Bear hunting had a definite season—spring. Bears could run as fast as galloping horses. Climbing trees dozens of ters high was basic.
Bears were simply apex predators, complete wild creatures.
Hunting such bears, regardless of skill, required targeting them when weakened. Was that winter? No. Winter bear hunting was perfect for getting killed. In so mountain villages, n who committed cris or sins went bear hunting in winter to receive forgiveness.
Ten out of ten die. No exceptions.
The standard was hunting bears in spring when they woke from hibernation and were skinny. Stabbing hibernating bears with spears was what greenhorns did. The fantasy of stopping bears with spears remained just that—a fantasy—and reality was a blood-spattered scene.
"A giant bear caught in winter."
The guard thought briefly, then rummaged through other parts of the cart. Next, he inspected the group’s possessions. Things like white powder or herbs all had to go through the guard’s tongue.
The four bandits were handed directly to the guards. As bounty, they received five copper coins per head, twenty copper coins total. No special procedures were needed because they were a rcenary group with the lord’s crest.
Normally, nearby villagers or witnesses or evidence of plunder were needed. If suspicious, no bounty. The four bandits would be released after performing labor for several years.
Bandit handling differed strictly between soldiers stationed in villages and those stationed in fortresses. The forr cut off wrists and finished, but the latter substituted with labor.
"Nothing unusual. Pass!"
The soldiers let them through but they were stopped again. One fairly aged guard sitting in the back stood up and blocked Yuval’s path with his arm.
"You’ll need to see the guard captain before you go."
"What’s the matter?"
At that, the veteran guard said.
"Isn’t the Skull rcenary Group a five-person group? But personnel greatly decreased, and..."
He gestured with his chin toward Rowan.
"One newcor joined, didn’t he?"
Saying that, he shouted toward the back.
"And that newcor doesn’t even have a rcenary badge!"
The shoulders of guards conducting inspections drooped. Their expressions soured. They intuited they’d be worked during break ti.
The veteran guard standing right in front of Rowan spoke with an intimidating attitude.
"Where are you from?"
"I lived in Black Mountain Village."
"Why did you join the Skull rcenary Group?"
He couldn’t answer that question. Because Yuval interrupted.
"What the hell is this?"
"Torch Fortress handles public safety in this area. rcenary Captain Yuval. There’s sufficient reason to get necessary information from you."
"I’ll say that to Guard Captain Sebegin."
"Hmph."
Yuval headed to the barracks. And looking at Rowan, he nodded slightly in apology.
"Sorry. The guards here are really arrogant. They’re on the front lines. Nasty personalities."
"Crazy bastards. They should train more instead of picking fights with people."
rein said that and poured out additional curses. Rowan smiled slightly and said,
"It’s fine. Sharp-tempered soldiers are better than complacent ones."
Rowan really was unbothered. If they’d tried to wound his pride with such insults, they were greatly mistaken. He wasn’t his old self anymore. He’d realized getting excited accomplished nothing and knew fairly well how to practice that.
Of course, that composure could break anyti. Because he was an emotional human. However, this ti Rowan was admirable.
"Skull rcenary Group? How lucky that murderers ca to the barracks on their own."
The soldiers uniformly provoked them. They were jealous and envious because of the lord’s crest. rein was very displeased and stung back like a bee. The soldiers didn’t want to argue with rein, so they shut their mouths.
"Enter. Don’t be rude to the guard captain."
"You do better. You think you’re cool? You’re no different from a hyena. A bandit who loves to slander others."
"What—"
rein delivered that remark and entered. The guard watching the entrance grimaced.
Guard Captain Sebegin got straight to the point. These days he was practically buried in work.
"I see you’re not holding a head, so the job failed."
"The guy we were looking for wasn’t him."
"Is that so? But why did your numbers decrease?"
Yuval spoke honestly. He didn’t want to make an enemy of Torch Fortress’s guard captain.
"An orc warrior at Mushroom Mountain Village? Hmm."
While making a displeased face, Sebegin inwardly calculated rapidly.
’Incredibly valuable information.’
"You’re certain there’s an orc tree?"
"Yes. Quite a few. It’s a mountain they deliberately cultivated."
Guard Captain Sebegin laughed loudly—he couldn’t contain it.
"You wouldn’t just give such valuable information for free, so what do you want?"
Knowledge of the orc trees alone would make many people drool. It was like setting up a situation where architects, wealthy rchants, and nobles would all beco involved. The distance was close too.
"We’d just like so conveniences."
"Convenience..."
Sebegin stroked his beard, enjoying the slight pain as he pondered. But he soon nodded. The justification was sufficient. They were a rcenary group with the lord’s crest. They represented Lord dio of the dio region.
Providing convenience without much reason was acceptable. Even if problems arose, there were enough escape routes. He could just say he tried to help those with the lord’s crest work more comfortably. Above them was Lord dio who gave the lord’s crest.
He spread out one parchnt and hamred one wooden peg at the upper right and one at the lower left, then scribbled sothing.
"Unless it’s a big problem, the guards will accommodate you folks."
Yuval thanked him. While the ink dried, the two asked about each other’s recent situations. Yuval talked about the bear hide, and Sebegin talked about public safety.
"It’s because of refugees. One village got completely wrecked. The inner court needs to give answers about that problem, but there’s still been no news. Over fifteen hundred refugees are here, so I’m going crazy."
Humans would do anything to survive. Because of that, public safety had no choice but to decline. Lord dio, who put bounties on criminals’ heads, was a fairly decent lord, so Torch Fortress accommodated them sufficiently, but it wasn’t without problems.
They didn’t learn how the village got wrecked. It didn’t seem like sothing to tell rcenaries.
"We don’t really need an inn. rein has a house here."
"It’s rented though."
All along the way, Rowan noticed Yuval and rein were tense like they’d co to enemy territory.
’Because they’re bounty hunters?’
Because they hunted humans, maybe there were humans targeting them. A plausible theory. They unpacked, rested a bit, went shopping, then relieved their travel fatigue. Rowan wanted to wander outside more, but decided to match the rcenaries’ schedule.
The next day, Yuval told Rowan.
"I’ll introduce you to places you’ll need for rcenary life."
"I’m grateful."
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