The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 16 - Knight of the Principality (2)

“Lukovich, stop!”

As Viktor shouted, Lukovich, who had already run close to the horse, turned back.

“What’s wrong? If you shout too loudly, the horse might get startled and run away.”

“Never mind, just stay right there.”

Viktor drew his curved sword and began striding toward where Lukovich’s horse was.

‘I’m certain. Those aren’t a horse’s eyes. Could it be…?’

The unnaturally red pupils were fixed precisely on him as he approached.

Though the horse itself still appeared disoriented and was staggering, its eyes remained locked in his direction, which was somehow eerie.

Lukovich also seemed to notice something was wrong and began to stammer.

“Th-that… something’s strange about it.”

Viktor didn’t respond and simply leaped past where Lukovich stood, lightly pushed aside the underbrush, and effortlessly reached slightly ahead of the strange horse.

“…”

As the distance between them shortened, the horse’s pupils narrowed.

The shape resembled someone smiling.

“Reveal yourself.”

Viktor pointed his curved sword and commanded forcefully.

Though this bizarre phenomenon was his first such experience since being born into this world, he remained unfazed.

After all, he had already seen tailed beastkin with his own eyes, and even a giant snake supposedly raised by a witch.

And they had all died by Viktor’s hand.

‘I don’t know what game you’re playing… but I’ll just beat you down.’

Overwhelming confidence.

Armed with the certainty that he could overcome whatever his opponent might do, in Viktor’s eyes, this strange being before him was nothing but a coward who couldn’t even show itself directly.

“I won’t say it twice. Reveal yourself! Otherwise, I’ll stab you!”

[…Oh? Are you not afraid of me?]

When an odd voice that seemed impossible for a horse’s vocal cords to produce resonated, Lukovich, who had somehow approached beside Viktor and was clutching a club, exclaimed in shock.

“A witch! It must be an evil witch!”

“You know something about this?”

“Witches rarely reveal their true forms! If they need something, they often appear by borrowing the bodies of beasts! Damn it all, I never thought I’d actually witness a witch appearing!”

‘Didn’t he hate witches?’

As Lukovich shouted with excitement like a child, Viktor couldn’t help but look at him with bewilderment.

[What business brings a knight like you to such a remote place?]

The unknown entity ignored Lukovich’s words and posed a question.

Its eyes were focused solely on Viktor.

Viktor responded coldly.

“It seems my warning fell on deaf ears.”

Viktor rushed forward in a single step, reaching right in front of the horse.

Then, without giving the opponent time to be surprised, he swung his fist with incredible speed.

“Ah…! Lord Viktor, don’t!”

Surprisingly, however, the staggering horse, as if entranced by something, bent its body at an impossible angle to avoid Viktor’s fist and retreated.

The movement resembled a marionette on strings.

[Arrogant young knight. Not bad at all.]

Viktor didn’t respond but raised his curved sword and began to charge again.

‘I mustn’t kill the horse.’

Horses were expensive animals and absolutely necessary for traveling the rugged paths of the principality.

One would quickly tire trying to wander this vast land without a horse.

Viktor raised the pommel of his curved sword and brought it down on the horse’s flank.

The horse tried to dodge by twisting its body at an impossible angle again, but this time Viktor was even faster.

Viktor’s accelerating movement was like a gale.

Whoever was controlling the horse inadvertently gasped.

‘He can get even faster from there?’

As Viktor swung the pommel while controlling the horse’s escape route, the horse collapsed sideways like a puppet with its strings cut.

As the creature’s mournful cry rang out, Viktor could sense that the entity controlling the horse had departed from its host.

Beside him, Lukovich rushed over to check on the horse.

“I tried to regulate my strength, but is it alright?”

Viktor asked while fingering the pommel, and Lukovich nodded.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem badly injured. I was worried its leg might break when it fell, but it’s fine.”

Viktor looked up at the sky.

Though nothing was visible, he could still feel the presence of the entity watching them from somewhere nearby.

Viktor looked around and shouted loudly.

“Impudent one. How dare you mock people without even showing yourself. If you won’t reveal your identity, I have no reason to respect you either. Speak, who are you! If you remain silent this time as well, I’ll set fire to this entire area!”

His soul, like hardened steel, was unwavering.

As Viktor gradually released his intensity, the pressure emanating from him began to dominate the surroundings.

After a moment of silence, the unknown entity spoke again.

[Truly an arrogant knight. You trespass on my land, refuse to answer my questions, and now you threaten me? Aren’t you afraid, not even knowing who I am?]

“I don’t know who you are. But what I do know is that if you want your land rights respected, you have no choice but to reveal yourself. I’m not idle enough to respect the honor of a suspicious individual who hides their appearance. I’ll ask for the fourth time. Who are you?”

Viktor’s presence grew stronger as a strange power accompanied his words, “fourth time.”

If there was no answer this time, he truly intended to burn everything around and find his opponent.

Perhaps reading the sincerity in Viktor’s words, the entity responded in a somewhat softer voice.

[What guarantee do I have that you won’t kill me when I reveal myself?]

“I swear on my honor. As long as you don’t try to harm me, or do anything suspicious or threatening, I absolutely won’t lay hands on you first.”

[…Honor, you say. Do you think you possess enough honor to vouch for yourself?]

“You’d better watch your words. My honor is not so light that you can speak of it carelessly. My honor can be verified by my friend here, Lukovich.”

As Viktor solemnly pointed to Lukovich, he nodded, though confused.

‘Wait, didn’t he say he never received formal knight training… since when could he speak so eloquently about a knight’s honor?’

[…Very well. I’ll believe you. I’ll guide you to where I am. Follow the light before your eyes.]

As the entity finished speaking, the strange aura that had been surrounding them began to dissipate.

However, Viktor remained cautious, still wary of his surroundings.

‘I’ve had a bad feeling all along… what kind of trick is this?’

Though he couldn’t identify the nature of the energy that was escaping like smoke, Viktor raised his mental alertness even higher.

Someone who could control living beasts and transmit their voice from a distance was surely no ordinary person.

Especially one who emitted such a strange aura…

That’s when it happened.

A faint beam of light began to shine before Viktor’s eyes.

Even in the darkness, the light beam was delicate but distinct, revealing its presence and pointing somewhere.

“Is this what you meant?”

As Viktor sheathed his curved sword and muttered, Lukovich looked at him worriedly.

“Lord Viktor. Shouldn’t we just leave now? Nothing good comes from getting involved with a witch.”

“Do you like witches or hate them? Make up your mind.”

At Viktor’s words, Lukovich jumped.

“M-me, like witches? Impossible! I just got excited seeing something I’ve only heard about in stories…”

“Now, if we follow this light beam, we can confirm whether it’s really a witch or not. What will you do? Will you come with me?”

At his words, Lukovich’s expression revealed intense inner conflict.

As a servant, if he stood by while his master entered danger alone, he would be considered disloyal.

But following Viktor… honestly, he was too afraid of the witch.

‘Damn it… I have no choice.’

Lukovich was able to strengthen his resolve when he met Viktor’s calm yet powerful eyes.

Though the witch was frightening, being abandoned by his master was even more terrifying.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to express his intention to go, something happened.

The faint light beam slowly began swaying from side to side.

“…?”

“What’s this?”

The light beam swayed, encompassing only Viktor, and then shone more brightly.

“Is this… telling me to come alone?”

As if responding to Viktor’s words, the light flickered.

“What an impertinent one!”

Lukovich exclaimed in excitement without thinking.

“Lord Viktor! There’s no need to listen to that! How dare they presume to order my master around! Give me the command! I’ll teach that witch a proper lesson!”

“No, it’s better for you to stay here. Take good care of the horses.”

“Ah, yes…”

****

Viktor was slowly walking along the forest path, following the light beam.

The path, better maintained than expected, was leading deeper and deeper into the forest.

‘People wouldn’t come this far, so did that entity maintain this path?’

Viktor was still contemplating the entity’s identity.

Was it really a witch as Lukovich had said?

But he couldn’t rule out the possibility that it might be something entirely different.

‘Whatever it is, I’ll just have to see.’

Viktor was ready to strike first without mercy if the entity proved dangerous.

If this unknown entity using strange arts tried to harm him in some unfathomable way, he could be caught completely defenseless.

If necessary, he would kill immediately!

Despite his oath sworn on his honor, Viktor hadn’t really meant it sincerely.

After all, for all his talk about a knight’s honor, he had never actually been trained as a knight.

He wasn’t the type of naive person who acted with pure sincerity in such matters.

“…!”

After walking for some time lost in these thoughts, the light beam weakened, and the scene before his eyes began to reveal itself.

Passing through a path hidden among large bushes, a vast clearing appeared that seemed impossible to exist in such a forest.

The clearing was quite large, with unfamiliar flowers spreading from where Viktor stood all the way to the far side.

Bending down to touch the flowers, he realized they were varieties he had never seen in the northern region.

‘They’ll all freeze to death when winter comes.’

Viktor stood up again and began heading toward the center of the clearing.

Unlike the open clearing, the central area was quite densely populated with coniferous trees, as if they were protecting something in their midst.

As he approached closer, a hut began to appear among the conifers.

“Hmm…?”

Viktor couldn’t help but let out a sound of surprise.

A peculiarly designed hut stood before his eyes.

Several pillars resembling chicken legs supported the bottom, and the hut itself appeared to be floating in the air.

The height between the door of the floating hut and the ground was considerable, but there was no ladder or staircase visible.

As Viktor lowered his gaze, he began to see someone’s back just beneath the hut.

The figure was wearing a hood, making it difficult to see clearly, but it had a very diminutive build.

“Have you arrived…?”

A harsh, raspy voice like scraping metal.

The figure slowly turned around to face Viktor.

“Are you…?”

“Arrogant knight. Welcome to my home. Hee hee.”

Wrinkled skin covered in creases.

A large wart and a drooping nose.

Though her eyes were nearly hidden behind wrinkles, the gleaming light within them seemed to hold wisdom.

The ugly old woman grinned with her toothless mouth.