Chapter 103: Watchman in the barley field (2)
sl7XsJoseph always said that one must repay what they receive.KBL
ZieVL6Regardless of whether it’s grace or resentment.LvNi
MmpnS“Please save me… please save me, sir.”s0XVVoD
Gqb0AIf you’ve received something, you must repay it.mz9
6hvVlad hadn’t lived an easy life to the point of dismissing the person who intended harm.cLGLNf
ktmk“Did you also save others when they asked?”bHua
xE4tTieThe moonlight shining at the right moment illuminated the bandit, begging for his life.W6HQv
gOv9JThe fingers of someone hanging from his neck seemed pitiful.XpRQoXl
aG4VW“Yes! I saved his life! It’s true!”ym06X
CgE9T“Is that so?”8yK
swYJrwoThere are too many unqualified people in this world.F9PE
b7sEven if you’re unqualified, you take more than others and rise higher.o5mc56i
ebRA2And they crush the world weaker than themselves too easily.AIR
gr8x“Don’t fuck with me.”NUhkcLg
xBpqAnd one thing unqualified people have in common.Y9t7io
Uz92xThey’re all liars.icEpSHK
SrbmJ“Get rid of the finger bones stuck in your neck and tell me. Bastards.”fQ6m
ReMuTYnGoethe was staring.IUm9r4y
9UpC8zThe moonlight begins from Vlad’s closed left eye and flows to the tip of the sword.qnG
F5P2CUThe boy who admired Moonlight sung by someone else is no longer here.8LT
VseThe person here now was someone with their own world.DOdTIp2
eJP781The soft moonlight summoned by Vlad began to capture bright red blood.COrJ
rfmM8KiUnder the sword wielded by a qualified person, they began to scream lies.4VYWC
VNXS1The price for daring to insult a legitimate knight.H39
nOMOff9It wasn’t enough to pay it with their life.7g9e
w1u***TYhVfP
YqPDDobrechi, a rural and secluded territory.4WpU
2dFIt was a quiet village where even the passing merchants were familiar faces, but the guards standing in front of the wooden fence seemed rigid.FtbzE
ActNThis was because recent rumors circulating through the territory had put them on edge.SMKk
ZoDmAoV“What’s that over there?”kFx9
xFOU8“Hmm?”g3zS2
immlMgThere was a suspicious gathering in their sight.kdk2kj
vvAzPqTwo men on horseback coming from a snow-covered hill in the distance.EkSU1e
puL“What is that?”oqa0
hj7cIZAnd even the men who were being dragged behind them.kjlu
1g7dE2Despite it being a cold winter, they were clearly not a common group as they were being dragged by a rope without even wearing boots.aDH4i9p
y41fM“Stop! Everyone ahead must stop!”HRJE6vu
P5pI8bThe guards pointed their spears at unfamiliar men they had never seen before.U4yp
iv8YCHowever, the man at the front was not at all intimidated by the guards’ strong restrictions and simply approached slowly.aT9fQRg
1WjhR“Who are you…”0VGS
cwDqp“I am the Knight of Bayezid. Vlad.”Vnw
KxNZq6A young blonde man mounted on a jet-black horse.jdK
S01WThe young man, not only with his beautiful hair color but also with the clothes he wore, looked luxurious and exuded an elegance that made anyone seem to belong to a certain nobility.Z8LMl
lrAJQ“We’ve caught the bandits who were causing trouble around here.”PWPi3N
5cy“Bandits, you mean bandits?”NCMUV97
5DMujlAlthough his correct identification had not yet been confirmed, the guard addressed Vlad with a respectful tone without realizing it.sLMB8P
q79TKIt wasn’t just because the aura he exuded seemed noble.3xfV
mZ1OThe men followed the young man, bound with a rope.3IIvu
YB97This was because they all held the frozen head of someone.OP5JQt
0TmdLv“I want to meet the person in charge of security in this city.”NPOB
lYKzz4AWith those words, Vlad lifted the sheath of his sword and showed it to the guard.nknH
M0tEKXIn the center of Vlad’s sword handle was engraved the flag that waved on the huge wall of the castle.dW3ciD
pOoR9It was a phrase referring to Bayezid, a noble family from the north.OfO6
3RIpXu***zmubH
PCSBcFV“Welcome! Welcome to Dobrechi!”0f5ORh
E3ECzFUThe guard, who had entered angrily, let out a deep sigh and courteously allowed Vlad entry into the village.GTh5OO
zHxgcUThis was because Vlad was an armed knight, not a common trader or traveler, so they couldn’t allow entry easily on their own decisions.RLXKwd
tmE07R“The lord wants to meet you in person!”488tB
UKrLY“…The lord?”HPPwD
sxKVlad was slightly surprised to hear that the lord suddenly wanted to see him.wcmVq1
Mun2KXOriginally, the plan was to meet with the authority, hand over the bandits, and receive a reasonable reward.S6A
5QPruaJI also thought it would be better if there was a reward for it.9cu9
IHcEIyK“Okay. Lead the way.”d3q0s
6TQKtKi“All right!”jklY
Rt2H1lThe guard quickly attempted to grab Noir’s reins in response to Vlad’s answer, but the surly horse only snorted, baring its white teeth like a wolf.yDZ
iNo6“…Don’t grab the reins.”imD8lWo
eWLNb“Yes, yes!”sSkpb
67SqThanks to living in Soara, Noir no longer disliked people, but that didn’t mean its damned personality had disappeared.rpTXdOf
wVrFFygExcept for Vlad, at least Goethe, who was familiar to it, could take Noir’s reins and saddle it.7wj
UNdqm“I’ll guide you to the residence.”sVrz
vr1bjaVlad and Goethe rode their horses following the leading guard who said he would guide them.7bscdy
RjoChAnd even the bandits walking behind them.01tNdeQ
a6edAlthough they were a group with a unique combination, the mood of the villagers who saw them was a little different from what they expected.SM4QC
HP5ZDpL“Captain. Isn’t the atmosphere here in the village a bit strange?”aDu2
bnm2kor“…I know.”or4Wd
wAOR2vIf this were Soara, people would have flocked to see something unique they hadn’t seen in a long time.ctHm6
E4bHowever, the people of Dobrechi quickly shut their doors and hid the children behind them, as if they were watching people suffering from a plague.MMiXT
5WpNFormer pickpocket and swindler.C4X2X
ms2UTwo people who knew how to read the atmosphere could tell that there was something odd about the atmosphere in Dobrechi.Rmh8Zdo
4li“We’re here.”bPVms
pYmO“Hmm?”bsgfBq
MssEHVlad looked around and tried to guess the situation, but it wasn’t easy either.KlPzm
0MhLXGgDobrechi was a small place that didn’t give Vlad much time to think.BJnmu2A
50dFWuW“Right in front is the residence where Lord Dalmatia resides.”nsZqXu
lRtab“…”ktv
rhvETsmVlad raised his head and looked at the building the guard was pointing to.Hqkzf
ArUA three-story wooden building.bdQO
QRI5CIt didn’t look bad, but it was a building too dilapidated to say it housed a lord.kqTts
HxQfwjM‘Is it too small?’lKxveX
EmiVBI7Although he lived in alleys, Vlad was clearly a city dweller.TAsBR
DUK3Vlad, who had seen the tall gates, churches, and magnificent mansions where lords lived, even from afar, couldn’t help feeling a little puzzled upon hearing that a noble lived in the small building in front of him.3UQ
ktcRN“The lord is waiting. Sir.”5TRF02
XBHtl2V“Very well. Please lead the way.”qjQ
5F75mThe authority of a noble is not guaranteed by family history or a high title.lX0
gZ9o4In that sense, it would be safe to say that Baron Dalmatia failed to establish authority.FJv9aQ
glhx7cFThe first impression Vlad had of the Dalmatia family was just concern over whether he could receive adequate compensation for the bandits.Z7k9
Chc“Oh, oh. A knight who has proven his worth comes to our territory!”0Uc
55fWeBaron Dalmatia, who recognized the knight carrying his own banner, personally stepped out of the manor to greet Vlad.kQK03C
C9y35mVIt was excessive hospitality for a wandering knight.8Fwob5
obW“Thank you for your hospitality.”wSjd
XJS“No, no. You even caught the people causing trouble nearby, so, as the owner, is there any reason not to welcome you?”fXh
SFA7Baron Dalmatia nodded with satisfaction as he watched Vlad greet him with respectful demeanor.04A0
qP4nDAlthough he hadn’t mastered it completely, Vlad’s courtesy, which Countess Oksana had knocked down, still shone through.rQZum
It4“Let’s go in!”aj7
dJUnjrG“Yes.”CujNM
SwgTVlad followed Baron Dalmatia into the hall and convinced himself that his thoughts were correct.dfk5JdS
AIvO“…”BOP
lbeiw“…”p314Cdv
ZVXThe village landscape he saw as he walked to the lord’s residence.jQT4oK
1vgAnd even the hall, which must be the most extravagant in Dobrechi.aTzJJ0x
SmmVlad and Goethe made eye contact and realized that things had gone wrong.6akWxA
yPGzPdThis territory was in dire straits.R2srxsu
YGFI“All right. I heard a total of 9 bandits were caught?”eMil0
pge72Z“If you include the ones who just popped up, that would be it.”8pJD
UX37fcVlad received a fair price from the bandits who threatened and insulted him.E8G5Wg0
UcVAnd it would be right for the lord in front of them to pay the remaining price they didn’t receive from them.PUPCE
T5aetsSince I caught the bandits who were threatening the area’s security, I, as the owner, should pay some compensation.A8Bgh
0e7iKI“Mmm. The road from Soara to here must have been rugged, so you must be tired. I’ll have my lunch prepared in advance.”EvBwAM
SQsHHowever, Baron Dalmatia stopped talking about compensation and just watched Vlad.MzRc
XoBBecause he wanted to keep Vlad around for as long as possible.8I1pu3
2jiMh3’15 people alone!’YOQjS
EaA1tFive bandits were caught and four killed.xxNHEO
zeYAnd since he was alone, there were about six people he couldn’t catch.9MMjGa
KvySince I presented the evidence myself, there is no room for doubt.kQY
teAQANone of the knights he had with him could achieve this level of accomplishment.BL0va
CLNTnL“If you’re a knight who carries the banner, you must be looking for something to prove your worth.”gLUK
J58“That’s right. Baron.”YqaN
BnPWQVlad wanted to be honest and say no, but he couldn’t openly tell the lord who came out to greet him in person.kqW
3jfZmdThe mistakes he had made with nobles over the years gave Vlad the judgment he has today.QXOl1y
auq“There’s something I’d like to ask you. I say this because you’re a true knight seeking fame.”zb5
ngzPKmlAt first, I thought of refusing.P6Ek
3ie0Vlad’s goal was to find traces of his voice rather than prove his honor.5BD
0MleZ“Lately, strange things have been happening in our territory.”JDK1K
lY4iH53“Is there any problem?”wCCQ
RSFcRHowever, Baron Dalmatia began to tell Vlad, who he thought was about to take on an onerous task, a rather interesting story.cFjQrA
bZK“Now is the time to sow barley. So, in our territory, we’re also sowing the seeds we have stored in the fields.”5G9
oxRBaron Dalmatia wet his mouth with a pure tea that didn’t suit his chubby cheeks and then opened his mouth.leMl
5Onp“Simply plant the seeds in the field, and they vanish.”yVP8wC
SHRgerW“…Are you saying the seeds disappear?”M3VTtxk
uoZlo“Indeed. Even if you station soldiers and watch them all night, it’s the same.”KnzTRAG
PaQVzAt first glance, it was an incomprehensible claim.JSAQuuz
EProyNEven if animals or rat-like monsters were to blame, there was no way the soldiers on guard duty wouldn’t have noticed.rUe
FES“Some elders in the village say it’s the work of spirits that live in the forest…”oEVE
vwDGtG“Are you talking about spirits?”w0en
QwC2vaOne word from Baron Dalmatia’s words caught Vlad’s attention.FBEdIq
chffG“Well. There are many stories about spirits in this forest. Of course, I don’t believe in such things according to the teachings of the Church.”kc6
CHFvThe new orders created with the empire and its establishment didn’t give way to old things like spirits.qwRD
ZPBjeIn particular, in the case of the church, anything not in the name of God was denied, so people who remember the existence of spirits these days are probably older people who have lived for a long time.l6GD2
OmyAf‘Spirit, spirit…’qFle
9r43OJHowever, Vlad knew very well that there were beings called spirits in this world.2Lqui
noNbSvBecause he was the one who saw it, felt it, and even received its blessings.QcBd
ilpyVlad couldn’t help but worry when the word “spirit” was mentioned in a strange and inexplicable event.z1kyr
e6pio“So, could you watch over the barley fields in our territory for once? If it’s the eyes of a great knight like you, you might see something different.”0yfPmy
D7ZxIt was an insignificant task, but the eyes of Lord Dalmatia who asked for the task were full of seriousness.AkA0k2
KRCmFor him, if this sowing failed, he might not survive until the next autumn when the wheat was harvested, and if that happened, the existence of the family might be in danger.DCf
BTRhosS“…Very well. Baron. I’ll do my best.”WIiA
3qJlJy“Oh, oh. Thank you very much! I never thought there would still be true knights following chivalry in these times!”e2UG
vdxIt may have been only meaningless words spoken by old people, but Vlad decided to agree.JJ2JOLp
cspsFor Vlad, who sought clues about the spirit, this lead was good.CKuT
HwcNlFMoreover, since it was a simple task of just protecting the barley fields, it was also considered that it wouldn’t be a big issue.M7oK
83xor“Make yourself comfortable while you’re here! I’ll do my best to compensate for the bandits!”Mt63L
ONP6XQ“Thank you. Baron.”8he
pVjXJPsIf it’s related to your work and the mission is simple, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make a good impression on Baron Dalmatia.B00Ebfm
vRmPXoLFor a knight, the more value of honor he has, the better.KuL0r7
hFJ“By the way, Captain. What happened to our compensation?”PsGL
QhPphAfter finishing the story, Vlad left the baron’s hall and heard Goethe’s small but urgent voice shouting.v0J
T0vD87“Don’t you need to get paid? Money! Noir, that guy only eats boiled fodder these days. It’s the price of the fodder and the price of firewood…”zJ5mx
i7hoK7M“That depends on you.”TFwPdJ
8GhV“What?”tBzTBC
GTysYou must be able to distinguish between big and small things.Xxig
uX9That was why Joseph always carried Bordan, a half-hearted knight who didn’t even know how to use a sword.niVm
rYh“You can handle that now. That’s why I brought you here.”EOMKg9W
TZTex“Really…”1jk
FlCc4Bordan and Goethe.WJk9o
b1QNA chatterbox and a swindler.wCM
l6gW1OGoethe, who took charge of negotiating with the bandits, looked at Vlad with shining eyes.9sN1p
ogVYHV***VWkbHA
LpzQW“Raspberries, where are the raspberries?”H1E7G
Yi7Has she just turned ten?pMjc
bMfA rosy-cheeked girl with a basket was walking towards the edge of the forest.QFbJCy
6WWLTjThe child’s clothes were tattered, as if they displayed her difficult circumstances, but her carefully braided hair showed that this child was receiving attention and love from her parents.ZZqY
Aqwv6fe“They’re over there.”qpJPMQf
TTQDPoFurther ahead, on the snow-covered white vines, I saw small fruits showing their true colors.jsIkgF0
f9JpWinter raspberries.clo
hmm4DlIt was one of the few fruits that could provide comfort to people in this time of need.WPLxups
dIfJapThe girl approached the vines, drawn by the vibrant colors of the raspberries.am44zC
K64ZSuQIt would have been enough to take one in her mouth, but the girl was hurriedly putting the raspberries in the basket, thinking of her family at home, when suddenly she heard a strange sound.UWQLShH
GXcZNKiee!DoEdrk
eHxGN1V“…?”q5jRU
39HKA strange sound that seemed to echo from afar.PZ7QJeF
cyOn1Before the sound that echoed like an echo, the girl stopped picking raspberries and looked into the depths of the forest.e39
c1UopThe darkness of the forest is alive.nSi
rsEq5NkAs the Forest of Dobrechi is ancient, it is also a place that contains many legends and stories.Fg1vorT
XCC5OAnd at the moment the girl looked into the forest.50k
M0XKzzP“Aaaah!”OdQobX
vohgThe forest also looked at the girl.GFrycps
3RIrEUThe place where the girl was.PGU
WhrTwevThere were baskets rolling and raspberries scattered everywhere.N6j
mXIlCJAnd the well that had swallowed the girl was nothing more than a dark, gaping mouth.jla
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