Rin the Rat: Tale of a Beloved MonsterCh34 - The Royal Hunt

CW: Explicit language, violence, animal death.


A barrage of arrows whizz through the cultivated boreal forest. One zips between alpine conifers and strikes the guinalo deer in the flank. Bone-chilling bellows tear from the beast’s throat as he bucks and flees, vibrant blood trailing in his wake. Chartreuse fur camouflages his retreating form, melting into the sea of trees, and the hunters quickly lose sight of their prey. TH4ZM3

“Did you see that, Botan?” the Crown Prince calls over to his companion, twisting in his saddle. “I shot him in the flank!”

Second Lord Sadahiro Botan, who is built like a titan bear and has the bearings of a fierce militant, swiftly nocks an arrow. He keeps his sights trained on the trees, sweeping the area with intense focus. Seeing no sign of life, he exhales and lets down his bow.

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“That you have, Your Highness,” Botan gruffs, “and scared him away also.”

Erie chuckles good humouredly and slings his bow over his shoulder. “If only I had my hunting rifle, I would have brought him down in one shot.” 31R4k6

“And spook the horses? Would you rather drag our trophy back on foot, Your Highness?”

“We wouldn’t need to drag anything with a sturdy steed like you around, Botan.”

The nobles banter brightly as they continue forth, the shiny coats of their strong steeds rippling over taut muscle. Drinks are passed around as are boasts and bets. The lingering scent of petrichor soaks the warm, humid air, turning every breath verdant.

Rin fiddles with his bow, nose wrinkling as he listlessly flicks at the taut string. His own horse, a chestnut mare with a nervous disposition, whinnies and paws the rain soaked duff. “Woah, woah, you’re alright,” he murmurs, rubbing the beast between her twitching ears. “Stupid thing.”

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“Having trouble with your horse?” Lord Cillian Coha rides up beside the raven, giving him a sunny smile. “Old Uma isn’t the easiest to ride, I’m afraid. This is your first time as well, yes?”

Rin squints at the auburn haired noble, unsure whether he’s being mocked or sincerely conversed with. “There aren’t many horses in the Slums,” he says, dryly.

“Is that so? Why is that, I wonder?” Coha blinks, brows rising in confusion.

“…well, I did have a horse,” he lies, “but then we ran out of rice so we cooked and ate it.” O qxQB

The noble pales a tad, nervously patting his strong white steed. “Ah…it is certainly…a source of meat, I suppose.”

Rin rolls his eye and squeezes Uma’s sides with his heel, just as he was shown by the kindly stablemaster. The mare lurches forward in a sluggish amble. Ahead, Erie is joined by Jun and his posse of nobles as they track the trail of blood.

“Are you familiar with the bow?” Coha continues chattering away, amicably riding beside the dour youth.

“Sure,” Rin sighs, slinging his bow over his shoulder. The quiver shifts and arrows rattle within. “Are you?” He’s not really interested, but if he asks questions then he can avoid speaking for a while. 1FkQP6

“I would consider myself rather proficient! Though I don’t really enjoy hunting, so my talents are wasted. I do feel queasy thinking about killing things, even if it is game. I think I’d much rather visit the Rose Palace and hunt some prey there, if you get my meaning.”

The Rat bites back a groan as the noble chortles loudly. He has the sudden urge to stick multiple arrows in this guy, but he manages to restrain himself. Only just. 

The day is overcast and gloomy, a perfect accompaniment to the Rat’s foul mood. It’s been a few days since his debacle at the banquet and he has yet to properly speak with Jun. The little lord has been assisting his father with all of his duties, learning on the job so to speak. When he’s not attending meetings and inner-court functions, Jun has been holed up in his room studying or working on his father’s administrative tasks. Any free time he does have, however scant, is spent with the Crown Prince, thus leaving Rin to his own lonesome (and increasingly boring) company.

He casts his gaze at the little lord, the latter appearing sickly and riding alongside Erie in grim silence. Whenever the prince glances at his companion, Jun offers him a faint smile, but it quickly disappears back into the void. 5jwYrh

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Rin swallows and squeezes his reins, trying not to let concern waver his heart.

“Do you visit the Rose Palace at all?” Coha continues chatting, unaware or uncaring of the raven’s dark expression. “I must say that the quality has dipped quite drastically these days. The Roses aren’t quite what they used to be. Did you hear about Second Lord Uchida Ken? Rumour has it he was killed by a jealous Rose when he took another. Can you believe that? Roses getting jealous? And during my last visit, my Rose kept bawling like a child. Of course, I made do with what I had, but she just wouldn’t stop crying–” An arrow whizzes past his cheek, barely missing him by an inch. There’s a hair-raising bellow and the heavy thump of a collapsing body.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

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Luna?

“It’s the guinalo!” Cillian calls to the others, excitedly. “Rin downed the guinalo!” He throws a wild look at the raven, torn between fear and awe, and hastily dismounts his horse.

Rin exhales, heart thundering, and slings his bow. The rest of the party double back, jeers and jokes following as they express their disbelief.

“You mean it gave us the runaround?” TBGC1d

“The Slummer killed the guinalo? Surely not.”

“Are you sure he didn’t take down a rotten tree?”

“What are you screaming about, Cillian? You’ll scare away the game!”

“The man has one eye! How could he have possibly–” mMphJS

“Cillian,” Erie’s sharp voice slices through the chatter, silencing his posse. His handsome blue eyes are narrowed and icy, jabbing into Rin like a pair of daggers. “Is it the guinalo?”

Coha wades through hip-high brush and kneels beside the buck. Rin’s arrow had pierced one of the eyes, lodging itself deep into the brain. Sure enough, driven deep into the flank, is the broken shaft of an arrow.

He rises to his feet and affirms with a nod, sending a ripple of shock and amusement through the group.

“Not bad, Slummer!” p5VXBd

“I can’t believe he took it down–”

“Looks like he beat you this time, Your Highness!”

“–a better shot than the prince here, hah!”

“Did you just let a Slummer take the first kill, Your Highness?” jk6zcW

Rin’s gaze is held hostage by those arctic blues. The hair on his nape rises. Danger.

“It seems like you have real competition for this hunt, Your Highness,” Coha chuckles, mounting his horse.

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Erie smiles coldly, chin tilted in arrogance. “Indeed I do,” he clips, impassively. “Rin, was it? Where did you learn to shoot like that?”

Despite his disconcertion, Rin can’t help but feel a small thrill at the prince’s displeasure. To show him up like this, with his own friends praising the very Rat he so despises – smug satisfaction wells like a dam in the deluge. FeZiE8

He sighs and flicks his ponytail, raising his own chin with an arrogance to rival the royal’s. “Some of us just have a natural talent,” he hums, the corner of his mouth curled in a smirk. “You show great promise, Your Highness. But it’s wise to know your own limitations – and accept them.”

Snickers and laughter ride the coattails of Rin’s gloat, and Erie’s ire visibly flares. The prince wrings his reins, creaking the leather, and his eyes take on a dangerous glint. Rin glares back in turn, refusing to back down.

“Yet…” Erie is gelid with serrated edges. “I suspect that it was not the guinalo you were aiming for.” His eyes flit to Coha, who blinks and glances between the two warring men with a blank look.

“What are you insinuating?” 17DyXF

“From what Jun has told me about you, you are but a stray he simply plucked off the streets. And this whole business with the Rose Palace – it’s all rather sordid and suspect.” Erie raises his voice so that the entire party can hear his words. “I trust Jun, so I have left you well alone. Tolerated your despicable behaviour during the banquet. But I am still concerned about inviting a Slummer into our fold. How can we say that we are truly secure?” He turns his address to the other nobles. “How can we ensure that this Slummer, this stranger, would not turn his bow upon us? How are we to know whether he is not a rebel intent on sowing the seeds of discord?”

The nobles shift uneasily and glance sharply at Rin, suspicion stark on their faces. Jun frowns, but he doesn’t say anything. And though the raven wasn’t expecting him to leap to his defense, a part of him had hoped. Disappointment is becoming a familiar friend.

“That’s bullshit,” Rin retorts, giving Uma a gentle pat as she begins pawing the ground nervously. She must be unnerved by the tension in the air. Not as stupid as I’d thought, then. “I dunno what Jun’s told you, but has he mentioned the fact that I saved his life? And anyway, the Governor himself invited me to stay. He thinks I have potential.”

“Potential?” Erie laughs, raking his hand through his hair. “If you have the potential for anything, it’s treason. Come now, my lords. Remind me what we do with the Otsuki devils?” bg5yNV

Gods, with a rare sliver of sunlight cast down upon his handsome visage, the Crown Prince makes for a stunning presence. As opposed to the Slummer, whose scarred face and loathsome sneer incites repulsion – how could anyone be swayed by Rin at all?

“WE HUNT THEM DOWN!” Botan booms, grinning viciously at the prospect.

“We hunt them down,” Erie affirms, swiftly palming his bow and nocking an arrow. He aims directly at Rin, gelid glare glittering in sadistic anticipation. “You don’t mind, do you, Jun? Now that the guinalo is gone, we have nothing else to hunt. And I don’t particularly feel like tracking other new game.” His smile widens, lips parting to reveal perfect white teeth. “Don’t worry, we won’t kill him. Not yet, anyway.”

Rin sits frozen on Uma, eye gaping. He can barely hear over the thunderous pounding of his heart, disbelief scorched deep into his psyche. The prince is an idiot, sure, but he’s just bluffing. He must be bluffing. Right? VkNdhl

“I do not think this is particularly wise, Your Highness,” Jun says, knitting his brows in concern. “Rin is my companion. Not only that, but we must not treat human beings like animals.”

“But you heard him, Jun. He’s a rat. A pest to be exterminated.” Erie’s tone is light and teasing, though his glare has killing intent.

“No, Your Highness,” the fifth lord’s voice takes on a steely tone. His austerity mirroring that of his father’s. “I cannot condone this kind of behaviour.”

The prince swivels his glare at his companion, bow dipping an inch or two as he relaxes the string. “What is this creature to you, Jun? Why do you defend him so?” He purses his lips in disdain. “He is not simply your companion, is he?” NjCmAv

“I do not understand what you–”

“You have feelings for this Slummer.” The prince raises his upper lip, disgust etched deep into his face. “Come to your senses, Jun! You told me yourself that he used to be a Rose! How could you not see something so obvious? He is using you, Jun. He is nothing but a dirty swindler, taking advantage of your good will!”

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The little lord tightens his jaw, his gaze turned cool. Not once does he look at Rin, acting as if the latter were simply detritus upon the forest floor. “I have no feelings for him, other than the obligatory feelings of a lord to his people,” he says, coldly. “My father has simply taken a liking to him. There is nothing more between us.”

“Jun, what the fuck?” Anger blasts the ice from his veins like a midsummer gust. “Why are you lying? You’re the one that wanted to get married, remember?” zyGoNb

Married?” A bark of laughter bursts from the prince and his jeering posse echo his mirth. “Have you gone mad?

“I have never once held such a ludicrous sentiment,” Jun says, sharply. The glare he shoots at Rin is so full of enmity, it’s as if they hardly knew each other at all. “I will be wed to someone of my station. Whatever affection you have for me is simply a delusion. A passing fancy, nothing more. I advise you to move past this trial and look elsewhere, for it can never be.”

“YOU’RE LYING!” Rin snarls, rearing forward in his saddle. Uma stomps the duff, kicking up dead leaves and soil. He stabs a finger at the little lord as he addresses Erie, teeth bared and chest heaving. “Look in his pocket. I can guarantee that you’ll find a gold coin. The gold coin that I gave him when we first met.” He drops his hand, sweat pricking his forehead. “I’ve seen him play with it almost everyday. If he had no feelings for me, then why would he keep a dirty old coin in his pocket?”

Erie’s smile falters. He glances at Jun sharply, questioningly. “Jun? Is this true?” vCLl4g

The little lord pulses his jaw in anger before pulling out said gold coin from his pocket. It gleams in the dim light, the metal well worn and polished from his fingers. “Oh, is that what this is?” He flicks it with his thumb, sending it arcing in the air. It lands somewhere near Rin’s horse, lost to the sodden forest floor. “You can have it back, since you clearly need it more than I.” Frigid words, so callous and foreign, splinters and pricks. Those goldens are dark, near pitch, and for a moment, Rin sees someone else.

The party bursts into another round of laughter. Erie visibly relaxes and he smirks at the Slummer, knowing that he’s won this battle.

Life drains from Rin’s face. His heart seems to stop altogether in his aching chest. “Why are you doing this, Jun?” he monotones. “Why are you lying?

“I’ll take that as your granting permission then, Jun.” Erie raises his brow, pulls the string taut, and shoots Uma between the eyes. foNzug

Shock numbs Rin as he’s thrown from the rearing horse. The grey patchwork sky tilts at a sickening angle. Wind whistles in his ears. Blues catch in his periphery, goldens too, and he lands hard, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop.

He lies there, stunned and winded, face buried in the damp litter.

Excited voices and cachinnations echo through the forest. When he finally recovers his breath and raises his head, Rin sees Uma lying dead, glazed eyes staring sightlessly at him, with an arrow lodged deep into her skull.

“Stupid thing,” he mutters, hands curling into trembling fists. “He didn’t even bother giving you a proper name.” Pity turns his words bitter and he can’t help but feel that he and the mare were not dissimilar. Is this my fate too? A meaningless death that no-one will even care about? PzwcrI

A glint to his left yanks his attention away from his poor steed. He scrabbles forth and snatches the gold coin from the duff, brushing away the debris.

There’s a whistle and a dull thud. An arrow lodges itself into a tree trunk, missing him by mere inches.

“Your Highness!” Cillian yelps, twisting in his seat to check on Rin. “What are you doing?

Erie chuckles and nocks another arrow. “What does it look like? I’m hunting a rat.” a3hNcI

“But Your Highness, this is much too dangerous. You could hurt him or even kill him–”

“That is the intent, is it not? I asked for Jun’s permission and he gave it. Seeing as there’s nothing going on between them, I can hunt freely without regret.”

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Rin staggers to his feet, hand wrapped tightly around the coin, his eye bulging in sheer fury. Jun is not his ally. Not anymore. And by the predatory glint in the prince’s eyes, Rin’s not getting out of this alive.

Erie raises his bow and sets his sights on Rin. “You can stand there and make it easy for me, Rat. But at least make this a bit of a challenge, won’t you? Otherwise it’s much too boring.” bZmOSV

Another arrow is let loose. Burning pain sears across his upper arm, throwing him off balance. He stumbles, but remains on his feet.

Erie nocks another arrow, as do the rest of the party save for Jun and Cillian. Now he has eight hunters aiming their bows at him – a defenseless rat. And he is well and truly alone.

He casts one last look at the little lord. The latter locks eyes with him, turmoil in his goldens. And then Jun’s complexion greys and he doubles over as if he were battling a bout of severe illness. Shivers wrack his form, but only Cillian seems to have noticed. The rest of the party only have their eyes on Rin.

Inchoate realisation stirs. cdon60

Another arrow darts by his head, forcing him into action.

He turns and runs.

Behind him, the hunters begin their chase.

B34e2d

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6 comments

  1. I… Let’s say i wouldn’t mind if they accidentally killed each other 😀

    Thank you for the chapter!! ❤️❤️

  2. What’s happened to Jun!!! Something is wrong with him, there must be! At first, I thought he was trying to act disinterested to ‘help’ Rin, but now he’s practically brainwashed REEEE- (Also, I’m terrible, but I can’t wait for the hunt! aka next chapter!!)

    • TTuTT Yes there definitely is something wrong with him! I hope you like the next chapter… >_< Thank you so much for reading curio <33