What the country bumpkin saw coming out of the barn was two men dressed exactly like the robbers he had knocked down earlier, stripping and torturing two young children. The owner of the house was also there, picking up the rags and rummaging through them.

    “You⋯, what are you doing?”

    The woman wearing the Shipuren mask threw Dice to the ground, then jumped up and drew a sword from her waist.

    “The homeowner is with the robber⋯. Is the robber the homeowner? Or is he in trouble too?”

    A country bumpkin asked, pointing his finger at the landlady. Everyone in the barn except her tilted their heads at her wicked accent.

    “Get rid of him now! That guy saw us!”

    The landlady stomped her feet. At her words, the robber, holding a dagger, rushed at the country bumpkin.

    Taking a step back with his right foot, the country boy aimed for his stomach and struck the outstretched arm with the back of his hand, then tripped the robber’s foot and knocked him down.

    “Ouch⋯⋯! My knee⋯! My knee hit the ground!”

    “Tsk⋯.”

    The country bumpkin clicked his tongue as if it was nothing and turned his head back into the barn. The woman who owned the house was suddenly frightened by the sight of him.

    “Ah, ahju⋯⋯. Where did you learn how to fight like that⋯. Do you think we’ve seen one or two guys like you while we’ve been doing this kind of thing to make a living?”

    The guy who was on the prince’s side got up and said.

    “Once you’ve done it twice, the third time is easy. Hurry up and jump in.”

    The country bumpkin taunted the thief by snapping his fingers.

    “Aesong-ah. Real life is like that. It’s lethal. Huh?”

    A thief muttering while holding a dagger in his hand.

    “⋯⋯!”

    Only then did one of the thieves who had collapsed in the room get up and approach the barn. The one who had hit his knee and was rolling on the floor also got up limping and started swinging his sword at the country bumpkin.

    “You ended up getting stabbed three times with a knife that should have been used once or twice. Think of it as the price you pay for your reckless behavior.”

    “My chin is still cold! Can I cut that guy’s neck?”

    “My knees… I’ll cut the tendons in my legs.”

    ***

    “I⋯ J, I was also a victim. Those guys suddenly barged in and I had no choice but to do as they said⋯⋯.”

    After beating up three thieves without getting hurt, there was nothing the landlady could do but sit there and tremble.

    “It’s okay now.⋯Are you guys okay too? Oh, this one’s not a kid. Are you okay?”

    The prince and the dice looked at her face, which appeared as if by miracle, in amazement.

    “No…, this is. Okay. Are. You. Okay? You’re not hurt or anything?”

    She scratched her chin and spoke again, word for word. She felt a little resentful, wondering what was wrong with her speech that made people not understand her.

    “⋯⋯⋯You are a lifesaver. You saved this country, our future⋯.”

    Sir Dice, who was about to burst into tears with relief, spoke with a runny nose. The country bumpkin flinched at the sight and stepped back.

    “Hey, hurry up and get me something to cover them with. These people are going to catch a cold.”

    “Yes, yes⋯⋯!”

    The landlady was startled when the country bumpkin suddenly spoke to her. She could only understand half of what he said, but she answered loudly and ran out of the barn.

    “Oh my gosh⋯⋯. Tell me your name⋯. I’ll definitely remember it. I’ll definitely repay you!”

    Sir Dice continued speaking while touching the hand of the woman who saved his life with his hands covered in tears and snot.

    “Ugh… It’s called Efre.”

    “My name is Efre, the royal family wants you⋯.”

    “Epre! The name is Epre!”

    At this point, it seems like she’s deliberately ignoring me because of her country accent.

    “Yes, yes. Efre. On behalf of the royal family, I would like to thank you once again. ”

    “Yeah… You must have been really surprised. It’ll be okay now…⋯⋯.”

    If anyone, not even Efre, had heard Dice Sir talking about the royal family in such a disheveled manner, they would have thought he was out of his mind, a little shocked by the series of events.

    I thought I heard voices outside, and then the landlady came running into the barn, holding a bundle of straw in one hand.

    “Heh⋯ Heh, outside⋯⋯!”

    “Did those robbers call their friends again?”

    Efre jumped up. What she encountered outside the barn was a much larger number of people than before. They were dressed a little differently than the three guys who had run away first, but those who were armed and swarmed in a rural village like this might be the same.

    “Yeah, that’s a good move. Let’s try it.”

    Efre picked up a long farm tool that was leaning against the barn wall and straightened his posture.

    “Oh, phew. I saw some thieves moving around here. Are you okay?”

    At that very moment when tension was in the air, Sarah, who still had the habit of blowing away the hairs falling on her face, walked to the front of the group and asked.

    “Are they your friends? I sent them away after scolding them.”

    “Huh? Phew, where have I heard that tone before? Are you saying you took them out all by yourself?”

    “Yeah, because you’re bothering the people in this house.”

    “Really?”

    Sarah turned to the landlady and asked again. She nodded, frozen in place.

    “Wow, that’s great! Thank you for doing our job for us.⋯Are you a member of the vigilantes?”

    Sarah’s expression brightens as she extends her hand to Efre and asks for a handshake.

    “Vigilantes⋯⋯? I just happened to stop by on my way home⋯.”

    Efre puts down his farming tools with a puzzled look on his face and shakes hands.

    “I see, I see! Then, would you like to join us? You have the skills, the sense of justice, and the talent that is too good to be left alone. We are working to protect this vast southern land from bandits in place of the regular army.”

    “Together⋯. Are you going to hire me⋯⋯?”

    “Well, it’s similar! First of all, you’re my subordinate. But we work on a fairly equal basis rather than a vertical one.”

    “Well… I failed the officer exam and I’m on my way back. Do you have to guess someone’s birthday or place name in the eastern region here too?”

    “Yes? No. If we were to talk about interviews, I would like to give you a first round of approval. Of course, there are people in the vigilante group who have more decision-making authority than I do, but I can recruit subordinates on my own. Ahem! ”

    Efre’s expression brightens at Sarah’s words.

    “What Dad said was true! There must be someone in this vast land who needs me! Alright! Let me work with you!”

    “Hahaha, this is an honor. Ahahaha.”

    ***

    “Is it true that you found people who escaped from the castle?”

    Memer asked excitedly as he ran into the tent that was being used as the meeting place for the vigilante group. Then he naturally approached Ailee and held her hand.

    “Yeah, I heard the details from Sarah, and she said that her life was in danger from the bandits. She doesn’t seem to want to talk to us yet, but let’s meet in person, right?”

    Ailee puts down her sword and dry towel and responds to Memer’s physical contact by hugging his waist and bringing her face close enough that their noses touch.

    “Of course. Where are they now?”

    “Scout barracks.⋯I just got off work, but you’re not going to kiss me?”

    “I told you to be a brat. Are you still worried about the fact that I asked you to hand over the leadership position?”

    “No way. You know I’ll follow your will without question.”

    Memer smiles and pulls away Ailee’s hand that keeps groping her body. After that night with Mila (which didn’t end up happening), Ailee’s strangely obsessive attitude was becoming quite annoying. Memer, who once believed that she was quite smart, finds it hard to hide his disappointment at the fact that she eventually cannot overcome her desires.

    “⋯What’s wrong? Who ruined your mood again? Just tell me.”

    “I’m just a little tired, let’s go meet those people quickly.”

    “⋯⋯⋯.”

    “⋯⋯?”

    Ailee closed her eyes and didn’t move at all.

    “Oh, right.”

    Memer immediately figured out Ailee’s intentions and let out a short sigh with a dumbfounded expression. Then, reluctantly, Memer kissed her on the lips.

    “Shall we go now?”

    “You must be stupid.”

    Only then did Ailee get up from her seat and begin to walk outside with Memer by her side.

    “Oh, you’re here? Mr. Memer. We’ve been treating our guests warmly so that no one will be disgraced by our vigilante group. Do you see those people sitting over there? I talked to them for a bit, and they’re called Baron Balon.”

    Sarah smiled brightly at Memer and continued her chattering report.

    “Yeah, good job. I always say you’re trustworthy.”

    When Memer brushes Sarah’s hair up and compliments her, Sarah shyly rejoices at his touch. Sometimes, Memer thinks that even puppies who cry and laugh at just one small touch are cute.

    “Who is the little girl next to her? Are they mother and daughter?”

    Ailee asked.

    “Oh, yes. That’s what they said. I guess you can call them Mr. Ballon and Little Mr. Ballon.”

    “Baron Ballon?”

    Memer looked closely at the faces of the two, then snorted. Then he slowly walked over to stand in front of them, linking his arms.

    “Thank you for coming all the way here, Your Majesty.”

    “⋯⋯!”

    0 Comments

    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period.
    Note
    // Script to navigate with arrow keys