Chapter 59 : Chapter 59
Chapter 59. What Was Inside the Cadmus Vault (3)
My swords dyed the alleyways in red. Simon moved in front of Bonas and Rakshar in front of me, cutting the debt collectors down while blocking their retreat.
"Darn it! Draw your swords!"
The debt collectors each drew their swords and aimed them at Simon and Rakshar. They were people who had spent harsh lives in the back alleys. They were the type who did not hesitate to draw their swords. Furthermore, since there were about twenty people, they thought they might be able to handle two knights, but...
Even if there are twenty dogs, they cannot face a single lion. Furthermore, it went without saying if those dogs were curs whose grit had rotted away. My swords rushed at the frightened dogs and hacked them apart without mercy.
"P-please spare me!"
Despite the debt collectors' pleas, my swords did not stop swinging. Because I did not order them to stop. The debt collectors' arms flew off and blood burst from their sides, dyeing the walls and paths of the alley red. A few tried to flee, but Rakshar caught those who were frightened and trying to turn back, using the beastly instinct characteristic of a werewolf and the senses he gained while living as a hunter.
"ACK!"
Arms swung with Rakshar's superhuman strength flew mercilessly into the faces of the frightened dogs, and each time, the debt collectors' heads unfailingly exploded like firecrackers. Rakshar, whose ferocity characteristic of a werewolf was revived, didn't stop at exploding their heads; he even grabbed a corpse's leg and swung it around without mercy. He swung it as if painting the air with the blood spurting from where the corpse's head used to be.
Simon was still afraid of blood, but that fear created another path for the sword. Unlike the rough Rakshar, he was cutting the debt collectors down so cleanly and accurately that blood didn't even come out. He cut them so cleanly that one might think the arm would reattach if it were quickly brought back to the stump.
I walked toward Bonas over the red carpet my swords had created. Bonas was looking at me as I walked toward him while pulling his young son into his bosom. He couldn't take his eyes off me. Because the black-haired man was walking along a path made of bright red blood while looking at him with eyes as black and deep as his hair. Bonas thought the current sight, composed of such intense colors, was unrealistic.
"Bonas Gwendolyn."
"Yes? Yes! Baron!"
Coming out of his thoughts, Bonas hurriedly tried to pull his son from his bosom and prostrate before me at my call, but his young son seemed frightened and wouldn't leave his bosom for anything. I approached Bonas while waving my hand as he struggled to separate his son from his bosom. Although the angry cries of the werewolf along with the screams of the debt collectors were still heard from behind, I looked at Bonas as if I didn't care about those things behind my back.
"Bonas Gwendolyn."
"Yes, Baron."
Bonas gathered his spirit and answered me once again. Although he was a failed merchant, that was a result that occurred because he lacked luck. He was dabbling in a world where luck could also be called a skill, but he was a person without a foundation to endure even a single failure. That reality pushed Bonas fiercely and eventually crushed his sharp weapon called excellent discernment.
However, I knew Bonas' ability well.
"Is it correct that you are the foolish Bonas Gwendolyn whose merchant group has fallen and who is being chased by debt collectors because you are in debt?"
"...Yes! It is correct that I am that Bonas Gwendolyn!"
Bonas prostrated flat on the ground and begged for my pity.
"Please save me, Baron!"
I didn't know why, but the remaining merchant's sense was speaking strongly to Bonas. That now was the last chance. I looked down at Bonas and said.
"I have come all the way here because I heard from a trustworthy person that the merchant named Bonas is useful. However, what is before me now is a wretched loser, not a useful merchant."
Bonas crawled and grabbed my ankles, crying loudly as he begged me for mercy.
"Please save me from this pitch-black pit! If you do so, I will repay the opportunity you gave me with my entire life, Baron!"
When Bonas grabbed my ankles and wailed, his wife and young son began to cry along with him.
"Baron."
Simon approached behind me while reeking of blood.
"Just in case, I have left one fellow who seems to be the leader alive. What shall we do?"
I smiled GRIN after hearing Simon's words. This was exactly the part that couldn't be expected from Rakshar, who had the highest loyalty but possessed a naive and rigid way of thinking.
"Let's have that fellow lead the way and visit the man named Gregson."
I helped Bonas, who was still crying, to his feet, brushed the dirt off his body, and asked.
"Exactly how much do you owe that man named Gregson?"
"It is about 150 gold."
"Exactly."
"It is 162 gold."
He really milked him for a lot. Being in debt was also an ability if one called it that. Because one wouldn't lend nearly 200 gold to someone who had nothing.
"If it weren't for the person who recommended you, I wouldn't have even bothered to come to this smelly place. You should be grateful to that person."
"Yes. I understand! I will be grateful to him for my entire life!"
Once the Bonas Gwendolyn currently prostrating before me straightened his knees and stood up, he would be a different person from the Bonas I knew from then on. Because the regret and despair he should have originally held would all be taken on by the Bonas from thirty years later and would disappear like bubbles. Therefore, the Bonas of the past should be grateful to the Bonas of the future.
"Take care of your family, Bonas."
"Yes, yes! Baron."
Fearing I might gloss over my words, Bonas hurriedly took care of his family. The family of three gathered before me and looked at me with tear-stained faces. Seeing the family of three clinging close and relying on each other like ducks, I laughed internally.
I have fulfilled the favor, Supplies Officer.
***
It was a total mess. A person named Baron Blanc Cadmus had visited since morning, handed over a pouch containing 200 gold saying he would repay Bonas' debt, and then...
"I have captured a bug that goes around using Lord Gregson's name recklessly."
He had cut the throat of the debt collector he had hired right before Gregson's eyes. In an instant, Gregson's office turned bright red due to the spurting blood. And that blood also splattered on Gregson's face and was currently flowing down his cheek. Gregson looked at the very young noble man before his eyes with dazed eyes.
"You should manage your subordinates well. He was brazenly raising his head and using Lord Gregson's name even before a noble."
A being who was not human was laughing coldly before Gregson's eyes. He was a noble. A true noble with cold blood flowing, and a man with cold blood no less than the head of the Lacie family. Gregson looked at the blood-stained gold pouch placed on his desk.
If I take that, I die!
Gregson had grown sturdy while living his entire life in the grain market of Bigrove. Following his instinct, he bowed his head deeply.
"Thank you very much, Baron! If it weren't for you, it wouldn't be this fellow's neck but eventually my neck that would have fallen!"
Gregson bowed his head, saying he was rather grateful to Blanc for killing his subordinate in his office. Gregson was a man who possessed great influence in Bigrove. No matter how much of a Baron he was, committing such an impoliteness toward him was an action that could only be burdensome.
However, Blanc was no ordinary Baron. Since his fame and skill were spreading beyond the Felix Kingdom and into the three kingdoms of humans, he was a person whose future power was even more anticipated than his current one.
Furthermore, with his maternal family Tolome and his in-law family Neudorf standing behind him, even if he were Gregson who flew and crawled in Bigrove, it would be difficult for him to preserve his life if Blanc truly became enraged. Because even Count Lacie, with whom he had a connection, would discard Gregson without hesitation in that case.
But his subordinate had insulted such a Blanc. Gregson grabbed the gold pouch Blanc had handed him, hurriedly opened his vault, and spoke to Blanc while scooping gold coins as they came into his hands.
"Baron Blanc, you are no different from my life's savior! Even a lowly creature repays a favor, so how could I possibly accept this money!"
The gold coins Blanc had handed over bulged as if they would burst, but Gregson did not stop scooping gold coins with trembling hands. Blanc naturally occupied the seat of honor as if he were the master of this place and sat down to watch Gregson's actions.
"What are you doing now?"
Then he asked Gregson coldly.
"Do you think I am doing this just to receive some pittance?"
Cold sweat flowed down the back of Gregson's neck as he heard Blanc's angry voice from behind. After uttering those words, Blanc stood up heartlessly and immediately burst out of Gregson's office.
"Baron, Baron Cadmus!"
Gregson followed behind Blanc in a desperate heart while gold coins trickled from the pouch. At Gregson's voice calling him pitifully, Blanc turned around and said.
"Since the sin your subordinate committed against me has already been strictly dealt with by his life, put that gold pouch away."
"B-but."
Gregson hesitated, worrying about the aftermath that might strike after Blanc left.
"If you are so worried about the impoliteness committed against me, you can just lend me a hand someday."
Gregson was a quick-witted person. He recalled what kind of person Blanc was and what he was a person who must do.
"When the legitimate revenger Baron Cadmus raises his banner, I will be able to be of help!"
Blanc showed a satisfied smile after hearing Gregson's words.
"You are a merchant who knows the proper way. From now on, you just need to be certain about how to handle your subordinates."
Blanc turned away and walked out at the same time as those words. Gregson, who was watching the last of Blanc's appearance, sat down as his legs gave way as soon as Blanc's figure disappeared.
Baron Blanc Cadmus. He was the most noble-like person among the nobles Gregson had seen. A noble with cold blue blood flowing.
***
I stayed for one more night at the Lacie family mansion and said my farewells to Count Lacie. Since I had greeted him when I came, it was only natural to greet him when I left. Waiting for me, who had shown courtesy to Count Lacie until the last, were Bonas, who was waiting after completely organizing his merchant group, and the scrawny boy standing beside him.
"That boy looks familiar?"
The boy was standing awkwardly beside Bonas' family.
"He is a child I was teaching. Since he is an orphan without a single relative here..."
Bonas looked at Simon as if he were flustered.
"Since everyone knows he went to call the Baron by Sir Simon's order, if we leave him here, those remaining debt collector bastards will end up killing this child."
I looked at the boy before me and asked.
"What is your name?"
"Yes! Baron. I am called Nilsen."
I rummaged through my mind here and there, but the name Nilsen was not in my memory. Although that meant he was not a figure who would make a name for himself later.
Well, how could I only pick such people to keep under me?
If he was trustworthy and capable, I had to grab and use him for now. Since there was nothing bad about having someone to help him under Bonas anyway, I decided to take in the boy named Nilsen as well.
"Thank you! Baron!"
Seeing Bonas bowing his head for someone who wasn't even his family, I remembered the old administrative Supplies Officer from the future thirty years away. The group rented one carriage, loaded Bonas' household goods and his young son into it, and then left Bigrove.
Even though it was the dead of winter, my group agreed to leave Bigrove as quickly as possible. Because I didn't want to endure Count Lacie's pressure anymore, and Bonas also wanted to quickly escape this tedious city. It was a city that did not remain as a good memory for anyone in the group. Bonas' young son would suffer a bit in the cold weather, but that was a problem that could be resolved if the group took good care of him.
"It's snowing."
As Simon said, white snow was falling from the black sky. Looking at that snow, I remembered that cold winter night of that day when I was guarding against the Void from atop a watchtower. Then, I rummaged through my luggage and threw a dark bottle to Bonas.
"Take it."
Bonas caught the brandy bottle that suddenly flew in by reflex.
"What is... this?"
Bonas asked me in bewilderment, but I only gave an unexpected answer.
"That is expensive brandy."
"Yes."
"I have repaid it with this."
"Yes...?"
Bonas had an expression as if he couldn't understand the reason, but I turned my head and looked forward. Pure white snowflakes were scattering.
***
I was looking at the campfire at the campsite where everyone was asleep. In my hands was a box that had been sealed with a lock. That box was an item that had been in the Cadmus family vault kept at the Iron Bank branch in Bigrove. I put down the brandy bottle and put strength into my hands to twist the lock.
The lock, which broke with a CLICK sound, could no longer protect the box. I looked down at the box my father had been keeping.
As expected, there is nothing extraordinary.
It was only letters. Too naturally, Pallard Cadmus had been unable to leave behind something extraordinary like Ulrich. While slowly drinking from the wine bottle and checking the letters one by one, one letter entered my sight.
Gartaria Royalty?
It was a letter with a crest that Pallard Cadmus, a Baron of the Felix Kingdom, should not have been in possession of. I put the brandy bottle down on the snow and carefully grabbed the letter.
-I applaud the challenge of Lord Pallard Cadmus, who is trying to form a new southern union in the Felix Kingdom. Having a trustworthy neighbor rather than Count Lacie, who has a tyrannical nature, will not be a bad thing for us either.
A new southern union? I hurriedly looked down at the last part of the letter I was holding.
-Since we belong to another country, active support will be difficult, but I will speak so that the three families of Langketa, Vicious, and Kamora can help Cadmus. Gartaria's 3rd Prince Aleid Croft, with respect to Cadmus.
I felt a shock as if hit by a hammer on the head upon seeing the name of the person who sent the letter.
-He is the hidden commander of the Norington invasion and an ambitious man aiming for the throne of Gartaria.
The words Antonio, the regional commander of the Torch Knights, had said were lingering in my head. The sound of the campfire burning away swallowed my silent cry of astonishment.