"There’s one thing I want to say."
When Rowan finished praising the rcenary group, Espin said. One of Bedri’s eyebrows trembled.
"Yes. Speak."
"When we fought earlier, Bedri was in front of but didn’t shoot a single crossbow and was holed up under a tree. We should kick him out of the rcenary group."
And Espin looked at Doren and said.
"You can think Doren couldn’t help it because he was injured, but not Bedri."
Thinking of that ti, Espin’s tone rose. Rowan looked at Bedri and said.
"Is that true?"
"...That is..."
Simple-minded Bedri trailed off. He couldn’t even decide how to answer. But that made Rowan think Espin’s words were true.
"Doren, what do you think?"
When the arrow turned to Doren, Bearded Doren just fiddled with the bandage wrapped around his butt with his finger.
"Well, I... Bedri did wrong, but honestly I also think I didn’t do anything..."
Hearing those words, Rowan fell into thought. Neither Bedri nor Doren had done anything in this battle. In a ga you could say Doren at least tanked by taking damage, but unfortunately this was reality.
It was a world where you couldn’t say soone did their share just because they got wounded.
’Still, not even shooting a crossbow once is severe.’
Pop.
A spark flew from the campfire. Ti passed with quiet silence settling. Rowan’s worry inevitably had to be strong.
Because of the greenhorn rcenaries’ level. This bastard or that bastard, they were all the sa. That’s why even a guy he’d taught a little was better no matter what. If he kicked out Bedri, he’d have to accept another greenhorn rcenary who could use bow or crossbow fairly well.
’For education, I can have Espin or Doren do it.’
Having fairly gutsy Espin and Doren who was simple-minded but not a coward alternately train successors was a fairly good thod.
In a word, to Rowan’s eyes, Bedri who couldn’t shoot a crossbow once and Doren who poorly took cover were the sa. He still lacked experience to properly judge. Nevertheless, the reason he worried was because it was work filled with Bedri’s tendencies.
The guy with a crossbow that shoots from afar was ahead of Espin.
’His ambition or desire to succeed was strong.’
The problem was that ambition shrank when combat started. Big dreams but narrow capabilities. Conversely, Doren steadily detoured. Just because cover was poor he got hit in the head by a stone, and because of the spilled blood his left vision was blocked so additional mistakes ca out.
"Mmm..."
Making a sound, Rowan let out a sigh once. The atmosphere settled heavily. Kicking Bedri out of the rcenary group was right. But even deciding that, Rowan didn’t open his mouth. Even in kicking him out, there were things to think about.
’If I kick him out, the number decreases by one. Then the risk burden will increase.’
But kick him out after this work ends? There was no way Bedri would do properly. But if he said to just wait about this problem, Large Shield Espin would feel disappointed in Rowan. It was a problem anyone could think was clear.
"Bedri, your situation is quite different from Doren’s."
"Captain."
Bedri appealed. But Rowan didn’t stop and spoke. Rowan also felt uncomfortable about clearly deciding to tie up or cut loose. Deciding etings and partings is a difficult thing. Moreover, he’d built up quite a bit of affection with Bedri.
"If you were in front of Espin, you could have at least shot the crossbow at the guy who approached close in front of Espin. But you didn’t."
"What if Espin got hit?"
It was ridiculous excuse. A crossbow bolt that penetrates through a person and even a shield? If such existed, it would be an artifact you’d have to buy with gold coins.
"Then you should have shot before the robber approached. The angle would have been sufficient. But this has room for debate."
Saying that, Rowan stated the reason he couldn’t wriggle out of.
"Why did you go ahead of Espin? When practicing ambush battles, I definitely told you to stand behind or beside him."
"That is..."
Rowan turned his head to Bearded Doren.
"I was on the right side."
"I saw too."
Rowan looked at Bedri again. He had his head deeply bowed.
"Not even keeping the promised position can be serious grounds for disqualification. Thanks to that, Espin didn’t receive the backup he wanted. Because you hid, Doren beca the target of even more enemies."
That was the end. Rowan said he’d set aside his share from the 4 robbers obtained today’s bounty of 40 copper coins and the 350 copper coins recorded on parchnt for a week at Blood-Full Tavern. A total of 97 copper coins from 390.
The share Bedri would receive was 97 copper coins.
"When we return to the kingdom camp, go straight to Torch Fortress. Since we didn’t encounter anything on the way here, you should be able to go safely alone."
Bedri couldn’t raise his head. Like that, everyone greeted morning in an unsettled state. The robbers quickly ca to their senses. From morning, Rowan interrogated them.
"You’ll all be dragged to the kingdom camp. It’s obvious what’ll happen. You’ll work for several years at mines or national farmland. Of course, there’s a way to avoid that."
"Even offering you guys up only gives 10 copper coins per head. They don’t even give money for killing. Because they think you killed so village or drifters. So if you give us a bonus, we’ll let you go."
"Really?"
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. We’re a rcenary group that wanders around anyway. We don’t think we have that many contact points with you..."
Rowan shrugged. The robbers watched each other. Seeing no one could speak, the leader who’d led the robber gang seed to have been killed by Rowan.
"Decide quickly! The captain never likes waiting!"
Espin shouted loudly with good timing.
"I-I’ll tell you!"
Once one guy’s mouth opened, another also shouted he’d tell. Rowan nodded heartily and patted the robbers’ shoulders.
Of course, he didn’t have even this much thought of letting the bastards go.
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