CHAPTER 129

"...If it were me, I'd kneel down right away. Village Chief."

A wolf was smiling in front of him.

It was a wolf, looking at the pitiful flock of sheep gathering around him.

When Stefan saw the chilling gaze of Vlad passing by him, it felt like shivers ran down his spine.

"He's just one person, and we're dozens. If you stand at the forefront, we can easily overpower him!"

At the absurd suggestion of the Village Chief, Stefan couldn't help but chuckle involuntarily.

No matter how peacefully they had lived until now, not noticing the threat smiling in front of them...

This man is not worthy of being in the position of Village Chief.

"Well then, we will withdraw."

".....What?"

With those words, Stefan and the mercenaries began to slowly step back.

Living at the crossroads of life and death, the mercenaries didn't hesitate to recognize who the cruel wolf smiling in front of them was and didn't hesitate to bow their heads to him.

"What's going on? Why are you all doing this?"

"You weren't hired to retreat at a time like this! Why are you backing off?"

The vigilantes who had gathered together, each holding a spear, were taken aback when they saw the mercenaries leaving the battlefield without hesitation.

"That man is a knight."

"What?"

"That man is a real knight."

Some of the mercenaries who recognized Vlad quietly informed the villagers even as they retreated.

No matter how many of you gather, the man in front of you is someone you can't handle.

"Drop your weapons right now. You fools."

"..."

The atmosphere was getting colder.

Even though there was only one, there was a force in the blue eyes that overwhelmed dozens.

Only now did the villagers, who finally grasped the situation, swallow hard and look at Vlad.

"You're lucky."

The breath of the black horse becomes rough.

Rough enough to trample the humans in front of it right away.

Because the world in contact with him was shaking so much.

"Because I came here to quietly enjoy my vacation."

Once this sword is drawn, there's no turning back.

Because the world that surrounded me and taught me told me that once you draw your sword, you shouldn't stop until it's over.

And I am not used to being patient.

"Do not miss the last chance I am offering, Village Chief."

Even if you've only lived in a small world until now, it's time to recognize.

Who the person in front of you is right now, and what you are doing to him.

The villagers, who now faced reality after going through anger, confusion, and prejudice, found their lips turning blue with fear as much as the trembling tip of the spear.

※※※※

"······."

Heavy silence filled the Village Chief's house.

The largest and most spacious house in the village, the interior was pleasant, but the heavy atmosphere was beyond imagination.

"We dared not recognize you, sir..."

"It's 3 gold per head."

"Pardon?"

As the dumbfounded Village Chief questioned, Vlad's cold gaze swept over him and passed.

"I will forgive those who held the spears. But I can't overlook those who dared to intrude into Gott's house."

Just the villagers who raised their spears against him were dozens.

However, if he were to kill them all just because they opposed him, he would be no different from a simple murderer.

No matter how much right he had, Vlad had to exercise it according to common sense.

"It's 3 gold per head."

"B-But, sir. In a small village like ours, 3 gold is..."

"It is 10 gold coins for your son."

However, being insulted couldn't just be overlooked.

Vlad was proposing a compensation that the owner of this village, Baron Rosmitz, could only nod his head at.

Although it was an excessive amount of gold coins for the parties who had to pay directly, it was like a bolt from the blue.

"If you truly cannot pay, there are other ways."

"Please, speak!"

Although the Village Chief tried to find alternative solutions with a lowered head, he had to realize.

The cheapest way to solve everything in this world is with money.

"Cut off the left arms of everyone."

"Sir..."

Vlad was raised in harsh conditions and had sworn to wield a sharp sword all his life.

In Vlad's words, there was a firm sincerity that anyone could understand.

"Of course, your son should lose both arms."

Meeting Vlad's resolute gaze, the Village Chief lost even the strength to speak.

There's no more negotiation.

If you refuse all these proposals, your son and those insolent bastards' lives will be forfeit.

"Is there anything more to say?"

"...None."

"Then get out."

Having brought the village to the brink of disaster through wrong decisions, the Village Chief, who still retained some sense, could do nothing but shake his head and leave.

Because it was none other than himself who made an irreversible mistake.

"...You have this side too."

"You did well not to intervene, Stefan. I was considering cutting someone down as an example."

Stefan casually grabbed the collar of his shirt in response to Vlad's words.

In Vlad's tone, which still carried traces of anger, there were thorns that were not easily overlooked.

"Because we knew very well what kind of person you are, sir."

Pushing aside the chair offered by the Village Chief, Vlad stood up, his gaze fixed on the numerous bottles on the shelf.

He began to speak.

"But how did you end up here? I don't think you will be pushed out to a corner of the countryside."

Is this honey wine?

Vlad's eyes began to sparkle as he found a bottle of liquor that was not easily found in the north where flowers were rare.

"Well, in a way, the reason we are here is because of your virtue, sir."

"....Ah."

Realizing what Stefan meant, Vlad chuckled softly.

"Still, it wasn't all that bad. It's refreshing to see the countryside once in a while."

"Let's have a drink then. I'll pour it for you."

Without hesitation, Vlad opened the Village Chief's honey wine and poured it for Stefan.

Vlad, who had fallen out with Count Bitskaya in Tanoboya.

There was no problem for Vlad, who was planning to leave anyway, but the Thornwood Mercenaries, who were planning to establish a new position there, had no choice but to wander around here and there again looking for contacts.

Stefan's words were not just exaggerations but truth.

"So, what brings you here?"

"Well... It's a principle not to disclose the details of the contract without the employer's permission."

Vlad stopped smiling at Stefan's joke.

An acquaintance made through a delicious liquor.

It was a moment when the heavy atmosphere that had been weighing down was lifted.

"You saved us. This time and the last."

"Yes. If I hadn't been there on the bridge, who knows what would have happened."

The position of a mercenary captain was not one obtained simply by taking a few knives.

It was also a position where one had to make the atmosphere comfortable and promote themselves to the employer, just like facing Vlad now.

"It's not really a secret. After all, it's something everyone knows."

As Stefan drank the liquor Vlad offered, he leaned closer to Vlad as if someone might be listening and quietly spoke.

"It seems that a war is brewing here soon."

"A war?"

"A border conflict. Nobles fighting over land."

When unexpected words spilled from Stefan's mouth, Vlad set down his drink and straightened up.

A world he had never experienced before was flowing from Stefan's tongue.

"Go on."

"....Our task from Baron Rosmitz was to protect this village from bandits."

The Thornwood Mercenaries, who were looking for a new area to settle, had come to this village after being entrusted with a sort of militia duty.

In recent times, bandit raids near the border of Rosmitz's territory had become more frequent.

"But what do bandits have to do with a border conflict?"

"That's the crucial part."

Though it was an empty village chief's house, Stefan leaned in as if someone might be listening, and quietly spoke to Vlad.

"Those bandits, who are said to be raiding, don't seem like ordinary bandits."

"..."

While the villagers might not know, Stefan, a seasoned veteran in the mercenary business, could perceive that something was amiss with the bandits' actions in this area.

"The way they conduct their raids is too clean and disciplined, like trained soldiers."

"....Hmm."

Perhaps Baron Rosmitz was aware of it too.

That the bandits wreaking havoc in the vicinity were not ordinary folks.

"In my view, this is a kind of precursor to something bigger. They're securing an entry route toward Marcia."

The enemy was clearing out surrounding villages while securing an entry route towards Marcia, before launching a full-scale attack.

"And what about Baron Rosmitz?"

"He's biding his time."

And Baron Rosmitz was using this time to fortify his defenses, using several villages as sacrifices.

Both the attackers and defenders may have strategic moves, but ultimately, it would be the unsuspecting villagers who would suffer.

"We also plan to stay here only until the end of this week, get paid, and leave. We can't afford to be on a sinking ship, can we?"

"...Is that so?"

The honey wine Vlad was drinking tasted bitter.

Despite coming to the village to enjoy his vacation, he felt swept up in something once again.

No, it was a time when one couldn't help but feel that way no matter where they went.

"Who's the opponent?"

"....Perhaps it's Baron Pilos. Raids seem to be happening from that direction."

"Pilos?"

Although Vlad's knowledge of noble families hadn't deepened to the point where he could recognize them all, the name Pilos was certainly familiar to him.

'Pilos, Pilos...'

Vlad closed his eyes and tried to rummage through his memory to recall the familiar name.

'Ah.'

As the name that had been submerged in his memory began to surface, Vlad felt a faint scent of lemons lingering around his nose.

-As expected, he is as strong as they say.

-They don't call him a Warthog for nothing. You won't even be able to pick up your bones if you get caught there.

There was a land where Vlad took his first steps to become a knight.

The beginning was not honorable, but the duel at that time ended in a glorious victory.

There was a gaze that watched over the boy who climbed up with honor borrowed from Joseph.

He was a knight who was fuming as he was unable to defeat his teacher, Zayar.

※※※※

Aaargh!

Please spare me! I'll give you whatever you want!

People's screams were echoing everywhere along with the pungent smoke.

The sounds of people's cries, unable to escape outside the small village, reverberated and echoed everywhere.

"Lord Colin."

"Report."

The air was filled with the smell of blood and someone's cries.

In the midst of such a scene of slaughter, a black-skinned man chewed jerky without a care in the world.

"This village is completely under our control."

"Have we taken everything worth taking?"

If a village was going to be burned down, it was only right to take what could be salvaged. After all, they would soon become ownerless possessions.

"...Is this all there is?"

"It seems this village was incredibly poor."

Not even a city, just a village. And not just any village, but one tucked away in the mountains. It was unlikely they would find satisfactory loot here.

The man called Colin began to grimace as the loot in front of him clearly didn't please him.

"Nevertheless, the next village we visit will be different. It's a village near Marcia, and the village head there used to be a tax collector."

"Is that so?"

The face of the boar, now smelling the scent of desired gold, began to brighten.

A former tax collector would likely have stashed away various funds. After all, it was a position that allowed for such activities.

"And which village is next?"

"It's called Wisteria Village."

Colin put away the dagger he was cutting the meat with and stood up.

Twilight was descending.

Maybe there are sparkling gold coins waiting in the direction where the sun sets.

"Let's finish up quickly."

"Yes, Lord Colin."

A knight is a sword.

And a sword is a tool.

Depending on who wields the handle, a knight can take on various forms.

And today, Colin of the Pilos family, who laid down his honor under the order of his lord, no longer looked like a knight.

It was just the appearance of a ruthless bandit.