Chương 39: The Hand Behind the Curtain

Ch 39 - The Hand Behind the Curtain

"What's that sound? Why does it keep... shaking like that?"

"... Don't tell me someone's doing that in the middle of the forest."

"What? Are you stupid? Who the hell would be doing that loud enough to shake the ground?"

"I don't know! But if that's really what it is... I'm honestly impressed."

"Oh, shut up. Whatever it is, it definitely isn't normal." The members of the Silverwings Guild had already gathered and finished preparing for their advance. Their armor was secured, their weapons checked, and their camp had been packed away. The massive sandstorm raging above the battlefield had finally begun to subside. They were convinced victory was only a matter of time. Justhole and Frosty stood near the center of the formation, discussing their next move.

Then the ground beneath their feet trembled violently. The quake was so intense that several guild members lost their balance and fell backward.

"What's happening?! Are we under attack?! Find the source!"

"Everyone, battle positions! Move!" The guild members immediately activated buffs, drew their weapons, and prepared their skills. But they were already too late. The surrounding trees exploded apart as enormous figures burst through the forest from every direction, crushing trunks beneath their feet.

"Bullkin! There are dozens of them!" Frosty immediately launched herself into the air on a towering pillar of ice. She raised both hands as Frost Domain rapidly expanded around the guild's formation. But it wasn't fast enough. The first Bullkin charged like a raging beast, swinging an enormous stone club before hurling it with terrifying force. The massive weapon spun through the air, producing a deafening roar that echoed across the battlefield. Frosty had no time to dodge.

The stone club slammed directly into her. The impact blasted her away, sending her crashing across the battlefield before she finally skidded to a stop in the distance. One of the largest Bullkin stepped forward, towering over the others. He slammed his fist against his chest and roared loud enough to shake the forest itself.

"You mocked our people! From this moment on, you are the eternal enemies of the Bullkin!"

"None of you will leave this place alive!" The entire herd answered with earth-shaking roars as they charged forward together. On one side of the battlefield, just beyond the line of trees, someone sat atop a massive white wolf with a faint smile on his face.

"That's what you get for talking so much, idiots," he muttered. He then glanced over his shoulder at Lucia, who was seated behind him.

"Our job here is done. Let's go." Fang immediately turned and sprinted away, disappearing into the forest while the battlefield behind them descended into complete chaos.

"I'm truly impressed, My Lord," Lucia said softly.

"You defeated enemies who were both stronger and far more numerous without relying on overwhelming force. Instead, you guided every piece on the board until they destroyed each other with their own decisions. You understood their pride, their greed, and their confidence, then used all of it against them."

"Every step they took only brought them closer to the trap you had already prepared. It was as though the battle had already ended long before anyone realized they had lost." The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Jester let out a quiet laugh.

"That didn't sound like a compliment. Are you calling me weak?"

"Uh!" The girl blinked in surprise before letting out a small laugh. Her right arm remained wrapped around Jester's waist, holding him tightly as she leaned against his back.

"N-No, that's not what I meant. I meant exactly what I said. I truly admire you. Earlier, when I offered to join the fight, I thought... perhaps you didn't trust me enough yet."

"No, it's okay. I do trust you." Jester smiled.

"That's exactly why I want to keep you hidden. Unless we're forced into a desperate situation, I don't want anyone to know what you're truly capable of. To everyone else, you'll remain nothing more than an ordinary village girl who happens to travel with me." Lucia quietly listened.

"The moment people discover someone powerful, they immediately become cautious. They prepare their strongest warriors. They make backup plans. They consider every possible outcome before making a move." He paused briefly.

"But when they believe someone is weak..." A grin slowly spread across his face.

"They stop thinking."

"They become careless."

"They lower their guard."

"They convince themselves victory is already guaranteed." Jester looked ahead as Fang continued racing through the forest.

"The greatest weapon in war isn't overwhelming strength. It's making your enemy believe they don't need to fear you."

"When your opponent thinks you're powerful, they'll sharpen their blades, gather information, and prepare for every possibility."

"But when they think you're weak, they blind themselves. They become arrogant. They stop questioning what they're seeing. And that's the greatest deception of all." A faint smile slowly spread across Jester's face, while the sharp look in his eyes became even more obvious.

"... That's the real job of an Evil Clown, isn't it?" Lucia tightened her arms around his waist and gently rested her cheek against his back. The journey continued. Fang ran even faster than before, charging through the forest like a streak of white lightning. At least Jester no longer had to worry. No matter how fast Fang ran or how violently he changed direction, Lucia wasn't going to lose her balance or be thrown off. Of course she wouldn't. She was terrifyingly strong.

[You have successfully executed an advanced deception. Rather than confronting your enemies directly, you manipulated the flow of information, redirected hostility, and allowed two opposing factions to collide on their own.] ["A true deceiver wins battles without revealing the hand that moved the pieces."] [Chaos +55] Some time later, Fang finally came to a stop in a quiet part of the forest. Lucia gracefully jumped down from his back, followed by Jester.

"I'm sure you can take care of yourself. Bring your sister with you. I'll be waiting for you in Necroton," Jester said. The young woman bowed deeply.

"Thank you, My Lord. Today... has been the happiest day of my life. I swear I'll never forget everything you've done for me." She remained silent for a moment.

"Is there something else, Luci..." Jester never finished his sentence. Lucia suddenly rushed forward and wrapped both arms tightly around him. The unexpected embrace caught him completely off guard. He stood there for a moment without moving, his hands hanging awkwardly at his sides as the girl held onto him as though she was afraid he might disappear.

"My Lord..." Her voice trembled.

"I know you've already heard me thank you again and again. I'm afraid you'll grow tired of hearing those words. But I still need to tell you, with all my heart, just how grateful I am. I've never felt as fortunate as I do today." She tightened her embrace.

"I was terrified. I truly believed everything was over. When the Bullkin shoved me to the ground and closed in around me... when I looked into their eyes... it felt like my world had ended."

"I screamed. I begged them to stop. I cried for someone, anyone, to help me. But no one came. No one heard me. No one even looked my way. At that moment... I truly believed there was no one left who could save me." Her voice began to shake as tears filled her eyes.

"I only managed to escape because of luck. I ran as fast as I could without even knowing where I was going. I was so scared. I fell over and over again, but every time I forced myself back to my feet. The only thing I could think about was getting away... returning to my village... making sure my sister and everyone there were safe." She buried her face against his chest.

"The last time I fell... I truly thought my life was over. Then... you came." Her words dissolved into quiet sobs. Jester slowly lifted his arms and gently returned her embrace, holding her close without saying anything. The forest fell silent, leaving only the sound of Lucia's muffled crying as her tears soaked his chest.

"You gave me far more than I could have ever imagined," she whispered.

"A second chance. A new future. New strength. A new life. Dreams I never thought I was allowed to have. I don't think I could ever repay you. Even if I devoted my entire life to serving you... it still wouldn't be enough." After a long while, Lucia finally loosened her embrace and stepped back. Her eyes were red and swollen, her cheeks still wet with tears, yet a gentle smile remained on her face. Jester smiled back before quietly wiping away the tears still clinging to her cheeks.

"You don't owe me your life," he said.

"Just make sure you live the new one you've been given." Lucia looked at him for several long seconds before giving the brightest smile he had ever seen.

"... Yes, My Lord." The two of them remained there for a while, talking quietly and sharing an unexpectedly wet, emotional, and deeply relieving moment together. It left them both feeling unexpectedly satisfied and completely at ease, as though all the tension they had been carrying had finally melted away. Eventually, Lucia gave him one last respectful bow before turning around and leaving. Her figure gradually disappeared between the trees, leaving Jester alone once again in the silent forest.

Not long after, a voice suddenly echoed from somewhere nearby.

"Clover, come on. Let's keep looking. We'll start over from the beginning if we have to. I'm sure she can't have gone that far yet."