CHAPTER 70

Josef offered a cup of tea to the nun sitting in front of him.

An elderly woman wearing shabby-looking clothes that were neatly ironed.

The head of the convent spoke while drinking the tea that Josef had provided.

"Though I understand your desire to nurture that squire, you must be cautious."

The nun was making eye contact with Josef with her head held straight.

"From what I've observed firsthand, he was very impatient and vicious, perhaps because of his lowly social status. This kid will definitely cause trouble."

That day, Vlad didn't bother with proper procedures as he dragged Zemina out of the convent.

If he had thought ahead even a bit, he wouldn't have done so, but sometimes emotions override reason in life.

"I told you this because I was worried that it might damage your reputation, mayor."

"Is that so..."

Josef was already aware that Vlad had committed some indiscretions in the convent.

However, now warning against his actions seemed to have a deliberate intention.

The head nun had reasons to caution the boy who had earned the approval of Priest Andrea and San Rogino.

"Lord Josef."

"What's the matter?"

As Josef pondered over who might be behind the head nun, Zayar knocked and opened the door, stepping into the chamber without waiting for permission. Zayar knew he shouldn't interrupt a guest meeting, but there was a good reason for this.

"The stable keeper who went with Sir Larmund has returned."

Josef narrowed his eyes as he noticed Zayar's uneasy expression.

"He returned alone."

"What's the reason?"

Josef nodded in response to Zayar's expression.

"Bring him in."

Despite the head nun sitting right in front of them, Zayar's demeanor signaled urgency.

"Lord Josef, something serious has happened."

With a gesture from Zayar, Gott, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly entered.

The face covered in sweat and dirt showed how urgently Gott had moved.

"Speak."

Upon Josef's permission, Gott gulped down his saliva and quickly began to articulate the words he had prepared.

"Barbarians have appeared."

As the word "barbarians" escaped Gott's lips, the head nun involuntarily covered her mouth, showing how much terror the word "barbarians" could evoke, even from her.

"....Where?"

"On the road connecting Shoara and Varna. They were attacking people there."

It was an impossible situation, but the man named Gott was a person with a certain amount of trust, based on his past experience.

His report is worth listening to.

"The old man instructed me to bring people."

As Gott spoke, he licked his lips nervously, whether from the pressure of Josef's gaze or the urgency of the situation.

"The old man and Vlad are currently holding the leader of the barbarians hostage."

"..."

Gott continued.

Larmund and Vlad were barricading themselves to protect the people under attack by the barbarians.

Just the two of them.

"....Zayar, prepare the cavalry immediately. You go yourself."

"Yes."

"Gott, I apologize for asking this of you right after your return, but you must guide Zayar."

"Understood."

"Go quickly. Move swiftly."

Josef, who had sent the two away, was lowering his head with both hands on his forehead as if praying.

But Josef wasn't bowing his head to pray.

He was restraining his anger, thinking about the audacity of those barbarians who dared to defile Bayezid's land and whoever was warning him.

"...Quite commendable, isn't it?"

Josef slowly lifted his head, turning towards the head nun who had been sitting in front of him.

"Even if his status is humble and his temperament hasty, is he not protecting the lambs according to the will of God?"

"...Indeed."

The gaze of the head nun reflected in Josef's eyes was emitting a more dangerous gleam than the boy he had seen that day.

It was a gaze that seemed to suggest that if trouble were to arise, it would likely come from this direction rather than the boy.

"Please convey my words. Head nun."

The city of Shoara is moved by two hands.

Josef Bayezid, the legitimate mayor of Shoara, recognized by blood, and the bishop of Shoara, who protects humans according to the word of God. These two individuals.

"And I will come to see you soon."

Though belonging to different realms, two individuals moving in the same city were destined to meet sooner or later.

For ultimately, both human authority and divine authority stem from the people.

Beyond the window of the mayor's office, the sound of hooves thundered as the cavalry rushed out.

※※※※

If it had been an ordinary band of thieves, they would have fled the moment their leader was caught.

However, they were not a band of thieves but warriors of the Budart tribe, a barbarian tribe, and Aage was the son of the tribal chief and their leader.

"It seems like their numbers are increasing, don't you think?"

"...There were quite a few heading south."

At Vlad's words, Larmund nodded heavily.

The barbarians hadn't given up their leader.

Pressuring Larmund and Vlad as they led people and slowly headed south, they continued to follow them down.

Even now, with the walls of Shoara faintly visible.

"It seems like Gott has arrived properly."

However, this precarious standoff that had lasted over a day was now over from this moment.

With his sword pressed against Aage's throat, Larmund looked into the distance where the dust was rising.

They were the soldiers of Shoara.

"...We're a little late."

"Do not forget that this is the land of Bayezid."

Aage nodded as he looked at the troops coming from Shoara.

If the warriors he had brought had gathered even a little earlier, no matter how skilled the two who came, they would not have been able to protect everyone here.

If that had been the case, they could have at least escaped.

"It was an excellent judgment, old man."

The decision to stay and lead people back to Shoara while under pressure.

Calculating the appropriate distance and timing to send Gott back to Shoara, fearing they might be caught.

If either had gone wrong or if they couldn't attempt it, they would have been surrounded by unfamiliar barbarians instead of looking at Shoara.

"Why did you come here exactly? Why did you venture this deep?"

Now that he had achieved his intention, Larmund began to voice the questions he had been holding onto.

But Aage's gaze was fixed not on the sword threatening him but on the boy riding the black horse in front, eyeing his comrades.

"We needed the son of the plains. That's why we followed this far."

"Are those who followed the horse plundering people?"

"That was just a little extra pocket money."

Even though Aage was thrown to the ground by Vlad, he did not lose his confident attitude.

"But it seems the son of the plains chose an imperial boy rather than us."

Although he was alone, the boy did an excellent job holding back the barbarians' charge on the way here.

Although he didn't want to admit it, there must have been a reason why the son of plains chose the boy over him.

"....We need to explain this incident in detail."

It seemed like there was some story behind it, but the tip of Larmund's sword did not waver.

Anyway, they were individuals who had intruded into Bayezid's land without permission and carried out plundering, so there was no need to be lenient.

"Go back! Everyone, go back!"

Realizing the situation was over, Aage shouted loudly to his comrades.

"Stay still!"

Due to the sudden outburst of Aage, Larmund's sword penetrated his neck and bright red blood was forming, but Age did not stop shouting.

"Go back!"

The barbarian warriors who heard Agee's voice hesitated for a moment, but nodded as they saw Shoara's soldiers running from afar.

Their leader had failed and been captured.

They couldn't afford a direct clash with the soldiers in Shoara's front yard; they would have to wait for another day.

"Until next time, leader!"

With sharp cries and the sound of reins being pulled, the barbarians turned their horses.

Only after seeing them flee like frightened rabbits could the people here finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, sir!"

"Thank you for saving us!"

People sobbed and kneeled as if collapsing.

None of them had thought they would return to Shoara alive, given the intense pressure and despair caused by the barbarians.

But there were those who had blocked the barbarians and led them to this place.

"...It's over."

Watching the barbarians retreat into the distance, Vlad finally sighed, sticking out his tongue slightly.

Vlad's blonde hair fluttered in the wind as he looked around at the people.

His name was Vlad of Shoara.

※※※※

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure. The barbarians just suddenly appeared."

Even though he was involved in the incident, Zayar quietly nodded at Vlad's words, indicating he didn't know the details.

"······Good work."

As they approached Shoara, the group of barbarians brought by Aage numbered nearly 40.

Vlad felt quite exhausted as they had been the only ones holding them off, a situation enough to drain anyone.

"But where did that horse come from?"

Zayar's gaze fell upon the black horse Vlad was riding, seemingly larger and more imposing than the others.

"Oh, this fellow?"

A smile formed on Vlad's lips as if he had been waiting for that question.

"I saw this guy when I faced the Deathworm. Somehow, he found his way to me."

"Hmm."

The boy looked tired, but shrugged his shoulders and said that he could finally ride a horse.

Especially in front of Zayar, he seemed eager to impress.

"Enough with the boasting."

"As soon as we get back, I need to adjust the saddle."

"..."

Ignoring Zayar's words and getting carried away, Vlad seemed lackluster.

Seeing that, Zayar wanted to kick him, but since there were still people behind him occasionally shouting the boy's name, he decided to endure it for now.

"Now you know you owe me one for this."

It was just a muttered remark under his breath.

He saved people from barbarians and also revealed the identity of the ghost horse that had been rumored.

Vlad was nodding his head, thinking that this was enough to recover the points he had lost to Josef, but the work was not over yet.

"Huh? Hey, what's wrong?"

Hehehehe-

Just moments ago, the black horse had obediently followed Vlad's commands. However, as they approached the gates of Shoara, it began to prance and refuse to move any closer.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Vlad started to feel flustered by the sudden strange behavior of the horse, and the surrounding soldiers quickly began to move away.

"I said I need the saddle first."

"No, why is it acting like this?"

Zayar narrowed his eyes and began to notice the strange behavior of the pitch-black horse.

The horse seemed uncomfortable ever since the soldiers got closer, and Zayar suspected something was amiss.

".....It seems like the horse dislikes riders, and rider dislike humans, so they've naturally formed a bond."

As if retreating wasn't enough, now the black horse was lifting its front hooves and showing signs of agitation. Zayar couldn't help but think they made quite the pair.