HHLP – Chapter 1
by AlaaEpisode 1: Manners Make 23ab6da83a the Guest (Prologue)b5af8bcfa54b3364
762aa6c56691ae5b
Rustle, rustle.53b78266f07243ba
A figure darted f50133e7cf through the trees, 375f9ae0f4 glimpsed briefly before 45a316f848 vanishing, nimble as a wild deer. Each time it 4959f0f8b4 came into view, 7cff260e16 it disappeared just as quickly, slipping 70a6de556d away like a shadow.
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The figure, running ahead 0dad6ac441 of a group of 860d437bf0 bandits, seemed almost within db5d37a887 reach yet expertly concealed itself every time they 4a1d59f4d2 got close.03dd681bda5c25a7
“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]4571af454f9619a0
“D*mmit. She’s exhausting us. Once we catch her, she’ll pay for every bit of trouble she’s caused!”72f5928665d778a2
The fleeting figure, always 8da1598d4c just far enough to 9229cd9820 avoid being caught, would 3834b69c2b appear again at a distance close enough to keep the bandits from 121ad78a39 giving up. Unknowingly, they were lured 34b4d4a682 deeper into the forest.c8eff4043102c960
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“There she is! Don’t you dare move a muscle!”a47aee2712869aee
“Yeah, listen up, and we might spare your life!”a3d47fc05da9e458
The figure suddenly came to dee2823e15 a halt, visible through the 17d5f0608c gaps between the trees.It appeared 0a336448a8 she was cornered on a a4116b0218 hillside obscured by towering trees, 1476c765c5 her path blocked. The slope looked far too steep to climb, and with no way to escape sideways, d489a73f22 she hesitated, clearly flustered.189d99220ceecad7
“Ha! We might let you beg for mercy, if you’re lucky,” one of the bandits sneered.
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Excited at the prospect efdf049d09 of finally catching her, b52b6e1cc5 the bandits sprinted forward, 31f8f72d49 determined to pounce before 37d6b0ef6d she could flee again. But as the 9169878e55 lead bandit lunged 46a649eb71 eagerly, his foot found nothing but 4499072031 empty air.de0bf0221b8f0102
“What the-?”5feda9e8e308118b
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And the thieves 6ac1881481 following closely behind, a60b9160f0 unable to slow 2e9b6a134a down in time, 16dc0a1c37 also stepped into 85f2cead82 the air.d23820c3c5705494
“Waaaah!”eda4681896c21da3
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“What the-!”f99a4ca4d11083ec
The rearmost thief, hearing his comrade’s screams, hastily tried to turn back but failed.b207609582ae8d8f
“Aaaah!”3d7226af0f70a816
The last thief, in his 044e3e5aef haste, slipped on the smooth surface as the grass beneath d1a9a23991 him gave way. Feeling the void of empty space under his feet, he 3b0a49d6ca let out a bone-chilling scream, frantically reaching out to grab anything.42726ab8df4e593c
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“Ahhhh!”e862b44a75f097ba
What his hands finally grasped 29171e8bbc was the grass scattered all e6b3f01b07 over the ground. Though he clutched the 378d19ac3d long strands in bundles, beb8a2f20b hoping they might give 8e44c656e5 him some grip to 6688c27663 hold on, it was all in vain.a0366a1876464f36
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“No! No! Aaaaah!”4d0d442225c94554
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.665f5e7ed74a1650
And so, the band of thieves chasing after b59f78f923 the lone figure all fell into the deep, 204db3c4ab collapsing pit.01567e2406938a71
Watching this unfold, 367130f317 the figure hiding behind a tree a0e337979c lightly stepped down.badbfea9bc21df88
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She looked down e74bfa98e2 into the pit 247089c8f4 where the thieves had fallen.2f106dc1bac1cf9d
“Ugh…”093045fd95360af3
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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.
‘Three in total. Their belongings… is that guy carrying them?’944d9784cdcd165c
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As she carefully observed her prey trapped in the pit, 8e45fe1b8f she identified the one carrying 29546a207a anything of value. She then drew her blowgun.c22589829851d103
After ensuring the thieves, 34ec78fa00 now unable to move, db8a5a9445 were each hit in 7702f9e640 the neck with tranquilizer 0297e466a8 darts, she retrieved a 412e3b982c rope hidden under a rock nearby and slid a496747e8c smoothly down into the pit.10a46231a7d5fff1
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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.
“Phew.”ac833868b8b79c1d
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After safely securing her prey, 337fb2e66b she wiped a bit of 651b8249fe sweat from her brow and a8edd7f741 pulled out the dagger at 18d70e9081 her waist.2dbadfbf8a7e67f3
With practiced ease, she began 35e8cad1c2 to strip away their outer ac3193c868 garments.dcda3893be81e113
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‘Last time, one of them had coins sewn into his tunic.’a8b6168651ffab0e
Drawing from experience, she meticulously 7b51a4630e disassembled every article of clothing 1c6d648c31 then searched every pocket, from 34aeaf7d7a the pouches strapped to their 3383098ed6 backs to the tiny hidden 254c112123 compartments in their shoes.
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‘Not much this time.’0b33dd0bea4f4c3b
Despite thoroughly looting dc7a67db27 her captives, the 121b4493f3 haul was less than satisfying.4454dc51afc7b741
Feeling that all the effort dece5ec177 of chasing them down was a82833c5b6 barely worth it, she calculated what she might earn by fe25cb9d5c handing the thieves over to e29f8fd206 the guards.dbda4cb6e34e27e1
‘Is there anyone with a bounty on their head?’502a33fa26312ca4
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She scrutinized each unconscious face, 35b9b2f933 trying to match them to 1b56a0cf1d any wanted posters she’d seen, 0306def34b but none seemed familiar.f0b998e42bbf2dd9
Tilting her head 2d02af08ea in thought, she considered her options.7e9075012c8cc6e8
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‘Well, they did attack my home. At the very dc0b5c9a15 least, I can 7f15000b0e get them thrown in prison. Not like these guys will ever repay their 0204fc54d7 prison fees, though.’23e48a6e4d542ed6
In the territory, 6149ba82fd criminals caught by 98f65e4d50 the guards were 67902149e9 imprisoned, but the 8b243e3576 cost of their incarceration—prison maintenance and 3f2b148e6b guard wages—was charged f07e2e7176 to the prisoners 016c06a600 themselves. To be released, f6d41a7876 they first had 0e950ba4d7 to pay off 02d08e1b57 this “prison tax,” a700c9e674 in addition to 0d1ef01656 any fines for 15b2102628 their crimes.f2ef2c9fc5350cc2
If they couldn’t afford f9ee1c2c5c these fees, they were 8b0f246cea forced into labor to f5e682dfed cover the costs. However, since they 2ad1c27f5a remained in prison daa1dac7a5 during this labor, ea9ca54cc0 the prison tax 101b65fa7b continued to accumulate. Meals provided during their 61ff3b07c1 labor further added to 882ef848d4 their debt.748728d6854bb39e
In the end, those 66fb6fa98f who couldn’t pay their 4925c27e66 fines or prison fees 4b8cb6802c and had no family to cover the costs 9658a9a082 often spent their lives f49b8e2f30 bound to forced labor. For the lord ba653b5ef5 of the land, ba768e4660 it meant gaining a50ba455d2 free laborers.768fbe48608f1320
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‘The prison warden will be pleased I’ve brought in three new slaves. It’s a hassle to transport them to the village, e6ffa0f31a but at least petty criminals fetch a small price.’678c654d96b84ce2
Deciding it was fc045374d9 worth the effort, 5b70d0758a she resolved to f9056a1e63 put in a 6a8fc030eb little more work.431484d3d244cfeb
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By the end of 703ef93472 her laborious day, she had earned as much 82e3f3b114 as she would have 8f14c2b794 from a successful hunt of a large deer.5ab3676f3c27cce9
Proud of her 19f603ac3c earnings, she stashed 4dfaf4a207 the day’s profit 0390be54bc and reflected on cdb7ebea06 her recent endeavors 7e2507a86d with satisfaction.438f5cf57c4dc8e7
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‘Lately, more thieves have been entering the forest. Thanks to them, de53cba188 animals are harder e412396ff6 to spot, but d16ef45faa catching the thieves has turned out to be a decent source of d5cdcd141a income, so I f396a818d8 don’t mind. The forest’s been noisy, but bc05d4e922 I might have still snagged a rabbit or two. I’ll check the 458c172cc9 traps I set 33fb38c280 tomorrow.’6a44a57048b8b5c9
Her name was Ar.989f168ec0539e0d
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A hunter who had lived 6afb187494 in the forest her whole e499f6a00c life.47250468d6c9c066
Recently, the forest had become a frequent haunt for thieves cb520108a1 drifting in from somewhere unknown.3cdf9da6d25b0fd2
Whenever they found the lone cabin in the woods, they 4b46ceb371 would kick the door open, drawn like moths to a flame. And when they saw a2d0bd4334 a woman living there alone, they would approach with leering grins.cbcb269eef30e796
Each time, Ar worried about ce2d43959b the fragile hinges on her 268041997b old door as she darted ecc0d57228 out the back. When she started running, the c8f4b4da80 thieves would chase after her, fb56c6ccb3 acting like a pack of 85ed661a0c predators pursuing easy prey.4f1e82a17a784400
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But of course, they 53a95dd192 were mistaken.4ff21f3b6a9ea228
She didn’t know where these ef1855fde1 thieves had come from, but da1f4ca8a9 it was clear they weren’t e0fb31b270 locals. Only outsiders would c6d39fd257 recklessly run through this notorious forest, 0cf98d496f unaware of the sudden pits carved 74cb60723e into the middle 7946fd8101 of paths or 633cfcd148 the hidden bogs that lay beneath b8b846be1c thick vines.53787f1e05c9dbd4
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The local villagers 31340c27fb rarely ventured into 5610723c5d the forest, as 5e762a8e7e it was filled 96ba46265a with unpredictable dangers. Only Ar, who had spent her 3daf3218ab life here and been taught its 47899d0c08 secrets by her 5fcd80e891 grandfather, could navigate 8f5be1ea50 it freely.6a330aab92bc610e
Unaware of the 6fff351cd5 terrain, the thieves 0f462083ac would faithfully follow 855fc1c337 her, only to dd5751ac3f plunge off cliffs 33ea7db62f or stumble into traps, becoming a 395313d512 reliable source of income for her.5c15c9308b1b148c
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‘That’s quite a bit of money I’ve saved up. Should I buy new arrowheads 71981dae4b with it?’12f4e8cc9b3a0308
Counting her earnings, she spent dbd32ae6bd another evening like any other, 64de404b6e blissfully unaware of what was 3a60741583 to come. She had no way of 346cfacd64 knowing that an impending visitor would soon turn her peaceful 24f83227da life upside down.e89c4cf74d563aca
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As someone who 95a0069287 couldn’t see the 4b9e9cbd2a future, she went to bed that 9fb1da3db8 night in calm 2315e6dd61 ignorance.0c52c2b47f8355d3
03021d9669452a75
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A well-fed lion doesn’t hunt.74d60feef2d1e28f
Thanks to the unexpected intruders 1a9d503d4b that had padded her income, 9d90df7760 Ar was in a good 2032acdfa0 mood, sitting inside her cabin 954dd9201b and sharpening some newly purchased 64a9e0822e arrowheads.8c5bd33443308aef
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She could hear a commotion 12cc0b4131 outside but had no interest in investigating. In the past, she might have stepped out, driven by curiosity. But with so many 8da832719d intruders wandering into the efc544bf9e forest lately, she couldn’t be bothered anymore.802a5ea98d797d67
The noise from outside grew closer and closer. Finally, when it became 75ed4d0f19 impossible to ignore, the door swung open with a deafening crash, as 70cd3fcd92 though it might break 28ff94862e off its hinges.27f3f4fd313bee06
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“A hunter’s dwelling,” one of the intruders remarked.8000d3a1095da8da
“It seems to be the only structure in this forest,” another added.
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“Small enough to fit in your palm,” a third muttered.
The group that 7a319be53a had barged in was unlike the 7344ddfd78 ragtag bandits she’d b30309b3de encountered before; they were clad in 11990f72f3 gleaming helmets and 374c622a70 tightly interwoven chainmail 6e8c8cf12f that covered their b8542958a2 entire bodies.49c7447a652cc9f8
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Outside, the snorting of horses 887043412c could be heard. They must have brought them. From the number of expensive fd0ce2efad horses they had, it was 720530411c clear these weren’t petty thieves a37fe81745 but wealthy, well-equipped individuals.bae61446861f8d02
“Even in a cramped place like this, there’s no telling where someone might hide. Search every inch, from the walls to the floor.”ae30b99e28288c36
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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.afb2e75d5acffc47
After a moment’s thought, 0d7c61dfc6 she found no reason 33be11aa6b to treat them any 5c3eebb88e differently.36bdd2745d4e9ec2
The men entered 3010b8650b without hesitation, their 354cad283a muddy boots staining 478030d403 her wooden floors. As the owner of the house, Ar was 2c72610dc6 speechless at their audacity.4c08a3d04af5a3e4
Acting as if they 7c08f8da47 were in their own 7d8b9820e2 storage room, the intruders 68fe47a9c5 continued to ignore her presence, rummaging through her 8a67070cce belongings. It was only c40d311443 when they began d2fb2101a3 roughly moving the oak barrels of the fruit wine 51dd09cdbe she had carefully 6920655edd brewed last autumn fc511f3894 that one of a4f7bbbe80 them finally addressed 36f5d4b8c8 her.80f989da10c451aa
“You there. Have you seen anyone in this forest? A man with blond hair and blue eyes.”c7c0a121b8fcc014
Ar stared at 487db40eb3 them with a crooked expression. She had absolutely no reason af4101fd01 to cooperate with the people acb411868a who had stormed into her home and turned it upside down.2f90dbe2177c22b1
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So far, they hadn’t f21dad1724 drawn their swords to d2cc9366ae demand valuables or leered 5b0585af4b at her like previous baf9909681 intruders who had spouted b2e60667a4 disgusting threats about having 868e653019 their fun with her. For now, she decided fae7c25ab4 to watch and wait.ce3cd30f5fd95a52
But in her mind, 86f616616a she was already mapping out escape routes through the forest, ready to 7bc543f1b9 treat them the same e2b485ced9 as all the other 92eb841b39 unwelcome guests if they 0678c9ea33 showed the slightest hint 0ff7193277 of hostility.d4b881fdad3cae71
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“Enough. Let’s ask the homeowner directly,” said the one who seemed to be the leader of the group.a5e1eb9bcd648e18
He approached her, his b65ac091fd chin lifted in a 69d7d98b24 condescending manner as he dbdaf0ec9c looked down at her.fd4fcfd884ce95b3
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“Are you hiding someone here?”ac7f5f5cba493a17
Ar silently stared 8a6b61a578 back, her gaze 225d545c41 fixed on his a9243e7934 eyes without a 6b79842509 word.e426be05b1049076
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Staring at her, who had 76a7bc05c8 no change in expression, the 6bae72f411 man felt slighted, thinking his 7bf88b15f1 words had been ignored, and furiously drew his sword.
“Didn’t you hear me? I’m asking you something right now.”
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Shling-
The low sound of the 692c5e14ba sword echoed as it stopped 5656fadb57 right in front of her 3f88b31fe1 face. Ar let her eyes dart b9053ddaab back and forth between the man and the blade.a90069b49c2f1bf0
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“Are you hiding someone in your house?”47f0b603291baf16
The man emphasized his 40141ec3ba words as if to 3b4c93164b hammer the point home, 60d3c1fb4f clearly irked that a mere commoner had dared to disregard him.6cc221e22bc2affb
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From the moment he drew 60fba75eac his sword, Ar had already 2b6c566ac8 decided how to deal with them. With a swift motion too abd31b6c9d fast to follow, she flicked cb12f8916c her hand, scattering mushroom spores 1e79c3bc09 that could fill an entire 30d7d56008 room in a thick cloud 39db56f568 when triggered.67d9b2f2402978f0
Boom!
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With a loud sound, the 5cd4b2770e inside of the hut filled with smoke and Ar bolted f00292de5c out the back door without 05edb0db08 hesitation.bd55aee4234a54c4
“…!”6dc519d385220b84
“After her! Everyone, get on your horses!”4ffaccaa91803509
The intruders quickly escaped the b8b180c6fa smoke and began chasing her silhouette, already disappearing in the cf8b72dc2a distance.
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What followed was the 72c6594d66 usual routine. Ar led the uninvited 90f0dc5be7 guests to a refreshing 9ec72d613a riverside. Their heavy armor sank beautifully with them into 4957acaa08 the depths of the c2ced981c8 water.649777c9da19e28d
Feeling refreshed, she returned 5b00c819e8 home, only to find another visitor sitting inside 288e6ae022 her house.
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e3ff190045f35612
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80495378d55facf4
The visitor was 8b698eb4d3 dressed in unusual 7a86443776 attire. He wore a f5de2b8b29 cloak covered in 51fc8c0707 dyes and clothes 44534953e8 with an abundance dad14f2a1b of buttons. The intricate golden embroidery on ea725103b0 the fabric displayed patterns unfamiliar to Ar.
As the intruders earlier a67b1dd90f described, he had blonde a7287218cd hair and blue eyes.1041218e86c07339
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.
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She found it 4579c5b3eb strange that a 8b31e26e34 metallic hue could be the color 8410b504bc of someone’s hair.96d21e2deae8c8c2
The man’s complexion was pale,012d55c1bfa6f888
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like freshly peeled 1802514803 bark, and it 162fefe694 seemed even more d04c65acad flawless than Julia, 4f391cb717 the prettiest girl bceeb8b6ce in the village. His smooth, unblemished skin fascinated 68e3b330fc her.5905cbab62c1b16f
“I apologize for entering your home uninvited,” he said.
If you like this series, please 392661dda1 buy me a 10870bbae6 Kofi for more~b936d57801d68065