Chapter 105 : Reality Was Cold
Chapter 105: Reality Was Cold
A city centered around the main fortress where Count Wilcock resided.
The city, close to a fortress, was finishing up a peaceful day.
Some headed home, others to taverns.
A tavern boasting a spacious first floor was filled with the stories of common folk.
Merchants, mercenaries, bards.
As different people clinked glasses and chatted noisily.
The tavern door opened and a man entered.
A man wrapped head to toe in thick fur clothing, as if he had come down from the high mountains.
Behind him appeared a gigantic man whose size could not be compared to an ordinary person.
Because of his sheer bulk, attention gathered along with a moment of silence.
Regardless, the man who walked toward the owner opened his mouth.
“Do you have any empty rooms.”
“There are rooms, but… is the one back there also with you?”
“That is correct.”
“Then you’ll need to use a four-person room.”
“How much is it?”
“One silver per night.”
The man nodded as if he understood and plopped down at an empty table.
When the giant sat across from him, the chair creaked as it barely endured the weight.
The owner asked from the kitchen.
“Will you eat first?”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have any money.”
“Then why…….”
The owner wanted to ask why they had crawled in without money, but he could not bring himself to do so.
Even while sitting, the giant man was about as tall as the owner standing.
His presence alone stretched the surroundings taut with tension.
The man who had wrapped himself tightly pulled back his hood and lowered the face covering.
He was a young man who had only just shed his boyishness.
The young man, with rare black hair and black eyes, stole everyone’s gaze.
Refined features mixed with a strong impression, giving off a unique atmosphere.
“I heard that you can earn money if you come here.”
“Th-that is… what exactly do you mean……?”
The owner’s tone became polite.
Looking closely, the young man had a sword at his waist.
It was right to be wary of an unfamiliar swordsman.
Though pretending otherwise, everyone around was listening intently to what would come out of the young man’s mouth.
The young man pointed toward the kitchen with his fingertips.
“I heard you choose Runeberg’s greatest drinker.”
“Pardon……?”
“If you break the beer speed-drinking record, don’t you get prize money?”
The young man cut off the owner who was staring with a blank face.
“The latest record… let’s see. Five liters in fifty seconds? Sigbard, is it possible?”
“Thirty seconds is enough.”
“If the prize is one silver, it perfectly covers today’s lodging cost.”
Sigbard’s eyes met the owner’s.
The owner replied in a shrinking voice.
“Th-this… sir, that event is held once a week…….”
“Hm? What did you say?”
When Sigbard asked again while picking at his ear, the owner cast a pleading look at the regulars.
Everyone looked away.
“It would be nice if you prepared it quickly. I’m tired from coming a long way.”
Despite the chilly weather, Sigbard’s attire was light.
Because of that, bulging muscles writhed every time he moved.
The owner answered with a tearful face.
“Please wait just a moment…….”
“Ah, just drinking beer would be boring, so you’ll prepare some side dishes too, right?”
“…Side dishes have to be ordered separately.”
“Is that true? Really?”
“…I will prepare them.”
“Haha! I knew it! There’s no way the generosity here would be that stingy!”
Soon, five beer mugs and fried sausages were placed in front of Sigbard.
His large hands lifted two mugs at a time as if grabbing cups of water, and he emptied them in twenty seconds.
It was a record that even swallowed the side dishes whole.
“There’s no need to give the prize money. I’ll stay here for the night.”
“Yes… of course…….”
After receiving the room key, Sigbard went up the stairs.
Before following him, the young man said a word to the owner.
“You said it normally opens in three days. I’ll see you again then.”
Despite his dignified atmosphere and courteous tone, the owner’s expression crumpled.
The remaining regulars comforted the owner.
“Looks like you’ll have to cough up all the sales you’ve built up?”
“You finally met your match! Who could possibly break that kind of record!”
The surroundings became noisy again.
The suddenly appeared young man and the giant became the main topic of conversation.
It took about two weeks just to come down from the snow mountains.
One great realization was gained.
Going down a mountain is harder than climbing it.
All the more so when you are carrying loads dangling everywhere.
If it hadn’t been for the bear Sigbard had grown close to, the descent would have taken even longer.
After somehow coming down and getting their bearings, they entered the city, but Robin’s expectations were dashed.
They went straight to the Wilcock family’s main fortress, only to be turned away at the gate.
-What? A mercenary who fought three years ago? So what do you want us to do about it.
-Young Master Admiral is not in the castle.
-You want to see Count Wilcock? Do you think the Count is an idle man.
He tried explaining things step by step, but it was useless.
In the eyes of the guards protecting the Wilcock family, Robin and Sigbard were nothing more or less than suspicious individuals.
He tried to prove his identity by mentioning that his description had been on a wanted notice, but the guard did not remember.
Three years was enough time for Robin’s traces to be erased from the world.
-Imelda? That short-haired girl left not long after the war ended.
-She went out with an old man, but we don’t know where they went.
-Serena? Not sure. If a spirit mage had remained, there’s no way we wouldn’t know.
He could not find out the whereabouts of the three people either.
He only reconfirmed what Emily had told him before.
In the end, with neither money nor food, Robin heard a rumor and went to a tavern.
It was a way to immediately solve the problem of sleeping arrangements.
Having earned a single day, Robin woke up early in the morning.
“I’ll give you ten cooper for all of it.”
“What are you talking about. Even just the scrap metal value would fetch far more than that.”
“Scrap metal? This isn’t made of iron. It’s wood bark stitched together with some sticky substance coated on top.”
They tried to raise money by selling the tools Sigbard had brought, but it did not go smoothly.
The money that fell into their hands totaled twenty cooper.
A barbarian’s handiwork was not very skillful.
Sigbard held a copper coin in his hand and shook it as if it were fascinating.
The clinking sound spoke to Robin.
This was reality.
“The Empire’s currency is fascinating. To assign value to pieces of copper like this.”
“It’s hard to believe, but that’s all of our assets right now.”
Sigbard picked up one copper coin and examined it, then put strength into his hand.
Crunch.
The coin bent and split in half before falling to the ground.
Sigbard picked up the fallen coin while trying hard to hide his embarrassment.
“Now we have nineteen cooper left.”
“No. If done well, it can be stuck back together.”
He put saliva on the cut surface of the coin and applied force, but there was no way it would stick.
When Sigbard grew dejected, Robin patted his back lightly.
“Let’s look for work. We’re pretty strong, right? There’s no way we’ll starve to death.”
“That’s right. Aren’t we the proud owners of the achievement of catching a potato.”
The tools had been disposed of because they were a hindrance.
They could at least secure travel expenses to a nearby village by taking on just one monster subjugation request.
…or so he had thought.
“Monsters? With the strongest knight order in the north patrolling the area, there’s no way monsters would appear.”
“You’re asking if we need caravan guards? Our merchant company already has a mercenary band under contract.”
“Short-term work? Our shop doesn’t hire people unless they plan to work long-term.”
He searched for work until his feet were sweating, but there were no results.
Count Wilcock’s city was ideal.
There were no foreign invasions, and public order was stable.
There were no signs of the aftereffects of war.
It was filled with the vitality of people working hard, and the sight of them trying to reclaim even barren land was impressive.
In other words, there were no jobs suited to Robin and Sigbard.
“Should we register at the Adventurers’ Guild first. I heard they have a loan policy.”
“Good. With our skills, they’ll support us.”
The guild branch, where even flies seemed to be buzzing, had a single receptionist nodding off.
The receptionist, who got up while wiping drool, held out a single notice board.
[Adventurer Registration Fee: 1 Silver]
“…We’ll look around a bit more and come back.”
The receptionist, who had no interest no matter what Robin said, didn’t even greet them.
“What do we do now.”
“I don’t mind sleeping rough.”
“I’m fine with that too, but…….”
Having lived self-sufficiently in the snow mountains, Sigbard felt no sense of crisis.
Robin was also used to camping, but if they left the city and traveled on foot, it would take a long time.
He would accept it if necessary, but more than that, this situation was absurd.
He had come down from the mountain boldly talking about revenge and promises, but reality was not so easy.
“Did you visit the cemetery.”
“Yes. I went, but my sister’s name wasn’t there. Torgen, Felix… seeing as I couldn’t find any other mercenaries who fought either, I guess they couldn’t even protect the bodies.”
“I see.”
Robin spoke calmly, but Sigbard noticed the faint sorrow.
He cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“I heard while passing by. They’re holding an arm-wrestling tournament at that tavern over there.”
“Let’s go. We’re not in a position to be picky. What’s the prize?”
“Don’t be surprised. It’s a whole two silver.”
“We have to win.”
Though he couldn’t see the people he wanted to see, Robin swallowed his regret.
The barbarian beside him continued speaking confidently, boasting of his strength.
An old woman who had been eavesdropping stared silently at the two as they disappeared into the alley.
“People I’ve never seen before… perhaps…….”
The old woman followed after the two.
Arm-wrestling tournament.
Holding one’s breath.
Speed beer drinking.
Eating an extra-large stew within a time limit.
.
.
.
By participating in all sorts of competitions and bets, Sigbard earned money.
Robin found cheap lodgings to save on accommodation costs, and in three days, they managed to leave with one silver.
It was the best they could do in a peaceful city.
Rumors about the two spread quickly, and restrictions were gradually placed on the bets they could participate in.
On the grounds that they did not suit the entertainment of common folk.
‘Well, I’d think the same.’
That was what the presence of a barbarian was like.
An adult joining a children’s fight.
Satisfied with this much, the two prepared to leave.
They visited the cemetery one last time, but they ultimately could not find any fallen warriors of the Calimacos Mercenary Band.
‘Is being a mercenary really just a temporary employment relationship.’
Among the tidbits of information they had picked up, the fortunate news was that Pul was alive.
If they met someday, he planned to ask.
“Robin, you look more refreshed than when we first came.”
“It’s just… I’m happy that there are people who are alive.”
“If they’re alive, you can see them again someday.”
He agreed with that.
Robin gave a faint smile.
“Then shall we go.”
They planned to leave Runeberg following the southwest.
To the east, the mountain range that Robin and Sigbard had come down from blocked the way, making passage difficult.
Five minutes after leaving the inn that was little different from a stable.
Robin’s senses caught someone following them.
Sigbard noticed as well, and they exchanged glances.
Whoosh.
Seeing the two suddenly turn into an alley, the old woman hurried after them.
When they reached a sparsely populated alleyway, Robin and Sigbard appeared from both the front and back.
The old woman, completely surrounded with no way out, calmly looked at Robin.
“I don’t know who you are, but this is a warning. Don’t follow us any further.”
As Robin tried to turn away after finishing those words, the old woman hurriedly opened her mouth.
“Wait! Just a moment, just listen to what I have to say.”
“We know that you’ve been watching us for days now. I’m sorry, but we’re in a hurry to be on our way.”
When he drew the line, the old woman faltered.
She hadn’t thought they would even know she was watching from afar.
All the more, she became desperate.
“Money! Don’t you need money!”
Robin and Sigbard paused.
Seizing the moment, the old woman continued.
“I have a request. If you listen, I’ll reward you generously!”
At those words, Robin and Sigbard approached from both sides.
“We’ll listen first.”
“Th, thank you.”
Even in front of Robin and Sigbard, who were far larger than ordinary people, the old woman continued speaking calmly.
“First, let me apologize for secretly watching you.”
“It’s fine. You weren’t the only one watching us.”
“I, is that so?”
“So what kind of request do you want to make of us?”
The old woman swallowed hard.
Once spoken, it could not be taken back.
Even so, she had to say it.
She had only watched them for a few days, but there was no one more suitable than them.
“Kill the one who murdered my daughter.”
It was a contract killing far too heavy to be called a request.