Chapter 95

Chapter 95 - Gord (2)

"How could a knight refuse a tournament? Hearing you say that makes me feel at ease too."

"If it's you, Sir, you will definitely win. Who would dare match the Victorious Knight?"

At Eugene's intention to participate, the Magistrate welcomed it with both hands raised.

He was closer to a civil official by nature and did not feel interested in tournaments.

However, he knew that the moment the knight before his eyes participated, the genre of the matches would change.

"What weapon will you use?"

"I have just decided to participate, so I need to think about it."

Tournaments in other countries are basically mounted combat, so the weapons used are the same old spears, swords, or maces.

However, the Gord tournament, being an infantry gang fight, featured all sorts of equipment.

Flails, two-handed hammers, curved swords, glaives, and even large shield types that cannot be used on horseback.

Pondering in his head what weapon combination to use, Eugene smirked.

"It will certainly be fun to watch."

"Of course. To the point where people say once you get a taste of Gord tournaments, matches in other countries feel boring. The Barcia nobles who belittle it so much secretly come down to watch too."

At that time, a tribal merchant who had finished departure preparations reported in. The Magistrate erased his smile and asked carefully.

"Has the Moving Castle arrived in the northern forest?"

"Yes. Otherwise, we wouldn't try to send carriages loaded with goods into the middle of the forest."

"If you anchored it far away out of consideration for us, you don't need to do that. Bonyard will remain on your side, Sir. Please consider it like a hometown you can return to anytime."

The Magistrate instead wanted to highlight the relationship between the Moving Castle and the city to the whole world.

As a promotion for the city's specialty and to emphasize that they were the ones who first formed ties with this knight.

"I will gratefully accept that sentiment."

Reading the Magistrate's inner thoughts, Eugene stood up with a smile.

It was thankful hospitality, but his heart didn't beat as much anymore. Because he knew more choices awaited him in a wider world.

* * *

Dozens of carriages lined up and departed from the city.

They were fully loaded with food, luxury goods, and military supplies carefully purchased by the tribal merchants. The payment will be made with salt.

"Most merchant firms do not do this kind of credit transaction."

As tribal merchants who wandered without creating a base, it was a luxury they felt for the first time.

"Hiring carriages and coachmen in the city, bringing salt from the castle to sell, and buying trade goods to return. Just imagining that makes me tired."

If they had gone to another city, they would have had to go through that bothersome process.

Meanwhile, the laborers and lower-ranking merchants fell into confusion.

"We are entering the forest? Not the highway?"

"There is nothing there."

As an urgently organized caravan, everyone set out with a light heart.

'They said we were going somewhere close, so I thought it was about a neighboring village, but what is this.'

When suddenly told to go deep into the forest, everyone couldn't help but be flustered.

"Quietly follow orders."

The middle-aged caravan manager spoke, but they weren't easily calmed.

"Night is coming soon."

"Even if it's close to the city, I've never heard of or seen a caravan spending the night in the middle of a forest."

"..."

At words that sounded reasonable to anyone, the caravan manager couldn't say anything.

It was a place unsafe even during the daytime due to wild beasts, and there was a risk of monsters appearing at night.

The sun was already setting, and the laborers grew fearful at the hooting of waking owls.

'The Moving Castle appeared inside the northern forest, so there's no need to worry. We will spend the night safely there.'

Even if he said this, it was obvious everyone would curse him thinking treating him like a madman. The only way was to show them directly with their eyes.

"Everyone cheer up. We will arrive at our destination soon."

Because there was Eugene encouraging them with a profound voice at the lead, everyone moved their steps despite being anxious.

"Kikik."

"Well, I understand."

Only the mercenaries constantly chuckled at the reactions of the merchant firm people.

"Oh, my God!"

As they pushed through the darkened bushes like that, a giant castle appeared like a lie.

"What am I seeing right now?"

"The legend was real! It looks exactly like the fountain!"

The appearance of the merchant firm people who were looking around in fear just a moment ago completely flipped 180 degrees.

Kuwuuung-.

When the castle gates opened, a bright halo of light illuminating the dark forest poured out. For an instant, it felt like an illusion that the sun didn't set in the west but hid inside that castle.

Eugene, standing at the head of the caravan, opened his palm and pointed inside.

"Everyone come in. I guarantee a safe night."

Before the legend they faced, people with enchanted faces entered through the castle gates one by one.

* * *

As the Moving Castle is of a certain size, there are several external entrances.

The place called the main gate is located in the center and is designed for ordinary guests to enter and exit.

Separate from that, there are auxiliary gates for cargo transport. This is the place the carriages were entering now, which is structured to connect directly to various warehouses.

"Items to be frozen go this way!"

"Non-food items to Warehouse D!"

Under the control of the mercenaries, the goods brought on carriages were neatly stacked.

"Achoo!"

"Hey, what's with your face?"

"Look at yourself."

The laborers who had gone into the freezing warehouse laughed seeing the frost on each other's eyebrows.

The appearance of them being scared worrying about spending the night in the forest disappeared completely.

They were chatting and working joyfully at a mysterious experience they felt would be hard to experience even once in a lifetime.

"Does the castle really move? This giant rock?"

"You people are natives here. Was there a castle like this in this forest before?"

"Not at all!"

"Then couldn't a castle that popped out of nowhere also disappear in a poof?"

The mercenaries answered the merchants' questions without finding them annoying.

The pride of being a member here, and the awe-filled reactions shown by those listening to the stories.

Those things made the mercenaries drunk with satisfaction more than any liquor.

"I wondered why they bought so much undried fruit, there was a reason."

"Imagine taking this to Barcia or the eastern small kingdoms and selling it."

The merchants shook their heads. The common sense of commerce they had built over their lifetimes was crumbling.

"Here is the promised salt. Please verify it."

A tribal merchant pointed at the salt sacks piled up in large quantities. His face was also full of pride like the mercenaries.

There is a saying that even if you live as a servant, you should do it in a noble family. Similarly, a merchant's difficulty in life changes depending on where they are affiliated.

From a person handing over bribes to a person declining bribes. From a person being evaluated to a person evaluating. From a person feeling regret to a person who has nothing to regret.

'The moment they enter this castle, any merchant will have no choice but to become the subordinate party.'

He felt he had never been as satisfied as today that he chose the path of a merchant over a warrior after being born in the Blackhand Tribe.

* * *

Gord is a country combining a warrior's valor and a merchant's cunning.

The river streams intricately spread like blood vessels throughout the nation were finer than northern Roman.

In the past, when it existed purely as a nation of merchants, it was used as the primary invasion route for looters crossing over from the northwestern sea.

'Oh God! Please fill these cursed rivers!'

It was a time when they suffered so terribly that rivers usually treated like treasures received such complaints.

However, as time passed and the blood of looters and merchants mixed to integrate into one ethnic group, the hundreds of river streams became a blessing.

It revived into the continent's greatest commercial nation and a powerful country equipped with the military force to protect all trade routes.

"To think they would even exempt tolls."

Eugene's mercenaries clicked their tongues.

"I heard it's one of the benefits bestowed upon knights only during the tournament period."

"They really seem like crazy bastards about fighting."

This tournament is hosted jointly by the Overlords of Gord, and the location was decided to be Count Andar's territory.

Because it was near Bonyard, making it a convenient base for knights from other countries to cross over.

The hearty noble who calmly sent an invitation even after leading the Hall War and losing.

"But Sir. Are you really going to participate in the tournament holding that? In principle, if it has no edge, one can carry anything, but still."

The mercenaries looked at the flail that had finished repairs by replacing its chains.

Because everyone vividly remembered the demons being crushed by that, they gulped.

A tournament that should be a joyful festival could turn into a joint funeral home if things went wrong.

"I am still thinking about it. What weapon combination to use."

Eugene was so strong that he could equip weapon combinations impossible for normal people.

"Holding a large shield and a two-handed hammer together seems okay."

"Since it's a group melee, having a shield to firmly block the front would be good."

The mercenaries who stood at the front as shield bearers during the purification work nodded.

"If you need a hammer, please tell me. I will lend you mine. It is an extremely long one, so it will be convenient for you to use as well, Knight."

Rampage thumped his two-handed hammer.

A warrior's armament is not something lent out carelessly, but if the knight before his eyes took it to the tournament, that itself was an honor.

* * *

"Is that man Count Andar?"

"Yes. We are tied by an ill-fated relationship for now, but he is a likable gentleman."

At Valda's question, Eugene smiled.

"I am worried he might harbor resentment that you rejected the invitation he sent you."

"I only saw him briefly, but he is not a man to hold such a grudge."

The sight of him smiling and raising his wine glass to Eugene even though his own champion was smashed was deeply impressive.

"Moreover, Lady Valda's invitation was more important."

"..."

If he had accepted Count Andar's invitation, Valda would have had to watch over Grace's fading end alone.

Eugene felt fortunate he held Valda's hand and left while being sent off by a smiling Grace.

Because if he was even a week late, everything could have missed each other.

"If you and Homi hadn't come, I would have set up an even stronger barrier in the forest."

"While guarding the place where Lady Grace returned to nature?"

"Yes. I would have lived alone continuously reminiscing only about the past."

"I do not even want to imagine that."

"But I would have been happy in my own way. Happiness is always relative. The more you don't know, the easier it is to become happy. But now..."

Valda trailed off, but Eugene read what she was thinking.

She had learned too many things to just be happy guarding the place where Grace slept in the forest mansion now.

She had learned a greater joy than infinitely honoring memories shared with her nanny.

Of course, this is the ending Grace desired most, so she wouldn't feel disappointed.

"Welcome. Young knight."

Count Andar was personally greeting even knights with shabby clothes who came up from the countryside.

Knights on horseback nearby were startled when the Count approached on foot and all dismounted.

The Count shook hands with each of those knights and patted their shoulders.

"I will fight showing my best."

"That is exactly the attitude. In this land, people are not evaluated by status or wealth."

When the Count clenched his fist towards the sky, his arm covered in thick muscles was revealed.

"As long as you have strength and courage, this is a place where anyone can do great things. I wish you all good luck in battle."

The Count patted a knight's back with his pot-lid-sized hand and then passionately welcomed the next person too.

All the unknown knights nearby had touched faces at that hearty appearance.

Hind also spoke while looking with a face full of favorable impressions.

"To warriors who have nothing, Gord is like a holy land. It is okay if you don't know letters and can't ride a horse. As long as you are strong, anyone can grasp the opportunity for success."

"It's natural since even a thug like Volks is treated well here."

Even with excellent skills, a completely ignorant commoner crazy about blood and slaughter being warmly treated by nobles is an exceptional culture.

It's something unimaginable in places like Barcia.

"Actually, I was also thinking of going to Gord if I hadn't met Sir Eugene. To go under Count Andar."

Hind's blood wasn't very blue. Because he was a son born to a self-made merchant who took a ruined noble family's lady as his wife.

Rather than other cultural spheres that value bloodlines, Gord would be easier to achieve success.

"Then you must know the Count well?"

"Yes. Titles and a noble's power don't necessarily match, but in Gord, that imbalance is severe. He is a Count in name, but his power is beyond a considerable Marquis family."

"He is a person especially popular among Dwarf mercenaries."

Rampage supported from the side.

"Does the centurion know the Count too?"

"Yes. He has never been behind on wages, and he is famous for making sure to give rewards if you build merits."

"Hooh?"

Not delaying wages alone was enough to receive the loyalty of mercenaries in this era.

"Moreover, as you can see, we can't ride horses, can we?"

When Rampage pointed at his stubby subordinates, Hind bit his lip and held back laughter.

"Dwarf mercenaries and Gord nobles do have some things in common."

"Since both are infantry-centered warrior cultures, it's correct that they go well together."

As Rampage grinned and stepped back, Hind continued speaking.

"Count Andar has no hesitation in sharing his wealth for harmonious rule. It's to the point where they say any dispute arising in southern Gord is mediated the moment his pocket opens."

Around then, sounds of someone taking large strides were heard, and Count Andar stopped in front of Eugene.

"Look who it is! It's the Victorious Knight of Bonyard!"

"It is an honor to meet you, Count."

"I still cannot forget the sight of you smashing my warriors in the trial by combat. You were truly amazing."

"..."

"But that was nothing. The more I heard about your deeds afterwards, if you're crazy, you're not ordinarily crazy. In a good way, that is! I really liked it! That's what a real warrior is!"

Eugene, who felt for an instant whether he shouldn't have come, sighed in relief inwardly. The Count had spoken purely out of admiration without ulterior motives.

"This tournament is expected to be the best ever. Please go easy on them. One or two dying can't be helped, but if too many die, it will be hard for me to act as your shield."

"...Thank you for your consideration."

He seemed to harbor some strange misunderstanding, but anyway, receiving goodwill from an Overlord like the Count was a good thing.

* * *

The night before the tournament. A grand banquet was held.

"I have gathered all the delicacies of the world with all my might for today. Please eat your fill and show your best tomorrow."

Among the three Overlords sitting at the head table, Count Andar announced the start of the banquet.

Just as he boasted, all sorts of delicacies were generously laid out, threatening to break the table legs.

Because they truly bordered the sea, the food was more abundant than the banquet prepared by Grand Duke Ismar in Rostock.

"Mmm. The food tastes good, but I can't enjoy it comfortably. The stares are stinging my face."

"People called knights are unexpectedly prone to severe jealousy."

Only a few high-ranking nobles in the banquet hall fully grasped the achievements Eugene had accumulated.

Even Count Andar didn't know Eugene came to own the Moving Castle yet.

But even with just a portion of his known achievements, he received wary stares from knights in all directions.

"Thank you for coming fully armed. I would have gotten indigestion while eating otherwise."

"Fufu. It is for my sake as well."

If Valda next to him hadn't worn her hood and wrapped a scarf around herself, those stares would have become several times fiercer.

However, the glares directed at Eugene quickly disappeared one by one.

Fire-breathing clowns, dancers performing various tricks, and musicians with beautiful tones enlivened the atmosphere, and the food was so delicious.

"Please allow me to give you a scarf."

"Sir Andrei."

A young knight also declared he would dedicate the honor gained in the match to a noble lady.

The object a knight serves is not only their lord. Apart from that, they can designate one lady.

There is no binding force like a vassal contract; it's merely a symbol tying them emotionally.

However, a woman having her own knight was a great honor. It could be said to be the greatest glory a noble lady could enjoy in this era.

That is the ultimate form of chivalric romance and the dream of every noble lady.

"Brave knight. Please, bring victory."

As a noble lady tied her scarf to the knight's breastplate, applause and cheers poured from all directions.

"I had only heard stories from my master, it's my first time seeing it in person."

"Sir Godfrey told you about chivalric romance?"

"Even if you grasp great glory with a sword, it feels vain as you age. That's what my master often said. He urged me that if an opportunity to ask a wonderful lady for a scarf ever arises, I should absolutely never miss it."

"That is truly unexpected."

To think the wandering knight famous for his cynical personality had such a side. Indeed, people seem to change as they age.

At that time, an elegantly dressed lady approached Eugene.

"Sir Eugene. Do you have a moment?"

Since she was sitting next to Count Andar, she must certainly be his daughter. She also looked around his age.

"My name is Aisha Andar. I have heard countless tales of your valor from my father. It is an honor to meet you like this today."

"The honor is mine. The food is excellent, and I didn't know what to do with myself at the Count's sincere hospitality."

"From what I know, I heard this is Sir Eugene's first tournament."

Exclamations of surprise came from nearby that a knight who made a name in duels hadn't experienced a tournament yet.

"Yes. I am glad I can hold my first tournament in Count Andar's territory. Because I like the ways of Gord."

At Eugene's pleasant words, Gord nobles guffawed and drank from their glasses.

Aisha was also satisfied; she smiled radiantly and pulled out a silver scarf from her bosom.

"..."

Eugene instantly sensed the atmosphere flowing strangely.

"Strong Knight. I hope you will wear my scarf on your chest and go out into the arena. If you share a part of the victory and honor you gain tomorrow with me, I will remember it for a lifetime."

Aisha lifted one side of her skirt with an elegant posture and offered a bow.

Normally, it is customary for a knight to ask a noble lady. But passionate Gord sometimes had noble ladies inversely hunting for knights.

Even so, for the woman's side to ask required considerable courage.

"I apologize."

Thanks to that, when Eugene declined, the atmosphere couldn't help but freeze.

"I already have a lady in mind to ask for a scarf."