Chương 43: The Crownhorn farm incident (part 7)

From Benedict's position, it sounded as if some young man tripped and fell – followed by Kenneth's ecstatic call and the sound uncannily similar to the one of a woodchopping axe penetrating the flesh...

*CHOP* *SQUELCH* *CHOP* *SQUELCH* *CHOP* *SQUELCH* *CHOP* *SQUELCH*

Again, and again, and again, and again...

"KENNETH!"

That made the coachman panic and followed Kenneth – just to be granted a sight of his colleague chopping furiously at the remains of a dark-brown-haired boy.

"Dear god, Kenneth! What the hell are you doing?!"

The man cried in utter shock while looking away from the mutilated corpse with its guts bursting out that the other man was messing up even more.

*CHOP* *SQUELCH*

"HAAAA!"

Kenneth chopped at the corpse's chest and let go of the axe's handle – the tool stayed lodged in the flesh – and he leaned down, grabbing the bloody heavy dagger from the ground next to it.

"THIS! THIS FUCKER DID THIS TO ME!"

"...!"

The brown-haired man howled, showing off the heavy dagger that Benedict had seen in the running youth's hand and his own right hand with the blood gushing from the spot where a now missing pinky finger should be.

...but let's get back to a few moments earlier...

Medea ran past the shocked coachman with Kenneth hot on his trail, but the brown-haired man ended up tripping at the – conveniently – placed axe and even ended up – conveniently - grabbing it.

As he was by Theo's corpse, the disguised boy dropped the bloody heavy dagger right by it and...

"AUGH!" *thump*

...lounged himself to the side across the fence, right into the – conveniently – placed stack of hay, while making a good enough impression of surprised Theodore – the sound of him jumping off the ground echoed surprisingly good, making it sound heavier than it was, and then...

"AHA!" *CHOP* *SQUELCH*

"...?"

His plan ended up deviating from its original form but in the best way possible – Kenneth spotted the body on the ground, too furious to notice the gore, and started chopping at it wildly with the axe.

|What an assist~!|

Medea snorted silently in amusement and did sneak out, making sure to use the path that the Crownhorn farm workers used to sneak out for an unaccounted break during their workday, leaving the farm while everyone was busy with the distraction that the other gang members were providing.

--------

The horse with two riders galloped towards Startinton town at the break of dawn and then stopped right as they passed the first buildings.

"Whoa! Good girl. Good girl."

The hooded person holding the reins stopped the animal and breathed out heavily while patting the animal's neck gratefully.

"S-see...? The crack of dawn... I... told you that we will make it...!"

The rider breathed out and turned around to their passenger, a black-haired youth who had already gotten off the horse.

"It's my loss – but I did get back here in record time. I kind of regret making that bet tough... My legs are killing me..."

The black-haired boy responded while taking out his purse and shaking it upside down so that the coins would fall out into his hand.

"Two, three, four, five, six... You don't mind if I put in small coppers. It seems that I don't have full ten big coppers... or one small silver."

The boy counted the coins and looked up at the rider, asking him apologetically while taking out a few big copper coins from his pockets and even one from his shoe.

"Do I mind? Boy, I prefer it like that!"

The hooded individual laughed, reaching out his hand to which the black-haired boy put all the money he seemingly had on him.

"Now... do you know if they have a good inn around here? My poor Gust needs a rest... and me too..."

The rider took off their hood, revealing themselves to be pinkish-blond with a long braid and a face flushed from the exhaustion.

"Of course I do! I told you I'm from this town, didn't I? See this building. The inn with a cozy stable will be right behind it. I've heard the beer they serve there is really good – I can't say that for sure because I haven't tried it, but their food is definitely delicious. Should I go with you? I might be able to get you a discount~!"

"Good beer, you say... alright! Lead the way!"

The boy perked up chirpily and offered, to which the pinkish-blond-haired woman agreed after a moment of hesitation.

"...though, aren't you supposed to deliver that whole potion to your master?"

The woman got off her mare and spoke up lightheartedly even though her eyes showed caution.

"Thanks to you, I have a lot of time. Master Gerard doesn't expect me to get back sooner than in a day or two. I can afford to help out my benefactor just a little bit! Besides, look. Do you see that roof over there? It's the master's house. Oh, maybe you could drop by before going on your way after resting?!"

"Hmm...? I will see about that~"

The boy didn't skip a beat and responded with an innocent exasperation which made the woman breathe out in relief and relax her shoulders.

Moments later, the black-haired boy knocked on the door to a relatively large inn and pulled on them.

"Mister Connor! We have a hungry customer and a tired horse!"

"Young Medea? Oh, right, right, let me just..."

The boy peeked his head inside and cheered out, causing someone to respond in surprise.

"Oh, my. Hello. Let me handle your stead while you go inside. Young Medea, You know where the drinks are – give the lady what she orders."

Soon, a graying man with a large stature and a bartender mustache walked out and approached the group, taking the rains of the mare out of the pinkish-blond-haired woman's hand while nodding at the black-haired boy.

"Yes, sir~! Miss, if you please~!"

"In a moment. Go on ahead and pour me a tankard of beer."

Medea straightened his back and declared proudly while opening the door for the pinkish-blond-haired woman, but she raised her hand apologetically and moved towards the bags strapped to her mare.

As the boy went inside the inn, she made sure that everything was in place – including a few locks that were securing whatever was inside said bags.