Chapter 23 : Take What You Can When You Can
Chapter 23: Take What You Can When You Can
The items stolen by the goblins returned to their respective owners.
Fortunately, nothing among their belongings had disappeared.
“This iron bracelet should help with building muscle.”
“Look at these tiny throwing knives, they’re so cute! If I throw them, I could kill someone prettily.”
Torgen, who was obsessed with muscles, and Mirian, who spoke in a rather brutal tone, were delighted.
“This chain mail is in good condition. With a bit of fixing, it’ll be usable.”
Paul’s expression brightened as he held up the armor with a jangling sound.
Brandok was gathering arrowheads one by one.
They were as natural as people selecting ingredients at the market for today’s meal.
As Robin only watched and stood there blankly, Calimacos placed a hand over his head.
“Robin, you go pick up what you need too.”
“Uh… for free?”
“For free? You took part in the fight too.”
Calimacos spoke as if asking why Robin was questioning the obvious.
It was true that Robin had lured the Goblin King and bought time until Calimacos arrived.
But if Robin hadn’t been there in the first place, Felix wouldn’t have been defeated so easily.
He didn’t forget how Felix had thrown away his spear to protect himself.
When he explained this, the mercenaries all stared right at him.
“Why are you looking at me like that.”
“Most people get greedy, so this is the first time we’ve seen that kind of reaction. Opportunities like this aren’t common. It’s best to take what you can when you can.”
Paul rummaged through a bundle and handed Robin a targe.
It was a circular shield that could be worn on the arm.
“Is it really okay for me to take this?”
“It’s the shield that suits you the best.”
Made of oil-treated wood reinforced with leather, the targe covered Robin’s body.
He couldn’t wield it completely freely, but it wasn’t too heavy to lift.
When he raised the targe with one arm, Torgen pulled out another targe and tossed it to him.
“Wear it all the time, Robin. It’ll help build strength.”
“You really only think about muscles, don’t you?”
Leaving Mirian scolding Torgen behind him, Robin slipped the targe onto his arm.
‘This is surprisingly nice.’
When he put a targe on each arm, it felt as though his body weight increased.
Not too heavy, not too light—just right.
Seeing Robin, Torgen smiled in satisfaction.
“Thanks, Paul, Torgen. I’ll use them well.”
When Robin expressed his gratitude, Mirian also seemed to want to give him something and handed him a piece of equipment he had never seen before.
But it was a strange weapon—like a whip, a chain-scythe, or a three-section staff—so Robin politely refused.
He couldn’t even properly hold a longsword; giving him such a weapon was like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.
Like merchants selecting goods from a large trading company, the mercenaries picked out items one by one to improve their gear.
“If everyone got something useful, the rest will be converted to cash.”
“Is there anyone in a village like this who would buy this much loot?”
“One of the people rescued from the goblin settlement is a peddler from the Elize Merchant Company.”
“That man who added his baggage to the wagon? If it’s the Elize Merchant Company, then it’s reliable.”
Torgen smiled brightly, as if he had finally been rewarded for pulling the wagon for three hours.
Once the loot was turned into cash, Torgen would receive additional pay just as Calimacos had mentioned.
“Since distribution is done, it’s really rest time now. If you have anything to say, say it tomorrow.”
With those words, Calimacos left the house.
“Urghhhh. Then I’ll go wash up too.”
Mirian carried clean cloths and clothes as he left, and Paul and Torgen also finished preparing for a bath.
“Robin, come with us. This big brother will scrub you down squeaky clean.”
“Brandok isn’t going?”
“That guy never takes off his helmet around us. And since we need at least one person to stay behind to watch over Felix, it’s best for Brandok if we wash quickly and return.”
At Torgen’s words, Brandok nodded.
Paul also seemed used to Brandok’s behavior and said nothing.
Feeling uneasy, Robin followed Paul and Torgen.
“The village chief instructed us to ensure our guests have no discomfort while staying here. Please call whenever you need anything.”
Near the well, cloth screens and warm water had been prepared.
Because the Calimacos Mercenary Company had rescued the missing people, they were being treated as heroes by the village.
When they washed away the grime and bloodstains with warm water, their weariness faded and a refreshing sensation washed over them.
Paul and Torgen seemed to have relaxed completely as well.
“I don’t see the captain. Is he washing elsewhere?”
“Calimacos prefers to bathe alone.”
When Robin looked at Paul with curiosity as to why, he sighed.
“His body… it’s better not to see it.”
“Why?”
“He has terrible wounds—too awful to describe. Knowing that, he bathes alone. He’s being considerate of us.”
‘Just how severe are those wounds?’
Paul and Torgen also had various scars, large and small.
A mercenary who lived by battle always carried at least one scar, and many even boasted of them like medals.
‘Could it be a wound from fighting a knight? I’m curious.’
He had many questions he wanted to ask, but Robin set aside his curiosity for now.
Paul’s expression had darkened.
Torgen too had never seen Calimacos’s body.
He didn’t want to tighten the mood again after it had finally relaxed.
‘I’ll ask when there’s a chance later.’
When the mercenaries came out after finishing their bath, they looked completely different.
Fresh and clean, they looked as neat as knights of wealthy nobles.
Among them, Robin—whose skin had become smooth and fair—threatened Mirian’s heart.
Even Mirian, who hugged Robin saying he was cute, smelled pleasant.
Torgen kept glancing little by little, but Mirian didn’t mind.
“Brandok, we’re all done washing. Go ahead.”
“Thank you as always. I’ll be back.”
When Brandok returned after bathing, even his helmet had been polished to a shine.
‘Does he think of his helmet as his head?’
Once everyone in the mercenary company had returned, Calimacos brought out warm food.
“The villagers are extremely grateful to us. They even prepared all this. Let’s eat to our hearts’ content.”
A stew filled with meat and vegetables. A roast chicken cooked over a wood fire to drain the fat. Soft bread and cheese. Even wine—an extravagant feast.
The lively chatter and delicious food made Robin’s heart grow warm and tender.
‘It would’ve been nice if Jeremy were here too.’
Robin unknowingly clutched his necklace.
* * *
The next morning. Felix woke up.
“Everyone looks radiant.”
Felix had regained consciousness, but he couldn’t move right away, as his strength had weakened.
“There’s plenty of time, so recover slowly.”
“At this level, I’ll be fine within a week.”
The reason Felix could get back up after taking a strike from the Goblin King was, of course, thanks to the potion.
A lowest-grade potion mixed with a stimulant. When taken, it made the user temporarily stronger, but caused backlash as a side effect.
Perhaps because they were used to situations like this, the atmosphere wasn’t serious.
“Felix, thank you. If you hadn’t protected me then, I would’ve died.”
“That was my duty. Thinking about it now, even if I hadn’t, you probably would’ve survived just fine.”
Felix’s body stiffened, so Robin massaged him.
Seeing him as the one who had saved his life, Robin couldn’t treat him carelessly.
Until noon, Robin cared for him with utmost devotion, and then Felix finally spoke.
“I’m fine now, so go outside and look around the village.”
“But you’ll feel uncomfortable being alone.”
“If I use the spear as a cane, I can walk. I can at least move around a little, so you should rest too.”
Robin had lived his entire life in Stonegoth.
It was his first time in a village outside the city, so he was honestly curious about what he might find.
“I will look after Felix. Please go, Robin.”
Felix fully trusted Brandok.
He casually gestured to Robin that it was fine.
Robin felt uneasy about leaving Brandok behind, but nothing had happened the previous day when he went to bathe.
‘At the very least, he isn’t someone hostile to the mercenary company.’
With that judgment, Robin stepped outside the house.
Foreigners were rare in a village inhabited by natives.
There were many wagon drivers passing through for trade, but they seldom stayed more than a day.
For that reason, when the Calimacos Mercenary Company said they would be staying for more than a week, the villagers welcomed them with curious eyes.
People in the countryside were always thirsty for something new.
“Little one, take this with you.”
“You’ve become a completely different person after washing up. Are you the child of some noble?”
“Give my thanks to the mercenaries. This is homemade jam—try it.”
The villagers were friendly toward Robin.
Just walking down the street, he ended up receiving a pile of gifts.
It was the first time in his life he had received such overwhelming kindness, and he didn’t know how to react.
All he could do was say thank you.
“I guess gifts from commoners like us aren’t to your liking.”
“Well, things from a rural place like this can’t compare to what’s in the capital.”
Robin had fought quite well in the battle against the goblin settlement, but he never spoke about it publicly.
He accepted Brandok’s advice. Robin himself didn’t think it was wrong.
Other mercenaries also didn’t boast of Robin’s achievements.
Because of that, in the village of Burthills, Robin was known only as a member accompanying the mercenary company.
But once the grime was washed off and a refined air about him appeared, the villagers began making their own assumptions about his identity.
They wondered if he might be a noble child being escorted by mercenaries for some reason.
Considering Calimacos was searching for Jeremy, it was quite a sharp guess.
“Robin, you’re pretty decent to look at after a wash.”
“Hello, Belif.”
In front of a house marked with a cross symbol, Belif was drying herbs in the sun.
The sign above the entrance said apothecary.
“Belif, are you an herbalist?”
“That’s right. Did you read the sign?”
When Robin nodded, Belif widened his eyes slightly in surprise.
“So the rumor was true.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Looks like you know what rumor I’m talking about.”
“I have ears too. On my way here, a lot of people asked if I was a noble.”
At Robin’s straightforward answer, Belif burst out laughing.
“Do you have any herbs that help loosen stiff bodies?”
“Mm, there’s no herb like that. But I do have herbs that help with wound recovery.”
“May I look around the apothecary?”
Felix—no, Belif—smiled and opened the door for him.
The scent of earth, grass, and medicinal ingredients rushed out.
Belif’s house was filled with dried herbs.
On the jars were written their names, harvesting dates, and effects, making it fun to look around.
There were dozens of types—perhaps more than a hundred.
Robin forgot the passage of time as he held the apothecary’s herbs in his mind.
“Drink this.”
“Thank you.”
As Robin drank the tea Belif brought, his insides warmed.
Even while drinking, he was completely absorbed in examining the herbs.
Time passed quickly before he realized it.
“I already informed Mr. Calimacos. He was worried since you didn’t come back even after the sun went down.”
“What? It’s already that late?”
He had been looking at the herbs one by one, and before he knew it, it had grown dark outside.
“When I stepped out for a moment, you were so focused you didn’t even notice. Are you very interested in herbs?”
“Yes. I think it’s fascinating how plants you can gather in nature can be used so usefully.”
Belif smiled faintly and handed Robin a jar.
“It’s a medicinal herb. You can apply it to wounds or use it to brew tea.”
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“What do you mean why? Is it wrong to give a gift to the heroes of the village?”
At Belif’s confident tone, Robin bowed his head.
“You’re welcome to come anytime while you’re staying here. If you have free time, I’ll teach you about herbs too.”
“I’ll definitely come.”
Having developed an interest in herbology, Robin resolved to absorb Belif’s knowledge.
Belif smiled courteously as he saw him off.