Ch.2323. Misunderstanding

Imperial District 18.

It was a refugee camp formed as people who lost their homes due to the Demon Lord’s army’s offensive or monster waves flocked to the Imperial District where safety was at least guaranteed.

The people here were either surviving on charity or working as the lowest-paid laborers. Naturally, their lives were unspeakably impoverished.

At the same time, this was also where my new workplace was located.

‘Well, calling it a workplace might be a stretch.’

A swordsmanship training center.

It was exactly the kind of facility that knights of mediocre skill who retired due to injury or old age would set up in their hometowns as both a pastime and a means of livelihood. There were many run by con artists and people with absolutely no motivation.

‘Still, a training center established by a healthy former member of the Royal Order should be different…’

Or so I thought, but after setting it up, reality seemed far from easy.

A swordsmanship training center made by installing a fence and putting up an awning.

I had expected children with bright, intelligent eyes to flock here, even with dirt streaming down their faces. Just like how I had been desperate to learn how to hold a sword from the old retired knight in my village when I was young.

But when I actually opened the center and started accepting students, it was different from what I expected.

“Excuse me… how old are you?”

“Twenty-eight, sir.”

“You’re older than me. Do you have children too?”

“He’s watching over there. My wife ran away.”

This man who seemed to be struggling just to raise his child wanted to learn weapon skills.

“You can’t even swing an arming sword with that physique. No, forget the physique, may I ask why you only have two fingers on your left hand?”

“Heh. Just a little accident while working on a ship.”

A skeletal young man about my height but weighing perhaps half as much. Moreover, he had only two fingers on his left hand. At this point, shouldn’t he be more concerned about survival than swordsmanship?

‘Swordsmanship isn’t the issue here.’

If my goal was to create knights, it would be right to reject all these people.

However, I decided to accept them all.

I had already made preparations anyway. I had spent some money to prepare bread. Hundreds of large, beautiful loaves, each enough to feed a family of four for about two days.

Just distributing bread was enough to be treated as a hero in this place.

“Do you know about Cordana?”

“About what?”

“Never mind. Take some bread.”

Despite the Imperial District being turned upside down because of Cordana, this place was an exception.

They had no idea that the Papal State was facing an unprecedented crisis since its founding because of Cordana, that the Empire’s noble society was on the verge of explosion, or that a former member of the Royal Order (me) was feeling his life threatened.

Of course, I wasn’t distributing bread just to find peace of mind. I simply believed this place was optimal for achieving my goal.

‘It should be about time…’

I had recently sent a substantial amount of relief supplies to the Lancarth Border Count.

Medicine, food, even shoes.

Shoes might seem out of place, but footwear was surprisingly scarce in places that had experienced warfare. They would probably arrive in about two days.

It wasn’t simply out of compassion that I provided these supplies; it was part of the operation I had prepared. If this succeeded, I would no longer have to worry about threats to my life and property.

After Amelia and I had distributed several loaves of bread…

“Erick. Are you here?”

The guest I had been waiting for arrived.

I deliberately hesitated before slowly turning my head.

An average build with abundant hair. At first glance, he looked about forty, but in reality, he was a man in his late fifties.

The captain of the Royal Order, Lufus Waynelight.

He wore shabby clothes as if trying to avoid attention, but the extravagantly ornate sword at his waist actually made him stand out more. The famous dragon-tooth sword that the previous Emperor had bestowed upon him with the request to protect the Empire.

‘How could he think he wouldn’t stand out wearing that?’

The reason such behavior was possible was simple. Whether it was the imperial guards or nobles, everyone pretended not to notice when they judged that the old man wanted to conduct some sort of secret inspection.

“Captain? What brings you all the way here?”

I blinked my eyes as if truly surprised and slowly got to my feet, still holding the bread I had been distributing to people.

Captain Waynelight stared at me intently before asking in a troubled voice.

“It’s been a while, Erick. …I’ll keep this brief since you seem busy. Is it true that you sent relief supplies to the Border Count?”

“Yes. I told you when I left the Order. That I would honor my comrades’ wishes by supporting relief efforts. You can consider this part of that.”

“Indeed. That much is a noble deed. You’re doing what the nobles should be doing. …However, Erick, it’s a different story if you demanded a title in exchange. Is that true?”

“I did write something similar in the letter I sent with the supplies. …But how do you know about that, Captain? It was a sealed letter.”

As I responded with a puzzled expression, the Captain’s gaze began to waver. I added one more comment.

“If the Border Count accepts the proposal, I plan to send a donation as a token of gratitude. That’s also mentioned in the letter.”

The disappointment on his face deepened at the mention of a ‘donation upon acceptance.’

If I were anyone else, he might have exploded by now. It wasn’t for nothing that I had prepared elixir.

“…Erick, if you promise to withdraw that request, I’ll leave it at that. It’s shameful to obtain a title with money.”

At the Captain’s words, I responded with an awkward smile and an “Um…”

“Withdraw? I thought you would welcome it, Captain.”

“You thought I would welcome it? Not even just tolerate it?”

For a moment, a chilly atmosphere flowed between us. I clasped my hands together neatly and watched his reaction.

“Captain. Why are you acting like this?”

“Erick, the Border Count of Lancarth is a man who knows honor. Above all, isn’t that territory where your comrades died? Philip died fighting the beastmen, and Ramsey was crippled. Those are the very comrades who saw you off the day you left the Order.”

“That’s exactly why I stepped in. I thought he would reluctantly agree since the territory is in difficult circumstances.”

“How can you say that?”

The Captain’s expression grew increasingly distorted.

“Ah, of course, it might seem like I’m exchanging a title for a donation. But ultimately, it will also benefit the residents of the Border Count’s territory…”

“Erick-!!”

Finally, the Captain exclaimed, unable to listen any further.

Because of the fighting spirit emanating from a man who had been a Master for well over 30 years, my disciples already wore dazed expressions.

“Captain. I’m not trying to insist that what I’m doing is absolutely honorable. But I don’t think it’s something to get so upset about.”

“Shut up.”

After catching his breath for a while, the Captain somehow suppressed his anger and noticed the wooden swords at one side of the training center. Then he laughed dejectedly.

“You’ve got the basics covered. Pick one up.”

“Are you going to instruct me after all this time? But Captain, wouldn’t it be better to send these people away first?”

“Pick it up, Erick. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of your disciples.”

I continued to stare at the Captain as if still not understanding, but eventually, as if giving in, I picked up a wooden sword and assumed a pflug stance.

Even right before the match, he gave me a chance.

“Erick. This is your last chance. Even now, withdraw and let’s correct this mistake together.”

“I still don’t understand why you’re so angry, Captain. I also don’t know how you learned the contents of a letter that hasn’t even reached the Border Count yet. Perhaps… no, never mind.”

“Before that letter of yours arrived, I contacted the Border Count via communication crystal to apologize…”

“With all due respect, I don’t think there’s anything to apologize for.”

The next moment, the Captain charged with a terrifying momentum.

He wasn’t using aura, nor was this a duel aimed at killing. He was only holding a wooden sword that weighed less than half of a real sword. However, this man could kill a knight even with his bare hands.

I would take quite a beating, and I felt sorry for the Captain who had, albeit loosely, taken my side until now, but it couldn’t be helped for the sake of protecting my life and property.

What I needed now wasn’t just loose protection. I needed someone who could help expose the true culprits of this situation who were still hiding.

***

A duel between current and former knights, with dozens of poor people as spectators.

Those gathered at the training center initially brightened their eyes, expecting a good show, but now they were rather gripped with fear.

At first, the match had proceeded somewhat equally, but before reaching 30 exchanges, it had essentially turned into punishment.

Waynelight continued swinging his wooden sword, unconcerned with those gazes.

“Kuhup!”

Waynelight’s wooden sword struck Erick’s wrist once more. He somehow managed not to drop the hilt, but his stance had long since collapsed.

‘Even so…’

Waynelight inwardly exclaimed in admiration.

His skill was indeed commendable. Of course, with real swords, it would have ended much faster, but throughout the Imperial District, there were only about seven knights who could fare this well against Waynelight himself. All of them were older than Erick.

The current Erick was definitely a top-tier expert-level swordsman.

But what use was outstanding talent?

The attempt to buy a title in the Border Count territory that urgently needed reconstruction was problematic, but he could tolerate that much. After all, he bore the original sin of having treated Erick harshly.

‘I can understand his desire to become a noble. He must have felt a great sense of loss after leaving the Order.’

The problem was that Erick himself didn’t seem to feel any guilt. No, he even tilted his head as if wondering what the problem was. He had also said without hesitation that he would only send a donation if the title was granted.

It was that attitude that finally made Waynelight explode with anger. Though even then, he exercised self-control by using a wooden sword.

Thwack!

“……!”

Erick fell to his knees without even being able to scream after taking a hit.

Seeing his completely exhausted appearance, Waynelight felt a bit cruel. Though he had been careful not to leave any aftereffects, it would still be difficult for Erick for a while.

Waynelight grimaced. Honestly, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. If Erick had just said he would withdraw the request, or even shown a hint of shame, this wouldn’t have happened.

‘Still, I should at least give him some money for treatment…’

He was about to take out a few gold coins when he stopped abruptly. Erick had been watching him and now pulled out a vial the size of a pinky finger from his breast pocket.

Waynelight, coming from a wealthy family, knew exactly what it was. It was elixir, a top-grade potion that dramatically accelerated recovery.

Seeing him hastily drink such expensive elixir for mere bruises somehow made Waynelight feel disgusted. It also felt like Erick was deliberately demonstrating in front of him, as if protesting against unjust violence.

“Fine. Drink it. …Take this too.”

Feeling even his minimal compassion evaporating, Waynelight tossed him some gold coins.

Erick, who had been drinking the elixir with trembling hands, suddenly widened his eyes at the coins that fell to the ground.

“By the way, Erick. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get the title you want. No matter how difficult his circumstances, the Border Count isn’t someone who would sell a title because he’s tempted by a donation. If you had sincerely said you wanted to contribute to border defense, he might have favored you regardless of money.”

“That wasn’t my intention, I mean… Captain, could it be that the Prince…”

Stammering, Erick eventually hung his head low. For some reason, he looked visibly frightened.

Pathetic fellow. Waynelight turned away from Erick, who was still kneeling, and left. The poor people made way for him with tense expressions.

***

The next evening, Waynelight received an urgent request from the Border Count of Lancarth to speak via communication crystal.

‘It must be because of that Erick.’

Waynelight gladly agreed, thinking he should apologize on Erick’s behalf.

“Captain, do you know a fellow named Erick?”

“…Yes, I do.”

“I received relief supplies from him through a merchant guild. We got medicine for now, and heavier supplies are coming in two days. It’s truly appreciated, but there was an outrageous request in the accompanying letter.”

“I apologize on behalf of Erick for his scheme. Just reject it.”

“Oh, I can reject it? That’s a relief. I was hesitating because it was such an unreasonable request.”

“Yes. It’s largely my fault for raising him poorly…”

“But no matter what, I can’t take a crippled knight as my vassal.”

“…What?”

For a moment, Waynelight felt dazed.

“Ramsey, was it? That fellow with seaweed-like hair. He thought I would gladly take him in since he has connections in this area… but a man who can barely hold a sword can’t serve as a viscount in this dangerous place. It may sound harsh, but our situation is different from other territories.”

“Wait. What are you saying?”

The Border Count continued, seemingly unconcerned, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. He mentioned that many of his territory’s residents were on the verge of starvation. He also asked Waynelight to convey his apologies to Erick for accepting the supplies but not being able to grant his request.

“That aside, his camaraderie is truly admirable. Honestly, the talk of a title was absurd, but personally, I was impressed. As you’ve experienced, Captain, not many people would go this far for an old comrade.”

As he listened to the Border Count’s words, Waynelight’s face rapidly hardened. It was comparable to the expressions of nobles who had lost their entire fortunes to Cordana.