I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 69

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#69. Declaration of War (3)

 

Featherback drove his horse across the snowy field.

 

A white horizon indistinguishable from the sky stretched endlessly.

 

This place where even the wind didn’t come was an extremely quiet space.

 

If not for the sound of hoofbeats coming from behind, one might have mistaken time for having stopped.

 

When he exhaled, white breath spread into the atmosphere.

 

And it was swallowed by the endless silence, soon becoming invisible.

 

“….”

 

Featherback raised his head.

 

The sky was a mixture of white and gray.

 

As if rain would pour down at any moment, he could see dark clouds rolling in from beyond the mountain ridge.

 

“Let’s go to the forest.”

 

Featherback turned his horse’s head slightly.

 

If it was going to rain, it would be better to go inside the forest.

 

The knights who were born and raised in the Northern Region also knew this fact well.

 

Eventually, Featherback’s group entered the forest located at the corner of the snowy field.

 

Coniferous trees standing tall and elongated without small branches were densely lined up.

 

Endless silence and solitude.

 

The trees covered in white snow stood like minerals, having lost their own colors.

 

Inside the forest bore a terribly quiet monochrome appearance.

 

Small branches dried and twisted like the skeletons of The Dead cast shadows more gaunt than they actually were.

 

…Thud!

 

The sound of tree branches breaking under the weight of snow.

 

Except for that sound, no other sounds could be heard.

 

The ice fragments that occasionally drifted from outside the forest felt like the last breath exhaled by the dead.

 

Rocks and withered bushes, bumpy tree bark, frozen animal carcasses, black and pointed leaves.

 

Featherback led the knights through this gloomy and quiet forest.

 

And the moment they emerged from the forest.

 

“Found them.”

 

Featherback was able to spot a group of soldiers passing over White Hill.

 

Hounded, who was following alongside, said.

 

“There are quite a few of them. This isn’t a simple patrol. It looks like they’re escorting an important figure…”

 

“It seems to be the Family Head’s escort.”

 

Featherback was right.

 

Knights in heavy armor existed separately at the rear of the Rangers.

 

They formed thick iron walls on both sides of the procession, seemingly with the intention of protecting the man in the middle.

 

Soon, Featherback spurred his horse and moved toward Purosange’s forces.

 

Right then.

 

One man at the very front of the formation looked in this direction.

 

Whoosh!

 

Then he suddenly shot an arrow toward them.

 

Featherback raised his shield and blocked the arrow.

 

Thunk!

 

The arrow that bounced off the shield froze solid and fell to the floor.

 

Then a gleam appeared in the eyes of the man who had shot the arrow.

 

Bang! Bang! Bang bang!

 

He continued firing arrows at Featherback.

 

Not only that, but he even drove his horse forward toward this direction.

 

He seemed to firmly trust the other Rangers positioned on both sides.

 

However.

 

“Starting with arrows right off the bat. Things are going well.”

 

Featherback drew his sword from behind his shield.

 

The white horse charged toward the Rangers.

 

The man who had been shooting arrows panicked and retreated, while other Rangers blocked his front.

 

Featherback swept his sword sideways.

 

…Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!

 

Seven Rangers floated up into the sky.

 

With only their necks remaining.

 

“Huh?”

 

The man who had been shooting arrows retreated in complete panic.

 

The Heavy Armored Cavalry from behind rushed forward to save him, but it was already too late.

 

“So why did you shoot arrows right off the bat?”

 

Featherback reached out his hand.

 

…Crack!

 

The man who had turned his horse’s head to flee was caught by the back of his neck by Featherback.

 

“W-wait a moment!”

 

He frantically waved his hands in denial.

 

Thread-thin eyes with corners that stretched upward.

 

He appeared to be in his mid to late twenties.

 

“I’m sorry! Your procession looked so shabby that I thought you were a band of bandits…!”

 

But before he could finish speaking, Featherback’s sword moved.

 

The Dragon Fang Sword Adara severed his right wrist.

 

“Aaaaaaahhh!”

 

No blood poured out because the severed wrist had frozen instantly.

 

However, once it froze solid and then thawed, the entire cut surface would become mushy, making reattachment surgery absolutely impossible.

 

Featherback threw the man’s wrist behind him with a flick.

 

“With your wrist cut off, you won’t be able to carelessly shoot arrows at just anyone. I hope this contributes to Purosange’s family education.”

 

Featherback knew this man’s face.

 

His name was Pinin Purosange.

 

He was the Eldest Son of the Purosange Family.

 

Just then.

 

“Stop! What are you doing!”

 

A loud shout came from beyond the Heavy Armored Cavalry who had ridden up close.

 

Where Featherback raised his head, a middle-aged man with a long beard stood.

 

Thoroughbred Purosange.

 

This middle-aged man, who looked so cold that not a drop of blood would come out even if stabbed, was the head of the Purosange Family.

 

Featherback raised his sword and placed it against Pinin’s neck.

 

“I am Featherback Mörsolt. The heir of the Mörsolt Family. Should I consider shooting arrows first as a declaration of war?”

 

Thoroughbred’s expression hardened at Featherback’s straightforward manner of speaking that showed no consideration whatsoever.

 

“Why is the eldest son of Mörsolt here?”

 

“Answer my question first. Is this a declaration of war?”

 

“….”

 

Thoroughbred furrowed his brow.

 

His son was being held hostage right before his eyes.

 

And wasn’t Mörsolt, even if only nominally, a feudal lord family?

 

Thoroughbred had no choice but to suppress his boiling blood and take a step back.

 

“I naturally have no intention of waging war. There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

 

“Shooting an arrow at first meeting was a misunderstanding. I see, then my cutting off this bastard’s wrist was also a misunderstanding?”

 

Featherback grabbed Pinin by the back of the neck and shook him.

 

He was sweating profusely with his eyes closed, trying to block the cold that was seeping through the severed surface of his wrist all the way to the bone.

 

Thoroughbred ground his teeth once and then nodded.

 

“That’s right. It seems there was a misunderstanding. Quite a big one.”

 

“Then let’s brush it off between us. We can’t create discord between allies.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

Thoroughbred continued while glaring at Featherback as if he wanted to kill him.

 

“If the misunderstanding has been cleared up, send my son over here. He needs treatment.”

 

“I can’t do that yet.”

 

Featherback cut off Thoroughbred’s words with a single stroke.

 

“I came here to investigate a murder case that occurred in Purosange Territory. You who were passing through the scene will need to serve as witnesses for this case.”

 

“What are you talking about? A murder case?”

 

Thoroughbred asked as if hearing this for the first time.

 

But Featherback didn’t engage with him at all.

 

“If you didn’t know about an incident that happened in your own territory, you’d either be incompetent or cunning.”

 

“….”

 

“I hope it’s the former. Follow me.”

 

Featherback dragged Pinin along with his sword pressed against Pinin’s neck.

 

Pinin tried to resist, but.

 

Thwack!

 

Featherback’s fist struck Pinin’s side, knocking him down from his horse.

 

“If you annoyingly squirm around one more time, I’ll cut off your left wrist too. Understand?”

 

“….”

 

Pinin nodded with a pale complexion.

 

The sly and relaxed smile from earlier was nowhere to be found.

 

Clank—

 

Featherback put a dog leash around Pinin’s neck and pulled on the iron chains.

 

“From now on, we’re going to the scene to investigate, so follow me.”

 

Featherback turned his horse’s head while pulling on the chains around Pinin’s neck.

 

Thoroughbred shouted urgently.

 

“We don’t know anything about murder cases! And that’s not what’s important right now—what kind of disrespectful thing are you doing to my son!? I told you the misunderstanding has been cleared up!?”

 

“The misunderstanding being cleared up is one thing. I need to receive an apple.”

 

“Didn’t he say he was sorry!”

 

“He didn’t say he was sorry.”

 

Thoroughbred momentarily closed his mouth at Featherback’s firm words.

 

That’s right. He had only said there was a misunderstanding, but never said he was sorry.

 

Having never apologized to anyone in his entire life, he thought he could get away with it this time too…

 

“Until you give a proper apology, you’ll have to beg for my forgiveness in this state.”

 

Featherback showed no intention of letting Pinin go.

 

Thoroughbred followed behind Featherback, speaking in an urgent tone.

 

“I’m sorry! I, his father, will apologize in his place! That boy is young and full of hot blood…”

 

“Just because he’s full of hot blood, does that mean he can freely shoot arrows at the eldest son of a feudal lord family? Family Head, please stay put. I’ll give him a Northern Region-style family education today.”

 

Fifteen-year-old Featherback was dragging Purosange’s Grand Prince, who was nearly twice his age, like a dog.

 

Thoroughbred wanted to draw his sword right now and stab Featherback’s neck, but Featherback’s sword was much closer to Pinin’s neck.

 

Then, Featherback’s gaze turned toward Thoroughbred’s side.

 

There was a young man with a familiar appearance riding his horse in an awkward posture.

 

‘He looks familiar.’

 

Featherback immediately asked.

 

“You there. What are you?”

 

“Huh? Me, me?”

 

The young man who was pointed out panicked and floundered before looking back at Thoroughbred.

 

Thoroughbred turned his head away as if annoyed.

 

The young man finally opened his mouth with a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s wing beat.

 

“I, I belong to the Levarb Family.”

 

“Levarb? What’s your relationship with Vargo Viscount?”

 

“He is my uncle.”

 

Only then did Featherback recall where he had seen that man’s face.

 

Back when there was a hostage situation at Rebarb Castle.

 

Behind Vargo Viscount, who was gasping for breath with a corkscrew stuck in his neck, there was one pale, sickly fellow trembling in fear.

 

The guy who collapsed on the spot and wet himself when his eyes met Featherback’s.

 

The fool who begged for his life, saying he was just a mere servant.

 

He remembered ignoring him and leaving because the man didn’t seem worth killing, whether he was a servant or not.

 

Featherback spoke to Thoroughbred.

 

“Purosange and Rebarb still seem to be on good terms. How nice to see.”

 

“Stop talking nonsense and release my son. Do you think you can remain unharmed after doing this?”

 

“….”

 

At Thoroughbred’s words, Featherback pondered something for a moment.

 

And then.

 

“Now that I think about it carefully, there seems to be a problem.”

 

“Of course there is! How could you not realize that? Release my son right now…!”

 

“You, don’t speak informally to me.”

 

“…?”

 

Thoroughbred opened his mouth with a dumbfounded expression.

 

Featherback lightly tapped Pinin’s earlobe with his sword tip.

 

“Even the head of a vassal family should speak respectfully to the heir of the feudal lord family.”

 

“What kind of ridiculous talk is that…”

 

“If you cut your words short one more time, this guy’s ear will also become short.”

 

“…Damn it, sir!”

 

Thoroughbred trembles uncontrollably, unable to contain his rage.

 

But regardless of that, Featherback drove the horse forward while pressing his sword tip firmly against Pinin’s back.

 

Eventually, the snowy field ended and columnar joints with endless rugged cliffs appeared.

 

There, they could see dug-up snow and dirt, broken wagon fragments, and horse corpses stretched out in a line.

 

It was their entry into Purosange Territory.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————