episode_0071

“, you can go in.”

“Thank you.”

Elden Raphelion of the Raphelion Counts.

A bully, a tyrant, a battle-monger.

The newly written nickname, Blood Prince.

Thanks to all sorts of strange nicknames hanging from his body, he was able to enter Rugen Village without any particular security checks.

It’s almost like a magic wand.

The fact that it was extremely rare for upper-class nobles to visit the border villages of the Grand Duke’s territory also had a major impact.

It seems like they should at least verify the authenticity of the names in order to perform at least part of their duties as a village guard, but the guards who stuttered and became lost in thought as soon as the names were mentioned didn’t seem to have the presence of mind to do so.

Thankfully.

Of course, Lumiang, who was riding on my back, was covered with a hooded cloak.

The shouts that resounded as if the sky would fall down as soon as the mask was removed and the face was revealed at the grand wedding ceremony would have reached the northern territory and even the empire for six months.

Even in a remote village, there would be many people who would recognize Le Miang, so prevention was essential.

At least until we have a closer and clearer understanding of the current situation.

What is Duke Logan thinking?

Before we figure out what Lumiang is thinking, it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

“It’s just an ordinary town.”

So, when we entered Rugen Village, we first stopped by a general store where we could sell monster byproducts.

This was a general store with the Monster Merchant Association emblem engraved on its sign, where you could buy or sell by-products.

They hardly handle any food ingredients.

By-products that can be traded here are those parts that do not rot or rot extremely slowly, such as teeth, skin, bones, and claws, which are hard or tough.

“Here is the association certificate.”

I showed the owner the membership card that only those who are members of the Monster Hunter Association can receive, and the lender unrolled the package.

These were byproducts collected here and there during the journey from the mountain village of Srod to here.

“Oh~Let’s see~”

The owner, with his impressive beak, began checking the quantity and condition.

With its unique, savory rhythm that transcends dimensions and the East and the West.

“2 Red Longer’s Leather, 16 White Goblin’s Teeth, 3 Mountain Ogre’s Tusks, 2 Giant Snake’s Tail Bells. Oh my~ Protector~”

Step by step.

The owner, after finishing the calculation, opened the cash register and took out 22 silver coins and 5 copper coins.

At this rate, you should be able to stay in Rugen Village for at least two weeks.

I saved the petrified eyeball of the goblin that I had caught twenty times and was only able to see once.

Because rare byproducts are much more profitable to sell at the city’s general store.

“Then come again~”

After calculating, we left the general store and rented a room for three silver coins.

We rented the entire two-story accommodation.

It was for Lumiang.

Even if we cannot completely free ourselves from external gaze, we can release excessive restrictions.

That’s why I decided to take care of my own meals.

Because we have Baekjakyeongae, who is reborn as a chef.

“Then I’ll prepare dinner!”

The Countess headed to the kitchen and entered the second floor bedroom with Rachel.

And then, he put Lumiang down on the bed.

He also took off the hooded cloak that had been covering her the whole time.

Perhaps because he had regained some of his energy, Lumiang was sitting on the end of the bed with a dazed expression on his face.

Unlike the afternoon when I couldn’t sit down because I couldn’t control my body and had nothing to lean on.

After placing the things to write next to her, he gave her something he had bought at the market.

“If you need help or have something to say, just shake this bell.”

It was a tofu bell that I bought for Lumiang, who couldn’t make sounds properly.

A small bell with a wooden stick.

Lumiang, who was holding it, looked at me again with a bewildered expression.

“Then take a rest.”

After giving her a faint smile, he was about to leave the bedroom with Rachel.

Tinkle, tinkle.

A bell rang from behind.

I turned around.

And I could see it.

Lumiang is writing something in a hurry.

Swish, swish.

After a while, Lumiang showed me the paper, and with the sound of a bell, he hurriedly wrote down a question about human conduct.

[Why are you helping me? I told you it could be dangerous.]

When people see others in danger, they want to help.

A person who rushes to the scene of a traffic accident and rescues the victims.

A person who risks his life to catch a falling child.

A person who guides lost elderly people to their destination.

A person who realizes that he is beyond saving and cries out for someone to save him.

There are even people who readily donate the gold they have stored at home during a national crisis.

Most people do not ignore someone in danger; they know that it is human nature to do so.

In modern times, those who abuse this principle and those who turn away from help have gained power, destroying humanity. However, it is natural logic and instinct to want to help your own kind in times of danger and preserve your own species.

That’s why.

“I am helping you because it is dangerous.”

He gave an obvious answer.

With the same feeling as that day when I gave the ointment to her who looked in danger and earned Rachel’s cold gaze.

While the wedding ceremony was taking place, no further assistance was provided.

Because I was an abstainer, and as an abstainer there was nothing I could do.

Because I had neither the power nor the qualifications to change it.

But now I had the help I could give, the power and the qualifications to make a change.

So I was just trying to help.

“… … .”

After giving a light nod to Lumiang, who was staring at me silently, I left the bedroom.

**

‘It’s dangerous… I’m helping… ?”

Even after Elden and Rachel had left, Lumiang was still sitting blankly on the edge of the bed.

Thinking back on Elden’s last words.

Elden, who asked the question in the hope that no one would get hurt because of him anymore, answered as if it was a given that he was helping because they were in danger.

I wrote it in my diary one day.

During the festival, Elden’s tale of bravery was told of how he defeated a large man who was brutally beating a woman and a child with a single blow.

I couldn’t believe it, so I asked myself several times, and there were times when I suddenly became curious about what that look was like.

So I tried to imagine the scene that day, but I couldn’t.

All he could imagine was the sight of himself being brutally beaten by Deron and his men, and Elden just watching.

I tried to draw it several times, but I just couldn’t imagine Elden swinging his fists for a stranger he had never met.

All he saw was Elden’s contemptuous gaze as he looked at himself being assaulted and abused.

That must be why.

It was natural to help those in danger, Elden’s smiling face seemed out of place.

Even though it was an obvious answer, it sounded strange when Elden said it.

It was also a really strange thing.

The way Elden answered that question was so natural and suited him so well.

So I guess it wasn’t something I could have imagined.

I didn’t know it would fit so naturally and so well.

“… … .”

Lumiang glanced over the fluffy bed.

It was a bed that was much more shabby and shabby than the one he had slept on in the Great Palace, but it was more than enough and luxurious for him now.

Lumiang, who had been caressing the bedsheet with his hand, soon went down to the floor.

The cold air was felt, but the harsh life of being on the run for dozens of days made the cold air feel warm.

This hard floor felt more comfortable than a soft bed.

I crawled across the floor and sat against the wall next to the bed.

As always, he buried his head in his hands and wrapped his arms around his hunched legs.

It was comfortable.

It feels like I’m back where I belong.

So, Lumiang closed his eyes and buried his head in my lap.

In the hand that wraps around the leg.

The tofu bag that Elden had handed over was still in his hand.

**

The next morning.

After asking Rachel to stay with Lumiang at the inn, I set out for the village with Ariel and Lendler.

Ariel was there to buy medicine to give to Lumiang, and I was there to repair my dull sword.

The lender was looking around to see if there was anywhere he could buy a small wagon.

“That’s the central square.”

So, after leaving the accommodation, we decided to move together.

It was to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

Because Prince Deron might try to take a hostage in a petty way after hearing the identity of one of the new members joining the Blood Prince’s party.

If he was a weakling in terms of military power, it was clear that he would do something cowardly rather than confront him head-on.

Just like at the academy.

Because I will try to get what I want in the most comfortable and efficient way.

There may not be any immediate danger, or perhaps never will be, but it never hurts to be cautious.

“Hey! I see the herbal medicine shop sign over there!”

Ariel was looking around the town when she caught sight of a sign and decided to stop by right away.

“Do, he’s a thief-! Catch that bread thief-!!”

If it weren’t for the urgent scream that suddenly came.

And if only something hadn’t hit me right after that.

Bam!

I was jolted back by the strong impact, but I soon regained my balance.

“What is it?”

I turned around to see what had collided with me… .

“Omnyumnyum! Hehe. Bread is the best. It’s precious. It’s mine. Hehehe.”

I could see a man holding a loaf of bread with both hands politely, eating it without caring that I bumped into him.

The red hair that had been like a rose had turned dark and was just as disheveled as when he had discovered Lumiang.

His face was also covered in dark, dried-out marks from all sorts of dirt, and his once blue eyes were clouded and unfocused to the point where it was impossible to tell where he was looking.

“Hey-! Catch that kid-!!”

The bakery owner, who was chasing after me with a club brandished behind his back, shouted at the top of his lungs.

I should have caught him, but I couldn’t catch him, who was eating his bread with care like a hamster holding sunflower seeds in both hands, and whose cheeks were swollen from eating the bread hastily without even drinking water.

“Eomnyumnyumnyum! Hehehe. This bread, drink it. Sharrrr, sharrrr, it’s melting. It’s melting. Hehehe.”

Then, the bastard starts running past us.

Waving the scattered red flags.

The clothes were fluttering in the wind, as if they would be torn apart by a strong wind.

Waving breadcrumbs.

“Hehehe. As expected, bread is the best. Oh my. I’m so full. Hehe.”

It really started to run away in a flash.

It was in such a shabby state that it was hard to recognize its true appearance, but I couldn’t help but mutter its name as I watched its back moving away.

“B… Blund… ?”

Blund Rospell, who had not been seen at the parade marking the end of the Great Engagement War, had turned into a crazy beggar and worked as a bread thief in a village called Rugen, not far from the Grand Duchy.

“Huh? B, are you talking about Prince Blund… …?”

“What? That, that’s blond… ?”

We could only stare blankly at the back of Blund as he ran away, smiling happily as if he owned the world with just one loaf of bread.

Because the unexpected reunion was so shocking.

After a while.

Bam! Bam!

◦ ◦ This is a bakery?

Blund was caught by the boss.

And Blund, who was beaten mercilessly by the bakery owner and fell to the floor, curled up like a shrimp, but still greedily ate the bread he was holding so carefully.

It was a sight hard to believe, the miserable downfall of Marquis Rospell.

“Heh, let’s go. Bba, the bread is a show. Omg! ”

of course.

To those who didn’t know his true identity, he was just a crazy bread thief.

“Even in the midst of all this, you’re still eating bread? This kid is a real idiot!!”

Thud! Thud!