Episode 80: Suneiras

“A beastman!? Why in a place like that—!?”

“Damn it, fight back!”

“W-Wait! More importantly, scatter their aim! Spread out and move…”

　Faced with the sudden ambush, Suneiras’s subordinates showed clear signs of panic.

　While shouting orders and cries, some fired arrows back, while others fled in terror.

　But all of it proved futile. Before the merciless rain of arrows, one after another fell.

“Tch…!”

　Suneiras clicked his tongue sharply. Their command structure had completely collapsed.

“Why the hell are we the ones getting ambushed…! Those Kirchhen Kingdom bastards… did they set me up!?”

　As he muttered that in frustration.

“Th-The bottom of the cliff! Escape to the bottom of the cliff!”

　Taking that shout as a signal, several soldiers jumped down the cliff one after another.

　The height was about 3 meters—not impossible to jump. But—.

“Aaah…!”

　The desperate voices of the soldiers who jumped echoed.

　At the end of their gazes, there—Siegfried von Kreving’s unit was already in formation.

“G-Get out of the way! M-Make a path!”

　The cornered soldiers charged desperately at Siegfried von Kreving’s unit.

　But standing in their way was—the Knight Commander, Beatrice.

　Though she specialized in mounted combat, her swordsmanship on foot was just as sharp. She cut down the approaching enemy soldier in a single strike.

“Idiots…!”

　Looking down at the scene, Suneiras spat out.

(If we’re escaping… the secret path.)

　This cliff had a main path leading to Forssa Fort. However, it was completely in the enemy’s line of fire, making passage impossible.

　But separately, there was a narrow escape route leading deeper into the mountains.

(Only the locals know about that spot…)

　If he fled there, he should be able to escape this dire situation.

　But Suneiras had no intention of telling his comrades about it. If they all moved together, the enemy would notice immediately.

　He couldn’t care less about his subordinates’ lives.

　Using them as decoys, as long as he alone escaped, that was fine.

(Don’t think I’ll forget you set me up… Kirchhen Kingdom army. No, Siegfried von Kreving…!)

　Cursing inwardly, Suneiras darted through the chaos of his allies, weaving like a shadow.

　He arrived at a cavity opened in the narrow gap of a sheer rock wall.

　At first glance, it seemed like a dead end, but inside it curved gently, becoming an escape path leading to the other side of the cliff.

　Scraping his body against the rock surface, he somehow squeezed through the gap.

　The moment he emerged onto the mountain slope illuminated by faint moonlight, relief began to fill his chest—but.

“…You really came, huh. Just like he predicted.”

　There—a beastman girl stood. She looked young, but she carried the aura of a top-class hunter.

“…Who the hell are you?”

　Suneiras braced himself. He hadn’t expected an answer, but surprisingly, the girl readily introduced herself.

“I’m Fen Val Gren. The chieftain of the Gray Wolf Clan.”

“Chieftain…?”

“And you… if I recall, you’re called Suneiras, right?”

“How do you…!—No.”

　A single fact flashed in Suneiras’s mind.

　Before they had taken positions, the Gray Wolf beastmen were already lurking on the cliff, overhearing the conversations—that was the only explanation.

“You… how did you figure out our movements? Did Bertram betray us? Or—”

　As he started to ask, Suneiras clamped his mouth shut.

　He had no time to confirm such things.

　What he needed to do now was slaughter the beastman before him and survive this place.

　Suneiras let the sword in his right hand dangle loosely.

　At that unusual stance, a wary expression crossed Fen’s face.

　—The next instant. Suneiras’s arm undulated like a snake, suddenly striking at Fen.

“…!”

　　Fen reflexively swung her short sword, deflecting the oncoming blade.

　But Suneiras didn’t let up on his attacks. The undulating sword path struck at Fen again.

　Using his long, snake-like arms and joints with a range beyond ordinary people, this was Suneiras’s original sword technique.

“Hee hee… Ha ha ha!”

　A smile appeared on Suneiras’s face. His eyes were filled with the joy of the hunt.

　It wasn’t just his sadistic personality that made him captain; he was a man who had climbed the ranks with his sword skills.

“Hee hee…! What’s wrong!? You thought you could beat me one-on-one!?”

　The irregular and unpredictable chain of strikes assaulted Fen without mercy.

　In response, Fen was completely forced into a defensive position.

“Kuh…!”

　Overpowered, Fen retreated, leaping back widely.

“Ha ha…! You’re mine!”

　Suneiras saw his chance and stepped in sharply.

　At the same time, as he prepared to deliver a full-powered strike—that instant—.

“Guh…!?”

　Suneiras’s body sank abruptly, his posture crumbling.

　Perhaps from a past rockfall—the ground where he stepped was gouged out, with a small hole there.

　His foot had been caught in it.

“Tch!”

　Suneiras quickly regained his balance. But… that brief opening became fatal.

　Fen’s gray eyes gleamed sharply in the moonlight.

In an instant, she leaped without a sound, flashing her blade.

“Gah…!”

　Fen’s short dagger slid into Suneiras’s neck.

　From his severed carotid artery, red blood gushed out, drawing an arc of crimson in the darkness.

“Y-You…!”

　Suneiras desperately clutched his throat. But the vigorously overflowing blood wouldn’t stop.

“You lowly beastman… how dare you…! We humans are the ones who hunt trash like you… acting all high and mighty…!”

　“Hah… Coming from someone who just got taken down by that very beastman.”

　Fen declared coldly.

Suneiras glared at Fen with eyes dyed in anger and humiliation.

　“D-Don’t… get carried away…! You just got lucky… that’s all…!”

“Lucky? …Do you really think that?”

　Fen’s tone grew even lower.

“What…?”

　“We beastmen have far better night vision than you humans. …I knew about that hole from the start.”

“…You lured me in… me…!”

The defense and retreat were all part of Fen’s calculation—a trap.

　“Lately, I’ve learned the importance of using your head in things. Wouldn’t it have been better for you to fight with a bit more brains too?”

In the battle with Siegfried von’s unit, and in the fight with Fen—everything, Suneiras had been dancing in the palm of the enemy’s hand.

　From start to finish… Suneiras had been the hunted, not the hunter.

The unstoppable bleeding was eroding his consciousness.

　His legs lost strength, he dropped to his knees, and eventually collapsed to the ground.

“Damn… Me…! This me, like this… impossible…!”

　Suneiras shed a single tear of humiliation and died on the spot.