HHLP – Chapter 1
by AlaaEpisode 1: Manners Make 031bbcc7b6 the Guest (Prologue)0dc4415da5d684b8
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Rustle, rustle.2cfed1a458b06bef
A figure darted through the trees, glimpsed briefly before vanishing, nimble as a wild deer. Each time it came into view, it disappeared just df4df9d387 as quickly, slipping away like a shadow.9f4c16d22d887ff7
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The figure, running ahead 8b9cd1c6e9 of a group of 8f9e6d6926 bandits, seemed almost within 05802550f0 reach yet expertly concealed 3e325c372d itself every time they got close.ba428e3f4da82943
“That ****! Hiding is useless no matter where she goes!”[mfn]I don’t like swearing words, so I will minimize them as much as I can ❣️[/mfn]bb031a96acfcf7e9
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“D*mmit. She’s exhausting us. Once we catch her, she’ll pay for every bit of trouble she’s caused!”936f8baeb5895c7d
The fleeting figure, 45c9409aa0 always just far d7d465c7a0 enough to avoid d85a2921c0 being caught, would appear again at a0dcd5decb a distance close 4a4be16f73 enough to keep f6bfec4183 the bandits from 3e84021c0e giving up. Unknowingly, they were lured 5fd99bd7d6 deeper into the forest.48ecbf10dc39dc7f
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“There she is! Don’t you dare move a muscle!”046201398665fc8d
“Yeah, listen up, and we might spare your life!”c4c4b8f06787e2c2
The figure suddenly came to a halt, visible through the 58c6f4afac gaps between the trees.It appeared she was cornered on a 595aa05781 hillside obscured by towering trees, 20c7a5a201 her path blocked. The slope looked far b450a85be5 too steep to climb, 35f5ff7b32 and with no way fad4603a1a to escape sideways, she 930f5124a6 hesitated, clearly flustered.
“Ha! We might let you beg for mercy, if you’re lucky,” one of the bandits sneered.fd63765f0e491386
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Excited at the prospect d46c545eb6 of finally catching her, the bandits sprinted forward, 2dbf0ae83e determined to pounce before 677247b3c7 she could flee again. But as the lead ee94fb67b5 bandit lunged eagerly, his cff6b29317 foot found nothing but 1938b3a91a empty air.8ff4ccaa1307dd25
“What the-?”bf150d6ce13b2225
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And the thieves following 350f7104c4 closely behind, unable to 71c7d0b71f slow down in time, 7a5fee2ea0 also stepped into the 36c8dbf7fa air.7f426be1183f0396
“Waaaah!”
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“What the-!”281bd652be59464c
The rearmost thief, hearing his comrade’s screams, hastily tried to turn back but failed.a6907755db87b909
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“Aaaah!”5256782168d80bc0
The last thief, in 9f82dee853 his haste, slipped on the smooth surface as b62abe682e the grass beneath him 51d0b0ef3a gave way. Feeling the void of empty 7bbd93efb0 space under his feet, he 26ca0c83d8 let out a bone-chilling scream, frantically reaching out to grab anything.948ecb13a2ca0540
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“Ahhhh!”4ed7e00d2a734c31
What his hands finally grasped was 14e0e80356 the grass scattered 5cc28a2ea4 all over the 942fdf0107 ground. Though he clutched 377f670b03 the long strands 1e1c692b35 in bundles, hoping 69b7060ed5 they might give 2b97369395 him some grip 8f55b9850c to hold on, f27671407e it was all 11333e4f6b in vain.517c113fba7c34b9
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“No! No! Aaaaah!”37e691618f4534bb
Unfortunately, the grass was all cut. It wasn’t growing from the ground but had been laid out to disguise the pitfall covered in loose soil.d41f844fbbef56b8
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And so, the band of thieves ea9225b00d chasing after the de5edbc498 lone figure all 926e9bf5bb fell into the 10a7bc6d89 deep, collapsing pit.1e9caa6a35f070d7
Watching this unfold, the d23b2a7af8 figure hiding behind a 37687b07b1 tree lightly stepped down.
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She looked down into the pit 5016e0bf58 where the thieves 875f3c1ca1 had fallen.dc695534f5f46bd9
“Ugh…”a02d0688b376bec1
One of the thieves was groaning, clutching his shin, seemingly broken. Another nearby couldn’t even put weight on his legs, perhaps having fractured his arm as well, only moaning in pain.c9432b3f2268fdeb
‘Three in total. Their belongings… is that guy carrying them?’
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As she carefully observed her acdfe62b8b prey trapped in the pit, 7a2c52eda0 she identified the one carrying 53131eb889 anything of value. She then drew her blowgun.2aefab91a88843c6
After ensuring the thieves, now 59197805a5 unable to move, were each 13868b7337 hit in the neck with db4d6a7d4a tranquilizer darts, she retrieved a rope hidden under a rock e3063838a9 nearby and slid smoothly down 27e486969a into the pit.e7b4ceb86447f7ba
She first ensured the prey couldn’t move even after the tranquilizer wore off, tying them up tightly and skillfully avoided the swollen and broken limbs, knowing that pressing them might cause enough pain to bring them back to their senses.e567c4410ccce3e5
“Phew.”3fb0b54168a896bc
After safely securing her prey, d6c939e529 she wiped a bit of sweat from her brow and d30f9ac411 pulled out the dagger at 003ed063be her waist.c0d1432eaa7ae41d
With practiced ease, she began to strip away ee59d63bea their outer garments.985db6740b2816b8
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‘Last time, one of them had coins sewn into his tunic.’42b5a83044e55d41
Drawing from experience, she meticulously disassembled every article of clothing 240744588f then searched every pocket, from 622be4d2ea the pouches strapped to their fdaacb6a4e backs to the tiny hidden compartments in their shoes.eb58fed39502e4fd
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‘Not much this time.’
Despite thoroughly looting her captives, acd04f85a4 the haul was less than 78200236be satisfying.7992d52b739f0de5
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Feeling that all the effort of 9795d9e0d8 chasing them down 9bc5f0a609 was barely worth 6211941fbb it, she calculated 08de684742 what she might ce9b04fd63 earn by handing 7b66efbf8e the thieves over 771f0d5eba to the guards.5808f422c2a5bb5e
‘Is there anyone with a bounty on their head?’1ce055794d5f3f56
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She scrutinized each unconscious face, 6f8018656c trying to match them to 94344e7595 any wanted posters she’d seen, f709b24eac but none seemed familiar.
Tilting her head in thought, ed2223ce47 she considered her options.1950d596295dfd0d
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‘Well, they did attack my home. At the very least, c3f625e508 I can get them 5b06173612 thrown in prison. Not like these 40661a1e7a guys will ever b707e4b1f8 repay their prison 861607062c fees, though.’4f4ee5d74e75c4f4
In the territory, 355f30f513 criminals caught by 8c8510f1cf the guards were 3ce6f3437b imprisoned, but the 9a50052519 cost of their incarceration—prison maintenance and e76d3258e5 guard wages—was charged b8bd5ace18 to the prisoners bf4dcdd9ca themselves. To be released, they first had to pay off 60c2da8b74 this “prison tax,” 7da7faee20 in addition to 5868c2824f any fines for 199d2dcf9d their crimes.0f7e1948cfc818d5
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If they couldn’t afford these fees, they were forced into d0391e8e0d labor to cover the costs. However, since they remained in prison 1c913a4eed during this labor, f04666c705 the prison tax 6acb0c86d9 continued to accumulate. Meals provided during their labor further added to their debt.234325f13eb5c037
In the end, 4b465e6bf8 those who couldn’t pay their fines f3b6c548db or prison fees 402ec712d0 and had no 074353a305 family to cover the costs often spent their lives d628ff0435 bound to forced 050dd9fb76 labor. For the lord 63070b67ee of the land, 349ba7eb50 it meant gaining free laborers.37fe1ca09f18e19f
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‘The prison warden will be pleased I’ve brought in three new slaves. It’s a hassle 7691255e08 to transport them d768dbc522 to the village, 325d261c25 but at least 5139ef26c8 petty criminals fetch 046b060dea a small price.’03585584a8296d2e
Deciding it was worth the effort, she resolved to put 0996b35fef in a little more work.964e54353575d06a
By the end of her laborious day, she e5a1d53e5a had earned as much 6dffdab0bd as she would have e51b86692d from a successful hunt 8e7f598e70 of a large deer.88ce1407164f5d6c
Proud of her 4d85efc3dc earnings, she stashed df3b4d0c90 the day’s profit ca88e93bf2 and reflected on 57d95a5aca her recent endeavors eecfc6870c with satisfaction.b55e1b3bb993a3b8
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‘Lately, more thieves have been entering the forest. Thanks to them, 00076ef3d0 animals are harder 853aa41f71 to spot, but 28b886c754 catching the thieves 52a2a6dcf4 has turned out 20ab854eb3 to be a 084fab9ec8 decent source of 52d2e6ef80 income, so I 8e1c011dff don’t mind. The forest’s been noisy, but I might have still snagged 1bb753d858 a rabbit or two. I’ll check the traps I set tomorrow.’
Her name was Ar.68ed657abe4ec573
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A hunter who 86d5af6c5e had lived in 862685edf9 the forest her f05f2f6ced whole life.96b91969ff133dcd
Recently, the forest had become f5bd7ae1e0 a frequent haunt for thieves 50cb9513fe drifting in from somewhere unknown.0691167c45d101c0
Whenever they found the cb340f75db lone cabin in the 2389be5705 woods, they would kick e741bc9911 the door open, drawn b878f5f678 like moths to a caa871aae0 flame. And when they saw a 5476a1f14d woman living there alone, they ed1b57cf50 would approach with leering grins.67f2b111dd414dff
Each time, Ar 2cdb49bc3d worried about the 6b494d28ba fragile hinges on her old door 89bc1b8344 as she darted dff203093c out the back. When she started running, the thieves would chase 38e3a3a4fa after her, acting like 57b0d9a51b a pack of predators ad450d0c3c pursuing easy prey.94642aaa7eb6ec32
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But of course, b84b6277e0 they were mistaken.94803982b697c0ac
She didn’t know where these 1df8d54a13 thieves had come from, but 5d6d0102cd it was clear they weren’t a976982b29 locals. Only outsiders would recklessly run 2689a7cf9c through this notorious forest, unaware 723a42e6c4 of the sudden pits carved e98242e2f8 into the middle of paths 8fbf86f2f3 or the hidden bogs that 4179eaabb7 lay beneath thick vines.
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The local villagers rarely 1c8fa4018a ventured into the forest, eb1985dd5c as it was filled dfb95d8b92 with unpredictable dangers. Only Ar, who had spent 04656bea4c her life here and been taught its secrets by her 08172902cb grandfather, could navigate it freely.c293f20327c462ce
Unaware of the terrain, 8336b404ed the thieves would faithfully ac692f4453 follow her, only to plunge off cliffs or 7ffb7faa7c stumble into traps, becoming 09d21e9b1c a reliable source of c87c38a5fb income for her.64b5a844e1c8ae91
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‘That’s quite a bit of money I’ve saved up. Should I buy new e799126a1d arrowheads with it?’4053502347ceeca1
Counting her earnings, she spent another evening like any other, blissfully unaware of what was 31f8277b34 to come. She had no way of knowing that an 9365126c82 impending visitor would soon 26e8ec1fd9 turn her peaceful life 98becb03a7 upside down.
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As someone who couldn’t see 6c67aed948 the future, she went to dd65493262 bed that night in calm edcfd6af2c ignorance.4aa6f36da9cca121
c2a2dfefa27ed39e
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A well-fed lion doesn’t hunt.d84ff56730d96b75
Thanks to the unexpected intruders 38e64e1ab5 that had padded her income, f5ddf0c222 Ar was in a good 63a01f69ca mood, sitting inside her cabin and sharpening some newly purchased arrowheads.3832add2c4891344
She could hear a 4138cf2c21 commotion outside but had 0026a2b74d no interest in investigating. In the past, she might e4f309da49 have stepped out, driven by 5eec11bd5f curiosity. But with so many intruders 357f586091 wandering into the forest lately, she couldn’t be bothered anymore.6082bb696547bba4
The noise from outside grew closer and closer. Finally, when it 9ce7385b4f became impossible to 831a9b0a50 ignore, the door 89fe05f1d8 swung open with 011ea91936 a deafening crash, e20ae835e6 as though it fb91e175d9 might break off 2b6f2c1075 its hinges.
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“A hunter’s dwelling,” one of the intruders remarked.2217993259650092
“It seems to be the only structure in this forest,” another added.90305b4fd7b09b13
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“Small enough to fit in your palm,” a third muttered.
The group that f7fa1913a9 had barged in 39aba1020b was unlike the ragtag bandits she’d encountered before; they were clad in gleaming helmets and 607f8c6bfb tightly interwoven chainmail 69c2289b67 that covered their a133130f3d entire bodies.848fbe983282a7ef
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Outside, the snorting of 2c5903304b horses could be heard. They must have brought them. From the number 307f9f9624 of expensive horses 0b357417c3 they had, it f222297ff0 was clear these 561597a463 weren’t petty thieves 8fa328adcb but wealthy, well-equipped individuals.a6d6910b9a7fc0c2
“Even in a cramped place like this, there’s no telling where someone might hide. Search every inch, from the walls to the floor.”70c830a74975a419
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But from Ar’s perspective, the fact that these men were rummaging through her belongings without permission made them no different from the thieves she was used to dealing with.306e974a329c5c1f
After a moment’s thought, 8725255e90 she found no reason to treat them any bebf52bcc4 differently.f03e21a64a4c7581
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The men entered afabf24dec without hesitation, their dc83cd74dc muddy boots staining 157f891182 her wooden floors. As the owner 25d6b286e8 of the house, 7179ff4ae8 Ar was speechless 15f39a1ec6 at their audacity.f837113fbd1b646e
Acting as if they were 1ff02c3371 in their own storage room, 282abd5edc the intruders continued to ignore 8c957590cb her presence, rummaging through her b8c06b5769 belongings. It was only when they ff090c1654 began roughly moving the oak 05e7cc14b0 barrels of the fruit wine 56b05e6e12 she had carefully brewed last bc732ab2db autumn that one of them f7524571d5 finally addressed her.92a62385fcab02db
“You there. Have you seen anyone in this forest? A man with blond hair and blue eyes.”0c96ea6fd065ddaf
Ar stared at them with c4c2bc7597 a crooked expression. She had absolutely no 9e98f9b8d1 reason to cooperate with the people who had d48898e9ec stormed into her home a355f3580c and turned it upside 27b5a7cd00 down.7ac8fc101bb2bec5
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So far, they hadn’t 8053eff00f drawn their swords to 069f73035e demand valuables or leered at her like previous 15888c363b intruders who had spouted 44c969c0b1 disgusting threats about having 7390536ce5 their fun with her. For now, she f9bd6c871f decided to watch 70380a8ebb and wait.68fc1f066987f069
But in her 7d84b2ec24 mind, she was ef87df1284 already mapping out escape routes through 69ff28b55c the forest, ready 2b7c2c3f8c to treat them fb31199d35 the same as e1d562fcd7 all the other d818458aaf unwelcome guests if 06ca5bdd26 they showed the 449508d7bf slightest hint of 3705bb7359 hostility.989e70122b55d9c2
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“Enough. Let’s ask the homeowner directly,” said the one who seemed to be the leader of the group.67d1ead10937c3d0
He approached her, his 2390e359ec chin lifted in a a70c5493d3 condescending manner as he looked down at her.ff2a6dbcdadf3a50
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“Are you hiding someone here?”
Ar silently stared b836329029 back, her gaze fixed on his 3eb675b1ed eyes without a 86aadf117d word.
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Staring at her, who had 81d166199e no change in expression, the man felt slighted, thinking his words had been ignored, and 348d6dc0e9 furiously drew his sword.041e31d0a392626d
“Didn’t you hear me? I’m asking you something right now.”92025f11b03d38ae
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Shling-a5ea7f39f95b6f0a
The low sound of 378c7068fc the sword echoed as it stopped right in front of her face. Ar let her eyes dart 4ca5928240 back and forth between the man and the blade.9ec69f93c0c6f8a1
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“Are you hiding someone in your house?”
The man emphasized his c99bb1fbc2 words as if to hammer the point home, clearly irked that a 58521fb3f5 mere commoner had dared 918bffbe06 to disregard him.a2ca4f5ed6d2a831
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From the moment he 2ee33cdaa9 drew his sword, Ar c162a1ff67 had already decided how f1203b71c1 to deal with them. With a swift 715afe1093 motion too fast 87c342c02e to follow, she 90a755aca2 flicked her hand, 876f70dc60 scattering mushroom spores 987a599a48 that could fill an entire room 5c0518c2a8 in a thick 4061d30ba5 cloud when triggered.6fc02d2c3dd86b1f
Boom!
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With a loud sound, 53986487e2 the inside of the a5d62aa31e hut filled with smoke 8515fe6c68 and Ar bolted out 38f3a7ba15 the back door without 669bc0a99e hesitation.f2cd87d1ec091800
“…!”25bd396a6b2ac4f5
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“After her! Everyone, get on your horses!”97dde9fe83ed2418
The intruders quickly escaped the 953a184fbc smoke and began chasing her 116893d5d3 silhouette, already disappearing in the 54a249e720 distance.86b3c48b39c8f4fa
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What followed was the 97ca355794 usual routine. Ar led the 16568b987f uninvited guests to c2cf55852d a refreshing riverside. Their heavy armor sank beautifully b39783ecf6 with them into the depths 52c34ddbb3 of the water.c87d14630456745d
Feeling refreshed, she 51657eacc9 returned home, only ab609e4fa0 to find another 5662ec01bd visitor sitting inside d26b3339f8 her house.d0d3c9de920afce0
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7c2a47018a7defbc
The visitor was dressed in fea8523cb9 unusual attire. He wore a db6c6edd44 cloak covered in f143882797 dyes and clothes a1482ea5c4 with an abundance 62ca8b4c4f of buttons. The intricate golden a87818c56d embroidery on the 730bbf72f6 fabric displayed patterns unfamiliar to Ar.27488447b003df95
As the intruders earlier d671e23d4d described, he had blonde edbd6ec2d5 hair and blue eyes.7c337aa97430e295
Ar had never seen hair like that before. It wasn’t the dull, straw-like blonde she’d seen in the village. It was a rich, bright color, like the polished gold buttons the village elder often flaunted.4ab78f5e86a78623
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She found it strange 1c16f5a650 that a metallic hue 497c4c3aac could be the color of someone’s hair.8284cc824232768d
The man’s complexion was pale,e5e4f8f8d90240ab
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like freshly peeled bark, and 09997a0e0f it seemed even more flawless 432cba3be9 than Julia, the prettiest girl cf03b0d469 in the village. His smooth, unblemished skin fascinated f64fdcfbf8 her.c1a06ce5d769f78f
“I apologize for entering your home uninvited,” he said.
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If you like this f9ce4d5ebe series, please buy me 28b3606a78 a Kofi for more~f31123133f51ccdf