In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 201

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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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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 201

“Damn it, what kind of forest is this!”

Astana grumbled as he looked around the ominous forest.

“We can’t even go back out…”

His eyes, full of regret, looked back at the path they had just walked.

And he froze.

“What? Why is there no path?”

At Astana’s words, the noble children following behind him all turned their heads at once.

“Th-there really is no path…”

“That tree looks familiar, didn’t we come in from that direction?”

“No, I think it was that way…”

Their opinions were divided.

Then they all looked at Astana simultaneously.

What should we do?

It was natural since Astana was the leader of this group.

“Why are you looking at me!”

But Astana shouted angrily.

“You should find the way and escort me!”

That’s what being a leader meant to Astana.

The most comfortable and prioritized existence.

Born as the Crown Prince and the only legitimate heir, having lived his entire life being served this way, it was natural in a sense.

Then, someone stepped forward first.

“We need to find monsters anyway, so I’ll lead from the front.”

It was Belesack, drawing his long sword.

He seemed to have even acquired a new dagger this time, apparently having made up his mind firmly.

He was determined to get back into Astana’s good graces and serve as his close aide again.

“Yes! I’m counting on you, Belesack!”

Astana was pleased either way.

As long as he didn’t have to lead the way through this eerie forest himself.

“Th-then I’ll take the rear guard.”

When Belesack stepped forward, another person glanced around and stepped up too.

“Even if it’s the Forest of the Mad, what could happen at the entrance?”

“That’s right. And look how many of us there are! Even if monsters appear, we should be able to deal with them!”

These were noble men who had consistently received swordsmanship lessons as part of their education since childhood.

They at least knew how to handle a sword in emergencies.

Faint relief and confidence returned to their faces as they looked at each other.

“Shall we go straight ahead then?”

Belesack asked Astana.

Stupid fool.

Astana frowned and answered.

“No, we should stay in the entrance area first and get familiar with the terrain.”

In truth, he was simply afraid to go deeper into the forest, but Astana dressed up his reason plausibly.

“Ooh, as expected!”

“We’ll trust only Your Highness!”

At Astana’s words about not going deep inside, his followers’ faces brightened considerably.

Astana shrugged his shoulders at their reaction and spoke with feigned rationality.

“Since we’re in this situation, others probably aren’t much different.”

No matter how capable that bastard is.

Astana muttered while thinking of Peres.

“What can just four people accomplish?”

The people following him numbered more than ten.

Astana’s shoulders, which had been hunched, straightened triumphantly again.

And just as he was about to take a step.

Boom-!

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed through the quiet forest.

“Ahhh!”

Astana screamed loudly, covering his head and crouching down.

“S-someone seems to have set off a signal flare!”

Belesack pointed to the red flames shooting up into the distant sky.

“I-I know that!”

Astana shouted angrily, trying to appear calm.

“But weren’t we planning to go in that direction?”

The reason for setting off a signal flare was most likely because of monsters.

So if someone was aiming for victory by hunting monsters, they should run in that direction.

But Astana calmly moved his steps in the complete opposite direction from where the signal flare had gone off.

“We’re going this way.”

However, no one objected to that decision.

Because they didn’t want to go toward whatever had caused someone to shoot a signal flare.

* * *

The boundary line of the grassland where the land around the manor meets the forest.

Tables filled with excellent food and simple games that men and women of all ages could enjoy together – various sights and entertainment were prepared for nobles not participating in the hunting competition.

Cheerful music was also flowing continuously.

When Emperor Yobanes came out of the bedroom around past noon, he was already quite drunk.

“All of this was prepared by your daughter, Gallahan?”

Yobanes suddenly asked Gallahan, who was pouring him wine.

“Yes, that’s correct. Hearing that Your Majesty was coming, she worked hard for several days straight, paying even more attention to details.”

Gallahan answered with a proud smile.

“Yes, yes. I’m envious, truly envious.”

Yobanes said quietly, bringing his wine cup to his lips.

“Not just because she’s my granddaughter, but our Tia is quite a capable child.”

Rulak also chimed in from the side.

“Huu.”

Finally, a heavy sigh escaped from Yobanes.

Rulak, who had been quietly watching, smiled and said.

“You must have many worries, Your Majesty.”

“…Knowing that, why do you still boast about your granddaughter like that?”

Yobanes grumbled.

“I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

Gallahan tactfully left his seat.

The Emperor, who had downed the remaining wine in one gulp, opened his mouth while glaring somewhere.

“I’m still perfectly fine, yet why does everyone only talk about succession? It’s as if they’re hoping for me to die soon.”

It wasn’t uncommon for emperors to extremely dislike the topic of succession coming up.

After all, power is something that cannot be shared even with blood relatives.

“The Angenas family must be quite anxious. Seeing how they’re causing Your Majesty distress.”

“Just distress!”

As if to pour out everything now that he had started talking, Yobanes poured wine into Rulak’s half-empty cup while contorting his face.

“They’re pushing as if I’m going to die at any moment.”

If there weren’t eyes watching around, he looked ready to blow a war horn right then and there.

Rulak also shook his head along with him.

‘The Empress must be getting impatient.’

Empress Lavinia was never one to push Yobanes to the point where dissatisfaction would build up like this.

But prey instinctively senses these things.

The fact that something in the thicket is targeting them.

So they run off in the direction they shouldn’t go.

Not even knowing that way leads to a cliff.

Rulak, who had been grinning beneath his long beard, suggested with a deliberately worried tone.

“Your Majesty, though this old man speaks out of excessive concern, wouldn’t it be wise to be careful for a while?”

“Careful?”

“Yes, well. Things like eating and drinking outside the Imperial Palace, or items sent from the Empress’ Quarters.”

“The Empress’ Quarters?”

One of Yobanes’ eyebrows shot up.

“Aren’t your words going too far?”

Yobanes lowered his voice as if angry.

But it wasn’t very threatening.

His eyes were already wavering and cracks had appeared in his stern expression.

Seeds of suspicion tend to take root frighteningly fast.

“It seems I misspoke.”

Rulak obediently pulled back.

“Let me drink a penalty cup as an apology.”

However, behind his wine cup, a deep smile was floating on his lips.

Ruining Angenas’ future was always a pleasant task.

* * *

“I told you so. That this would happen.”

Cleribane said, pointing to the red flare rising above the forest.

“That’s already the third one.”

“How many hours has it been since the competition started and they’re already doing that?”

“They probably got startled by something trivial and shot it up. Rabbits, or rabbits, or things like rabbits.”

Cleribane chuckled as he pushed up his glasses.

“Though magic flows in the Forest of the Mad and monsters appear, that’s all when you get close to the center of the forest.”

“Exactly. The area where that flare went up is still at the very entrance among entrances.”

Aren’t they all too scared?

Lombardi knights could be seen dispatching toward where the flare was fired.

“If they’re all so scared, they should at least show the courtesy of coming out on their own feet and forfeiting. Making only our people work hard.”

“That’s what I’m saying. But…”

Cleribane said, looking beyond the entrance of the Forest of the Mad.

“No one knows what nerves such loud noises might touch. Or what appetite the smell of blood from hunted monsters might stimulate.”

Perhaps because of the cold wind blowing just then, Cleribane’s voice felt more chilling than usual.

That’s when it happened.

Bang! Boom-! Bang!

Down below.

Still at the forest entrance but quite far from the entry point, three flares went up simultaneously.

“Oh ho, something seems to have happened over there.”

Cleribane’s eyes sparkled.

* * *

Astana’s group was walking along the edge of the forest.

“Huff! Gasp!”

There was no conversation, only labored breathing.

It was strange.

Though they seemed to have walked for a few hours, there was no reason to be this out of breath from walking in a place that wasn’t even rough mountains.

“Is it because of the magic?”

Someone muttered between breaths.

Yes, that’s right.

This is all because of the magic.

That’s why their bodies felt heavy like waterlogged cotton and their heads were foggy.

Rustle.

A strange sound came from a nearby thicket.

“Aah! So noisy!”

Belesack, who was still walking ahead, shouted and slashed heavily at the thicket.

But there was nothing there.

Belesack knew it too.

For about an hour now, the thickets near where the group was walking had been shaking for no reason.

They had run away in surprise, and had bravely stabbed at the grass piles.

But each time, there was nothing inside.

“It seems…”

Belesack said, turning to look at Astana.

“We’re all hearing things together. I heard that magic flows in the Forest of the Mad, so maybe it’s because of that.”

“Hearing things…”

Fear appeared on the others’ faces.

“Your Highness, how about forfeiting and leaving now?”

The Maimberte family eldest asked Astana.

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

The Beletiron third said the same.

“J-just say the word and I’ll set off the flare.”

Even showing the red flare he was gripping tightly in his hand.

“Are you crazy? No way.”

But Astana stubbornly shook his head.

He must not forfeit in front of His Majesty who was watching.

Empress Lavinia had emphasized this several times.

That’s when it happened.

Rustle.

This time the sound came from a thicket behind them, a bit farther away.

Belesack didn’t swing his sword this time.

Because he thought it was just hearing things anyway.

But everyone’s expressions were strange.

“Uh, uhh…”

They were all pointing behind Belesack.

Grrowl!

That’s when the strange sound was heard.

This isn’t hearing things.

Belesack, startled and quickly turning around, shouted.

“Mo, monster!”

Green skin covered in scales, fangs protruding beyond its lips, and abnormally long arms with a massive body.

“Ugh…”

The group froze in place in an instant.

Thump! Thump!

The monster approached one step at a time, but no one could move a muscle.

“Do something about it…!”

Only Astana shouted while pushing Belesack forward.

“The, the signal flare…”

It was the moment when Beletiron Third was about to pull the string of the signal flare.

Bang!

With a sound similar to a signal flare being fired, the monster’s head exploded.

Thud, crash!

The massive headless body collapsed forward helplessly.

And what appeared was Peres, covered in the monster’s green blood.

“Found you here.”

Peres said, looking at Astana.

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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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