Attention being drawn to oneself is a troubling matter.
It might be a different story for those who stand on a stage or platform. However, until recently, I was merely the second son of a rural noble, unaccustomed to the gaze of others. The deluge of attention was bound to be burdensome.
What a life where even moving a step causes whispers to arise around me.
No matter how much I tried to hide my identity, it didn’t change anything. In fact, it seemed that the fact that I was covering my face with a hood only sparked more interest.
It was understandable.
The two mercenaries who appeared out of nowhere bore the seal of the Imperial Court. Moreover, both of them were quite stout, standing out wherever they went.
It wouldn’t have been strange to receive suspicious glances.
“I heard they received a request from the Imperial Court…”
“Surely the Emperor wouldn’t hand out the seal carelessly? They must be of noble bl**d.”
“Isn’t that the Intelligence Department of the Empire we only heard about in stories?”
It appeared that no one had realized my true identity yet. That was a relief for me.
The cause of the mass emergence of monsters had not been revealed, but if the incident were related, then the Dark Cult must be involved. And I was practically a person of interest to the Dark Cult.
Revealing my identity would likely complicate matters. Of course, I couldn’t hide it forever.
Even if I were to pull out a hand axe right now, most of those around me would catch on to my true identity.
However, Mr. Raymond seemed, unlike me, unfazed by the gazes from the crowd.
“I didn’t expect you to have the royal seal.”
It was a straightforward question.
Still, I involuntarily showed an awkward smile. Come to think of it, only my companions knew that I was the owner of the bl**d Seal.
Mr. Raymond’s suspicion was reasonable.
After much contemplation, I cobbled together a suitable excuse.
“I received it not long ago as a reward for dealing with the minions of a Demon.”
“The weight of that seal is not light.”
By ‘seal,’ he seemed to be referring to the dragon design engraved on it.
It was something I already knew. However, I couldn’t question the advice of an adult acting in goodwill, so I patiently waited for him to continue.
“It means that not only in the Empire but anywhere on the continent, you can achieve what you desire. Just like today.”
“That also means I need to be cautious.”
“I’m glad to hear you understand. Remember well that interest and suspicion are two sides of the same coin.”
The reason Mr. Raymond was cautioning me soon became clear.
As we exited the military camp toward the monster-infested area, I sensed a presence following us from behind. There was no sign of them trying to hide.
When I glanced back, two paladins stood tall.
The one who spoke was a middle-aged knight.
“As you know, it is the duty of the Holy Kingdom to ensure the safety of guests.”
“No need for that.”
And it was Mr. Raymond who responded from our side.
His heavy, cold voice created a sense of intimidation. Especially since the other party couldn’t hastily determine our status.
Of course, the other side did not withdraw easily.
“Please understand. If news were to come that an envoy of the Empire was killed within the jurisdiction of the Holy Kingdom…”
“He’s not an envoy. He merely came to attend to personal matters.”
I stifled a dry laugh at Mr. Raymond’s audacity.
Even though he showed the royal seal, to say he had no connection with the Imperial Court was an excuse that certainly wouldn’t hold water.
At this point, the other party had no choice but to take a firmer stance.
The two of them took a step forward and implored in earnest tones.
“Please, consider this just once. We are only following orders from above as well.”
It was a persuasive argument that tugged at sympathy.
Isn’t it tragic to be caught in between? On one side, they urge you to comply, while on the other side, they refuse to accept.
For a moment, I felt a flicker of compassion.
Interestingly, Mr. Raymond showed no sign of agitation.
“Well, isn’t that your problem? I’ll say it again: the Empire will not hold the Holy Kingdom accountable.”
“But…”
The conversation was going in circles. If left unchecked, we might end up bantering until dawn.
In the end, I had to step in.
I lowered my voice as much as possible and asked.
“Is the only request from the Holy Kingdom to guard us?”
“Yes? Y-yes… that’s correct.”
It was right after that.
I slightly bent my knees and lowered my stance, my breathing slowed. A sword was thrust through the dense air.
Light, or perhaps a straight line.
Any expression would do. My sword needed not a moment to reach the paladin’s throat.
At that, the paladin instinctively flinched but it was already too late.
My dry words spilled from my mouth once more.
“…Is this still the case?”
Only then did emotion return to the paladin’s face, which had been in a daze.
First, it was bewilderment, then fear, and finally anger.
He too was a martial artist who had trained for a long time. There was no way he would calmly back down after such provocation.
My expectation was confirmed soon enough.
The paladin’s head jerked sharply. My sword tip grazed his throat, leaving a thin line on his skin.
With one step, I closed the distance and struck with a fist.
If I swung my sword now, it would be the end. It was a strategy impossible in a real combat scenario, but this was the military camp of the Holy Kingdom.
I could never take the paladin’s life.
It was an impressive improvisation, but only just. If my skill had been any lesser, it might have ended poorly.
The sword soared like a flicker into the sky. Spinning blades whirled into motion, and my liberated arm swept outward, wrapping around the paladin’s elbow.
Following that, I put my strength into a punch.
Before my fist made contact, with a thud and a foreboding noise, the paladin’s body flipped in the air.
As the shockwave hit, the sword I had sent flying began to fall again.
Catching it was the duty of my other hand.
I took a deep breath and slowly rose my body. The remaining paladin’s face was solidified in a long-lasting stiffness.
The question I would throw was but one.
“May I leave?”
The remaining paladin cast a quick glance at his fallen comrade, who was moaning on the ground. Although frustration was visibly etched on his face, anyone could see that my strength vastly surpassed his.
There was no need for a guard.
Could there be a more efficient persuasion to prove that fact?
Though it must feel shameful as a knight of the Holy Kingdom, it couldn’t be helped at this moment. A trembling voice leaked from the paladin’s mouth.
“…Go.”
Without hesitation, I turned and took a step forward, and Mr. Raymond naturally joined me from behind. Not long after, a muffled laugh escaped from beside me.
“You’ve become a fine man.”
“I wasn’t like this before…”
A bitter smile rose involuntarily. The stronger I became, the more dependent I seemed to become on brute force.
Issues that could be resolved through conversation should be handled through conversation.
But it seemed Mr. Raymond’s philosophy was quite the opposite.
“Force is also one of the finest means of communication. It wouldn’t be the way of a martial artist to waste their weapon.”
“I fear Senior Elsi might say something similar.”
“Of course! That child carries the bl**d of Rainelle… Hoho, remember this well, too. When you have a child, you must pass on the name Rainelle!”
A deep sigh escaped through my teeth. To think I was already in a position to be meddled with child-rearing.
I responded with a hint of annoyance.
“If that’s the case, I might as well pass on the name of the House of Perkus.”
“Hmm, that wouldn’t be bad, but… doesn’t our family need a successor as well?”
If it had been in the past, I would have been treated like a mere son-in-law.
Now, even if I said I would pass on the house of Perkus, there would be little opposition. My elevated position was certainly the reason, yet part of me felt bittersweet.
In the end, noble marriages were like this.
It was nothing short of a transaction. My relationship with Senior Elsi was much purer in contrast.
Thus, while traveling with Mr. Raymond was burdensome in some respects, there were also yieldings I had been eagerly anticipating.
“Have you been here before?”
It was a question I threw at Mr. Raymond as we moved a certain distance away from the military camp.
He bent down and pinched some of the dark soil tainted by the earth. He even rubbed his fingers together and sniffed it.
At first glance, it was a funny sight, but Mr. Raymond’s expression was deadly serious.
To my surprise, his answer came without hesitation.
“It was quite some time ago. Back when I was still a mercenary.”
“Was it like this back then?”
My eyes briefly scanned the surroundings. The flat land, the bizarrely black soil was so odd it even gave a grotesque feeling.
Not to mention the ground. It was so resistant it felt unusually soft, leaving deep footprints with every step.
A displeasing place.
Most humans who visited here would likely share a similar sentiment.
“No, it wasn’t like this. This was shortly after the mass emergence of monsters. Back then, there were still lush forests and green pastures. But now, not a trace remains.”
“You came to hunt the monsters.”
I deduced the most reasonable conclusion from the given information. Mr. Raymond did not refute my inference.
“Did you hear why I quit being a mercenary?”
“Is it because Count Rainelle came to find you? You were eventually swayed by the persuasion…”
Mr. Raymond silently rubbed the earth several times.
Before I knew it, darkness was settling over the world. The stagnant air added a heavy weight to my breathing.
In the barren land where life had vanished, there was only silence.
Even the slightest breath sounded keenly audibly.
“I was quite stubborn back then. Even if my brother came, I had no intent to budge. Because I still had something to do.”
It was a statement weighed down by deep regret.
It was the first time I realized that Mr. Raymond possessed such a diverse array of emotions. His blue eyes seemed to wander vacantly through some part of the past.
“I had to take revenge.”
“Revenge?”
“Yes, revenge for my comrades. Right here, where the majority of my companions died.”
My brows furrowed slightly.
Mr. Raymond was an Archmage. I don’t know how capable he was during his mercenary days, but he must have been at least as strong as Senior Elsi is now. Even so, had a mercenary group suffered near-total casualties?
It was possible they had encountered an exceptionally strong monster and met with misfortune. However, if the monsters were strong enough to topple a capable mercenary group in an instant, their danger would be beyond imagination.
Naturally, it was a level of threat that a paladin order could hardly control. Gathering an army for eradication was the only way to ensure stable removal.
Unintentionally, I found myself opposing Mr. Raymond’s words.
“That’s impossible. If there were monsters that strong…”
“Everyone in the world thinks the same. They say we simply misjudged the situation. In truth, the ones who attacked us were ordinary monsters that commonly inhabit this area. The difference was… they were surprisingly intelligent and ferocious.”
As he said that, Mr. Raymond slowly straightened up. His eyes were still fixated on the grains of dirt left on his hands.
“However, no one would believe us. Even after years had passed, no similar incidents occurred, and I was actually wearing myself out. Perhaps that’s why I returned to my family’s fold.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you come back…?”
“I thought I had forgotten. But oddly enough, memories of that day have been flooding back lately.”
I heard the sound of grinding teeth. Mr. Raymond’s expression was contorted to the point of being horrific.
“I remember it now… that day, I definitely saw a girl.”
“What do you mean, a girl… in a place where monsters appear?”
“Yes.”
Mr. Raymond’s eyes suddenly turned forward. In those blue eyes, a faint flame flickered.
“I remember hair, black and long… that child was smiling. And her eyes, her eyes…!”
At that moment, his wide-open eyes turned toward my back.
I followed that gaze with mine. But there was nothing there. Only an inexplicable breeze brushed by.
“…Did you see her?”
“No, nothing at all…”
At this distance, there was no way I could miss sensing a presence.
Just as I intended to reassure Mr. Raymond that I must be overly sensitive.
A curtain of black hair trailed behind as it passed.
Behind Mr. Raymond, far away.
With a thunderous burst, my sword was gripped firmly in my hand.
Mr. Raymond and I began to gather closely, cautiously guarding each other’s backs. It was a fundamental strategy against an enemy that could appear from anywhere.
“Young nephew, I believe I heard a laugh.”
“Mr. Raymond, no more scary talk now….”
Then, a light laugh emerged, softly and clearly.
I looked around, searching for its source, but there was no shadow of a person. Instead, a larger tremor awaited to greet me.
The ground was shaking.
The vibrating ground beneath us, I looked at Mr. Raymond with a perplexed expression.
And Mr. Raymond, indeed.
His face was terrifyingly expressionless.
“It’s just like back then.”
“Back then, you mean…?”
Before my doubtful words could fully emerge.
A shrill sound split the ground and leapt upwards.
It was a monstrous worm, colossal beyond belief. Its mouth was grotesquely wide, devoid of a face. Only the gaping maw of that horrific mass was visible.
Not just one or two. The number of monsters rapidly rising was impossible to count with just one hand.
The small, thin eyes of the beasts aimed themselves right at Mr. Raymond and me.
Their intent was painfully clear. They were anything but instinctive beasts.
After a moment of silence, Mr. Raymond asked me.
“…How long do you think we can delay?”
Grinding my teeth, I infused my sword with aura.
“Until d*ath!”
The martial arts festival opened in the middle of the night.
