I Will Avoid The Death Flag [It's Published]
24. Hunting Competition III

Clare and I entered the forest where the hunting ground was held after they had finished listening to the rules announced by the king of Asher himself.

That's a very complicated rule. Well, it makes sense as it is a competition for both future queen candidates. For example, the two candidates of the queen are not allowed to attack each other, assisted by a third party, do not clash, do not be hostile, do not hurt each other, do not hurt each other, and dozens of other rules I was forced to listen to until the end because the red bead of Viten was so intimidating.

Viten showed a look in the eye that said, "win and be queen!". With that pressure, I managed to listen to the rules spoken by Viten until the end.

Clare and I, of course, chose different directions to minimize our clashes when hunting rabbits. I chose the road to the east, while Clare to the west.

Viten says that rabbits are easy to hunt before. Rabbits usually hide around bushes. And I was obliged to avoid the deeper forest because it was the dwelling place of the beasts that I would certainly not be able to face.

Beige, srek, srek.

The sound of my shoes and the clashing grass made harmony in the silent air. This forest is completely deserted. However, instead of feeling scared, I felt my heart calm down.

Well, being surrounded by psychopaths all around me makes me unable to stop being so alert. And that's why I can feel the calm for a moment in this forest.

"Rabbit, rabbit, where are you."

I'm looking for rabbits in the bushes. At least, there must be one or two of their nests hidden, right?

Thirty minutes. It was the time given to the two candidates to hunt down three rabbits. And time has been running for ten minutes here.

I can imagine Clare desperately hunting three rabbits and bringing her hunt back to the starting line.

That's ludicrous. It's because she's going to try to win the competition and be the queen, right?

I'm pretty relaxed.

Of course because I didn't really want victory on my side. I only did this because the hunting competition was held over the word of God. It is possible that by participating in this competition, I can interact with the Sun God even if a little, whether it is speaking directly or being represented by a priest. I don't have a problem.

I took myself into the forest deeper. Not too deep, maybe two-tenths of the forest area. That's because the rabbits hide very well. I had trouble finding them.

In the meantime, I found a lot of ferrets or foxes that I didn't need to hunt because they weren't my targets.

I crouched around the thick bushes. My finger covered in leather gloves immediately searched for the rabbits through the bushes.

Okay, there's no.

Shortly after I got up. Whoa!

I froze and a stiff smile was painted on my lips that began to pale.

That's an arrow. Scraping the ground exactly half an inch beside me.

If I were still crouching, it's possible that the arrow had already pierced through my back and I would bleed to death.

Quickly, I turned my body around. There's no one.

I held tightly to the bow and picked up the arrow that was draped on my back. Put the arrow in the rest arrow, I'm getting ready.

Someone attacked me. Even though the figure was hiding, I was sure that the target was me, and not those rabbits.

I'm not sure if that figure is Clare because we're taking the reverse direction. So it took me a long time to catch up with me and try an assassination. Well, it's better to hunt rabbits than hunt me, isn't it?

"Who's in there." My voice echoed. They make insects fly and hide. "Show yourself, you bastard!"

The srek!

With one swing, someone landed on my left side. He leaped from the top of a thick-leaved tree, hiding himself in the leaves.

However, I don't know what made him obey my words to show himself. He is a fool or someone who has a plan.

The figure was wearing a long black robe, covering his entire body, his face invisible due to the long hood of the robe. In his hand was a bow and on his back were dozens of arrows.

Okay, relax.

"Who are you?" ask me while lifting the bow, positioning it on that figure to be the target of my arrows.

"It's nice to meet you, Princess."

It was a man's voice. I've never heard his voice. He's foreign. I increased my alertness.

"Tell me, are you my enemy or my friend?"

"Mr Princess is behind the angel's back, while I am the demon lord."

"The metaphor is beautiful to show that we are opponents."

"Thank you for your compliment." The black-robed man walked slowly towards me. "Does the Princess know about the story of the Princess locked up in the tower? If not, I will tell you briefly. A criminal captured the Princess and put her in the tower. The prince saved the princess. Finishes. Well, here I'll do it. The difference is, I will send the Princess to hell instead of the tower. So, don't expect anyone to save the Princess here."

I snorted irritation. He's a real jerk. We don't even know each other and he wants my life. Like I'd give it away easily.

I chuckle mockingly. "Hope someone will save me? You're wrong, you bastard. I never relied on anyone to protect my life. My life is protected by myself."

Whoa! I released the arrow. The man dodged, my arrow stuck in the tree.

Whoa! I released another arrow.

It's difficult. Archery is a long-range weapon. I have to give you some distance.

I stepped back while releasing the arrows. His weapon was also an arrow, but no one knew what other weapon was hidden through his wide robe.

I ran backwards, hiding behind a tree while peeking. He's chasing.

Whoa! Releasing my arrows again, I ran dodging the man, okay I'll call him the A-robed Man now.

Fuck it, I have to make a distance for my arrow to be useful.

Unknowingly, I ran into the forest deeper. After realizing that the atmosphere was getting weird, I cursed at myself.

I'm stupid.

Intending to save themselves from the hunters but instead enter the lion's den? Don't those two choices show the same ending? A suicide?

However, the A-robed Man so lost track of me because I ran off in fidelity to avoid it.

Our distance is thirty meters. And I hope my arrow this one can hurt him even a little.

I put the arrows in the arrow rest, pulled the arrow ropes, and wus! The arrow shot. Again, the man dodged. He's good at evading.

God fucking.

And now he knows where I am.

Whoa!

The arrow was stuck a few centimeters in front of my foot.

"Don't run away again, Princess. We are not cats and dogs. So, please shut up."

"As if I'm gonna do that crazy thing."

"Heh. You are so brave when your life is on the verge of death."

"Why do I need to tell the Princess when you are going to die in a moment?"

I can imagine the vile grin that that bastard man made behind the hood of his robe.

When the A-robed Man raised his bow, there suddenly came faint footsteps approaching. Simultaneously. And that's a lot of numbers.

And for a short time, I had been surrounded by some of the same black-robed people as the man who had lined me up before. The difference is, in the robe there is a kind of silver-colored emblem that is complicated but looks beautiful and elegant.

"Oi, why are you chasing the target first and not waiting for us?" A man in a cape slapped on the shoulder of the Robed Man A.

I can feel the confusion that the A-robed Man put out.

"Who are you?" The voice of the A-robed Man made most of the people in the cape emblematic in confusion.

"You're not our group?" The man who had previously patted the bastard's shoulder looked at his comrades in bewilderment. Just a moment before returning to glance at the A-robed Man warily. "What's your purpose here?"

"Calm down. Looks like our goals are the same."

Then, I could feel many pairs of eyes staring at me from behind the hood of their robes.

Relax, Serethy Rexanne Asher. Calmness is the key to everything. If I show my weakness in front of them, then I'll be finished here. And I don't want to end my life here at all.

I grinned stiffly then grabbed my arrow, making the tip of the arrow a weapon.

I can't possibly use a bow with our distance too close. The bow was a long-range weapon, so it was almost impossible to use that weapon where my distance to the robed people was two to three meters.

Unless I run and keep my distance, I can use my weapon. However, analyzing from how many they were, there were half a dozen, and they were both aiming for my life. It was not easy to escape with the arrows and the weak body of Serethy.

"Haha!" A thunderous laughter sounded from what I could deduce as the leader of the group of people in emblematic robes. I'll call him the Man in B. Cloak.

"In that case, there's no need for hostility from us, right." The B-robed man patted the shoulder of the A-robed Man many times. The enemy of your enemy is a partner, right? Heh, this is ridiculous.

"That's right. I was only assigned to kill the Princess, so were you. So, the cooperation between us will make the task easier."

"Rubber! Ahaha!" The B-robed man laughed again. The level of humor is very low. He turned around and looked at the members of his group. "Everyone, take your weapons! Do it as planned. Group A, arrest the Princess if the prostitute wants to run away. Group B, kill! Ahaha!"

It was a psychopathic laugh that made the adrenaline feel even more challenging. Okay, this world is not right. Not a single human being is right in this world.

After the B-robed Man uttered his command, the members of his group immediately dispersed towards me.

I stabbed the minion's arm with my arrow. Deep. And it was spitting out a lot of blood to the point of igniting anger on the other party.

Goddamn bum.

Relax, Serethy.

But what calm?! Both of my arms are now being held back by the cloaked man's minions. God fucking. Their power is not playful. Well, here you go. Imagine if half a dozen muscular men caught one weak woman alone. Isn't this the true definition of being outnumbered?!

"Basic, asshole!" my yelling. My voice echoed in the air, inviting laughter from the B-robed Man.

"It turns out easy." The man came forward, then clutched my jaw. "I don't know why the Leader told seven people including me to just catch this one whore. He is very weak."

I really wanted to kick her face.

"The body's good."

I don't want to listen to that kind of sentence.

"How you feel, huh?"

Disgusting.

"Chairman, do we just kill him?" The minion asked, making the B-robed Man glare.

"It's our job, but it's a little dear not to feel this woman a little."

"Heh, motherfucker." My voice was filled with indignation, my eyes were highlighted by wrath. He had hurt the self-esteem of many women by saying such things. "You think I'll just let you go?! You dickhead. I am the Princess! You—"

Plaque!

"Would you be the Princess or not, you're not in charge now. No one will save you. So, just according to."

"Haha!" I laugh. Strenuous. Make the group leader confused. "Call according?! Like I'm gonna do it!"

I kicked*************Bonded Man with all my might. The man was not alert at all and immediately shouted in pain.

His minions were angry and started beating me.

Just two seconds after I was beaten and sringed! The golden light was shining from my body. It made the people who surrounded me scream in pain because the light was piercing the retina of their eyes.

"I-This—!"

Their cries echoed, one by one harsh words came out of their mouths. They sound so painful. It was as if their eyes were going blind. It was as if thousands of knives slashed their skin to death.

What I feel is warmth. My body feels warm and comfortable. The bruises and scratches produced by the game of the chase healed by itself.

And also, this dazzling golden light did not hurt my eyes and my body like those bastard robed men.

I don't know what this light is, but I can feel it's mine.

The screams of the robed men instantly subsided. And one by one fell to the ground with a slow thud.

"Ughhh!" I can feel my head hurt. Something entered my mind. And both of my lips opened suddenly. I speak, but I do not speak.

"The children don't know themselves."

Now, in the air, two voices were heard. The first voice is mine, but the second is foreign. However, that second voice showed power, strength, dignity, and majesty at the same time. Meanwhile, the golden light was also still shining dazzlingly. It illuminated almost the entire forest area near me. Into the air, to the sidelines of leaves and shrubs, into the ground, everything.

I could also feel anger exploding inside me, but at the same time it wasn't mine. 

"You are the bastard who has no right to live for hurting my son. You are damned children. I am the Goddess of the Sun, and you will have no blessing but a curse."

After that, the light disappeared quickly. And I lost consciousness.

***

"Damn, shit, shit. Miss Clare!"

Alverro ran as fast as he could to the west in his wide black robe that had now fallen apart. The hood of his long robe came off and displayed his shiny golden hair after being hit by the sunlight.

Alverro bit her lips, enduring the pain that left her skin burning.

In her beautiful sapphire eyes, it was now dripping blood profusely. His eyes were injured and the concentrated liquid was continuously flowing from his eye pellets.

It was certainly painful, but he struggled to catch up with Clare who was in the western part of the forest.

After Serethy unleashed his holy power, Alverro immediately fled from there despite suffering injuries.

"Miss Clare! No one told her that she was a saintess!"