Chapter 19
Homi followed skillfully on a Hunting Horse provided by the City. Since both Karas and Cressi were Knights who traveled without Squires, she had no one to compete with.
“Blast it!”
The Light Crossbow Bolt shot by Cressi missed the fleeing deer.
He carried a Lever-Action Loading Tool but continued to ride his horse without reloading.
His Horsemanship wasn't proficient enough to let go of the reins while galloping through such rough forest terrain. Wouldn't it be a shameful display to fall behind by stopping his horse just to reload?
An arrow shot by Karas struck the deer's hindquarters.
“My luck isn’t holding.”
He had aimed for a vital spot, but the deer leaped to avoid a tree root, and its hindquarters were hit instead.
Wild animals possess strong vitality; if not hit in a vital spot, they can endure an arrow wound for quite a long time.
Moreover, the deer was on the verge of escaping down a narrow path towards a cliff, where the Knights couldn't pursue.
“Pardon me, but I will intervene.”
*Thud!*
An arrow shot by the Centaur Barun pierced the deer's chest.
*Thump!*
The deer collapsed limply, trembling.
“A Centaur, indeed.”
“It would have made a fine trophy. A shame.”
Cressi and Karas slowed their horses.
Just as it was a great honor to lead the vanguard in battle or be the first to strike down an enemy commander, so too did the first hunter to make a kill receive praise.
While others walked their horses, Barun instead increased his speed.
“Are you pleased to have claimed the first kill?” “No, Sir. It is to fulfill their tradition. *Whew!* It is comfortable that you match my pace, Sir.”
As Eugene followed leisurely, without ambition, Panis found it easy to ride alongside him.
“I wasn”t exactly being considerate.’
The sight of the human *roly-poly* on horseback, his belly jiggling boisterously, was simply more interesting than the hunt itself.
“Centaurs enjoy hunting, but they dislike inflicting unnecessary suffering. My intervention just now was an act of mercy, as leaving it would have meant a slow death from worsening wounds.”
“I heard they were a very warlike race, but surprisingly gentlemanly.”
“Haha! You always say such pleasant things, Sir. When I’m hosting, I usually hear insults about them being barbaric.”
Perhaps because Barun was a valued subordinate, Panis’s gaze towards him was warm.
Arriving before the deer, Barun drew a dagger, ended its life, and offered a prayer from his Tribe. It was a blessing, wishing for the hunted creature’s soul to rest peacefully.
While the Beaters attended to the deer, Barun approached and bowed his head.
“I apologize once again for interfering with the Knights’ hunt.”
“Don’t trouble yourself. We would have lost it anyway if not for you.”
“I heard you spent a long time at the Monastery.”
“Ah, you thought I’d be offended by such superstitious acts, did you?”
“Yes, Sir.”
The Knight before Barun was someone whom Panis had emphatically urged him to show absolute respect to.
“Barun is a capable and thoughtful friend. We work hand-in-hand on City Affairs.”
Panis clapped him on the shoulder. Most Centaurs were raiders steeped in savagery and violence. It was rare to find one like Barun, who could read the atmosphere and engage in worldly communication.
“I was raised in a Monastery, but trained as a Knight, not a Priest. I’m not at all displeased. Cherish your traditions.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Others did not view the Centaurs’ methods favorably.
Priests would try to admonish them, saying that souls belonged only to humans, and asking why they should bother God with prayers for mere beasts.
Knights, for their part, considered it foolish to dismount and exert themselves for a mere animal. A suffering prey was nothing more than a decoration to display their prowess.
“We Centaurs believe that if we do not show mercy after a hunt, we will one day suffer a similarly painful death.” “Well, it’s just a superstition, of course.”
Panis quickly added a remark. Even with a generous Knight, it was better to be cautious.
“Even if it’s a superstition, it’s one that makes the world more beautiful. Such things should be widely spread.”
“...!”
Barun’s eyes widened at the unexpected reply.
“Could you teach me as well? The methods for granting swift rest would differ for each prey. I, too, wish for a peaceful death when my time comes.” “Are you truly speaking, Sir?” “I don’t joke about matters of life, even when the opponent is an animal.” “I spoke out of turn, Sir.”
Eugene and Homi’s hunting primarily involved setting Poison Bait Traps laced with Compound Herbs.
Hunting based on weapons would require different skills. He wanted to hear about other hunting techniques as well, while he was at it.
“I will teach you with all my heart, Sir.”
Barun thumped his massive chest, speaking with pride.
“And while you’re at it, teach me the prayer you were reciting.”
“Pardon?”
Barun looked bewildered by the Knight who kept saying unexpected things.
“Since we’re doing it, it’s best to do it perfectly. Someday, I might meet other Centaurs besides you, and it would help in befriending them.”
“Hahahaha!”
In the end, Barun forgot Panis’s admonition and laughed heartily.
***
Thus, Eugene and Barun became friends on the very day they met.
Barun was surprised to learn that this Knight was more knowledgeable about the forest than he had imagined.
“You know how to track footprints, Sir. And you’re far more knowledgeable about Herbal Powder than I am.” “I was taught by a Witch.” “You’re quite the joker, Sir!”
Barun laughed along with Eugene, who spoke with a smile. He never imagined it could be true.
“Your fundamentals are so solid, Sir; I think I can teach you the rest quickly.”
Barun quickly taught him useful hunting techniques.
“Since you’ve already enjoyed the glory of the first hunt, I will serve you with all my heart. I will surely drive the best prey towards you.”
Normally, Barun wouldn’t be this enthusiastic. Even if he had learned the spirit of hospitality under his Superior, he still had a Warrior’s pride.
But Eugene was different from the arrogant Invited Knights Barun had dealt with until now.
“-Get out of the way! How dare a Barbarian Tribe try to go ahead of a Knight!”
“-Sir, it’s not that, I was trying to guide you...”
“-Silence! If that’s the case, then dismount and guide us, as befits your station.”
“-...”
For a Centaur, dismounting meant kneeling and crawling.
Whether spoken knowingly or not, saying such a thing to one who embodied the Unity of Man and Horse was inherently full of intent to insult.
-Ugh, what is this disgusting smell?!-Go take a bath, you Barbarian!
Body odor was a frequent subject of insults. Even though he bathed daily while working with Panis, it was unavoidable given his horse-like body.
“I apologize, Sir. We tend to smell when we move.”
This was Barun’s one insecurity, so he sought Eugene’s understanding.
“Your upper body smells quite pleasant, though. You seem to bathe more often than most people.”
This Knight was indeed exceptional.
“The smell from a horse’s body is unavoidable, isn’t it? Most of it comes from the Apocrine Glands.”
“Pardon? Ah, apo... what did you say, Sir?”
“It’s just a thing. I don’t mind it at all, so you can ride ahead.”
Eugene mumbled. The fact that most horse sweat glands were Apocrine Glands was causing a strong odor similar to human armpits.
He had no idea how to explain this to a medieval person.
“If those so-called Knights complain about that, they should be ashamed. Do they think the horses they ride smell of perfume?” “Sir, every word you speak surprises me.”
But Barun’s reaction was positive, so that was enough. Barun, who had been riding diagonally beside him due to his concern about the smell, now surged ahead.
*Whizz!*
The Beaters shot an arrow in front of the driven roe deer, precisely turning it towards the Knights. This was a trick only Barun could perform.
*Thud!*
“That’s it! Well done!”
But Karas was the one who made the kill. His arrow pierced its neck this time.
“My apologies. This is my first time hunting with a group, so my reaction was slow.”
“Oh, I’m sure you were, Sir.”
Barun chuckled.
He had tried to preserve his honor for his fellow Knights, feeling that he was receiving too much attention, but the perceptive Centaur had already understood.
“Sir Cressi! Excellent!”
“Thank you, Magistrate.”
As Cressi also managed to catch a pheasant, the hunting fervor intensified, restoring their pride. It was the perfect timing for a large prey to appear and crown the hunt.
Eugene watched Barun’s retreating figure, recalling a conversation he once had with Godfrey.
“-When you’re rolling around on the Battlefield, you’ll encounter various Beastfolk, and Centaurs are among those you should be wary of.”
“-Aren’t they Cavalry from birth? Naturally, they would be formidable Warriors.”
Perfect Horsemanship, muscular bodies, and belligerence—it was perfectly natural for them to be dangerous.
-But there’s no need to be afraid. Inexperienced Soldiers tend to be intimidated when they first encounter them, but they’re surprisingly clumsy. I’ve cut down many on the Battlefield myself.”
Even if not on the level of Ruiaamor or the Ancient Kingdom, there were many groups that shook the world in their own way. They might not have unified the entire Continent, but they trampled and plundered several nations.
However, despite their powerful image, Centaurs had never left a significant mark on history. The reason became clear as he hunted alongside them.
“A wild boar! A big one, Sir Eugene!”
“I see it. It seems I have a connection with wild boars.”
Barun was excited by the excellent prey, which was hard to find. It was the perfect one to offer to Eugene, who hadn't caught anything yet.
Barun drew his bowstring, intending to avoid a vital spot and merely incapacitate it.
*Oink-oink!*
But the boar, a veteran of survival that had grown to this size in the wild, had a trick up its sleeve.
It made a sharp turn, taking advantage of the moment its body was hidden by a large tree. In an instant, it reversed direction, heading to Barun’s opposite side.
“Ah, damn!”
Barun hastily turned his bow, but it stopped at about 90 degrees and wouldn't move further.
“Leave it to me.”
Eugene, on horseback, twisted his waist 180 degrees and aimed the Heavy Crossbow with one hand.
*Whizz!*
*Screeeech-!*
The boar collapsed, a bolt deeply embedded in the center of its back, severing its spine. Eugene turned his horse, pursued it, and fired once more.
*Thud!*
The bolt pierced its skull, granting the creature a swift rest.
“Monstrous strength. Does he fire that crossbow like he’s throwing daggers?”
Karas reconfirmed by what kind of power he had been thrown back at the Tavern. It was a miracle nothing had broken.
The wild boar looked much heavier than the deer caught earlier. It would be difficult to find another one of this size.
Eugene dismounted and prayed for the dead boar. Though it was his first time and he couldn't quite capture the unique rhythm of the Centaurs, he recited the words fully.
“I apologize, Sir. I couldn’t assist properly.”
Barun apologized even more respectfully at the sight of Eugene praying earnestly.
“No one was hurt, and we caught it, so that’s enough.”
Eugene stood up and patted Barun reassuringly.
The Unity of Man and Horse wasn't always an advantage. Centaurs, for instance, couldn't perform a Parthian Shot.
Humans could entrust mobility to the horse and freely twist their bodies, but for Centaurs, twisting their bodies meant twisting their legs as well.
With Human Cavalry, the Rider could look behind while the horse still faced forward, but if a Centaur looked behind, it was like driving with eyes closed. A single stone could cause a major accident.
“Sir Karas. A fresh horse has been prepared.”
“Thank you.”
Karas switched to the horse handed to him by a Beater. His agility in spurring the horse and moving sideways while still mounted was impressive.
Cressi and Panis seemed eager to rest. Hunting was a sport that consumed a lot of energy, requiring one to roam the forest all day.
“Haa... haa...”
Most of all, Barun’s exhaustion was clearly visible.
“Are you alright?”
“Just a moment, *whew!* I just need to catch my breath.”
Maintaining a Combat Stance while staying vigilant consumed more stamina than one might think.
Humans for fighting, horses for mobility. Unlike Human Cavalry, who could neatly divide labor, Centaurs had to bear the fatigue alone. Since switching to a spare horse was impossible, they had a weakness in endurance.
Occasionally, a charismatic Great Chieftain appears, and Centaurs gather in large numbers. But even then, after a few major victories, they eventually fall into disarray.
Godfrey acknowledged the Centaurs’ strength and fighting spirit but did not consider them formidable as an Army.
The same reason explained why they were driven from their rich native pastures and became wanderers: they had lost in competition with Human Nomadic Tribes.
“Let’s call it a day. Everyone’s caught enough.”
Eugene, out of consideration for Barun, set the mood to end the hunt. There was no one among them to object to his declaration.
***
Pheasants and roe deer were bestowed upon the Mercenaries who acted as Beaters, and the deer were cooked for the Knights’ dinner.
“Sir Eugene caught this?”
With Eugene’s permission, the wild boar was presented to the Grand Council. Everyone marveled at its size, it being capable of goring a hunting dog and sending it to the heavens.
“Yes! The cunning creature hid behind a tree and tried to escape in the opposite direction, but it was no match for the great Knight’s senses. With a single shot, he brought down what even Barun missed!”
Panis delivered the lines he had rehearsed multiple times.
“Now I can finally rest easy. I can stretch my legs and sleep soundly.”
The members of the Grand Council sighed in relief.
Hitting a vital spot instantly meant exceptional reflexes, senses, and horsemanship. A Knight’s hunt was such that if one aspect was excellent, the others naturally followed.
This was different from mercenaries who, pushed by the world’s hardships, took up arms to make a living and sometimes killed.
A Knight was a Human Weapon, tempered with blood and steel from childhood, trained in the art of killing throughout his or her life.
Because Swordsmanship, Horsemanship, Tactics, and hunting were all taught organically, if one skill was excellent, the others naturally were too.
“This should silence any further complaints.”
The Executor looked at Panis.
“The Hall War is approaching. Ensure the Knights are well-rested and in peak condition during the remaining time.”
“Leave it to me, Sir. Isn’t this my specialty?”
“But moderate the alcohol. It would be troublesome if the Champions’ senses were dulled.”
“I will take responsibility and ensure they are in perfect physical condition. My life is on the line as well.”
“Let’s adjourn the Grand Council for now. There’s nothing more we can do here.”
Win or lose, the Grand Council would reconvene after the Hall War. They could only hope to face each other with smiles.
As the Executor raised his glass of wine, everyone else raised their glasses.
“To our City, free in the past, present, and future!”
He initiated the toast and drank.
“To freedom!”
“To Boneyard!”
“Blessings upon the Foundation of the Ancient Kingdom!”
After shouting their respective slogans and drinking, they threw their glasses to the floor.
*Smash!*
They were hoping the clear sound of breaking glass would drive away the last fear in their hearts.