I’m Hunting My Enemy - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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11. Ghost of the Swamp (1)

‘How strange.’

For them to look so well-matched standing together meant someone was accommodating the other, but since neither had particularly easygoing personalities, it was impossible to guess which one it was.

Glem had no particular reason to accommodate her, so then it must be Miss Ryuie after all?

‘She really is too much his type.’

Mos was certainly handsome too, but compared to Ryuie or Glem, he fell slightly short.

Honestly, even Bendam was startled when he saw Glem.

Someone that handsome was truly the first since His Highness the Crown Prince.

But finding it very awkward to tell Mos he’d been outmatched in looks, Bendam mumbled evasively.

“Think of even such things as part of her whims.”

“…”

Mos, whose expression had grown strange, quietly pulled the parchment from Bendam.

“I can write.”

“Good. Write down everything you can think of and bring it to me. Not just things related to His Highness the Crown Prince, but about this village, the swamp, and the temple too. Can you do that?”

Mos nodded, but he didn’t have as much enthusiasm as before.

With lingering regret written all over his face, Mos glanced once at Ryuie’s retreating figure before turning away forlornly.

A knight suggested he sit in the carriage with the other painters, but Mos shook his head. From there, he wouldn’t be able to see Ryuie well.

‘Oh dear.’

He’d tried to dissuade him with good intentions, but it seemed hopeless after all.

Originally a passionate youth who would dedicate his life to even a passing woman’s smile, and a beauty like Ryuie at that. There was a very high chance Mos would never forget his first love even as an old man.

Of course, Ryuie was equally on the verge of being consumed by fever. Though he had the enormous problem of his target being absent.

‘His Highness the Crown Prince really must be alive.’

Regardless of Ryuie’s faith, Bendam prayed.

If the Crown Prince was truly dead, just how many people would be needed to cool Ryuie’s burning soul in the future?

Despite the priests’ advice, Ryuie forced through with going to the swamp.

* * *

“What kind of curse came down?”

“What?”

“The oath that made the villagers resent Joshua so much. I’m curious what kind of price came to make them so insolent. You’ve been here a long time too, right? You know, don’t you?”

Glem briefly averted his gaze as if he didn’t want to talk about it. However, thinking it was better than enduring Ryuie’s persistently following gaze, he soon answered.

“It’s a curse that’s almost like losing your life.”

“Really? But you were talking about free will earlier, weren’t you? Abstract oaths like freedom don’t bring down strong curses.”

“Isn’t it the same with engagement oaths originally?”

Ryuie blinked at the unexpected rebuttal.

“True, since the oath target is Joshua, the price could have grown larger. It makes it even more likely that person is Joshua.”

“…That’s not it. I heard that oaths like engagement or marriage originally have greater prices the more the two people love each other. If they came all the way here to forcibly break the engagement, it means they loved the Crown Prince that much, right?”

“Ah. That’s not it.”

Ryuie immediately denied it.

In fact, cases where the remaining person automatically died when their betrothed died were extremely rare. No matter how much they’d sworn their love. Unless they were truly fated partners who had devoted themselves to each other, such a price wouldn’t come.

There was a reason bards made songs about it.

But Ryuie had a plausible reason.

“Joshua has Rkultu’s blood flowing in his body. Any oath would work more strongly than with ordinary humans.”

“Disgusting.”

Glem, who had spoken carelessly, felt cold metal under his chin the next moment.

“Watch your mouth.”

Ryuie wiggled her finger under the trigger. It was an extremely dangerous act. Faced with the crisis of his head being blown off, Glem unexpectedly smiled. It was a playful smile completely unexpected from Glem, enough to make Ryuie’s hair stand on end slightly.

‘Wow?’

Ryuie’s heart fluttered with a thrill.

The way Glem’s scar moved mischievously was admirable.

“You still seem to like him.”

“Good heavens?”

As if asking how he could misunderstand like that, Ryuie fluttered her eyelashes theatrically.

“Do I look like I’m overflowing with such pure devotion?”

“Anyone would guess if you point a gun at them for insulting your fiancé.”

“Maybe I just have a nasty temper?”

“It’s less convincing when you say it yourself.”

Ryuie smiled brightly and moved the gun barrel from under Glem’s chin. Then, before a similar smile could spread across Glem’s face, she pulled the trigger.

Bang!

At the suddenly exploding gunshot, Glem hurriedly covered his ringing eardrums. The gun barrel had been pointed at the sky, but the gunpowder had exploded too close. Ryuie didn’t even blink. Glem, enduring the buzzing dull noise, frowned.

“Right. That was somewhat convincing.”

“Hehe.”

Ryuie, having been acknowledged for her nasty temper, proudly blew on the smoking gun barrel.

Glem briefly checked if any unlucky beast shot from the sky had fallen before removing his hands from his ears.

“But since you shot earlier, haven’t you not reloaded that gun? It still fires?”

“Mine can shoot up to three rounds.”

Ryuie boasted. The white body of the gun gleamed from how well-maintained it was.

Usually you had to reload after each shot, but it seemed to be a modified gun that could fire up to three rounds consecutively.

‘An illegal gun with illegal modifications – how many times illegal is that?’

Of all people, Ryuie had to have such a fine gun. What rotten luck.

Glem looked it over with distaste and said.

“The swamp will appear soon.”

“Kyaa! I’m excited!”

Ryuie quickly ran to her retainers. Glem also put away his joking.

As if it had all been an act, Glem’s eyes instantly darkened.

“This has really become troublesome.”

His hand unsteadily gripped and released his sword.

So far, Ryuie didn’t seem to have any intention of approaching him romantically. But judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like it would take very long either.

Seeing how excited she’d gotten and sparks had already flown several times in that brief moment.

Only the innocent Bendam and Catsy were getting burned by Ryuie’s contact. Naturally, such minor injuries definitely wouldn’t be enough to stop Ryuie.

‘Is that why she travels with priests?’

Priests who seemed much higher-ranking than those in this small village were skillfully treating the burns of people around Ryuie. At that level, they could heal instantly even if Ryuie not only hugged but even kissed someone, leaving only momentary pain.

His stomach turned for a moment.

‘Anyway, I absolutely have to avoid her.’

Glem was not at all the type to enjoy pain deliberately. Whatever Ryuie was thinking, he was determined to avoid her at all costs.

For that, it would be best to deal with the monster in the swamp and achieve his goal as quickly as possible. Moreover, the forces Ryuie had brought were truly not to be underestimated.

‘Maybe I should end it all now…?’

“What is this smell?”

Catsy’s voice cut off Glem’s thoughts. Catsy’s nose twitched as she caught the scent faintly carried on the wind.

‘Ho. Truly befitting a retainer of the Duke’s daughter. She has good abilities.’

He hadn’t expected her to detect the swamp’s toxic air from here.

With each turn of the carriage wheels forward, that noxious smell grew thicker.

The ground became increasingly muddy, and long grass resembling water plants kept tangling in the wheels, beginning to slow their speed.

“We can’t go by carriage from here.”

Glem crossed his arms and lifted his chin.

“We’ll have to get down and walk.”

The swampland overflowed with ominous symbols.

Black rotting earth, dense swamp vegetation, and foul odors.

“Moreover, it’s eerily quiet.”

Bendam looked around uneasily.

There were no beasts, of course, not even the sound of a single grass insect. It seemed like land where no living creatures could survive.

Ryuie’s party split into two groups: those who would guard the luggage and those who would go to the swamp. Mos vehemently insisted that he too would go to the swamp.

“For safety’s sake, it would be better if you stayed behind.”

“I can do it too.”

Mos persisted while clutching the half-written parchment. Ryuie didn’t particularly try to stop him.

“He says he wants to go.”

With that, permission was granted. Even though that was the only interest Ryuie had shown, Mos looked excited.

Glem, unable to find any particular reason to stop him, moved on to the main topic.

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