flstandardbreds Chapter 743 Hunting
Chapter 743 Hunting
"Whoosh!"
A sharp sound suddenly rang out from the grass in the hunting grounds. A fox burst out of the dense vegetation, its limbs pushing off the ground with extreme panic. Its body drew an arc on the ground as it fled forward with all its might.
Several hunting dogs followed closely behind, their throats emitting low, fierce barks. Their taut muscles made them incredibly fast, relentlessly pursuing the fox's escape route without letting up for a moment.
Behind the hounds, a group of nobles galloped on horseback, their hands gripping their crossbows, their eyes fixed on the fleeing fox ahead. They urged their horses on with rapid, powerful movements, arrows poised to be released from the crossbows, yet they could not find the right moment to fire accurately.
The fox nimbly darted across several low bushes, its slender figure twisting and turning among the branches and leaves before disappearing completely from sight, leaving only a flurry of wind and the muffled thud of horses' hooves.
On a distant hill, King Midland sat firmly on his horse, calmly watching the group of nobles chasing foxes below. His gaze swept over the anxious figures chasing their prey, but he made no extra movements, simply observing this hunting game that belonged to the nobility.
"What a troublesome prey."
The king's voice rang out calmly, his tone carrying a hint of world-weariness, showing no interest in participating, only the nonchalant attitude of an observer.
The nobleman beside him reined in his horse, bringing it to a stop beside the king, and turned to look at him.
"Would Your Majesty like to join the hunt?"
"No, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to breathe if I participated in this at my age."
The king shook his head slightly, his tone without the slightest hint of reluctance, frankly admitting that his physical condition was no longer suitable for such an intense chase, without a trace of deliberate bravado from an emperor.
"Besides, if I were to shoot the prey they had been chasing for two hours, they probably wouldn't be happy either."
Behind the king, Count Yuris also rode on horseback, his gaze fixed on the king's back. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, and no one could see the thoughts churning within them. He simply stood quietly, his aura carrying a subtle but heavy weight.
A moment later, he slowly withdrew his gaze from the king, casually glancing at the side of his head and turning his eyes to a spot not far away. There, Griffith was riding a white horse, sitting upright on its back, while Princess Charlotte was also riding a horse, standing side by side with Griffith. The distance between the two was neither too close nor too far, maintaining a just-right posture.
Count Yuris's gaze lingered briefly on the two men, without revealing much, before he looked away.
At this moment, a man holding a crossbow spurred his horse to Earl Yuris's side, his movements respectful and cautious, without making any unnecessary noise.
Count Yuris nodded slightly to the man without saying a word. The man received the signal, immediately turned his horse around, and slowly rode backward, quickly disappearing into the gaps in the crowd without attracting anyone's attention.
In the hunting grounds below, the cunning fox continued to run desperately, its agile body constantly dodging the pursuit from all directions. The nobles raised their hands and fired several arrows in succession, the sound of arrows piercing the air ringing out, but they all grazed the fox's body and landed on the ground. Not a single one hit its target, and they could only watch helplessly as their prey continued to escape.
"Damn it, it's going to run into the bushes!"
A nobleman couldn't help but let out an anxious growl as the fox was about to disappear into the dense bushes again. Once inside, finding it again would be nearly impossible, and their pursuit would be in vain.
Just then, Guts spurred his horse forward, and his warhorse strode out at great speed, blocking the fox's escape route. It came to a steady stop, blocking the fox's path.
"what!"
Gus gave a low shout, and the startled fox panicked instantly. Its original escape route was completely blocked, and its limbs suddenly stopped. It then immediately changed direction, abandoning its plan to hide in the bushes, and ran wildly toward the open plain, completely exposed to everyone's sight.
"Well done, lad!"
The nobleman beside him immediately praised loudly, his tone full of joy. Then, without saying anything more, he spurred his horse toward the plains to continue chasing the fox. The sound of hooves rang out again, and a large group of people followed.
Gus watched the nobles' departing figures, a slight smirk playing on his lips, his face filled with displeasure. He felt that their pursuit was meaningless, nothing more than a pointless pastime, and that being forced to participate only added to his frustration.
"Gus, is something bothering you?"
Jedo and Rickett rode up slowly and stopped beside Guts. Seeing Guts's obviously displeased expression, they asked him a question.
"nothing."
Gus didn't turn around, responding in a flat tone, not wanting to explain his emotions further.
"It's written all over your face."
Rickett looked at Gus' tense profile and spoke bluntly, seeing through his insincerity at a glance.
"Why do we have to watch these nobles hunt here? It's ridiculous."
Gus finally couldn't help but complain, his tone full of resistance.
"There's nothing we can do; it's our duty. The king ordered us to act as guards during this hunt."
Jiedu explained softly.
"Besides, this is much easier than on the battlefield."
"Yeah, at least we don't have to worry about being killed."
Rickett immediately agreed. In his opinion, being able to stay away from the bloodshed and danger of the battlefield and complete the mission safely was already the best thing that could be done, and there was no need to worry too much.
Guts raised his hand and touched the greatsword slung across his back. His fingertips touched the cold, hard blade, and his agitation intensified.
"I still prefer wielding a sword."
He spoke, his tone carrying a hint of determination. Only when he held a longsword and faced battle did he feel truly alive. This kind of comfortable and boring guard duty only made him feel uncomfortable.
"Huh? Is that all you can think of?"
Behind the group, Gorcas slowly rode out on his horse, interrupting their conversation with a tone that was both disdainful and lecturing.
"Listen carefully, the only ones who have ever been able to serve as guards during the Autumn Hunt are the White Dragon Knights."
"In other words, this is an honor bestowed upon the chosen ones. After years of fighting on the battlefield, we have finally reached this position, which is equivalent to having a secure job."
"But you!"
Gorkas abruptly turned his gaze to Gus, his tone suddenly becoming stern, carrying a hint of disappointment.
"How can you call this absurd!"
Gus looked at Gorkas and remained silent. He knew in his heart that what Gorkas said was true. This status and honor was the goal that countless people fought for, but he just couldn't agree with it.
This seemingly glamorous and stable life was more like an invisible shackle in his eyes, binding his hands and feet tightly, preventing him from pursuing the life he wanted and from freely wielding his sword in battle. This shackle was more unbearable for him than the clash of swords on the battlefield.
Seeing that Gus remained unmoved and showed no emotion on his face, Gorkas's anger grew even stronger, and he stopped trying to persuade him.
"Since you enjoy wielding a sword, then go to the battlefield."
He left those words behind, then turned his horse around without looking at Gus, rode away, and left with a look of resentment and disdain.
Casca, standing nearby, seemed completely unconcerned about the argument, her face devoid of any extra expression, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her.
Her gaze remained fixed on a spot not far away, where Griffith and Princess Charlotte still rode side by side.