CHAPTER 104

Josef always said that whatever you receive, you must give back. Whether it's a favor or enmity.

"Please... spare me. Sir."

If you've received something, you must return it.

Vlad had not lived a good life to the point of sparing people who wanted to harm him.

"Would you have spared others if they begged for mercy?"

The moonlight, shining just then, illuminated the bandits pleading for mercy.

The fingers dangling around his neck looked pitiful.

"Yes! We spared them! Truly!"

"Is that so?"

There are too many unqualified people in this world.

Even though they are not qualified, they take more than others and rise higher.

And they crush weaker worlds too easily.

"Don't talk nonsense."

And there's one thing common among unqualified people.

They are all liars.

"Move those finger bones from your throat and speak. You trash."

Gott was staring blankly.

The moonlight starts from Vlad's closed left eye and flows all the way to the tip of the sword.

The boy who once marveled at moonlight sung by someone else was no longer here.

The one present now was a person with his own world.

Vlade's smooth moonlight began to collect the red blood.

Under the righteous blade wielded by a worthy man, lies began to scream.

The price for insulting a righteous knight.

It was not enough to pay for it with one's life.

※※※※

Dobrechti, a secluded rural estate.

Even the passing merchants were all familiar faces in this quiet village, but the guards standing before the gate now displayed a stern demeanor.

Recent ominous rumors circulating around the territory had sharpened their vigilance.

"What's that over there?"

"Hmm?"

There was a suspicious group catching their eyes.

Two men riding horses, coming from the snow-covered hills in the distance.

"What's going on there?"

And the men being dragged along behind them.

Despite the cold winter, they weren't even wearing boots, indicating they weren't your average travelers being dragged along like that.

"Halt! Stop right there!"

The guards aimed their halberds at the unfamiliar men they had never seen before.

But the man leading the group didn't flinch at the sharp warning of the guards. Instead, he approached slowly.

"Who..."

"I am a knight of Bayezid. I am Vlad."

A young man with blond hair atop a jet-black horse.

Not only his flashy hair color but also his attire exuded an air of elegance, making him unmistakably noble.

"We've come to apprehend the bandits causing trouble in this area."

"Bandits, you say, sir?"

Although they hadn't properly confirmed their credentials yet, the guards unknowingly addressed Vlad with formal language.

It wasn't just because of the imposing aura he exuded that seemed noble.

The men followed closely behind the youth, bound by ropes.

It was because each of them held the frozen head of someone.

"I wish to meet the person in charge of the security in this village."

With those words, Vlad raised the scabbard of his sword to show it to the guards.

In the center of the handle of Vlad's sword was engraved the flag that was flying on the huge castle wall.

It was a sentence indicating the prestigious Bayezid in the north.

※※※※

"Welcome! Welcome to Dobrechti!"

The guard, who had rushed inside in a huff, let out a heavy sigh and politely let Vlad into the village.

This is because Vlad was an armed knight, not an ordinary merchant or traveler, so they could not easily allow entry through their own decision alone.

"The lord wishes to meet you in person, sir!"

"....The lord?"

Vlad was somewhat taken aback by the sudden request to meet the lord.

Originally, the plan was to meet the person in charge, hand over the bandits, and receive a reasonable reward.

Perhaps even hoping for a bounty if there was one.

"Very well. Lead the way."

"Understood!"

The guard tried to quickly grab Noir's reins in response to Vlad's answer, but the ill-tempered horse only snarled with its white teeth like a wolf.

".....Do not grab the reins."

"Yes, yes!"

Thanks to living in Shoara, Noir was no longer averse to people, but his stubborn personality hadn't changed.

Excluding Vlad, at least a familiar Gott would be able to take Noir's reins and saddle him.

"I will guide you to the lord's manor."

As the guard led the way, Vlad and Gott rode their horses, followed by the bandits trailing behind.

It was a very peculiar group, but the atmosphere among the villagers watching them was somewhat different from what they expected.

"Captain, there's something odd about the atmosphere in this village, isn't there?"

"...Yeah, indeed."

If this were Shoara, people would have gathered to see something new after a long time.

However, the villagers of Dobrechti simply hurriedly locked their doors and hid their children as if they were seeing people infected with a plague.

Former pickpocket and swindler.

Two people who were good at observing the atmosphere were able to realize that there was something strange about Dobrechti's atmosphere.

"We've arrived."

"Hmm?"

Vlad, who was trying to assess the situation by looking around, found that it wasn't easy.

Dobrechti was so small that it didn't give Vlad much time to dwell on his thoughts.

"Here is the manor where Lord Dalmatia resides."

Vlad lifted his head to look at the building indicated by the guard.

It was a three-story wooden structure.

It didn't look bad, but it seemed too humble to house a lord.

'It's too small, isn't it?'

Although he had lived in back alleys, Vlad was undeniably a city dweller.

Vlad, who had seen the high gates, churches, and magnificent mansions where the lords lived, even from afar, could not help but be a little disconcerting to hear that a nobleman was living in the small building in front of him.

"The lord is waiting for you, sir."

"Alright. Lead the way."

The authority a noble held wasn't solely guaranteed by the history or status of their family.

In that sense, it wouldn't be wrong to say that Lord Dalmatia had failed to establish authority.

Vlad's initial impression of the Dalmatia family was only concerned with whether he would receive a reward for the bandits or not.

"Oh! A knight who has proven himself has come to our territory!"

Recognizing the knight with his own banner, Baron Dalmatia came out of the manor to greet Vlad personally.

It was an excessive welcome for a wandering knight.

"Thank you for the welcome."

"No, no need for thanks. You even caught the people who were causing trouble nearby, so as the owner, is there any reason why I didn't welcome you?"

Baron Dalmatia nodded satisfactorily at Vlad's respectful gesture.

Although he had not fully mastered it yet, Vlad's courtesy, which Countess Oksana had beaten down, was still shining.

"Come inside!"

"Yes."

Following Baron Dalmatia into the reception room, Vlad confirmed that his suspicions were correct.

"······."

"······."

The scenery of the village he had seen on the way to the manor and even the reception room, which must be the most extravagant in Dobrechti.

Vlad and Gott exchanged glances, realizing that things might not go smoothly.

This territory was impoverished.

"So, all the bandits you captured amounted to 9?"

"If you include the heads, yes."

Vlad managed to obtain a fair price from the bandits who had threatened and insulted him. 

And the remaining price, which he did not receive from them, should rightly be paid by the lord in front of him.

Since Vlad caught the bandits who were threatening the security of the surrounding area, Baron Dalmatia, as the owner, should pay some compensation.

"Hmm. The journey from Shoara to here must have been tough, so you must be tired. I've already prepared lunch in advance."

However, Baron Dalmatia observed Vlad's reaction subtly, delaying any talk of compensation.

If possible, he wanted to keep Vlad around for a while longer.

'He alone caught 15!'

Vlad had captured five alive, killed four, and estimated there were about six more he could not catch. With the evidence brought directly, there was no room for doubt.

None of the knights Baron Dalmatia had brought could achieve such results.

"So, you're a knight who has come to prove yourself with your banner."

"That's correct, Lord Baron."

Vlad wanted to say it wasn't true, but he couldn't be so blunt to the Baron who had come out to greet him personally.

His past mistakes with nobles had taught him to exercise his judgment now.

"As it happens, I have a favor to ask of someone like you, a true knight who values honor."

At first, Vlad was inclined to refuse. He was more focused on finding traces of a voice than proving his honor.

"Recently, some strange incidents have been occurring in our territory."

"What kind of incidents?"

However, Baron Dalmatia began to tell Vlad an intriguing story, contrary to Vlad's expectation of being burdened with a tedious task.

"Now is the time when barley should be sown. So, we've been spreading the seeds we've kept in storage on the fields."

Baron Dalmatia paused, clasping his hands neatly in front of him before continuing.

"However, as soon as we sow the seeds on the fields, they disappear."

"....The seeds disappear?"

"Yes. We've stationed soldiers and kept watch overnight, but it still happens."

At first, it sounded incomprehensible. 

Even if there were creatures like rats or monsters, the soldiers on guard duty should have noticed them.

"Some of the elders in the village attribute it to the work of forest spirits..."

"Forest spirits?"

The words from Baron Dalmatia caught Vlad's interest.

"Yes. There are many stories about spirits in this forest. Of course, I don't believe in such things following the teachings of the church."

The new orders established with the Empire did not leave room for old things like spirits. 

Especially the church denied anything not under the name of God. Those who still remembered beings like spirits were likely old people who had lived for a long time.

'Spirits, spirits…'

However, Vlad knew well that such beings as spirits existed in this world. He had seen them, felt them, and even been protected by them.

Vlad couldn't help but ponder as the word "spirit" was mentioned in a strange, inexplicable event.

"So, could you perhaps keep an eye on our barley fields? With your keen eyes as a splendid knight, you might see something different."

It was a trivial task, but in Baron Dalmatia's eyes, there was urgency.

If this sowing failed, they wouldn't be able to survive until next year's autumn harvest, endangering the survival of the family.

"....Alright, Lord Baron. I'll do my best."

"Oh, thank you! It's reassuring to know that there are still true knights who adhere to the code of chivalry in this era!"

It might have been meaningless words from the old men, but Vlad decided to accept.

For Vlad, who was searching for clues about spirits, the current situation was quite suggestive. 

Moreover, it was a simple task to just guard the barley fields, so he judged that there wouldn't be any major obstacles.

"Feel free to enjoy your time while you're here! I'll also make sure to compensate you for dealing with the bandits as much as possible!"

"Thank you, Lord Baron."

If the task was related to his duties and was simple, it wouldn't hurt to leave a good impression on Baron Dalmatia. 

For a knight, preserving the value of honor was important.

"But Captain, what about our reward?"

After finishing the conversation and leaving the Baron's reception room, Vlad heard the urgent voice of Gott, although small, but desperate.

"We should be getting paid. Money! That damn Noir only eats boiled fodder these days. The price of fodder and firewood..."

"That's something you can take care of on your own."

"What?"

One must learn to distinguish between big and small matters. 

The reason why Josef always accompanied the half-witted knight, Vordan, who couldn't even wield a sword, was precisely for this reason.

"You'll handle that now. That's why I brought you along."

"Oh..."

Vordan and Gott.

An accomplice and a swindler.

Gott, who had received the bargaining rights for the bandits, was looking at Vlad with a glint in his eye.

※※※※

"Raspberries, where are they?"

Perhaps she had just turned ten.

A young girl with rosy cheeks, holding a basket in her arms, was walking towards the edge of the forest. 

Her modest attire hinted at her family's financial difficulties, but her neatly tied hair suggested that she was a child loved and cared for by her parents.

"There they are."

Ahead of her, on a snowy-covered vine, small fruits with their natural color peeked out. 

Winter raspberries. 

They were one of the few fruits that could bring comfort to people in such impoverished seasons.

Drawn by the vivid color of the raspberries, the girl approached the vine. Although she could have picked a few for herself, she hurriedly gathered them into her basket, thinking of her family at home.

Suddenly, she heard a strange sound echoing from afar.

Kroooooaaaah!

"...?"

A bizarre sound that seemed to echo from a distant place.

Startled by the echoing sound, the girl paused in her raspberries picking and looked into the depths of the forest.

The darkness of the forest was alive.

The forest of Dobrechti was as ancient as it was filled with countless legends and myths. And at that moment when the girl looked into the forest...

"Aaaaah!"

The forest, too, looked back at the girl.

Where the young girl had been standing, there was now only a basket rolling on the ground, raspberries scattered around, and a dark abyss gaping open, as if it had swallowed the girl whole.