Chapter 128: How tall are you? (1)
zxYQ“…If I were you, I’d kneel first. Chief.”6YU2Xjz
8RKikpuA wolf smiles before me.S0LC0
we3ZC6VA wolf looking at the poor flock of sheep that flock to him.XMeF7XH
HxaBrRAs soon as Stephan saw Vlad’s cold eyes pass by his side, he felt goosebumps on the back of his head.ZaZSF9f
TJZu6“There’s only one of him and dozens of us. If you take the lead, we can easily subdue him!”gzn
KN0ckStephan involuntarily snorted at the absurd suggestion of the village chief.nprQ7i3
pRNFl0No matter how peacefully you’ve been living, you can’t recognize the threat smiling before you.G4B
9RXnzOyThis person isn’t qualified to be the village chief.DhXqSd
q98CiRo“Then we’ll leave.”6mx
2iBtQN“…What?”vz26
OF03With those words, Stephan and the mercenaries began to retreat slowly.gOr
x4kOXSThe mercenaries, who lived at the crossroads between life and death, recognized the cruel wolf smiling before them and didn’t hesitate to bow their heads to him.XcK
YGT5zTh“Why are you doing this?”4wCkg
VUHM4d“You weren’t hired to do this in the first place! Why are you retreating?”rCa1N
m19The vigilantes who had gathered, each with a spear, were surprised to see the mercenaries abandoning the battlefield without hesitation.vmT5cdj
pIZmDf0“That person is a knight.”10Bu7D
uHu2j“What?”sAS
yp5“That guy is a true knight.”w3d1
k24Fa6TSome of the mercenaries who recognized Vlad quietly informed the villagers even as they withdrew.2wp
Soe28i4No matter how many of you gather, you won’t be able to handle the man in front of you.IomHS6k
GnvI2cD“Drop your weapon immediately. Idiots.”dv6E
MVeDiJg“…”TZWGyU
iw8The atmosphere grew colder and colder.ZiPW
nakSoCAlthough there was only one, there was a force in the blue eyes that overwhelmed dozens.G6f2
AdK2Only then did the villagers, realizing what was happening, swallow nervously and look at Vlad.IBRsoc
pI8“You’re lucky.”ya75o
9jOThe breath of the black horse becomes rough.LDeQ
LEsRough enough to trample the humans in front of it at any moment.TDkvM
rbkABecause the world touching him was trembling greatly.Ijuyjy
tlN“Because I came here for a quiet vacation.”ITEfRbA
EQlpOnce this sword is drawn, there’s no turning back.I0M
OWoBecause the world around me taught me that once I draw my sword, I shouldn’t stop until my work is done.8saMV
xJqVbICAnd I’m not used to being patient.7qR67
hd7L“Don’t waste the last chance I’m offering you. Chief.”Js2YH
GmMZEven if you’ve only lived in a small world, it’s time to figure it out.ahw1Cl
qgkf6Who is the person you have before you now and what are they doing to him?M6Q5t
qEXMTo the villagers, who finally faced reality after going through anger, shame, and prejudice, their lips turned blue.ceH
rbjJust as the tip of the spear trembled, their eyes also trembled mercilessly.xXj9peN
HcCJ***5tWb
gZhzYz“…”0tg
4Hv“The chief’s house in the village, where a heavy silence reigns.LlSYQ
hl3Being the largest and most spacious house in the village, the interior space was comfortable, but the weight of the air was beyond imagination.tYL
fXF“We did not dare to acknowledge the knight…”0Rtr
6ex“It’s 3 gold coins each.”URJ4Fc
zAVX“Yes?”GKvpk
2JzpeVlad’s cold eyes passed over him as he looked at the village chief who was stupidly questioning him.fhEk
BT2“They are the guys who threatened with the lance. However, we cannot ignore the guys who invaded Goethe’s house.”Vu1
QFYCZThere were dozens of villagers who had just aimed their spears at him.htFSVg
ByWHowever, if he were to kill them all just because they were hostile towards him, he would not be any different from a mere murderer.P7tPFp3
HDOAs many rights as one may have, they must be exercised according to common sense.674A
vevY“3 gold coins per boy.”alD
uWNZij“B-but, sir. In a small village like ours, 3 gold coins…”Ci2Sp4
7dTY“Your son is worth 10 gold coins.”CKTewT
lYmq4UEven so, the insulting deal could not simply be ignored.xLp
sAZrgDyVlad was proposing a compensation plan before which the owner of this village, Baron Rosmitz, could only nod his head.O8TEfi
E5FYjThough it was an excessive amount of gold coins, it was like a bolt from the blue for the parties who had to pay directly.96s42
7H8n4“If you really can’t pay, there are other ways.”CslbbS
47Ps“Just say a word!”IRrbQ
KcAaTThe village chief bowed his head and tried to find a solution other than gold, but he should know it.jmPG2dR
7roThe cheapest way to resolve everything in this world is with money.sAhWANv
EAODfd“Cut off each of their left arms.”nGwpsy4
HjDM7“…That, sir.”M9ikLG
t99kGdtHe was a man who grew up in a tough place and swore to carry a sharp sword for the rest of his life.28RGP
BL8t2Vlad’s words contained a chilling sincerity that anyone could understand.Krghedt
MWcBlR“Of course, your son will have to have both arms cut off.”gT35e
8GCuw8The chief, facing Vlad’s bright eyes, no longer had the strength to open his mouth.fXq
6PANDThere are no more negotiations.dK3D
SOhIf you reject all these offers, your son and the lives of those insolent bastards will be lost.iUFH
gE4“Is there anything else to say?”WDqzN
7EdF3J“…No.”rM1Kqnt
QUXYhht“Then leave.”jeEgj
c8VHe had put the village in crisis with his wrong judgment, but the village chief, who had the final clue, had no choice but to bow his head and leave.8g9kOz
8khGjBecause it was none other than themselves who committed an irreversible mistake.7EwoCwb
CG6HDP“…You also have this side.”ITfe
cTdvG0“It was good that you didn’t step forward. Stephan. I was already thinking of putting someone as an example.”HPHTAD
w2adStephan stopped and lowered the jacket he was wearing around his neck at Vlad’s casual words.Zsy
FyfgVlad’s tone, whose anger had not yet subsided, contained thorns difficult to overcome.uyNYyFM
tjvTMW2“Because we knew very well what kind of person the lord knight was.”EZC3lpX
ZrDTVlad pushed away the tea given to him by the village chief and stood up.TR2N
1eyCeskVlad continued, looking at the numerous bottles of alcohol placed in the cabinet.9fUOc
Ia6“But how did it end up here? I don’t think this is going to move to a corner of the field.”mBb5cWp
rhkWs5Is this mead?UPzK
Z7EnFVlad’s eyes began to gleam as he found a bottle of liquor that was not easily found in the northern part of the country, where flowers were rare.eKf
7x1vv“Well, in a way, the reason we’re here is because of the knight’s virtue.”Xnsfa
ryMlX“…Ah.”WsU
CG2When Vlad realized what Stephan meant, he fell silent.ooPrM
Oyn6Fq“Although it wasn’t so bad. It’s been a while since I saw the countryside, and my nose feels refreshed.”brk
D1Yy8“Let’s have a drink with this. I’ll follow you.”ImpS7
TwD10KVlad opened the village chief’s mead without hesitation as if it were his own and poured it for Stephan.dIw
b2iISoVlad had a fight with Count Vitskaya in Tanovo.dCes
xAb8bfmThere was no problem for Vlad, who planned to leave anyway, but the Thornwood Mercenaries, who planned to establish a new position there, had no choice but to wander around looking for requests.MqgHw
UEBaqyWhat Stephan said was not just an insult, it was the truth.p6ZV
hCDYM9“So, what request did you come here for?”zTqmY
myswgA“Mmm… The principle is not to reveal requested information without the employer’s permission.”dGtc00
cT3sVlad stopped smiling at Stephan’s joke.j8njOXI
f5RAn acquaintance with whom he had a connection with delicious alcohol.L3oAKKy
Zem31ZIt was a moment when the atmosphere that had been heavy until now was broken.hXVjbXj
XGK2“You saved my life. This time and the last one too.”BBI
JpOJ“Yeah. I don’t know what would have happened if it hadn’t been for the knight who was on the bridge at that time.”iXN
n1QQgyoThe position of mercenary leader wasn’t something you attained just by eating a bit of bread and meat.bpF
O56It’s also a place where you have to create a comfortable atmosphere and promote yourself to your employer, like now, facing Vlad.koJxVM
rXAV“It’s not really a secret. After all, it’s something everyone knows.”ATEVGtP
5WXnwStephan, who drank the drink Vlad offered, leaned his head towards Vlad’s as if someone might be listening and silently opened his mouth.LwRi
ix1LOK“It seems like there will soon be a war here.”6yi2
FJipr“A war?”WF1h
Y1nB“Yes, a territorial war. It’s basically a land dispute between nobles.”y1WVtB
WT7IHaiWhen completely unexpected words came out of Stephan’s mouth, Vlad set down his drink and straightened up.M44i
GYlA world he had never before experienced flowed from Stephan’s tongue.SngRQWN
2pxeA“Continue.”5sP
oNk0“…The request we received from Baron Rosmitz was to protect this village from the bandits.”saKb
lgveThe Thorn Mercenaries, seeking a new area to settle, arrived at Wisteria Village after being entrusted with a kind of vigilante work.TDFPG
qh3GbMThis was because bandit raids had become more frequent near the border of the baronial territory.HjR
P9RdXJ“What does banditry have to do with territorial war?”GdcN3P
42H“That’s the key part.”GTWvaR
uKrAlthough the village chief’s house was empty, Stephan quietly approached as if someone might hear, and opened his mouth to Vlad.AXfo
6PP“Those guys robbing around, they seem more than simple bandits.”kyPlI
7CQHI“…”6f1SH7
zDggEven if the villagers didn’t know it, Stephan, with a long career in the mercenary industry, could recognize it.yIxiA
HAMAAMThe actions of the bandits rampaging here are suspicious.Ycsw
Novk1F“The appearance of the robbery and escape is very clean and refined. Just like trained soldiers.”6lZEf
lqk“…Hmm.”DXJ
0bZF2sPerhaps Baron Rosmitz knows it too.7IGHkEf
GNs9DxoThe bandits running rampant at the moment aren’t ordinary folks.HEE
ffGt“In my view, this is some kind of prelude. It’s about securing an access route to Marcia.”DD5
9AoBefore declaring war, the enemy was clearing out surrounding villages and securing the access route to Marcia.r1ZUTc
14m“And Baron Rosmitz?”yAh5IW
gayfSBn“That person is buying time.”c9K
WwYAnd Baron Rosmitz was sacrificing several villages to buy time and troops to build a defense line.v8u939
bjiKThe attackers and the defenders.GRlMT
KKbaBoth moves may have been strategically correct, but in the end, the people who were sacrificed were simply villagers who knew nothing.0K8Xv9e
tu0X“We plan to stay here until this week and then collect and leave. You can’t be on a sinking ship, right?”M9V
2D3oFS“…Seriously?”fnq9
7O9fhDThe mead you’re drinking is bitter.yfiS
N7wY2eAlthough he had come to the village to enjoy a vacation, he felt like something was pulling him back again.5NIKL
Vh5vdNo, it was a time when that was inevitable no matter where you went.bvR3NQ
0QNA8“Who’s the opponent?”SDfUd
C5y“…I think it’s probably Baron Pylos. There are raids from that direction.”JHNC
9xfLhmS“Pylos?”HyUF
pYaW5Although his common sense was still not deep enough to clearly understand noble families, the family called Pylos was clearly a family that Vlad remembered.MPdn
o9Zg‘Pylos, Pylos…’NtpryB
upTepVlad closed his eyes and began to recall a familiar name, reviewing his memories as best he could.rUMgSo
Zg3MPHN“Ah.”xFVyk
TXlWhen the name buried in his memory began to emerge, Vlad felt a faint lemon scent rising from the tip of his nose.dXBd9
R3bo-As expected, I have good strength, just as I heard.i9lt6JS
iO2nO-Not for nothing are they called mud boars. If you get caught there, you won’t even be able to pull out the bones.I8B
knQ2LThere was a land where he took his first steps to become a knight.4RM7Y8f
wRMThe duel at that time was not honorable at first, but it had a splendid ending.FicAWSq
Rv0lcMThere was a fixed gaze on the boy who carried on his back the honor that Joseph had entrusted to him.aWs7z6J
KiPVkWHe was a knight who was furious because he couldn’t defeat the man who had been defeated by his master, Jager.sTFM4Y0
wXf***hLgCtj
RCvXtYD“¡Agh!”dW2ak
F7qIT8“Help me! I’ll give you whatever you want!”6vU
yRp6vSTThe cries of people echoed everywhere along with the acrid smoke.pPsDOF
og4cInside the small village, sounds that could no longer escape reverberated and lingered.HKIa
BAbPJTd“Colin.”JlPs
vjAjMB8“Report.”d5w
uKYpniEThe smell of blood and the sound of someone crying.afj
H9GpZA man with dark skin chewing on tough jerky as if nothing had happened amidst such a scene of carnage.GzGm8
5eN9j“This town has been completely taken over.”k3FgHrx
aegTJQ“…Did you get everything you needed to get out?”feLT
zWGWLxIf a village is going to be burned, it would be right to leave out useful things.qwVDvL
PoDThese are items that anyway will no longer have an owner.A6yzxTL
C7TBYz“Is this all you can do?”lU1
XTGGgPy“It seems to have been a very poor village.”FHsyXcK
XeTnNot a city, just a village.gUDoOZa
Es9lEaAs it was a village buried in a corner of a mountain, there was no way they could find a satisfactory loot.us8QfTd
nElThe expression of the man named Colin began to distort, as if he was not pleased with the loot before him.A7UrV
ceG9XY“But the next town we go to will be a little different. It’s also a village near Marcia, and the village chief was a former collector.”rYUyNaJ
KQytyZ“Is that so?”7Gcuc3
g4W4wThe boar’s expression finally began to turn happy as he smelled the gold coins he coveted.hGf4
zJBIf you’re a former tax collector, you probably have a bribery fund saved up for one reason or another.8IlS8
oOoGBecause it was a place that allowed such things in the first place.kfsEgR
t2zqYg“Which village do you want to go to next?”NUKO8
n80Lf“It’s called Wisteria Village.”MEqkvG
EfSE4Colin put away the dagger he was using to carve the meat and stood up.aoJZRtO
CZcDusk was about to fall.qjA1z
hG9SPerhaps there were bright gold coins waiting in the direction where the sun sets.y5m
kWdta“Finish up quickly, boys.”LMRIf
Pu13“Yes, Colin.”spPDm
yXd63FA knight is a sword.t3Ac
RBJZsAnd the sword is a tool.fve
RXAHOojDepending on who holds the hilt, the knight appears in various ways.Czask
S2mOQvSAnd today, Colin of the Pylos family, who surrendered his honor according to his lord’s orders, no longer looked like a knight.Swnw
OnrQZPkHe was just the appearance of a vicious bandit.jhO
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