Ch.6666. Toolung Harbor (3)

It’s cold. Like a dagger flying into my chest.

A sharp and chilling atmosphere fills this alleyway in front of the market.

‘……Damn it.’

The source of this frigid atmosphere is none other than me.

It’s because I carelessly voiced my thoughts about those two arguing ahead, reacting irritably about them not moving aside.

Standing before me, the two men who until moments ago were arguing as if they wanted to kill each other are emanating the distinctive aura of intermediate-level users, and now instead of glaring at each other, they’re staring directly at me.

The man standing on the left appears to be an adventurer.

He’s wearing full plate armor with an impressive black base and red patterns glowing on the surface, possibly metal dyed with alchemical tools and then enchanted.

At his waist, he openly displays a silver-grade adventurer badge to reveal his status.

Right beside it hangs a battle hammer gleaming with a subtle purple light, and on his back, he carries a circular shield made of solid metal.

In contrast, the man on the right could be identified as a nobleman by anyone judging from his attire and the atmosphere he exudes.

Over his elegant blue uniform-like clothing, he wears light yet sturdy armor made of mythril.

He wears a stylish hat on his head and carries an ornate rapier that appears to be made of mythril at his waist.

The thin blade is enchanted with magic that makes it appear blurry.

The ebony scabbard is decorated with gold leaf and jewels, with a large blue gemstone embedded at the end of the handle.

Both seem to have considerable skill, and they’re roughly glaring at me from a distance where they could strike with their swords at any moment.

‘……..W-what should I do? What should I do?’

Panicking in this seemingly hopeless situation, I reflexively accelerated my thought process to its limit….

‘Okay, okay. Let’s just stick to the plan…..’

After somehow escaping the confusion in my accelerated thoughts and regaining my composure, I was able to formulate a plan of sorts… I calmed my accelerated thoughts and stepped forward.

“Everyone, please calm down. Aren’t you just causing trouble for the merchants while others are watching? What meaning is there in this behavior?”

I naturally intervene as if I had been trying to stop the fight from the beginning and attempt to initiate dialogue.

I subtly amplify the magical power within my body and outwardly project Robo’s fierce energy that I’ve borrowed.

My goal is to make those two recognize me as no ordinary being.

While I’m secretly using wild magic for this purpose, unlike the hesitant adventurer, the nobleman spoke rather arrogantly.

“This commoner has insulted my honor with his insolent retort!”

“You are insulting your own honor, sir. Is threatening these civilians while raising your voice in public truly an act of honor?”

“It’s necessary for those lowborn who don’t know their place, Druid!”

“……..Who are you calling lowborn?!”

At the nobleman’s words, the enraged adventurer shouts thunderously as he approaches the nobleman.

Neither side seems to have any intention of stopping, and they appear ready to fight right here and now.

An Aura user (intermediate warrior) who could rightfully be called a living tank, with two civilians standing right beside them.

‘……Haah.’

And I, not wanting to see innocent people get caught up and killed in their fight…. sighed and struck my staff down, declaring:

[Listen.]

“””””……..?!””””””

“Ugh!”

“W-what is this……..?!”

[I am Gregory Aleinos, an Association-certified Druid. I step forward for the sake of those who would become victims should you two fight here. If you know honor and are not ashamed of yourselves, cease this fighting.]

The introduction and announcement was essentially a declaration of war. A grand statement that I would, by my name, punish anyone who tried to fight.

I even mentioned honor with my own lips, so if they had even minimal awareness, instead of fighting, they would turn their attention to me who stepped in as a mediator….

“……..He started it first.”

My assumption proved correct when the adventurer addressed me.

“I was just trying to buy ingredients for today’s meal when he suddenly picked a fight! He started spouting nonsense about me being unsightly and having lowborn blood!”

“Hmph. You should have avoided catching my eye.”

As the adventurer continued speaking, the gazes of the bystanders and onlookers toward the nobleman grew increasingly hostile.

Of course, as the mediator, I could only respond after hearing the nobleman’s reaction and……

“How dare you! How dare such lowly creatures look at this noble body with such eyes?!”

‘……What is wrong with this guy?’

As the onlookers and passersby turned their gazes away from the nobleman who spoke with Aura, I genuinely wondered what was wrong with this idiotic nobleman.

After all, even throughout the entire Frank Kingdom, such fools are generally quite rare.

※ ※ ※

In the Frank Kingdom, the status of “nobility” is inherited not through bloodline but through power and position.

The naturally abundant lands of the Frank Kingdom were crawling with all sorts of dangerous creatures, and to defend against the powerful intermediate-level beings among these creatures, intermediate-level humans were absolutely necessary.

Therefore, people pledged to work for those with power, intermediate-level or higher humans, in exchange for “protection,” and over time, these protectors came to be called nobles and began exercising governance over those they protected.

This history is the background of how the feudal system in the Frank Kingdom was born.

Thus, the class system and feudalism of the Frank Kingdom continue to this day, and although they have somewhat changed with the passage of time, their fundamental nature remains the same.

Nobles, as “guardians” who protect their territories from external threats, must possess appropriate strength, so to inherit titles or territories, one must necessarily rise to the intermediate level.

And usually, this arduous process of rising to the intermediate level itself acts as a kind of filter, so most nobles, while arrogant and steeped in a sense of superiority, do not neglect their duty—the protection of their territory.

In the same vein, there are lines that must not be crossed in noble society.

The most representative examples are “dishonorable” acts such as fleeing from enemies or using traps in duels, and murder without reason (regardless of who the target is) is sufficient cause for contempt and disregard in noble society.

While it’s an undeniable fact that the vast majority of Frank Kingdom nobles are steeped in elitism and a sense of superiority, openly displaying such attitudes is considered truly rude and undignified.

In short, this nobleman’s blatant talk of “lowly creatures” is no different from lying down and spitting on his own face.

I was curious. Genuinely curious. Who was this nobleman, and why was he causing such a scene here, in someone else’s territory?

“….Sir, state your name. Who are you to sully your own honor?”

“Insolent fool! ……..Very well, if you’re curious, I’ll tell you.”

The man in the blue uniform seemed about to get angry for a moment, but intimidated by my presence, he instantly became ‘anger management expert’ and drew his sword, declaring:

[I am Denvil Bistro, a knight-errant of the Dartram Barony! As a nobleman and knight, I shall judge that lowborn adventurer who dared to prance before me!]

Whether it was because he filled his vocal cords and voice with Aura, his voice had a deep resonance, but it also somehow sounded pitiful and pathetic.

The self-proclaimed knight-errant, Denvil Bistro, was a being who hid ugly and distorted contents within a shell decorated with splendor.

Disgusting, hideous, filthy. A fool who speaks of honor while being not even slightly honorable stands before my eyes.

“……..”

Of course, apart from these personal feelings of mine, there’s no need for further intervention.

Whether they fight each other or not, if I can somehow purchase the seafood that could be considered my purpose for visiting this market, I can just leave as I always do.

But… a part of my mind is asking:

Are you really going to leave that disgusting guy alone? Really? Should you just run away with your tail between your legs from such a lowlife?

‘……..No.’

Yes, let’s be honest. I actually wanted to punish that disgusting man. The sight of such repulsive creatures acting up before my eyes was unbearable.

It had nothing to do with heroic psychology or a sense of justice. It was simply a desire to remove someone I disliked.

Therefore, I… threw the glove I usually wore at his face and declared:

“……..Haha? What, are you serious?”

“Yes, so follow me. You disgusting creature.”

This was none other than a challenge to a duel. A declaration of war against the vermin who ignores the mediator of the conflict and acts with impunity, with the stated purpose of smashing the trash-like man before my eyes.