Extra 14 - The Bastard of the Frausen Family (2)

Consuegra.

An ordinary town within the baron of Turrek's territory. However, although it was a common place, even this town had a special landscape: windmills lined up on top of a hill.

"Uuugh…"

On the hill, where spring had arrived, sheep wandered around grazing, spreading out like white clouds.

Additionally, flowers of various colors were beginning to bloom. Seen from afar, it was a peaceful scene, as though it were part of a painting. But on the face of the young woman standing there, there was only an expression of displeasure.

"Why has the wind been so strong lately?"

The fact that there were windmills in the town meant that it was a windy area.

However, compared to previous years, the wind was so sharp that the young woman had to hold her hat tightly so it wouldn't blow away.

"Huh?"

After the strong wind subsided and Consuegra calmed down again, the young woman opened her eyes and stared intently at one of the windmills, as if she had discovered something.

"What is that?"

There was a flickering light like a candle glowing faintly from a small window in the tall windmill.

A light that seemed to be calling for attention with its intermittent flashes.

But by the time the girl noticed that light, the strong wind was once again whipping the hill.

***

"Is this supposed to be a path for walking?"

A group of travelers was making their way along a trail that wound through the forest.

They were holding the reins of an old horse and a small donkey, struggling to move forward.

One of them was Kihano Frausen. His face covered with bruises, as if he had been beaten, Kihano struggled to pull his horse out of the mud it was stuck in.

"Honestly! I don't get it! How is it possible to charge a toll for something that doesn't even look like a road?"

Perhaps because it was spring, the wind carried a warm scent.

But on the other hand, that same weather had turned the path into pure mud. In other words, it was a difficult road for any traveler.

"Damn dragons. They only care about their own matters up there and never bother to check these things."

"Sir Kihano, what if someone hears you?"

Alarmed by Kihano's words, Yan looked around nervously.

"In my town, in the past, someone was arrested for saying things like that."

"…"

"It's true!"

Yan waved his hands, visibly scared, while Kihano frowned.

Indeed, that was how this world worked. Even if they were on a lonely forest path, it wasn't wise to speak ill of the dragons. In this era ruled by them, survival meant submitting and continuing to pull the reins, step by step.

"All I'm saying is that it would be great if the roads were well built. If it were up to me, I'd build great roads from the capital going north, south, east, and west."

The dragons ruled this perfect world. Complaining meant rebelling against them. However, for a young man like Kihano, imagining a better future was inevitable.

"Idiot! Saying nonsense like that is why you got kicked out of the family!"

But imagining a better future was a right reserved only for the dragons. So Kihano's dreams were nothing more than an unrealizable fantasy.

"If you still have the energy to talk nonsense, focus on getting to the town. Young people these days. Tsk, tsk."

The frog sitting on Yan's head waved a paw as it spoke. Kihano sighed deeply.

His dreams were big, but his reality was being stuck in the mud, pulling the reins of an old horse. If he didn't want to sink like the animal, he would have to adapt to the world the dragons had created.

"…Well, at least the scenery isn't bad."

As they climbed the hill with effort, a green open meadow of Consuegra stretched out before them. A wave of green that seemed to soothe Kihano's burning chest. He took a deep breath as he admired the view.

***

"Name."

"…Kihano."

"Age."

"Twenty."

"Why have you come here?"

Although it seemed like an insignificant town, the strict attitude of the guards watching over it was quite irritating.

"It says right there. I've been sent by your feudal lord; don't you see?"

Even after showing them the order with the lord's seal, the guards' attitude didn't change. Kihano's frustration grew as he found no solution.

"They say there's been a witch around here lately. I've come to capture her."

Although his appearance, covered in mud, didn't inspire much confidence, the feudal lord's order was authentic.

Moreover, since he had a squire with him, he fulfilled the appearance of a knight. There was no reason to hold him any longer, though the frog he carried as a pet aroused suspicion.

"…Welcome to Consuegra, Sir Kihano."

"So, can I go in now, gentlemen?"

"Yes, go ahead."

When the spear blocking his way was lifted, the palisade granting access to Consuegra appeared. However, as he was about to enter, a voice from the guards made him stop.

"Once inside the town, please report immediately to the tax collector."

"…The tax collector? Isn't that usually the mayor?"

In small towns like this, it was usually the mayor who handled everything. The presence of a tax collector sent directly by the lord piqued Kihano's curiosity.

"Yes. And if possible, please maintain discretion…"

"Well, what an expensive town. Hard to enter and complicated to move around in."

With an enigmatic smile, Kihano turned toward the guards.

"It really seems like there's a witch here, doesn't it?"

Witch.

Unlike mages, who used magic through mysteries, witches performed all sorts of illicit acts by dark means.

The possibility that one was here sparked a glimmer of interest on Kihano's face.

***

"Kihano, sir, this is not the right way."

Yan's voice sounded desperate from behind, but he didn't dare stop him.

"The guards said we should go directly to the tax collector…"

"I know."

Because the place they were standing in front of was not the tax collector's office, but, inexplicably, a tavern.

Yan could only hop anxiously while Kihano, with complete ease, entered the place.

"Yan, don't you know? Before meeting someone important, it's good manners to shake off the dust and freshen up with a bit of liquor."

"…Really?"

"What other choice do you have? Just follow me."

Although Yan frowned in doubt, Kihano had already opened the tavern door and entered.

"Hmm, not bad."

It was the typical tavern of a small town. The ground floor served food and drinks, and the upper floor functioned as an inn. The smell of food was enough for Kihano to decide that it wasn't a bad place.

"I'd like to order something."

"What's the most popular thing here?"

"We only sell one thing."

"Then bring me that and a beer."

"Kihano, sir…"

"Better make it two of those and a beer."

After placing the order with the tavern owner, Kihano looked around and spoke to Yan.

"There are a lot of people."

"Yes, it seems the food is really good. In the tavern in our village, there was never this many people."

For a large city, this was normal, but this was a small town on the outskirts of the territory. It was odd that so many people were gathered in the tavern.

"How good can it be for them to leave their work and come here?"

He estimated there were about thirty people, all men of working age.

"Here you go."

"Oh, that was quick."

"The stew is always ready."

The stew came out shortly after ordering. It was a thick mixture of meat and vegetables. Yan, seeing the hot food, smiled from ear to ear.

"Thank you, Sir Kihano!"

"Yes, eat up. This will be added to the 20 gold you owe."

"…Understood."

Yan hung his head, dejected, while Kihano took a spoonful of stew to his mouth.

"Mmm, it's good."

The stew, cooked for a long time, had a thick and comforting flavor, typical of rural towns.

"…But I don't think it's so good that people would crowd in like this."

It wasn't delicious enough to abandon work and pack the tavern.

"…On my farm, the sheep were torn apart. At first, I didn't even know what it was."

"At night, the children get so scared they have fits."

"This is the work of a witch. What else could it be?"

"…"

Kihano chewed slowly as he listened to the conversations in the tavern.

He had gone there on purpose to hear the town's rumors before carrying out the feudal lord's mission.

***

"W-What an honor to have such a distinguished person in such a humble place…"

In the city of Enares, near Consuegra, tension filled the mayor's office as the sun set.

"If you had informed us, we would have come to greet you."**

"…"

The mayor bowed deeply, with a pathetic expression. He could barely breathe from the effort of holding in his belly.

"I received the report from the mages. They say the investigation is about to conclude."

"That's right! They told me so themselves!"

The mayor, ignoring his shortness of breath, rubbed his hands as he spoke to the man before him.

"I made sure to assist them in everything and gave them the best possible treatment… I did everything I could to contribute to their goal."

In a way, he seemed servile.

It wasn't a look befitting a mayor responsible for a city, but the reason he did his utmost to bow his head was because the man in front of him was naturally in a position to demand it.

"…Good work."

The man's golden hair gleamed in the light of the setting sun. Even in twilight, his hair maintained its golden luster.

"If this succeeds, I will remember your name."

The man's eyes, a cold blue, reflected pure perfection. The mayor bowed even deeper.

"T-Thank you, Lord Sarnus!"

Sarnus Dragulia. A young dragon who was beginning to stand out in his family. He smiled as he looked at the mayor bowed before him.