015. Hunting Competition (3)
Around the time Lucia, young ladies, and masters headed to the greenhouse together, Owen had just entered the edge of the forest.
“It seems like we haven’t spotted any monsters yet.”
This was all thanks to Prince Richard Le Freyon.
Originally, in the hunting competition, individuals did not move alone; they moved in groups.
However, this was a story that applied to ordinary knights and magicians.
It did not include transcendent beings like Owen, a Sword Master, and a few others.
Certainly, it had been that way until last year.
“We’re still at the edge of the forest; that’s probably why.”
In response to Owen’s answer, Richard nodded slightly.
Born directly into the imperial family, Richard had sharp blond hair and a golden aura.
At the age of nineteen this year, he was the only imperial prince of the Freyon Empire.
Around the same age as Louis, he would become an adult next year.
Perhaps because of this, the emperor hoped that Richard would solidify his position as the heir.
Therefore, until last year, the emperor did not allow Richard to participate in the hunting competition, deeming it too dangerous.
By showing the appearance of the crown prince willing to go out to defend the north, he aimed to gain public support from the imperial citizens.
“As expected, the duke knows the ‘Eye of the Forest’ well.”
“I’m sure the lord of the territory, Marquis Keres, knows more than I do.”
In response to Richard’s admiration, Owen replied with a raised head.
Then, Richard nodded while muttering to himself.
“That’s right. Since Countess Ceres is the lord of the territory. You all are truly remarkable.”
Although Richard was not a genius knight who could be counted on one hand, he was still an expert who knew how to use an Aura.
Despite having much more advantageous conditions for hunting than ordinary knights, the emperor, who was determined, personally asked Marquis Keres for a formation for him.
The formation the emperor personally requested and created for Richard was by no means ordinary.
Swordmaster Owen, the organizer of the hunting competition and a 6th-class magician, Countess Ceres, the sword expert Louis, and the original sub-male lead, mage tower lord Kyle.
Until last year, they all hunted individually. However, with the speed of the Crown Prince, for whom the hunting competition is a first, even those who used to hunt individually couldn’t keep up.
No matter how eloquent the conversation, it couldn’t be faster.
As a result, the group was still lingering at the edge of the forest.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is truly remarkable,” commented Richard.
Countess Ceres, the only member of the Imperial faction among the four, was the first to speak in response to Richard’s praise.
At her response, Richard nodded.
“That’s a polite thing to say.”
“Polite words indeed. I genuinely mean it, Your Highness.”
Owen, who was watching the exchange between the two, decided to quietly withdraw from the conversation. He wasn’t particularly talented in flattery.
Since “Owen” was not one for unnecessary flattery, there seemed to be no need to squeeze out insincere compliments.
As Owen shifted his gaze elsewhere, Louis approached him and started talking.
“Uh, Your Grace.”
In response to Louis’s call, Owen looked at him with a cool gaze.
Having read the original dozens of times, Owen could boast that he knew Louis’s misdeeds better than anyone else. Louis was a person who hated and tormented his own sister, Lucia, with all his might.
Later, he even helped the main character, Owen, push her to her death.
Owen couldn’t possibly view such a person favorably.
“…There’s something I’d like to ask.”
Louis showed a surprised reaction to Owen’s deep, dark eyes. It was likely an unexpected, instantaneous response, and it was reasonable for Louis to be surprised.
With Louis looking surprised, Owen silently gave him a nod of permission.
Then Louis continued, opening his mouth.
“Is the rumor true?”
Louis asked directly, no doubt influenced by what Lucia had said yesterday.
“Rumor?”
Seeing Owen’s puzzled expression, Louis let out a shallow sigh, as if relieved.
As if it were fortunate.
“It seems not. As expected, yesterday’s words from Lucia were indeed a lie.”
“No.”
Listening silently to Louis’s words, Owen narrowed his eyes and spoke again.
“I was simply asking what rumor you were talking about.”
“…”
“If it’s about Lucia, it’s true.”
Owen asserted firmly.
He didn’t know what rumor Louis was referring to, what Lucia had said yesterday. Still, it was an action taken out of concern that Lucia might be harmed.
Anyway, since Lucia brought it up, it would probably be a favorable rumor about her. Or it could be a rumor related to her.
“…That can’t be.”
Even though Owen had spoken with certainty, Louis found it difficult to believe, evident in his disbelieving eyes.
“But… But Lucia is not worth such praise-.”
“Lord.”
Interrupting Louis, who began to speak in his usual manner, Owen cut in coldly.
“No matter how you’re her brother, you can’t speak of her like that.”
A chilly anger permeated Owen’s low, suppressed voice.
Under Owen’s cold tone, Louis stiffened momentarily.
It was due to the weight of Owen’s anger.
“I hope I don’t hear such words about her again.”
In response to his warning, Louis bit his lower lip tightly.
‘Really true.’
He couldn’t believe it and didn’t want to believe it.
However, the fact that Owen, who was usually composed, said that meant that she was his lover.
Although he had a somewhat harsh personality, Owen was someone who didn’t let his people get hurt without seeing it happen. Now, he could finally understand that.
‘The two of them… were lovers.’
While Owen’s words were spoken out of anger at someone daring to speak ill of Lucia, Louis was unaware of this.
Around the time when Louis was making a considerable fuss and reaching a conclusion.
Kyle, who was leading the way, turned around.
“If you keep going at this slow pace, you’ll end up going back to the last order.”
Kyle’s voice was filled with blatant annoyance.
He was the only one among the four who had a commoner status.
Perhaps that’s why he didn’t bother with etiquette or facial expressions. He maintained politeness just enough not to cross the line.
“If you’re already so far behind, hurry up a bit.”
Owen, who had diverted his gaze from Louis due to his annoyance, looked at Kyle.
‘To see the sub-male lead in person.’
The mood, which had been somewhat submerged due to what Louis had said earlier, improved considerably.
Before, he hadn’t had the leisure to observe him properly, as he was preoccupied with Prince Richard and Louis. Also, just a while ago, he couldn’t pay attention to Louis because he had spoken ill of Lucia, thanks to Louis stirring up his mood.
Looking at him belatedly made his appearance quite fascinating.
Seeing Lucia made him feel that what was expressed in the text, illustrations, and webtoons was far from enough.
She was not a person who could be captured by such limited means.
As for Kyle, he felt like he was exactly as he had been portrayed in the text and webtoon.
As it was drawn in webtoons and illustrations, as described in web novels.
Louis had a refined and striking appearance.
‘Somehow familiar.’
Even though it was their first meeting, for some reason, Owen felt glad to see Kyle.
Perhaps it was because Kyle was one of the few familiar faces he had seen since entering “The Flower of the Empire.”
‘He looks exactly like the cover illustration.’
Even though it was somewhat one-sided, meeting someone with a familiar face made Owen feel strangely excited.
This was likely because Owen’s social circle was almost non-existent.
Owen didn’t have a single person he could call a friend. As a result, aside from Lucia, everyone he met was there for business purposes.
Maybe feeling a bit exhausted from such relationships, seeing Kyle’s familiar face brought a sense of joy.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Was Owen’s gaze burdensome?
Kyle responded with a scowl.
Frowning at Kyle’s somewhat rude attitude, Louis, who had finished his lofty ideals, approached Kyle.
Then, he began to scold Kyle.
“Even if you are the master of the mage tower, you shouldn’t speak so casually to the Duke.”
Seeing Louis getting agitated, Owen finally recalled the fact that Louis respected him in the original work.
Owen sighed softly and intervened, blocking Louis.
“Enough. I made the lord uncomfortable. I apologize.”
Louis, Kyle, and even Ceres were surprised by Owen’s humble apology.
“To apologize to the mage tower lord… This is unheard of.”
“Even Duke Verdun, apologizing…”
Although they both mumbled to themselves as if in disbelief, unfortunately, Owen’s sharp ears caught everything.
Seeing the somewhat skeptical attitude of the two, Owen opened his mouth to make an excuse but gave up soon after.
No matter what he said, the two of them would surely be even more surprised.
‘Anyway, he’s like a useless male lead.’
Owen cursed himself inwardly and, then, pulled the reins to hurry the horse.
Naturally, the speed of his speech increased, and Owen passed by them, uttering words as if in a hurry.
“Let’s hurry. Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go back in the final order?”
With his nonchalant voice, Kyle mumbled in disbelief.
‘What kind of person is he…’
Kyle let out a short, bitter laugh and soon increased his speed.
As the two of them left first, Louis, sounding bewildered, urged his horse, too.
“Why are they going ahead alone…?”
“It seems everyone wants to return quickly.”
After running for a few minutes, the group that had fallen behind finally reached the central part of the ‘Forest of Eyes,’ where monsters were appearing.
“There, those are monsters.”
Richard commented as if fascinated by the appearance of the monsters he saw for the first time.
In contrast to his reaction, the others seemed indifferent.
They had participated consistently in the hunting competition, encountering monsters several times, so their reaction was understandable.
Except for Owen.
“He looks healthier than I thought.”
Outwardly maintaining an indifferent demeanor, Owen was secretly fascinated.
Thanks to the saintly female protagonist, monsters had appeared multiple times in the novel, but their appearance was never properly described.
The narrative usually focused on the protagonist, Bella, the male lead, Owen, and the sub-male lead, Kyle, successfully defeating the monsters. Even in webtoons, the combat scenes were infrequent, and when they did appear, the creatures were depicted as dark, vague forms without detailed features.
“It’s just an ordinary wild animal with a gloomy color.”
The actual appearance of the encountered monster differed slightly from what Owen had seen in the webtoon.
The real monster had a resemblance to ordinary animals, with only its color transformed into black. It wasn’t grotesque or unusual; in fact, it looked quite normal.
As Owen and the group paused to observe the monster, a loud scream echoed from the opposite side.
“Gasp…!”
