Rin looked down at rilda with an incredulous expression.
According to the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, beastfolk inherently enjoy conflict, possessing a belligerent nature and, consequently, a very strong sense of pride.
Among them, the rilda known to the Absolute Ruler of Darkness was one of the beastfolk with an exceptionally strong sense of pride.
She had almost co to a life-and-death struggle simply because the Hero King had slightly provoked her once.
And she had fought with the Absolute Ruler of Darkness a few tis as well.
Furthermore, she was the epito of a beastfolk who would charge forward without looking back, even in situations where she could die, if her pride was wounded, truly valuing pride over life itself.
No, in so ways, rildas pride was even greater than that of the beastfolk she commonly knew.
While beastfolk, despite their belligerence, might bend their pride to a stronger opponent, she would never bend her pride, no matter how strong the opponent.
Thus, Rin thought that rilda would never kneel before her.
At least, the rilda she knew would never lower her pride.
However,
Ha?
Seeing rilda perform a triple sorsault and then slam her head into the ground as if she had discarded such pride long ago, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness unwittingly wore an incredulous expression.
Step on quickly.
No.
Step on quickly!
Wait-
Step on quickly!!!
Crunch-!
Seeing rilda approaching like a piece of farming equipnt, pushing against the ground with her head planted in it, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness unwittingly wore a frightened expression.
This crazy woman-!
Unintentionally blurting out, but-
Even if Im crazy, just step on quickly! Quickly-!
rilda, instead of stopping, pushed herself forward until she reached the tip of the Absolute Ruler of Darkness shoe, shouting. The Absolute Ruler of Darkness, feeling a shiver, stepped back and exclaid,
Its for infamy!
Infamy?
Yes, considering youre a beastfolk and went that far, Ill specially tell you.
Imdiately, as if getting goosebumps on her arms, she brushed her arms and turned to leave.
Not long after, rilda, without even shaking the dirt off her head, pondered over what Rin had said.
!
She realized the aning of her words.
That the reason her Master had not accepted her was due to her infamy.
aning, if she could erase all her infamy, she might have another chance to gain her Masters favor!
With that realization, rilda smiled brightly.
If I erase my infamy!
With that thought, she smiled.
Erase my infamy?
Soon, she realized.
The many territories she had devastated.
Huh?
With rildas laugh, the situation cracked.
The public safety rate of the Lartania territory was gradually declining as ti passed.
The reason, of course, was due to the rcenaries flooding into Lartania like crazy.
It was only the second week since the Labyrinth had opened, but thanks to the widely spread rumors, rcenaries were continuously pouring into Lartania.
Thanks to this, the current estimate of rcenaries in Lartania had already far surpassed 5,000.
In contrast, there were only about 200 soldiers imdiately available to maintain public safety in Lartania, and if you subtract those managing the rest area on the first tier, only about 120 remained, naturally leading to a decline in public safety.
Given the nature of rcenaries work, they were quite rough.
Due to this, the slowly declining public safety began to steeply drop once the number of rcenaries surpassed 5,000.
Until then, despite so issues arising, the relatively small size of the territory enclosed by walls and the diligent work of the soldiers and Elena had sowhat mitigated the impact, but after surpassing 5,000 rcenaries, a lack of manpower led to unpreventable incidents.
Once the guards failed to address an incident, the rough rcenaries, as if embodying the broken window theory, began causing problems everywhere.
Hey, do you really want to die?
What do you an die? Do you want to die?
It started with minor scuffles at first.
Damn it, just give a refund, will you?!
No, youve already stayed for a day! How does it make sense not to pay for lodging?!
Stop nagging, seriously, should I just dunk you?
I-Ill call the guards!
Do you think the already busy guards will co, huh?!
Uh, ahh-!
And eventually, assault.
In just a few days, the sudden increase in assaults in the market and residential areas led to the already declining public safety plumting like a rollercoaster.
Yes, that was the case until just yesterday.
Whats that?
I heard he assaulted a resident of the living area and resisted the guards who ca for him, ending up like that.
The next day, rcenaries and residents of Lartania looking at a man caged in a wooden prison in the middle of the square, on display like zoo animals, soon noticed the ssage written above the wooden prison.
[This man was lawfully punished for assaulting a resident and resisting the guards who ca for him]
Under the prominently written sign, a rcenary spotted the man, who appeared unconscious with both arms amputated, and comnted,
Hmm, even so, isnt that a bit too harsh?
The rcenarys voice was negative.
Naturally, the speaker knew that the rcenary in the prison had done wrong.
However, despite knowing the wrongdoing, his defense of the rcenary was because he shared the sa profession as the man in the wooden prison.
In essence, being a rcenary himself, the stringent response from Lartanias side was sowhat irkso to him.
This sentint seed shared among other rcenaries, all wearing slightly complex expressions, but,
Frankly, I think its harsh too, but take a closer look at that guys face.
Face?
Yes, the face. That guy is Kupa.
Kupa?
Following his fellow rcenarys words, the man realized that the one in the prison was indeed Kupa.
Kupa,
despite being a hero chosen by the world, his actions were anything but heroic, causing trouble in various territories, naturally including incidents involving rcenaries.
If that troublemaker got what was coming, I dont feel too sorry for him.
Right, and if he resisted the guards who ca for him, it was inevitable.
Nodding in understanding, the man then asked,
That may be, but how did they catch Kupa? Was it the hero of Lartania?
No, I heard it was three guards who caught him.
Three guards Does that even make sense?
The mans disbelief in his colleagues words was due to his knowledge about Kupa.
Kupa, being a hero chosen by the world and known among rcenaries for his considerable skills despite operating alone.
But he couldnt understand how Kupa was caught by just three guards, so he asked.
I heard he was caught by a magic scroll.
Magic scroll? The one that costs more than ten Gold Coins each?
Yes.
The man was surprised by his colleagues words.
Look at the guards waists.
Real magic scrolls? And three of them.
I heard that recently, all the guards in Lartania started carrying them.
All of them have magic scrolls? I know the number of territory guards is small, but does that make sense?
To be honest, its hard to believe, but they really do carry the scrolls. And there are signs theyve been used, just like that.
That is true.
Soon, they all talked while looking at the magic scrolls attached to the guards waist.
But how do the guards carry such expensive magic scrolls?
I heard they have a close relationship with the Mage Tower.
With the Mage Tower? Until now, only four or five territories have had a close relationship with the Mage Tower, and those are all large territories, right?
Still, the only way for all the guards to continuously carry so many scrolls must be that, right? Especially since the territory isnt even that large.
Indeed If they can supply scrolls to all guards, it seems the Lord does have a close relationship with the Mage Tower. Now that I think about it, wasnt Lartania territory quite strong ten years ago?
Thus, the rcenaries talked for a while.
Anyway, its best to avoid causing unnecessary trouble within the territory. Otherwise, we might end up like that.
Thats true.
With those words, they started to disperse.
Soon, Kim Hyunwoo, watching quietly from the end of the Lords castle, wore a satisfied expression.
You are impressive.
Excuse ?
Honestly, its not easy to catch soone when the public order is being disturbed by rcenaries. I didnt expect you to catch them like this.
Adria, watching from the side, followed up with a remark as if impressed.
Indeed, its a good thod. Catching soone with a bad reputation among rcenaries with scroll magic and showing the results prevents rcenaries from sympathizing with them. This doesnt worsen the rcenaries public opinion and shows the strength of the guards even in such situations.
Thats right.
In fact, it was a coincidence that he caught a hero who was causing trouble and had a bad reputation among rcenaries, but as she said, Kim Hyunwoo intended to restore public order in this way.
Solving problems like this prevents rcenaries from sympathizing with Kupa, as she ntioned.
Moreover, establishing the strength of the guards like this, along with the rumor among rcenaries that the Lord has a close relationship with the Mage Tower, will surely sustain the territorys public order for so ti.
After all, for rcenaries, mages of the Mage Tower were not opponents they wanted to make enemies of.
Well, rcenaries are increasing faster than expected, so well eventually have to recruit more guards.
While thinking that, Kim Hyunwoo turned his gaze to Adria and asked a question.
But, what brings the head of the rchant Group here?
The reason he asked was because Adria had visited Lartania just two days ago.
More precisely, to deliver the magic scrolls requested by the Mage Tower.
It would be nice if they could be received through the exchange.
Unfortunately, such magic scrolls could not be received through the exchange, so Kim Hyunwoo had asked the Tienus rchant Group for regular deliveries of the scrolls.
In other words, he had received the magic scrolls from the head of the rchant Group two days ago, and it was not enough that she had suddenly visited yesterday; she had co to the territory again today.
Therefore, Kim Hyunwoo carefully asked because he could not understand why Adria had co for almost three days in a row.
Adria, staring intently at Kim Hyunwoos face, let out a slightly awkward laugh.
Today, I have sothing to say about the Magic Stones of Lartania-
She broached the subject, sounding sowhat like an excuse.
Oh, is that so?
The next day, after talking with Adria, who started to stare at his face strangely unlike before.
Um Hello, My Lord?
Ah, yes Hello, head of the rchant Group?
Seeing Adria who had co again, Kim Hyunwoo couldnt help but be puzzled.
Thud-! Thud-!
!? Why are you doing that all of a sudden?
Kim Hyunwoo asked Adria with a puzzled expression, who was suddenly tapping at her head.
Ah, haha. It was a bit noisy.
???
Kim Hyunwoo could only look at her with a baffled expression as she answered awkwardly.
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