Chapter 23.1: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ (๐)
โ๐ ๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ!โ
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The innkeeper moved desperately with just that one thought in mind, not allowing himself any distractions. He took out some oil, lit a fire, and made a torch, which he handed to Johan.
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โCarry this and follow me!โ
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โYes!โ
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Johan went out armed only with his weapon, not wearing his armor. There was no time to don all his equipment in such a situation.
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โWhatโs going on?โ
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โWhatโs happening?โ
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The other mercenaries who had been sleeping upstairs were also awakened by the commotion and came down. Those who had drunk a lot were still lying down, while those who had drunk less staggered around trying to understand the situation.
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Johan didnโt respond. Explanations could wait.
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โIf I canโt catch your gang, your hands and feet will be cut off. Letโs go!โ
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๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
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Gamson was about to make the sharpest decision of his life.
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โ. . .Damn, something feels off.โ
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It could have been instinct, or fear of Johan. Either way, Gamsonโs body was screaming.
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I need to run away right now!
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โWhatโs up now?โ
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โBurren is really good at this sort of thing.โ
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While the remaining two chattered, Gamson crept closer to eavesdrop. He thought he heard something. A loud, thumping noise.
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โDamn! Good at what. . .! Iโm an *sshole for trusting these country bumpkins!โ
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Feeling goosebumps all over, Gamson ran to where the horses were tied and untied them. Frightened by his actions, Pra and Pell asked,
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โWhat are you doing?โ
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โWe agreed to wait for Burren!โ
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โYou guys wait, *ssholes! There was a noise! If the job was done properly, why would there be a noise!โ
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As Gamson shouted in terror, the fear spread to the other two. Despite their trust in Burren, they couldnโt ignore Gamsonโs words.
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โIf you want to live, untie the remaining horses and bring them out!โ
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โBut. . . if we take them, what about Burren. . .โ
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โBurrenโs done for! Figure it out yourself *ssholes! Iโm getting out of here!โ
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There was no reason for Gamson to wait for someone heโd just met. He immediately mounted a horse. Pra, being the smarter of the two, quickly followed suit behind Gamson.
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โPell! Iโll leave one horse for Burren, so if he shows up, ride out together!โ
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โUh, uh? O-Okay!โ
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Pra admired his own cunning. He was running away first, but if Burren showed up, he had an excuse.
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โ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต. . .โ
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As Pra slowed down the horse by getting on, Gamson cursed inwardly.
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He wanted to leave Pra behind, but starting a fight here and now would be a bad idea. If he got entangled with Pra and Pell, that knight dastard would catch up.
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โ๐ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด!โ
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Stealing horses from Eldans or another part of the town felt too risky, but now he regretted not taking that risk.
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Now they had to escape on a horse together with the knight dastard on their heels. . .
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โ๐๐ตโ๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ข๐บ. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ณ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ๐ธ๐ขโ. . .โ
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โ!!!โ
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Gamson saw it clearly. The light shining through the gaps of the inn in the darkness.
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Weโve been spotted!
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โDamn it!! Run! Run, you *ssholes! The knight dastard is chasing us!โ
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Gamson was so terrified that he forgot to lower his voice. He used to curse when Johan wasnโt around, but now the mere sound of a door opening in the distance was enough to scare him senseless.
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๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซโ
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Gamson and Pra left first, with Fell scrambling onto the horse belatedly. Burren didnโt show up, but he had long been forgotten by the three.
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โRun! Run!!โ
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๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก!
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Lucky for them, Pell was the best horse rider among them and familiar with the geography of the area. Although he started late, it was fortunate that he sped ahead, allowing them to follow without stumbling in the dark.
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The three thieves desperately ran towards the town entrance. Once past it, the nightโs darkness would protect them.