Chapter 88
Leo got up and opened the door.
An old man he had not seen before was standing outside the door.
“I am sorry, but it seems you ca to the wrong room.”
“No, I have co to the right place.”
He frowned.
The old man had a shabby appearance and was wearing a dirty coat.
He imagined what his purpose for visiting this place could be.
Only one answer ca to mind.
“If you have co to beg, look elsewhere.”
He spoke irritably with the intention of chasing him away.
The old man smiled broadly.
“It is good to see you are full of vigor. I used to be quite sothing too when I was your age.”
Ignoring him, he pulled the handle to close the door.
The old man blocked it with his foot.
“W-What?”
Leo’s eyes went wide.
Blocked by his foot, the door would not close any further.
“Young man, why don't you try using a bit more strength.”
“Do you think I cannot?”
Leo pulled with both hands.
Even so, he could not overco the old man’s strength.
“Huff, huff.”
Eventually, exhausted by his own efforts, he flopped down.
The old man entered the room with a look that said it was pathetic.
“You, what is your identity?”
“I am just an ordinary old man, as you can see.”
“An ordinary old man beats a knight apprentice with strength?”
“It ans the world is just that big.”
Leo got up from his spot and drew his sword.
“I cannot just let soone in when I don't even know who they are.”
As he drew the sword, the old man also went on guard.
The atmosphere in the room beca tense.
Joshua got up from his seat and stepped between the two.
“Leo, calm down. He is my guest.”
“A guest?”
“Yeah.”
“You an this suspicious old man?”
Leo’s sharp gaze turned toward the old man.
“He is suspicious, but he is soone who has what we need.”
“……If you say so, I guess I can relax.”
He put the drawn sword back and leaned his back against the wall.
“I will stay in this room just in case.”
Joshua turned his head and looked at the old man.
He nodded as if he agreed.
“It does not matter to .”
“I am sorry. This bastard has no sense.”
“What?!”
“Leonard, if you bare your teeth at just anyone like that, you will die without anyone knowing.”
“Does that an that old man is that strong?”
“If we fought, the two of us would be on our way to the next world in an instant.”
Joshua said that much and then watched the old man’s reaction.
Gunter was still hiding his identity.
He was a man who would silence soone without hesitation if there were signs of it being revealed.
But he was quiet now.
The murderous intent felt back then was not visible now.
“Have a seat here.”
He sat in a chair that was in the room.
“Can you guess the reason I have visited?”
I nodded cautiously.
He had co regarding the reward for completing the commission.
Normally, the Branch Manager would not step forward for such chores.
There were plenty of subordinates to do the work in his place.
“When we first t, there was a small war of nerves regarding my identity.”
Joshua gave a smirk.
Looking back, that was not just so small war of nerves.
He was in a mood to kill if I made even a slight mistake.
“It seems what I felt was different.”
“Heh, I apologize if you felt threatened. I did not have any other choice.”
“So what is the reason you are telling this?”
“I have felt like revealing my identity to you.”
Gunter smiled.
The fact that he solved the Eria Lake commission carried great aning in many ways.
He regained trust from the noble who had been providing support.
And he breathed life into the rcenaries who had been hesitating over commissions.
“My na is Gunter, the head of the guild that currently rules this village.”
“Ehh?”
A dazed voice flowed from the mouth of Leo, who had been listening nearby.
“Normally one would be flustered like that child, but it seems you knew after all.”
“Yes.”
“Was it the first ti you and I t?”
“An expert’s spirit is not sothing that can be hidden just because you try to hide it.”
“Haha, those are pleasant words to hear.”
He placed a letter on the table.
Joshua realized that the letter was one sent by the Norton family.
I examined the contents.
It was written to treat the rcenary who solved the commission with the utmost hospitality.
“The Count did not spare any praise for your group.”
“I see.”
“You don't look very happy though?”
“I want sothing visible to the eye rather than lip service. When will the reward arrive?”
“Don't worry. If it is the Count I know, he is probably having his subordinates co this way by now.”
Joshua stroked his chin.
The Count was a man of great generosity.
He would add even one more piece of candy for soone who had achieved what he desired.
I was already looking forward to what he would add on top of this reward.
And the reward was not only coming from him.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“What do you an?”
“Because if it is just this kind of report, there is no reason for the Guild Master to visit in person.”
“Hmm, I had thought of giving you a surprise.”
He held out a small bundle from his pocket.
“What is this?”
“I don't know what it is either.”
Gunter stroked his chin.
There were various items in the warehouse he was keeping secretly.
Among them, there were quite a few things he could not use because he did not know their identity.
“In short, you are giving it to because you don't know how to use it?”
“Don't point it out so bluntly.”
Joshua shrugged his shoulders, picked up the bundle, and opened it.
It was a yellow powder.
[Clever] goaded to find out the texture, sll, and taste.
I moved my hand to provide the information the bastard needed.
The sll was foul, and the texture was heavy.
The taste was sothing I felt afraid to put to the tip of my tongue.
[Clever] stubbornly insisted to the end that I should try it.
For so reason, [Patience] throbbed.
It looked as if he was hoping the sensation was definitely poison.
“Ugh.”
It was bitter.
It was the worst taste.
[Clever] went into analysis and [Patience] went wild over the new stimulus.
“Do you know what it is?”
Gunter showed curiosity and waited for my answer.
After waiting for a while, the result ca out.
This powder was a fertilizer needed for cultivating crops, refined through magic.
The ingredients were…….
It was the excrent of all kinds of animals.
I struggled to hold back the bad mood that was about to set in.
The powder itself was useful.
Since I had thought of growing crops myself at the new base.
“……I am not sure.”
“Is that so, that is a pity.”
Gunter got up from his seat.
“There is more the Count told to convey. He said he would protect you if you wanted to co to his castle.”
“Is that because of the companions I am with?”
“Of course, when I first talked to the Count, the fact that they were from the Rainwood or Grace families probably worked in a big way, but at this point, that is not the reason. He is interested in you.”
Joshua shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
I had no intention of entrusting myself to the Count.
His survival thod and mine drew parallel lines.
Kelvin Norton does not grow his power.
He is the type to be easily satisfied with his situation.
“It is fine.”
“You are kicking away such an attractive offer?”
“Please tell the Count that I am sorry.”
Gunter clicked his tongue in regret.
At the sa ti, he abandoned a single thought he had been keeping in mind.
‘I had thought of telling him to join the guild, but I guess that is impossible.’
It was Joshua, who even refused the Count’s protection.
Even if he promised him a position in the guild, it did not seem like he would be satisfied.
“If there is anything else you need, tell the innkeeper.”
“Understood.”
Gunter headed for the door to leave the room.
He placed his hand on the shoulder of Leo, who had been keeping quiet while leaning against the wall.
“I will not forget the spirit you showed a mont ago. I hope you can show it next ti as well.”
“……Haha, I apologize for my rudeness.”
Leo wore a crying face.
Just like when he first t Rodwell.
He has once again been marked by the high-ranking folks.
“What on earth does this an?”
“What?”
“I need an explanation! What is the Norton family, and what is the Guild Master. No, more than that, there will be no problem with my safety, right?”
“A safety issue?”
“Did you not see Gunter’s eyes a mont ago? I felt murderous intent.”
“That is why I am asking, why did you draw the sword?”
“I was thinking of you…… no, it is natural to be wary of soone whose identity you don't know.”
Joshua looked at Leo with pity.
I know Gunter is not the personality to hold onto what just happened.
But I did not tell the boy.
For so reason, the desire to tease him surged.
“Watch your step on the streets at night while you are in Vilne.”
“……What do you an?”
“Because his subordinates might be targeting you.”
Leo sighed as if the ground were sinking.
* * *
A few more days passed.
Perhaps thanks to focusing on rest, the body’s fatigue recovered quickly.
I got up from the bed and stepped outside.
Today was the day the reward from the Norton family's estate was arriving.
It was decided that I and the knight unit would go out to et them.
“It has been a while, Sir Joshua.”
“Yeah.”
“I have heard the story. That you solved an incredibly difficult commission.”
“It is an exaggerated story. You must have worked harder than .”
As I turned my gaze, Leo wore a startled expression.
When I used [Analyze], the boys had also achieved the Mouse Slayer achievent.
“It is hard, but it has been a learning experience in many ways.”
“Is that so.”
I also checked Gavinu’s expression.
The prickly boy was being sparing with his words as usual.
“Gavinu, how are you?”
“I have experienced both the good and bad points of the Captain.”
“For example?”
“Unlike his appearance, he has got a talent for forming tactics. But he tends to collapse easily if that plan fails.”
Oh, he observed in detail.
It was not much different from the Leo's abilities I know.
Looking behind, Leo was clenching his fist.
He seed to have been confident in the boys’ evaluation.
I cannot give a good score at this rate.
“And above all, once he is hooked on sothing, he just pushes forward with that. I am at the point where mice appear even in my dreams!”
Gavinu showed a look of being wronged.
He was scowling, as if just imagining it was painful.
Poor thing.
“Leo, these kids are part of my group of course, but they are closer to you, the captain of the unit, than to . It would be good to be considerate of the boys’ thoughts before expressing your opinion.”
“I am reflecting on that point.”
Leo scratched his head as if he was embarrassed.
Though I had separated them individually hoping the knight unit’s relationship would beco strong.
“I will be careful next ti. I have the awareness that these kids are my family too.”
“Yeah.”
I had no intention of interfering any further.
If there was a problem, it was right for the parties involved to solve it themselves.
“I am sorry. I am a bit late.”
Barosh arrived.
He was decided as the person to et the Count’s people.
“According to the sentries, it seems the Count’s soldiers have arrived at the main gate. Let us go there right now.”
“Understood.”
As we headed to the village’s main gate, the surroundings were cluttered.
The rcenaries, who would have normally spent ti in the inn, were checking the atmosphere outside.
A flag was visible in the distance.
The flag was drawn with a blue fish jumping up.
That was the symbol of the Norton family.
“Is that not the Norton family?”
“Why has a central noble co all the way to a peripheral village like this?”
“Have you not heard the rumor? They say soone has solved the Eria Lake commission.”
“There is a bastard who returned alive from that fog?”
“That is what I am saying.”
The rcenary who had helped seed to have told the heroic tale while under the influence of alcohol.
The rcenaries swallowed their dry saliva and looked at the knights mounted on horses.
They were those who hoped to get under them if they were lucky.
A central noble’s influence in the Academy is that powerful.
“I am sorry. I had wanted to proceed as quietly as possible.”
Barosh whispered in my ear that he was sorry.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“It is fine. The fact that they have co holding that flag ans it is bound to stand out.”
A knight approached the village while equipped with armant and carrying the family flag.
It was rather strange if it did not draw attention.
Barosh pushed through the crowd and approached the knight at the head.
“The boy?”
“He is over there.”
My gaze t the knights’ leader.
It was an intense gaze.
He looked like the captain who manages the family’s private soldiers.
“Let us move locations.”
“Yes, I have prepared it. This way.”
As the knights moved, the rcenaries also made a path.
I discovered two horses among them with no one riding them and threw a ntal celebration.
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