My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 3

§ 3. There Is No Paradise Where You Flee (1)

“Th, that is… I’m so, so sorry, but it seems the carriage can’t go any further.”

The old man didn’t respond.

He simply stared at the coachman.

It was true that they had almost reached their destination, but there was still some distance left.

The old man’s calm gaze at the coachman.

Was he asking the reason?

Or was he rebuking the coachman’s attitude just now?

Either way, the coachman had to answer.

“Th, that’s because, as you can see here…”

The coachman flinched and pointed to a spot with his finger.

The gaze followed the finger.

Neighhhhh!

The horses pulling the carriage were repeating rough snorts.

As if trembling with fear.

The horses were refusing to move any further for some reason.

The old man’s gaze, which had been on the horses, turned back to the coachman.

And just as he was about to say something to the coachman.

“It’s okay, Hans.”

A different voice was heard in an instant.

The young man who had been sprawled out in the carriage.

It was none other than Cian.

The old man, called Hans, turned his gaze to Cian.

“But Master. There’s still some distance to Ruben. If you get off here…”

“It’s better to go slowly. What’s the rush?”

“……”

Hans was speechless at Cian’s reply.

That was because there was really no rush.

No, to be precise, there shouldn’t be a rush.

There was no point in reaching Ruben, their destination, quickly.

“…… I understand.”

Hans nodded slowly.

And so, the carriage stopped.

“Ughhh… !”

Cian stretched greatly and got out of the carriage.

The scenery was darkening, turning pitch black.

Only the small torch prepared by the coachman was dimly lighting the surroundings.

Cian rummaged through his pockets, relying on the light from the torch.

Soon, he took out a large pouch and handed it to Hans, who was following behind.

“Hans. Give this to the coachman.”

Hans absentmindedly accepted the pouch Cian handed him.

The pouch jingled and felt heavy.

Hans glanced at the contents of the pouch.

Then, tilting his head, he said to Cian.

“Master. The agreed fare was 50 gold. But there’s 100 gold in the pouch you gave me…”

“I know.”

Cian replied firmly.

And that word meant only one thing.

Hans spoke again.

“50 gold is already a lot of money. There’s no need to give him more.”

That was because, based on the empire’s cost of living.

The amount a family of four could live on extravagantly for a month was about 30 gold.

Even though it was a dangerous area,

50 gold was already more than enough for just giving a ride in a carriage.

It wasn’t like Cian didn’t know that.

“It’s okay. Just give it to him.”

Cian didn’t change his mind.

Well, there wasn’t really any special reason.

If he had to pick a few…

There was some money supported by the Marquisate for the management of the territory.

Of course, it was called territory management funds, but it was actually spending money…

Anyway.

He was also the only coachman who stepped forward when everyone else shook their heads, refusing to go to Ruben territory.

And above all.

“He said he’s sending his daughter off to get married this time.”

Maybe that’s why he needed a lot of money and offered his help…

Still, risking his life was the same.

Besides, if he had come here without the carriage…

He was grateful.

“So just give it to him.”

“……”

Hans pursed his lips at Cian’s firm attitude.

Cian, who was called the Marquisate’s good-for-nothing.

Hans never acknowledged that.

Look at him now.

How could this be the appearance of a good-for-nothing?

“…… I understand.”

Hans slowly approached the coachman.

“The Master has given you extra. Use it well.”

“……!”

The coachman’s eyes widened at the weight he felt in his hand.

And the amount he carefully checked.

“S, so much… !”

The coachman turned his head sharply towards Cian.

Was it because he felt guilty for looking at Cian with contempt just now?

The coachman’s eyes trembled slightly.

Soon, the coachman’s back bent so much that it seemed to break.

“Thank you, young master! Thank you so much!! Thank you so much!!!”

“Tell her congratulations on her marriage.”

Cian simply waved his hand in a small response.

Then, he slowly turned his gaze.

The scenery of the forest swallowed by the jet-black night was reflected in his vision.

It was as if the abyss was opening its jaws wide.

It was impossible to imagine that people lived there.

Maybe ferocious magical beasts did.

‘To think there’s a territory in a place like this…’

He had been thinking about it on the way, but seeing it in person was even more absurd.

.

Cian hesitated for a moment and then took a step.

Just as he was about to enter the forest.

“Excuse me…”

The coachman’s voice was heard in an instant.

He thought he had left.

But for some reason, the coachman was lingering in that spot.

Hans asked at the sight.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Ah… well… it’s not really something to say, but…”

The coachman didn’t open his mouth easily, as if he was worried.

Hans asked again, urging the coachman.

“Surely, you’re not saying that the money the Master gave you is not enough…”

“Ah, no! That’s not what I meant…”

The coachman shouted, startled.

The coachman waved his hands wildly.

“Then what is it?”

“The thing is, I lost my way once on the way here…”

The coachman paused for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

“I encountered a monster then.”

“What?”

Hans shouted, slightly surprised at the coachman’s sudden words.

And Cian’s reaction was not much different from Hans’s.

“A monster? I didn’t feel any presence at all?”

“You probably didn’t. For some reason, it didn’t attack.”

“…… It didn’t attack?”

Cian tilted his head.

“Could it be that it didn’t find us?”

“I thought so at first… but that wasn’t the case. I… I definitely made eye contact.”

The coachman trembled, as if he was reminded of what happened then.

“But it didn’t attack?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The coachman nodded firmly.

“I was very scared at first… but when I looked closely, it just kept pacing around a cave. It was as if it was afraid to approach it.”

“Afraid to approach it?”

No, how could that be?

Cian couldn’t believe his words.

That was because monsters were beasts with only instincts left.

Especially even if they were the same monsters,

The monsters living in the Dark Forest were even worse.

The magical energy [a type of dark, corrupting energy] covering the Dark Forest had carved out fear and dread from them.

A beast covered in jet-black hatred and madness, a beast made of blind murderous intent.

That was the magical beast living in the Dark Forest.

Such a magical beast showed the emotion of fear?

“I really couldn’t believe it either. That’s why I didn’t say anything…”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, Cian asked.

“Where was that cave?”

“It’s a little far from here, but if you go straight west, there’s a particularly large tree…”

The coachman explained the location of the cave in as much detail as possible.

And after the long explanation.

“I, I hope it was helpful…”

The coachman then began to prepare to leave.

It seemed that he didn’t really want to talk about it.

In the first place, he doubted whether Cian and Hans would believe him.

However, perhaps he was very grateful for receiving 100 gold from Cian.

Or perhaps he really felt guilty.

Anyway, it seemed like he wanted to say something in return.

In other words, a story without much meaning.

“Thank you. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Therefore, Cian didn’t really take it to heart either.

#

Cian entered the Dark Forest area with Hans.

How much time had passed?

“I think it’s around here…”

Cian was able to reach near the location of Ruben territory.

Cian looked around.

Perhaps he built the territory in a place where people could live…

No, perhaps he built the territory in a place where there were no monsters.

“How can there be no monsters at all? Is this really the Dark Forest?”

Cian had not encountered a single monster so far.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Well, it is, but…”

Cian shrugged his shoulders and said.

“There are too few. I wonder if any bandits will show up?”

“…… What crazy bandit would show up in the Dark Forest?”

Hans looked at Cian with an absurd expression.

“I’m just saying. I’m going to die of boredom before I die to a monster.”

“……”

Hans shook his head.

Right then.

The scenery ahead began to clear.

A scenery like the boundary where the forest ends.

“It seems we’ve arrived at Ruben.”

“Looks like it.”

“I’ll go ahead and check.”

Hans began to walk ahead quickly.

Ruben, which he arrived at like that.

“……”

“……”

Cian and Hans were at a loss for words.

To be exact, there was nothing to say.

That was because of the scenery of Ruben territory that was visible in front of them.

This was not a scenery that could be called a territory.

Thin tree branches swaying in the wind.

Far away, the remains of buildings that seemed to be visible.

It was like a quiet cemetery surrounded by fog.

Whether this was a territory.

Or ruins.

There was no sign of life at all.

There was no trace of people living there,

On the contrary, only ‘traces’ of people living there were visible.

The faint smell of blood was felt on the wind.

Not long ago.

It seemed that something had happened here.

“So…”

This is Ruben territory?

The one I have to rule as lord from now on?

“Uh…”

Cian stood there blankly for a while.

“Are people even living here?”

“…… I’ll go check.”

Hans strode into the territory.

He wasn’t sure if he should call this a territory, but anyway.

Cian also followed Hans into the territory.

A scenery that was more like ruins than half-destroyed.

Cian looked around and approached the building that was still relatively intact.

It looked like a private house, or rather, it used to be a private house.

Cian slowly opened the door of the building.

Before the door could be fully opened with a creaking sound.

Kereuk?

Cian was able to hear something like a strange cry first.

At the same time, he could see a red glow through the crack in the opened door.

And when he fully opened the door.

Cian was able to recognize something looking at him, tilting its head.

A flashing red glow.

Something that looked like a person in its hand.

Blood dripping from its mouth.

It was as if time had stopped.

Silence like an eternity descends.

And in an instant.

KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!

A terrible murderous intent erupts.

“I knew it.”

It was too quiet coming here.