68 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
“Th-There……!”
Someone screamed, seeing the black beast running through the collapsed tents.
“A boar?”
One side of the clearing was already a mess.
Knights on horseback who had seen what Sven was doing either grabbed their bucking horses or quickly shot them dead if they couldn't control them.
The enraged boars charged into the areas where the bucking horses hadn't been cleared away.
“Lady, there are three of them!”
Ren, the groom who had been on horseback, shouted.
Ren held a horse by its reins.
He handed the reins to a ground crew member and immediately turned his horse around.
“Left!”
Alisha spurred her horse, choosing her target.
“I’ll take the middle. You guys somehow stop the one on the far right!”
Ren designated his target and shouted to his comrades in the rear as he galloped forward.
The knights who hadn't gone on the hunt took on the task with light hearts.
That didn't mean their equipment was light, though.
They hadn't all foreseen this, but they were carrying newly purchased weapons like arrows and long spears.
“Is that a boar?”
“I think so, but what kind of boar is that big!”
The knights, facing boars much larger than they knew was possible on bare ground, grimaced as they prepared their spears and swords.
They had never seen or heard of boars whose height at the shoulder reached an adult's shoulder.
“It’s coming!”
The boar charged at the three knights, but stopped for a moment when the three men spread out their weapons to appear larger.
It seemed very angry, pawing the ground roughly with its front feet.
Kuek!
A pitiful sound came from the other side, followed by a thud! as something heavy fell.
A long spear was embedded in the forehead of the fallen boar.
Alisha, who had taken down the boar in one blow, quickly turned her horse around.
The boar that Ren was fighting was bleeding profusely from dagger wounds to its flank and legs.
Alisha drove the staggering boar closer to Ren and galloped toward the boar confronting the knights on the open ground.
The boar, disturbed by the sound of approaching hooves from behind, pawed the ground nervously.
It changed direction, thinking the horse approaching from behind was a better option than the three knights in front who were making themselves look bigger.
Alisha rode toward the boar charging at her without slowing down.
Just before the boar could ram her, Alisha turned her horse and swung her longsword.
Thwack!
The boar, slashed on its side, quickly changed direction again.
Neither toward the knights nor toward Alisha.
One side of the boar, trying to escape into the forest, was exposed.
“Shoot!”
At Alisha's shout, the knights lowered their spears and swords and simultaneously took out their bows and fired arrows.
Thud! Thuk! Thung!
The arrows pierced the boar's thick hide.
Some arrows didn't penetrate completely and dangled precariously.
The knights approached the boar, which was bleeding and making pained noises, and quickly finished it off.
By the time the three knights on the ground had dealt with the boar, Ren had also taken care of his target.
The cavalrymen who had driven the horses away returned from the forest and reported the results.
Sven was said to be taking care of the captured horses.
Juan assessed the calmed situation and dismounted, helping Countess Istevna down from her horse.
“Check the private tents for anyone left behind, and see if there are any injured.”
Alisha dismounted and quickly gave instructions.
Only after the knights on horseback had gone toward the collapsed tents did the guards come running from beyond the fence separating the hunting grounds from the base camp.
“Take care of the horses. Move the boars we caught to the clearing. We need to restore the collapsed tents. Divide the people according to the severity of their injuries and prepare for treatment. I’ll go check on the ladies in the tents.”
“We’ll prepare, Lady.”
Alisha entrusted the horses to the knights and headed for the tents.
The knights each took on a task and headed toward the approaching soldiers.
The tent where the Imperial Concubines and noble ladies had gathered, with its walls open, was fortunately safe.
It hadn't even been scratched, let alone collapsed.
“What happened?”
“Well……”
Those gathered in the tent hadn't been idle either.
They were lined up according to their rank and status, preparing to evacuate.
Duchess Palz was at the very front of the Imperial Concubines' tent, examining the situation.
The Duchess seemed to be at the forefront, perhaps out of dignity, despite her pale face.
Marquis Manners' wife was examining the situation in front of the noble ladies' tent.
Unlike Duchess Palz, Marquis Manners' wife was surrounded by three ladies, Viviana, Cynthia, and Angela.
Marquis Manners' wife was looking after the lined-up noble ladies, and the three ladies were checking the situation outside.
“Shouldn’t we get out of here?”
At the worried voice, Viviana gave an awkward smile.
“I don’t think you need to worry.”
“Didn’t you say we were attacked?”
Viviana couldn't believe what she had just seen.
She was dumbfounded by Alisha's appearance, taking down a boar that far exceeded the normal size in one blow and contributing to capturing the remaining beasts.
Even Josefina, who was known to be skilled with a sword, probably couldn't have done that.
“It seems that stray beasts have invaded here because this is a hunting ground. The knights who remained nearby seem to have taken care of them, so I don’t think you need to worry.”
Angela added an explanation, taking the place of Viviana, who couldn't answer properly.
Viviana and Cynthia nodded in agreement at Angela's words.
Alisha, who had arrived at the tent just in time, heard their words.
“Marquis Manners' wife, other ladies, and ladies. Is anyone hurt?”
“Lady Alisha. Welcome. What happened outside?”
Marquis Manners' wife asked with a relieved expression when she saw Alisha.
“It’s as the three ladies said. It seems that a beast from the hunting grounds has strayed here. They have all been taken care of, but some of the private tents have collapsed, so I have ordered them to be restored. It may be difficult, but I think it would be best to wait here until further notice.”
Marquis Manners' wife nodded unconditionally at Alisha's words.
“I will. Lady Alisha, you’ve worked hard.”
“It’s nothing. I was on my way to Duchess Palz, so I’ll go now.”
“Please go.”
The Marchioness saw Alisha off with a warm face.
Alisha was about to pay her respects to Duchess Palz, who was looking around in front of the tent next door.
“Lady Alisha! What is going on?”
The Duchess's face was deathly pale.
The Duchess's cold hand grabbed Alisha's hand tightly.
“Duchess, were you watching from here?”
“Someone had to check the situation outside.”
“You don’t look well, Duchess.”
“When the tents collapsed, I thought I was going to die here.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke left knights to protect you. We were lucky. Judging by the soldiers guarding the area, the participants who left for the hunt will be returning soon. I’m sure they’ve heard the news as well.”
“I suppose so.”
“They will set up the tents, but it will be difficult for the soldiers to clean the inside. When the tents are restored, please allow the ladies to go and organize their personal belongings. The situation outside is not good right now, so it would be better to leave after it has been restored to some extent.”
At Alisha's words, Duchess Palz calmed her pale face and smiled.
“Leave it to me.”
Duchess Palz patted Alisha's hand and went inside.
The Duchess, who had entered the tent with the front wall open to view the scenery, spoke to the Imperial Concubines in a calm voice.
“I hear the outside has been taken care of. Shall we finish our tea?”
Alisha had lived her entire life as a noble lady before falling into hell, and after returning from hell.
It wasn't something she should say, but the nobles and royals were bound by their status in strange ways and did ridiculous things.
Is this the time to drink tea?
Alisha grumbled, forgetting that she had asked them to do so, and headed for the ruined area.
Viviana's face, watching Alisha's back as she headed toward the hunting grounds, was filled with doubt.
“……”
“……”
Cynthia and Angela, standing a little behind, were also looking at Alisha.
Cynthia and Angela looked at each other at the same time.
The two did not speak, but exchanged glances filled with strong suspicion.
The Emperor stood in the center of the clearing in the hunting grounds.
On one side of the clearing, the prey caught by those who had gone hunting was neatly arranged.
The most noticeable of these were the three boars of unprecedented size.
“I will now announce the winner of the Imperial Spring Hunt competition.”
The people who had participated in the hunting competition were out in the clearing.
Alisha was also among the people.
“Lady Alisha!”
The Emperor shouted, holding out a golden bow.
The knights and soldiers from Tessen shouted in unison.
“Congratulations. You must receive the prize from the Emperor.”
Reikart, who was standing next to Alisha, said with a smiling face.
“Sir Juan caught them, though.”
Alisha muttered, pushed forward by Reikart's hand.
She had been making the same claim since earlier, but no one believed her.
“In times like these, the highest-ranking person in charge receives it!”
Reikart shouted loudly, which was rare for him.
“Congratulations, Lady Alisha!”
Not knowing what was going on, Count Istevna applauded enthusiastically.
Marquis Lennox, who was standing next to him, glanced at him, but Count Istevna clapped his hands until they were sore.
Pauline, who was wearing a shawl next to the Count, smiled and clapped softly.
Everything was over by the time those who had participated in the hunt returned from the hunting grounds.
All the collapsed private tents had been restored.
Anything that was broken or torn was either removed, or if it belonged to someone who needed to have it restored, a spare tent that had been prepared was set up.
When the Emperor's party returned, all that remained were three unbelievably large boars, two fallen horses, and six captured horses.
The Imperial Concubines and noble ladies praised Duchess Palz's calm response and Alisha's proactiveness.
Some ladies praised Marquis Manners' wife for leading the nobles well.
The knights of Tessen and the soldiers on guard raved about Alisha's leadership.
Countess Istevna said that Alisha had saved her life.
The Emperor holding the golden bow looked like a kind angel.
The descended angel was there.
But to Alisha, he was just a mischievous acquaintance.
Of course, he was too handsome to be called an old man, but she was wary of him because he was a figure with a great dark side hidden beneath his beautiful exterior.
“You have done a great service, Lady Alisha.”
The Emperor smiled and congratulated Alisha as she approached.
Alisha bowed slightly and extended her hand.
“I am grateful for His Majesty the Emperor's grace.”
The chief chamberlain, the only one who had accompanied the Emperor to the Imperial hunting grounds, handed the golden bow that the Emperor was holding out to Alisha.
“I should give you a golden spear.”
The Emperor whispered as if he knew everything.
He was indeed a sly person.
His face, pretending not to know while knowing everything, was spreading a flower-like smile.
“I am honored.”
Alisha smiled brightly and expressed her gratitude without backing down.
The Imperial Spring Hunt competition was successfully concluded.