135 – Dungeon of the Constellation (5)
The fact that the coachman hid himself under the wagon and threw his head on the floor was a reflexive and deliberate act created by the survival know-how accumulated over 15 years of working as a driver in addition to human survival instincts.
rolling around
“··········!”
The driver suddenly felt something heavy rolled down his side.
I was so shocked that I would have screamed if I hadn’t covered my mouth.
The driver’s eyes fluttered open at the impulsive curiosity and fear that humans can’t help but check to see what the guy was rolling on his side.
It was none other than Lioner’s neck that was lightly leaning on the driver’s side.
Lioner’s pupils were repeating contraction and relaxation in real time.
That meant he died so quickly that he didn’t even know he was dead or alive.
The coachman got out of the lion’s head and went deeper into the wagon.
And he smeared mud all over his body.
It was because Lioner had heard somewhere that he could not tell if he was alive or dead if he only removed the smell.
“Ahhh!”
The screams of women drenched in fear echoed from the iron bars, and the convoy continued to rattle.
The coachman cursed his unnecessary imagination and continued to move his hands, scooping mud and applying it to his body.
When the mud and Lioner’s blood seeped into the coachman’s underwear.
Tigris summoned the driver who was hiding under the carriage.
“It’s safe now, come out.”
The coachman slowly opened his eyes at the voice of Ho Guk-gyeong.
The view of the forest viewed from the same point of view as an earthworm or a land dog was hell itself.
The lion’s corpses were scattered everywhere, and it was only then that he realized that the mud that had been applied to the coachman’s body was soaked in blood.
But the driver did not come out.
It was because the wagon was full of heaps of terrible Lioner’s corpses, and there was no way to get out.
Chunkyung! Hey-!
Above the coachman’s head, he heard the sound of a heavy lock being unlocked, and then the sound of an iron cage being opened.
“Everyone come out. I also took the geomchi leather.”
When he heard the footsteps of the women one by one, the coachman pushed the Lioner’s corpse and came out slowly.
The driver’s mouth was wide open because he couldn’t believe the circumstances around him even more than the fact that he wasn’t a horse.
There were a lot of lion corpses around.
I couldn’t count how many numbers jumped in.
Because each of them had their backs or necks cut off, it was impossible to determine which neck belonged to which body.
Tigris threw the key pack at the coachman.
“Hey profit!”
The coachman was startled by the package of keys that Ho Guk-gyeong had thrown, and he fell to the ground again.
But then, he listened carefully, noticing that it was the key to unlocking the handcuffs that bound the women’s hands.
“Free the women’s hands and feet.”
“Yes! yes! Hoguk-gyeong!”
He couldn’t understand why Ho Guk-gyeong was trying to free the women, but the driver stopped thinking and quickly released the women’s handcuffs as he had commanded.
“I never dreamed that there would be so many hordes of Lions.”
“It looks like Nadal’s monster attractant scent is quite strong.”
The coachman and the women looked at the Rain Rover, which protruded out of the driver’s seat like a ghost, with their eyes closed.
However, when Tigris silently paid attention to the coachman, the driver quickly hid his curiosity and did what he had to do.
Rain Rover got off the wagon and said to the Lioner, looking sadly at the horses that were torn to pieces.
“All the horses are dead.”
“It was a no-brainer.”
“Because if you don’t die, even the horses, the knights who follow you will find it strange.”
The driver took off all the handcuffs of the women and stared blankly at Tigris.
It was because the brain-literate reason had returned and was trying to understand what was going on.
Why did the lord of Nagol Castle suddenly appear?
Since when have you been here?
All sorts of questions popped up in his head, but he didn’t dare open his mouth.
Rain Rover took a small pouch from his pocket and handed it to the coachman.
“take it. This will not be enough for a fresh start.”
The coachman couldn’t even think of looking into his pocket.
However, considering that the pockets are heavy, it seems to be carrying quite a bit.
“Take the women off the road and go somewhere else. Most monsters won’t even come close to you if you smell the lion’s blood, so you’ll be safe.”
“Now then, why is this…?”
When the driver and the women did not understand at all, Rain Rover sighed and approached Tigris.
“Lord Tigris, bow down.”
“······Yes?”
“Come on.”
Tigris bowed as Rain Rover had said.
Rain Rover grabbed Tigris by the neck and kissed him.
The coachman and the women immediately realized that their heads were spinning and that they were running away in love.
After letting the bewildered Tigris go, Rain Rover looked at the driver and the women and said:
“Did you understand? So don’t tell me where you saw the two of us. Even if they get caught, tell them that we were passed down to a group of Lions.”
“Yes! yes! All right!”
The coachman put the pockets in his arms, and the women bowed their heads while wearing their geomchi leather like capes.
“Thank you so much for saving me. Ho Gook-gyeong. Holy Lord.”
“That’s Okay. Now go find your freedom. Come on.”
The coachman and the women met each other’s eyes and then went off the road and into the woods.
Rain Rover said as he watched the coachman and the women leaving.
“Is this enough to leave a trace?”
“Yes. It will. If you pass a few castles or villages, you won’t be able to chase them at all.”
“okay. By the way, the horses are all dead, how do we get there?”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Tigris hugged Rain Rover into the princess’s arms.
The Rain Rover’s heart raced as if it had run a hundred meters in joy and surprise.
“I will run until just before the sun goes down, so take it easy.”
“How relaxed… Kyaaaah!”
Tigris carried the Rain Rover and ran fast.
Rain Rover burst into laughter with joy, and Tigris ran silently, looking ahead.
‘It was too late than I thought.’
* * *
As Tigris passed the castle and four small villages, the sun began to set.
Tigris heard the rattle of the Rain Rover’s ship, and decided that it was a little too much to run further.
“Let’s rest in the castle that appears next.”
Shortly thereafter, a castle smaller than Nagol Castle appeared, and Tigris and Rain Rover entered the castle gate proudly.
It was because, after all, only the highest-ranking nobles knew the face of the patriarch and the lord of Nagol Castle, and the common people did not even know it.
“Welcome to your identity. Mr. Smith! Ella!”
Ting –
When Rain Rover bounced a silver coin to the soldier who asked for his identity, the soldier bowed his head at 90 degrees.
Tigris and Rain Rover did not speak to each other, and headed to the inn-dining room closest to the front door to order a meal.
“Now, shall we talk about the future schedule?”
At Rain Rover’s words, Tigris pulled out the map Trisha had given her.
Maps from this era were not very accurate, so it was better to plan for the future with the maps Trisha had made.
Tigris circled Lake Selves and where the giants lived, as indicated by the coachman, and circled the current location with a pen.
“It’s not far from Lake Selves and the cave where the giants live. I will drive you to the rendezvous point.”
“It’s not far. It’s almost 50 km away in a straight line, right?”
“This is enough to drive, and an hour and a half is enough.”
“Wait, does it sound like you’re just going to run instead of riding a horse?”
“yes. Because that one is fast. I’ll pick it up like I did before and get you there.”
Rain Rover tilted his head and asked.
“It’s true that it’s definitely fast, but it must be very tiring carrying me for a run, isn’t it?”
“it’s okay. More than that, the attack speed is more important in this dungeon.”
Rain Rover looked into Tigris’ eyes.
Tigris was drinking water without making eye contact.
“Tigris.”
“Yes. majesty.”
“Look at my eyes.”
Tigris looked into Rain Rover’s eyes.
Rain Rover looked at Tigris with suspicious eyes.
“Are you hiding anything from me?”
“·················ogue.”
When Tigris didn’t say anything, Rain Rover crossed his arms and let out a small sigh.
“I said it before. Sir Tigris doesn’t speak when he’s embarrassed.”
“I am not embarrassed.”
“When there is something to hide, the same goes for words. Why is that…”
“The mushroom soup and wheat bread you ordered came out.”
When the clerk handed the soup and bread, the Rain Rover stopped talking and removed the map.
Meanwhile, Rain Rover thought.
Come to think of it, from the moment I entered this dungeon, it was a little strange.
Except for Bastian, who was ill, everyone else came out to see the crew off, because Bergang and Amoris were nowhere to be seen.
When the clerk left, Rain Rover looked at Tigris and said.
“Tell me honestly. You’re supposed to get through this dungeon quickly, but you don’t have to be in that much of a hurry. Are you hiding something?”
Tigris knew it was going to be like this anyway.
There was no way that Rain Rover, no one else, could not have noticed Tigris’ impatience.
Tigris took a sip of the water and opened his mouth.
“My father is in danger.”
Tigris delivered what he had heard from Bergang last night.
It seems that Rota’s ear vibrato was riding on the train Bergang was riding on, and it was said that the Golden Knights and Inquisitor agents had already suffered a lot.
Rain Rover calmly listened to Tigris to the end and opened his mouth.
“······Sorry. I didn’t even know that.”
“no. My Majesty the Princess, I should have told you in advance.”
“You didn’t tell me because you didn’t want me to worry. Especially if your heart is shaken in the dungeon of this constellation with many variables…”
Rain Rover could not continue to speak and finally bowed his head.
“Sorry. It shouldn’t be like this. It really shouldn’t be like this…”
Silver tears flowed between Rain Rover’s fingers.
To be honest, Rain Rover really enjoyed this time with Tigris.
If it wasn’t for the dungeon of the constellation, I’d like to spend the rest of my life like this.
I was so happy that I was able to throw off my heavy burdens as a princess and dine alone with Tigris without noticing others.
But, thinking that Tigris must have been rotting inside, Rain Rover felt very sorry for Tigris.
And I felt even more sorry for the tears kept coming, even though I knew that it would be even more difficult for Tigris to cry like this.
Tigris took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Rain Rover.
Rain Rover wiped the flowing tears with a handkerchief.
“Sorry. The really difficult person must be Sir Tigris.”
“no. I am sorry.”
Rain Rover took a deep breath and quickly calmed his mind.
There was no time to cry like this now.
Tigris had to find the giant’s heart and hand it over to Nadal’s lab.
This is because the completion time of the iron-blooded heart varies depending on how quickly you give it to Nadal, since the giant’s heart is the main material for the iron-blooded heart.
“Then don’t carry me and go catch the giants quickly. I will go separately.”
“My Majesty the Princess.”
“no. If you hadn’t met me anyway, you would have moved faster. I don’t have time to sit still.”
Rain Rover said as he took Tigris’ hand.
“I will move on my own. So leave me alone and go first. Judging by reason, this is 100 times correct.”
Tigris bowed his head at the complex and subtle emotions that came from the Rain Rover’s hand.
It was the first time I felt so sorry for anyone.
And I wasn’t used to being so worried.
So I wasn’t quite sure what to do.
“Still, didn’t you make a promise to Princess Rain Rover? I will take you to the meeting point.”
“That was when I didn’t know that the Beowulf Marquee was dangerous. Things are different now.”
“If I carry it for a run, two days is enough to drive me to the assembly point. And, as I just said, it’s not far from the gathering place and where the giants live. So we’ll get you there.”
“If it’s because I’m worried, then stop. I am really fine.”
“Isn’t it strange that I don’t care about the princess?”
At Tigris’ words, Rain Rover choked for a moment.
“Didn’t you just meet the Lioner? Dangerous monsters live in this area. If you travel alone and even meet dangerous monsters, big things can happen.”
“In preparation for that, you prepared artifacts in advance. I’m really fine.”
“still······.”
At that moment, the signals in the inner pockets of Tigris and Rain Rover vibrated.
It meant one thing.
It meant that there was a raider in the vicinity of 5 km.
Before Tigris spoke, Rain Rover spoke first.
“It looks like there are crews around here. It’s near Lake Sellos, so it’s probably Team C. If this person is Team C, then leave me alone. I can’t give up any more.”
At Rain Rover’s resolute words, Tigris had no choice but to nod his head.
“Yes. All right.”
* * *
Tigris and Rain Rover met the raiders outside the gates.
It was Trisha.
“You must have been a griffon knight.”
“After all, Tigris-sama was a patriot.”
Trisha said with a smirk.
“Thanks to you, I was able to escape from the knights faster than I thought. Because rumors spread that Ho Guk-gyeong had been passed down to the Lioner, the Knights riot broke out.”
“Where are the other griffon knights now?”
“I haven’t been here yet. We are searching the area around the raided area.”
“Well, that’s good.”
Trisha said looking at the Rain Rover.
“Then I will take the princess to Selves Lake. Tigris-sama, should you go find the giant?”
“Does Trisha know what’s going on outside the dungeon right now?”
At Rain Rover’s sudden question, Trisha’s expression hardened slightly.
“yes. I’ve heard of Sir Berggan, so I only know a little bit about it. I do not know the exact circumstances.”
Rain Rover looked at Tigris and said.
“Then go ahead. We’re going to get Nyx’s tears as quickly as possible and head to the lab.”
Tigris nodded.
Because Trisha can entrust the Rain Rover.
“Please, Trisha.”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
Tigris took the Rain Rover in his arms.
It was the first time seeing Tigris actively taking action, so Rain Rover as well as Trisha, who was watching quietly, were a little surprised.
“Thank you as always. Rain Rover.”
“It is me.”
After an hour, both long and short, Tigris released the Rain Rover.
“I’ll see you in the lab then.”
Tigris disappeared so quickly that even Trisha did not notice.
Trisha glanced at the Rain Rover and said.
“······The side of my stomach is really sore today.”
“greatness! Come on!”
* * *
Tigris ran nonstop to the cave where the giants lived.
I ran aimlessly without thinking, and almost arrived by the time the sun came up.
The reason for noticing that the giant had arrived near the dwelling was simple.
Because this neighborhood was full of giant footprints.
Tigris looked at the giant’s footprints and muttered involuntarily.
“…it’s bigger than I thought.”
It was my first time seeing a T-Christian giant.
In the literature, I’ve only heard that he is about 15 to 20 times the height of a normal adult, but I had no idea what he actually looked like or how tall he was.
Tigris entered the giant’s footsteps.
The depth of the footprints was far beyond Tigris’ height.
Where giants live, there are no forests and the ground is dry and hard.
However, to say that the footprint was deep enough to exceed Tigris’ height meant that the weight was no joke.
The hardness of the skeleton, skin, and muscles that could withstand such a heavy weight was such that Tigris could not even think of it.
‘I can understand why it was said that dragons were avoiding giants.’
It would be crazy to fight a realm with these giants from the standpoint of a dragon who has completely cut off its price through the era of the demon king.
Tigris escaped from the giants’ footprints and followed their tracks.
At that moment, Tigris drew out the Salamander’s sword and threw it into the air.
Whoo woo woo woo-hoo!
Tigris perfectly split a heavy gust from somewhere, and the cut gust created a huge hurricane.
If you were an ordinary person, you would have died or passed out due to a great shock at the moment of this blast.
The dust was rising and I couldn’t see ahead.
But Tigris looked at the one who blew this great wind precisely through the dust.
thud! thud-!
Something huge and heavy enough to shake even the ground Tigris was treading up and down was coming towards Tigris.
He was a giant with a heavy iron rod.
The giant looked down at Tigris with interest and opened his mouth.
[You must be very tasty.]