51 – 8. Mountain Village
The land of the Count of Canossa is located at the southern end of a long and rugged mountain range called the Alpine Mountains.
If you go further south from here, you will reach the Papal States, and if you cross the mountain range and go north, you will reach the Empire.
And the name given to the villages below the mountain range, which once enjoyed a boom in trade, was taken directly from the mountain range, Alpen. Originally, it was common to take names from surrounding natural objects.
Merchants came around the mountains without going crazy, and often passed through Alpine villages along the way. In that sense, this area could be considered a transportation hub.
However, the movement of people and goods has stopped for some time. This was because the road was occupied by thieves whom the emperor had intentionally neglected.
A world in reverse, where toll taxes are paid to thieves rather than nobles, has arrived in Alpen.
The people, who were suffering from this unreasonable malice, naturally asked the Count for salvation.
“This is the knight you will serve from today. “He has excellent skills, so he will be of great help.”
“Ah, thank you… ….”
“Call me Raven.”
In response, the count threw in a knight to make that area a fief.
The village managers and serfs had doubts about the decision. There have been countless knights and mercenaries seeking money and fame, but they have all failed. What can just one person change?
Still, since it was Count Canossa’s order, I just stayed silent.
He is a knight with a cool nickname, “Lightsaber,” And he seems to have made a name for himself not only with his skills but also with his personality, so at least he won’t be a hindrance.
And when the knight heard about the situation, he was willing to help in the extermination of the bandits, so he did not complain, considering his passion.
The knight was also in this situation because he knew that it was a kind of test given to him by the count. If he fails to successfully complete this, the entire reputation he has built so far will be destroyed.
“Look over there, bro! “The stupid knight is here again!”
“Are you planning on eradicating our bandits? “If that’s the case, we’ll have to get over brother Alex first.”
And the first opponent.
The bandit brothers, former city guards, who were notorious for robbing travelers on the streets, were crushed on the first encounter with the knight.
“Hmm? “How did you find out about this?”
“The response is that this is one of the dens of thieves.”
“If only you knew that much. Well, it looks like all the idiots like the Alex brothers have been blown away. But that’s it. “I, the corrupt priest William, will deal with you.”
Next, there is a magician who started his career as a priest but was unable to overcome his materialistic desires and became addicted to coinage and became a thief.
“I never thought that Saennim would suffer. He was arrogant and mean, but his magic skills were worth seeing. But I will not be able to surpass Brute, the bloody axe.”
“It was crazy, really.”
Finally, a veteran thief from the mercenary group under Marcus.
The beings who defeated numerous challengers and remained a nuisance to Alpen literally evaporated.
The people who watched him defeat each and every one of them as if breaking a seal cried out his nickname every day.
At first, I tried to call him a wolf hunter because he hunted wolves that threatened the lives of livestock and people.
But now, to commemorate his feat that cannot be expressed with such a modifier, I gave him the most wonderful name with reverence.
“Lightsaber! Lightsaber! Lightsaber!”
“The bland name ‘Wolf Hunter’ does not fully describe this feat.”
“We have been thinking wrong all this time. “You are truly worthy of the lightsaber’s name!”
It only took half a year to get here.
Raven, who was recognized as the owner of Alpen not only by his lord but also by everyone, was able to obtain all the land, fame, wealth, and honor he wanted.
And he was still called Lightsaber.
*****
The Count gave me land as promised.
A village with a population of almost 300 people and an area consisting of several small villages with a few dozen people scattered around fell into my hands the moment I signed a loyalty contract.
“Fool around!”
“Did you sleep well?”
Early in the morning, while I was sitting on the bed and looking out the window, Lisia came running and sat down next to me.
Then he took a quick look at my face, then turned his head to follow my gaze and took in the sight I was seeing with his eyes.
Beyond the small lake, a huge mountain stretched so far that you couldn’t see the end even if you turned your head.
The image was clearly reflected in the water, which was as clear as a mirror. It felt like the mountain was floating.
A light layer of snow fell on the fields that had been green until summer, and the mountains, whose tops were painted white all year round, pierced the sky.
Because it was a world without dust, everything was clear. There was a beauty inside that could not be captured in photos or paintings.
While I was enjoying the refreshing atmosphere of that winter morning, Lisia slightly leaned her body towards me and opened her mouth.
“Raven, Raven.”
“Huh?”
After living together for almost half a year, the girl started calling me by my name.
Because of this, it seemed like there was less distance than before. It doesn’t feel very formal to call someone ‘knight’ like the soldiers do.
At first, it was awkward and I used to call the driver and his name alternately, but I guess I’ve gotten used to it and recently I’ve been able to call it well.
“Do you have anything to do today?”
“I heard that the thieves’ stronghold has finally been discovered. “I have to go take care of it.”
“I want to go with you too!”
“It will be very difficult because it is a far away place. “Let’s rest at home for now.”
In the early morning, I spent time with the girl talking about trivial things like this.
And the work day ends when we prepare breakfast together and resolve minor tasks that cannot be resolved as village managers.
The only special task was handling reports of sightings of bandits or wild animals nearby, so it wasn’t difficult.
The war between the emperor and the pope looked as if it would explode, but in the end, it fizzled out, leaving behind only the tension like a sheet of thin ice.
The life I have lived so far has been full of traces of struggling to rise higher.
I didn’t know it because I had never had one in my life, but living with a home and a companion brought me long-awaited comfort in a life that had been running without rest.
*****
It’s fine as is, but do I really need to go to college?
Lisia had thought like that before.
But as she was forced to watch from behind, her experience in Villach made her feel helpless and she became alarmed.
Even so, Raven will often go to the battlefield, but when I think about it, he seems like a child left in the water.
Considering her own age, it wasn’t something she would think of as an adult, but she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
There is already a precedent, so what guarantee is there that this will not happen in the future?
Telling people not to go to the battlefield in order to completely cut off the source was no different from telling them to become unemployed.
Also, if he broke the loyalty contract and gave up the land, he or he would have no way to make a living.
That said, even if you wanted to make money as a wizard from this age, wouldn’t that be like advertising yourself to the world as a saint?
So, after much deliberation, the conclusion was this.
“… After all, I have to stick around and protect you, right?”
I quickly gave up the thought that now was enough. As she watched Amelie use her magic, she realized how conceited she was.
To be honest, she knew that the magic she knew was still too small to be considered that of an adult, and its power was also insignificant.
However, it was fortunate that she had a lot of room for improvement. She said that being a saint inherently had such irrationality.
So she quickly goes to college in the spring and learns magic.
Anyway, it would take about 15 days to get to Alpen and the university if we rode at a slow pace.
I was at least relieved because it was a distance I could travel even if I had urgent work to do.
Lycia, who was full of such thoughts, spent most of her time alone practicing her magic or giving blessings to the village.
Of course, she had a church in every village, but her magic skills were not that great, so it was more difficult to get caught.
After the new driver came to Alpen, only the manager witnessed the strange increase in production and quality. She screamed with joy without even knowing why.
Although it was a village that could not even be called a city yet, Alpen was growing steadily even though it was only half a year old.
And it was clear that Raven played a significant role in restoring security in the process.
But to do this she always had to put herself in danger.
In the end, he was an honorable and just knight, and thanks to him, Lisia, who was able to be picked up from the ruins, had no intention of breaking his will.
Goodwill freely given in the midst of injustice that cannot be resisted. The girl herself knew how sad it would be not to have it.
That’s why Lisia wanted to live such a valuable life. Raven is also like that, so isn’t it inevitable that her hands and feet are a good match?
“Do you have anything to do today?”
“I heard that the thieves’ stronghold has finally been discovered. “I have to go take care of it.”
So, as expected.
She had to be confident.
“I want to go with you too!”
“It will be very difficult because it is a far away place. “Let’s rest at home for now.”
The girl clicked her tongue slightly inside her.