Chapter 11
rQOJ4In the midst of a biting cold wind that cut through the forest, three men who looked like mercenaries sat around a campfire.JbX3
DGLYrSlurp…2tceT
5o4ERCOThey looked at the boy who was sipping soup with his nose stuck in the pot.rX8
mHDRt“You got lucky. A rabbit was standing not too far away.”EElbk
HGuBA“Good job.”AQ3bk
ouIoo5Although the men had already finished eating most of the rabbit soup, the boy was savoring every last drop.SEh
oyHeDThe mercenaries realized that it wasn’t the right time to talk to the boy, so they began to converse among themselves.gq4IlqO
H7hYJ“By the way, I heard they are gathering people.”96gZ8DC
rTRKKy“For a monster hunt?”9pMZ
WZ2“It seems that Count Bayezid’s second son is personally leading this one.”cebaOC
7iqdot5“I heard the Bishop of Varna is also there. I think it will be a big operation.”lzzDr
ZIoWHas“It seems he is struggling to impress his father.”rW2IUX
M1cz6They were talking about subjugating monsters like a mercenary, but their minds were entirely focused on the blonde-haired boy.wWR8u
9AWBjs‘He looks like a child of a noble.’YgfVu
916‘Look at the sword he’s carrying. He’s from a well-off family, at the very least.’M0r
9FxIb‘Blonde with blue eyes? You think we could get some good money just by selling him?’7OAOig
YOkyBThe men quietly exchanged glances and whispers so that the boy couldn’t hear them, and they began to move slowly toward the boy.y3yz
ll0ECThey subtly block the boy’s escape route.GG0F8
Oabfih“Ha… Thank you. Thanks to you, I survived.”Fce
ZpsmoT“It’s about helping and surviving.”2NSfWH
2fwJ“How can I ever repay this favor?”jHV1Ef
UOdThe mercenaries smiled, showing their black teeth, as they looked at the boy who put down the pot and bowed his head politely to express his gratitude.GIYh
XbSQWYH“If you’re really grateful, there’s a way to repay us.”Rw2TB
EMmG“What should I do…”kTBff
oU9C“You can repay us with your body!”HFsl
dTQ2wDA noose suddenly flew in from behind the boy.VNM
M897KdU“Uh? Huh?”LlA
ZFMLbyp“Hey, what are you doing!”NaTm1oK
m6iHowever, one of the mercenaries was caught in the noose instead of the boy they intended to capture.GO9Bjzt
Pr3fsfm“You slippery rat!”nmkN5d
Ewg5The boy skillfully evaded the noose, and the remaining two mercenaries swiftly drew their weapons.fQH5v
9KMEmn“It seems the young master learned a bit of swordsmanship from the tutor his father hired. But the real world is different, you know?”bTHfq
MbR“Put the sword down when I am speaking nicely. We might just turn you into a punching bag before you know it.”l6A17zP
XDUWhile the tied-up mercenary quickly worked to free himself from the noose, the other two mercenaries blocked the boy and began to growl.c022H
jeSaQ7“That’s right. Life is all about real-world experience.”lUu3zHN
YSRMBlonde hair, blue eyes, and a sword that gleamed but seemed unused.O80wnf
WQOvg1It was evident to anyone that the boy had run away from a wealthy home. Yet, the smile on the boy’s face now resembled that of a fierce wolf.Zv1
L2Ae21l“What?”hA1
5bg“I thought about it as I walked here. If these people are truly kind to me, how can I repay them?”jXS2ue
uA36HSsshh…1CvW
v97MSThe boy’s momentum showed no signs of wavering, despite the harsh threats from the mercenaries. Instead, the mercenaries found themselves involuntarily swallowing their saliva at the sight of the boy drawing his sword.mIx
UrXThe boy was giving off a ferocious spirit with the sword in his hands.JIq
N3Tf“I have been worrying for nothing all this time.”I8cx
zvGThe boy was smiling.Y1Dv4CF
p4aLClI“What the hell?”KB5D6
j9KDXbThe boy and the mercenaries are the same kind.9Momt
c2pZeSFHe wasn’t just some naive young master who didn’t understand the ways of the world.QxllZxd
aJj2N2“Hey, what are you doing! Get up quickly!”ospTk
SP8PsY“Are you going to take all day to untie the rope!”xSJFNQ
g8jAD4Even so, it was alright.ymy
d4cmrpBThat young kid was alone, while they were three.lzC7o
nVROd9FThe boy seemed confident in his swordsmanship, but they had enough experience in real combat to overpower him.lPVBTJR
kHSr8gx“Ugh…”vDq
tUwThey thought so, but the moans coming from behind them were unsettling.d8eLm
gdYjB“What are you doing?”UKiiB9A
NFdy2e“Ugh! eww!”sdn
0ogTheir comrade who had been tied up was scratching the ground in an odd, frozen posture.Wraa
Myx8It wasn’t normal body movement.NsD3Fs
dF3‘He got him!’bbf5
aXL5TThe two mercenaries felt a profound sense of doom as they watched their comrade freezing as if he were addicted to something.tgEjBpR
Kq8e‘When did this happen?’9e2EgO
zZJrWwNo one could say for sure.wq8j
r7WQQThe boy was smiling as he watched the frozen mercenary.367
SyeYBut they don’t know when they get poisoned…O8m
d6hGpgK‘Rabbit!’PsszXu
KvUcm6LThe mercenaries had finally figured out the situation, and looked at the boy with shocked expressions.3gRB
pp6P5“There’s nothing easy in this world, right?”m6cPb
eEBoHOe“You bastard, you planned this from the beginning!”1Ud
d4WH6KThe wobbly rabbit they had thought was an unexpected stroke of luck turned out to be a trap.XBB1q
ahydrop“You, you also…”pbz
hSmThe mercenaries felt a sense of despair as they slowly felt their bodies stiffening.dE7
7ecTc“Yeah, I had some too.”FvKs
Fcxb0Vlad pulled out a leaf he had hidden under his tongue and said, “With the antidote.”n9ECNg0
7UH29“Ugh! Ugh!”P6O8Y
vr71iehTheir gradually stiffening bodies collapsed onto the frigid ground.CjwjZ
qVyMpfh“You never know who might get eaten when it comes to real life. Isn’t that right, seniors?”zEq2Qj6
ssZfz7EA dark shadow fell over the three frozen rabbits. And the blue eyes of the shadow were the last thing mercenaries saw.r69
0gIT※※※※88gLoz
MhLXboTadak, tadak…Rns
PhzbqBOThe sun was setting in the winter forest, and a blonde boy who looked like a mercenary sat alone.lSYUX
DqB6vHis attire wasn’t a perfect fit, but he was dressed in a mishmash of armor and clothes that seemed suitable enough for surviving the cold winter day.xvV
eflOc8s“This is really happening.”jD0I
NXcMlPVlad muttered to himself as he poked at the campfire with a stick.djGX
icdywAt least, that’s how it would appear on the surface.8czify
GJ048[Lucky you. Yellow-striped mushrooms aren’t that common.]oXhY
djbYT8“You know about mushrooms that paralyze people and the leaves that detoxify them. Who are you?”X3gcK8
H7X[….. I don’t know that.]PH1
3n9The boy wasn’t talking to himself; he was addressing the voice that could only be heard when he held the sword.b01iJN3
O5gmj“You know so much about trivial things, but you don’t even know who you are.”IPShXlD
CaQOAd[….]Pm0gi6M
NiT8The boy’s question met with silence.Mxs
lzCJZaT“It doesn’t matter.”MfWE
2BbTSsshh…fnbTc
BEC14NThe boy drew his sword.jh4T
Bk9p“Because this is the most important thing to me.”RcIGt
6GwZThe sword, which he had merely watched until now, was now in his hand.hbgw6
pvo74He will forever remember the tears she shed to have this.7xZ6T
kn6“I’ll help you, please help me.”ZGoo
lpeK[Aren’t you scared of me?]5Qcp
9mQY47MVlad asked the voice, who didn’t know itself, to teach him the way of the sword.KyzBxZ
wZHNWO“I don’t care if you are the devil. What I’m truly afraid of…”r5fHjKr
nhqThe boy’s sword emitted a blue moonlight. And it reminded him of something.SAVM
Ufo5My“Is that I am nothing.”HNledyV
U3zIEXAura that looked like blue moonlight.8eKoc
Pa1JnBThe boy was nothing in front of that aura.bOax
j5VUcFor a boy who had followed the shining path all his life, the helplessness brought by the blue aura was terrifying.zeyP
WPC2hqcYou are nothing.r4b
XyVsYour life will rot away in the slums even if you crouch like this for the rest of your life.CfD
fQVJElThat’s what the moonlight aura was saying.aifh
jjtDGs“If I’m with you, I can become something, right? Even if I just become a devil follower.”DgrsNC
OeUliD[….. All right. I’ll tell you.]4vf
DkxrQAnd so, the boy decided to struggle.M14
Ikdb1Even if he wanted to give up, there was a weight in his hand that made it impossible to do so.JMrS
cHBkTMoonlight and the campfire.nIO
lDRv8QOn that same night when he first saw the aura, the boy wanted to become something and the voice that didn’t know itself decided to help each other.6ydP
kq0AOhThe two of them were the only ones who could make such a contract. And The moon in the night sky was its witness.Ooo7tIH
F7KkH※※※※ – Part 2DyPIvs
IwrNow is the time to enter midwinter.3pQ
jydTents were erected between white fields covered with snow, in front of a dense evergreen forest.7nJ
R4X56FInside the largest and most splendid tent.HmBdYQ
D7KeR“It is easy.”CDZY
wioNymWA man with black hair lifted an already cooled down tea cup and examined the documents on the table in front of him.Fl6nX
NFrJGtHe appeared young, but the dark circles under his eyes gave him a frail appearance.cD5
J8h“It is too easy.”aBPY5o
MRN7The black-haired man was frowning as he looked at the documents to see what he didn’t like.tiW
f7G“Young master.”lNdjuGe
RC2zAt that moment, a one-eyed man entered along with the cold winter wind as the tent flap was lifted.d09RXK
Zb9SNVv“You are here, Zayar.”69H
bneq“Yes. Young master Joseph, I have just returned.”23Zz
wAoZayar brushed the snow off his shoulders and approached the seemingly frail man cautiously.Hd9jqc
yKQN“Is there something troubling you?”oxJeM
AwCAJoseph, who had been sheltered all his life, didn’t look well, so Zayar asked carefully.d2P47
poqWX“It’s just too easy.”rk8
39IJhAJoseph stared at the documents in front of him, lost in thought.qcW9f
PZn“Monster extermination is proceeding smoothly. There haven’t been any casualties, and all of them are mercenaries.”Mn8
3o72MD2“But what about the missing people?”bhK7j
Eka024Joseph raised the cooled down tea cup and spoke.ncC
naUm“It doesn’t change the fact even if we consider them deserters,” Joseph muttered.xQk
7tBh7ZQFrom Joseph’s perspective, it would have been better if there had been injuries or deaths while monster extermination.EON
qiEQk3The emergence of deserters indicated that discipline had not been properly established.wPdH2Ty
8nBFr6“Deserters on top of unremarkable results. They will all doubt my commanding abilities, even Father.”8iFTh1A
YZmaOSFor a moment, a sharp glint appeared in Joseph’s eyes.3rBP0Po
i7LM“My older step-brother as well.”QWPG
oChJoseph.zE8Tf
UJ8ZJoseph Bayezid.P6LRlQ
3gFty1xHe is the second son of the Bayezid Count’s family, so he was feeling anxious at the moment.dosuQ
2nTRsFK“The forces I’ve mustered have barely risen, avoiding interference from my older brother. If not now, I won’t have a chance to showcase my military capabilities to those above me.”cA95wqA
g80zZTNJoseph was an ambitious man.EPWSr
N94S7cAHe was the legitimate ancestor of the Bayezid family and was trying to become the next Count Bayezid by pushing out Rutger, who inherited the same blood.2U1n3
mSR“I will be destroyed if things continue like this.”ATGKx
IktVY1b“······.”3pR3i3
yVLBaBecoming the next Count Bayezid was not simply an ambition.44M
YFWTwo suns couldn’t exist under the same sky.rW4qG
eELqaMIf he failed to become the next Bayezid Count, it was obvious what Rutger, his stepbrother, would do.duR9m6
iOqm“If he succeeds, I’ll live the rest of my life in the monastery, or I’ll die without anyone knowing.”kyXp
F1ohSjQHistory proved it.RnYP5te
z3CEHis own father had risen to the top by trampling over his own brothers without hesitation.rd5
mej“I am short of useful swords. Except for you, Zayar.”T8B
021cWTo become the next Bayezid Count, Joseph needed not only his own abilities but also the support of the vassals.LZWTP
WJVHowever, Joseph, who was born sickly, found it difficult to gain the support of the vassals, no matter how much help he had from his mother and maternal family.PKDfK
7OMEThe Bayezid family held the military in high regard.NgSh
NqF“…. young master, I have something to report.”jj7
VvC“Speak.”jgnH
Zb8AZayar hesitated for a moment and spoke to Josef, who was caressing his temple as if he had a headache.gfpE
hWev“There is a suspicious mercenary.”PpsCh
DwujRF“Suspicious mercenary?”WAdV1hr
ZgZxmjJoseph’s eyes narrowed in surprise at the unexpected news.UR0UWyT
cAw0oq“Is he a spy sent by my older brother?”TsCL
oCx“He is not suspicious in that sense.”SZM
TVxv“Then what do you mean?”JC4ZETW
dlnsWNZayar is a knight, a strong one at that. However, the hesitance he showed while delivering his message to Joseph was unusual. He lacked confidence.muzWq
180M“Speak, Zayar.”6OFdPI
sFURecognizing the gravity of the situation, Joseph urged him to continue.KeaXkB
a5sA“It’s something you need to see for yourself. Would you care to come with me for a moment?”RwY
WLRLHMe“It seems something serious has happened.”5gmvE6M
wT9W0Observing his knight’s unusual behavior, Joseph realized that Zayar was about to disclose something of great importance.QDYz
DRxQ“Lead the way.”PYA
D3CYJoseph wrapped himself in thick outerwear and added a scarf and gloves to avoid being hurt by the cold winter wind.eMlXFG
c1aToKx“Here we are.”YzTx1
GeWsrIt was a dirty tent.5mB
wzb“Is this a slaughterhouse?”3LFp
qjc79HV“Yes, it is. This is where we dismantle vital parts from the monsters we’ve hunted.”gSg
Qwy9h5PJoseph quickly covered his mouth with a handkerchief as he looked around.C2za
L92iODSIt wasn’t because of the dangling corpses or the nauseating smell of blood that filled the air.9aA6HkC
95NIcJoseph’s mind was tougher than that of any knight, but his fragile body was so weak that he had to be cautious even of the contaminated air inside the tent.Ot0mKR
bYVnK“This way.”oTZ
wTJqaZayar led Joseph deeper into the slaughterhouse. At the farthest end of the slaughterhouse, various types of monster corpses were hanging.VZnL4
QxTslQ“Have a look.”uq6WlPF
iEWZayar personally turned the hanging corpses to show Joseph.AlyPxt
QMKjv5“Do you see the wounds?”5Pc
uBsO“Yes.”8IYN
i0JEtched deeply into the hunched back of a goblin, which had been hanging there for a long time and had become stiff, were sword marks.JjCV
7w5U“It’s crooked.”OPSQ2
HTHTX0Joseph commented with little enthusiasm, noting that the sword marks shown were made by someone who had just recently acquired a sword.LbLGnzL
ew6jeAfter Joseph finished speaking, Zayar pointed to the nearby corpse of a monster.h63CJ
ioQWounds.axw
KR1jThe body was full of sword marks not only on the back but also all over the body.gscr0kA
N8uQuFrom left to right.0C0Kjl
S5onFrom the old corpses to the freshly arrived orc’s corpse.NXQ
gK47bJJoseph unconsciously removed the handkerchief from his mouth after examining all the corpses.WCixm2u
QzGUHUn“Could it be that all of these were made by the same person?”xet
7KYyZvr“Yes, young master.”X02
SoKFUpon hearing Zayar’s answer, Joseph immediately moved back to where the first corpse had been.36ThoJ
OcUpQ75Joseph, who always walked slowly, was now running faster than ever before.FV6b
wovI1“This is unbelievable…”H1dCbz
b3D2xThere was no other way to describe it.Mw8
CvhJ“How long has it been since these corpses were here?”4X94O
bKNZ“It’s been a little over a month, young master.”i0UHk
sZlTyL“Only a month…”jVwN
yzEPWIn response to Zayar’s answer, Joseph was astonished and carefully examined the corpses of the monsters once again.AFXKbDQ
IT5NhYSword marks.DakU7mV
AklCrooked and shabby wounds.KAYU
Tzv8W6However, as he approached the corpses of the new monsters, the marks made by someone became clearer and deeper.dOIwO9q
qFXafrM“Who is it?”zIk
yAnCDNIt formed a consistent pattern.RAoI
7RtvXoc“His name is Riemann. He’s a young man with blonde hair.”NuB
j8vpY“Riemann?”XcByP
ZmPItZ0Zayar approached Joseph and whispered quietly.BjlM
vZ55IA“The mercenaries call him ‘Praying Riemann.’”wLGFDul
DKEVSn“Praying Riemann…”dLh
mJy28y6Joseph repeated the title that Zayar mentioned.StnuC
BRXs“Find out more about this Riemann right away.”ttg2
AIu“Yes, young master.”uGxFG
ij8Zayar left the slaughterhouse upon Joseph’s command.Wrk
ibc07“….. This is truly unbelievable.”yNAuK
1ycpaf7Joseph was left alone in the room, and he turned his head and once again examined the corpses of the monsters.wKaXb
XTbWAlthough he couldn’t wield a sword himself, he could still observe.KeAcjHz
bs8NI87Joseph was a descendant of the Bayezid family, which revered the military, and there were many outstanding knights around him.mVfV9
lN4SdxBecause of this, he could recognize it.T2wYn
pQEYt“He is a genius.”dLVR
KSjwFrom the crooked strikes with no proper foundation, and yet reaching the level of the recently carved sword marks in just a month.h9Pwmn5
zfeBriQIt was something that only a prodigy blessed by the heavens could achieve.FJuvJQZ
93Fj01The orc’s corpse, which had arrived just yesterday, still had its eyes wide open, as if it couldn’t believe its own death.STOBf
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