36. Cold Head, Hot Heart
If I were to ask who the young man with a stern face who pretended to be in front of me was Marquis Paulo Bordin, the lord of Bellion, I would say.
The Marquis Bordin drank the remaining tea in the cup at once, as if trying to cool his stomach boiling over from the sudden appearance of rock grasshoppers.
“Whoa… Sir Austin. I heard that you are a member of the warrior party.”
As for how the lord knows my identity… Mila, the investigator who interrogated me just a few hours ago, is now standing by the lord’s side.
Perhaps, as I blew to Mila, they were supposed to act away from the party of warriors for a while in order to accomplish other missions.
Damn it. Here, I have to go according to the lies I told them.
“…Yes. This is Austin, who is in charge of scouting the warrior party.”
At my words, the other vassals standing around covered their mouths and started whispering.
– I heard you belong to the warrior’s party?
– OMG. We lived…!
…f*ck. Wait for a sec. What do you mean I came, and we lived?
The Marquis of Bordin looked around me and the party, then exchanged greetings with Princess Alexis.
“The daughter of Duke Alexis. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, but right now it’s a wartime situation. I want to apologize for not being able to treat you better.”
“No. Marquis of Bordain. I’m fine. Please don’t worry too much.”
“Umm… Then…”
It was not a good feeling to have those wide eyes turned back to me.
This… Is a sign that troublesome things are about to happen…!
“Sir Austin. My natural temper is impatient, and I don’t like to talk around. I’ll ask straight forward. Can you take care of that giant rock locust?”
And my keen intuition is never wrong.
“…Marquis Bordain. I am now in a position where I have to do a separate mission from the hero. Time to deal with the giant rock locust here…”
“I will fully support Sir Austin. To the extent possible, I’ll give you anything you want. Even material support, such as gold coins… I’ll give it to you if you want.”
After the words of the Marquis Bordin, a servant of the castle came carrying a large chest.
– Rumble.
When the box is opened, what appears to be its contents are a mountain of gold coins piled up in such a way that the glittering brilliance will blind me.
“…Are you trying to bribe me with money?”
As I looked at the Marquis with cold eyes and spit it out, the Marquis Bordain was at a loss for what to do with a look of embarrassment at my attitude.
“Oh… Sir Austin. It’s that… Heh heh… Bribery, something that’s different from the nasty things like that… Yeah! A fair reward! Compensation! If you don’t like money, prepare another reward…”
“The Marquis… I must have looked at you as a snobbish person who would fall for money like this?”
“Ah… No… I mean… Huh…”
Clap mate mate mate!
I immediately got up from my chair, stood there, and started clapping loudly.
“Exactly- definitely!!! You saw it!!!!!!”
“…Huh?”
“If you take this much money and ignore it… That would be an unbecoming action as a member of a warrior party! I will do it!”
After hearing my words, the complexion of the Marquis Bordain rapidly begins to become comfortable, and somehow I feel stinging eyes on both sides of me, but what?
The gold coins piled up like a mountain are waiting for me.
A lot of money that I think will be left over even if I spend it for the next 10 years.
Honestly, if it’s that much money, wouldn’t it be okay to risk your life?
* * *
I also had a time when I thought that.
“…Really f*cking…”
I cursed at the huge pile of rocks in front of me, the height of which seemed to have stood about ten adult men standing on top of each other.
Anyway, isn’t that too big? Even if I lived on just Drake Hetzling breasts and Mandrake juice every day, I don’t think I would bulk up that much.
“Robin, what do you think?”
“…What?”
“That size. Do you think we can catch it? Have I been too complacent?”
At my question, Robin just shrugged his shoulders without making eye contact with me.
“I don’t know. I wonder if someone accepted it because he was confident?”
After saying that, Robin pouted his lips while fiddling with his ear lobe.
From what I’ve seen of Robin for a long time, Robin has a habit of fiddling with his ear lobe when something doesn’t suit him or makes him angry.
In other words, Robin doesn’t like something right now. This is the sound
“Robin. Why are you pouting again?”
“…I guess I didn’t pout.”
“Are you afraid I don’t know that you wiggle your earlobe every time you pout?”
How did you know that?! I turned my gaze to Princess Alexis and Luna, who were standing next to me as well.
“Now, then… Everyone, gather here! From now on, I have to plan how to catch that bastard.”
“Oops. There is a way to deal with such a big guy. Is this what you mean?”
As I clapped my hands and summoned her party, Luna also approached with her lips pouted.
“No, what are you really doing? What are you upset about?”
“…What a pout. It’s not like that…”
“Right. Ok? No what is not Her lips have her teeth sticking out.”
I put my hands on the tops of Luna and Robin’s heads and shook them wildly, and then they, with their hair scattered, grabbed my wrists and sighed.
“…Austin. Just do it.”
As I was messing around with my hair, not paying attention to the girls’ voices, I heard a cold voice from behind.
“Ah, princess. What happened with the Marquis…”
“Austin.”
I was taken aback by the expression and way of speaking that was uncharacteristically cold and ruthless for Princess Alexis, like a dagger flying in.
“N… Huh?”
When I made a stupid sound, Princess Alexis let out a deep sigh and glared at me. Even glare is so cute, it looks like a puppy is purring.
“Why… why did you jump into such a dangerous thing without consulting us?”
“…Yes? What is that-“
“Why do you lightly agree to something that could put your life at risk without consulting us?”
“No, that is…”
Anyway, they seemed to be dissatisfied with me for asking me to do such a risky job without consulting me just for the money.
Well, it deserves it. It’s not just me risking my life, it’s dangerous for them too. Needless to say, this is my fault.
“…Sorry. If you think it’s dangerous, wait here. Me and Royman quickly finished it off…”
“That’s not it!”
I’m surprised. At Princess Alexis’ shout, which was unusual for today, I immediately flinched at her body.
“Austin should value his life a little more. If you need money, my family will give it to you! Before taking on such a dangerous task, you should consult with us first!”
“Ah… no… I’m not-“
“Today, when we got out of the tunnel during the day, the firestone was used as well! What would you do if you were buried alive? That’s what they call insecurity!”
“Ah… I see. I see… I’m the one to kill. Calm down.”
As I gently hugged Princess Alexis by the head and patted her on the back, her shoulders, which had been panting with excitement, gradually began to subside.
The smell of lavender tickling my nose, this is good in its own way…
“Hey… That looks good. Aren’t you a noble lady? Can we share this passionate love outside?”
…If Mogdan hadn’t interrupted with a chuckle, they probably would have been hugging each other. Thanks to you, I was able to come to my senses.
“Uhm… Come on! Everyone focus now!”
I unfolded the map on the large collapsed brick in front of me and called everyone together.
“This is where we are, the garrison barracks.”
Point your finger at the garrison barracks, and slowly raise your finger to the mine.
“And… That giant rock grasshopper, no. This is where the queen is… Here. Mine.”
Fortunately, he couldn’t get out of the mine because he got caught somewhere in the process of digging out. However, he does not know when he will come out.
What if the queen lifted that heavy ass and ran through the city?
The Road to Hell.
“…If he comes out of the mine, there will probably be no living hell. Even if it’s not for the money, we have to stop the queen.”
When I said it casually, everyone in the audience nodded heavily.
Thanks to the queen who does not come out of the mine, Bellion succeeded in restoring the remaining areas except for some areas by the garrison.
“Okay. First of all, in order to drop the queen’s head… Our strength is far from enough. Luna, it would be impossible to defeat such a large person with your own power.”
“…Um. Against a size like that… I don’t know if my spear will work.”
“Yes. So, we have to weave our own wisdom.”
I rolled up the spread map of Bellion, took out a detailed map of the mine, and unfolded it.
“As everyone knows since I went to the mine during the day, the inside of the mine is layer by layer like a pit. I don’t know why he can’t get out, but it seems difficult for him to come up with that heavy body. Even more so if you are stuck somewhere.”
As I explained, while everyone nodded, Mog Dan thumped his fist and opened his mouth.
“Hey, Austin. I came up with a good method.”
“I have a method in mind, but there is always a better alternative. Say it.”
With my permission granted, Mogdan’s short, stubby fingertips pointed to the tower symbol drawn on the mine map.
“Since our mines contribute to the steel production of this kingdom, the amount of floating resources that move every day is enormous. In order to move resources that are difficult to move even with a trolley, a large crane is installed in our Belion mine.”
“…So?”
To be honest, I’m already not too keen on it. Usually, the cranes in the mines are small in size, and at most they are made of mana-enhanced trees and are not very strong.
“You seem to think…?”
“… Huh?”
“It’s rude to compare Bellion Mine’s crane with other cranes. It’s a huge object made entirely of Belion steel.”
“What… Is that all made of Bellionian steel? In barrels?”
“Yes! Besides… You know? There are still unclaimed flame stones scattered all over the mine.”
A crane built with Bellion steel, famous for its toughness and good mana. And the thousands and tens of thousands of firestones that were loaded onto the wagons scattered around the mine.
At this point, isn’t it stupid to not know? It’s because it’s the way I wrote it during the day.
“…You can’t…”
“hehehe… Did you understand now?”
Mogdan raised the corner of his mouth.
“It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to kill that big bug as long as you control a crane loaded with firestone and hit it.”
“It’s an ingenious method, but I don’t know if I can use that much firestone… I don’t care, but are you really okay with that?”
“…Didn’t you tell me in the mines?”
Mogdan’s lively eyes looked at me like a blazing fire.
“I don’t even have time to pick out the firestone. I’m going to have to do it hot. Let’s go to bed and sleep, let’s live and see.”
“Hey, you…”
“And… This city is like my hometown now. If I run away in fear of that law, I’ll be beaten to death by Master! hahahaha!”
Mogdan, you bastard…
“You too have become a man now… Mogdan…”
“…?”
You finally threw off the beast’s mask. It seems like it was only yesterday that he was a ripped-off.
…Just yesterday.
Anyway, when I saw Mogdan as a new person, I felt his heart warm.
“Royman.”
“Yes, brother.”
“If something happens to Mogdan or me… You must save them. No matter what.”
“…I swear to God.”
I nodded my head in satisfaction at Royman’s answer, and looked around at her precious comrades, who would soon go to capture the queen.
Luna, Princess Alexis, Robin, Mogdan, Royman…
From noble mtl dot com
Now you’re pretending to be so kind. Was I such a clean person?
Okay. Perhaps even without the money, I would have agreed to capture the queen with a frown.
“Okay! Just one more time, let’s try the impossible!”
Just for today, let’s pretend to be a fake hero.