Ch.192192. For Brond’s Shit-Eating Expression Tomorrow!

“Where’s the Majangcho field?”

At my question, Berik puts down his glass and speaks.

“I told you, we can’t just go in there. Besides, the area nearby is a monster-infested zone.”

“That’s why I’m just asking for the location.”

Berik lets out a long sigh.

“By the way, the person in charge of the Majangcho field is Brond.”

“Brond?”

“Yeah, they say he’s scarier than the monsters.”

“So where is it?”

“Haaa… it’s in the center of the Silver Forest.”

The village chief’s son, Brond, personally manages the Majangcho?

Something smells fishy about this situation.

I stroke my chin and nod.

“Hmm, is that so? But is it okay for the village chief to control land like that?”

“What can we do about it? When they say jump, we jump. Besides, there are lots of monsters in the center of Silver Forest, and he deals with them himself, so people have no reason to complain.”

“But Majangcho could be worth money, right?”

“That stuff? Just an antidote ingredient? And why would the village chief, the richest person in Pandera territory, be greedy for that?”

“…I see what you mean.”

Maybe they’ve been brainwashed since childhood, like Jawill Wilson said?

They don’t realize that those in power are even worse.

Anyway.

I wonder if there’s a way to enter Silver Forest without causing a commotion.

Well, if there’s no other way, I’ll have to force my way in…

Berik gives me a worried look before his eyes suddenly light up.

“Oh, right! In two days, it’s ‘Monster Hunting Day’! You can enter Silver Forest then.”

“Monster Hunting Day?”

As I tilt my head in confusion, Berik bursts into laughter.

“Have you been away from home so long that you’ve forgotten ‘Monster Hunting Day’? It’s when everyone in Pandera territory hunts monsters together! Though I guess you wouldn’t know since you never participated?”

“Aren’t monsters difficult for ordinary people to hunt?”

“Regular territory residents don’t go, of course. But those like me who are mages, or those with excellent swordsmanship like Wortman, all gather to hunt monsters in Silver Forest.”

“Oh, then I can go too.”

At that, Wortman joins the conversation with a serious expression.

“But can Jawill Wilson participate if he’s no longer a Pandera resident?”

“Of course he can! Have you forgotten what the village chief said? Once a Pandera resident, always a Pandera resident!”

“Hmm, that’s true… but will Brond allow it?”

At Wortman’s words, Berik’s shoulders slump.

“Ah… right, Brond has to give permission to participate.”

“But surely he’ll allow someone like Jawill Wilson now? He’s a knight from a family that repelled a monster wave!”

After listening quietly to their conversation, I turn my gaze to Berik.

“Is there some kind of test?”

“That’s right. Like you said, monsters are hard for ordinary people to hunt, so they check if you have the skills. You could lose your life if you participate without proper abilities.”

“If it’s just a test, why worry? I’ll go see Brond tomorrow.”

As I tilt my head, Berik and Wortman raise their voices with wide eyes.

“This guy!! You must have really improved a lot!?”

“Wow… I never thought Jawill Wilson would become so arrogant.”

I wonder what level of skill they remember Jawill Wilson having?

When I first saw Jawill Wilson, he was at least capable of hunting low-grade monsters, if not high-grade ones.

Looking quite pleased, Wortman and Berik drink their alcohol in succession.

Then, they quickly pour more into their glasses and push one toward me.

“Jawill Wilson, since the three of us are together after so long, you should make a toast.”

“Yeah! Our successful Jawill Wilson who’s returned, give us a great toast!”

Perhaps I too was caught up in their cheerful mood?

I raised my glass high and happily responded to Wortman and Berik’s encouragement.

“To Brond’s shit-eating expression tomorrow!”

*

“You want to hunt monsters tomorrow too?”

“Yeah, I thought you might need an extra hand.”

Early in the morning, I went to Brand’s house with Wortman to take the test.

Brond stares at me and smirks.

“So you think you can hunt monsters just because you’re some kind of knight?”

“I want to help Pandera territory.”

“Where does this confidence come from, thinking you’d be of any help?”

“Despite appearances, I’m a knight from a fairly famous family in the Eastern Continent.”

Brond snorts at my words.

“I heard you were in Lake territory? The family that stopped the monster wave.”

“That’s right, I’m a knight of the Alphonse family.”

“Surviving a monster wave by hiding somewhere is a talent, I suppose.”

Behind Brond, his entourage laughs at his mockery.

It’s been a while since I’ve been ridiculed like this…

Still, I felt I needed to humor this guy.

If not, I’d have no choice but to cause friction and find another way to the Silver Forest.

I scratched my head with a characteristically naive expression.

“I worked hard to become a family knight, so I need some luck too, right?”

“It would be troublesome if you went and got yourself killed by monsters.”

“I won’t do anything foolish like rushing ahead, so don’t worry.”

“Worry? Hah! Becoming a knight has changed you surprisingly.”

I came here thinking about how to hide my strength during the test…

But Brond, this bastard, seems unwilling to even let me take the test, finding fault with everything.

“Jawill Wilson?”

At that moment, a voice called me from behind, and I reflexively turned my head.

A man of small stature with graying hair.

He was precariously balancing on the boundary between middle age and elderly, with age spots scattered across his face.

‘The village chief.’

I bowed as respectfully as possible.

“Chief Loris, it’s been a long time. Jawill Wilson greets you.”

“Ho ho, I heard you became a knight of a noble family, and I see you’ve learned proper manners. Let’s have a chat for a moment.”

“Of course.”

Brond’s face filled with discontent.

I gave Wortman a brief nod indicating I’d handle things from here, and followed Chief Loris into his house.

“Have some tea.”

“Thank you.”

Chief Loris sat at the table and pushed a teacup toward me before speaking.

“I heard you were in Lake territory?”

“Yes. I serve Selden Alphonse, the youngest son of the Alphonse family.”

“…Selden Alphonse, the one famous for being a good-for-nothing, has changed recently, they say? Is there a reason?”

For someone practicing isolationist politics, he’s quite interested in other territories.

Well, if Berik knew about Lake territory repelling the monster wave, I suppose it’s natural the chief would hear about it too.

But still.

This is quite irritating.

Despite knowing Jawill Wilson is a knight of the Alphonse territory, he uses the word “good-for-nothing” right to my face…

Why is this territory abandoned by the imperial family so high and mighty?

I calmed my trembling shoulders and played along.

“I haven’t had many conversations with Young Master Selden Alphonse, so I don’t know the details, but he has definitely changed.”

“I suppose so. Nobles wouldn’t bother concerning themselves with a low-ranking knight.”

“…That’s right.”

Chief Loris takes a sip of his tea.

“You’re not offended by being called a low-ranking knight, are you?”

“Of course not! How could I take offense at your words, Chief?”

“Good. Now, I hear you want to join the monster hunt tomorrow?”

“I came to Pandera territory to see my friends, but while I’m here, I’d like to be of some small help.”

“Oh? So you’re saying you have the skills to be helpful?”

At Chief Loris’s question, I scratched my head vigorously.

“In Lake territory, I’ve been consistently hunting monsters, though not high-grade ones.”

“Hmm, then you can participate tomorrow.”

“…Without a test, you mean?”

“Even as a low-ranking knight, you’re still a knight of a noble family. That alone makes a test unnecessary.”

“Thank you. I’ll do my best in the monster hunt tomorrow.”

“…By the way…”

Chief Loris leaned back in his chair, trailing off.

“Could you introduce me to Selden Alphonse?”

“The young master?”

“It’s nothing special, but as the chief of Pandera territory, I’m also interested in monster wave defense formations.”

Monster wave defense formations, my ass…

He’s probably looking to establish another route for Majangcho.

If Loris were a family head rather than a village chief, he’d be free to extract whatever he wanted from his territory.

But he’s the type who pretends to share fairly on the surface while only looking out for his own interests behind the scenes.

That’s the true nature of this man, as I’ve observed so far.

How do I know?

Just look at the expensive furniture placed throughout the chief’s house.

And the jewel-encrusted teacup on the table says it all.

It was a “scam” that blinded the territory’s residents with a facade of fairness.

In truth, if it were the real “Selden Alphonse,” he wouldn’t have cared much about Pandera territory’s residents and might have turned a blind eye to Chief Loris’s wrongdoings to pursue a joint venture.

But who am I now?

I’m Jawill Wilson.

Straightforward, stubborn, and a bit dim-witted.

Yet one reason he’s not disliked is that he lacks greed.

Besides.

Chief Loris probably doesn’t intend to expand the business significantly.

If he did, everyone in Pandera territory would learn about Majangcho’s effects on hair, and opposition would arise against the chief who monopolizes the Majangcho fields.

‘For now, if I want to go to Silver Forest tomorrow…’

I gave Chief Loris an artificial smile.

“When I return to the family, I’ll be sure to convey your message to the young master.”