16 – 4. Miracle?
The next day, he rose as soon as the sun came up to prepare for the journey.
Licia, still halfway in the dreamland, hadn’t slept properly again last night.
I didn’t do anything last night either. It’s not like I have the habit of snoring or sleep-talking.
Leaving the girl who had started to doze off again under the blanket, I briefly visited the nearby merchants.
We had enough provisions, and Mugen had already inspected everything in Bolle. However, there were still things to take care of.
“Anything special happening in the south?”
“Well, there is something special.”
That would be information.
Collecting a lot of news doesn’t hurt. You have to filter it out considering there might be exaggerations and lies. Especially in a world without the internet, the importance of such skills becomes even greater. With no photos or media, unreliable information spreads as fast as a person walks.
Even if the Emperor and the Pope were to start wrestling in the middle of the Papal Palace today, the moment I hear about it would be a month later.
So, there’s no real-time news; all you can do is gather bits and pieces and skillfully combine them to make predictions. This kind of work seemed suitable for Licia later on. Seeing that she predicted the Emperor and the Pope would fight by the hair, she seemed talented.
Without saying anything, I added a few more coins to the smiling merchant and sold a few more things.
Since I’ll probably strike up a conversation with people roaming the market, it wouldn’t hurt to know a lot. Injecting fuel that makes a person feel good, the merchant’s mouth opened.
“The lord in the south terminated the contract with the mercenaries.”
“That’s not uncommon. Anything special happened then?”
“Seems like they’ve been skimming money over there, and just when the mercenaries needed a sudden influx of cash for some reason, they decided to start thieving. And they’re causing quite a stir around there, so if you’re going to pass through, you need to be very careful.”
“For some reason?”
“Yes, and I have to keep this under wraps.”
There was no information about the Pope or the Emperor, but this was enough information to gather from here.
I returned to the inn and woke up Lycia again. The bewildered look on her face turned into realization as she looked at my attire and got up with a rustle.
Before long, Lycia was ready to leave.
It seemed like she hadn’t left anything behind, so I checked one last time to make sure the amulet was securely fastened around her neck. For some reason, the necklace seemed to sparkle particularly brightly in the sunlight. Perhaps it was just my imagination.
I lifted Lycia onto the saddle and she landed with a grunt, still yawning.
I held the reins and headed south towards the gate.
Next to the gate, there was a young guard who seemed to want a change of duty. Even though I had seen him changing shifts just a few minutes ago.
“Are you heading south?”
“Yes. Why, is there any news?”
“There have been reports of several attacks on pilgrims and small traders just outside the city. Survivors say the attackers seem to be a well-armed group, so be careful.”
It was the same information I had heard from the trader earlier.
A trader with nothing to lose wouldn’t collude with a guard just for a few coins, so this was reliable information.
“Thank you. Is this the right amount for the toll?”
“Yes. You may pass.”
I handed the guard the coins. It was a shame, but it couldn’t be helped.
The toll was the price for using the road. More precisely, it was the cost paid to the lords for maintaining security and managing the condition of the road.
Despite this, there were times when I wondered if this was really worth the money, considering how bandits kept popping up.
Passing through the guards and stepping out through the door, a vast plain unfolded before me. The grass, reaching out to greet the spring, had turned the once desolate land into a sea of green.
Amidst the breeze, a refreshing sound echoed, brushing against my ears. The sky held a scattering of clouds, and the sunlight streaming through was warm. It was a peaceful morning.
Having idled away the past two days in the stable, the lazy mountain grass grumbled as the sun rose higher.
The road ahead was sparse, and for a moment, I reminded myself not to casually follow strangers in unfamiliar places, a lesson I had been taught. Yet, perhaps due to my own chattiness, hunger clawed at my stomach.
Conveniently, a spot used by travelers as a rest area appeared not far off.
Six people could find seats on fallen tree pillars, and in front of them, wooden bases served as makeshift tables.
Above, a small tree provided shade. It seemed like a suitable place to settle for lunch, so I stopped in front of it.
“Let’s have lunch here.”
“Is this… a place where people take a break and leave?”
“Well, sometimes there are places like this along the road, especially if the journey is long.”
It also served as a kind of boundary.
The jurisdiction of the city just passed was up to here, indicating that even if starving monsters emerged from behind, it was not their concern.
I continued to survey the surroundings as I nibbled on bread.
Unlike the past, when I was alone, now I had a companion.
“What are you looking out for?”
“Thieves. The guards mentioned that the security in this area isn’t particularly great.”
The girl asked me, constantly fidgeting.
And she mentioned armed thieves.
They were especially dangerous. The name “armed” did not stick to those who were wishy-washy.
Not all thieves were the same. They could be categorized based on their backgrounds.
Most thieves are a ragtag bunch of lower-class folks gathering to commence their looting.
As for their weapons, they amount to nothing more than agricultural tools, rusty swords, and small axes.
If a hunter happened to join, there might be someone wielding a bow, and if they were fortunate enough to loot a few traders, they might have some basic armor.
However, regardless of the odds, they never attacked an opponent who was heavily armed.
Well-armored knights, such as myself, would be like a group falling into a bowling pin setup rather than stumbling into a mud puddle with a horse, unless they were staggering like a drunkard.
In times when my armament was meager, and I was silent, I encountered thieves who either underestimated me or intended to rob me.
“That guy, do you think we can defeat him?”
“Look at that sight! Clearly, it seems like a country bumpkin trying to imitate a knight.”
Of course, the law of the jungle holds true regardless of time or place, but that’s a tale for when parties are on equal footing.
I did not accumulate combat experience by folding the waists of ruffians to be preyed upon by former peasants.
“He was an ignorant rookie… Boys, get him!”
-Woodddddunk!
“aaargh!”
There was no need to use a sword. It’s just a waste of effort.
Thinking of money flowing out with every swing, I decided to entertain countless pre-hugs requests.
The resulting band of foldable thieves returned, bestowing upon me the title of the “Plague of Bolle.”
On the other hand, well-armed thieves mostly hail from mercenaries, and not the kind who receive their pay on time.
Whether the surroundings are too peaceful or the economic conditions of the lord are not up to par, either way, when a group that devours money extensively and a group whose profession involves wielding violence start eyeing the same wealth, the choice is clear.
“Will you not extend the contract? We are gradually becoming precarious too, so we would appreciate a quick response.”
“Hmm, it seems the surroundings are relatively peaceful. I feel the need to gradually reduce our numbers. You’ve worked hard until now.”
“Why has public safety improved… Ah! It’s because of us!”
“Then shouldn’t we make it not peaceful again?”
“What…!”
In this way, when mercenaries find themselves without work, they transform into marauders with the miraculous logic of creating jobs by setting their own bodies on fire.
The thieves created in this manner are then cleared out by other mercenaries. It’s the great cycle of nature’s order.
The case I heard from the guards was exactly this. Of course, the difference lies in their urgent need for funds and the purpose behind it.
Usually, they could have estimated the rough armed situation and fought. Such achievements and heroic tales easily brought back honor, which was a great help to a knight dreaming of becoming a real estate tycoon.
But now…
“Why are you doing this?”
“It’s nothing.”
I averted my gaze from the girl sniffing around the bread.
If I were alone, maybe, but with Lycia, encountering them meant immediately sprinting away from a far distance.
Even if I had relics, there was no guarantee that I could perfectly protect the girl in a chaotic situation.
Fame, good. Honor, good.
But if someone asks if it’s worth weighing against the life of a distant girl, it’s probably not.
*****
After dealing with lunch, I continued down the road.
Apart from sporadic small groups of merchants and travelers, I didn’t encounter anyone special, and contrary to my concerns, nothing particularly eventful happened.
Oh, of course, one traveler I met along the way did run in the opposite direction as soon as they saw my armor.
Unable to comprehend, Ricia let out a hollow laugh, but soon caught up, redirecting the path gracefully after spotting a cluster of wildflowers.
The surroundings were gradually darkening. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, unveiling stars one by one from the opposite side.
Camping on such a path was a risky venture. Perhaps they had taken a wrong turn.
It was at that moment, contemplating digging a vertical burrow for an overnight stay with arrogant thoughts, that Ricia pointed to something faintly glowing in the distance.
Upon closer inspection, there were small houses and flickering flames, perhaps for preparing the evening meal.
To arrive before complete darkness, I hastened my horse towards the village.