Chapter 20
bPrB0The loyal knight did his best from across the river on a dark night.APtxxyj
KmKMVMjHe sent Vlad to add to the slightest possibility and mercilessly cut down his old companion who tried to tie him up.n1fZ095
HN0zg“Kkuuh! Ugh!”tlA
mtzAfterward, he found out the one controlling the undead and ripped out their heart.i3o0B
u1kGxth“······”UbQKryt
fCjsSeeing the man who controlled undead collapsed so easily, he felt that he too was just someone’s puppet, but instead of worrying, Zayar chose to run for his lord.Pw1zK
i3LMR1FHe swam through the ice-broken river and ran back the way he came.MvKlqt7
Kn2mnGwThe low-hanging branches fiercely struck his face, but Zayar ran without blinking an eye.zfK3e
nU9nCZm“Sir Knight!”yHqQ
lQs6He didn’t know why, but on the way, he saw Gott who had come back, so he quickly picked up a horse and rode for several hours.D48m
7phrF1yZayar finally arrived at the base camp, and as expected, the base camp was in shambles due to an attack.IzwGhoS
jkroMpC“You are here.”jrKs
tEmHIt was Josef sitting on a rock and looking at a distant mountain.6SqaK9
ZvDHXPIZayar finally felt relieved after confirming that Josef was fine, and let out a deep breath that had been building up until now.UTZ5
9Nj0jb“Are you alright?”VbwmVWe
fhz9ZKzPerhaps due to the ordeal, Josef’s already dark eyes had sunk down to half of his face.2WU
24fSPk“I am better than dead.”y1uaRY2
Ehl42tHJosef smiled at Zayar with a lack of energy and turned his head again toward the distant mountain.gt1eg
7xEto7The dawn was breaking.n1HJijN
8qIu1w“This subjugation has completely failed.”N4u
eGdxK“······I am ashamed.”wWjPoWn
o47vZayar lowered his head and dropped the things he was holding in both hands on the floor.uHfxI
wuJOUThe head of a stranger and the black wooden box he held.hHVHO
2Pb“Is it him?”VvO
EPk“Most likely.”hJid7J
inQYH2Though many questions and answers were omitted, it was enough conversation for Josef and Zayar, who understood each other deeply.cOSpp93
6vSW“We failed, but…”OMXNBk
SRx4g42Josef said, looking blankly at the distant mountains.hlSy
lcYp4oU“Still, the steps while returning seem light.”vkTDMpP
niu7R1“Was he useful?”rT7
gWq“Useful?”R0I3feR
kk2nJVWJosef answered with a sly smile to Zayar’s question.xqpj
oNdN“Perhaps I’ve found something.”ex4G
ha5lnkV“What do you mean?”bhs
LlX7WeZayar looked at Josef’s smiling face.pqL9Br7
773L3That smile with the rising sun reminded him of Josef when he was young.MlC
McS0mdy“Someone who can be a sword for me.”1QJCNs6
pMPH2The young Josef, now with dark shadows under his eyes, looked at Zayar and spoke.fLzzTv
zTyKXbl“That brat is a sword brighter than any other.”tDs
zqUW4KWith those words, Josef smiled brightly, as if he had no worries.VqO
KA22YTToday’s sun rose above his smiling face.Nhizqc
wxROn that night when everything was burdensome, it was the long-awaited sun of tomorrow.g4K
qydkD“It’s cold. Let’s go back now.”XoNrqC
FNA4ba“Yes.”yuyrnC
3LO3BhZayar supported Josef, who was limping on one leg, and guided him to the tent.Q3Kp
50UuTwo men walked with their backs to the rising morning sun.iE9Xfx
gGZePTCThe subjugation had failed.u2FltaA
ZsPsGONevertheless, Josef was smiling.VCy
eiTAEven though today had ended in failure, he was confident that tomorrow would bring success.vBcl4R
QGU※※※※zxyo
075PRrz“Ugh.”fCn6lq
ESWqkVlad had been lying down for a solid three days.nJH
I23eS“My stomach still hurts.”Y7GgWQ
BfV6d[I’ll have to be careful next time. I didn’t even know the recoil would be this intense.]ZxFUd4
R8maXW1The unqualified boy forcibly borrowed someone else’s world and pulled him out of the world.eUfIZ
oPE7v“It can’t be helped. Oh well.”v3Fs0H
kKTAs the cost of that, he had to humbly accept the recoil.Gsn
PucIf not, he would probably be lying on the ground by now, growing cold.dxPln
p89QRzr“I thought I’d be rolling around in a carriage, so I’m glad.”zADR8V
PDg[It seems like Josef is quite concerned about you.]Bxmy
50dbtJosef, for the sake of helping Vlad, stopped the mercenaries trying to leave and maintained the base camp.Jshs
VbicConsidering the challenging attack they had faced, it might have been right to leave as quickly as possible, but Josef didn’t think so.zS0z
buwB“If they are targeting us anyway, they might come back even during our return to Varna. In that case, it would be better to regroup here, make full preparations, and then move.”uyF5
mFZXc6qDuring these three days, Josef did his best to recover the base camp and completed a field investigation.KyC
IR2RKYIt was the appearance of someone who didn’t give up despite the failure.CTlS
33vAs a result, Josef could find several clues worth reporting to his father, Peter Bayezid.qS6ISl
aFYKNkPerhaps the report he was now carrying back to Varna had more value than the monster subjugation mission he had originally undertaken.ITg
olFoFZ“It’s cold.”oZpYIHJ
reFiB0NVlad went outside sniffling and looked around.vG0Ec22
6WeFLDrThe reduced number of tents, the desolate base camp, and the strange silence among the mercenaries looked like the atmosphere of the defeated soldiers.CQ4lcn
6JR0qFT“Captain!”ytHfou
hl3GceAmidst the quiet base, there was a voice calling for Vlad.MISjRb
ykHbA man with a long chin approaches from afar, waving his hand.ybDFO
RLW8FB3“The one who wants to run away sticks around the longest.”1kd
XgOCt“Of course. They said about raising our rewards if we stayed until the return to Varna.”EIg48
hiF0The cowardly swindler didn’t flee that night.CpP
2PavInstead of running away from danger alone, he turned his horse around and headed in the direction where Zayar was.F9jr
88Dl“Do you know how much danger I went through to find the knight’s location to save you, captain? You better repay me well later.”ZLsX
dOXHf7r“······okay.”C774i5
T9ihGott was a crafty swindler.Ur9gl
kV3GlThe reason why Zayar hurriedly sent Vlad to the base camp was with the intention of buying time until he could go.gFv1
aFUeGott, who had noticed this, realized that Zayar’s quick return was needed to resolve the situation, and rode back to get him.cq8shk
rBZHe did not go all the way to the river, which was full of undead, but he wandered along the middle road.sg69mK
yDkaB“Will you ignore my favor again this time? Even though there is no end to the bottom, it doesn’t mean that your personality has been ruined to that extent, right?”brk
T2MrJT“I said okay.”TdxB43Q
Fuz0ELNIt was true that he had already committed a crime and that Gott had worked hard for him, so it was difficult for even the shameless Vlad to openly ignore what he was saying.dAE
vN0l“Let me at least say something. I don’t know how effective it’ll be, but.”tAGVWe
NPjknSAfter hearing that Vlad would tell the merits of Gott to the scion of the prestigious Bayezid family, Gott nodded as if satisfied.br8V3T
nx8“So, go and take care of your business.”woy0M
vWYM“Huh. You’re still as harsh as ever.”GMpioNR
rqcGoth was lost in thought as he watched Vlad leave.1vnJ0
6gMah2‘There’s the smell of money.’ZgoDAyu
XC9NIn Gott’s eyes, Vlad was a person full of potential.aL6J
sW3Young, capable, and someone who attracted the attention of those in power.F5n
RiJIn other words, a promising individual.Mf6DN
bNVDgJw‘The one who seizes first is the owner.’mZB
cQ6YeThe most crucial skill for making money is recognizing value.Qu3TO
tltIl7KGott had a gut feeling that the boy named Vlad wouldn’t be the one to stop here.Ofjhup
tp3w“I’ve cleared the debt, too.”UVTG4c
klsinWCWith those words, Gott turned away.dkp52Lo
XclEBecause more pits needed to be dug to bury the bodies of the mercenaries made last night.Peu
JO6BER“Hmm?”bfifs
5TWCLItAs Vlad walked away from Gott and wandered around the base, he saw someone gesturing towards him.YlzYY
tajDm1T“Priest.”kNRlOU
QFxNeRIt was Priest Andrea.0t3
dXZY“What’s the matter, Priest?”75R91g
M7k8mu“I have something I’d like your help with.”rBS
QAwRgPriest Andrea smiled awkwardly and pointed to the coffin behind him.pYc
IOFA“No one seems willing to move the coffin.”DI7E87
iYKmL“······.”hAA
SUMThere were quite a few dead, including Knight Rodrick, in the sudden attack last night.iuZI
OhCAThose who have someone to collect their body will be placed on a wagon and buried in the cemetery, but those unable to receive proper burials were left here, forgotten.nRONsGs
G1ZY9BAnd here, there was another coffin that nobody sought.yhjSp
bUW2“······I’ll do it.”sX7v
e3Iroua“Oh. I knew you would help.”dLi7vw
mSxkzThe coffin pointed out by Priest Andrea contained the woman who had been like a terrible nightmare.2OYo
b1GPN“It was an ominous curse. We need to take her to Varna for further investigation.”G01
LXASrPerhaps because he felt sorry for asking Vlad to ask something that no one wanted to do, Priest Andrea’s words were getting longer.lpJ
xJZErTE“And as you know, isn’t it too pitiful?”dEXZFBI
8uZtvN“Yes.”ueqm
KNOTxIoVlad waved his hand at the young deacon who said he would help.RcsewED
oGqtVc“A challenging task like this is best suited for someone with strength.”qrr9Nl
J5vZolK“Still······.”zJULZ
r1y4The young deacon, whose voice was cracking as if his throat had not yet healed, retreated after Vlad’s objection.xrVQv
GO9hc“You’ve already done what needed to be done with the song you sang that night.”J0yC
fv6zed2At Vlad’s words, the young deacon smiled humbly and stepped back.sEu
qcen2T“Ugh!”ZEwsK
mYdPYSYAlthough Vlad was not very fit, he pushed the coffin around on his own and lifted it onto the cart.1pQud
ecdHmuShe was a pitiable woman.q41xw
gL4keNo one knew who she was or how she had come to such a fate, but Vlad genuinely sympathized with her.2A6L
u0V“Come this way. I’ll offer my blessings just in case.”Jc8
FuK7Andrea tried to hold his hand, worried about the remnants of the curse that might still remain. But Vlad spoke.zcP
QyiEO“Wait a moment, Priest.”W149
iNbHis hands are dirty anyway. So, it wouldn’t matter if he used it at least once more.4gS
IQWx5Vlad lifted the black wooden box that Andrea had neatly wrapped with a white cloth.5bCOjC
ySAHA box that everyone avoided looking at directly, appearing ominous and sinister.SqQW
vyoInIFThat wooden box was the subject of a terrible curse and was what the woman had been desperately looking for last night.jKujz9
bNMFHE“Vlad······.”fW7uu
7qCEV“I think it’s the right thing to do.”RR2a19h
6eBHUCreak-NNO4
XQDThe improperly sealed coffin lid opened with a feeble sound.1zI
6Gk27“If this can bring some comfort.”0lAhvC
upL4ygPA woman’s body split in half and her face full of black tear stains.Lh1
Y79Ac“Isn’t this okay, Priest?”gyrHRq
ScGb9“Indeed. You have the right to do so.”TLJ
0zLVlad placed the black wooden box on the back of the woman’s stiff hand.MWZVhL
eI6vzThe wooden box held by the person controlling death contained a small corpse.4Xn0S
rpVQG“Here is your child.”LiC2U9F
Y3eU8nyA woman and her child were murdered for the sake of the curse.NJZ2aw
oe1g7Though dead, the woman was able to get her child back, whom she had been desperately looking for.Vw2mj02
LjC8d0vPerhaps because of this, the stiff expression on the woman’s face seemed to relax a little.g2uMys
5OpMfoV“······Should I nail it shut completely for you?”8Bj03d
zLQ1pb“Sure, I’d be grateful. I’ll give you a proper blessing then.”bhtWGww
pMLahkAndrea looked at Vlad, who was trying to see off the poor woman for the last time, even though his whole body was in pain, and recited a prayer for him.ZnqMor9
6tSuzQIA faithful priest and a faithful boy were seeing off the woman whom everyone was ignoring.wRLg
HE0gThud, thud.gO9E
TyTGAs if tolling a funeral bell for the deceased.BtT
MVYvGThe sound of Vlad’s hammer striking rang quietly in the middle of the base camp.q8gDbm
4BfcQy※※※※1y5WF
pC16a“I’ve come.”Q1Bi
emu4On the last night before leaving the camp, Josef quietly summoned Vlad.92b0
OMZ“Have a seat.”beg
mMxSKVlad smiled faintly as he faced Josef and took a seat.E4ucXYM
UfVutbT“Do you know how to drink?”E18QC
6BEtC5y“The place I used to work at was a restaurant and bar.”8jz9
tz7pO“So, you know your way around alcohol.”1eMg7la
nqyZVJosef poured a clear brown liquid into the glass in front of Vlad.yvd
zO9J“Is it whiskey?”koT5ki
zwyr“It’s my favorite drink.”03KK0pM
nmtPKVlad smelled the sweet vanilla scent emanating from the liquor and was convinced that it was not an ordinary expensive liquor.Ayk
PdAJK9“I want to express my gratitude first.”mJqUL
tjlq9Josef sat down naturally and continued speaking.aASOaO
osUBf“You could have run away.”NHNNQEY
LcN0c“But we made a contract.”jBZc
6cMHZe“Yeah, we made a contract for you to trust me instead of loyalty.”FQNV
8cEJosef spun his glass on the table, continuing, “Although it was a contract in words only.”AzhX
cGxl“Even so.”88W9GaE
BhVXJosef was impressed not only by Vlad’s skills but also by his straightforward nature.ReI
7nRHi‘He’s a talent that cannot be overlooked.’GjZo2
usGDAlthough he had evaluated Vlad as a useful talent, Vlad’s actions last night exceeded that assessment effortlessly.iMA
ssoetStrangely, Vlad, who had recently picked up a sword, emitted an aura and wielded it for his sake against the cursed woman who seemed like death itself.G7bm2D
txvBVlad was not just a useful one but a must-have talent.AvG
t5BBDc“…”96WawGm
Qcyn6Vlad sat tensely, unable to even touch the precious drink in front of him.iXYzp
A3w7TeObserving Vlad’s tense demeanor, Josef took a sip of the seemingly expensive whiskey as if taking medicine.YQ9X
UsM“Now it’s time for me to fulfill that contract.”r34
Cv1Kt2The relationship between a king and nobility, or the loyalty between a lord and a knight, ultimately involved some form of give and take.d8X
9ovatQAnd Josef had received the gift of life from Vlad.GT4Eeip
cx0WdUL“I was taught that I must return what I received from my father, no matter what it is.”HOr
Cl25M8Josef tilted the glass towards Vlad as he spoke.iMl
eD7y“I want to invite you to the Bayezid family. I want to pay you a fair reward for this incident.”QDZT1
NFIucw“…”oJZRw84
KK69DVlad silently thought while looking at the offered glass.IwZ
54gRfHcThere was no reason to refuse, but he needed to brace himself for what lay ahead.124f
DciYa“It is an honor. Lord Josef.”Y3b
V2lV“Drink it.”nQYdsl
VghIAnd the boy was always looking forward to making this decision.mnaXGQ
BFLCbEwSomeday, I will venture out of the back alleys into a broader world.iKG6h
5iXeWith Josef’s permission, Vlad held the glass with both hands and downed the whiskey.wnlb
DpSP4qVI will not end my life with cheap rum sold in the back alleys.Lqz7
J53nAAsThere was a day in the past when he made that promise to himself, and that promise came true today.P62vb8
MRjILRl“Tastes good.”7Udhhv
pmiL“It’s nobleman’s liquor.”2a2v2gm
leegbProperly aged whiskey with a rich aroma was the sweetest drink Vlad had ever tasted.UwX8Qst
s3l43Vlad’s world was expanding as much as the taste of whiskey he tasted for the first time.ThCcGC
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