The Tale of the Teapot Hero’s Revenge

Chapter 14 - A surprise attack, a trap that awaits

It's around 9 in the morning now, I guessed. It should be about time.

We were currently lying in ambush on the road that lead to the hunting grounds, a little east of the capital. We were waiting to launch an attack on the carriage that Neil was riding.

As for my appearance, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, a scarf, shorts, and black stockings. I was not wearing a hat. My outfit clearly indicated that I was a woman. After all, I had to make it known that the hero was alive and had joined the Resistance.

If it became public knowledge that Brutogyu tried to kill me, it would only damage the king’s reputation. That's why he went so far as to burn down my entire village in an attempt to eliminate me secretly.

(This is an opportunity. I have to make my presence known.)

There were thirty members of this ambush. I hardly know their faces, but two of them, Raid-san, the Leader's best friend, and Cain-san, the most trusted veteran, had been introduced to me in advance There were also familiar faces, the liquor store owner and Joanna, and, of course, the Leader.

Everyone except me was concealing their faces with cloths or the like. Since they had their regular lives, it would be troublesome if their faces were exposed. They were also instructed not to use names.

Everyone was hiding in the shadows of trees or bushes, each with their weapons and holding their breath, waiting silently. I could see that the Leader wielded two swords, one of which was a Sword Breaker, and Raid-san had a staff.

How long had it been?

From the direction of the capital, we could hear the sounds of horses' hooves, the wheels of the carriage, and the footsteps of the escort soldiers.

(...They're coming!)

Tension ran through everyone.

The plan was quite simple. At the Leader's signal, everyone would rush out and attack from both sides. During the confusion of the surprise attack, we would kill Neil and then make my presence known. Afterward, we would kill those who confront us among the escort soldiers but not pursue those who flee.

In this ambush, I also had to let them know that the king burned down my village, and I had gotten out of it alive.

(And if we fail, we retreat quickly. Even just a threat will have a significant effect.)

Well, that's the general idea. Now, the carriage was slowly approaching, and I could that there were about fifteen escort soldiers. The carriage was spacious enough for about ten people, but it was expected that only Neil and two of his attendants were inside. The difference in number was about double, so there's no way we would fail in this ambush.

Finally, the carriage had arrived right in front of our hiding place. The Leader then raised his right hand and gave the signal.

"Uoooohhhhhh!!!"

"Neil, prepare yourself!!!"

"For our homeland, for our families, you scum!!!"

The members of the resistance charged, shouting loudly. I also headed straight for the carriage, not to be outdone, but...

"They're here, just as the information said!"

"Don't break formation! Intercept them!"

...Uh oh, this might be bad. The enemy didn't seem surprised at all. In fact, they seem to have been aware of this ambush.

I instinctively turned to look at the Leader. Sure enough, he's pale. The situation became a dangerous one.

"Everyone, fall back! Retreat! Cancel the attack!"

The Leader raised his voice and gave instructions, but it's already too late. About ten people, driven by momentum, had already engaged in combat with the soldiers. And from inside the carriage...

"Heheh, these guys. They look delicious."

A thin, slouched figure with knives in both hands emerged. Following behind him were ten knights. And Neil was not among them. That nervous-looking middle-aged man was nowhere to be found.

Our attack was completely anticipated. We fell into their trap.

"Let me enjoy this."

The thin man, at a speed that seemed almost inhuman, cut through the Resistance members who were fighting the soldiers. I couldn't see his movements at all.

"Heh, is this all they've got?"

He licked the knife that was now covered in dripping red blood.

"Guah!"

"Gyaaah!"

"Gyeeek!"

Three people. In an instant, three people were gravely injured and felled.

"It's been a while since I had such an exciting job. Is there no one with more grit?"

"You bastard—"

It would be bad if he continued to rampage like this. And just as I was about to confront him--

"You're facing me, you rebel scum!"

A red-haired female knight rushed towards me and swung her sword. In response, I drew my Sword Breaker from my waist, intending to parry her strike.

*Clang!*

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Our swords collided, but not on the serrated part. Her sword hit the flat, empty section of my sword. She understood what I was aiming for and controlled the trajectory of her strike.

"I am Ilyria Ulysses! A knight who serves Princess Pernelle! Now, come at me!"

"Oh, is that so? I'm Kyrie, reluctantly playing the role of a hero."

"What...?"

She's surprised. My face and name had quite an impact.

In the middle of this, however, I wondered why was a member of the Royal Guard in a place like this. This made no sense. She should have been quietly protecting the princess in the castle.

The thin man was being confronted by the Leader and Raid-san together, which left me no choice but to believe that they'd be fine.

"A hero, joining the Resistance...? It's hard to believe, but your face and name..."

"I, the so-called hero, was almost killed by your king because he thought my abilities were useless! He said that unless I die, the next hero won't appear!"

"No way…!"

"He tried to kill me, disguising it as the work of bandits. My village was burned, and my family and friends were all killed!"

"B-But why did you join the Resistance?"

"It's simple. For revenge. I can't avenge them unless I kill your king. The resistance and I have formed an alliance out of mutual interests because they see value in me as a hero. That's why."

There, I'd finished conveying everything. I spoke as loudly as possible, so the surrounding knights should have heard it too.

In fact, there were quite a few knights who seem flustered. And now that I had achieved my objective, it's time to escape.

"Revenge .., what's in it for you?"

"What?"

"What will that accomplish but more destruction and chaos? Instead of using your life for such a purpose—"

"...Hey, what are you talking about? Speaking down from your high horse, giving me a sermon?"

"No, what I want to say is—"

"Do you know how it feels when someone important to you is killed? Huh? If you don't understand, don't talk as if you do."

Let me retract what I said earlier. The part about escaping. I wanted correct it.

"Don't screw with me."

I'd kill this woman.

If she kept pushing against me with her sword, it would be perfect. I released my right hand from the hilt and lunge for her face.

"—!?"

She jumped back and created some distance, which made my right hand miss. Did she sense something dangerous? Or was she just afraid of me?

"What was that, exactly..."

"You have someone important to you too, right? You mentioned Princess Pernelle earlier. Is she important to you?"

"She... She is a precious person to me. More important than my own life."

"I see. Then if I kill that princess, you'll understand my feelings, won't you, surely?"

"—! You... You won't lay a finger on the princess!"

Oh, now she's angry. Maybe she finally understood my feelings a bit. Just by hinting at killing someone important for her, this was her response. Her earlier words were now nothing more than empty, superficial platitudes.

But really, 'You won't lay a finger on the princess'? That's a line any girl would want to hear at least once.

"Don't worry. Whether the princess lives or dies, it has nothing to do with you."

I tried to parry her sword, which was about to strike me.

*Gakii!*

Once again, it's deflected, and the sword hit near the base of the blade. Maybe I was not using the sword correctly, since simply waiting for the enemy’s sword to come and deflecting it allowed the trajectory to be changed.

"What do you mean it has nothing to do with me...!"

"It means exactly that. You're going to die here, so what do you care what happens after you die?"