Leap (6)

“Captain! All cleared up!”

It’s been about thirty minutes since I collapsed on the ground.

The monsters that had been lurking around, eyeing an opportunity, were turned to ashes by the soldiers’ bazookas… I mean, ‘Staffs of Fire’. The hill was already overturned by me, needless to say, and any other dangerous bastards had their heads split open by Collin’s sword.

Plus, with twelve Pahelln soldiers arriving, there was nothing left for me to do.

“…Is this a lull, then?”

Kamier said, sheathing his blood-stained sword.

“What is your name, -gyeong?”

The giant who had been swinging around a sword as big as a person, smashing monster skulls left and right. Judging by the blue light enveloping the blade, he was definitely an Aura user.

Kamier judged him to be a knight.

At the same time, he looked at him with envy. He was the heir of Pahelln, yet he couldn’t even sense Mana, let alone use Aura, which seemed to embarrass him.

Collin sheathed his sword on his back and gave a light bow.

“I am Collin. I have no surname.”

“Thank you for saving Pahelln, Collin-gyeong.”

“Haha…! You flatter me!”

“Will you be returning as is?”

Collin looked around, lost in thought.

The soldiers were in good condition. There were no fatalities, and even the injured had only minor wounds. The horses were tired, but there was plenty of feed and hay. But. Before Collin could say it was okay, Kamier made a suggestion.

“If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to invite you to our barony. Including the soldiers behind you… and the young lady over there.”

It was an invitation combined with a thank you.

Collin said with a troubled look.

“…My mission was to eliminate the monsters blocking the trade route. The mission is complete. I don’t want to cause trouble for personal reasons.”

However, an invitation from a noble was different from a regular invitation. Collin was cautious. If he accepted the invitation and got caught up in something, it would only bring shame to his master.

“There are no ulterior motives. It is purely an invitation for gratitude.”

“…”

War is, by nature, an extension of politics. It’s a natural logic. A fight without politics is just a meaningless display of power. Even if the opponent is a mindless monster, it’s the same. If there’s something to be gained from starting a war with monsters, you draw your sword even if it means taking losses.

Calling clearing the barony’s trade route a war might be an exaggeration, but from a local perspective, there was no problem.

So, Count Bridonia wasn’t a pushover for sending troops here.

“We will deliver the minerals promised to the Count-nim no matter what. Please do not worry.”

There must have been something that went back and forth.

But these were the nobles’ affairs.

“…That is beyond my authority. I will forget what you just said.”

Knowing me and Collin wouldn’t be of any help.

He scratched his ear a few times and ordered the soldiers to bring the horses.

“Well… I can accept an invitation. I must accept when the heir of Pahelln invites me. However, please understand that I cannot stay long as my status is tied to Bridonia.”

“That is sufficient.”

At that moment.

Collin suddenly wore a serious expression. The muscles in his forehead narrowed. His slightly tanned, bronzed skin and smooth, hairless head combined with the scars on his face created a solemn atmosphere.

The soldiers around him tensed up and straightened their backs. Kamier was no different. He wondered what could have made the Aura Knight wear such a serious expression.

“But…”

Everyone fell silent as he opened his mouth.

The words that came out of that silence were.

“Is there meat?

“…”

“I prefer pork over beef, but…”

What, what a letdown.

Well, meat is a serious matter.

I chuckled and opened my eyes.

“Ugh-…”

I made a groaning sound like a dying old man. It’s a bit lacking, but this much rest is enough. The dizziness has also decreased a lot.

“…”

“…”

My eyes meet Kamier’s.

I didn’t change my exhausted expression and tightened the front of my clothes.

If it were the old me, I would have bowed my head first. But after standing up to Shuriel’s brother, Hairak, I gained something similar to guts. Being too polite to nobles is also tiring. A commoner should act like a commoner. Showing a somewhat relaxed side is more natural.

It had been quite a while since I felt fatigue.

Suddenly, I wondered if my mind would clear up if I entered a spirit state and reconstructed my head. I should try it sometime.

* * *

“The outer walls and all areas where monsters appeared have been cleared. Now that the trade route is open, Pahelln will soon return to normal. It is a joyous occasion.”

This monster wave had caused great damage, but it also brought considerable benefits. In reality, killing enemy soldiers yields no benefits other than spoils, but it’s a different story when the opponent is a monster.

Cut open their bellies.

Then money comes out.

To be precise, magic stones.

In addition to this, all valuable items were dismantled and separated, and processed in real-time. I don’t know how much you can get from processing low-level monsters, but it was said that there were significant gains.

And what’s even more fortunate is that it was possible to clean up before inflation accelerated. Also, the early benefits of the wartime economy were well utilized. Pahelln fully operated its internal systems but did not sell off its future.

Looking at the results alone, the losses were greater than the gains.

However, this incident will serve as fertilizer to help solve future problems. There is no better reward than experience.

Of course.

I can’t answer if it’s more valuable than the weeping of a widow clutching her dead husband’s helmet.

“…It’s a terrible thing.”

The news that the monster wave was over had not yet been delivered.

The atmosphere inside Pahelln was gloomy. Several helmets without owners were hanging on wooden sticks in the streets. They waited forlornly for their owners who would never return, exposed to the wind.

Kamier let out a soul-mixed sigh.

“Haa… Why Pahelln? What sin has this small barony committed? The gods are so indifferent.”

It was a cold sigh that overlapped with the setting sun.

Monster waves… Whatever the cause, there must be a reason.

Whether it’s due to natural disasters or the monsters’ territorial disputes. In the latter case, the emergence of a new strong monster pushes the activity range of other monsters to the outskirts.

Or.

Someone artificially caused it.

“Collin-gyeong. If you know anything…”

“I’m sorry.”

Collin shook his head. He was a knight who valued honor, but he was still just a salaried worker bound by a contract. He probably wouldn’t say anything unless he was sure, even if he knew. It was right to keep his mouth shut if he didn’t have the confidence to take responsibility for being presumptuous.

“Hoo….”

He closed his eyes and let out a slightly different sigh this time. It was a sigh filled with determination for the future.

“Yujin, was it?”

“…”

I just nodded silently. Kamier asked with a tired face.

“I heard you’re a wizard. Are you affiliated with the Magic Tower?”

“…I’m an adventurer.”

“Adventurer! So you participated as a mercenary.”

“Someone told me to participate under the pretext of a promotion exam.”

Haha. Collin laughed.

Participating in raids was recognized as a performance, so it wasn’t particularly strange, but it felt strange to be told to come and get promoted.

“Are you… under contract?”

“No. I plan to quit being an adventurer after reaching A-rank. And I’m a commoner, so you can drop the honorifics.”

His face brightened.

It was obvious what he was going to say. He was going to ask if I was willing to be hired. An A-rank wizard. He couldn’t afford to miss such a talent. But it didn’t seem like he only had that in mind. He kept glancing at me, as if he was interested in me.

I said in a firm voice before he could open his mouth.

“I don’t intend to be tied down anywhere.”

“…Then would you consider being hired with a contract period?”

I closed my eyes tightly and consciously looked at the slightly empty side. I unconsciously tilted my head to the side. 45 degrees. The perfect angle to lean on someone. But it didn’t touch anything. Only the heavy air and the fading wails of people wet my cheeks. My hair was swept away. A heavy sensation, as if a memorial tablet had been placed, pressed down on my neck bones.

It’s heavy.

Really. It was really heavy.

“…”

How strange.

One is heavier than two.

“…I’m sorry.”

I opened my eyes. The world tilted at 45 degrees came into view. I said in a slightly subdued voice.

“I have a place to return to.”

The golden-haired young nobleman who became wistful in a moment…. I chuckled and joked. I shrugged my shoulders playfully, as if dealing with a rich young master.

Kamier’s shoulders slumped.

After walking for a long time, pulling the horses, a huge wooden building that looked three times bigger than the surrounding buildings came into view. It was the mansion where the Baron of Pahelln lived.

Considering that nobles usually build their buildings with stone, it was a rather modest move. But its dignity was no less than that of a stone building, and the luxurious design reminiscent of a grand mansion and the quaintly laid-out garden enhanced its beauty.

Kamier seemed to perk up when me and the soldiers were impressed. He smiled awkwardly and led us into the mansion.

“Tell my father! That I have returned!”

He ordered the soldiers guarding the main gate.

“Come in. We will prepare a banquet.”

To be honest, me and Collin weren’t very keen on it. We thought it was a waste of time. But looking at the soldiers’ beaming faces, we couldn’t refuse. They were excited at the thought of being treated to a noble’s banquet after only eating military rations every day.

“It will take about two hours to prepare the reception, so please rest until then. Collin-gyeong and Yujin-ssi can use the guest room. The thirty soldiers… um. If it’s not rude, could you stay at a nearby inn? I guarantee the quality of the inn.”

―Yes!!!

How could they refuse when they were being offered delicious food? The soldiers answered in unison. Judging by their enthusiasm, they probably would have nodded even if they were told to stay in the warehouse.

* * *

Guest room.

Luxurious furniture and soft bedding.

I was sitting there, facing Kamier Pahelln, the heir of Pahelln.

“I will be direct. A three-year contract for five hundred gold coins. How is it? As long as you follow the precautions well, there will be no interference.”

Before the banquet was prepared.

He came to me and offered a bag of money. Gold coins shimmering with a golden light. It looked like at least two hundred.

“I will give you three hundred as a down payment.”

I was more curious about where he got all that money.

“…What do you see in me that you’re giving me so much money?”

Kamier clenched his fist tightly and said.

“The trade route. The explosion on the hill. I saw that pillar of dirt.”

“…”

“Seeing that huge pillar… I realized my limitations to the bone. No matter how much I roll around my body that can’t even use Mana, it’s of no help.”

“…”

“I have made many attempts to recruit knights and wizards, but in the end, they left for money.”

“…”

“But I felt an intuition. That you are different. That I must bring you in, no matter how much money it takes.”

“…”

“Astronomical amounts of money have been collected from the mine development that was promoted this time. It’s difficult to cash out right now, but… that won’t last long either. Is five hundred coins not enough? Shall I bring you a blank check?”

“…”

“So please――”

At that moment.

I said in a cold voice.

“Young master.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t bow your head carelessly.”