Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 102

~Another big thank you to Alyss9 for another Kofi chapter~

 

“Your Majesty, what are you doing all of a sudden…”

 

However, Mike still didn’t seem to understand Ian’s words at all. He held onto Ian, who was trying to take Rachel with him.

 

“Mike, you ride with me in a carriage and we’ll head to the capital. I’ll explain it to you on the way.”

 

Ian told Mike that he had no more time to spare for him, and shook his hand off.

 

Tak

 

Ian’s hand as he removed Mike’s hand was harsh. Mike frowned as if he couldn’t understand Ian’s highly sensitive attitude.

 

“Rachel, you’ll be taken to my office.”

 

Rachel was led out of the carriage by Ian as he hurriedly looked around.

 

Accompanying the carriage were a few knights of the Oates family, who were just lowering their eyes, unable to hide their confusion.

 

The Imperial knights were nowhere to be seen.

 

“Your Majesty? Where are your knights?”

“…They aren’t here. So, this place is dangerous.”

“But, but then what about you? What about my brother?”

“Don’t worry about us.”

 

Ian gave a small laugh to Rachel, who was tugging at his sleever in concern.

 

“If I wasn’t good enough to beat a few mercenaries, I would’ve been dead a long time ago. Don’t worry, I promise to keep Mike safe.”

 

At that moment, Roosevelt Dante came stumbling out from the other side of the carriage. He gave a small wave to Rachel.

 

Roosevelt waved in the air a few times, then let out a small sigh. His face was white in a different way than Ian’s.

 

Roosevelt looked somewhat tired.

 

“The Prophet will take you to the capital. Try not to be caught by others if possible. If you need anything, tell Harmond. It’ll be time to report on state affairs soon, so he’ll be here. Rachel, is that alright?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll be there soon. So, don’t worry and relax.”

 

Ian hastened to explain a number of things to Rachel, then nodded to Roosevelt Dante.

 

“Ha, this is really ridiculous.”

 

Then Roosevelt Dante approached while he grumbled a little.

 

“You’re making me help like it’s a given now, aren’t you?”

 

Tak

 

Overshadowing the fact that he was sarcastic as if he wouldn’t listen to Ian, Roosevelt Dante quickly disappeared with Rachel.

 

Just like when Ian appeared, all the knights, the coachman, and Mike furrowed their brows in shock as Rachel suddenly disappeared in front of them with a black-haired man.

 

“Let’s leave now.”

 

However, with the order to start the carriage moving, they began to work without having any time to ask anything. Except for Mike.

 

“Your Majesty! Where has Rachel gone? Who was that who disappeared with Rachel?”

 

Mike poured out questions as soon as Ian got into the carriage.

 

“How was he able to use magic? Are you sure you can trust him?”

“He’s the Prophet.”

“…What? That was the Prophet?”

 

Mike frowned in disbelief.

 

“If he’s the Prophet…”

“The Prophet of the Empire.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Rachel. Rachel seemed to know him, has she met him before?”

 

Ian nodded softly at Mike’s question.

 

“Then the Prophet told you that Diana Avery was about to attack the carriage.”

 

For a moment, Mike’s face turned serious.

 

If it wasn’t for the Prophet, what would’ve happened if he’d gone up to the capital with Rachel without knowing anything? Would he have been able to get Rachel there safely?

 

There were five knights who were guarding the carriage together, but he didn’t know how many mercenaries Diana Avery had hired.

 

“Ha…”

 

Mike sighed softly at the dizzying situation.

 

“Your Majesty, where are the knights of the Imperial palace waiting?”

“I couldn’t come with them.”

“What?”

 

Mike raised his voice in bewilderment. Then, he turned the question around, as he tried to regain his composure.

 

“So, it seems that Diana Avery didn’t get many mercenaries. Well, as a fugitive, she wouldn’t find many mercenaries.”

“I don’t know exactly how many mercenaries Diana Avery got.”

“What?”

 

Mike once again spoke out at Ian’s unexpected reply. This time, he didn’t even try to hide his expression.

 

“Then why did you come alone without any knights to accompany you?”

“…The Prophet’s ability wasn’t as great as I thought.”

 

Mike didn’t quite understand what Ian was talking about, but kept his mouth shut.

 

That’s why he said that he came here alone in a situation where he couldn’t help it.

 

“Your Majesty, what are you going to do now?”

“We wait.”

“What? Wait…”

“May Diana Avery strike.”

 

Mike frowned slightly at Ian’s words.

 

“But isn’t that too dangerous? Wouldn’t it be better for us to find out the location of the place where Diane Avery and her party are hiding and prepare for it?”

“How are we going to find that out?”

“If you find out the location through the Prophet…”

“He doesn’t know.”

 

Mike looked at Ian blankly for a moment at his words.

 

“He doesn’t know either? Then how did Your Majesty appear before us?”

“I succeeded on my fifth attempt. I went to the Duke and asked him when the carriage left. Even though I guessed a rough distance, I managed to succeed the fifth time.”

 

Ian pointed to the bow and arrow quiver he’d been wearing from the beginning and added.

 

“I got this from the Duke, too.”

“Oh, it’s my father’s.”

 

Mike then looked at the arrow quiver Ian pointed at.

 

The quiver bore the seal of the Oates family, and it belonged to his father.

 

That meant his father knew what was going on. How surprised he must have been, he was probably following the carriage with their family’s knights by now.

 

“It wasn’t easy to find Rachel, but it would be harder to find Diane Avery without any information. So, this is for the best. I’ll just wait for Diana to attack first.”

“Even the Prophet isn’t perfect.”

“He’s having a hard time after moving a few times.”

 

Ian shook his head slightly, and opened the window.

 

“So, tell the knights to stay alert. I don’t know where the attack will come from.”

 

Mike nodded faithfully to Ian’s words, called the knights over, and ordered them to do what Ian told him to do. With a serious look on his face, he looked down at his sword and gripped it tightly.

 

“Your Majesty, isn’t it too dangerous for us to continue on this path by ourselves when we don’t know how many mercenaries there are? I’m sure my father has mobilized our family’s knights, so I think we should wait. I think it would be better to move with them.”

“If we delay like that, what if Diana senses something is strange and runs away?”

 

Mike sighed deeply at Ian’s words.

 

It would be too late if they waited for the Oates family’s knights to arrive.

 

They’d been driving for nine hours without a break in a carriage. No matter how fast the family’s knights rode their horses, it would take at least five hours.

 

“I don’t want to miss Diana again. We have to catch her this time.”

 

Mike also nodded his head as he showed a firm will.

 

Wasn’t Diana Avery’s arrest what he had hoped for?

 

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling nervous. Mike looked at Ian with his sword in his hand.

 

Ian, who was looking out the window with his mouth tightly closed, seemed as nervous as Mike was. However, he wasn’t nearly as worried as when he first opened that carriage door.

 

Maybe it was because Rachel wasn’t here right now.

 

***

 

One hour ago

 

Scritch Scratch

 

The sound of an impatient pen came from somewhere in the Emperor’s office.

 

Ian quickly read through the papers in front of him, then hurriedly wrote down his name again.

 

Ian was in the middle of completing the next day’s schedule to spend time with Rachel when she arrived in the capital.

 

Perhaps it was because he had a lot of work to do, but Ian was more focused than usual, and seemed to have no time to spare.

 

Scritch Scratch

 

Once again, the door of the office suddenly opened as his pen was flicking across the page.

 

“Hey, Ian.”

 

At the uninvited guest who casually called the Emperor’s name, Ian immediately recognized who it was without looking up and checking.

 

“What do you want?”

 

Ian finished the documents he was signing, looked up at Roosevelt, then glanced at his watch.

 

Roosevelt would often visit Ian this way. Of course it was all for pointless reasons.

 

It was because he was bored, lonely, or had nothing to do.

 

“Rachel’s in danger.”

“What?”

 

However today, Roosevelt looked somewhat different. His usual silly laugh had disappeared, and he looked uncharacteristically impatient.

 

“It looks like Diana Avery will attack Rachel’s carriage.”

“…What?”

“She’s already gathered people, and is waiting for the right time. If this continues, Rachel will be seriously hurt.”

“What!”

 

Ian jumped up from his seat at Roosevelt’s words.

 

“Well, what should I do then? No. Take me to Diane Avery right now.”

“I can’t.”

“What?”

“Mobility magic is a magic that can only be used by determining the exact destination. I don’t know where Diana is hiding and waiting for Rachel. Other than it’s somewhere in the mountains.”

 

Ian frowned at Roosevelt’s words.

 

“Send the knights right now. Maybe the Imperial knights will meet Rachel first before Diana attacks, then Rachel will be safe.”

“…No.”

“What?”

“You want me to put Rachel’s life on the line for that possibility? No.”

“Huh! Then what can you do? Don’t be stubborn, and put your energy into what you can do.”

 

In the midst of all this willfulness, Roosevelt frustratedly raised a small eyebrow.

 

Ian furrowed his brow and brushed him off. His brow was furrowed as he paced around the office. He was so anxious he couldn’t even sit still.

 

If he lost Rachel again… If he couldn’t protect Rachel this time.

 

Ian wanted to protect Rachel this time. He had to protect her. He didn’t want to leave Rachel alone and fearful.

 

Ian’s heart was already in knots from the anxiety that was surging through him without a break, even his hands were shaking.

 

***