Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - Bonyard (4)

Panis let out a sigh inwardly.

"What will become of the city's dignity if a bloodbath breaks out among the knights we invited? What if the Piranian Family demands blood-money?"

"Send all the invoices to me. I'll take it all, whether it's infamy or a blade of revenge."

Karas spoke calmly.

It was true that Panis had invited him because of his skill despite knowing his self-centered personality. But to think he would cause an accident from the very first day of his arrival.

"I will try to smooth this matter over somehow. I beg of you, please restrain yourself from now on."

"Thanks. I'll try."

The office door swung wide open.

"Oh!"

"You...!"

Eugene, looking amused, and Karas, with a surprised face. It was indeed the Samur man who had caused a ruckus at the tavern two days ago.

"We meet again here. Good to see you."

"You were an invited knight too. I thought that might be the case."

Karas massaged the back of his head, perhaps checking for a lump from that time.

Judging by the personality he showed at the tavern, it seemed he would try to fight right away, but unexpectedly, he didn't seem to hold a grudge.

Instead, a competitive spirit and a curiosity that surpassed it made his eyes sparkle.

"I was invited and arrived two days ago. I am Eugene Mayer. Should I call you Sir Karas?"

Karas, who had been quietly looking at the genial Eugene, took a step back and gave a nod.

"I'm sorry about the other day."

"What are you sorry about?"

"There are so many small things that I don't know what to say first."

Karas spoke while stroking his chin, which looked scratchy with a beard.

"Calling you a coward at the tavern, not believing that you were going to step in, and acting rudely with my fists... all of it."

"If it's that, I've already forgotten. Though you were violent, it wasn't out of ill intent. I also found those thug fellows eyesores."

Eugene recalled Marcus's group.

"The dhampirs I met a while ago were very gentlemanly friends, but I suppose people are all different."

"Gentlemanly dhampirs? That's the first time I've heard such a joke."

Karas wore an expression as if it were nonsense.

Realizing the atmosphere outside was unusual, Panis stepped out. Dressed in silk and well-fleshed, he was the stereotype of a wealthy merchant.

He was flustered to see the two knights in conversation.

"Do you two know each other?"

Having been informed by Sorin, he was able to recognize Eugene right away. A knight who brought along a tall Beastkin woman with a unique tail would not be common.

"There was a bit of an incident. It wasn't anything unsavory, and there will be no problem in staying together, so Chief, please rest assured."

Unlike with Sorin, Eugene used honorifics because Panis was one of the city's leaders.

"That's a relief."

Panis liked the politeness of the knight he was meeting for the first time. Being the Security Chief here, he wasn't in a position to be looked down upon by free knights, yet hearing honorifics was close to an impossibility.

"Let me introduce myself formally. I am Security Chief Panis. Sir Eugene, I sincerely thank you for accepting our invitation and making this precious visit."

He was the Security Chief in name, but he was not someone with outstanding martial power or leadership.

The defense of a free city consisted of having a moderate number of guards under direct command and hiring mercenaries whenever necessary. Therefore, the virtue of a Security Chief lay in something else.

Recruitment and hospitality! These two abilities were truly important.

The talent to gather useful mercenary groups and knights, negotiate compensation at an appropriate price, and soothe them from time to time so they wouldn't harbor dissatisfaction.

"It has turned out well. If you two don't mind, may I treat you elsewhere?"

If the strongest cards prepared by Bonyard were acquaintances, it was a good sign. Panis was someone who knew how to puff up such good news even further.

Eugene was also quick to catch onto this. Wasn't it an opportunity to eat and drink for free?

"I cannot refuse the Chief's hospitality."

"Thank you!"

"Will Sir Karas join us as well? It seems we'll be seeing each other often for a while."

On top of that, if he could even place a debt of gratitude on the Security Chief, it would be the best.

"Since an apology just now won't be enough, I should at least drink a penalty cup."

Karas also smoothed over the brusqueness he had shown Panis and nodded.

'Hooray!'

This situation where the knot that had been terribly tangled was all unraveled in one shot. The fatigued Security Chief's face brightened for the first time in a while.

* * *

Panis was known as a bigwig in the liquor industry of Bonyard. He had risen to his current position through the connections, wealth, and intelligence gathering he had built there.

Any man is bound to become talkative once alcohol enters the system. In the city's web of interests, such information became a powerful weapon.

"Have a drink."

A beautiful woman smiled gently and poured alcohol into Karas's glass.

She was dressed in traditional clothing worn by women from the hot southern regions. There was a difference, however, in that it was more ornately decorated and the exposure had increased.

Samur's clear liquor and appetizers were placed on the black marble table.

"The alcohol here is also fine, but it really can't be compared to that of my hometown."

Karas, who missed the taste of his hometown, downed it in one go.

"I've hosted more than just one or two knights while serving as the Security Chief of this city, but I've never felt as reassured as I do today."

As Panis laughed while rubbing his hands, his plump cheeks also wobbled.

"I don't know if the food will suit Sir Eugene's palate, as it is somewhat exotic."

Panis watched his expression, wondering if he had tailored the food too much to the Samur style.

Unlike the gentlemanly Eugene, Karas was a type who couldn't be controlled, so he wanted to cater to his whims as much as possible.

"Not at all. I like that everything is consistently fresh. I am the type whose interest is drawn to things I'm eating for the first time rather than familiar food."

"As expected, you are generous, just as I heard!"

Fortunately, Eugene did not harbor any dissatisfaction at all.

'The taste is similar to sake.'

He was also in a good mood after tasting clear liquor for the first time in a while.

"I see you've called quite a few knights from here and there?"

Karas spoke.

"The situation being what it is... High-profile knights like Sir Eugene or Sir Karas might refuse the invitation, after all."

"I understand the sentiment, but you should have filtered out those blood-sucking trash of Barcia. I can't tolerate the Piranian anthem or whatever being sung in this wonderful city."

Karas put a date in his mouth and chewed.

"The hospitality is good, but I'd like you to tell me everything honestly now. I understand that the city is in danger. So, what is it that you want from me? Looking at Sir Karas, I can roughly guess."

At Eugene's question, Panis swallowed hard as if the moment had come.

"A while ago, the Gord nobles sent an ultimatum."

The explanation heard afterward was just as Eugene had guessed.

The Gord Kingdom was a country that occupied the west of the continent.

Originally, it was famous as the land of merchants, but one day raiders who appeared from the sea began to eat away at the entire land.

As this continued for a long time, at some point their blood mingled so much that the two ethnicities merged into one.

As a result, a unique people with the contrasting colors of both merchant and warrior was created.

"Until now, it was enough to offer tribute every year. They were satisfied if we bowed our pride appropriately and treated them as elder brothers, but they finally drew their blades."

"It's not exactly a strange thing."

Karas spoke while peeling an apple.

"They're raiders by nature, who used to pester every corner of the world by boat. How long would it last even after settling down and mimicking nobles? A merchant's blood might cool once they touch silver coins, but if a raider's blood boils over...?"

"It will only cool once they get someone else's blood on their hands. Perhaps targeting the city isn't just because of greed, but also to release frustrated desire."

When Eugene responded appropriately, Karas laughed.

During the conversation between the two, an exquisitely peeled apple was placed on the plate. It was in the shape of a crouching rabbit.

"Oh my! How cute."

The woman serving them let out a giggle.

"Still, it's not entirely a misfortune, since I've been able to host such precious knights thanks to it. Hahaha!"

Panis rubbed his hands and flattered them.

Eugene's martial power was one thing, but it was also perfectly to his liking that he got along with Karas, who was hard to control.

He might be someone of importance in the city, but the only one who could control a knight was indeed another knight. Furthermore, Karas was the son of a prominent family, so there was no answer for him.

"To continue the explanation from earlier, Gord also has no intention of mobilizing an army. Oop, thank you."

Panis received the apple Eugene had speared with a fork and handed to him.

"If they intend to take the city without using an army, they would use Champions. That's why you gathered knights from all over."

"Yes. A Hall War will be held soon."

An era where disputes between individuals were resolved with fists rather than law.

When this happened between knights or nobles, a trial by combat was held with dignity.

When the scale of a trial by combat grows to the level of city versus city or nation versus nation, it is called a 'Hall War'.

Deciding matters cleanly by having representatives fight instead of spilling hundreds or thousands of lives pointlessly!

Naturally, the glory obtained there could not help but be high. The name was given in the sense that the dueling ground was like a Hall of Fame.

Since such great interests were entwined, it was rare for there to be only one Champion, and usually two or three were sent out from each side.

"Three representatives of our Bonyard and three representatives of Gord will compete in a dismounted state."

"What happens if Bonyard loses?"

"Substantial interests will be handed over, such as exemption from city tolls and the right to trade exclusively in goods determined by Gord."

Panis trembled as if he were afraid just from the thought.

"What about autonomy?"

"Fortunately, that is not in the requirements. If that were included, it would simply be war."

If even that were demanded, this city would have been recruiting large numbers of mercenary groups instead of knights.

"However, being restricted in trading partners and goods is painful indeed."

"Including the Chief, several people's lives must be on the line."

"Yes. Whether it's the magistrate or myself, everyone whose position ends in 'official' will be dragged into the street and beaten with clubs. Their families and houses won't be safe either."

"Conversely, if we win?"

"In that case, our freedom is guaranteed. The tribute paid to Gord will also disappear."

Eugene tilted his head.

"It seems the stakes are unfair to each other. One side is betting their limbs, while the other is merely betting something like a strand of hair, aren't they?"

"It can't be helped. That's what the difference in power is. If the perspective were similar, we would have rejected such an absurd demand."

Panis examined Eugene with a cautious gaze.

"Sir Karas has already sworn to hold his sword for us."

When Eugene looked at Karas, he raised his glass as if making a toast.

"Then my decision is the only one left."

"Yes. Since there is time left, you do not need to decide in a hurry."

Panis explained the compensation prepared by the city.

Money was money, but precious privileges were promised, such as a limited right of indemnity, the right of movement to enter and exit the city entrance even when closed at night, and tax benefits during trade.

'This is better than I thought.'

Unexpectedly, deaths do not often occur in a Hall War.

What determines a knight's status is their defensive gear, and a knight appearing in such a place would not dress poorly.

Since even poor knights participated in trials by combat, deaths were not rare, but in a Hall War where they fought well-armored, it was common for them to surrender or be neutralized before that.

If defeat is accepted without killing, the knight's honor becomes even higher.

"I have already made my decision."

I had wanted to earn money as a Champion anyway, so there's no reason to refuse if the conditions are this good.

"Knight Eugene Mayer. I shall become a Champion of Bonyard."

A duel where one fights one-on-one is better than a battlefield where arrows and backstabbings are rampant. He didn't feel like he would lose, no matter who appeared as his opponent.

'Someone stronger than a giant boar wouldn't appear. And there wouldn't be anyone with better skills than Master.'

Since he had performed his knightly initiation so magnificently, he was confident when it came to a duel.

"Whew-!"

As if all his tension had been released at once, Panis buried himself in the sofa like a doll with its strings cut.

Then, with a face that said 'Oops, this is no time for that!', he jumped up and grasped Eugene's hands.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Isn't a connection a precious thing? This is the first city I've set foot in since setting off on a knightly journey into the wide world."

Eugene clenched his fist and struck his own chest.

"I swear upon my side... my blade, I will not let this jewel-like city be violated."

"Ohh! You are truly dependable. You are indeed worthy of being the successor to the Prophetic Knight!"

Panis bowed his head repeatedly with an expression of deep emotion.

Sorin's testimony was one thing, but added information handed to him by a confidant while coming here had given him decisive belief.

-They say Sir Eugene suppressed Sir Karas in one shot at the tavern.

-Is that true? Can you swear upon your life?

-I've checked several times and it's true.

Karas was by no means a weak knight. Before wandering, he was one of the best knights in his hometown of Samur.

If the two knights were together, the city would surely be safe!