episode_0016

The next day, as soon as the sun rose, I got up to prepare for our departure.

Lycia seemed to still be half in dreamland, perhaps due to not having slept well again last night.

I hadn’t done anything different last night. I didn’t snore or talk in my sleep either.

Leaving the girl who had fallen back asleep under the covers, I went to visit nearby merchants for a moment.

We had enough provisions to take with us, and Mugyu had already checked everything in Bolle. But there was still something I needed to take care of.

“Anything special happening in the south?”

“Well, there is something… special.”

Information was what I needed.

It’s always good to gather as much news as possible. There may be exaggerations and falsehoods, but you have to filter through them and figure things out.

Especially in a world without the internet, the importance of this skill is even greater. With no photos or media, unreliable information spreads at the speed of a person walking.

Even if the Emperor and the Pope were to start wrestling in the middle of the Vatican today, I wouldn’t hear about it until a month later.

So, without real-time news, I had to gather bits and pieces of information and skillfully piece them together to make predictions. This seemed like a task I could leave to Lycia later. She seemed talented, having predicted that the Pope and the Emperor would fight.

I gave a few extra coins to the smiling merchant and probed for more information.

“It seems that the lord in the south has terminated contracts with mercenaries.”

“That’s not uncommon. What makes it special?”

“It seems like they’ve taken a bit of money from there, and the mercenaries, for some reason, have decided to start robbing due to a sudden need for funds. And they are causing quite a stir around there, so if you’re passing through, you need to be very careful.”

“Do you know the reason behind it?”

“Yes, unfortunately, I have to keep this information hidden.”

I didn’t have any information about the Pope or the Emperor, but this was enough information to gather here.

I returned to the inn and woke up Lycia. The girl, who was looking around in confusion, seemed to realize it was time to leave when she saw my attire, and she got up with a rustle.

Soon, Lycia was ready to leave.

Since it seemed like nothing was left behind, I checked one last time to make sure the relic was securely fastened on the girl. For some reason, the necklace seemed to sparkle particularly brightly in the sunlight. Maybe it was just my imagination.

I lifted Lycia onto the saddle and she landed on the horse with a loud yawn.

I held the reins and headed south through the open gate.

Beside the gate, there was a young guard who seemed to want to switch shifts. Even though I had seen him changing shifts just a few minutes ago.

“Are you heading south?”

“Yes. Why, is there any news?”

“There have been reports of several attacks on pilgrims and small merchants who have left the city. Survivors say they were a fairly armed group, so please be careful.”

It was the same information I had heard from the merchant earlier.

The merchant had nothing to gain from colluding with the guard for just a few coins, so this information seemed trustworthy.

“Thank you for the warning. Is this the right amount for the toll?”

“Yes, that’s correct. You may pass.”

I handed the guard some coins. It was a necessary expense.

The toll was the price for using the road. More precisely, it was the cost paid to the lords for maintaining security on the road and managing the condition of the roads.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t just once or twice that I wondered if the money was worth it, with thieves popping up whenever I felt bored.

Passing by the guards, I stepped out the door to find a vast field stretching out before me. The grass, beginning to sprout in welcome of spring, had already turned the barren land into a lush green.

As the wind passed by, a refreshing sound of rustling filled my ears. The sky was dotted with clouds, and the sunlight streaming through was warm. It was a peaceful morning.

The lazy horses, who had been idling in the stable for two days, grew restless as the sun rose higher.

The road ahead was narrow, and I reminded myself not to follow strangers recklessly, especially in unfamiliar territories like Lycia. Yet, my stomach growled as if I had spoken too much.

Just then, I spotted a resting place used by travelers in the distance.

There were six fallen tree trunks to sit on, with some wooden stumps serving as makeshift tables in front of them.

A small tree provided shade above them. It seemed like a suitable spot to have lunch, so I stopped in front of it.

“Let’s have lunch here and then continue.”

“Is this… a resting place for passersby?”

“Sometimes there are places like this on the road, especially if it’s a long journey.”

It also served as a kind of boundary.

The area governed by the city we had just passed ended here, indicating that any trouble beyond this point was not their concern.

I scanned the surroundings while nibbling on bread.

Unlike the past when I was alone, I now had companions with me.

“What are you looking for?”

“Thieves. The guards mentioned that the security in this area isn’t great.”

The girl asked me, constantly looking around.

And she mentioned armed thieves.

They are particularly dangerous. The lightly armed ones don’t earn the title of ‘thief.’

Thieves are not all the same. They can be classified based on their backgrounds.

Most thieves are commoners who gather together to start looting.

Their weapons are nothing more than farming tools, old swords, and small axes.

If a hunter joined them, there might be someone with a bow. If they were lucky enough to rob a few merchants, they might have basic armor.

However, regardless of their numbers, they never attacked well-armed opponents.

In the past, when I was poorly armed and silent, I encountered thieves who looked down on me or tried to rob me.

“That guy, do you think we can beat him?”

“Look at that sight! Clearly, a country bumpkin trying to imitate a knight.”

Of course, regardless of the circumstances, the law of the jungle is always right, but that’s a different story when you’re on an equal footing.

I didn’t gain combat experience by folding the waist of bandits to be caught by former peasants.

“Seems like a greenhorn who doesn’t know his place… Boys, get him!”

-Clang!

“Aaargh!”

There was no need to draw my sword. It’s not worth it. Every swing costs money, so I decided to indulge in countless preemptive strikes.

The foldable bandits that were created in this way returned to me with the title of ‘Bolay’s Plague.’

On the other hand, armed thieves mostly come from mercenaries. And not the kind who get paid on time.

It could be due to the overly peaceful surroundings or the economic conditions of the lord that were less than ideal.

Whichever side they were on, mercenary groups were organizations that consumed a lot of money and whose profession involved wielding violence. When they began to be swayed by money, the choice of what to do was not so obvious.

“Are you not going to extend the contract? We are also in a precarious situation, so we would appreciate a quick response.”

“Hmm, it seems that the surroundings are peaceful, so I feel the need to gradually reduce the number of personnel. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Why has the security improved… Oh! It’s because of us!”

“Then shouldn’t we make it not peaceful again?”

“What…!”

In this way, when mercenaries had no work, they transformed into marauders with the miraculous logic of creating jobs by setting themselves on fire.

These newly formed bandits were soon wiped out by other mercenaries. It was the great natural order of circulation.

The case that the guards had heard was exactly this. Of course, the fact that they did it out of necessity for quick money was different.

Normally, they could have fought by roughly estimating the state of readiness. Such achievements and heroic tales often returned as honor, which was a great help to a knight dreaming of a real estate mogul.

But now…

“Why are you like this?”

“It’s nothing.”

I turned my gaze away from the girl who was poking the bread.

If I were alone, I might not have cared, but with Lycia, if I met them, I had to run away at full speed as soon as I saw them from a distance.

Even if I had a relic, there was no guarantee that I could protect the girl perfectly in a chaotic situation.

Fame, honor, they’re good.

But if you ask if that’s worth the life of a poor girl, it’s not, is it?

*****

After solving lunch, I continued along the road.

Apart from small groups of merchants or travelers I occasionally encountered, there weren’t many people around, and nothing special happened, contrary to my worries.

Oh, of course, one traveler I met in the middle did run away in the opposite direction as soon as he saw my armor.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity and soon caught up with him, redirecting him back on the path he was supposed to take.

The surroundings were gradually getting darker. The sun had already set beyond the horizon, and stars were beginning to appear from the opposite side.

Camping on a road like this was a risky business. Did I take the wrong turn?

Just as I was starting to entertain the arrogant thought of digging a vertical burrow to spend the night, that’s when it happened.

“Why isn’t the village coming into view? Is it still loading?”

“Oh, there! Do you see that?”

Lycia pointed to something faintly glowing in the distance.

Upon closer inspection, I saw small houses and flickering flames, smoke rising lightly, perhaps preparing for dinner.

In order to arrive before it got completely dark, I hastened my horse and headed towards the village.