13 (46)

Because the thugs who had drawn their swords crowded in, there was not even room to set foot around them. Only after quite some time did he finally stand before Louis. Perhaps because he had hurt his leg when he fell, his posture was not good.

“Who are you…! If there is this much pressure among mercenaries……. No, even putting that aside, do you know who I am to act like this? I am a vassal of Marquis Fred Vesk. He is someone who can grind up as many mercenary-born men like you as he wants.”

“I understand that the king has not permitted such things.”

“What…? What do you know, bringing up that great person?”

“I said that great person did not permit it.”

“No, where does a lowborn keep mentioning someone high-ranking from? Do you want to die? Just because you can use a bit of mana, can you no longer see the world properly? You will be publicly executed.”

For the first time, Louis slightly raised his head and met his gaze. With everyone focusing on this place, Louis smiled faintly and said,

“Clench your teeth.”

The man who was looking Louis over was about to ask what on earth he meant, but in that instant, Louis struck his face hard enough to make a thwack. He had not even been standing for long, but once again, he rolled noisily across the stinking ground.

It would have been better if he had simply fallen. Because his face had been planted into the ground, he was tangled in the hem of his cloak. Louis pulled his hood down deeply again, grabbed him with one hand, and dragged him toward a building. The surroundings were a crucible of shock, as if a sudden shower had poured down, but Louis told the people inside the building he entered to go outside. When the people inside quickly left, they finally realized what had happened and were shouting at the top of their lungs outside. The royal guard stood at the door.

“Block them for a while. Do not kill them.”

“Yes.”

Louis dragged him a little farther inside. A place like a warehouse was directly connected to it, and he threw the man into a place where straw was piled up.

The man who had been putting on airs just moments ago now had the face of a beast completely drenched by rain. Perhaps he had finally come to his senses, because he began crawling on the floor.

“Haaah…. Hah. You will not die peacefully. I will definitely skewer you, your mercenary band, and your family on crosses,” he said, then rushed at Louis, only to cry out and be knocked backward. Perhaps he had been hit in the solar plexus, because he was gasping for breath.

Louis quickly took a dagger from his waist.

“Why do you think you will return alive?”

“W-Wait!”

“Why did you think you would return alive?”

“I-Is no one outside!!! Save me!!! Save me!!!”

“Shh……. If you say just a little more, I will start by cutting out your tongue.”

He choked on his breath and covered his mouth. Louis shook his hood a few times and sat on a wooden box that looked suitable for sitting. After looking around the interior once, he continued speaking.

“Would it not feel a little unfair to die here? A noble. In such a filthy place. Like a piece of luggage.”

His eyes rolled about, but outside, there was only the sound of something breaking, and his subordinates could not enter.

“Please…. If it is money, I will give you as much as you want. I will also give you a position. Ah. You are angry because your work disappeared. Because His Majesty Louis ended the war, you lost your job. I will hire you. No. I will strongly recommend you to Marquis Vesk. Do you know how much money the marquis has? Hey. The marquis is one of the wealthiest men in Lebledna! Thanks to me, you will be able to touch enough money that you will never have to work for the rest of your life!”

Louis thought that only now was he saying something useful.

“He has a lot of money?”

“Of course. An enormous amount.”

“How much?”

“Including this district, two places are under Marquis Vesk’s management.”

“Strange. Is tax not supposed to be paid only to the king?”

“Tsk. Because you are a mercenary, you do not know how things work among those above. It is a custom that has continued tacitly since former King Orpendius—no, from the king two generations before him. Would this king be any different?”

“He is different. I fought by his side.”

“I have also heard the tales of the Rhine River. But even if he is that kind of king, he cannot touch Marquis Vesk carelessly. He is…….”

“He is…?”

“I do not know well either. But it is certain that he knows a tremendous person. No, pretend you did not hear that. More importantly, you have changed your mind now, have you not? Come on. Put away the dagger. I am happy because I get a strong guard mercenary, and you are happy because you earn money.”

How nice it must be to have a little money…. Louis muttered that and took off his hood. The man’s eyes widened. He kept repeating “No way,” then grasped the situation and immediately slammed his head into the floor. There was a sound as if his head would split, and it seemed to bleed, but he appeared not to care.

“I apologize!!! I did not know it was Your Majesty and moved my mouth carelessly!”

“Speak quietly.”

“Understood.”

He was still keeping his head pressed to the floor. Louis said to him, “You said he has quite a lot of money,” but he did not know what to do.

“Why? You should have some fun, shouldn’t you? Can people without money even live in this?”

“I-I apologize. I apologize again and again. Please kill me.”

“Is that so……? Then die here.”

When Louis rose from the box, he sweated profusely. Seeing tears even flowing near his eyes, it seemed to be no ordinary shock. Louis lightly placed the side of the dagger against his trembling neck. He flinched violently, then repeated, “Please spare me.”

“You heard me well……. Raise your head first.”

He raised his head. His face was not just white, but pale as if he had aged ten years. He was sweating so much that he looked as if he might die from dehydration.

“I will ask again. Did you hear the stories about me at the Rhine River?”

He nodded repeatedly.

“To me, killing you is truly nothing. I have never been pressed down by anyone who stood in my way. I am a man of House Pontina, and that was no exception even when it came to my brothers.”

“…………..”

“And that rule did not change just because it was the king. The king gave me a poisoned cup, and I returned it exactly as it was. Now, what is your name?”

“B-Barbus Kenneth. Y-Your Majesty.”

“Are you my enemy?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then why do you do things I have not permitted?”

“T-That is….”

“Why do you squeeze the people dry?”

“I apologize. I…. I merely obeyed orders faithfully.”

“I gave an order. Yet you still did your own work. Is this disobedience to orders?”

“P-Please kill me.”

“You…. are good with words.”

He glanced at Louis, then pressed his head to the floor again.

“That little tongue moves well. You were so noisy that I nearly cut it off just now. I will ask again. Are you on my side?”

“F-From this moment on, I will devote my loyalty. I am absolutely on Your Majesty’s side.”

“I have many armed warriors at the Sword Expert level or above. Among them, there are those skilled in archery. Wherever you hide, I can give your neck one sharp shot. Do you understand what my words mean?”

“O-Of course.”

“Rise. And go outside and say nothing happened. I am a mercenary hired by you.”

“Y-Yes.”

He rose awkwardly. There were bruises in several places, and Louis took out a potion from his chest and threw it to him.

“Apply it to your face.”

It was a potion that had to be refined by a high-ranking priest. As soon as the lid was opened, a fragrant smell surged out. He applied it to his face several times. The bruises rapidly subsided. Louis received the potion back from him and went outside with him. The royal guard was still standing at the door. In front of him, all the thugs were sprawled out.

Having one part broken was basic, and there were one or two fellows crawling on the floor because two parts had both been broken. The unhurt fellows could not even attack and were merely raising their voices outside. It was about time for the regular soldiers to arrive, and indeed, several regular soldiers came.

The royal guard turned around, and Louis smiled and said that the conversation had gone well, then jerked his chin at Barbus Kenneth to go forward. He breathed out several times, then limped forward and repeatedly explained to the thugs and regular soldiers. The people had expressions of disbelief, and before long, someone said,

“It’s the mercenary captain Jaco. It must be him.”

It seemed there had been a misunderstanding, but in any case, people were murmuring and coming to understand. Louis liked the royal guard. Though he stuttered, he was a fellow who did what needed to be done when the time came. Only after seeing the fellow’s abilities did he understand. He was a born martial man. When the commotion had grown so loud that it seemed they could not have a conversation, Louis asked the royal guard.

“What is your name?”

“I am Bud Norman.”

“I like you. From now on, you will continue to be with me.”

He came to attention and said,

“Y-Yes. I-It is an honor.”

“But you are not really a stutterer, are you?”

“N-No. T-That is, I was too nervous.”

“Then why do you stutter in front of me?”

“T-That is. I apologize. I will try.”

“Good…. Make the effort. I will conduct inspections often from now on.”

As the matter seemed to be roughly explained, Louis stepped out onto the street. At that moment, Maria, the girl who had been guiding him earlier, appeared from the side. She must have been extremely shocked, because there were traces of tears near her eyes.

“Are you all right?”

“Mm.”

“I was so shocked. Anyway, that was really…….”

“………”

The girl looked at his mood, then continued speaking.

“Refreshing.”

Louis stroked the girl’s head.

“The rent will go down from now on.”

“Mm…. You don’t have to lie. Anyway, I’ll keep guiding you.”

“No. There is no longer any need. Hold out your hands.”

She gathered her small hands together in one place. Louis dropped one gold coin into them. Maria’s eyes widened.

“Uh…. Uh…. This is.”

“The price for guiding me.”

“It is too much.”

“No, it is too little.”

Leaving the bewildered girl behind, Louis took Bud Norman and left. Because there were many people, it did not take long for the girl to lose sight of Louis.

In any case, after giving Barbus Kenneth several instructions, Louis returned to the castle. When he entered through a narrow and dark rear passage, the royal guard standing there recognized Louis, struck his chest with his fist, and half-extended it toward Louis.

Louis received the salute and went a little farther inside. Perhaps because he had been waiting for a long time, an attendant wearing antique clothes approached Louis holding clothes. He looked Bud Norman over with displeasure, then smiled at Louis and asked.

“Were you satisfied with the inspection?”

“It could not have been better. Anyway, the work?”

“The Great Colosseum is progressing. We have secured the site.”

“Good. I should go there once tomorrow.”

“I will place it in the schedule. Ah, Marquis Fred Vesk came by again. He brought quite a lot of gold.”

“Did I not refuse Frost Heart?”

“He says he is simply offering the gold.”

“Hah. When one has something that weighs on the conscience, one clings all the more.”

“….Pardon?”

“In a little while, call Mark Jay before me.”

“D-Do you mean the archer?”

“Yes.”

“I say this because I am worried first, but that man is one who changed his mind, so I believe he is not suitable to entrust with an important mission.”

Louis looked at his face once more and said,

“Call him.”

“Understood.”