Chapter 23: Milestone Complete
Chapter 23: Milestone Complete
Inside the bandit stronghold, though the sky had just begun to lighten, people were already up and about, starting their labors. People of this era had no nightlife; they slept early and woke early.
A boy tightly gripped the wooden sword his father had personally made for him, gazing incessantly towards the village entrance, his face full of anticipation. "Grandpa, why isn’t Father back yet?"
In front of a small wooden hut, a lame old man was sharpening a billhook. Hearing the question, he too looked worried. A whole night had passed. Could they have been overtaken by the guards of those noble lords? But he still forced a smile onto his face and comforted the boy, "He’ll be back soon. Don’t worry, your father will definitely bring back lots of meat and coins this time. Then I’ll go to the tailor in the city and get you a new set of clothes."
The boy immediately broke into a smile, revealing a missing front tooth. "No, I don’t want new clothes. Father should get Grandpa a crutch first."
The wrinkles on the old man’s face crinkled into a smile. "My good grandson this leg of mine isn’t much trouble. Let’s get you new clothes first."
The grandfather and grandson chatted and laughed. But the boy’s expression suddenly froze. He pointed behind the old man in terror. "Grandpa, it’s a demon! The demon has come!"
The lame old man turned to look. At the village entrance, a terrified villager was being kicked to the ground by a man in an iron suit and a red surcoat. Bright red blood dripped from the blade in the iron-clad man’s hand. Sword dripping blood, he walked slowly into the village, like a demon emerging from hell.
The lame old man almost instantly recalled the arrogant knightly lord from their original village; it was that knight who had broken his leg. No one knew better than him how terrifying a knight could be!
"Go, quickly, hide in the cabinet inside the house!" The lame old man pushed the boy, hissing softly.
Lothar put force into his arms and swung his sword down. The sharp edge of the hand-and-a-half sword seemed to meet no resistance, cleanly cleaving through half of the bandit’s shoulder, along with the wooden spear he had tried to use to block.