’

A crescent moon hung in the night sky like a smiling, narrow eye.

Somehow, it resembled Eliza’s creepy smile.

I shook my head to clear away distracting thoughts.

I had finished all the necessary preparations.

‘The moon deer is mine.’

All that’s left is to win.

***

“Found it.”

Gulliat said softly.

At his words, those crouched in the thicket all turned to look in one direction.

Beyond the dark forest where the crescent moon hung.

The moon deer appeared, passing by a giant tree.

Crunch, crunch.

The calm steps on the grass.

The moon deer stepped into the clearing where faint moonlight poured down.

“Wow…”

Someone murmured in awe.

The gray antlers subtly glowed as if absorbing the faint moonlight.

The cracks on the antlers glittered openly like lightning.

Unlike other creatures, it had exceptional intelligence and special powers, earning it the name of a holy beast.

In some religions, it was called the messenger of the gods—the true form of the ‘moon deer.’

Many hunters targeted the holy beast, the moon deer.

The success rate was very low.

There were stories of successful hunts, but the methods were not detailed.

There was no record of taming one at all.

Gulliat’s plan was simple.

‘Traps and driving.’

After all, a holy beast was still just an animal.

It couldn’t escape the long history of human hunting.

Especially with the long war against the demons, humans had grown even stronger.

Compared to the past, they were now called the ‘new human race.’

Moreover, it was a deer. He had hunted them many times.

It was an obvious prey.

The moon deer was sitting as if sunbathing, basking in the moonlight.

Despite the peaceful scene, Gulliat and the trainees’ hearts were racing.

Gulliat glanced around.

Here and there, thumbs were raised cautiously.

It was a signal that they were ready.

They had set the traps, determined the driving direction, and carved simple spears from wood.

Preparations were complete.

‘The victory is mine.’

Taking a deep breath, Gulliat boldly rushed out, shouting threateningly.

“Uaaaaah-!”

He intended to startle the deer into fleeing.

At his charge, people burst out of the thicket.

“Uiyaaaah-!”

They shouted threateningly in unison.

They stomped their feet, banged their shields, and created a ruckus.

‘It has no choice but to run.’

If it were an ordinary deer, it would surely have no other choice.

But the moon deer remained calm.

No matter how noisy it got around it.

It maintained its noble posture.

The scene of looking up at the moon with eyes closed seemed to be drenched in moonlight.

“……….”

Starting with Gulliat, one by one, they fell silent.

The beast was clearly ignoring them.

“Hey, Gulliat. Why is it doing that?”

“……….”

‘I don’t know.’

That’s what he wanted to say.

But he couldn’t show weakness.

Everyone was anxiously waiting for Gulliat’s reaction.

“Don’t be scared! It’s just a big deer! Attack!”

Gulliat shouted, hiding his nervousness.

He walked boldly towards the moon deer, representing the group.

The others followed hesitantly.

He stopped at a distance where his spear could reach.

The moon deer didn’t react.

There was no point in waiting any longer.

If it died quietly, it would be convenient.

Gulliat thrust his spear forcefully at the moon deer’s neck.

Thud!

The sound of piercing flesh echoed, but only in Gulliat’s mind.

“……….”

The spear scraped against the moon deer’s neck and slipped off.

It was like scraping against tough and solid rock.

While Gulliat was taken aback, the moon deer slowly opened its eyes.

Black pupils.

The crescent moon reflected in them looked like a coldly sharpened blade.

Gulliat’s heart throbbed painfully at the sight.

“G-Gulliat…!”

The moon deer shook its head.

Its large antlers whipped up the wind and swept the surroundings harshly.

“Gah…!”

Gulliat was sent flying by the antlers.

Other trainees who got caught were the same.

Even though it didn’t swing quickly, they were lifted as if hit by a full-force blow.

“Snort….”

The moon deer lowered its head and scraped the ground.

Its angry snort scattered like mist.

“Argh-!”

“Gulliat got hit!”

“Everyone, run!”

The trainees screamed and scattered in all directions.

It was a meaningless struggle.

The moon deer didn’t rampage wildly.

It just blurred and disappeared, only to reappear elsewhere.

It moved like a ghost.

The moon deer reappeared and swung its head, striking the trainees with its antlers.

Gulliat, clutching his ribs, trembled violently.

“Argh-!”

Several trainees fell, caught by the moon deer.

In the midst of this, the moon deer suddenly stopped moving.

Lifting his head high, he looked somewhere in the distance.

“Brother! Are you okay?!”

“Oh, oh… I’m fine. What about the injured?”

“Five people are hurt. Why is it doing that all of a sudden?”

Even Galriot didn’t know.

He hadn’t known that moon deer were so strong.

He was completely ignorant about these spiritual beings.

The moon deer, as if nothing had happened, walked slowly somewhere.

“Brother, what do we do?”

It’s impossible to hunt that thing.

Even if I were in perfect shape, I couldn’t win, and my ribs are broken.

‘But, I can’t just go back like this….’

Even if you find traces, it doesn’t mean you can always track them.

It was a hard-won opportunity.

“It doesn’t seem to have any intention of attacking us further, so let’s follow it for now.”

“What…? But the injured guys….”

“We’re not trying to hunt it. We’ll wait and see what it does, and if we judge it impossible, we’ll run away.”

“Understood.”

They quickly gathered the people and started following the moon deer.

Since it moved slowly, it was easy to follow.

No one knew where it was going, but they just followed.

“Don’t you smell something weird?”

“Did someone spill blood?”

“No. It’s more like… it smells like something’s burning.”

Someone in the lead spoke.

They all sniffed simultaneously.

Just as he said, it did smell like something was burning.

“Did someone light a fire?”

They looked in the direction from where the smell was coming.

It was in the same direction the wind was blowing.

At the same time, it was where the moon deer was headed.

“Is it a forest fire?”

It was too bright around to be that.

Though doubtful, they kept walking.

And then, suddenly.

“H-Hik! Hihik!”

Someone started convulsing and, with a bizarre smile, began to laugh.

“Hih, hihihik, hihik!”

“What’s wrong with him…!”

“Hey, snap out of it! What’s wrong with you!”

“Hik, hihihik.”

It was one person.

Then it became two.

“Heheheh, hehe, heheh, heh!”

“You, you…! You crazy idiots! Stop joking around!”

Galriot looked around in confusion.

The bizarre laughter gave him goosebumps all over.

On the other hand, the moon deer continued to move gracefully forward.

“Brother! H-here, th-there, c-could it be, perhaps, a ghost?!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. A ghost in this wilderness? Ridiculous.”

“B-but suddenly, that, ugh, huh, hee, heeheehee……!”

The candidate grimaced and laughed.

Only the pleading look in their eyes was pitiful.

“It’s the work of a ghost…!”

Someone shouted.

Fear spread rapidly.

Except for Gulliat , most of the candidates fled.

He wanted to run too.

But he couldn’t resort to shameful behavior.

“Heeheeheehee!”

Leaving behind those who laughed strangely, Gulliat one continued alone.

It didn’t take long.

On that hill.

Someone was sitting in front of a bonfire.

Swinging a fan made of leaves and stems.

It was where the moon deer was heading.

Gulliat one recognized the person.

Though their mouth was covered, the disheveled hair and the seemingly dissatisfied golden eyes were enough.

“Judas…?”

“Huh?”

Judas, fanning themselves, was surprised.

They had only just noticed someone approaching from behind the moon deer.

“Oh, my… is it why people were laughing the woods?”

“What?”

“I thought you were ghosts… Phew.”

“……..”

“Wait. What does that mean…”

Gulliat one couldn’t finish their sentence.

The moon deer, approaching the bonfire, sniffed the air.

Something was burning in the bonfire.

It was black, but they could deduce the shape.

“Mushrooms?”

Judas reached out to the moon deer.

There were finely chopped yellow mushrooms on it.

The moon deer cautiously approached Judas and ate the mushroom from their hand.

“But it seem strong.”

Judas said.

“You’d likely be paralyzed from the poison. To put it simply, I’m currently burning poisonous mushrooms to scatter in the wind. What you all smell was the powder of those poisonous mushrooms.”

“Poisonous mushrooms?”

Gulliat’s one’s gaze fell on Judas’s pile.

There were many yellow mushrooms.

“They’re called yellow umbrella mushrooms. Oh, don’t worry. The symptoms are temporary muscle paralysis and difficulty breathing. You’ll return to normal after about 30 minutes of laughter.”

Judas bit his tongue.

Like the difference between Yellow Umbrella Mushrooms and Egg Yolk Mushroom.

That the moon deer liked Yellow Umbrella Mushrooms. Such things he didn’t bother to mention.

“It’s worth the effort to chase the wind.”

The moon deer quietly nibbled on the mushrooms in his hand.

He was a very gentle child.

“But… come to think of it, this is a hunting competition, isn’t it?”

The moon deer’s skin, bathed in moonlight, was incredibly tough.

Even if it were a sword.

With his current strength and abilities, he could never kill it.

‘If I bring it, the butcher will surely take care of it, right?’

He muttered under his breath in front of him.

“It, It should, definitely, how…”

“That’s right.”

Judas casually continued to wave the fan.

“It’s okay for you to gossip about others so easily?”

“..…?”

“There are so many people, so you can’t turn a blind eye to me, who is weak and young.”

“How did you know….”

“If there are many people, eventually, there will be many mouths and ears too, right?”

“……….”

Judas heard it by chance.

But he didn’t tell the truth.

He said it as if there was a spy among them.

He closely observed Gulliat, who was lost in thought.

‘He’s big. About 180 in height? I think I’m about 145. He’s also in good shape. Has he been training for a long time? About 16 years old? I can never beat him.’

Just like in Kale’s case, there was no guarantee of success even with a surprise attack.

Above all, he was able to withstand the poison in the toxic mushroom’s fumes.

‘Judging by the trembling of his lips, he’s finally reacting.’

High resistance and a strong body.

In other words, a person who accumulates magic power in his body and trains.

You can’t overlook a deadly trick.

“I’ll go down first.”

Judas stood up.

The moon deer naturally followed him.

Gulliat, who was still grasping the situation, just stood still.

He felt like he had fallen into a trap.

But Judas didn’t deceive him, nor did he set a trap.

He just lured the moon deer.

He and his colleagues were just stumbling under his feet.

Judas headed for the entrance to the test.

After securing the prey, they were instructed to return to the entrance they had left from.

“More than that, is it okay to take him?”

The moon deer.

Called a spiritual animal, and praised as a holy beast in some religions.

Naturally, if you hunt or tame it carelessly, the religion views it negatively.

What Judas was worried about was not that.

‘Wasn’t that religion called the Moonsin religion… If I remember correctly, they wouldn’t get along well with the Bavel family.’

He didn’t know for sure either.

From the future point of view he knew, the Moonsin religion was a religion that had been oppressed and ruined by the Bavel family.

There were times when their remnants attacked and died trying to attack Eliza, the only survivor of the Bavel family.

In other words, Eliza might dislike it.

He started to worry about it belatedly.

‘…I don’t know. Eliza will judge for herself. Winning or not, it doesn’t matter.’

Judas neatly put away his worries.

‘By the way, this moon deer, it’s following so quietly….’

His eyes, like a crescent moon, were endlessly gentle.

It was a situation that was half-tamed, in a way.

The method he used to lure the moon deer was one of the procedures for taming in the game.

“I feel sorry for killing it….”

Creatures are intelligent beings.

They have intelligence comparable to humans.

Thinking that way made his heart uneasy.

Judas had to try hard not to look into the eyes of the moon deer.

***

A campsite at the entrance of the moon deer forest.

It’s a place where people who have secured their prey early or have given up on hunting gather to rest.

There would also be those who didn’t want to spend the night in the forest returning.

I arrived at the campsite with the moon deer forest.

“What is that…?”

Those resting at the campsite noticed me one by one.

They widen their eyes as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have seen.

Or as if they were denying what they saw.

“Newcomer of Room 13?”

“Isn’t that… a moon deer?”

“Ah, no way. Have you actually seen a moon deer? No way….”

Even I find it hard to believe.

How could a young boy like me casually bring back a moon deer much larger than myself?

“…Judas?”

There were Richard, Dylan, and several other members of Room 13.

“Judas, what is this…?”

Richard stuttered unusually.

“It’s a moon deer. Somehow, it turned out like this.”

I explained roughly because there was no other way to explain.

“Ha, haha….”

Richard laughed as if he had lost his mind.

“I should have stayed behind and seen it myself… why am I so impatient….”

He seemed to blame himself.

Even though there’s only one winner, if he had just delayed the capture of the moon deer a little, wouldn’t something have come up?

He seemed to expect something like that.

“……..Amazing.”

Dylan exclaimed shortly.

“It’s said to be so independent that it’s difficult to even capture it, let alone tame it.”

I also learned from reading someone else’s strategy.

I never knew that the yellow umbrella mushroom could be used like this.

Dylan, while admiring, frowned as if he were dissatisfied with something.

Many people gathered around to see the moon deer.

“Wow…. I never thought I’d see the moon deer I’ve only heard about.”

“It’s not easy to find, so I guess you could say you’re lucky.”

“It’s over for the winner…”

Unintentionally, you’ve crushed the will of other candidates.

Dylan, who seemed to be contemplating something, lowered his voice and said cautiously.

“There’s no one in the world without a story, but if you stand out like you do, you’ll attract more enemies than you need. Someone will become curious about you.”

Although his tone was stern, it was a warning to be careful.

I understand too. It’s suspiciously conspicuous.

‘But. I’ve already started to stand out, so what can I do.’

And it’s just a background of being sold as a slave after rolling around on the streets.

Who would care about my past?

Still, Dylan’s words were not wrong.

The worried feeling was somewhat intimidating.

“I will keep that in mind.”

“But, will this deer of the contest die tomorrow?”

“Well… I don’t think so.”

“It’s a shame.”

Eliza decided to come tomorrow morning, at the start time of the hunting competition.

Until then, I uncomfortably spent time with the deer following me.

***

Eliza always wears a mask.

Not just smiling, even their expressionless face is a mask.

Expressing emotions is rare.

It’s just an expression carefully crafted for the situation.

That’s the Eliza I know.

The Eliza in front of me right now seems somewhat different.

She blink her eyes looking at the living deer.

As if surprised. As if flustered.

Is it just me, or does that look oddly refreshing?

Their slightly parted lips finally close, forming a smile.

“Interesting.”

Morning.

All the candidates have gathered.

Since the news spread that I captured the moon deer alive, the competition is practically over.

“I never knew I could catch something like this. And alive, too.”

It’s an unexpected turn of events.

How did it end up like this?

“Anyway, they seem very friendly.”

“…”

“If we’re going to use it as food, we have to kill it. Are you okay with that?”

It’s regrettable, but there was no other way.

I can’t say don’t kill it if I don’t want to kill it.

After all, that was the purpose from the start.

I nodded in silence.

Eliza stared at me intently and said something inexplicable.

“It’s cute.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll let it live.”

“…Really?”

I couldn’t believe it, so I asked like a child.