Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 980 - 45 Another Hunt (Part 3)
Chapter 980: Chapter 45 Another Hunt (Part 3)
The latest round of performance had just ended, and a young Castilian nobleman on a spirited horse was riding around the hunting ground, receiving cheers and blown kisses.
The Emperor nodded slightly, and the royal flag at the viewing stand was waved three times, indicating appreciation for the gladiator.
Acknowledged by the Emperor, the young noble dismounted next to the carcass of the prey. He drew his dagger, cut off the ears and tail of the prey, and walked under the viewing stand to bow and pay homage to the Emperor.
Princess Elizabeth muttered softly, “What’s so fascinating about a bunch of men battling a bunch of wild boars…”
“On the contrary, Your Highness,” Duke Lothar said with a smile as he approached the viewing stand: “The most interesting part of Castilian hunting is the duel between man and fierce beasts.”
…
Why does Duke Tarak say that Castilian hunting is “barbaric”?
The reason is simple, the highlight of Castilian winter hunting has never been the “hunting” itself but a one-on-one duel between man and fierce beasts.
In times when civilization’s light was but a mere twinkle, battling fierce beasts was a skill humans had to master. In the remnants of ancient civilization’s murals, numerous scenes of human and beast combat are visible.
As civilizations developed, humans gradually evolved from the stages of consuming raw meat and living in caves. Although battling wild beasts was no longer a necessity for survival, humans preserved it as a way to showcase bravery.
Therefore, in the early histories of various civilizations, records of ritualistic duels between humans and beasts are also common.
Step back a thousand years, gladiators fighting fierce beasts was a bloody pastime for the citizens of the Ancient Empire.
Step back three hundred years, hunting fierce beasts was one of the responsibilities of feudal nobles, and even native lions were hunted to extinction.
However, nowadays, on the continent where the Empire is located, the only place that still views “battling fierce beasts” as an entertaining activity and a proof of bravery is the Castile Peninsula.
The disappearance of the beast-fighting tradition is due partly to the decreasing number of wild beasts, and partly to the prolonged criticism by the Church.
Doubtless, taking pleasure in fighting beasts disregards human life safety, and theologians from the Church have always detested and fiercely condemned it.
In the end, only the remote and primitive Castile Peninsula still retains this “barbaric” and “rudimentary” tradition.
According to the tradition of Castilian winter hunting, small prey such as deer, roe, foxes, rabbits, birds, etc., are cleaned out in the earlier days of dog hunting, falconry, and hawking.
Whereas fierce animals such as wolves, wild boars, and bears are cautiously preserved until the last day of the hunt.
The final day of the hunt is conducted in the hunting ground, and all the visiting nobles come forward, even the Emperor himself attends in person.
The fierce animals are released into the hunting ring one by one, each stronger and more ferocious than the last.
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The Castilian nobles participating in the last day of the hunt also take turns entering the hunting ring, engaging in one-on-one duels with fierce animals.
Fighting beasts is an extremely dangerous challenge, with injuries and deaths being not uncommon, yet the Castilian nobles relish in it.
Barbaric? Then let it be barbaric! I am simply savage!
This is the deep-seated thought of the Castilian people, the more the Church criticizes “beast fighting” as barbaric, the more Castilians regard it as a unique symbol.
…
[The Hunting Ground, Viewing Stand]
Seeing that the Emperor was in good spirits, Duke Lothar shared a story with the princess: “Your Highness, you should know, twenty years ago at the Grey Rock arena, His Majesty personally took to the field and consecutively slaughtered a giant wolf, a bull, and a brown bear.”
“Ah? Why didn’t I know about this?” Elizabeth suddenly became excited, grabbing her father’s arm: “Daddy, is it true?”
The Emperor smiled and shook his head.
“Certainly it’s true,” Duke Lothar also said with a smile: “And it was under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of Castilians. The shocked expressions and deafening cheers of the Castilian people—I remember them all too clearly even today.”
Elizabeth begged Duke Lothar: “Please tell me more, I beg you!”
Duke Lothar and the Emperor smiled at each other.
Twenty years have passed, and the tender prince of then is now the supreme Emperor. Duke Lothar has aged—though he still retains his charm as in his younger years.
“Let His Majesty tell you,” Duke Lothar said with a teasing smile: “Your Highness.”
Elizabeth turned to her father, just about to deploy her skills of cajoling, when the rhythmic sound of horns arose in the hunting ground—new knights were entering.
Princess Elizabeth saw her father slightly furrow his brows.
Duke Lothar also immediately noticed the Emperor’s change of mood, looking towards the knight in the center of the hunting ground, he too couldn’t help frowning: “Earl Harlan?”
Meanwhile, in the center of the hunting ground.
Siegfried held the reins in his left hand, a lance in his right hand, controlling the Warhorse with his knees, his eyes fixed on the direction of the animal pen.
Another horn sounded—now it was time for the fierce beast to enter.
The gate of the animal pen was raised, and a massive wild boar charged towards Siegfried.
