Chapter 11

Chapter 11 - Out Into the World (1)

"Someone is coming from the direction of the village. They are on horseback."

At the words of the mercenary who discovered them first, everyone stopped their idle chatter. Two figures could be seen approaching from the road in the direction of Kingdom's End in the distance.

"In that backwater, shouldn't there be no one coming in or going out?"

Even for merchants, compared to the effort of coming and going, it wasn't profitable, so it was a village they visited only a few times a year.

"Go call Mr. Sorin."

Beard, the mercenary captain, ordered.

The one who hired them was Sorin, a security official dispatched from Bonyard.

"It's a knight and a squire. Or perhaps a servant."

When Sorin arrived on his horse, Beard reported.

"Are you certain it's a knight? My eyes are a bit dim."

Sorin was over 50 years old. His back was straight due to thorough self-management, but he couldn't help his failing eyesight.

"I saw light momentarily reflecting off his chest area. His physique is also grand."

A robust man wearing metal armor and riding a horse. Added to that, a danger signal warned by the intuition of having rolled around as a mercenary for 20 years.

"Above all, he is advancing without any hesitation even after seeing us."

In a world full of danger, it was basic to stop and be wary upon discovering a stranger outside.

Yet those two approached without a hint of hesitation toward Beard's mercenary troop, which was four times their number.

"This is definitely a knight."

The strongest and most atrocious slaughtering machine produced by mankind in this era.

"What was that village over there again? Kingdom Road?"

"Kingdom's End. The name is unnecessarily grand for just a backwater. I went there exactly once, and the beer was practically like sewage water."

"Why would a knight jump out from such a place?"

The mercenaries whispered with uncomfortable faces.

A knight is an existence mercenaries fear more than monsters. Because when encountered as an enemy during mercenary life, the one with the highest probability of killing you is a knight.

If the opponent is a monster, you can at least try to run away, but showing your back to a mounted knight is nothing more than begging to be killed.

If you encounter an enemy knight while forming a line during a war, there is no answer. Deserting before the enemy means summary execution.

But if you keep the line, you die to one of the following: a lance, a sword, a mace, or horse hooves.

"What does the knight's face look like? Is he quite old?"

Unlike the anxious mercenaries, Sorin actually wore a happy face.

His mission was to deliver the city's invitation to Sir Godfrey, who was living in seclusion in Kingdom's End.

In such a backwater village, there couldn't possibly be another knight besides Godfrey. It meant completing the mission had become much easier.

"No. He looks very young."

But things don't always unfold as planned.

"Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

"Trust me. No matter how well you fight, you can't be a mercenary captain if your eyesight is bad."

Although it was a small mercenary troop of eight people, the fact that he was the captain meant his observation skills and intuition were that good. One doesn't survive otherwise.

"You have a point. My apologies."

"Not at all."

Sorin's face became disappointed.

"Captain, he wouldn't attack us, right?"

"It must be hard to earn money in a backwater; won't he turn into a robber knight in an instant?"

"Stop worrying, you lot."

Despite his subordinates' concerns, Beard had a calm face. Because he had something to rely on.

"We are officially carrying out a mission for Bonyard City. A man with any sense wouldn't dare act rashly."

"That's true."

Beard agreed with the confident Sorin.

"If it's a knight coming from that village, he surely won't have a territory or a lord."

A knight is certainly a fearsome existence, but this wasn't that person's territory, and their backings were far too different.

Unless he were living a life at rock bottom, he wouldn't attack them while they were performing an official mission in Bonyard's front yard.

* * *

While Sorin and the mercenaries suspected Eugene of being a robber knight, Eugene was likewise suspecting them of being a bandit group.

However, their mindsets were polar opposites. Eugene approached the mercenaries with a calm heart.

Having already fought from a monster wild boar to his master Godfrey and Marcus's party, he could objectively grasp how strong he was.

A handful of mercenaries looking on with eyes mixed with half-wariness and half-fear wasn't frightening at all.

"I am Sorin, heading toward Kingdom's End under orders from Bonyard City. These people are Beard's mercenary troop escorting me."

"I am Eugene Mayer. This is my squire, Homi. This is quite a coincidence. We were on our way to Bonyard."

Eugene introduced themselves with a smile.

It was a short conversation, but Sorin immediately became convinced that Eugene was a noble knight.

The parts where phrases connected weren't blurred, and he pronounced specific consonants clearly. Sophisticated words that commoners almost never use were also mixed in.

It was a language that could only be used with an education, much like Posh English on Earth.

Added to that, the confidence in approaching without fear, excellent equipment, and superior warhorse. This was an aura that only one who had lived as a noble knight could perfect.

Meanwhile, the mercenaries' eyes went to the large crossbow Homi was holding.

In Beard's mercenary troop, the only one holding a ranged weapon was Owl, a former hunter, and even that was a shortbow with weak draw weight.

In contrast, the large crossbow that squire was holding seemed powerful enough to take down a wild boar in one shot. It would pierce their pathetic plank shields in an instant and cripple their arms.

"We have rested enough, so we shall be leaving. However, it would be best for Sir Knight to prepare camp here."

Sorin said cautiously.

"Would you tell me the reason? There is still time left before the sun goes down."

"In the direction of Kingdom's End from here, places suitable for a campsite appear frequently. However, there are none within half a day's travel past this point. You might have to spend the night in an unfavorable place."

Selection of a campsite is extremely important in travel.

Leaving aside the presence of a water source, it's about the view to prepare for surprise attacks, ease of securing an escape route, and a place to avoid rain in case of sudden downpours.

Depending on where you sleep, it can range from a minor cold to life-and-death situations. Furthermore, even a cold is no pushover of an opponent in this world.

"Thank you for the advice. It's my first time going in this direction. I lived in Kingdom's End for a long time."

"Is that so. It's a very peaceful village. The people are simple, too."

Sorin's eyes twinkled, and Eugene didn't miss it.

"If by chance there is anything you are curious about the village, ask anything. If something comes, something should go."

The mercenaries felt goodwill toward this knight who treated them genially. To the point where worrying about him being a robber knight just moments ago felt foolish, yet they didn't relax their tension.

"Do you happen to know Sir Godfrey? We heard he was living in seclusion in the monastery there."

"I know him well. But I'm curious as to why you're looking for him."

Eugene prepared to move at any moment without showing it. The only guy among them holding a bow was the first target.

"We wish to invite him to Bonyard. This is an official invitation given by the city."

Sorin pulled a rolled-up paper from his coat. It was an official document stamped with the seal of the Bonyard administrator.

Both sides relaxed their tension at the same time.

Eugene because he confirmed they weren't enemies, and the mercenaries because they learned the true objective of the request.

Since they were told not to ask anything in exchange for high pay, they had many worries, but to think it was just delivering a single letter. An invitation like this was always welcome.

"I'm sorry, but I recommend turning back here. Even if you struggle to reach the village, you won't be able to find him."

"I heard for certain that he was there until just a few months ago. Has something happened?"

"He left recently. Since you didn't encounter him, it seems you passed each other."

"Oh no!"

"Even if you had met him, he would have refused the invitation. He left on a pilgrimage, so he wouldn't want to get involved with secular matters."

Sorin nodded, albeit with regret, and felt relieved.

Failing the mission was painful, but thanks to this knight, he could offer a justifiable excuse.

"You seem to be someone who knows Sir Godfrey well. May I ask what your relationship is?"

"I am a knight who was invested by him. I am his direct disciple, having inherited not only his swordsmanship but even his armor."

Eugene thumped the breastplate on his chest with his fist.

"Oh! So you were his honorable successor. This turned out well. This too must be God's guidance. Would you please read this?"

Sorin offered the invitation.

"I am not my master, though?"

"As his direct disciple, you are more than qualified. The city will also welcome you fervently."

It's an era where the transmission of news is very slow. It was common for the person they intended to invite, or the item they intended to obtain, to be missing upon arrival at the destination.

Establishing a secondary objective for such situations was essential when sending envoys.

Godfrey's direct disciple more than fit into that category.

"If that's the case."

When Eugene nodded, Homi received the invitation. She knelt on one knee before Eugene and held it up with both hands.

'She can read.'

Sorin became convinced the knight's claim was true.

Excellent equipment and physique, a noble-like aura, having lived in Kingdom's End for a long time, and even the cultivation to know how to read. It was an intersection of qualities impossible for anyone but Sir Godfrey's disciple.

"Hmm."

Meanwhile, Eugene, having read the invitation, fell into thought.

The content was 80% formal greetings and praising Godfrey's honor and achievements, with the remaining 20% being the main point.

'We wish to host the renowned knight. We will treat you with our utmost, so please visit us.'

A summary would be something like that. However, why they intended to invite him wasn't written.

Whether a danger requiring martial force had arisen, or if they wanted to uphold the city's face ahead of welcoming an important guest.

"Is the city by chance in a dangerous situation?"

Sorin opened his mouth after a moment's deep breath.

"To be honest, it is true that things have been unsettled recently. The Gord nobles who have been eyeing the city greedily from the west have revealed their true colors."

War had become no different from a sport across the entire continent.

The reason Marcus came secretly with a small unit to rescue Maria was because they too were in a state of near-war with a rival noble family.

Bonyard, which had avoided war by squeezing out its geographical location and diplomatic power on the frontier, had also reached its limit.

"Then if I receive the invitation, I might head straight to the battlefield?"

"That is not the case!"

Sorin shouted, flustered.

"This invitation is strictly for the purpose of hosting a magnificent knight and sharing his reputation, even if just a little."

Inviting and hosting an excellent knight is in itself an act of raising the city's class.

A noble eating and drinking for free at another's house was something to be thankful for, while also being something to be thanked for.

"We might ask for a favor when the city faces a crisis. However, I swear that whether to accept that or not is entirely your right, Sir Knight."

Staying simply as a guest rather than receiving financial or equipment support in a sponsor relationship. If it was just that, there was no ground for criticism even if he didn't do anything in return.

Godfrey had often told stories of how he solved his room and board in various places like that while avoiding troublesome matters.

Eugene, after careful consideration, looked at Homi.

-As you wish.

She spoke with her lips, and Eugene made a decision.

"Alright. I shall accept the invitation."

"Thank you!"

Sorin's face brightened. Now he could report mission completion rather than an excuse.

The mercenaries also rejoiced. Since the pay would come out the same even if they turned back from here instead of bothersomely going all the way to Kingdom's End.

Eugene was the same. Rather than blindly pushing out into the outside world without any connections, it was convenient in many ways to receive an official invitation from the city.

Even if he received a request, if it was an easy task, he could make the city owe him a debt, and if it seemed like a life-threatening task, he could just appropriately decline.

"Then I shall count on you for the next few days while we return."

"Likewise."

"Beard, prepare the camp!"

The mercenaries answered resoundingly.

"Leave it to us!"

Everyone smiled and began setting up the campsite.

Eugene leaned against a tree to rest after removing his armor with Homi's assistance, and the mercenaries gathered branches to roast potatoes.

"How would Sir Knight like his meal?"

Beard, the mercenary captain, approached and asked. He was a man with a thick beard, just like his name.

Eugene guessed that wasn't his birth name. What parent would name their child Beard?

As the mercenary was an occupation carrying all sorts of backstories, cases of hiding one's real name and making a new start were common.

In such cases, nicknames were often used like names, and it was an unwritten rule not to ask about the personal history of such a person.

-Even if you are a knight and the opponent is just a lone mercenary, do not ask. It is a rule considered as important as the custom of hospitality among mercenaries.

It was one of the pieces of knowledge Godfrey had taught him.

"If by chance you have nothing separately prepared, it is inadequate, but..."

Beard bowed while holding two hot potatoes.

"I will eat it with gratitude. Homi, we should also repay them with something, right?"

Eugene, who had intended to treat them from the start, was boiling tea in a pot. Made by grinding a plant similar to Chinese yam, it had a thick yet strongly sweet taste.

"Oof, thank you."

When Homi approached the mercenaries holding the pot, everyone hurriedly pulled out dirty wooden bowls.

While it might seem easy to make a hot soup while camping, it was surprisingly precious. Mercenaries who lived their daily lives being hit by cold dew never missed an opportunity to warm their insides with heat.

"It's sweet, truly sweet!"

"Wow, it feels like my throat is opening wide."

"I'll be able to sleep soundly tonight."

Sweetness was precious in this world to begin with. A steaming, sweet soup while camping!

The mercenaries tasted the feeling of the fatigue of their bodies and minds melting away.

* * *

Night fell.

Naturally, the mercenaries took charge of all the night watch. However, Homi contributed to the watch with the sensitive olfactory sense unique to Beastkin.

Was it around early dawn? Homi, who was sleeping, suddenly jumped up and growled toward a certain place.

"Wh-What is it, Sir Squire?"

The novice mercenary on watch asked, flustered. On the other hand, the veteran mercenary followed Homi's gaze with insight.

Soon after, two pairs of yellow eyes appeared in pairs in the bushes about 80m away.

"Wolves!"

The veteran mercenary agonized over whether he should wake the party now or not. The distance was still sufficient, and they were merely blinking their eyes while hiding their bodies in the dense forest.

Homi stepped forward in front of him.

"Grrrrrr—."

She warned them using a unique vocalization method that spread far forward. Then, after a moment, the yellow eyes vanished.

"Did... did they leave?"

Nod.

Homi, having answered the veteran mercenary, returned to her spot unbothered, curled up her body, and fell asleep. Her thick tail was held in her cute lips.

"Did you see that? A squire serving a great knight can even do something like that."

The veteran took the opportunity to act as if he knew something. Mercenaries never miss a chance to boast about even a trivial thing to a novice.

"Wow, that's truly amazing."

Although a nonsensical misunderstanding was mixed in, the novice who knew nothing merely marveled.