One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 27

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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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One Day I Picked Up a Mother – Episode 27

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The sound of wind swaying tree branches and the green sunlight filtering through new leaves.

The cool fragrance of the forest and the soft chirping of birds.

All of it was the quiet forest scene I had always loved.

“….”

However, today only things I hadn’t noticed before caught my eye. Steep highlands and sharp rocks positioned here and there.

‘Just how far do I have to follow him in?’

The terrain was gradually becoming rougher.

I glanced at the servant once more.

I was still within his sight, and the deep forest seemed like it would cause serious injury if I fell by my own will.

Rolling messily down a slope or crashing into a large rock.

‘Should I rather hope the hunt ends safely?’

Things would probably change if prey appeared, but so far it wasn’t much different from riding around the arena.

Of course, the uneven ground and elevated terrain were more complex environments than the arena in many ways, but if we continued like this, I didn’t think I’d fall too far behind.

‘Right, I just need to keep going like this.’

Just as my shoulders, which had been hunched up in the cool wind, were gradually relaxing to the monotonous sound of hoofbeats.

Rustle.

The grass swayed greatly, and a flash of red fur quickly passed before my eyes.

It hid its body in other grass in an instant, leaving only an afterimage.

However, the elongated snout, sleek body, and bushy tail were definitely those of a fox.

Startled, I instinctively tightened my grip on the reins and looked at Ludrio who was walking ahead.

He was already pulling the leather strap over his shoulder and aiming his gun.

Click.

His movements were smooth and swift without any unnecessary motions.

“…Count.”

I unconsciously called out to Ludrio as he aimed at the fox. I wasn’t sure exactly why I called him, but still.

Ludrio must have heard my voice, but he didn’t take his eyes off the grass where the fox was hiding for even a moment.

Rustle.

As the fox that had been hiding began to leap again.

Bang-!

Gunpowder exploded with a heavy sound that shook the air.

Smoke bursting from the muzzle turned the surroundings white, and soon an acrid smell that stung the nose spread.

As the smell of burning smoke mixed with the wind, my throat felt tight and my eyes stung.

“Ah….”

And the fox that had leaped into the air was struck down to the ground without even being able to scream the moment the bullet pierced its body.

Bright red blood splattered on the grass, on the dirt. A crimson puddle spread rapidly.

I held my breath watching the fox that couldn’t make a sound, gasping with its mouth, growing cold.

‘The fox….’

Even though I was clearly looking at it, it didn’t feel real and my head felt dazed.

Ludrio, who had already lowered his gun, put it away again.

Unwavering shoulders, an expression without the slightest movement.

As if the fox dying before us, constantly bleeding out its life, this death before our eyes, meant nothing to him.

As if this was merely routine for him.

Only then did the fact that we had come here to hunt feel real.

Even though I knew well what hunting was, the scene I witnessed firsthand was quite shocking.

‘…This wasn’t a place for a child to come.’

The tension that had been gradually easing instantly dominated my entire body again.

Taking another life for just a brief moment of entertainment, that was hunting.

So Ludrio was….

“Hark.”

At Ludrio’s quiet call, the servant who had stopped beside me dismounted his horse.

He quietly grabbed the stiff fox’s legs and stuffed it into a prepared sack.

Though not violent, his calm actions felt very cold.

Having held my breath for a long time, I could no longer help my shortness of breath and gasped for air.

I could faintly smell the fox’s blood.

I held my breath again and the servant loaded the sack containing the fox onto his horse.

As the fluttering of birds scattered by the gunshot subsided, the forest became very quiet again.

“…Let’s go a bit further in.”

Ludrio moved.

It seemed his entertainment wasn’t over yet.

When only the monotonous sound of hoofbeats continued for a long while again.

Rustle.

A much heavier and rougher presence than the earlier fox was heard right beside us.

I turned my head following the sound of something pushing through the grass.

Was it startled by the sudden appearance of a deer?

My horse, crying out loudly and kicking with its hind legs, immediately began to gallop.

“Kyaak-.”

I hurriedly tried pulling the reins, but it only changed direction at will while its speed didn’t slow down at all.

My body swayed and I felt like I’d fall off any moment, so I lay flat on the horse and gripped the saddle and mane with all my strength.

My body shook frantically on the horse galloping roughly across the ground, and I squeezed my eyes shut at the grass on the ground rushing past quickly.

Even though I put more strength into staying close to the horse.

Every time the horse kicked roughly, my thighs lifted slightly from the saddle and my body swayed unsteadily.

“Ahhh!”

If I fell here, there was no way I’d be unharmed.

I might even get trampled by the horse’s hind legs.

So, rather when the horse gets tired, then…!

Feeling like I’d fall off any moment, I hugged the horse with my whole body tensed up.

“I can’t, I can’t do it. Please save me…!”

I was frantically repeating these now meaningless words when.

Bang!

Another gunshot rang out and the heavy sound of something falling could be heard.

-Wheeek.

And soon a sharp whistle sound pierced through the wind.

Pheee-.

As if responding to that signal-like sound, my horse cried out roughly.

“Stay still!”

Ludrio’s shout from not far away, and the sound of hoofbeats getting closer.

When I carefully opened my eyes and turned my head, I saw Ludrio’s black horse positioned close beside me.

Soon his hand firmly gripped my reins.

Then the horse that had been galloping madly reared up on its hind legs, lifting its front legs high.

It still tried to run forward, but when Ludrio roughly pulled the reins once more, it scraped the ground dully with its hooves and began to slow down.

Finally the horse came to a complete stop, and the moment I realized that fact, all strength drained from my body.

“Come down slowly.”

He, who had already dismounted from his black horse, touched my tightly clenched fist.

“Count….”

At the touch gently tapping my hand as if telling me to let go of the reins, I showed him my trembling hands as I opened them.

Several strands of tangled horse mane and thoroughly soaked reins appeared on my sweat-filled palms.

The wet reins completely passed into Ludrio’s hands.

Just as I hurriedly moved my hands to grip the saddle, the whistle sound rang out once more.

As if responding to that, the horse lightly shook its head and whinnied, then slowly bent its front legs.

As the horse moved again, I reflexively bent my waist.

“Take your feet out of the stirrups first.”

Then Ludrio lightly touched my leg and said.

“I’m trying to, I can get them out.”

I nodded and tried to remove my feet as he instructed, but they seemed stuck tight in the stirrups and wouldn’t come out easily no matter how much I moved my legs.

After I shook my legs several times, Ludrio grabbed my ankle and helped pull my foot out of the stirrup it was caught in.

When I turned my head to look at him, his lips were pressed tightly together.

In his blue eyes, I couldn’t find even a trace of panic or tension.

That calm, expressionless face seemed to declare that this situation was nothing at all. As if I was pathetic for making such a fuss over something so trivial.

‘I nearly died though…’

I don’t even know how to ride a horse, the horse was completely out of control, and it suddenly started running wild in the forest. So it really seemed like a dangerous situation.

But looking at Ludrio’s face, I somehow felt like I should make excuses.

“…It’s been a while.”

I muttered quickly without realizing it.

And while gripping his hand tightly so he wouldn’t let go of the reins, I tried to pull out my remaining foot with my other hand.

My hands were trembling, but after several attempts, I managed to pull out the stirrup that was stuck on my other foot.

Then I slowly straightened my waist.

“Let me help you.”

Strong arms wrapped around my waist. Before I could even sway, my body was lifted into the air and then lowered to the ground.

The moment my feet touched the ground, my shaking legs buckled and swayed, and Ludrio grabbed my arm again.

Was it because his indifferent composure was annoying?

Such a thought suddenly occurred to me.

That all of this was because of Ludrio Rharhart, and I had merely been played by him.

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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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