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The hunters cautiously expressed their viewpoints.
“The stench is still overpowering, so it won’t come near this area for a while. However…”
As he drew a breath, another hunter continued.
“It’s enraged, so it will undoubtedly return.”
“If we’re going to move, this is our only opportunity.”
As another hunter trailed off, the rest merely glanced around.
Then, Lyna concisely summarized.
“We must move now, but it isn’t safe to do so.”
In contrast to the hunters’ indecisiveness, Lyna swiftly made her decision.
She understood that lingering in this place without devising a solid plan would increase the likelihood of another attack by the black tiger.
“Prepare to move. Swiftly and efficiently. Attend to the wounded first. If necessary, discard everything that becomes burdensome.”
At the conclusion of her statement, Lyna’s gaze fell upon the prey captured by Smith.
The hunters struggled to conceal their uneasy expressions.
For Lyna, the solution was simple: discard it and be done with it.
However, if the Emperor’s third son were to search for the trophy after reaching safety, the hunters who abandoned it would face significant trouble.
Nevertheless, the hunters’ faces brightened when Lyna swiftly added the following words.
“I’ll take full responsibility.”
With a wave of Lyna’s hand, the hunters bowed deeply and dispersed.
“Hey, take a look at this!”
“We need to mask the scent of blood, so for now…”
“Ugh…”
“Hey, don’t pass out!”
Starting with those severely injured, such as those trampled by the black tiger or struck by a stray arrow.
“Can you stand?”
“It’s a tear, but not deep…”
Even those with minor wounds.
Here and there, the groans of the injured and the voices of those tending to them echoed, but they were mere whispers.
Even though the black tiger had vanished from sight, they couldn’t risk making loud noises that might provoke it.
“Miss, here’s some medicine. I acquired it while I was out. They said it’s highly effective.”
Becky seemed to be wandering among unfamiliar hunters and even received medicines from them.
Without wiping away the ointment that trickled down her cheek, Lyna remained motionless as Becky applied it. Then, abruptly, Lyna took a step forward.
“Huh? Miss, miss?”
As her hand holding the ointment sliced through the air, Becky hurriedly followed Lyna. However, before long, the ointment ended up in the hands of the captain of the guards.
“Thank you.”
“They claim it’s effective, so if we run out, I’ll find more. How is his condition?”
Gazing down at the unconscious guard, who seemed dazed, Lyna inquired.
“It appears he lost consciousness due to the shock of being unable to use his leg. The bone is definitely fractured, but we’ll need a doctor to provide a more accurate assessment.”
“Understood. When we return home, ensure he receives the finest care.”
With Lyna herself emphasizing “the finest” care, the guard would make a full recovery unless amputation of his leg became necessary.
Above the deeply bowed head of the guard captain, Lyna’s voice dropped.
“You’ve done what was necessary.”
Although it wasn’t exactly praise or commendation, a faint sense of satisfaction appeared on the captain’s face.
Upon seeing this, Becky, who had been saddened by the loss of the potent medicine, also wore a satisfied expression.
Casting an indifferent glance at them, Lyna issued the order.
“Everyone, prepare to move.”
As the scattered crowd began their preparations, Lyna scanned the area in search of Jane, but she was nowhere to be found.
Lyna wondered if Jane had slipped away amidst the chaos.
Lyna had verified what Jane was doing, but she hadn’t confirmed the specifics.
It seemed contradictory, but that was the best way to describe it.
Lyna shook her head briskly.
The most pressing matter at hand was to escape from this place.
As everyone found their assigned tasks and played their roles, there was someone who remained idle—someone who wasn’t completely incapacitated like the First Prince, nor hindered by injuries.
“Your Highness, it’s dangerous for you to be here.”
Smith, his eyes vacant, followed Lyna’s path without reacting when a hunter dared to roughly grab his arm.
With just a few more steps, he could have reached out and grasped her arm.
Crisis was an opportunity… supposedly.
Smith’s gaze stubbornly clung to Lyna.
She should have looked back at least once, but she was completely ignoring Smith.
Soon, he might be reduced to begging her on his knees just to get a single glance, like those foolish men.
Smith shook his head forcefully.
There was still a chance.
Until they escaped from here and reached a safe zone.
Or… was there not?
Within the territory of the black tiger, no other beasts that posed a threat would appear.
But Smith wasn’t contemplating seeking out the black tiger—that would be madness.
He understood that great risks often yielded great rewards, but if he couldn’t fend off the black tiger properly…
While he was still engrossed in fruitless thoughts, the preparations for departure progressed steadily, leaving the Third Prince behind.
“Is this it?”
The muttering of someone ceased almost simultaneously with the movements of the people.
Following Lyna’s order to prioritize the care of the wounded, those who couldn’t walk were carried, and those who could walk walked with the support of those with free hands.
Soon, the gazes of the prepared individuals turned towards a particular spot.
Red hair shimmered in the sunlight amidst the faint swirling dust.
And before long, a calm and composed voice resounded, seemingly impossible from someone who had just faced off alone against a black tiger.
“Let’s return.”
Thanks to the guidance of an experienced hunter and the vigilant watchfulness of those who followed, just as Lyna had predicted, they were fortunate enough to make their way back to their starting point without encountering the black tiger or any other dangerous beast.
“Oh my, Your Highness!”
“Quickly, this way!”
Witnessing the almost unconscious First Prince, the crowd became agitated and moved to assist him, while others approached with expressions of surprise and bewilderment.
Although many influential figures were absent due to the ongoing hunting competition, there were people available to attend to the injured and weary.
“Hoo.”
The tension that had been gripping them, causing their nerves to stand on end, began to loosen from their shoulders.
As the aftermath was being properly handled without the need for her to issue individual commands, Lyna cast her gaze around the surroundings.
“Did she leave?”
Jane briefly appeared among the busy servants before disappearing once more.
“Miss!”
Becky, who had arrived from somewhere, was carrying a bunch of something.
But soon, she set them down and opened her mouth, her arms trembling.
“Phew, it should be fine now. I found this…”
She didn’t finish her sentence.
-Boom!
With the sound of a tree snapping, a dark beast plummeted right into the center of the open space.
ROOOOOAAARRRRR!
As the beast landed on the ground, it crouched low and let out a powerful roar, its spine erect.
The black tiger showed no sign of flinching, its eyes fixed on everyone, nostrils flaring.
“Gasp!”
“Kyah, Kyaaah!”
-Crash!
-Thunk.
From various directions, the sound of teacups shattering, the thud of someone falling, and uncontrollable screams echoed one after another.
Naturally, the black tiger’s ears twitched sharply, and its whiskers stood on end.
A mixture of terror and gasps escaped from those who witnessed the black tiger swelling its body and baring its teeth.
“How… how is this possible?”
“Did it appear out of nowhere?”
“What in the world is happening?”
The hunters who came here to the safe zone away from the black tiger could not hide their confusion.
If the black tiger had shown any signs of pursuit, they would never have ventured into this place so recklessly.
Not one person, but about ten hunters had repeatedly confirmed that the black tiger was not following them as they guarded and surveyed the surroundings.
But what was this?
“Oh… such bad luck, incredibly unlucky…”
A sigh escaped from someone, accompanied by the words that tumbled out with it.
Yes, it was an incredibly unfortunate turn of events, like a soliloquy escaping someone’s lips.
How could the most ferocious and perilous beast, which should have been somewhere deep within the forest by now, appear in this very spot?
It was an unfathomable occurrence, the when and how of its arrival unknown.
“Maybe someone shot an arrow…”
They recalled the single arrow that had initially triggered the black tiger’s rampage but quickly dismissed the idea.
If someone had shot an arrow so carefully while on the move, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.
Facing the black tiger before them, the pale-faced individuals struggled to find a reason for this incomprehensible event, but none could come up with a plausible answer.
A few minutes after those who had been looking after Lyna departed for the safe zone…
The black tiger, lured back by the potent scent, returned to the area once the smell had somewhat dissipated, attempting to catch the scent of something “good” instead.
GRRRRRRR
Yet, the grass that had carried that enticing aroma had long been uprooted by Jane.
GRRRRRRRRRRRR
The black tiger, following suit, had pursued the “scent” imperceptible to human senses, but there was no way for people to comprehend the odor that only beasts could detect.
Especially if that “scent” was unique to this forest, at this time, during this hunting competition.
From their perspective, they could only assume that the black tiger had randomly intruded upon this particular place by chance.
The black tiger, its nostrils flaring, turned its gaze in two directions.