Chapter 041: Repaying a Debt (2)
Though the night had grown deep, the residential area of Canchester was still bustling.
The reason was that the supply of daily necessities and bathing for the imperial settlers, namely the slash-and-burn farmers newly settled in Canchester, had not yet been completed.
“Those who have finished bathing, please stop by Gaff’s forge to pick up some clothes to change into! We’ve also prepared some snacks to fill your stomach, so you must drop by!”
From a distance, Henry’s booming voice echoed.
I was lucky.
It just so happened that the guy was in Canchester at the time.
After the uprising that day, the Canchester Blacksmith Union was formed, and the one elected as its first leader was none other than Gaff.
Henry and Gaff were so close they could be mistaken for father and son, and both regarded me as their benefactor, always on the lookout for a chance to repay their debt.
In the midst of this, as soon as Gaff saw me and heard the rough outline of the situation, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to help with the imperial settlers’ relocation.
‘There wasn’t even a need to mention the lady’s orders.’
The night scene after the uprising ended that day is still vivid in my memory.
Everyone tried to hoist me up as the hero to the center of the stage, but it wasn’t out of modesty—truly, I was too embarrassed and could only secretly watch the joy and emotion they were reveling in.
It wasn’t that I felt some grand sense of duty or that a burning sense of justice compelled me to help those in dire straits…
I just thought it was right.
At that moment, acting that way felt right.
That was really all there was to it.
How could I not feel overwhelmed just by the shy gratitude of a young girl who somehow found me to express her thanks?
‘Hm.’
Thinking back on it now, my face feels oddly flushed.
“Bihen!”
While I was lost in idle thoughts, I had already drawn close to Henry.
Approaching, Henry gave an awkward nod to the two robed figures beside me.
There was no need to hide Adeline and Eugene’s identities from Henry, so I had given him a heads-up as soon as the relocation work began.
“You’re working hard, Henry.”
It was Adeline, slightly lifting the collar of her robe that came up to her nose, offering encouragement.
Henry’s eyes widened.
“H-How do you know my name…?”
Henry glanced at me as if asking if I had told her, but I shook my head.
I was curious too.
What was going on?
“Seeing you in person, your eyes indeed shine with intelligence. I can tell the rumors about you weren’t false.”
“…?”
“I’d like to inspect the status of the imperial settlers. Will you guide me?”
“Ah, yes! Of course.”
As Henry led the way, Adeline followed, and I was about to trail behind them.
“Hold on, I need to talk to you for a moment.”
Eugene spoke.
I looked back and forth between Adeline, disappearing into the crowd, and Eugene, who had grabbed the hem of my clothes, then nodded silently.
Perhaps it wasn’t a big deal.
Eugene stopped in a quiet alley that appeared shortly after and spoke right away.
“As you might have guessed from what you’ve heard, the reason I couldn’t accompany the lady to Ludglen was because I was scouting Talrug Canyon.”
He was referring to the area affected by demonic corruption.
I had promised to join the subjugation for Jayden’s achievements.
Since we’d hear the detailed status once Jayden arrived, I hadn’t pried in advance.
“And?”
“It’s dangerous. I want you to dissuade the lady.”
I couldn’t help but frown.
His abrupt manner, cutting straight to the point, made me wonder if this was really the Sword Master Eugene I knew.
“What’s in that place that makes you oppose it so strongly?”
The Empire faces similar issues.
The phenomenon where an isolated demonic realm invades a territory for some reason is called demonic corruption.
If someone as great as a Sword Master is warning me to this extent about the dangers of subjugating demonic corruption, would I know? Well, I’m not sure.
Of course, it depends on the progress and severity.
“You know about Blood Mages, don’t you?”
For a moment, it felt like a massive lump of iron had been dropped onto my chest.
My expression must have been something to see.
I’d been wearing a sour look the whole time.
Blood Mage.
The Crimson Flame Leader had said that in the Kingdom, they call blood devils by that name.
“Are you saying there’s a Blood Mage in that Talrug Canyon?”
“It’s hard to say definitively, but the circumstances suggest it’s highly likely.”
Eugene added.
“Typically, heretical sects are those who cunningly exploit societal chaos to deceive the masses. They use this to expand their influence or gain various benefits, sometimes even resorting to usury or mental indoctrination to lord over local lords. But dealing with these types isn’t difficult. They’re attention-hungry, so they inevitably reveal themselves.”
I wished he’d give me a moment to think, but Eugene continued immediately.
“The problem is those who lurk in the shadows of a territory without revealing their identity. Their goals are unclear, their whereabouts and members are thoroughly concealed, making them nearly impossible to pin down. Among them, the most dangerous are those who command the Transporters.”
“I know about the Transporters.”
“Originally, Transporters referred to agents who guided new believers to the sect, but the meaning has warped. Now, it refers to blood magic followers who treat living people as sacrificial offerings and transport them.”
“…!”
“We… that is, Roland and I, have been tracking these blood magic followers for a very long time.”
Eugene paused and clicked his tongue.
“We believed we could pinpoint the exact location of the Blood Mages through the Crimson Flame Cult. So we kept an eye on them.”
“You’re not blaming me for messing things up, are you? It was a volatile situation back then.”
“Of course not. I did feel some frustration at first, but we gained unexpected results. One was taking a serious interest in a man named Bihen Benkou, and the other was detecting an unusual movement among the Transporters due to that sudden incident. Thanks to that, we were able to fill in some gaps in our tracking.”
Eugene finished speaking.
A passing blacksmith somehow recognized me and greeted me abruptly.
I responded vaguely.
As I watched the blacksmith’s retreating figure, I felt the heat in my ears, which had flared from the shock, begin to cool.
“If Talrug Canyon is a likely base for the Blood Mages, that’s all the more reason to go. We should uproot them immediately.”
“Even Roland and I have only managed to chase their shadows all this time. If Talrug Canyon is their main stronghold, it’s impossible to fathom how dangerous it could be.”
“Are you saying we should just leave it be? Like with the Crimson Flame Cult, hide and wait for an opportunity?”
My voice rose without me realizing, but Eugene didn’t even flinch.
“Of course, I have no intention of sitting idly by. I plan to propose cooperation with the Sword Master-level knights on the Archduke’s side.”
“What?”
I was speechless.
All I could do was blink.
“This involves both demonic corruption and the emergence of a great mage. They won’t be able to ignore it either. This isn’t a matter of picking sides.”
“The lady will never agree to that.”
“We’ll have to keep it a secret from her. Even if it means facing her wrath later, we must prevent innocent people from being sent to their deaths. Achievements can be earned in other ways.”
Eugene gave me a look, as if waiting for my response.
Honestly, there wasn’t much to think about.
“I fully intend to follow the lady’s opinion. No, I must.”
“Why.”
“Is there a reason? First, I have no right to meddle in this matter. Second, regardless, I owe a debt to the lady and finally, third.”
I touched the hilt of the sword at my waist.
No matter how long I’ve held it, the leather strap wrapped around the handle never absorbs any warmth.
“I’m an imperial warrior. An imperial warrior never forgets gratitude or grudges and considers showing their back to an enemy the greatest shame.”
“….”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to slight you.”
Eugene gave a faint, weary smile.
“I understand.”
“Let’s hear the opinions tomorrow. The lady will judge wisely. I’ll follow without complaint.”
I gave a brief nod and turned away.
Now that I know the truth, I plan to go to Talrug Canyon alone if need be.
Even if Adeline changes her mind.
‘Hmph.’
More than anything, though it seems calm on the surface, Conwell is practically in a state of civil war.
The Archduke is, after all, the lady’s enemy.
How could we join hands with the enemy?
The very idea that the enemy shares the same sense of crisis is arrogant.
“Playing the refined one in the midst of war, are we, Sword Master?”
* * *
Two days later.
I rendezvoused with Jayden, accompanied by Bill and Ayan.
Thus, the Easton Guard was whole again after a long time.
“Wow. How long has it been since we all gathered like this?”
Bill said, his voice thick with emotion.
It seemed like he might burst into tears if we lingered.
“Everyone, listen up.”
How did it come to this? I was the one stepping up to say these things.
Starting with the events in Ludglen alongside Janson, I briefly explained everything that had happened up to now.
“The captain’s getting a knighthood?”
As expected, everyone reacted with disbelief.
Even Henry, who didn’t know the full details, was stunned and speechless.
“What the…?”
“I’m telling you this in advance so you can prepare yourselves before hearing it directly from Lady Adeline. Wouldn’t it look bad if you’re too shocked?”
I shrugged.
Suddenly, a strange silence fell over the room…
“Kn-Knight…! Hahahahaha! Our captain’s a knight! Ayan!”
Starting with Bill, who grabbed Ayan’s neck and made a fuss, Henry and Janson also let out roars of cheers.
Jayden, who had been blinking in a daze, gradually started to smile as he regained his senses, and even Ayan, carrying gear twice his size, was grinning cluelessly.
I couldn’t help but let out a faint smile myself.
“Huh, Janson? Why’d you lose so much weight? And you seem a bit taller too?”
As the atmosphere settled, Bill placed a hand on Janson’s head, comparing it to his own eye level, making a scene.
“Ugh, why do you keep being so annoying?”
“What? Your temper’s gotten worse too? Bihen, did something happen to this guy too?”
Now that he mentioned it, it was surprising.
The two, who once seemed like twins, now looked distinctly different.
It wasn’t just that I’d developed an eye from seeing them for so long.
Jayden and Henry had similar reactions.
“You’ve definitely slimmed down, Janson. Your posture’s changed a bit too. Looks like you haven’t been slacking on training.”
“Janson’s been going to the beach every morning lately, running laps by himself. They say when someone starts doing things they never did, it’s a sign their time’s up.”
If this were the Janson I knew, he’d be grumbling to himself by now, but instead, he just scratched the back of his head.
His ears were even red.
At this point, it was only right for me to add a word.
“Having met a fated rival, he’s got to step up. It’s very encouraging for the guard’s strength.”
“A rival? Janson has one of those?”
Jayden asked, looking baffled.
Knock, knock.
Creak—
The sound of the door opening came from behind.
Speak of the tiger, and it appears—it was Joel.
“Sir Bihen. Jewelina Gunbel has arrived.”
“Ah, right. I’d better go.”
“Yes. I’ll report to the lady now as well.”
As I passed by Joel, I glanced between his face and Janson’s.
I barely held back a laugh.