Chapter 63

Chapter 63 - Prophecy (2)

When wandering peoples gather for events, northern Roman is preferred. Because it is the center of the continent and transportation is convenient through the river streams connecting to the inland sea.

"There is a festival venue near the dock, so you do not have to worry about public order."

"Even if we are invited, it wouldn't be good for many armed humans to go in."

Eugene boarded the ship taking only a small number of escorts.

"Sir Hind. I ask of you while I am away."

"Leave it to me."

Hind gave a military salute and saw Eugene off.

He remained in the territory and took charge of defense and receiving guests. Fitting a merchant family with a considerate personality, he had decent capability in this aspect.

Because it was a duty that became an opportunity to interact with various knights, Hind was also satisfied.

As the merchant ship pushed forward cutting through the water currents, the mercenaries blew whistles. For them who had only lived inland, a voyage gliding forward on a large river was a joyful experience.

"Now now, attention! The Lady Magician says if there's any bastard who gets seasick, eat this in advance."

At the mercenary captain who brought medicine, all the mercenaries raised their hands.

"You bastards. Don't just anyone shove it in, only the bastards who definitely get seasick raise your hands!"

"Captain. You have to have ridden a ship before to know whether you get seasick or not."

"Did you forget we're all country bumpkins?"

Seasickness medicine, like its name, is effective only for seasickness prevention, but the ignorant mercenaries didn't nitpick things like that.

'If it's medicine made by the Lady Magician, it must be good for the body and the soul.'

A mysterious Elf and an outstanding Magician. Since the two elements combined, the mercenaries tried to cram it into their mouths regardless of effectiveness.

"This is expensive! Move aside, all of you!"

The mercenary captain swatted away the hands stretching out from all directions like Wights.

"You say it's expensive medicine?!"

"Uwoooooh!"

However, the word expensive only made the clamor louder.

The passengers are diverse. Ranging from peddlers, pilgrims, mercenaries, adventurers, free knights, bards, scribes, to criminals being escorted.

Among them, Eugene discovered Knights Hospitaller in black surcoats and approached. Since becoming a lord, they were a faction he particularly wanted to get along well with.

"I thank you for the service bestowed upon my territory."

While secular knights merely waited for the ship and rested, Knights Hospitaller, like their name, bestowed medical volunteering (hospice/relief work).

"Please replace that gratitude with a prayer. We merely offered our bodies in front of God's will."

Whether they had no intention of staying still even after boarding, they are tending to pilgrims on the ship.

"I will have to make an incision."

A pilgrim's leg filled with pus is stretched out straight. An old knight holding a sterilized medical dagger offered strong rum.

Gulp gulp.

"I am r-ready."

The pilgrim said with a resolute face, but the old knight shook his head.

"That much is lacking, so drink more."

Gulp gulp gulp gulp.

"Burb."

"Now clench your teeth on this."

As the pilgrim bit a clean cloth in his mouth, the blade dug into his flesh.

"!!!"

The pilgrim with wide-open eyes trembled quiveringly and spilled groans.

The old knight skillfully removed the pus with a minimal incision. After disinfecting and applying ointment, he tightly wrapped it with bandages.

In Eugene's view, the old knight with grayish-white hair looked far older than Godfrey. When he indirectly asked around that part, the Knight Hospitaller smiled brightly.

"For us, there is no retirement. Because the enemies we must fight are not only monsters. Starvation and disease are also our enemies."

"In the distant future, it might be possible to eradicate monsters. But aren't the latter two impossible? They seem like problems that will never be solved forever."

"Then our holy struggle will also continue forever."

"..."

The Knight Hospitaller rather had a face rejoicing that the duty had no end. In those eyes, madness veiled by faith was dwelling.

Knights and priests. Both are people who burn their fanaticism in their own ways. If it's a monk knight combining those two, it was right that they were even more insane.

* * *

Rex explained the details of the festival while moving.

"I thought it was just an event to share fellowship among tribes, but it was more than that."

"We trade information and spoils obtained among each other, and various competitions are also held. There are also times when those who fall in love with other tribes come out and exchange blood."

Dark Elves are a minority race, yet their pride pierces the sky. Naturally, they considered mixed blood with other races a taboo. Even though falling in love is practically non-existent in the first place.

Therefore, such a meeting place becomes an opportunity to form marriages between tribes and mix blood.

"Regarding the traditional clothing you gave me, it was too flashy. You don't mean to say everyone wears things like this, right?"

"Of course not. That is immensely expensive."

"Since that much gold leaf went into it, it would be natural."

Because it stood out so much, Eugene also couldn't just accept the sincerity with pure joy.

Since if an outsider, moreover a human, walks around wearing top-grade traditional clothing, bastards harboring complaints will inevitably come out.

"I wonder if trouble won't arise in a joyful place if a human like me wears it."

"Do not pay it any mind. That place is also where people live. Although we are rough, cruel, and look down on humans, that is."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No way! Everything mentioned earlier becomes irrelevant if you are strong. What other pass is there as pure and certain as strength?"

Besides the Blackhand Tribe living as a mercenary group, each family possessed excellent warriors.

Finance, transportation, nomadism, plundering. Whichever side it is, it's work requiring military force, and there are many tribes combining two or three.

And Rex was certain that there wouldn't be a single warrior at the festival who could compare to the knight before his eyes.

"With your strength and my guarantee, Sir Knight, there will be no problem."

Looking at Rex thumping his chest, there was something that came to Eugene's mind.

"Come to think of it, they called you Young Master."

"Ah, you heard. I am lacking, but I am the minor tribal chief (heir) of the tribe."

"I don't know if I shouldn't be using polite language to you even now."

"Hahahaha!"

Rex seems to have taken it as a joke, but Eugene was half serious.

The Blackhand Mercenaries are a large group equipped with magicians, blacksmiths, and even bureaucrats. De facto, they are no different from a mighty noble family.

In reality, Roman nobles had made attempts to incorporate them as vassals by giving them peerages several times. Just that they were rejected with snorts.

"It is the same as how you permitted me to just call you Knight from now on, Sir. In front of you, Sir Knight, I am always just Rex too."

As much as they are arrogant and stuck-up, Rex's race is one that entirely hands over their hearts to an opponent they've acknowledged once.

"Moreover, we are a matrilineal society. While I am in the position of minor tribal chief by bloodline, this does not necessarily mean I will become the future leader."

Since they continue harsh wandering, and rough work and combat are daily routines, the male mortality rate is high, and there are also many times they operate outside for long periods.

So it seems the culture where women govern the large and small affairs of the tribe took root.

"Then is the tribal chief right now your mother?"

"She is my aunt. I am learning many things from her. It was me who asked her first."

"I see."

Eugene did not ask further. Because it would mean Rex's parents are not in this world.

* * *

The festival location they arrived at was filled with crowds. In the plains hugging the river, countless tents are set up, and sounds of laughing and chattering are full.

From beyond the horizon, a procession of wagons and livestock continued endlessly. They are tribes combining nomadism and trade.

"If money circulates among families like this, it would become harmony in itself."

"Of course. And we are also children of the forest. Livestock raised by Dark Elves are sturdier in flesh and taste better than human livestock."

Everyone melts into various places in the world and lives. Thanks to that, they can hold such large-scale events without borrowing the strength of settled peoples.

"By the way, hasn't there been a case where someone harboring a grudge attacked a place gathered like this?"

It means that since it's a festival where all sorts of tribes gathered, if they are properly attacked, the existence as a species might be endangered.

With their outstanding abilities combined with the aggressive nature unique to Dark Elves, they can't help but have many enemies.

"What kind of bastards would dare do so? The moment they touch even one harmonious tent, people will pop out from all directions holding weapons like a swarm of bees."

Among intelligent races, the ones possessing the highest ratio of warriors to population are the Dark Elves.

It's not like they particularly train child soldiers from a young age. It's just that they instinctively pick up weapons, and even non-combatants do not fear when they have to fight.

"That woman stirring soup with a ladle over there and the girl slicing radishes will also jump in grabbing whatever is in their hands if push comes to shove. They would surely take at least two enemies down with them."

Even acknowledging their ambition, for Eugene, who clearly distinguishes between combatants and non-combatants, it was a part that came across as somewhat perplexing.

Entering inside, other races were seen quite nicely contrary to his expectation.

Sweat-covered laborers and street vendors, men practicing tricks in comical outfits, painters quickly drawing portraits, etc. were mostly humans.

"Seems they accept outsiders generously since it's the festival period."

"There is that, and wouldn't workers to do menial tasks and clowns to liven up the atmosphere be needed? Such things are naturally hu..."

"Hm? What is it?"

"A-Ah, it's nothing. Haha."

Rex was about to unthinkingly say, 'Such things are perfectly suited to be made humans do', but barely stopped.

Eugene entered the sector where the Blackhand Tribe resides. Fitting a mighty faction, they were allocated a good location.

"Welcome, Lord Rex."

"That person is the noble guest."

Heavily armed guards politely greeted.

"Sir Knight. I wish to guide you personally, but excuse me here. Because I also have many things to do as the minor tribal chief."

"Just coming directly to pick me up must have been quite unreasonable. Be on your way quickly."

At Eugene, who recognized even the unsaid parts, Rex bowed his head containing gratitude.

* * *

"Could you lift your arms higher?"

Eugene put on the traditional clothing surrounded by two Dark Elf young ladies. The clothes themselves were easy to put on, but there were places requiring an expert's touch, including the belt knot.

After finishing getting dressed, he met with Tribal Chief Alessa.

"Our traditional clothing suits you truly well."

The woman welcoming him is a beauty with silver hair and blue-gray skin like Rex.

Rather than the leader of a faction, her attire was closer to a shrine maiden. It seems because of the characteristics of a warrior tribe and a matrilineal society, she is in charge of knowledge, rituals, etc.

"Please consider that you have become a family during the festival. Everywhere under our flag is immediately your home, Sir."

"I am looking forward to it even more than when I received my knighting. I will enjoy it with all my might before going."

"It is a word good to hear even if it's a joke."

Alessa grinned. Because she couldn't imagine a knight of Roman saying it's better than a knighting ceremony. Just like Rex's words, he was a peculiar person.

"Even the elders have only seen Wendigos in records. It's a terrifying Demonic Beast. If it wasn't for you, Sir, there would have been dead or injured among our warriors. I thank you representing their families."

Fitting a tribal chief, Alessa did not exude the sense of being the chosen people or the arrogance unique to the race. She maintained facial expressions, tone, and gestures fitting for diplomacy and negotiation.

On the other hand, her head is fiercely turning.

'Is this knight really the man in the prophecy?'

The reason Eugene is receiving such hospitality is neither because he possesses outstanding martial might nor because he is a warrior Rex respects.

With just that, she would not have handed out traditional clothing.

The real reason is because of the final prophecy delivered by the tribe's noble Twin Witches.

- Destruction approaches our family. Even a thousand spears will not be able to face it.

- The only salvation is in the cradle... However, we shall only be able to board as guests...

- Find the greatest knight. The custom of hospitality shall be kept by him.

When it comes to prophecies, most are vague sounding words. There is no precedent of cases like this time where they were clear and linked to each other to form a long prose.

The Blackhand Tribe is a mercenary group originating from an assassination group. They are people who inevitably cannot distance themselves from superstition.

In effect, an emergency state occurred that Alessa and the experienced elders could not recklessly pass over.

- He is an Inheritance Knight and Demonic Beast Executioner, a great warrior who destroyed a ship by throwing a spear and captured a castle alone.

While doing so, hearing Rex's report, she wondered if there could be another knight who fits perfectly than this.

Other candidates might appear, but for now, it's certain that it's time to treat the noble guest in their embrace with the utmost sincerity.

"Please think of it as your home while staying. We will also serve your comrades with all our sincerity."

"I thank you for your consideration, Tribal Chief."

Alessa gathered both hands at her navel and elegantly bowed her waist.

Eugene might not know, but it is the first instance of the Blackhand Tribal Chief bowing her waist to a human. And he also was the first to receive traditional clothing and be invited to the festival.