Accusation

"Hello? Is someone there?"

Yohan frowned in surprise. He was quite sure that his hearing was not wrong. He heard a loud crash outside the railing.

"Ancel? Are you there?"

Actually, Yohan did not want to cross the railing. His position as a person from another world was already enough of a cause for serious concern here. Alastair Indark would certainly have a problem if Yohan's reckless behavior were to be reported to the crown prince.

Yohan sighed and scratched his temple. "Did I hear wrong, huh?"

Just as Yohan was about to turn around, he heard another crash. But this time it was softer.

"Damn, I can't take it anymore."

Not to mention if he had to deal with the crown prince later. Yohan could not just walk away, suppressing his curiosity.

"Hey, is anyone in... what the hell?"

Yohan ran over and approached an unconscious body with blood on its chest.

"Ancel! Ancel! What happened to you, why is it like this?"

Yohan slowly laid Ancel's head on his thigh. His nose was bleeding, his mouth was spitting blood, and there was a large gaping wound from his chest to his abdomen.

"Ancel! Ancel!" Yohan shouted in panic.

"Fuck, no, no, no. Don't die, Ancel."

This was the first time that Yohan felt uncomfortable about another person's death. He was no novice. After all, he worked as a bodyguard in his world. Seeing death was a common thing for him. But why was he like this now? Was it the influence of this world? Or was it because Ancel was one of the few people who was willing to be nice to him, even though he was a person from the middle of nowhere?

"Help! Help!"

Yohan shouted as he carried Ancel's bloodied body. Yohan's own body condition was still not good after the black marks appeared from touching his green dragon spear, but he forced himself.

Yohan's scream was heard by the rest of the hunters. They were shocked to see Yohan coming frantically carrying Ancel's bloodied body.

"What happened to Ancel?"

Yohan shook his head. Cold sweat ran down his temples. "I found him in this state."

"Hurry and take him to the barracks. I'll call Captain Indark."

Yohan nodded. He and the other hunters carried Ancel's body into the hunters' barracks. One of the hunters went to find a healer, and the rest tried to help stop Ancel's bleeding.

Yohan looked down and watched his own trembling fingers. He could feel his heart beating fast.

"What happened to me?" Yohan thought to himself.

"-han, Yohan! YOHAN!"

Yohan jumped in surprise. Alastair had arrived with the hunter who had picked him up.

"What happened?"

Yohan shook his head. "I don't know. I heard a loud crash near the railing and... and... I saw Ancel like this. Where's the healer?"

Everyone there looked down sadly. Yohan was confused.

"Where is the healer? Why are you all silent?"

Alastair squeezed Yohan's shoulder. "Too late. Ancel is dead, Yohan."

Yohan was startled. He pushed Alastair's hand away from his shoulder. "What the hell are you talking about? How could he die so easily?"

"He's dead, accept the fact Yohan."

Yohan squeezed his own hair roughly. "What the fuck is this? Why did he have to die? What did he do wrong for someone to kill him so cruelly?"

"I will look into it. You don't need to worry." Alastair tried to reassure him.

"No, no, how can I not worry. There has to be something behind what happened. Someone couldn't have just killed him."

Alastair took a deep breath. "He's a hunter, Yohan. He could die at any moment."

Yohan was annoyed by Alastair's words. It was as if Ancel's life had no value at all.

"What do you mean? Is it because he's not a noble that it doesn't matter if he dies? Oh, of course it does. Alastair Indark is an honorable noble, so such a heinous thing would never happen to you."

One of Yohan's fellow hunters tugged at his arm, trying to stop Yohan from speaking harshly in front of Alastair.

"I..."

Yohan's words trailed off. The wooden door of the hunters' barracks was broken down from the outside. A group of knights came in and pointed their swords at Yohan.

"W-What the hell?"

Alastair also looked surprised. The hunters retreated, not daring to confront the knights directly.

Alastair stepped forward and tried to get the knights' swords away from Yohan. "What the hell is this? Why are you all here?"

"Step aside, Alastair. That is the second prince's order."

Yohan gasped, clearly confused as to why the second prince would suddenly order the knights to kill him.

"Wait, what have I done to deserve this? I've always obeyed your orders."

"You are a suspect in the murder of Ancel Langford. The Second Prince has sent us to arrest you. Your trial will take place after communication with the Crown Prince is completed."

Yohan was at a loss for words. He turned to Alastair, who also looked puzzled.

"Why am I being accused of murder? How could I have killed Ancel?"

"Witnesses saw you cross the railing where hunters are not allowed to go. Witnesses also saw you carrying Ancel's wounded body into the hunters' barracks."

"I found him like that! I didn't want to go over the railing. I heard a loud crash there, so I looked, and Ancel's body was already like that."

Unfortunately, no matter how much Yohan tried to explain the situation, no one believed him. The knights sent by the second prince did not listen at all.

"You can explain it later during the trial."

One of the knights grabbed Yohan's arm and tried to tie him up, but Alastair stopped him.

"Calm down, don't blame Yohan right away. He has nothing to gain by killing hunters who are not nobles."

The knights boldly drew their swords to Alastair's neck. Everyone was shocked, even Yohan. Alastair had always been a knight feared by his comrades, but now they dared to do this.

"Do not hinder us, Alastair Indark. This is the order of the second prince. If you disobey, it will be tantamount to disobeying royal protocol. You will be considered a traitor. You also know what the punishment for a traitor is, right?"

Yohan's hands were tied behind his back. They all surrounded Yohan and held him until he could no longer move.

"Let me go! I'm innocent!"

Yohan screamed in desperation as his body was dragged away by the knights.

***