Raising the Princess to Overcome Death Chapter 65

65. Engagement - Hunting Event

"Lena, wait! Don't go. Let's wait."

"Wow! I found this. Shouldn't we go down and check it out?"

Leo stopped the excited Lena from following the footprints. Up until now, they always reported the Noguhwa to the hunting team and caught it together.

But this time, Leo chose a different option.

"Okay, let's go down. But Lena, there's something I need to tell you. I know what's down there."

He sat Lena down and explained the situation, although it was a lie.

"What? You believe what Grandpa Boris said? Hey, that old man has dementia. He just drinks and tells tall tales all the time."

Lena looked incredulous.

Leo said, "Anyway, listen. According to Grandpa Boris, there's a monster fox that keeps appearing in that valley. Looking at these tracks, it seems like it's that fox. Let's check it out carefully... How about we try to catch it ourselves?"

"A monster? Then... You mean a beast? Dad said we can't catch a beast alone."

"I prepared for this. I brought something to show you at the camp."

"I already saw it. I was wondering what you were carrying so heavily, and it was full of iron stakes."

"...How could you go through my stuff without asking?"

"So what. Anyway, those stakes are what you prepared, right? No wonder you kept going to the blacksmith."

Lena continued with a "Geez" and added, "I was going to ask you anyway, how did you get all those stakes? You didn't buy them, did you... Don't tell me you stole your dad's money?"

"No! I didn't steal."

"Then how did you get them? They must have been expensive."

"I didn't buy them. I borrowed them. I'll return them after using them. The iron can be melted down again. And I got a discount by helping make the stakes."

Lena scratched her head at his explanation.

"Really? Leo, you... I don't know what to say. Do you trust people too easily, or are you just dumb... You trusted Grandpa Boris and went through all this trouble? What if there was no fox?"

To be called dumb by this quirky girl...

Leo was dumbfounded.

"Anyway, there is a fox. Let's check it out first and then decide. Will you help me catch it?"

"Hmm... It could be dangerous. If it's really a beast, we should just tell the hunting team, right?"

Leo coaxed her again, talking about how they would be legendary warriors if they caught a beast on their first hunt, how Uncle Dehor would praise them, and how they would get a large share of the catch.

Lena's ears perked up, and she finally gave in.

"Okay. Let's go and have a look."

"You made the right choice. But be careful. We mustn't be noticed."

"Don't worry."

He was worried.

Leo nagged Lena a few more times before they descended the valley.

This was a big risk. The Noguhwa wasn't an easy opponent. It was the size of twenty grown men and moved swiftly. They could die trying to catch it.

But going to war meant certain death.

Of course, dying at the hands of the Swordmaster would likely improve his swordsmanship, but it was uncertain, and repeating the same failure was wasteful.

There was nothing more to learn, and going to war wouldn't make Lena a princess. Lena had confessed, saying she would marry him if the path to knighthood opened.

So he had to succeed in this {Hunting} event at all costs. That way, he'd have a reason not to go to war.

Leo and Lena carefully stepped on the accumulated snow, making no noise as they walked.

Knowing the location of the fox den, it didn't take long to find it.

Leo raised his hand to stop Lena and put a finger to his lips. Then he pointed far down the valley.

There, in front of a narrow den entrance, was a gigantic fox, whiter than the snow, leisurely grooming its fur.

This was the fourth time encountering the 'Noguhwa.'

Lena's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly pointed back and forth between herself and Leo, mouthing the words.

- How are we supposed to catch that?

Leo also motioned with his hand, mouthing the words.

- Let's head back. Let's go back.

The two retreated even more quietly than before.

Once they were far enough away from the valley, Lena let out a big breath.

"Hey! How are we supposed to catch that? Let's tell the hunting team."

"No, we can catch it."

"What? Leo, get a grip. That's dangerous."

Leo carefully explained his plan to Lena, which was based on hints he had picked up from the hunter father in the previous childhood friend scenario.

Lena, still skeptical, asked, “Did you hear that from Grandpa Boris too? Do foxes really move like that?”

“No, I read it in a book. You know we have a lot of books at home, right?”

Noel Dexter had read extensively after his retirement, filling his study with numerous books. He spent most of his pension on books.

While there might not have been any hunting books, it didn't matter. Most of Leo’s lies were difficult to verify.

Lena Ainar, who didn't read, wasn't likely to check the study where her father spent his days or ask Boris about the fox stories, as his response would be predictable—more tall tales.

Even if she did, Boris was often drunk and rambling, so there was nothing to worry about.

“But…” Lena still hesitated despite hearing his plan.

No matter how she thought about it, it seemed too reckless. They could just report to the hunting team and catch it together, earning significant credit for the discovery.

She spoke in a somewhat subdued voice, “Leo, we should just tell the hunting team…”

“Why? Are you scared?” Leo taunted.

Lena Ainar had a strong sense of pride. Though not as fiery-tempered as Katrina, she became stubborn when her pride was hurt.

As expected, she turned red and shouted, “What? Who said I was scared! I just think it’s more sensible to catch it with the hunting team…”

“Then stay out of it. I’ll catch it myself. You can just take the credit for the discovery.”

He cut her off deliberately to irritate her.

Lena flinched, then glared at him with fierce eyes.

“You want to talk like that? Fine! Let’s go! I’ll be the bait. Who do you think you’re calling a coward?”

Hiding his triumphant smile, Leo returned to the hunting camp with a grumbling Lena.

He asked Dehor for permission to act alone, using the excuse of teaching Lena how to set traps.

Dehor, having seen his daughter frequently set traps incorrectly, readily agreed and even made a cheeky joke.

“Playing together is fine, but don't go too far. Everything can be heard in the forest... Hahaha.”

Other warriors around them, initially disgruntled by their solo venture, laughed along with the joke.

Indeed, Lena still had much to learn and would continue to participate in hunts. Letting them act alone once was acceptable.

Lena, blushing furiously, returned to Leo's tent, muttering complaints.

“Ugh. Treating us like kids. Just wait and see.”

She glanced at Leo, who was busy checking the iron stakes. Feeling deflated, Lena dismissed her thoughts (what thoughts?) and focused on planning with Leo to catch the Noguhwa.

The iron stakes, with their pointed ends, smelled of metal dust.

“Wow, the meat smells good.”

Down in the valley, Lena loudly muttered to herself as she grilled meat, fanning the smoke and scent upwards. She was the bait.

- A fox that big would see humans as prey or toys.

- Foxes silently approach their prey, leap high, and drop jaws first to bite their target.

Leo shared the hints he got from the hunter father with Lena.

Listening to him, Lena was skeptical.

‘Do foxes really move like that?’

Though she confidently said she would join Leo, she had asked her dad for confirmation about fox behavior just in case.

To her surprise, Leo was right!

Realizing the credibility of his plan, she assisted him without hesitation.

Now, thinking that a giant fox might be watching her from somewhere, Lena focused on grilling the meat.

‘He said not to look up no matter what.’

Leo had repeatedly stressed one thing. She must never act as if she noticed the Noguhwa approaching.

- If the prey notices, the fox will quickly close in and bite with its jaws or swipe with its forelegs.

Leo couldn’t confront the Noguhwa head-on like Dehor. Nor could he anticipate the exact moment the Noguhwa would leap like Dehor could. That came from experience.

But there was one sure moment when the fox would leap high.

- Foxes leap to avoid detection by their prey.

When the prey was unaware, that was when the fox first leaped high.

- Foxes silently approach their prey, leap high, and drop jaws first to bite their target.

Knowing the exact dropping motion, Leo planned to take maximum advantage of the Noguhwa’s first attack.

It was a clear, windless day.

The valley was eerily quiet, with only the sound of meat grilling and Lena’s muttering, “This looks delicious. Time to eat?” echoing in the air.

Then, with no sound, the giant fox leaped.

Leo, watching from a distance, shouted, “Lena! Move!”

Following the prearranged plan, Lena rolled to the side as soon as she heard Leo’s shout. Leo, who had been hiding, rushed out with his sword.

- Scream! Scream!

The place where Lena had stood collapsed with the sound of breaking wood.

The fox’s jaws and front paws, now planted on the ground, were pierced by sharp iron stakes.

Some stakes had punctured through its paws, protruding from the top.

Success! The trap they spent three days setting up had worked perfectly.

Leo and Lena had dug into the frozen ground to plant the stakes, covered them with branches, then concealed them with leaves and snow.

It was a method to inflict significant damage before confronting the Noguhwa, using its habit of leaping vertically to catch unsuspecting prey.

The Noguhwa writhed, trying to paw at its jaws with its injured front paws.

But the stakes embedded in its paws wouldn’t come out.

Blood from its paws and jaws dyed its white fur and the snowy ground red.

“Haah!”

Closing the distance, Leo charged at the Noguhwa with a battle cry.

He had to wound its legs before it regained its senses!

Though he wanted to stab its neck or heart, failing to kill it in one blow might let it escape.

Leo chose a safer plan. Without slowing down, he thrust his sword deep.

- Squeal!

The fox, stabbed in the hind leg, jumped and rolled. It tried to limp away, but Lena blocked its path.

“Yah!”

Lena’s sword slashed the fox’s cheek, striking the stake in its jaw and making a clanging sound.

Startled by the unfamiliar pain, the Noguhwa reared up on its hind legs, scanning its surroundings.

Two monkeys.

Even in its shocked state, it noted that only two small primates were around. The fox's temper flared.

Its nose crinkled with rage, showing its frustration and anger.