Chapter 14
h6NrQrVlad felt terrible pain when he woke up the next morning.HNtLWH
3YJSITIGetting up is painful, and opening my eyes is tormenting, especially if the air outside is cold.wLTE5Yd
zFl“Gott. What’s for breakfast today?”L3qtPBx
pYkh“Some strange meat stew.”HuI6
aaHu“…I feel sick.”x4jZC
dm04hVfVlad, who had a rough night’s sleep, realized that even the morning meal wasn’t going to help him, so he got up from his spot.ZOAl
WGrUPWD“I won’t eat breakfast today.”Xfgxa
nYhgehp“Are you going to the priest again?”iTh8XS
hkoJfntGott, who was about to go to the food distribution area with this empty bowl, looked at Vlad with envious eyes.u7v3
cjCRPo“Should I pray too?”dXX0c
XhB0“You’re already in trouble from the word ‘prayer.’”dCjW
166MnwAs Vlad opened the tent, the early morning sunlight began to shine through.s5ZlxA
Rvm“It’s cold.”IvcBe
YUPi19mIt was a wonderful sight, but it also seemed to be getting boring after camping in the winter field for about a month.pO3M1M
UrzRd“I got here first!”xB3GEd
59mwYk4“No, why isn’t our pot even boiling yet!”azZ4
2E9The meal had a strange and salty taste, but the fact that the employer provided meals itself meant that this place had an excellent working environment.UVCMV
KgI“Hmm.”3OAVvHa
FqasVlad passed the mercenaries who were yelling for a bowl of stew and stood in the front of a tent.Ctaja
8xXPThe tent was smaller than the one where Josef Bayezid, the commander of the subjugation force, was located, but it had a neat and tidy feeling instead.Idb
3SqDJG“Priest, I’m here.”uUQOr
Kwg4SUMA warm atmosphere emanated from inside the tent when Vlad lifted the tent flap.NFrnD
EQp“Oh, Riemann! Come on in. I was just about to have breakfast.”3JU
rlvPriest Andrea, the owner of the tent, welcomed Vlad with a bright smile.a6i2
d4D“Priest, I hope you spent your last night peacefully.”PcYk8U
rl6bMMU“I am always at peace.”NUDR4
P2NoA6Priest Andrea graciously led the man, who had come in with the cold winter wind, to a seat at the table.uUwsAYB
2R2mHk“Please, have a seat.”ZoJese
OfG5LCPriest Andrea instructed one of his young deacons to prepare an extra portion of breakfast for their guest.l1t
cF1E“I heard you went to pray last night too?”rXtQy
e6VDHCv“I couldn’t sleep.”Zfe4Y
kOx1“It must have been cold.”P3IQN
1rpN“When you’re in the embrace of the Lord, what does the cold matter?”gFZCHdp
iwJI“Haha! You seem more like a priest than I do.”enTp
HYwbsCVlad exchanged greetings with Priest Andrea, but his gaze remained fixed on the young boy who was bringing something.wAUmLar
1g01‘Wheat bread!’MaRhs
qFdbHJIt was also soft white wheat bread, not hard black bread.lEZjNrU
SCKfJosef, the commander of the punitive force, was said to be a faithful believer, so the devotion he gave to the priest was indeed admirable.JRB
MJyph“Let us pray.”mKAt0s
qAg“I haven’t come here for a meal. I’ve just come to greet you, priest…..”tpVXg
sa3jCR“Today, let us thank the Lord for providing us with daily bread…”3X5V
e4FkVlad was only saying no on the outside, and Priest Andrea, who was in his fifties, could already see through Vlad’s true intentions. He simply overlooked it and protected Vlad’s pride.AmUf
NwoqFPS“Let us eat this food and gain strength so that we can exert even more effort in doing good work…”vTHqZ3
88ZsAxAndrea discreetly glanced at the blond man who was praying in front of him.PL3C8I
KjfR9‘He is truly an exceptional young man.’PScU
MLtq6Priest Andrew was so renowned that Joseph bowed his head to bring him here. His reputation didn’t come from preaching or connections; it came from his own deeds.on08Ud
hIVz6JEven though he was over 50 years old, he was widely known not only to nobles but also to commoners as he followed the monster hunting expeditions spread throughout the land, defeating evil beings and blessing the soldiers.9PP
CFCBv‘He hasn’t lost his faith even in the most wretched places. What a beautiful sight it is.’Ddp
WhnJITo Father Andrea, the existence of a man named Riemann came as a small shock.TX9d0b
jgT0A young man who sought the will of God even as a mercenary leading a tough life.gH7PSd
EFFaFor Andrea, the existence of Riemann, who takes care of himself and always bows to God even among those rough individuals, was like a revelation.WdwQya
ZXQBRCC‘This too must be a fate given by God.’Qo5mc31
S5PqWhile there were those who feigned prayer out of necessity, Riemann was a young man who always sought God even in places where he was not present.yDAp5
FIAFfiy“Please, have some food.”U31Yuq
9hDHR“Yes, Priest.”KMtN
bfP9mHe prayed while eating, prayed while sleeping, and even prayed while fighting monsters.HiK1v
vaQO8fsTo anyone who looked, he was truly genuine. What such a person desired was simply a warm breakfast.tnNLi3
GJurUK‘It is such a waste for this young man to be here.’KznWQp
08mdEq1So Priest Andrea resolved to lead this young man, who would wander bloody battlefields until his death, to find the will of God.edRJqC
bvyW9j“White bread… it’s quite precious.”XfghY
L75cBov“You may have as much as you want.”pr9Q8lG
n2sP5N7“Thank you.”tOBO
mKKB0YPriest Andrea smiled as he saw the humble young man with tears in his eyes, grateful for even a piece of bread.VOAB
1LozVx8“By the way.”tcG
VJ83p“Yes, Priest?”YuF1a
42gU9eVlad, who was pouring soup over bread and smirking at the mercenaries outside eating the strange stew, spoke.rXSEbFw
I0XIHu“I knew you had good sword skills, and it seems that this also reached Lord Josef’s ears.”n64dQdG
E3Kcw“Really?”V7oBrc
6NLVJTqPriest Andrea, who had been looking at Vlad with a contented smile, said in a cheerful tone, “Last night, Sir Zayar came to me and asked various questions about you. I told him that you are a truly faithful young man and that I look forward to your future.”p3f1
znv“…..”u43WI2H
5QvVlad, who had been shoving the bread into his mouth until it was about to burst, stopped for a moment in response to Priest Andrea’s words.YeGj
hBzz“So, I recommended you.”FaK3L
DMFp“Oh, um…”sBkklI
O5NKIt was indeed an unusual response, but Priest Andrea mistakenly thought that Vlad was pleased.zDUfn
j1e0IThere were noble families contacting him even now, asking for recommendations, but Priest Andrea didn’t easily write recommendation letters.HNVOG4
DvLPufHe was a strict priest who sought only the will of God, refusing even the position of a bishop in a city.3gUzysT
Xl9c“The Bayezid family that Lord Josef belongs to is a prestigious noble family in the north. Just the opportunity to work there would be a much better environment than now.”Ik5f
cbLG3s8“Thank you, Priest.”md8ao
qHUdKXPriest Andrea gave Vlad a wink and said. But Vlad only responded with an awkward smile.ssyO
seDPGulp-HPx51Z
kjGZwThe sound of the bread lump fully stuffed in his cheeks seemed strangely loud.GLPKLjm
2At※※※※OLQ3F
CXyNIt had been some time since Vlad’s morning meal with Priest Andrea ended, and he was praying once again.Lng
Kbcg8“I guess I was doing something too conspicuous.”h54iyk
iGAW[There was no other way. My swordsmanship can only be learned through practical experience.]EDMIms
oMGIThe reason why Vlad volunteered for the monster subjugation unit in the city of Varna was because he had no immediate place to rely on, but it was also the result of a voice recommending that there was no better place to practice swordsmanship.2ByvUNA
q75Dl[Wasn’t being close to the priest the problem?]yZ6hrS
rBjy8Nx“I had to check.”oK55q3Y
ytBA5nDVlad hadn’t intended it, but his connection with Priest Andrea made him want to experiment with something.fy2wvqZ
XbGosm[So, are you now sure that I’m not an evil being?]8wxWxYD
ZvYLA being that had settled in Vlad’s soul after being hit by the black lightning.ikbvgj
kE1O8bIf the voice that even couldn’t identify itself really came from evil, then he needed to be very careful about his future actions.POrTPZV
yhP7KtK“I heard that Priest Andrea was so renowned and strong in divine power that he was recommended for the position of bishop.”yktbii
DfTWpwThe fact that such a person could not recognize the identity of the voice in his soul at least means that the voice within Vlad did not originate from evil.JwR
S2I“I think we are good since I didn’t get caught.”PGyw
PYwsEven a priest at the bishop level could not recognize the evil inside him.JItrS2
OSYIn any case, meeting Priest Andrea here had been fortunate in many ways.PgAs
xRZ“Should I have just given them the slip? Is it too late to run away now?”zSLG
U3pfhxZ[Well… with your skills, they might turn a blind eye to a small forgery like a mercenary badge, don’t you think?]rWLA
Nz3B“If they don’t turn a blind eye, they might hang me, you know?”iSZHih1
nBkOqA connection with a renowned priest.HRe
2zsV2FLAnd a meeting with a son of the Count family.XGM
qmNnU3All of these were incredible opportunities that a run-of-the-mill mercenary could only dream of. But the problem was that all of these opportunities were built upon a false identity.TFe
HT9moRK“If they start asking too many questions, it might eventually lead to revealing that I’ve killed people. Then it’s not just identity fraud but murder charges too.”4hJ
uGCEx6[Now that I think about it, you’re quite ruthless.]cNIv
LYZPtd“But you’re an accomplice too.”Z6kt7c
wZoQoLX[Hmm. It would be better to run away.]adIFg
gdvIt was too conspicuous.N9M
y315qdFVlad had always lived in the shadows, hiding in back alleys, unnoticed by others. But now, he had become a much more visible figure than he had intended.qch9
GKqy9“In that case, I’ll make a run for it around dinner time.”PAsgSR
kIhrThis particular monster subjugation mission was supposed to be paid once a month.lGoo
sGyjFortunately, he had received his monthly pay a few days ago, so he wouldn’t be missing out on much.I8f
3gwMAnd if he ran away with Gott, who was eager to help with the counterfeit identity, they could create a convincing fake identity badge.mrB1H
sKjQhIf he left, this wouldn’t happen again.8sR
2DcMIt’s a shame because the working conditions are good, but now it’s time to leave.QiD9
vzWzD[However, it won’t be easy to run away.]WcLwlIr
5vPR“Why?”rbO
AyRXGwThe voice spoke to Vlad, who was pretending to pray for a while and planning his escape, as if expressing the difficulty.haJP
vvIxwc4[Someone is approaching from behind. Judging by their aura, they are at least a high-level knight.]lrNZ
VcOBC“What?”4uybImQ
v8nVlad urgently turned to look behind him at the voice’s warning.8fmOK
StOruThere was a middle-aged man approaching Vlad.BTEpZU
dElt7Y“Did he sense my presence? He is more useful than I thought.”cFiL
k4jA80A one-eyed knight with a shining breastplate and a small shield on his back.6pEUTQR
s41aQSu“Lord Josef wishes to see you.”Ti0
Oxtmo“…”pFnU
6nZfXpxLooking at the stern gaze of the man named Zayar, Vlad could tell that he had no control over the situation that was about to unfold.orl
gWzbe‘I should have just run away yesterday.’3q7DPGT
eAzj4Vlad sighed internally, but he stood up with a composed expression and said, “It is an honor that Lord Josef wishes to meet me.”oXUnz
2SsHT0G“Did you know I was coming?”xpXhvf8
xAUc51Even when backed into a corner, he had to put up a front of some sort. Jorge had once said that maintaining an unwavering expression during card games was a most important skill in itself.IBJYA
TpsWF“I heard from Priest Andrea that he recommended me. To be honest, I’ve been looking forward to this for a while.”RnWh
sWo1yRT“Hmm.”Xpytn
3qfZayar narrowed his only one eye as he watched the pale young mercenary treat him with a resolute attitude.aKFLZ1n
ZKRoP9R“Follow me.”L662Yn
Kj42qAnd he wondered how long that confident appearance would remain.OfPw6
LUeXk3sAs Vlad walked behind Zayar, he couldn’t help but think about his options.BBQAm7
aSwm‘Should I make a run for it now?’1Xs
sLhSsW2But the voice in his mind eventually convinced him to follow along.gzz6
Mx1X[Don’t even think about escaping. A knight of his level would make your struggle futile.]1PH
pTfpUyu‘….. damn it.’lfpeb
BsouJzThe fact that the voice was reading his thoughts meant that his actions were predictable to some extent.Ym6
yOLUFFAnd the man named Zayar ahead was likely anticipating his actions as well.HJq7c
oUdpGgNo, he had already anticipated them.h3S
VENld9gBecause his left hand naturally rested on the sword handle.3Y2wRN
DAV25JG‘Well, I have no other choice.’nD0Eh
vFBycFExternally confident but inwardly apprehensive, Vlad stood in front of the largest tent among those set up at the encampment.v7dw
ZvXHQ“Bow your head as soon as you see Lord Josef.”17TgWw
SmSQY9“How long should I keep bowing?”xxhq8Sz
OEt“Until you receive permission.”f8P
BF0ctcHaving received some brief instructions before meeting Josef, Vlad took a deep breath and followed Zayar into the tent.F3f
a9cHBP2‘That’s unexpected.’5BnTuW0
YQDhlw2He had expected the tent’s interior to be grand and flashy based on its exterior appearance, but it was quite the opposite.QnTfGbk
59mIt was equipped with everything one would expect, and the arrangement of items was not overly extravagant. It was a setting that allowed him to catch a glimpse of what kind of person Josef might be.KkR1a
WoAU4I“Lord Josef.”jDq
0YgM“Yes. Have you come, Sir Zayar?”DzAsoYq
tb88NN1When Josef’s voice was heard from inside the tent, Vlad lowered his head as he had been taught.fOIeWPn
3oYpHe thought it would be better to just lower his head.HgweTJT
HnB5cTo be honest, he was quite nervous.v8u
bexXaN‘He’s quite a figure.’TZR5Y
ZzW8If he had been in a back alley, he might have never seen such a person in his entire life.QnqS
H622Josef Bayezid, the second son of Count Bayezid.nJL9PPK
zw2VAlthough he had no title, he had the same status as a prince of a country in the County of Bayezid.NPe8H
6NOm“I finally got to see it. Nice to meet you.”SpJ4o
G2Woz“It’s an honor to meet you too, Lord Josef.”iqZUS
bVR6Vlad heard Josef’s voice from up ahead. The voice was not imposing, but it had an eerie sense of presence.tUTSz1f
bGpFxgx“So, are there any inconveniences during the mission?” Josef asked.pQchB1
2Q7P“Everyone here is grateful for your consideration, Lord Josef.”yox2kr
fCagJosef smiled as he saw the mercenary answering without hesitation even though he was very nervous.ooiI
FSaaV‘He looks bold,’ Josef thought.BNiIoO
kJcjHowever, whether he was truly bold remained to be seen. He would be tested in the upcoming interaction.09o
3T9K“Your name is Riemann, right?”7FRGmX
hE3mZzG“Yes.”fKdRXaC
91gzv5“You don’t have a surname?”690GD9
frcSS“No.”l1l
vB2“You have blond hair and blue eyes, so I thought you might be the son of a fallen noble.”mmr8
rB0Vlad was used to living under such misunderstandings, so he could answer this question without hesitation.IG4qD
X8Ob9Q6“Let’s see. How old are you now?”r7LqB
pAuyoUBut the next question that Josef posed left Vlad in a deep silence.OKpBIn
w89Vlad’s silence hung heavily in the atmosphere inside the tent. It was as though the weight of the world had descended upon them.T5HFDTn
CkTfZs“Um… I’m 31 years old.”BOHK
yb81Reluctantly, Vlad answered. He felt like he was swallowing poison, but he had no choice but to answer truthfully because his age was written on his mercenary badge.XA5f8
f2KjPkThe mercenary named Riemann, whom he poisoned, was 31 years old.syqkww
wq3He was the youngest man among the three mercenaries.CGw8rFP
8e1e“Ohh?”mcDxR
vL4D3Vlad raised his head in surprise upon hearing Josef’s peculiar exclamation.WY4Bc6
CotA black-haired man with dark eyeshadow.JjOQ
gs7Esf“You have such a baby face!”cjNu
ItdHe may have appeared frail, but he had a mysterious glow hidden behind his dark eye shadows.VNs0
q5s8eauAnd those eyes were directed precisely at Vlad, accompanied by a chilling smirk.2Bur
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