Chapter 128. The Secret Of The Silver Horned Deer?

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    “Jorge, we’re all ready. Hurry.”?

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    At the knight’s words, Jorge hastily pulled hard on his gloves.?

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    “You guys are so fast. Yes. Let’s get going.”?

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    “Yes, sir!”?

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    Hurrying through the Knights, Jorge glanced at the barracks of Tamon and Aranrosia.?

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    ‘How can they save the beast without a doctor?’?

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    The little beast was indeed a “silver deer” cub.?

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    Of course, Jorge had only seen silver antlers, but he at least knew that was the only beast with such antlers and skin.?

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    ‘Well, I’m sure the captain will take care of it.’?

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    Jorge gave a worried glance at Tamon’s barracks and hurriedly mounted his horse.?

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    What mattered now was not the young cub that had survived.?

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    It was more important to get rid of the scent of blood, the trace of it that was left not far from this barracks where they were.?

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    Jorge thought again of the brutal scene at the spot where he had found the young silver deer.?

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    It was a small forest not far from the entrance to the canyon.?

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    When they entered with the intention of seeing that far, Tamon and the Knights were greeted by the bloody scene of battle.?

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    Scattered on the floor were dozens of corpses of what were neither beasts or monsters.?

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    And even the corpses of two silver deer that appeared to have fought against them.?

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    How fierce the battle had been, all the surrounding trees were broken and scratched, and blood was splattered in all directions from who-knows-what.?

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    ‘I had no idea the silver deer’s fighting prowess was that high.’?

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    Knowing only the value of the antlers and skins, Jorge could not help but be amazed at the marks of just two silver deer fighting against these monstrous creatures.?

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    ‘What was it, by the way that attacked the deer? It was too strange to be a beast, too venomous to be a monster……..’?

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    And it was a little different in shape from the monsters that were in the gap.?

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    It was as if the two traits were combined to create a completely new creature……?

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    At that moment, Jorge couldn’t help but let out a single word.?

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    “…… mutation?”?

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    Yes, mutant.?

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    They were such monsters.?

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    It was between a beast and a monster. They were not beasts, nor  were they monsters. (*He is talking about the creatures that attacked the silver deer.)?

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    Jorge and the knights, who ran fast and arrived at the forest a while ago, began to organize their surroundings quickly.?

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    There was nothing good about having these corpses near the barracks site.?

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    This was because they did not know which animals, possessed by the smell of blood, would come to the vicinity.?

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    They quickly covered their tracks, dragging the creature’s bodies and pushing them into the canyon.?

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    “Everyone watch out for the fog!”?

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    “Yes, sir!”?

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    The Knights quickly cleared the bodies while wearing the masks they had brought with them.?

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    Although ragged, the silver deer skins and antlers were an important financial resource, so they were put in separately.?

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    “When you’re done, let’s return quickly. It is already dark. Hurry.”?

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    “Yeah, it’s kind of spooky. Let’s leave quickly.”?

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    “Did the captain walk around all alone in a place like this?”?

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    “His nickname is ‘Monster’. No. Our captain is worse than a monster. Much more.”?

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    Jorge chimed in with a nuance that made it hard to tell whether he was complimenting or swearing.?

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    Everyone nodded earnestly at his words, but on the other hand, some were reassured by the thought that such a man was their lord.?

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    The knights glanced around the scene where blood and gore had been splattered earlier and hurriedly left the scene.?

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    Jorge, who was running in the very back, glanced at a small bush that was a short distance from the scene.?

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    It was the bush where they had found the small silver horned deer that had been hiding.?

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    Two adult deer fought against a dozen monstrous beasts.?

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    Perhaps those two silver deer had fought to the end of their lives to protect the deer cub that was hiding behind the grass.?

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    Jorge looked around the place with mixed feelings and hurriedly quickened his steps back to the campsite.?

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    Just then, the deer cub, who had been gasping for air in agony, opened his eyes.?

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    * * *?

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    “Kaaaaa….”?

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    The deer cub, who shed a thin cry without energy, wriggled its whole body and tried to move.?

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    “I thought it would not survive with that much blood, but it came back to life.”?

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    Tamon said as he gently rubbed the deer’s chin with his already healed finger.?

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    “Kaaaa.”?

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    The young deer was alert, baring his teeth despite his lack of energy.?

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    Tamon chuckled as he gently rubbed the deer’s chin, as if it were cute.?

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    “The silver deer is a lot stronger than it looks. No matter how young they are.”?

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    “That’s amazing. There aren’t many silver deer in Tanatos, but you seem to know their ecology quite well.”?

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    On that note, the conversation was getting too long, so Asha became silent and made eye contact with the young deer.?

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    The fear-stricken deer was staring at Asha with eyes full of alarm.?

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    The fawn was so small that it didn’t even come halfway up Tamon’s arm.?

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    Only a year old, it seemed to be getting bigger.?

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    The silver horned deer was a slow grower. Their temperament was strong and hard, but it took time to grow.?

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    ‘Lucentia once told me about a baby born a year ago……’?

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    Is this silver deer that baby??

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    Asha’s heart throbbed.?

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    “It’s funny, though, a silver horned deer would never leave its young alone.”?

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    “… Oh, this little one wasn’t alone.”?

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    “Then?”?

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    “There were two adults. This one was the one that was hiding in the bushes nearby. But, those two adults were dead a short distance away. It looks like they died protecting this one.”?

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    Tamon told Asha the short version of the scene of the messed up battle.?

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    Asha’s face hardly as she listened to him.?

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    The only silver horned deer herd left in Tanatos were children, managed by the imperial family.?

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    Of course, Tamon couldn’t be sure, he hadn’t searched all over the black canyon.?

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    But strangely enough, Asha couldn’t help but feel that this fawn was the one that Lucentia had told her about.?

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    Then……?

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    “I think there are more deer around.”?

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    Tamon pointed out exactly as if he had read Asha’s mind.?

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    Asha looked pale and clenched her fists.?

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    “Asha.”?

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    Tamon, who was staring at her, called her in a sweet voice.?

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    He gently swept her eyes and urged her on with a gentle voice.?

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    “You look like you have a lot to say. Why don’t you tell me?”?

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    Sighing heavily at his words, Asha opened her lips.?

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    “Actually, this was done by the late emperor of Tanatos.”?

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    A hard voice echoed through the quiet hut.?

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    * * *?

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    “The more I learn……the more I realize that the dead emperor is such a crazy guy in many ways.”?

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    Tamon laughed out in a terribly twisted voice.?

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    The dead emperor wanted to monopolize the silver horns and skins, he would put children in a herd of wild animals.?

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    That method was truly inhuman and cruel.?

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    That human being had done evil to those helpless children.?

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    For example, he would let them hold something precious and take it from them, or he would hold their families hostage.?

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    Asha bowed her head, unable to deny it.?

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    In fact, it was just before she became empress that she learned this secret.?

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    The previous emperor, on his sickbed, called her to inform her of the existence of La Gorreci.?

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    “I say this to you because it seems to me that if left to Gillotti, he will let loose in an instant what I had tamed. Can you manage it properly?”?

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    What did he say to Roselyn, who was too shocked to answer??

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    “…. their parents and siblings are living richly under my patronage. The youngest child was born a few years ago. It is really strange in that house. Another child with white hair was born. I am very ……grateful.”?

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    The previous emperor laughed on his sick bed.?

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    It was a threat against Roselyn.?

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    And to show this, a few days later, he brought in a four-year-old child who had just started walking.?

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    The waddling child had cute frizzy hair.?

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    It was a natural, white, beautiful hair that could not be made artificially.?

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    What could Roselyn say??

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    One thing she thought fortunate at the time was that there were only a few days left when the previous emperor would truly die.?

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    How surprised she was to find herself rejoicing in someone’s death.?

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    “If it was you who took care of those children, it is enough to understand why this painful look on your face now.”?

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    “……I made a promise to protect those children.”?

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    Tamon laughed at her words.?

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    “Otherwise it wouldn’t have been Roselyn V Sunset.”?

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    He could guess what Asha wanted from her voice. His hand brushed her smooth cheek.?

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    His hand naturally stroked her earlobe and held her close.?

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    Soft lips roamed near her hardened eyes, cheeks, and lips.?

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    “I’ll go get the kids. So don’t make this face.”?

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    Asha said, pushing Tamon roughly away as she jumped up at his words.?

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    “No, I don’t want it that way.”?

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    “…… what?”?

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    Tamon’s face contorted at Asha’s strong refusal.?

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    “What do you mean?”?

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    “I don’t want to see you hurt for my purpose anymore. I don’t want that. So you can’t go to the rescue alone. Never.”?

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    Tamon’s expression turned cold at Asha’s rejection of him again.?

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    He asked back, unable to hide the hard expression on his face.?

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    “If not me, how can you save those children? I don’t think we have the time or the means.”?

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    Tamon’s words were not wrong.?

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    Still, Asha could not back down.?

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    For her revenge, for her cause, Tamon had been constantly injured.?

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    He did not hesitate to get hurt, and he did not hesitate to destroy his body.?

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    She did not want to see him like that any more.?

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    “Just one day, give me one day. I’m sure I’ll come up with a way.” (Asha)?

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    Tamon looked at Asha coldly with a stiff face and murmured.?

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    “……You will find a solution without my help?”